Optical Viewfinder Patents (Class 348/341)
-
Patent number: 6621520Abstract: A display unit of a digital camera includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel that displays a photographed image by the digital camera on an image display area of the LCD panel, and displays symbolic information on an information area. A main back-light unit is provided to illuminate the image display area of the LCD panel, and a sub-back-light unit is provided to illuminate the information display area of the LCD panel, both of which can be independently driven.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1999Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Pentax CorporationInventor: Keiji Sawanobori
-
Patent number: 6606125Abstract: A shutter for use as an objective for improving the depth of focus in a camera is disclosed. The shutter has, in a central area, a radially uniform transmission function averaged over the circumferential angle. The radial transmission function first drops off toward zero in a radial transition area which is a continuation of the central area and which has a quantity n of cutouts which extend toward the radial outside and are spaced apart from one another at equal angles 360°/n in the circumferential direction. The quantity n of cutouts has the value 5, 6 or 7.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1999Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Henke-Sass, Wolf GmbHInventors: Dieter Schulz, Norbert Haeckl
-
Publication number: 20030146999Abstract: A video camera obtains a capture scope obtained through finder optics of a single-lens reflex camera and indicated by a view frame mask. A PC detects the position corresponding to the capture scope from the captured image captured by the image pickup device of the single-lens reflex camera, generates the information designating the position, and stores the information in the single-lens reflex camera. The system controller of the single-lens reflex camera extracts a part of the area in the captured image captured by the image pickup device, and records the image of the area in a memory card.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Keiji Kunishige, Naoki Fujii
-
Patent number: 6584282Abstract: A finder optical system for observing an object therethrough, includes a variable-power objective optical system, an eyepiece optical system for guiding light from the object via the objective optical system to an observer, and an adjustor for changing the optical characteristics of an image of the object observed by the observer through the eyepiece optical system based on information about the temperature of the finder optical system, the distance from the finder optical system to the object, and the zoom position of the objective optical system.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1999Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Saito
-
Publication number: 20030107667Abstract: A camera according to the present invention includes a picture-taking lens unit including a picture-taking optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light and an optical finder unit including a finder optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light. A pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the optical finder unit are arranged adjacent to a pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the picture-taking lens unit, respectively. The body of the camera is therefore decreased in size.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Akira Futami, Koji Kato, Takashi Okamura, Yasuo Asakura, Toshikatsu Shiozaki
-
Patent number: 6549237Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having a display device mounted rotatable about an axis on a side of the image sensing apparatus for displaying a sensed image. When the display device is folded up by the side of the image sensing apparatus, a mirror reflects an image displayed on the display device toward a finder, so that the displayed image can be seen though the finder.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1998Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mutsumi Inuma, Mikihiro Fujimoto, Shuichi Idera, Kyoji Tamura, Toshiyuki Matsumoto
-
Patent number: 6536960Abstract: In a digital camera having a half mirror retractable out of the optical path and an optical viewfinder receiving light reflected from the half mirror, the sensitivity of an image-sensing device is set as specified by the user. When a relatively high sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror operated as a quick-return mirror, and, when a relatively low sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror kept in the optical path. A sensitivity that cannot be coped with simply by changing the position of the half mirror is set by adjusting, in conjunction therewith, the output gain of the image-sensing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2000Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Yasuhiro Morimoto
-
Patent number: 6538699Abstract: A real-image finder includes an objective optical system which forms an image of an object onto a primary image forming surface; an ocular optical system through which the object image formed on the primary image forming surface can be viewed; and an image erecting optical system which inverts the object image formed by the objective optical system, in the vertical and horizontal directions.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1998Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Pentax CorporationInventor: Kosei Kosako
-
Patent number: 6535248Abstract: A camera of the present invention is selectively operable in a normal mode or a macro mode and includes a macro mode alarm device. When the operator of the camera selects the macro mode on a normal/macro mode switch while seeing a subject through an optical finder, a controller feeds an alarm control signal and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) control signal to the macro mode alarm device and an electronic finder, respectively. In response, the macro mode alarm device causes a light emitting element disposed in an optical finder to glow or blink, urging the operator to use the electronic finder in place of the optical finder. In addition, the controller turns on power supply to the LCD of the electronic finder so as to allow the operator to use the electronic finder immediately.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1998Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Koki Hatakeyama
