Lens Detail Patents (Class 396/382)
  • Patent number: 10816778
    Abstract: An image capture system including two imaging systems of the same structure each having a wide-angle lens, which includes a front group, a reflection surface, and a rear group arranged in order from an object side, has a field angle larger than 180 degrees, and bends an optical axis of the front group toward the rear group by the reflection surface, and an imaging sensor, obtains an image in a solid angle of 4? radian by combining images imaged by the imaging systems. Each of the two wide-angle lenses includes the reflection surface between the front group and the rear group, the reflection surfaces are made to be common to the two imaging systems. This reduces an interval between lenses nearest to the object side in the front groups of the two wide-angle lenses, thereby reducing a distance between maximum field angles of the two wide-angle lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Satoh, Noriyuki Terao, Yoshiaki Irino, Tomonori Tanaka, Nozomi Imae, Toru Harada, Hirokazu Takenaka, Hideaki Yamamoto, Kensuke Masuda, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Daisuke Bessho, Makoto Shohara, Yoichi Ito, Shusaku Takasu
  • Patent number: 9215976
    Abstract: A control unit, if insertion of a diopter correction lens or retraction of the diopter correction lens is detected, moves a focusing lens to a position according to an insertion or retraction state of the diopter correction lens corresponding to a position of the focusing lens detected by a focusing lens position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 8977118
    Abstract: In a variable magnification viewfinder device, information displayed on a liquid crystal panel and a viewfinder image are combined with each other through a prism. When a variable power lens is inserted in a viewfinder optical path, viewfinder magnification is changed. Based on the change in the viewfinder magnification, brightness of a backlight unit is changed and luminance of the information displayed on the liquid crystal panel is changed. In a viewfinder field of view, the information and the viewfinder image are displayed at substantially the same brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori Tamura
  • Patent number: 8942554
    Abstract: A camera viewfinder viewer accessory mountable on a camera includes an elongated body portion having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end. A light-transmitting passageway extends through the body portion from the first end to the second end. A connector is disposed adjacent to the first end. The body portion second end includes an angled face disposed at a generally 45° angle relative to the longitudinal axis. An eyepiece is connected to the body portion second end adjacent the angled face. The eyepiece has a longitudinal axis generally disposed at an angle that is 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the body portion. A viewfinder image is directed from the camera viewfinder along the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the image is redirected along the longitudinal axis of the eyepiece, to be viewed through the eyepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hoodman Corporation
    Inventors: Louis J. Schmidt, Michael R. Schmidt, Robert P. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140233933
    Abstract: A camera viewfinder viewer accessory mountable on a camera includes an elongated body portion having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end. A light-transmitting passageway extends through the body portion from the first end to the second end. A connector is disposed adjacent to the first end. The body portion second end includes an angled face disposed at a generally 45° angle relative to the longitudinal axis. An eyepiece is connected to the body portion second end adjacent the angled face. The eyepiece has a longitudinal axis generally disposed at an angle that is 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the body portion. A viewfinder image is directed from the camera viewfinder along the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the image is redirected along the longitudinal axis of the eyepiece, to be viewed through the eyepiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Louis J. Schmidt, Michael R. Schmidt, Robert P. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8427571
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a first lens group; and a second lens group, which are arranged in order from an object side toward an image surface side, wherein the first lens group includes a first lens element, a first transparent body, and a second lens element, which are arranged in order from the object side toward the image surface side, and the second lens group includes a third lens element, a second transparent body and a fourth lens element, which are arranged in order from the object side toward the image surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Anteryon BV
    Inventors: Tomohiko Baba, Louis Sander
  • Patent number: 7978417
