Selective Or Adjustable Viewfinder Field Patents (Class 396/378)
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Patent number: 10831908Abstract: A computer-implemented method may include (1) generating or receiving, at a computing device, display data defining a display layout and one or more fields; (2) providing, on a display screen of the computing device and by processing the display data, a display that initially obscures an item of information in a secure field without obscuring an entirety of the display; (3) detecting, using at least a camera of the computing device, a change in orientation of a user relative to the computing device; and (4) in response to the change in orientation, causing the display to show the item of information in the secure field, and after causing the display to show the item, (i) detecting an expiration of a predetermined time limit, and (ii) in response to detecting the expiration, causing the display to again obscure the item in the secure field without obscuring the entirety of the display.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Michael Paul Austin, Erika Knittel, Jacob L. Hadsall
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Patent number: 10557975Abstract: In a reflection mirror having a concave curved reflection surface, when a surface of the reflection mirror on the side where the reflection surface is formed is a front surface, a surface thereof opposite to the front surface is a rear surface, a direction parallel to an optical axis of the reflection mirror is a first direction, and a direction from the front surface toward the rear surface which is oriented to one side in the first direction is a second direction, the rear surface of the reflection mirror has a flat surface orthogonal to the first direction and a wall surface that rises from at least a part of a region around the flat surface toward the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Nittoh Inc.Inventor: Takashi Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 10321048Abstract: Embodiments of the present application disclose an interaction method, an interaction apparatus, and user equipment. The method comprises: acquiring input information corresponding to a focal-length decreasing operation on an image collection device; and in response to that the image collection device is in a shortest focal-length state, triggering, at least according to the input information, the image collection device to enter a panoramic shooting mode. For technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, a focal-length decreasing operation on an image collection device when the image collection device is in a shortest focal-length state is used to implement switching of the image collection device from a normal shooting mode to a panoramic shooting mode, so that use of a user becomes convenient, and also a use habit of the user is met, thereby improving user experience.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: BEIJING ZHIGU RUI TUP TECH CO., LTD.Inventor: Dayong Ding
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Patent number: 9008499Abstract: An optical viewfinder is configured to be attached to a camera body with an interchangeable lens. The optical viewfinder includes: a Keplerian viewfinder optical system 301 including a scalable objective lens group 330; a stepping motor 305 configured to drive the objective lens group 330 along an optical axis; and a control circuit configured to control driving of the stepping motor 305 based on a result of detection by a PI 306. When a variable focal length lens (an interchangeable lens) is attached to a camera body, the control circuit controls driving of the stepping motor 305 in accordance with a focal length of the variable focal length lens and displays at least a photographing frame on an EVF panel 307.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventor: Dai Shintani
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Patent number: 8953935Abstract: In an illumination arrangement (1) for an image field delimiting frame (2) of a mixed-image viewfinder camera having an observation beam path (9) and a viewfinder beam path (3), the illumination arrangement is arranged in the viewfinder beam path (3) in the direction of light upstream of the image field delimiting frame (2), the illumination is formed by an active light source (14, 14?) and the viewfinder beam path (3) is mechanically delimited (16, 22) within the illumination apparatus (1) with respect to the light source (14, 14?).Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Leica Camera AGInventor: Horst Stieger
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Patent number: 8942554Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 19, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Hoodman CorporationInventors: Louis J. Schmidt, Michael R. Schmidt, Robert P. Schmidt
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Patent number: 8559808Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging sensor, a reticle, a focus detection unit, a spectroscopic member, and a diffusion coefficient controller. The imaging sensor is configured to receive light from a lens unit. The reticle is capable of changing a diffusion coefficient. The focus detection unit is configured to detect a focus state of an imaging surface based on a signal from the imaging sensor. The spectroscopic member is configured to split the light from the lens unit to the reticle and the focus detection unit. The diffusion coefficient controller is configured to change the diffusion coefficient of the reticle. The diffusion coefficient controller controls a diffusion coefficient of a portion of the reticle corresponding to a defocus range to be higher than a diffusion coefficient of a portion of the reticle corresponding to a focusing range according to the focus state detected by the focus detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Haruhisa Ueda