-
Patent number: 6516156Abstract: A camera including a liquid crystal display in which an image formed by a photographing lens system of the camera is indicated; an ocular viewing optical system which includes a half-mirror surface and an eyepiece lens system, the half-mirror surface reflecting the image of the liquid crystal display toward the eyepiece lens system, so that the reflected image can be viewed through the eyepiece lens system; and a direct viewing optical system for viewing the image of the liquid crystal display through the half-mirror surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Pentax CorporationInventor: Tetsuji Shono
-
Patent number: 6515643Abstract: An image display apparatus has a main display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged horizontally and vertically in an array condition, and at least one sub display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged horizontally and vertically in an array condition, provided separately from and outside the main display area. In the image display apparatus, two types of lines are arranged in a matrix manner horizontally and vertically against the main display area and the sub display area to drive the plurality of pixels, and driving units for applying driving signals to the lines arranged in the matrix manner are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1999Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuo Kamiko, Tomoyasu Katsuyama, Yoshihiro Date, Naoki Hagiwara
-
Publication number: 20030020823Abstract: The invention provides a digital camera having a viewfinder with an adjustable length. The digital camera includes a first viewfinder member, a second viewfinder member, a first resilient member, a first engagement member, and a second engagement member. In this invention, the first viewfinder member is mounted in the digital camera. The second viewfinder member is mounted in the first viewfinder member and is capable of sliding relative to the first viewfinder member. The first resilient member is connected to the second viewfinder member and capable of pushing the second viewfinder member from a ready position to an ejected position. The first engagement member is mounted on the second viewfinder member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Yu-Chen Ko, Weng-Tiang Tang
-
Publication number: 20020191097Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus comprising an optical finder for optically displaying an object image, an image pickup device for receiving the object image and converting it into an image signal for photographing, an electronic finder for displaying the object image received by the image pickup device on the basis of the image signal converted by the image pickup device, a focal plane shutter for shielding the image pickup device from light, and a beam guide device for guiding a beam from the object to the optical finder and the image pickup device, and a control method and a control program applied to the image pickup apparatus, the beam from the object guided by the beam guide device is changed over from the optical finder to the image pickup device and the focal plane shutter is rendered into its opened state so that before photographing, the image pickup device can receive the object image displayed by the electronic finder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventor: Ryuichi Kobayashi
-
Publication number: 20020171749Abstract: The objective of the invention is to provide a field scope with a digital video camera for observing an object both by eye and on the monitor, losing such advantages of field scopes as having a large aperture, a light weight and a small size. The field scope with a digital video camera comprises an observation optical system having an objective optical system and an ocular optical system; beam-splitting means for taking a part of a light beam advancing along the light path of said observation optical system out from said light path, and guiding the rest of the light beam to said ocular optical system; and an image pickup unit for receiving the separated light beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Toshiya Kamakura, Naomi Watanabe, Yuji Kato
-
Publication number: 20020167603Abstract: A camera comprises a beam splitter configured to divide an incident light from a subject through a photographing lens, an eyepiece lens configured to observe the incident light divided by the beam splitter with a viewfinder, a relay lens provided between the beam splitter and the eyepiece lens, and a shutter provided in a vicinity of the relay lens and configured to cut a reverse-incident light from the eyepiece lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2002Publication date: November 14, 2002Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Koji Kato, Ryuji Hirata, Takayuki Kijima, Keiichi Mori, Hideaki Yoshida, Junzo Sakurai, Toshiyuki Noguchi, Keiji Kunishige
-
Patent number: 6459857Abstract: An electronic camera includes: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped image-capturing unit main body provided with an image-capturing device for generating an image signal by capturing an optical image formed by a photographic lens unit; a substantially rectangular parallelepiped display unit main body provided with an external display device for displaying an image based upon the image signal generated by the image-capturing device; and a linking portion that links the image-capturing unit main body and the display unit main body in a manner that the image-capturing unit main body and the display unit main body can rotate relative to each other. And, at the display unit main body, a shutter release button is provided and a grip portion is provided near an end surface furthest away from the image-capturing unit main body; and at the image-capturing unit main body, an optical viewfinder unit is provided beside the photographic lens unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1999Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Tomoaki Kawamura, Daiki Tsukahara, Hidefumi Ota
-