    Abstract: The invention relates to an eyepiece optical system that, albeit being of small size, works in favor of gaining an angle of field and optical performance, and an electronic view finder incorporating such an eyepiece optical system. Specifically, the invention is characterized by comprising, in order from an object side to an exit side thereof, a first lens group that is a single lens that has positive refracting power and is in a meniscus configuration concave on its object side, a second lens group that is a single lens that has negative refracting power and is in a meniscus configuration concave on its object side, and a third lens group that is a single lens that has positive refracting power, wherein an object-side concave lens surface in the first lens group is an aspheric surface, an object-side concave lens surface in the second lens group is an aspheric surface, and an exit-side lens surface in the third lens group is an aspheric surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Akinori Nishio, Keitaro Yokohama, Daichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 7969658
    Abstract: The invention relates to an eyepiece optical system that, albeit being of small size, works in favor of gaining an angle of field and optical performance, and an electronic view finder incorporating such an eyepiece optical system. Specifically, the invention is characterized by comprising, in order from an object side to an exit side thereof, a first lens group that is a single lens that has positive refracting power and is in a meniscus configuration concave on its object side, a second lens group that is a single lens that has negative refracting power and is in a meniscus configuration concave on its object side, and a third lens group that is a single lens that has positive refracting power, wherein an object-side concave lens surface in the first lens group is an aspheric surface, an object-side concave lens surface in the second lens group is an aspheric surface, and an exit-side lens surface in the third lens group is an aspheric surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Akinori Nishio, Keitaro Yokoyama, Daichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 7962020
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, and an optical system configured to image light from an imaging subject on the imaging device. The optical system includes a group of lenses and an aperture diaphragm. When NP point is defined as a point where an extended linear component in an object space of a principal ray located in a Gauss region and selected from among principal rays passing through a center of the aperture diaphragm of the optical system crosses an optical axis of the optical system, D represents a diameter of a lens at the closest side to the imaging subject, and LN represents a distance from a lens surface of the lens at the closest side to the imaging subject to the NP point, a formula; 0?LN?D (1) is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Yoshikawa, Noriyuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7940466
    Abstract: The invention provides a viewing optical system positioned between a viewing plane as a virtual plane and an eye point. The viewing optical system comprises, in order from the viewing plane side, a cemented lens in which at least one negative lens and at least one positive lens are cemented together and one positive lens, and satisfies the following condition (1). ?8<r3/f<?0.2??(1) Here r3 is the radius of curvature of the lens surface positioned in the cemented lens and nearest to the viewing plane side, and f is the focal length of the whole viewing optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Ayako Asakura, Hisashi Goto
  • Patent number: 7912368
    Abstract: An eyepiece lens system for an electronic viewfinder, usable to be disposed on an optical axis between a reflective LCD of the viewfinder and a last optical surface of the viewfinder, the eyepiece lens system comprising: a first lens having a positive refractive index; a second lens having a negative refractive index; and a third lens having a positive refractive index, wherein the first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are disposed in this order from a side of the LCD to a side of the last optical surface, satisfying the conditions: 18 mm<f1<20 mm, ?18 mm<f2<?16 mm, 18 mm<f3<20 mm, 19 mm<f<21 mm, and 0?HH?/f<+0.13 where f1 is a focal length of the first lens, f2 is a focal length of the second lens, f3 is a focal length of the third lens, f is a combined focal length of the first to the third lenses, and HH? is distance in an optical axis direction between a rear principal point H and a front principal point H?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yushi Ogino, Kunio Niwa, Takayuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7761003
    Abstract: A single lens reflex camera has a finder optical system that observes an image formed on a reticle by an objective lens, and a photometric device that measures light transmitted through the reticle via at least a part of the finder optical system, at a position shifted from an optical axis of the finder optical system. The finder optical system comprises a Fresnel lens surface which transmits light from the objective lens, and the Fresnel lens surface is positioned so that the center of the Fresnel lens surface is shifted in a direction to cross the optical axis of the finder optical system according to a position of the photometric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Motohisa Mouri