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Publication number: 20130243414Abstract: In an illumination arrangement (1) for an image field delimiting frame (2) of a mixed-image viewfinder camera having an observation beam path (9) and a viewfinder beam path (3), the illumination arrangement is arranged in the viewfinder beam path (3) in the direction of light upstream of the image field delimiting frame (2), the illumination is formed by an active light source (14, 14?) and the viewfinder beam path (3) is mechanically delimited (16, 22) within the illumination apparatus (1) with respect to the light source (14, 14?)Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: LEICA CAMERA AGInventor: Horst STIEGER
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Patent number: 8503875Abstract: A fluidic viewfinder device may include a support member having an opening forming an aperture and a fluidic lens disposed at least partially in communication with the aperture and support member. The fluidic lens may comprise a first optical surface and a second optical surface, one or more of which includes an elastic membrane. A fluid may be enclosed in at least a portion of the fluidic lens. The optical properties of the fluidic lens may be changed by displacement of the fluid, e.g., due to movement of a slide member or a rotating yoke.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Holochip CorporationInventors: Andrei Szilagyi, Robert G. Batchko
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Publication number: 20130045001Abstract: Provided is a finder unit including: a transmission-type display section that displays information as overlaid on a subject image; and a display controller that, when an illuminating section illuminates the display section, changes a first display state to a second display state, where in the first display state, a first region which is at least a part of an outer region of an effective image capturing range is displayed so that a transmission ratio of the subject image in the first region is lowered, and in the second display state, a second region which is a part of the outer region and is smaller in area than the first region is displayed so that a transmission ratio of the subject image in the second region is lowered.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2012Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Shinya HARA
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Patent number: 8345139Abstract: An eyepiece lens includes, in order from an image display surface side to an observer side, a positive first lens, a negative second lens, and a positive third lens. A surface on the image display surface side of the positive first lens has a refractive power stronger than a refractive power of an opposite surface thereof. The negative second lens has a meniscus shape, and a surface on the image display surface side of the negative second lens has a convex shape. Both surfaces of the positive third lens have a convex shape. In the eyepiece lens, during diopter adjustment, the first through the third lenses move along an optical axis. A focal length (f) of the entire eyepiece lens and a diagonal length (H) of the image display surface satisfy the following conditions: 0.45<H/f<0.70, and 21.0 (mm)<f<29.0 (mm).Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2011Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyuki Miyazawa, Yasuaki Hagiwara
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Patent number: 8224167Abstract: An adjustment device including an enhanced underwater viewfinder having, in use, a substantially watertight body and including a plurality of prisms within the body, at least one of the prisms being moveable by element of a control mechanism operable from a position exterior of the body.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Nauticam International LimitedInventor: Yuk Shing Lai
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Patent number: 7978417Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 24, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.Inventors: Akinori Nishio, Keitaro Yokohama, Daichi Murakami
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Patent number: 7969658Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.Inventors: Akinori Nishio, Keitaro Yokoyama, Daichi Murakami
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Patent number: 7899322Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes the following elements. A photographing unit photographs an object. A position detecting unit detects the position of the photographing apparatus. A direction detecting unit detects the direction of the photographing apparatus when the object is photographed. An angle-of-view detecting unit detects the angle of view of the photographed image. A recommended-composition information obtaining unit obtains recommended-composition information including a recommended angle of view of the image photographed at the detected position and a recommended direction. An angle-of-view comparing unit compares the detected angle of view with the recommended angle of view. An angle-of-view adjusting unit adjusts the angle of view in accordance with the result of the comparison. A direction comparing unit compares the detected direction with the recommended direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tomonori Masuno, Shinichiro Gomi, Masaru Suzuki, Yusuke Nakamura
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Patent number: 7885525Abstract: A lens barrel which is capable of increasing the total length of the lens barrel in a shooting state even in a case where the collapsed lens barrel length is short, with a simple construction. A shooting optical system is disposed movably in an optical axis direction. A lens barrel driving member moves the shooting optical system in the optical axis direction while rotating around the optical axis. A lens barrel driving member moving unit moves the lens barrel driving member in the optical axis direction in a transition region during which the lens barrel moves between a shooting state and a non-shooting state while the driving member rotating.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2006Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuichi Terada