Patent number: 6431768Abstract: A digital camera having a camera body which includes a main surface and a lens surface substantially orthogonal to the main surface, a photographic lens of a photographic optical system positioned on the lense surface, and an optical viewfinder unit rotatably attached to the main surface such that the optical viewfinder unit is rotatable to a position substantially orthogonal to the main surface of the camera body and in a plane substantially parallel to said lens surface. An operation unit is positioned in the camera body such that operations buttons are arranged on the main surface of the camera body and, when the optical viewfinder unit is in a closed position, the operation buttons are substantially covered to protect against unintentional operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Yoko Nakamura
-
Patent number: 6396539Abstract: What is disclosed is a single integrated circuit having an image sensor for outputting signals representative of input light; a programmable non-volatile memory for storing defective pixel location information; a controller unit for interfacing with the programmable non-volatile memory and accessing the defective pixel location information; and a input/output port for communicating with control and post-processing circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1998Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Jack Heller, James Breisch
-
Publication number: 20010043280Abstract: A thin viewfinder device includes, in order an object side to a viewing eye side, a first prism, and a second prism disposed separately from the first prim across an air gap. The first prism, the air gap and the second prism are arranged in such a manner that an object light flux obtained within a viewing field passes through the first prism, the air gap and the second prism so as to reach the viewing eye, while an object light flux obtained outside the viewing field is totally reflected by surfaces of the first prism so as to be prevented from reaching the viewing eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2001Publication date: November 22, 2001Inventor: Yasuo Suda
-
Publication number: 20010026324Abstract: An electronic still camera, comprises a lens to form an image of a subject; a distant measuring section to measure a distance to a subject and to upuput a distance signal; an image capturing focusing section having a driving section to shift the lens within a scanning range determined based on the distance signal, an image capturing element to output an image signal of the image of the subject and a detecting section to detect a focusing point of the lens based on the image signal; and a light measuring section to measure a luminance of the subject and to output a luminance signal. The image capturing focusing section changes the scanning range of the lens in accordance with the luminance signal measured by the light measuring section.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2001Publication date: October 4, 2001Inventors: Masashi Saito, Yasutoshi Fujii
-
Publication number: 20010017661Abstract: A display member 31 is placed in a position which, as seen from an eyepiece optical system 25, is optically equivalent to the focal plane of an objective optical system 21 and a reflector mirror 33 capable of movement between an electronic image observing position B where the rays of image-bearing light from the display member 31 are reflected toward the eyepiece optical system 25 and an optical picture observing position A where the reflector mirror 33 gets clear of the optical path between the focal plane of the objective optical system 21 and the eyepiece optical system 25 is placed between the focal plane of the objective optical system 21 and the eyepiece optical system 25.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tetsuji Shono
-
Publication number: 20010017662Abstract: A lens frame guiding mechanism of a zoom lens includes lens frames having projections which extend radially outwards, wherein a cam follower is formed on each projection; a linear guide barrel; linear guide slots formed on the linear guide barrel parallel to the optical axis, wherein the projections of each lens frame are respectively engaged in the linear guide slots to be slidable therealong; a cam barrel fitted outside the linear guide barrel to be relatively rotatable about the optical axis thereto; and bottomed cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cam barrel, in which the cam followers of a corresponding lens frame are respectively engaged. The lens frames are moved in the direction of the optical axis, without rotating about the optical axis, to change a focal length of said zoom lens via rotation of said cam barrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Nobuaki Aoki, Yoshihiro Yamazaki, Satoru Nakamura
-
Publication number: 20010005231Abstract: When an instruction to record an image is provided while a live view is being displayed, the image shot immediately before the provision of the instruction is displayed while a half mirror is moving to retract from the optical path, and the image to be recorded shot immediately therebefore is displayed while the half mirror is moving to advance onto the optical path. To indicate that shooting, preparations and recording of the image to be recorded are in progress, the brightness of the displayed image is gradually changed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2000Publication date: June 28, 2001Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroaki Kubo
-
Publication number: 20010005232Abstract: The digital camera having a taking lens, a finder for viewing light transmitted through the taking lens, an image sensing element for optoelectrically converting light which passes through the taking lens, a light splitting means capable of changing transmittance and dividing the light transmitted through the taking lens to the image sensing element and the finder, a light splitting means driving means for driving the light splitting means to a position to split the light between the image sensing element and the viewfinder when viewing and driving the light splitting means to retract a position for directing the light only to the image sensing element during photography, and a control means for controlling the light splitting means to a semitransparent state to direct light to the image sensing element and the viewfinder when viewing and controlling the light splitting means to a blocking state during photography.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2000Publication date: June 28, 2001Inventors: Daigo Yoshioka, Hisanori Itoh, Yoshio Nakagawa, Shoichi Minato