  • Patent number: 7761005
    Abstract: A relay finder optical system, of a single-lens reflex camera, includes a condenser lens group, a prism, and a relay lens group, in this order from a primary imaging plane. An image, which is formed on the primary imaging plane, and is upside down and inverted from left to right, is re-formed on a secondary imaging plane for viewing by a photographer. The relay lens group includes a positive front lens group, a negative intermediate lens group, and a positive rear lens group, in this order from the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Yano
  • Patent number: 7729610
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging apparatus having (a) an eyepiece type viewfinder formed on a predetermined plane of the imaging apparatus; (b) an operation member for diopter adjustment of said viewfinder; and (c) a light shielding member for suppressing entrance of external light into said viewfinder, the light shielding member protruding from the predetermined plane around the viewfinder by a constant height. In the apparatus, the operation member is disposed not to protrude from an outer border of the predetermined plane, and a recess is formed in the light shielding member above the operation member so that the operation member is substantially accommodated in the recess inner than an opening edge of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kei Tomatsu
  • Patent number: 7706682
    Abstract: Described is a wide-angle slip-on viewfinder (1) on rangefinder cameras for analog and digital wide-angle recordings of different image recording formats with lenses of different focal lengths, comprising three lens groups (LG1, LG2, LG3), a frame/mask unit (10) and a partially transmissive prism cube (8) which is designed as a combination element, wherein, on the light entrance side (4) in the viewfinder beam path (9), a first lens group (LG1) has a negative refractive power and the second and third lens groups (LG2, LG3) have a positive refractive power, wherein the second lens group (LG2) is composed of a first lens (L3) arranged downstream of the first lens group (LG1) and a second lens (L4) arranged on the light exit side (7) and the partially transmissive prism cube (8) is arranged between the lenses (L3, L4) and the third lens group (LG3) is arranged in a mask imaging beam path (11) which is at right angles to the viewfinder beam path (9) between the frame/mask unit (10) and the partially transmissive
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Camera AG
    Inventors: Kathrin Keller, Uwe Reinstädtler
  • Publication number: 20090290863
    Abstract: The present invention provides a viewfinder, characterized by comprising a reflection type display device on which an object image is displayed, an eyepiece optical system having a front group and a rear group, an illumination optical system for illuminating the reflection type display device and an optical device for putting an optical path taken by the illumination optical system over an optical path from said reflection type display device to the eyepiece optical system at a position of the widest of lens-to-lens spaces in the eyepiece optical system. The eyepiece optical system is located between the reflection type display device and an eye point, and satisfies the following condition (1): 0.1<Y/Dm<1??(1) where Dm is the widest lens-to-lens space, and Y is the length of the reflection type display device from the center to one side thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Ayako Asakura, Hisashi Goto
  • Publication number: 20090290864
    Abstract: The invention provides a viewing optical system positioned between a viewing plane as a virtual plane and an eye point. The viewing optical system comprises, in order from the viewing plane side, a cemented lens in which at least one negative lens and at least one positive lens are cemented together and one positive lens, and satisfies the following condition (1). ?8<r3/f<?0.2??(1) Here r3 is the radius of curvature of the lens surface positioned in the cemented lens and nearest to the viewing plane side, and f is the focal length of the whole viewing optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Ayako Asakura, Hisashi Goto
  • Patent number: 7605983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a viewing optical system for viewing an object image formed on a focusing screen, and an imaging apparatus comprising the same. An image erection optical system comprises a prism having an internal reflective surface. An eyepiece optical system comprises, in order from a screen side to an exit pupil side, a first lens component having negative refracting power wherein its exit pupil-side surface has a paraxial-radius-of-curvature absolute value smaller than that of its screen-side surface, a second lens component in a double-convex shape and a third meniscus lens component in a meniscus shape concave on an exit pupil side. The total number of lens components included in the eyepiece optical system is 3, and the following conditions (1), (2) and (3) are satisfied. 1.55<ndp??(1) 0.35<fe/Dip<0.60??(2) 1.0<D3/(D1+D2)<1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Keitaro Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7542670
