JPH11174565A - Finder device for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a finder device for camera provided with a high-quality sports finder by which plural kinds of display can be brightly and distinctly observed. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a reflection type hologram combiner 1 erected on the upper surface of a camera main body 3 so that it can be freely folded or freely attached/detached, and a display member 2 such as a field frame consisting of an LCD with a backlight arranged inside the main body 3 out of the optical path of the field of a finder behind the combiner 1. Subject luminous flux 7 from a subject 4 passes through the combiner 1 as it is, and the field frame being an LCD image illuminated by a backlight is reflected by the combiner 1 and is superimposed as display luminous flux 6 on the subject luminous flux 7. Thus, the field frame is observed as a virtual image in the air near to the subject by a photographer 5, so that visibility is nearly made coincident. A displayed picture is changed by the LCD as necessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera finder device, and more particularly to a camera finder device having a sports finder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a photographer observes a viewfinder to confirm a photographing range in order to put a subject in an appropriate composition within a photographing range of the camera when photographing with a camera.

Since the viewfinder of an ordinary camera has a small eyepiece window for observation, it takes some time to search for the observation window when the camera is set up, and a momentary shutter chance is missed. there is a possibility.

Further, a normal finder can see only the same, slightly narrower, or slightly wider range as the photographing range. It is difficult to find the subject again only from the finder field of view, and it is necessary to take an operation such as once taking the eyes off the finder and confirming the subject position with the naked eye.

[0005] To solve such a problem, a sports finder has been proposed, in which a photographing range can be grasped without pressing an eye on an eyepiece window.
Since it is not necessary to hold the camera immediately in front of the face, the outside of the photographing range can be easily observed with the naked eye while the finder field of view is observed.

An application of the hologram technology to such a sports finder of a camera has been conventionally proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-87129 discloses a hologram recording a field frame provided outside a camera body. A hologram image is reproduced in the middle of the sky close to the object. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-346607 discloses a structure in which two holograms are provided so that they can be observed with both eyes, and different images are formed. Structures in which two types of images are reproduced by recording are described.

In recent years, cameras that have been commercialized have a normal aspect ratio photographing mode (for example, JIS B71).
In addition to the 24 × 36 screen size specified in No. 15 (that is, a so-called Leica size), many cameras have a panorama shooting mode with a long aspect ratio. It is necessary to display the shooting range in the viewfinder according to the currently selected mode.

Further, in a camera having an auto-focus function of a multi-point distance measuring function, it is desirable that the AF position at which the distance is being measured is displayed in a finder visual field.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned JP-A-2-871
If the technical means described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 29-34567 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-346607 is applied to the display of the photographing range and the display of the AF position according to the above-described photographing mode, any of the techniques described in these publications will In order to display several types of images, it is necessary to record a plurality of images and irradiate them using a light source of a plurality of wavelengths. However, the size of the camera is increased and the cost is increased.

Moreover, a hologram having a plurality of recorded images has a low diffraction efficiency and it is difficult to obtain a bright image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a camera finder device provided with a high-quality sports finder capable of observing a plurality of types of displays brightly and clearly. .

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera finder device according to a first aspect of the present invention provides a finder device for reflecting or refracting a specific wavelength on a recorded interference fringe, thereby obtaining a light direction. A sports finder having a light beam coupling element capable of controlling the distance, and light projection display means for projecting a predetermined display content at the specific wavelength from outside the optical path of the sports finder to the light beam coupling element; The object light beam that has passed through the finder and the display light beam reflected or refracted by the light beam coupling element are superimposed to enable observation.

A finder device for a camera according to a second aspect of the present invention is the finder device for a camera according to the first aspect, wherein the sports finder is provided so as to be foldable or detachable with respect to the camera body. is there.

Further, a finder device for a camera according to a third aspect of the present invention is the finder device for a camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the light emitting display means has display content switching means capable of switching display contents. Is what it is.

Therefore, the finder device of the camera according to the first invention controls the direction of light by reflecting or refracting a specific wavelength on the interference fringe recorded on the light beam coupling element of the sports finder, thereby projecting light. The display means projects predetermined display content at the specific wavelength from the outside of the optical path of the sports finder to the light beam coupling element, and reflects the subject light beam passing through the sports viewfinder and the light reflected or refracted by the light beam coupling element. Observation is possible by superimposing any of the light beams.