-
Patent number: 6252628Abstract: A zoom finder which changes a magnification of a finder image by moving two movable lenses in a variable magnification optical system of the zoom finder in a certain relation. Each movable lens is provided with a guide hole and a cam follower at an end and a engaging part at the opposite end. A guide shaft is inserted in the guide holes of the movable lenses. A rotation preventive member engages with the engaging parts of the movable lenses. The cam followers of the movable lenses are pressed against two cam faces of a finder cam. At least one of the two cam faces inclines over the whole area for use to one side with respect to a direction in which a pressing force of the pressing member is applied to the cam follower which is in contact with the cam face.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1997Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hideo Kobayashi
-
Publication number: 20010003464Abstract: A determination is made as to whether or not the magnification set for image sensing is greater than the upper limit of the optical finder. When the set magnification is greater, the original image is subjected to a thinness process, the LCD is automatically turned ON, and the image is displayed. When using electronic zoom, an image of the photographic object corresponding to the effective image sensing magnification is displayed on the LCD 10, thereby avoiding impairing the compactness of the digital camera allowing easy confirmation of the photographic object, and allowing easy framing without providing a large optical finder.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2000Publication date: June 14, 2001Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.Inventor: Masahito Niikawa
-
Patent number: 6130714Abstract: A branch image pickup and view system includes an objective lens system, an image pickup surface which is adapted to pick up an image formed by the objective lens system, an eyepiece lens system through which an image formed by the objective lens system is viewed, an optical separation system provided behind the objective lens system to split light into a light bundle for the image pickup surface and a light bundle for the eyepiece lens system, a condenser lens provided in the optical path from said optical separation system to said optical eyepiece system to relay the image formed through the objective lens system to the eyepiece lens system, and an optical enlargement system which is provided between the optical separation system and the condenser lens.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1997Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuya Abe, Takaaki Yano, Takayuki Ito
-
Patent number: 6101337Abstract: An optical system includes an photographic lens, a fiber optical plate, and an image pickup member. The photographic lens forms the first image in the vicinity of the entrance end surface of the fiber optical plate, and after the first image is transmitted through the fiber optical plate, the second image is formed in the vicinity of the exit end surface of the fiber optical plate. The image pickup member is disposed to coincide in size with the second image. The first image is demagnified to a desired image size determined by the image pickup member and thereby the photographic lens is downsized.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1999Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yasuzi Ogata
-
Patent number: 6031588Abstract: A device featuring liquid crystals for local reduction of the intensity of incident light is described. This device protects the eyes or the video camera against blinding, or the light-sensitive medium against local damage by automatically reducing the intensity of the incident light emitted by brightly illuminated objects, while the brightness of poorly illuminated objects is not suppressed. The device uses optically addressed spatial light modulators (OASLM) on the basis of a semitransparent photoconducting film in contact with ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLC). The DHF effect (deformation of the helix structure) in ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLC) with helix-shaped structure is used here. The drive voltage has a frequency of 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.3 Hz at an amplitude of .+-.20 V, which is 10-50 times higher than that of devices operating with nematic liquid crystals. The device allows moving objects to be observed against the background of a bright light source (sun, lamp, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1997Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AGInventors: Wolfgang Dultz, Arkadii Onokhov, Leonid Beresnev, Wolfgang Haase
-
Patent number: 5973737Abstract: An apparatus is provided with an illuminating light source for illuminating a user's eye and an optical system for causing, Purkinje image and an anterior eye part image created by the illumination to be formed on a solid state image pickup element, and is designed such that the influence of extraneous light is mitigated in the output signal of the solid state image pickup element by the use of a polarizing element for selecting the polarization characteristic of the image light received by the solid state image pickup element.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1996Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hideo Yokota
-
Patent number: 5920348Abstract: An electronic camera having an image sensor to receive the light rays of an object and convert them into the electrical image signals comprises an optical finder capable of varying its enlarging magnification or photographing area; a reading device to read the signals of a part of the area of the image the rays of which are received by the image sensor; a reading area modifying device to modify the size of the area read from the image sensor in accordance with the enlarging magnification of the finder or the displayed photographing area. Further, such an electronic camera comprises a metering device to measure the distance between an object and the taking lens, and the reading area modifying device modifies the size and position of the area read from the image sensor in accordance with the finder magnification or the displayed photographing area and the measured value by the metering device.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1997Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Satoshi Ejima