    Abstract: An eyepiece includes, in order from the object side, a first lens with positive power, a second lens with positive power, and a third lens with negative power. The first lens is a positive meniscus lens with a convex surface facing the object side, and the eyepiece fails to have a fourth lens. The eyepiece satisfies the following conditions: 0.6<f1/f<1.2 ?2.0<f1-2/f3<?1.0 ?0.45<f3/f<?0.25 where f1 is the focal length of the first lens; f1-2 is a combined focal length of the first and second lenses and is a focal length where a diopter is ?1 m?1 when the focal length of the eyepiece is changed; f3 is the focal length of the third lens; and f is the focal length of the entire system of the eyepiece and is a focal length where a diopter is ?1 m?1 when the focal length of the eyepiece is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyasu Takato
  • Patent number: 7483628
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical viewfinder of a camera having the function of taking photographs, and the viewfinder comprises an objective module, a base, an eyepiece module and an upper casing. The objective module and the eyepiece module are fixed onto the front end and rear end of the base respectively and the upper casing is connected between the objective module and the eyepiece module and disposed in the middle section of the base. The simple structure of the invention is designed according to the principle of optical reflection and features a high resolution, an easy installation, and a convenient production, and the optical viewfinder is extensively used for cameras to substitute a high-cost electronic LCD screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Top Eight Industrial Corp.
    Inventor: Claire Lee Jung Kuo
  • Publication number: 20080292302
    Abstract: A single lens reflex camera has a finder optical system that observes an image formed on a reticle by an objective lens, and a photometric device that measures light transmitted through the reticle via at least a part of the finder optical system, at a position shifted from an optical axis of the finder optical system. The finder optical system comprises a Fresnel lens surface which transmits light from the objective lens, and the Fresnel lens surface is positioned so that the center of the Fresnel lens surface is shifted in a direction to cross the optical axis of the finder optical system according to a position of the photometric device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Motohisa MOURI
  • Publication number: 20080267609
    Abstract: An eyepiece includes, in order from the object side, a first lens with positive power, a second lens with positive power, and a third lens with negative power. The first lens is a positive meniscus lens with a convex surface facing the object side, and the eyepiece fails to have a fourth lens. The eyepiece satisfies the following conditions: 0.6<f1/f<1.2 ?2.0<f1-2/f3<?1.0 ?0.45<f3/f<?0.25 where f1 is the focal length of the first lens; f1-2 is a combined focal length of the first and second lenses and is a focal length where a diopter is ?1 m?1 when the focal length of the eyepiece is changed; f3 is the focal length of the third lens; and f is the focal length of the entire system of the eyepiece and is a focal length where a diopter is ?1 m?1 when the focal length of the eyepiece is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Hideyasu Takato
  • Patent number: 7414669
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus with a laser-framing viewfinder includes a housing, a laser source installed inside the housing for generating a laser beam, a first lens installed inside the housing for diverging the laser beam, a framing mask for masking the laser beam diverged by the first lens to form a laser-framing viewfinder, and a camera lens installed in the housing for capturing an object in the laser-framing viewfinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Transpacific Plasma, LLC
    Inventors: Shan-Wen Chang, Eric Hor
  • Patent number: 7391968
    Abstract: An eyepiece includes, in order from the object side, a first lens with positive power, a second lens with positive power, and a third lens with negative power. The first lens is a positive meniscus lens with a convex surface facing the object side, and the eyepiece fails to have a fourth lens. The eyepiece satisfies the following conditions: 0.6<f1/f<1.2 ?2.0<f1-2/f3<?1.0 ?0.45<f3/f<?0.25 where f1 is the focal length of the first lens; f1-2 is a combined focal length of the first and second lenses and is a focal length where a diopter is ?1 m?1 when the focal length of the eyepiece is changed; f3 is the focal length of the third lens; and f is the focal length of the entire system of the eyepiece and is a focal length where a diopter is ?1 m?1 when the focal length of the eyepiece is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyasu Takato
  • Publication number: 20080031613