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Patent number: 7542670Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Hideyasu Takato
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Patent number: 7529475Abstract: An optical system comprising a photographing optical system, a finder optical system and optical path changing means for changing an optical path from the photographing optical system to the finder optical system or an optical system for observing an image of an object after rays from an object to be photographed are reflected twice or more times comprising camera shake correction means disposed in a finder optical system.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Kuba Keiichi
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Patent number: 7446949Abstract: A driving mechanism comprises: (i) an electromechanical conversion element comprising: an elongating and contracting portion that elongates and contracts; and a dummy layer that does not contribute to elongation and contraction of the electromechanical conversion element, in which one end of the dummy layer is attached to one end, in elongating and contracting direction, of the elongating and contracting portion; (ii) a driving friction member directly or indirectly attached to the other end of the elongating and contracting portion of the electromechanical conversion element; and (iii) a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving friction member, wherein a center of gravity of the entire electromechanical conversion element is not made coincident with a geometric center of the elongating and contracting portion in the elongating and contracting direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Fujinon CorporationInventors: Mitsuo Manabe, Takeshi Ichimiya
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Patent number: 7424219Abstract: A viewfinder system for a digital camera comprises a main optical path for projecting an outside scene image onto a light sensitive area facility, which facility determines a user field, and an optical extraction path for through mirror-operation extracting a fraction of the outside scene image onto a viewer optical path. The viewer optical path comprises a first mask for inserting a negative delineating outline into a viewer field and a second mask for inserting a positive delineating outline into the viewer field, both said first and second masks corresponding to the user field. In particular, at least one of the first and second masks is realized by an electronic device that has its mask size variably controlled by an electronic facility on the basis of pixel-wise driving. Advantageously, the electronic device is controlled by a sensor facility that is adapted for with respect to the other of the masks that has a fixed size sensing the latter size.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2005Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: DALSA CorporationInventor: Harald Siefken
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Patent number: 7120461Abstract: A camera phone and photographing method for a camera phone is provided which allows a camera phone to easily and precisely set a composition of a subject to be photographed. If a standard, preset composition guideline is not appropriate for a particular subject to be photographed, a user may select from a plurality of additional composition guidelines stored in a memory portion of the camera phone. These selections may be altered to select a particular subject by varying characteristics such as type, shape, and color, and may be further altered by adjusting coordinate values of the related composition guideline to further suit the particular subject to be photographed. This camera phone and photographing method provide enhanced precision and ease of use when both photographing with a camera phone and editing using various computer-related tools.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Yoon Ho Cho
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Patent number: 6927797Abstract: A viewfinder for mounting on a camera having a video signal tap, such as a professional video camera, to extend forwardly and laterally of the camera. A pivotable member is connected to a support base for selectively pivoting about a laterally extending axis and being selectively locked in any angular position. A viewing module is releasably connected to the pivotable member to extend rearwardly along the side of the camera and has a CRT facing rearwardly with an eyepiece for viewing the CRT. The viewing module has controls for the CRT on an outwardly facing surface for manually adjusting the controls. Cooperating and releasable electrical connectors are provided between the pivot member and the viewing module for transmitting video signals and electrical power therebetween. An extension member, either of a fixed length or telescoping, may be installed between the pivot member and the viewing module and has the same electrical connectors.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Panavision Inc.Inventor: Richard Gelbard
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Patent number: 6667836Abstract: A viewfinder eyepiece for a camera having a video signal tap, particularly a professional high definition video camera, for viewing the display screen of a display device, such as a CRT, in the viewfinder. The eyepiece includes a negative powered lens on an optical axis and positioned adjacent the display screen, a first positive powered lens on the optical axis is spaced from the negative powered lens is located at an eye-viewing end of the eyepiece, and a second positive powered lens positioned on the optical axis between the negative powered lens and the first positive powered lens. The second positive lens is mounted in the eyepiece to be movable along the optical axis in the space between the negative powered lens and the first positive powered lens for adjusting the focus on the display screen through the eyepiece.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Panavision, Inc.Inventor: Iain A. Neil