-
Patent number: 5920347Abstract: An optical color separation system which separates light incident thereupon into at least two color components. The optical color separation system includes a plurality of dichroic mirrors that are arranged nonparallel to one another and along an optical axis of the incident light to reflect different color components. The dichroic mirrors are disposed at predetermined positions so that the respective color components of the incident light are reflected toward different relay positions corresponding to the respective color components. The incident light contains at least one color component, and is incident upon and reflected by one or more subsequent dichroic mirrors behind a frontmost dichroic mirror. The incident light is also transmitted through preceding dichroic mirrors including the frontmost dichroic mirror in accordance with at least one color component.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1996Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Harumi Aoki
-
Patent number: 5854657Abstract: Device for preventing entrance of backlight into an optical view finder for preventing degradation of an image, including a zoom lens part for adjusting a size and angle of an image signal of an objective in planning a picture frame, a mirror shutter part capable of opening and closing for sending the image signal processed in, and received from the zoom lens part to a first optical axis and a second optical axis, an image forming CCD part disposed at an image forming plane of the image signal of the zoom lens part on the first optical axis for converting the image formed on the first optical axis into an electric signal for applying the electric signal to a display or a recording medium, and an optical view finder part disposed on the second optical axis for adjusting a magnification of the image signal on the second optical axis by means of an internal optical system for being observed by an observer's eye.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1995Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Kee Tae Um
-
Patent number: 5848308Abstract: A finder optical system includes a photographing lens, an eyepiece having an optical axis substantially collinear with an optical axis of the photographing lens, and a relay optical system, including a relay lens system, disposed between the photographing lens and the eyepiece for optically connecting a primary focal plane of the photographing lens to a secondary focal plane disposed to be observed through the eyepiece. The relay lens system has an optical axis that is parallel with the optical axes of the photographing lens and the eyepiece, and the relay optical system includes a first pair of reflecting mirrors that relay the optical axis of the photographing lens to the optical axis of the relay lens system, and a second pair of reflecting mirrors that relay the optical axis of the relay lens system to the optical axis of the eyepiece.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1997Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Tomoaki Kawamura
-
Patent number: 5734428Abstract: There is disclosed a superimpose device for a single-lens reflex camera, which has a finder optical system including a focusing screen, a pentagonal roof type prism, and an eyepiece lens, a reflection plate which is arranged near the prospective imaging plane the finder optical system, and has micro-prisms forming a display portion, a plurality of light sources arranged near the vertex of the prism, and a projection optical element for deflecting illumination light from each light source by a reflection surface, and projecting the deflected light toward a front upper portion of the prism. The display portion illuminated with the illumination light via the prism, and light reflected by the display portion is guided to the eyepiece lens.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1995Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuo Suda, Jun Terashima, Masayuki Tanaka, Kazuyuki Nakagawa
-
Patent number: 5715003Abstract: A single lens reflex camera including a mirror-slit unit provided between a photographing lens and a recording medium and being provided with a pair of mirrors which can be selectively moved onto an optical axis of the photographing lens, and a slit provided between the mirrors; a reciprocally sliding mechanism which reciprocally moves the mirror-slit unit with respect to the recording medium, so that the slit gives the light to a picture area of the recording medium; and a photographing control mechanism which controls the reciprocally sliding mechanism, so that upon viewing, the mirrors of the mirror-slit unit are selectively moved onto the optical axis of the photographing lens so as to make the light incident upon a finder optical system, and upon photographing, the slit moves with respect to the picture area of the recording medium to make light, of an object to be photographed, incident upon the recording medium. The invention is also directed to an exposure method in the single lens reflex camera.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1995Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kyusei Kanno
-
Patent number: 5712684Abstract: A viewing apparatus exhibiting high performance and an image forming apparatus including the same. The viewing apparatus includes a projection optical system for projecting an image on a viewer's eye, a detector for detecting the refractive power of the viewer's eye, and an adjustor for adjusting the projection optical system so that the image is formed substantially on a viewer's eye fundus. The imaging apparatus includes an imager for forming an image of an object, a projection optical system for projecting the object image on the viewer's eye, a detector for detecting the refractive power of the viewer's eye, and an adjustor for adjusting the projection optical system so that the object image is formed substantially on the viewer's eye fundus in accordance with the refractive power of the viewer's eye.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shunsuke Inoue, Hidekazu Takahashi