    Abstract: Described is a wide-angle slip-on viewfinder (1) on rangefinder cameras for analog and digital wide-angle recordings of different image recording formats with lenses of different focal lengths, comprising three lens groups (LG1, LG2, LG3), a frame/mask unit (10) and a partially transmissive prism cube (8) which is designed as a combination element, wherein, on the light entrance side (4) in the viewfinder beam path (9), a first lens group (LG1) has a negative refractive power and the second and third lens groups (LG2, LG3) have a positive refractive power, wherein the second lens group (LG2) is composed of a first lens (L3) arranged downstream of the first lens group (LG1) and a second lens (L4) arranged on the light exit side (7) and the partially transmissive prism cube (8) is arranged between the lenses (L3, L4) and the third lens group (LG3) is arranged in a mask imaging beam path (11) which is at right angles to the viewfinder beam path (9) between the frame/mask unit (10) and the partially transmissive
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Kathrin Keller, Uwe Reinstadtler
  • Publication number: 20070286594
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a viewfinder optical system which includes a first mirror having a roof shape configured to reflect light from an object image formed by a photographic lens towards the object image, a second mirror configured to reflect light reflected from the first mirror towards an observation side, and an eyepiece lens configured to receive light reflected from the second mirror. The second mirror includes a rotationally asymmetrical surface. The eyepiece lens includes at least one rotationally asymmetrical surface. The eyepiece lens includes a plurality of lenses, among which a lens closest to the second mirror includes a rotationally asymmetrical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takaho Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7236698
    Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system equipped with an electronic viewfinder suitable for compactness and having a sufficient angle of viewing field and satisfactory optical performance, especially the ability to prevent harmful light. The imaging system comprises an image pickup optical system, an image pickup device for receiving a light beam guided by the image pickup optical system, an image display device for displaying an image thereon, a controller for converting image information obtained from the image pickup device into signals capable of being displayed on the image display device, and a viewing optical system for guiding an image appearing on the image display device to a viewer's eye. The viewing optical system comprises, in order from an image display device side, one negative lens and one positive lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Tochigi, Hirohiko Kimata
  • Patent number: 7076161
    Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit comprises a main body, a bottom lid, and a photo film. The main body has an exposure chamber with a taking lens. The exposure chamber is provided with a plane mirror disposed in such a manner as to be inclined 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis of the taking lens. Since the plane mirror reflects light from a subject, a photographic optical path of the light is perpendicularly bent. Subject light forms an image on the photo film disposed in parallel with the optical axis. A side print is exposed in the manufacture on the lateral edge of the photo film. Since the orientation of the photographed image is the same as that of the side print, it is possible to easily confirm the orientation of the photographed image in the development and print processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazumi Koike
  • Patent number: 7020392
    Abstract: An objective that is a concave lens and an ocular that is a convex lens are arranged in a finder housing with a predetermined space between them. The finder housing is molded of a black plastic material. A diaphragm portion is integrally formed inside an inner peripheral portion of the finder housing and between the objective and the ocular. The diaphragm portion is formed to be as large as a lens portion of the ocular. The diaphragm portion serves to block unwanted reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignees: IDT Data System Limited, Fuji Film Axia Co., Ltd, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Raymond Chan, Yiu Hung Li, Nobuaki Higashi, Mikihiko Kato
  • Patent number: 6973266
    Abstract: A finder optical system includes an eyepiece optical system with a positive refracting power. The eyepiece optical system includes an optical unit with a positive refracting power and a lens unit with a positive refracting power, In the eyepiece optical system, a refracting surface that is located most distant from an eyepoint of the eyepiece optical system has a positive refracting power and is configured as an aspherical surface with a negative refracting power on a periphery thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Tochigi
  • Patent number: 6962447