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Patent number: 6628902Abstract: method and apparatus for aligning an optical element in an optical sub-assembly is provided. Pivoting fine tuning plates connected to the main body of the sub-assembly are used to set the height and angle of the optical element. The optical element is connected on a pin through the optical element frame between two portions of the main body. Pivoting the fine tuning plate with a cam causes the optical element pin to cant, adjusting the position and/or angle of the optical element. In one embodiment of the present invention, a laser may be used to better align the optical element.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2002Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Concord Camera Corp.Inventor: Lothar Westerweck
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Publication number: 20030156835Abstract: A viewfinder of an image-capturing apparatus is provided. The image-capturing apparatus includes a first focusing device having an adjustable focal length. The viewfinder includes a second focusing device and an image-field selecting member. The second focusing device has a fixed focal length for focusing an image to be captured on an observer's eye, and the image-field selecting member is disposed downstream of the second focusing device for adjusting an area of the image viewed by the observer's eye according to a focal-length change of the first focusing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2002Publication date: August 21, 2003Applicant: Primax Electronics Ltd.Inventor: Hsi-Hsin Loo
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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
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Patent number: 6519420Abstract: Disclosed is a viewfinder apparatus for a camera, comprising: a curvilinear image-forming surface in a viewfinder optical system independent of a photographic optical system; a field frame disposed adjacent to the image-forming surface for defining a reference field of view, the field frame being formed into a curvilinear shape such as to match in profile with the image-forming surface; a field-correcting frame for correcting the field of view defined by the field frame, the field-correcting frame being supported on an arm portion that is pivoted about a revolving shaft in a direction normal to an optical axis of the viewfinder optical system, the field-correcting frame being formed into a curvilinear shape such as to correspond in profile with the image-forming surface; and a motor for driving the field-correcting frame into movement along the image-forming surface, whereby the field-correcting frame of the viewfinder optical system is invariably viewed.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2000Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Yokomae, Wataru Koide
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Patent number: 6463218Abstract: An apparatus for alternating between two field frames in a camera viewfinder. The mask has a foldable mask with an aperture, with the mask being movable between two positions. In the first position, the mask is unfolded and interposed in the light-path of the viewfinder, thereby framing the viewfinder image in the shape of the aperture. In the second position, the mask is folded and stored compactly alongside the viewfinder, thereby not interfering with the image in the viewfinder.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Concord Camera Corp.Inventor: Chi Ping Yeung
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Patent number: 6453125Abstract: A camera including a liquid crystal display is provided with a light interception hood mounting portion corresponding to the liquid crystal display, and a light interception hood which is detachably attached to the light interception hood mounting portion. The light interception hood is provided with a hood body which prevents external light entering the liquid crystal display when the light interception hood is attached to the light interception hood mounting portion, and a magnifier through which the liquid crystal display can be viewed.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tetsuji Shono
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Patent number: 6445887Abstract: A viewfinder for a camera with an adjustable diopter includes an objective lens and an eyepiece lens each having an optical axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the camera. Light rays from the objective lens are reflected by a mirror and directed in one direction parallel to a transverse axis of the camera onto a focusing screen to form an object image. A first triangular prism receives light rays from the object image and reflects and directs the received light rays in opposite direction parallel to the transverse axis. A second triangular prism receives light rays from the first prism and reflects and directs the received light rays in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and toward the eyepiece lens. The first prism is supported and guided for linear displacement along the transverse axis, while the second prism is fixed to the body frame of the camera.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2000Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinya Suzuka
