JPH08146493A - Mask size changing device and finder visual field changing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a finder visual field changing device capable of improving operability without incompatibility in a feeling of changing operability, simple in a design specification and constitution, even if a motor, etc., and used as a drive source for operating and advantageous to the miniaturization of a camera. CONSTITUTION: This finder visual field changing device is provided with a fixed visual field mask 1, visual field plates 3 and 4 capable of being moved in opposite directions and a mask driving plate 7 moving the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 to two by being turned clockwise or counterclockwise by a constant turning angle and switching/changing a finder visual field mask from a first visual field mask GA constituted of the fixed visual field mask 1 to a second or third visual field mask.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mask size changing device and a finder visual field changing device, and more particularly to a mask or a mask size changing device capable of changing the size of a finder visual field mask to a plurality of mask sizes. And a finder visual field changing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mask size changing device,
The finder device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-82882, which is proposed to incorporate a finder field changing device for changing the finder field into a plurality of formats, for example, three sizes, can arbitrarily change the aspect ratio of the finder field. The apparatus is intended to be performed in stepwise or stepwise fashion, and it is possible to create fields of view with three or more different aspects. The three-stage viewfinder field that can be switched includes normal, high-definition, and panorama.

Further, the finder device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-113341 as a device which has a simpler structure and requires less space than the conventional finder device described above is a zoom magnification range and a panorama. The finder frame can be combined to increase the finder magnification at the time of panoramic photography, and only two formats that can be switched, that is, the regular format and the panorama format are considered.

The finder device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-188431 has the same mechanism and structure as those disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-82882, but corrects the distortion of the visual field by the visual field frame.

Regarding the switching of the three formats, one of the conventional finder devices described above is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
It is only described in the finder device of the -82882 publication. And, in the finder device of the above-mentioned JP-A-4-113341 and JP-A-5-188431,
There is no description about the interlocking mechanism with the operation member for changing the format.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
A problem with the viewfinder device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 882 is that the viewfinder field is surrounded by a mechanical member and requires a large occupied space, which is not suitable for downsizing the camera. Further, as a matter of course, an operating member for switching the format in three stages is arranged, and a click mechanism such as a spring is usually used for positioning the operating member in three positions for switching the three stages.

Considering the switching operation, when the operation member is moved from the center to each of the left and right positions, the stroke amount is the same whether the operation member is a slide type lever or a rotary type lever. It is desirable to improve. For example, when moving to the left, the stroke is 3 mm
Then, when moving to the right side, the operation feeling is very bad at 6 mm. Further, even when operating with a motor or a plunger type electromagnet, if the operation stroke is different as described above, it is inconvenient in design.

Further, the mask mechanism in the finder device disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-113341 is
This is almost the same as the mask mechanism applied to the finder device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-82882. However, in the viewfinder device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-113341, since there is no fixed viewfinder field mask, the view frame in the long side direction with respect to the panorama size becomes longer according to the change in aspect, and the length thereof increases. It is necessary to have an optical design that covers the height of light rays. Therefore, there is a problem that the entire system such as the prism and the lens becomes large.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a mask size changing device or a finder visual field changing device, there is no discomfort in the change operation feeling and the operability can be improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can be configured and has a simple design specification and configuration even if a motor, a plunger-type electromagnet, or the like is applied as an operation drive source, and that is advantageous for downsizing a camera.

[0010]

One mask size changing device of the present invention comprises a pair of mask means provided so as to be movable in opposite directions in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and the pair of mask means. Is rotatably connected to the end of the mask means and is fixed clockwise from the first position when the mask means is in the first position forming a mask of a first size. By rotating the mask means to a second position where a mask of a second size is formed, and similarly from the first position to the second position counterclockwise. The mask moving means is provided with a mask moving means for moving the mask means to a third position where a mask of a third size is formed by rotating the mask means by the same angle as the rotation angle. In this mask size changing device, the mask moving means is rotated to move the pair of mask means from the first position to the second or third position, and the size corresponding to each position is set. Can be changed to the mask.

Another mask size changing device of the present invention comprises a pair of finder mask means provided so as to be movable in opposite directions in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
The fixed mask means, which shares the optical axis with the pair of finder mask means and is fixedly arranged in a plane parallel to the finder mask means, is connected to the end portions of the pair of finder mask means, The pair of finder mask means is moved to the second position by rotating from the first position in the clockwise direction by a certain rotation angle, and similarly, from the predetermined position to the second position in the counterclockwise direction. The mask driving means is provided for moving the pair of finder mask means to the third position by rotating the same angle as the rotation angle. In the present mask size changing device, the finder mask means or the fixed mask means can independently form a finder field mask, and the combination of the finder mask means and the fixed mask means allows the finder field mask to be formed. Can be formed.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a finder device incorporating a mask size changing device as a finder visual field changing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This finder device is a variable-magnification real-image finder, and will be described as one using a Porro prism.