    Abstract: A camera includes a screen on which an image of an object is projected, a plurality of reflection surfaces for erecting the image on the screen, and an eyepiece system with positive refracting power for observing the image. In this case, the eyepiece system includes, in order from the object side, a first lens component with positive refracting power, a second lens component with positive refracting power, and a third lens component with negative refracting power. Spacings between the first lens component and the second lens component and between the second lens component and the third lens component are changed to thereby make a diopter adjustment, and the camera satisfies the following conditions: 0.15<tan(S)<0.35 2.00<fb/Y<4.00 ?0.80<f3/f<?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuzi Ogata
  • Patent number: 6930719
    Abstract: A lens unit structure for an SLR digital camera is provided with a photographing lens block and a finder block. The photographing lens block includes a lens barrel having a pair of guide shafts extending in parallel with an optical axis. Ends of the guide shafts are secured to the lens barrel. A focusing lens and a zoom lens are slidably supported by the guide shaft so as to move in a direction of the optical axis, but prevents the lenses from moving in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The finder block includes a casing that accommodates a finder optical system, a CCD, and a beam splitter. The beam splitter splits the light from the photographing lens block into components directed to the finder optical system and the image capturing element. The casing has a plurality of holes respectively receiving the pair of guide shaft members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Nakagishi, Isao Okuda
  • Patent number: 6927907
    Abstract: A reference plate is situated on an optical axis of an eyepiece. The reference plate includes a first glass plate and a second glass plate. One surface of the first glass plate and one surface of the second glass plate are bonded. Cross hairs are formed on the bonded surface of the first glass plate by using a chromium plating and so on. A radius of curvature of the bonded surface accords with the field curvature of the sagittal image surface of the eyepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 6903774
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Suda
  • Patent number: 6862411
    Abstract: A real image mode finder optical system is constructed to be independent of a photographing optical system and includes, in order from the object side, an objective optical system with a positive refracting power, a field frame located in the proximity of the imaging position of the objective optical system, and an eyepiece optical system with a positive refracting power. The real image mode finder optical system has an image erecting means, and the focal length of the objective optical system can be made shorter than that of the eyepiece optical system. In this case, the real image mode finder optical system satisfies the following condition: 0.52<mh/fe<1 where mh is the maximum width of the field frame and fe is the focal length of the eyepiece optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Tochigi
  • Patent number: 6856465
    Abstract: A optical viewfinder has a single viewfinder element formed from a homogenous material such as glass or plastic. The viewfinder element has an object surface and an image surface. The object and image surfaces are centered on a common optical axis. The object surface has a periphery extending to a first clear aperture, CA1. The image surface has a periphery extending to a second clear aperture, CA2. A reticle is formed on the object surface. The reticle is centered on the optical axis. A micro-lens is formed on the image surface and is centered on the optical axis. The micro-lens has a periphery extending to a third clear aperture, CA3 inside of the diameter of the second clear aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Inventor: Alex Ning
  • Patent number: 6847482
    Abstract: An image-erecting viewing optical system includes a first prism having an incident surface and at least two reflection surfaces, a front lens group of an objective optical system, a second prism having an incident surface and at least two reflection surfaces, a rear lens group of the objective optical system, a field stop, and an eyepiece optical system, in this order from the object. One reflection surface of the first or second prism includes a roof-mirror surface. The following conditions are satisfied: sin(????)>1/n??(1) 6°<?<16°??(2) wherein ? designates an angle between the incident surface and the first reflection surface of the first prism; ? designates a real field-of-view ? (half amount); ?? designates an angle between a light ray of a real field-of-view ? (half amount) and the optical axis within the first prism; and n designates the refractive index of the first prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Ishii, Satoru Nemoto
  • Patent number: 6836619