Further, in the camera finder device according to the second invention, the sports finder is foldable or detachable with respect to the camera body.

Further, in the finder device for a camera according to the third invention, the display content switching means of the light projection display means switches the display content.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state of observing a subject by a finder device of a camera, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a display member. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of display by a display member.

In the first embodiment, a so-called sports finder is constructed using a reflection type hologram combiner that is erected on the outer surface of a camera body so as to be freely foldable.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the camera includes a display member 2 serving as a light emitting display means inside a camera body 3.
And a reflection type hologram combiner 1 as a foldable light beam coupling element is provided upright on the upper surface thereof, for example.

This reflection type hologram combiner 1
Only for light of a specific wavelength, it has a function of reflecting light incident at a specific incident angle at a reflection angle having a predetermined relationship with the incident angle, and has a lens function (ie, light of a specific wavelength). (Reflecting light to control the direction of the light).

More specifically, the reflection type hologram combiner 1 has an incident angle, a reflection angle, and a reflection angle so that the position of a virtual image formed by reflection substantially coincides with the position of a subject.
And the lens function (focal length) is designed. The distance to the subject is different for each scene to be shot,
In order to prevent trouble during normal photographing, for example, a design may be made so that a virtual image can be seen a few meters ahead. As a result, the diopter difference does not stand out for most subjects.

The eye point of the reflection type hologram combiner 1 is several cm from the camera body 3.
A so-called sports finder, which is designed so as to be at a position on the side of the photographer 5 of about 10 to several tens cm and can appropriately grasp the photographing range without holding the camera in front of the face. ing.

The above-mentioned reflection type hologram combiner 1
Are configured using a volume hologram in this embodiment. This type often uses a photopolymer as a material, is easy to handle in production, and has excellent wavelength selectivity and angle selectivity.
It has a feature that a good display with little noise can be obtained.

On the other hand, the display member 2 is disposed behind the reflection type hologram combiner 1 and outside the optical path of the finder field, and is configured as, for example, an LCD with a backlight as shown in FIG.

That is, the display member 2 includes an LED 11 as a light source for emitting light for illumination, a diffusion plate 12 for diffusing the light emitted by the LED 11 so as to be substantially uniform, and a light passing through the diffusion plate 12. And a transmissive LCD 13 as display content switching means for performing a display as shown in FIG.
The LCD 13 is electrically connected to a drive circuit (not shown) and the like via a flexible printed board 14.

Although the LED 11 of the monochromatic light source (or close to it) is used as the light source of the display member 2 here,
As described above, since the reflection hologram combiner 1 has good wavelength selectivity, it is possible to use a general light source in a wide wavelength range. of course,
If you use a monochromatic light source or a light source with a spectrum close to monochromatic,
It goes without saying that the light quantity can be used more effectively.

A specific example of the contents displayed on the LCD 13 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3A shows a state in which all display segments provided on the LCD 13 are turned on. On the display screen 21 of the LCD 13, a field of view frame 22 corresponding to a shooting screen of a normal size (such as the above-described Leica size) and a shooting screen of a panorama size having an aspect ratio longer than the normal size in the horizontal direction are provided. View frame 2
3, a left ranging frame 24 indicating a ranging range when performing ranging at a slightly left side from the center of the screen, a center ranging frame 25 indicating a ranging range when performing ranging at the center of the screen, and a screen A right distance measurement frame 26 is provided to indicate a distance measurement range when the distance measurement is performed slightly to the right of the center.

Each of these display segments is in a state of transmitting the backlight by the LED 11 and the diffusion plate 12 when turned on, and is in a state of not transmitting light when turned off. In addition, portions other than these display segments do not transmit light.

Next, FIG. 3B shows an LCD in a state in which a distance is measured at the center and focus is achieved when the camera is set to a normal mode in which a normal size photographing screen is selected.
13 shows a display state. In this state, the normal-size field frame 22 and the center distance measurement frame 25 of all the display segments as described above are displayed.