-
Patent number: 5706051Abstract: An electronic camera includes a camera body, a plurality of image pickup devices which are immovably positioned in the camera body, a photographing optical system and a finder optical system. An optical element is provided and is movable with respect to the finder optical system and the image pickup devices between a first position in which a bundle of light transmitted through the photographing optical system is made incident upon the finder optical system, and a second position in which the bundle of light transmitted through the photographing optical system is split and the split beams are made incident onto the image pickup devices.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1995Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Makoto Mogamiya
-
Patent number: 5703643Abstract: A device intended to be associated, on the one hand, with a viewfinder, on the eyepiece side thereof, and, on the other hand, with a calculating mechanism, to form a system making it possible to determine at every instant that portion of a field sighted by the eye of an observer through the viewfinder. The device is arranged on the image side of the eyepiece of the viewfinder and includes a splitter element associated with a thick optical plate whose parallel faces are orthogonal to the optical axis of the finder.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1995Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale IndustrielleInventors: Jean-Pierre Merle, Martine Lassalle, Franck Bernoux, Maurice Adda
-
Patent number: 5699115Abstract: The user observes a liquid crystal display panel screen positioned within a lens barrel through a lens. An infrared LED that emits pulses of light and a phototransistor are positioned in an eyecup against which the user's eye is pressed. An ambient light detecting circuit provides a control signal showing whether or not the user's eye is pressed against the eyecup and a control signal showing the amount of ambient light on the basis of the output signal of the phototransistor. A control circuit controls the luminance of a backlight unit according to the control signals. When the user's eye is not pressed against the eyecup, the display luminance is reduced to zero and the display is turned off. The display luminance is enhanced only when the amount of ambient light is large. Thus, needless power consumption can be avoided, and the screen can be satisfactorily observed even if a large quantity of light enters into the ocular part where the ambient light is bright.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1995Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Hiraki, Toshio Koyama, Yoshihiro Ono, Katsuhiko Ueno, Satoshi Kimura
-
Patent number: 5682197Abstract: An electronic camera useful with a peripheral processor comprises an image sensor for producing image data, an output storage section, an electronic control processor for transferring the image data to the storage section, and a mode selector for indicating whether the camera is used for normal format pictures or for panoramic pictures. When the mode selector is set for panoramic pictures, the electronic control processor includes a panoramic mode indicator in a header with the image data. The peripheral processor keys on the mode indicator to process the tagged images into a panoramic picture. By further including alignment indicia in a view finder in the camera to aid the user in aligning adjacent images, the peripheral processor utilizes image addresses corresponding to the indicia locations to process the tagged images.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1995Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Omid A. Moghadam, Stuart F. Ring, John R. Squilla
-
Patent number: 5673084Abstract: A movie camera system having a function for projecting an image of an object being presently or previously imaged on an external screen, as well as a function for monitoring the image and a method of displaying a video signal therein. A composite video signal from a camera section or a VCR section is processed by a video signal processor in a display section so that it can be displayed on a display device including a matrix of pixels. The processed video signal from the video signal processor includes red, green and blue color signals. Arrangement of the proposed video signal is changed according to whether the projecting function or the view finding function is selected. According to the selected function, an optical image resulting from the video signal displayed on the display device is lighted by a large or small amount or light from a light source at the rear. The user can view or monitor the image on the display device through a focus lens unit at a front portion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1995Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae Cheol Lim, Myung Keon Yeo, Yong Taik Lim, Nam Su Lee, Jim Woo Seo, Dae Sul Shim
-
Patent number: 5640613Abstract: A lens assembly, image capturing device and a method for using a lens assembly with an image capturing device. The lens assembly comprises a first lens mounted on a holder which attaches the first lens to a viewing device of an image capturing device. A marking on the first lens is observable through the viewing device when the lens is attached to the viewing device such that the marking is capable of being used to position the lens assembly a properly focused distance from a target having a specified (predetermined) size. The relationship, as seen through the viewing device between the size of the object and the size of the marking may be used to properly position the camera relative to the target object.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1995Date of Patent: June 17, 1997Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Kazuhiko Yuyama, Robert A. Howard, Albert Yan
-
Patent number: 5557328Abstract: A video camera including a zoom-up lens assembly magnifying an image, a charge coupled device picking up the magnified image, a recording medium for storage of the magnified image and a viewfinder having a display panel and a liquid crystal device for determining a partial area of the display panel on which the magnified image to be recorded is displayed. The liquid crystal device is controlled by a microcomputer so as to form an opaque frame-like line surrounding the partial area of the display panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1994Date of Patent: September 17, 1996Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Keiko Ishihama, Tokuya Fukuda, Toshitaka Senuma, Toru Shiono