    Abstract: In the microlens array, a plurality of microlenses are formed with an irregularity or probability-distributed regularity so as to differ from a hypothetical base pattern, the hypothetical base pattern having apexes of hypothetical microlenses each spaced apart from every adjacent microlens thereof by an equal distance L. All the apex positions of the microlenses lie within circles each centered on an apex position in said hypothetical base pattern and having a radius equal to or smaller than 0.3L, or meet a condition: 0.4L ≦P ≦1.6L. In this way, a microlens array with bright and clean viewing characteristics and a high reproducibility of a shape of each microlens is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Ohmura
  • Patent number: 6804462
    Abstract: A camera includes a screen on which an image of an object is projected, a plurality of reflection surfaces for erecting the image on the screen, and an eyepiece system with positive refracting power for observing the image. In this case, the eyepiece system includes, in order from the object side, a first lens component with positive refracting power, a second lens component with positive refracting power, and a third lens component with negative refracting power. Spacings between the first lens component and the second lens component and between the second lens component and the third lens component are changed to thereby make a diopter adjustment, and the camera satisfies the following conditions: 0.15<tan(S)<0.35 2.00<fb/Y<4.00 −0.80<f3/f<−0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuzi Ogata, Tomoyuki Satori
  • Publication number: 20040081447
    Abstract: A real image mode finder optical system is constructed to be independent of a photographing optical system and includes, in order from the object side, an objective optical system with a positive refracting power, a field frame located in the proximity of the imaging position of the objective optical system, and an eyepiece optical system with a positive refracting power. The real image mode finder optical system has an image erecting means, and the focal length of the objective optical system can be made shorter than that of the eyepiece optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Tochigi
  • Patent number: 6724992
    Abstract: A compact finder with excellent optical performance, and a camera including the finder are disclosed. The finder of the present invention includes an objective optical system, and an eyepiece optical system. The objective optical system includes, from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive power, a second lens unit having negative power, a third lens unit having positive power, and a fourth lens unit having positive power. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the second lens unit is moved toward the image side, the third lens unit is moved toward the object side, and the fourth lens unit is moved such that an air space between the fourth lens unit and the third lens unit is changed. The camera of the present invention includes a photo-taking optical system, and the finder of the present invention whose optical axis is different from an optical axis of the photo-taking optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yumiko Kato, Akihiro Nishio
  • Patent number: 6724991
    Abstract: A camera has a body and a taking lens mounted to the body. The taking lens defines a subject field. A viewing window is joined to the body. The viewing window is transmissive of a light image of the subject field. The viewing window bears a holographic image of a reticle. A light source faces the viewing window and illuminates the holographic image. The reticle produced can be binocularly viewable, that is, viewable by the photographer with both eyes while the photographer looks through the viewing window to compose a scene image for picture taking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Scott B. Chase
  • Patent number: 6711356
    Abstract: A real-image variable-magnification viewfinder includes objective optical system having positive optical power, eyepiece optical system having positive optical power, and erecting optical system. The objective optical system has first lens unit having positive optical power, second lens unit having negative optical power, and third lens unit having positive optical power. As zooming is performed from wide-angle end to telephoto end, second and third lens units are moved so they come closer to each other. Following conditional formulae are fulfilled: −0.75<m2W<−0.3, −2<m2T<−1.05, −0.75<m3W<−0.3, −2<m3T<−1.05, l2>l3, where m2W and m2T represents lateral magnification of second lens unit at wide-angle end and at telephoto end, m3W and m3T represents lateral magnification of third lens unit at wide-angle end and at telephoto end, and L2 and L3 represent movement distance of second lens unit and of third lens unit over entire zoom range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuto Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6701082