In the finder apparatus incorporating the finder field changing apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, fixed mask means constituting a finder field changing apparatus described later on the intermediate image forming surface 51 behind the objective lens 52. A fixed-field mask 1 is provided, and the fixed-field mask 1
Porro prisms 53 and 54 for making an image an erect image are arranged in the rear part or the front part. An eyepiece lens 55 is arranged behind the Porro prism 54. The Porro prism 54 including the third surface and the fourth surface
Are partially omitted.

A finder field changing device, which is a mask size changing device, is arranged on the intermediate image plane 51. As the finder visual field changing device, a fixed visual field mask 1 as the fixed mask means and a visual field mask which is a pair of finder mask means to be described later which are arranged on the fixed visual field mask 1 with their optical axes aligned with each other. Switching viewfinder field mask plates (hereinafter referred to as field mask plates) 3 and 4 are provided on the intermediate image plane 51. Further, a mask drive plate 7 as a mask drive means for driving the field mask plates 3 and 4 to change the aspect ratio is rotatably supported and arranged.
A mask operating knob 61, which is a mask operating means for driving the mask driving plate 7, has an eyepiece lens 5 on the camera body.
5 is located beside the viewfinder eyepiece.

Next, details of the structure of the viewfinder visual field changing device arranged as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the finder visual field changing device, in which the guide pin 1 is provided on the fixed visual field mask 1.
a and 1b are provided. The visual field mask plates 3 and 4 slidably arranged on the fixed visual field mask 1 are two L-shaped members, and one end thereof has a drive fitting hole 3a, 4a is provided. Further, arcuate elongated holes 3b and 4b into which the guide pins 2a and 2b are slidably fitted are arranged at the other end.

Drive pins 7a and 7b are fixed to the mask drive plate 7 which is rotated by the operation knob 61, and the drive pins 7a and 7b are the field mask plates 3 and 4 described above.
It is fitted with the fitting holes 3a, 4a. Further, three V-grooves 7c, 7d, 7e are formed along the outer periphery of the mask drive plate 7 for indexing the rotational position and clicking. A V-shaped tip portion of a leaf spring-shaped click spring 8 for indexing a rotational position is abutted and fitted into the V grooves 7c, 7d, and 7e in a state of being biased by elastic deformation.

The radius of curvature of the arcuate elongated holes 3b and 4b provided in the field mask plates 3 and 4 is the mask driving plate 7
Are set to be equal to the distance r (see FIG. 6) from the center of rotation of the drive pins 7a and 7b arranged in (4).

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are views showing the moving state of the field mask plates 3 and 4 in the finder field changing device. The mask drive plate 7 is rotated counterclockwise, or
When the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 are rotated clockwise by the predetermined angles θ ₁ and θ ₂ , the state shown in FIG.
Then, the size of the view mask of the finder is changed to the view masks G _A , G _B , and G _C , respectively.

The operation of changing to the above-mentioned visual field mask will be described. First, when the mask drive plate 7 is at the position shown in FIG. 3, the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 are retracted from the openings of the fixed visual field mask 1 respectively. At positions 1A 3A, 4A,
The visual field mask includes four sides 1c of the opening of the fixed visual field mask 1,
1d, which is a field mask G _A as a first-size mask having an aspect ratio of a high-definition size in a normal state.

From the state of FIG. 3, the operation knob 61 (see FIG.
4) to operate the mask drive plate 7 as shown in FIG.
When is rotated counterclockwise by an angle θ ₁ , the fitting holes 3a, 4a at one end of the viewing mask plates 3, 4 move on the arc through the driving pins 7a, 7b. At the same time, the guide pins 1a, 1
It is guided by b, moves parallel to the inclined direction, and is located at the second positions 3B and 4B, respectively. Then, the size of the visual field mask is changed, and the mask of the second size is formed by the sides 3c and 4c of the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 and the two sides 1d of the fixed visual field mask 1 as shown in FIG. As a field mask G _B having a panorama size aspect ratio.