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Patent number: 6415109Abstract: A camera of this invention incorporates a finder unit capable of changing its magnification corresponding to any one of plural zoom lens barrels (first, second lens barrels) each having different zoom range. When installing the finder unit, first, a positioning pin is inserted into a positioning hole in a rotary frame so as to hold the lens barrel in standard zoom condition. Then, a finder positioning pin is inserted into a cam gear positioning hole and main body positioning hole in finder cam shaft so as to hold a finder lens at a variable magnification position corresponding to the standard zoom condition. With that condition, a zoom driving gear arrangement is meshed with a driving gear portion and cam gear in a rotary frame so that the lens barrel and finder are assembled with each other. This camera realizes reduction of product development term and production cost.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2000Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masami Takase, Takaaki Ue, Yukihiko Sugita, Akiyoshi Tochigi, Shinya Takahashi
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Patent number: 6400908Abstract: A camera and photography system have multiple, encoded area modes and modification states. The camera has a case, a taking lens that defines an image plane in the case, and a capture member for capturing a series of images formed by the taking lens at the image plane. The camera has an area designator that identifies a plurality of different areas of the image plane and is switchable to designate a selected area, and a modification designator that is switchable among a plurality of image modification states to designate a selected state. An encoder records the selected area and selected state concurrent with image capture.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Kenneth A. Parulski
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Publication number: 20020031340Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is pre-loaded with photo film, and includes a viewfinder adapted for observing an object. A selector button is operable externally, for being shifted to a standard position and a telephoto position. A view region changer lever sets the viewfinder in a standard view field when the selector button is in the standard position, and sets the viewfinder in a telephoto view field when the selector button is in the telephoto position, the telephoto view field being included in the standard view field. An information exposure unit photographically records a telephoto discernment PAR code to an information exposure region in the photo film when the selector button is in the telephoto position. The telephoto discernment PAR code includes at least three dots, for designating production of a pseudo telephoto print from a region in an imaging frame in the photo film corresponding to the telephoto view field.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuo Kamata
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Patent number: 6342930Abstract: A display device includes a liquid crystal capable of displaying a central region, a first peripheral region at the periphery of the central region, and a second peripheral region at the periphery of the central region and differing from the first peripheral region. A first electrode is connected to a region including the central region and first peripheral region of the liquid crystal. A second electrode is connected to a region including the central region and second peripheral region of the liquid crystal. The display regions of the liquid crystal are controlled by supplying driving signals to the first electrode and second electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1999Date of Patent: January 29, 2002Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toshiaki Ishimaru
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Patent number: 6240257Abstract: Equipped with a display element which displays a visual field frame in the picture plane by means of obstructing the subject light beam, and which is formed from material which scatters light, and irradiation means which irradiates light to the said display element. When the irradiation means is caused to operate, because its light is scattered by the display element and guided to the eyepiece side, the display element can namely cause the visual field frame portion to shine brightly.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2000Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Akio Nishizawa, Kiyosada Machida
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Patent number: 6215963Abstract: A camera has an AE sensor 10 and a display member 32 disposed in the vicinity of the focusing screen 4, and a field frame switcher having a light interrupting wing capable of changing a field frame. The light-interrupting wing crosses and interrupts a predetermined luminous flux path used for obtaining information necessary for photographing while the field frame is changed. The light-interrupting wing is disposed close to the predetermined luminous flux path to reduce the space needed to house the structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1998Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Inoue, Wong Ngai Kit, Yoshito Konishi
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Patent number: 6181881Abstract: A field-of-view frame switching device has a rectangular fixed field-of-view frame and a plurality of light-shielding members for covering portions of the rectangular fixed field-of-view frame so as to vary the size of the actual field-of-view frame. The light-shielding members are composed of a first pair of oppositely arranged light-shielding members and a second pair of oppositely arranged light-shielding members. The field-of-view frame switching device also has a coupling member for coupling the light-shielding members together in such relation that, when the first pair of light-shielding members are positioned closer to each other to narrow the actual field-of-view frame, the second pair of light-shielding members are positioned wide apart from each other and that, when the first pair of light-shielding members are positioned wide apart from each other, the second pair of light-shielding members are positioned closer to each other to narrow the actual field-of-view frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1998Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshito Konishi, Yoshiyuki Inoue, Wong Ngai Kit