-
Patent number: 5548334Abstract: In a video camera, an outward protruding part is provided on a camera body which contains a converter for converting an object image into a video signal; a rotary unit having a viewfinder which is capable of displaying an image related to the video signal is provided with a connecting part which is of a shape corresponding to the protruding part; and the connecting part is turnable relative to the protruding part. The camera is thus arranged to be adequately operable under any shooting condition, to permit effective utilization of spaces available within the camera body, to reduce a load on the connecting part and to permit reduction in weight.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1994Date of Patent: August 20, 1996Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroyuki Ichiyoshi
-
Patent number: 5485200Abstract: The present invention relates to an operational information renewing and memorizing apparatus and method for a photographing instrument. In more detail, one example is a function renewing and memorizing apparatus and method for a still video apparatus which memorizes or reproduces a still picture, comprising a picture display device for displaying information relating to functions for recording and reproducing, a selecting device for selecting a predetermined function from the information displayed on the picture display device, a memory device for memorizing the information of said function selected by the selecting device.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1994Date of Patent: January 16, 1996Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hitoshi Shimizu
-
Patent number: 5483285Abstract: A move camera system having a function for projecting an image of an object being presently or previously imaged on an external screen, as well as a function for monitoring the image and a method of displaying a video signal therein. A composite video signal from a camera section or a VCR section is processed by a video signal processor in a display section so that be displayed on a display device including a matrix of pixels. The processed video signal from the video signal processor includes red, green and blue color signals. Arrangement of the proposed video signal is changed according to whether the projecting junction of the view finding function is selected. According to the selected function, an optical image resulting from the video signal displayed on the display device is lighted by a large or small amount of light from a light source at the rear. The user can view or monitor the image on the display device through a focus lens unit at a front portion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1993Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae C. Lim, Myung K. Yeo, Yong T. Lim, Nam S. Lee, Jin W. Seo, Dae S. Shim
-
Patent number: 5483387Abstract: A microstructure device having a array of deep lamellar structures resembling parallel plates has sharp high pass cut-off behavior associated with incident TE polarized radiation. When two such microstructures are disposed in an orthogonal orientation, they act like a 2-D array of rectangular waveguides with the cut-off behavior determined by the separation of the respective parallel plates. Another embodiment of the present invention employs a linear drive to articulate the array of coupled parallel plates to tune the filter to the operative incident radiation relatively independent of the angle of incidence. The microstructure finds application placed proximate the focal plane of an array of radiation sensitive material so that very high resolution multispectral images may be generated.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1994Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.Inventors: Paul E. Bauhahn, Thomas Ohnstein, James D. Zook
-
Patent number: 5459511Abstract: A camera having improved positioning of a variable aperture. A picture taking lens forms an image of a subject on an image forming plane. A picture taking optical system has a picture taking optical path which extends from the image forming plane to an image recording medium. The picture taking optical system receives the image formed on the image forming plane and projects the image to the image recording medium. A variable aperture is positioned in the picture taking optical path between the image forming plane and the image recording medium, and regulates light passing through the picture taking optical system without regulating light passing through a viewfinder optical system. Before an individual photograph is taken, the variable aperture is set to an aperture size which is approximately midway between the maximum aperture size and the minimum aperture size.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1994Date of Patent: October 17, 1995Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Ryo Uehara, Satoshi Ejima
-
Patent number: 5359422Abstract: A display device having a plurality of display modes may be used with a recording apparatus which records received image information on a recording medium. An information display is provided for displaying data. Exposure correction circuitry corrects an exposure characteristic of the received image and provides exposure correction information in response to a setting operation. Circuitry is provided for generating an identification code to be recorded on the recording medium together with the image information. Control circuitry is provided having a first display mode for causing the display to display the correction information from the exposure correction circuitry when the exposure correction information has been set, and a second display mode for causing the display to display the identification code generated by the generating circuitry instead of the correction information when the exposure correction information has not been set.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1993Date of Patent: October 25, 1994Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nobuo Fukushima