From the state shown in FIG. 3, the operation knob 61 is
When the mask drive plate 7 is rotated clockwise by an angle θ ₂ as shown in FIG. 5, the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 are rotated.
The holes 3a and 4a at one end move, and at the same time, the slot 3 at the other end moves.
The b and 4b sides also move and are located at the third positions 3C and 4C. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the size of the visual field mask is changed, and it is formed by the sides 3d and 4d of the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 and the two sides 1c of the fixed visual field mask 1 and is a normal type of 135 type format. The field mask G _C serves as a mask having a third size having an aspect ratio of size.

Next, the moving states of the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6 which shows the operation state of the mask driving plate and FIG. 7 which is an enlarged view showing the movement of the visual field mask plate. To do. FIG. 6 shows the details of the rotating state of the mask drive plate 7 during the operation of changing the visual field mask.
The rotation angles when rotating from the position of FIG. 4 to the state of FIG. 4 or the state of FIG. 5 are the angles θ ₁ and θ ₂ , respectively, as described above. The straight line connecting the drive pins 7a and 7b for connecting the mask drive plate 7 with the field mask plates 3 and 4 in the state of FIG. 3 forms an angle with the horizontal axis H parallel to the horizontal direction of the field mask. Is the inclination angle θ ₀ .

In the movement from the state of FIG. 3 to the state of FIG.
The vertical mask movement distance of the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 is important in determining the size of the visual field mask G _B. The vertical movement distance is indicated by the distance y in FIG. On the other hand, in the movement from the state of FIG. 3 to the state of FIG. 5, the horizontal mask movement distance of the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 is important in determining the size of the visual field mask G _C.
The horizontal movement distance is indicated by a distance x in FIG.

When the distances x and y are represented by the inclination angle θ ₀ and the rotation angles θ ₁ and θ ₂ , x = r × cos θ ₀ −, where r is the distance from the rotation center of the drive pins 7a and 7b. r × cos (θ ₀ + θ ₂ ) ... (1) y = r × sin θ ₀ −r × sin (θ ₀ −θ ₁ ) ... (2)

The moving distance of the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 when changing the visual field mask will be described with reference to the enlarged view of the visual field mask plate of FIG. 7. The original high vision size visual field mask G _A before the operation is as described above. As described above, the fixed field mask 1 is formed by the four sides 1c and 1d of the opening.
When changing from _A to the field mask G _B which is a panoramic size field of view, as shown in FIG. 7, the sides of two opposing L-shaped field mask plates 3 and 4 from the opening 2 side 1 c of the fixed field mask 1. The amount of vertical protrusion inward of 3c and 4c is set to b ₂
And Further, the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 in the set visual field mask G _A are retracted, and the required vertical movement amount from the retracted position is b ₁ .

On the other hand, in the case of changing from the visual field mask G _A to the visual field mask G _B which is a visual field of the 135 type film format, as shown in FIG.
From the opening 2 side 1d, the side 3d of the visual field mask plates 3 and 4,
The amount of horizontal projection of 4d in the horizontal direction is c ₂ . The required horizontal movement amount of the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 from the retracted position is c ₁ . The required movement amounts b ₁ and c ₁ or the movement amounts b ₂ and c ₂ are numerical values related to the format, and it is determined that specifications such as the field of view magnification are determined. The movement amounts b ₁ and c ₁ are equal to the distances x and y shown in the equations (1) and (2).

In the finder apparatus of this embodiment, when the visual field mask is changed to improve the operability, that is, when the visual field mask G _A is changed to the visual field mask G _B or the visual field mask G _C is changed. The operation knob 61 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by the same rotation angle. That is, the rotation angles θ ₁ and θ ₂ for changing the visual field mask are set to be substantially equal. Therefore, when determining the relational dimensions of the mechanical system of this device, the appropriate distance r and angle θ ₁ are determined, and those values are substituted into the above equations (1) and (2) to determine the rotation angle θ ₁ An inclination angle θ ₀ with respect to the horizontal axis H of the field mask is determined so as to be equal to the moving angle θ ₂ .

Next, the operation of changing the visual field mask of the finder apparatus of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described using 4, 5 and the like. In the finder apparatus of this embodiment, as described above, the visual field mask G _A having an aspect ratio of high-definition size is set by the fixed visual field mask 1 (see FIG. 3), and the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 are moved from the state of the visual field mask. By doing so, the field mask G _B having a panoramic size aspect ratio (see FIG. 4) or the field mask G _C having a 135 mm film format aspect ratio (see FIG. 5) can be switched.

When the mask drive plate 7 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3 by operating the operation knob 61 of FIG. 1, the field mask plates 3 and 4 are retracted to the positions 3A and 4A and fixed. The opening of the visual field mask 1 can be seen by the photographer, and the visual field mask G _A in the high-definition format can be confirmed.