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Patent number: 6141501Abstract: A finder device is disclosed wherein light from an objective optical system passes through a finder frame to an eyepiece. The finder frame includes two spaced-apart support pins, a screen format switchable mask mounted to the support pins so as to enable a particular screen format to be selected from among at least two alternative screen formats, and a mask pressure plate which is mounted to the support pins so as to retain the screen format switchable mask on said support pins. Markings, useful for taking photographs, are provided on the transparent region of the screen format switchable mask or on the mask pressure plate. In this manner, markings useful for taking photographs, which be viewed with an object to be photographed when looking through the eyepiece of the finder, can be manufactured with less expense and fewer defects than previously.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1999Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masao Shoji, Katsuhiro Ohtake, Osamu Inaba
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Patent number: 6137957Abstract: A pseudo zoom camera, which utilizes a film cartridge provided with an information storing device, comprises a taking lens optical system for projecting an object image onto a portion of photographic film, which portion has been pulled out of the film cartridge. The camera also comprises a finder optical system capable of displaying an image of a field angle, which is different from the field angle of the object image formed by the taking lens optical system, in a predetermined region representing an image-recording range. A writing device writes information representing an image range ratio of the image, which is displayed in the predetermined region by the finder optical system, to the object image, the information being written on the information storing device of the film cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1999Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignees: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Kazunori Ohno, Katsuji Ozawa, Michio Cho, Yoichi Iwasaki, Kazuhiko Onda, Takao Koda, Shigenori Goto
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Patent number: 6112033Abstract: A multiple lens image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of image pickup systems, a control system, and an optical viewfinder. Each image pickup system is arranged to allow an angle an optical path makes through the system to be changed. The control system selects a stereoscopic photographing mode in which images taken through the plurality of image pickup systems overlap in a large proportion, or a panoramic photographing mode in which images taken through the plurality of image pickup systems overlap in a small proportion. The optical viewfinder selectively sets an observing range in accordance with the photographing mode selected.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1998Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kotaro Yano, Katsumi Iijima, Sunao Kurahashi
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Patent number: 6097901Abstract: A camera has a case and a taking lens that defines an image plane in the case. A capture member of the camera captures a series of images formed by the taking lens at the image plane. The camera has a viewfinder that displays a viewfinder field aligned with the image plane. The camera has a locator that is switchable between a primary position and a secondary position relative to the viewfinder field. The locator demarcates, in said secondary position, a partition of said viewfinder field into a plurality of areas. The camera has a selector that is switchable among a plurality of capture settings. Each capture setting identifies at least one of a plurality of image modification states. At least one of the capture settings identifies the partition and associates different image modification states with each of the areas.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Kenneth A. Parulski
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Patent number: 6070013Abstract: An image capture package, such as a one-time use camera, has a capture member bearing an encodement for an image transmogrification. The capture member captures images free of the image transmogrification. The image capture package has a sighting guide associated with the capture member. The sighting guide identifies a region of the captured images that is subject to the image transmogrification. A photography system includes a plurality of the image capture packages and a processing system that digitally modifies the captured images responsive to respective encodements.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Patrick A. Cosgrove, Kenneth A. Parulski
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Patent number: 6052540Abstract: A viewfinder device includes an objective lens, a hologram disposed in a place other than a prescribed image plane of the objective lens and a plane conjugate to the prescribed image plane, and an illumination device for illuminating the hologram. The position of a virtual image formed by the hologram is arranged to coincide with the prescribed image plane or the plane conjugate to the prescribed image plane, so that displays can be made in an adequate state within the visual field of a viewfinder.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1996Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Koyama
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Patent number: 6044229Abstract: A real image mode finder optical system includes a field frame switching device interposed between an objective system and an ocular system. An indication part of a field frame inserted by the field frame switching device is placed on the objective side of an intermediate image plane of the real image mode finder optical system. In this way, the finder optical system in which adhesion of dirt is inconspicuous and the view of the visual field of the finder is good can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidayasu Takato, Yasutaka Kashiki