    Abstract: A camera has a rangefinder device having an optical system constituted by a plurality of optical elements and a diopter adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the observation diopter of the rangefinder device by operation by the user from outside the camera. In addition, there are provided an operating member that operates the diopter adjustment mechanism and an adjustment mechanism that effects adjustment such that the observation diopter of the rangefinder device is at a predetermined value when the operating member is in a prescribed position. By this means, a camera having a diopter adjustment mechanism whereby the relative positional relationship of the operating member and driven member can always be ensured such that the observation diopter gets equal to the predetermined observation diopter that is to be set when the operating member is arranged in the prescribed position. This can be realized by a straightforward construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Takase, Hiroshi Kahara, Yukihiko Sugita
  • Patent number: 6692163
    Abstract: A single-lens reflex camera provided with an eyepiece includes a screen on which an image of an object is projected, a plurality of reflecting surfaces for erecting the image projected on the screen, and an eyepiece with positive refracting power for observing the image. In this case, the eyepiece has, in order from the object side, a first lens component with positive refracting power, a second lens component with positive refracting power, and a third lens component with negative refracting power and satisfies the following conditions: 0.15<tan S<0.35 2.00<fb/Y<5.00 −0.67<f3/f<−0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuzi Ogata
  • Patent number: 6671461
    Abstract: A real image mode finder optical system is constructed to be independent of a photographing optical system and includes, in order from the object side, an objective optical system with a positive refracting power, a field frame located in the proximity of the imaging position of the objective optical system, and an eyepiece optical system with a positive refracting power. The real image mode finder optical system has an image erecting means, and the focal length of the objective optical system can be made shorter than that of the eyepiece optical system. In this case, the real image mode finder optical system satisfies the following condition: 0.52<mh/fe<1 where mh is the maximum width of the field frame and fe is the focal length of the eyepiece optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Tochigi
  • Patent number: 6597872
    Abstract: An inverted Galilean finder is composed of an objective lens of a negative power and an eyepiece of a positive power, which are formed from a polystyrene resin by injection molding. The objective lens has a concave surface oriented to the eyepiece, and the eyepiece has a convex surface oriented to the objective lens. The inverted Galilean finder satisfies the following conditions: −0.75≦f1/f2≦−0.60 f1≦−22 −3.2≦f1/d≦−1.5 wherein f1 is a focal length of the objective lens, f2 is a focal length of the eyepiece, and “d” is an on-axis surface distance between the concave surface of the objective lens and the convex surface of the eyepiece. The inverted Galilean finder of the present invention provides a magnification of about 0.6 to 0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 6587644
    Abstract: A finder unit includes an objective optical system for forming a viewing image, an inverting optical system for making the viewing image formed by the objective optical system an erecting normal image, an eyepiece optical system for viewing the viewing image, a first optical component deployed closer to the objective optical system than the viewing image formation position, and a second optical component deployed closer to the eyepiece optical system than the viewing image formation position; and satisfies the condition 8<1000×(D1+D2)/f2(1/m) when the focal length of the eyepiece optical system is represented as f (mm), the distance from the viewing image formation position to the first optical component as D1 (mm), and the distance from the viewing image formation position to the second optical component as D2 (mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Takase, Yukihiko Sugita, Shinya Takahashi, Shigeru Kato
  • Patent number: 6571068
    Abstract: The invention relates to a view finder with improved structure for providing accurate posisioning and alignment of optical elements of its optical system. The view finder comprises an object lens system at least one lens of which is movable along an optical axis of the object lens system being guided by a first guide shaft and an eye-piece lens system at least one lens of which is movable along an optical axis of the eye-piece lens system being guided by a second guide shaft, wherein the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft are positioned in axial alignment. Preferably the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft are integrally formed and immovable optical elements such as fixed lens and prism of the optical system are also supported by the same guide shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motokazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6556782
    Abstract: A camera has a capture unit and a body holding the capture unit. The body has a front cover, a rear cover, and an internal cavity disposed between the covers. The body has a viewfinder box extending from an outer surface of one of the covers to an outer surface of the other cover. A viewfinder lens unit is disposed in the viewfinder box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: David J. Cornell