Next, the operating knob 61 is manually operated to
As shown in FIG. 4, the mask drive plate 7 is rotated counterclockwise at an angle θ.
_When rotated by ₁ , the field mask plates 3 and 4 move to the positions 3B and 4B, respectively, and cover the upper and lower sides 1c of the fixed field mask 71, so that the finder field of the field mask G _B having the aspect ratio of the panorama size is changed. It is formed.

On the contrary, when the operation knob 61 is operated to rotate the mask drive plate 7 clockwise by the angle θ ₂ as shown in FIG. 5, the field mask plates 3 and 4 are respectively set to the position 3.
Since it moves to C and 4C and covers the left and right sides 1d of the fixed field mask 1, the finder field of the field mask G _C having the aspect ratio of the 135 type film format is formed.

The mask driving plate 7 has the following structure.
Since the shape satisfies the above-mentioned condition, the angle θ ₁ for rotating the position of FIG. 3 from the position of FIG. 4 and the angle θ ₂ of rotating from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. equal.
Moreover, the above-mentioned conditions are the moving amounts b ₁ and c _{1 of} the L-shaped visual field mask plates 3 and 4 shown in FIG. 7 or the retracted moving amounts of the L-shaped visual field masks 3 and 4 with respect to the fixed visual field mask 1 ( b ₁ -b ₂ ) and (c ₁ -c ₂ ) can be freely set within a certain range, and within that range, the tilt angle θ ₀ , the rotation angle θ ₁ , and the rotation angle θ _{2 in FIG.} Since the distance r can be adjusted, the degree of freedom in design is increased.

As described above, according to the finder device incorporating the finder visual field changing device of this embodiment,
The viewfinder field mask changing operation can be performed by rotating the operation knob 61 in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions by the same amount.
There is no discomfort in the operation feeling, and the operability can be improved. Further, even if a drive source motor, electromagnet, or the like is applied for the above-mentioned change operation, it is only necessary to rotate the mask drive plate at the same angle, which simplifies the design specifications and configuration, and also reduces the size of the camera. Be advantageous.

Further, in the mask size changing device or the finder visual field changing device, the size of the mask is fixed as the fixed mask device in a state where the visual field mask plates 3 and 4 as the pair of mask devices are retracted in the normal state. It may be defined by the field mask plates 3 and 4 instead of the field mask.

In the finder field changing device of the above embodiment, the distances from the centers of the drive pins 7a and 7b of the mask drive plate 7 are set equal, but they are arranged at different distances or asymmetrical positions. In this way, the position of the field mask can be offset.

Further, in the finder visual field changing device of the present embodiment, two visual field mask plates are used, but as a modification thereof, one visual field mask plate is used to shift the visual field mask in one direction and position it. Can be easily realized.

Next, a finder visual field changing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a view showing the arrangement of the finder visual field changing device. In this finder visual field changing device, the L-shaped visual field mask plates 13 and 14 which are a pair of finder mask means are provided on the fixed visual field mask 11. Slotted holes on the guide pins 11a and 11b
3a and 14a are slidably fitted into the fixed field mask 11, and the guide pin 11c also provided in the fixed field mask 11 has slots 13b, 13b parallel to the slots 13a, 14a.
14b is slidably fitted. Further, racks 13c and 14c are cut in the visual field mask plates 13 and 14 along the elongated holes 13a and 14a, and mesh with a pinion 17 which is a mask driving means.

The pinion 17 is operated by the operation knob.
As shown in the enlarged view around the rack portion in FIG. 9, when the field mask plates 13 and 14 are rotated in the clockwise direction by an angle θ ₁ , the field mask plates 13 and 14 are moved in the tilt directions D ₁ and D ₃ , and the fixed field mask 1 is used until then.
The top and bottom sides of the high-definition-size field-of-view mask G _A formed by No. 1 protrude from above and below, and a panoramic-size field-of-view mask can be obtained. On the contrary, when the pinion 17 is rotated counterclockwise by the angle θ ₂ as shown in FIG.
3 and 14 move in the tilt directions D ₂ and D ₄ , the left and right sides project, and a field mask having an aspect ratio of 135 mm format is obtained.

The inclination angle θ ₀ of the racks 13c and 14c with respect to the horizontal axis H of the visual field mask is a rotation angle from the reference position with reference to the direction orthogonal to the inclination direction as shown in FIG. It is set so that θ ₁ and θ ₂ are almost equal. The finder visual field changing device of this embodiment has the same effects as the finder visual field changing device of the first embodiment, but in the case of the device of the present embodiment,
Since the pinion 17 that meshes with the rack is used as the mask driving means, the guide portion for parallel movement has a simple shape, and further space saving can be realized.