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Patent number: 6035140Abstract: Disclosed is a finder system for a camera. The finder system has real-image type first and second optical systems apart by a predetermined base length. Light passed through the first and second objective optical systems are combined and superimposed images are formed which is defined within a finder field. The second objective optical system is provided with a rotatable mirror which varies a direction of an optical axis of the second objective optical system with respect to the optical axis of the first objective optical system to vary degree of coincidence of the superimposed images. A rotation angle of the rotatable mirror is controlled based on information related to an object distance and a position within the finder field.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Sachio Hasushita
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Patent number: 5950025Abstract: A print format selection device for selecting one of different print formats to each picture frame of a filmstrip loaded in a camera or lens-fitted photo film unit, wherein an original field of view of a viewfinder corresponds to a picture frame defined by an exposure aperture of the camera. A rotatable view changing plate is provided to limit the original field of view in correspondence with the selected print format. The view changing plate is formed with two view windows of different aspect ratios from the original field of view. The centers of the view windows are on a circle which is coaxial with the rotational axis of the view changing plate and which extend across an optical axis of the viewfinder.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Keiji Uchiyama, Mitsuhiro Moriya
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Patent number: 5940642Abstract: A single-lens reflex camera has a mirror movable between a non-photographic position where light from a subject is transmitted to a finder optical system and a photographic position where the light is transmitted to a film plane, a focal-plane shutter normally closed to prevent the light from reaching the film plane and moved to open so as to allow the light to reach the film plane, and a removable, ordinary photograph back panel. The camera is also provided for electronic still photography with an electronic still photographic adaptor substituted for the back panel and having an image pick-up device located near the film plane when set thereon, and with an optical low-pass filter located between the focal-plane shutter and the mirror to cut off high space frequency components in space of light.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Yasuaki Ishiguro
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Patent number: 5933666Abstract: A camera for taking pictures, comprises a viewfinder masking device having three different format mask configurations; a manual picture-format selector having three different format selection settings which correspond respectively to the three different format mask configurations in order to select any one of the three different format mask configurations; and a default reset for returning the selector to a predetermined one of the three different format selection settings and returning the viewfinder masking device to a corresponding one of the three different format mask configurations, when the selector is in any one of the selection settings that is not the predetermined one, after a picture is taken and before another picture is taken.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 1998Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David R. Dowe, Paul Teremy, Paul L. Taillie, Thomas J. Quattrini
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Patent number: 5930539Abstract: A movable visual field frame (a CP visual field frame) is arranged behind an H visual field frame, which determines a visual field corresponding to a high-vision (H) angle of view. The CP visual field frame comprises a pair of substantially L-shaped movable visual field frame pieces, which are arranged in such a manner as to face each other. First and second driving members are provided in such a manner as to rotate about a finder optical axis, and they drive the pair of the movable visual field frame pieces. A driving shaft is rotated in association with a switching control, and the first and second driving members are rotated by the driving shaft on different rotational ratios with driving gears. The second driving member rotates by a larger rotational angle than the first driving member, and regulates the positions of the movable visual field frame pieces so that upper and lower sides of the CP visual field frame can be horizontal.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1998Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yasuhiko Tanaka
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Patent number: 5911087Abstract: Camera finder systems consistent with the present invention, used for observing an object and for use with a camera, include an objective lens system for forming a first image of the object and for magnifying the first image. An inverting optical system inverts the first image received from the objective optical system. Also included is an eyepiece system for observing the inverted image received from the inverting optical system. Further, the camera finder system satisfies the following conditions:12.ltoreq.D.ltoreq.20, and1.0.ltoreq.L/D.ltoreq.4.5,where:D represents a distance between an exit surface of the inverting optical system and an entrance surface of the eyepiece system; andL represents a distance between an entrance surface of the objective optical system and a first image plane.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1997Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: Samsung Aerospace Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Hyoung-Won Kang