The rack 17 may be driven by a combination of a gear train and a lever. then,
The urging force of the click spring applied to the drive mechanism of the apparatus of the first embodiment may be applied to the gear train and the lever. Further, in the finder visual field changing device of the present embodiment, when the rack 17 is configured to be driven by a motor or an actuator such as a plunger type electromagnet without using a manual operation member, the visual field is changed. The rotation stroke of the changing operation is the same, which facilitates design and arrangement.

Although each of the above-described embodiments is applied to the device for changing the finder field mask of the camera, it is not limited to the switching of the finder field mask, and the mask size is changed to switch the mask such as the photographing screen. It is of course possible to apply the gist of the present invention to the device.

[0042]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention is as described above.
Since the mask size changing device described in (1) is configured to rotate the mask moving means clockwise or counterclockwise by the same angle in order to move the pair of mask means, the size is changed, which is preferable. You can get a nice feeling. Also,
When a motor, a plunger-type electromagnet, or the like is applied as the drive source for the changing operation, the drive amounts are substantially the same as described above, which facilitates the design and arrangement.

A mask size changing device according to a second aspect of the present invention or a viewfinder field changing device according to a third aspect has the same effect as that of the mask size changing device according to the first aspect. At the same time, since the mask of the first size is formed by the fixed mask means, the dimensional accuracy of the mask size of the first size is improved, and furthermore, the pair of mask means moves when the mask size is changed. The degree of freedom in setting the amount is increased, and the operation system or the drive mechanism system can be easily designed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a finder apparatus incorporating a mask size changing apparatus as a finder visual field changing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a finder visual field changing device incorporated in the finder device shown in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing a state of movement of a visual field mask plate in the finder visual field changing device incorporated in the finder device of FIG. 1, showing a state of a visual field mask having an aspect ratio of a high-definition size.

4 is a diagram showing a state of movement of a visual field mask plate in the viewfinder visual field changing device incorporated in the viewfinder device of FIG. 1, showing a visual field mask changing state of a panoramic size aspect ratio.

5 is a diagram showing a state of movement of a visual field mask plate in the viewfinder visual field changing device built in the viewfinder device of FIG. 1, showing a visual field mask changing state of an aspect ratio of a 135 type film format.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operating state of a mask drive plate in the finder visual field changing device incorporated in the finder device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the movement of the visual field mask plate in the finder visual field changing device incorporated in the finder device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a finder visual field changing device showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an enlarged view around a rack portion which is a mask driving portion of the viewfinder visual field changing device of FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 11 ... Fixed field mask (fixed mask means) 3, 4, 13, 14 ... Field mask plate (a pair of mask means, a pair of finder mask means) 3A, 4A ... First position 3B, 4B: second position 3C, 4C: third position 7: mask driving plate (mask moving means) 17: pinion (mask moving means) G _A: high-definition size field of view Mask (first size mask) G _B ............ Panorama size field mask (second size mask) G _C ...... 135 type film format field mask (third size mask) mask)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of mask means movably provided in mutually opposite directions in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and rotatably connected to end portions of the pair of mask means. When the mask means is in the first position forming the mask of the first size, the mask means is rotated clockwise from the first position by a certain rotation angle to move the mask means to the second position. The mask means is moved to a second position where a mask having a size is formed, and is also rotated counterclockwise from the first position by the same angle as the rotation angle to the second position. And a mask moving means for moving the mask to a third position where a mask of a third size is formed, and a mask size changing device. 2. The pair of mask means is independent of the mask means, or cooperates with a fixed mask means that shares an optical axis with the pair of mask means and is fixedly arranged in a plane parallel to the mask means. 2. The mask size changing device according to claim 1, wherein the mask size changing device is a pair of mask means that can be formed by changing the size of the mask. 3. A pair of finder mask means movably provided in directions opposite to each other in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and the finder mask means sharing the optical axis with the pair of finder mask means. By connecting fixed mask means fixedly arranged in parallel planes to the end portions of the pair of finder mask means, and rotating clockwise from a predetermined first position by a predetermined rotation angle. By moving the pair of finder mask means to the second position and rotating the pair of finder mask means counterclockwise from the predetermined first position by the same angle as the rotation angle to the second position, Third pair of finder mask means
And a mask driving means for moving the finder mask means to the position
The fixed mask means enables the finder field mask to be formed independently, and the finder field mask can be formed by the combination of the finder mask means and the fixed mask means. Change device.