FIG. 3C shows an LCD in a state where the right side is measured and focused on when the camera is set to a panorama mode in which a panorama size photographing screen is selected.
13 shows a display state. In this state, the panorama-size field of view frame 23 and the right-side distance measurement frame 26 of all the display segments as described above are displayed.

Next, the operation of the finder device for a camera configured as described above will be described.

When the photographer 5 holds the camera toward the subject 4, light from the subject 4 enters the reflection type hologram combiner 1 almost perpendicularly, and passes through the reflection type hologram combiner 1 for photographing. Of the subject 5 as the subject light flux 7.

On the other hand, in the display member 2, when necessary ones of the display segments as shown in FIG. 3 are turned on by the LCD 13 and the LED 11 is made to emit light, the light is substantially uniform via the diffusion plate 12. L as light
The CD 13 is illuminated, and the light transmitted through the display segment in the LCD 13 is incident on the reflective hologram combiner 1.

This light is reflected by the reflection type hologram combiner 1 and enters the eye of the photographer 5 as a display light flux 6.

At this time, the image of the display member 2 is observed by the photographer 5 as a virtual image located several meters closer to the subject than the reflection hologram combiner 1 by the action of the reflection hologram combiner 1.

Thus, when the photographer 5 views the reflection type hologram combiner 1, the observer observes the virtual image of the display member 2 superimposed on the real image of the subject 4, and even if the position of the eyes is slightly shifted, the photographing is almost accurate. The range can be grasped.

In the above description, the transmission type L is used as the display member.
The CD is illuminated with a backlight as an example. Alternatively, a daylighting LCD, which illuminates the LCD with light guided from the outside, may be employed, or display is performed using the LED itself. It may be a configuration. Or,
Even those that illuminate the display member using LEDs and display the reflected light, and those that illuminate the display member using the light guided from the outside to make it white light and display the reflected light, etc. Well, various configurations can be widely applied.

Further, in the above description, the information displayed in the viewfinder has been described by taking as an example a field frame that switches between normal and panoramic and a distance measuring frame that switches at the time of multi-point distance measurement. However, the information is not limited to these. Field of view frames that switch according to the aspect ratio of various prints, metering frames that switch in multi-point metering, split metering, etc., shooting modes such as automatic flash and forced flash, remaining number of films, in-focus display, warning display, etc. It can be applied to the display of various information.

Further, if there is a possibility that the display may be distorted due to the design of the hologram, the distortion is easily eliminated by designing the shape of the display member in advance so as to correct the distortion. Can be.

According to the first embodiment, a sports finder is provided which can grasp the photographing range almost accurately even if the position of the eyes is shifted, and displays a plurality of types of images brightly and clearly. A high-quality sports finder that can be provided in a camera without increasing the cost and without increasing the size.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, a description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different points will be mainly described.

In the second embodiment, a so-called sports finder is constructed using a reflection type hologram combiner which is detachably provided on the outer surface of the camera body.

That is, the foldable reflection type hologram combiner 1 in the first embodiment described above is
This embodiment is configured to be detachable, and the other points are the same as those of the above-described first embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.
Since the reflection type hologram combiner is detachable, the reflection type hologram combiner having a different eye point, a virtual image forming position, and the like can be appropriately replaced and used as needed.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which a subject is observed by a finder device of a camera. In the third embodiment, a description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different points will be mainly described.

In the third embodiment, a so-called sports finder is constructed using a transmission type hologram combiner which is erected on the outer surface of a camera body so as to be freely foldable.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the camera has a display member 32 as a light emitting display means inside a camera body 33, and a transmission type hologram combiner 31 as a foldable light beam coupling element, for example, on the upper surface thereof.
Has been established.

This transmission type hologram combiner 31
Has a function of refracting light incident at a specific incident angle only at light of a specific wavelength at an exit angle having a predetermined relationship with the incident angle, and has a lens function (that is, a specific wavelength). (The function of controlling the direction of the light by refracting the light).

More specifically, the transmission hologram combiner 31 adjusts the angle of incidence, the angle of refraction, and the lens function (focal length) so that the position of the virtual image formed by refraction substantially matches the position of the subject. For example, it is designed so that a virtual image can be seen a few meters away.

Further, the transmission type hologram combiner 31 is designed so that the eye point thereof is located at a position on the side of the photographer 5 about several cm to several tens cm from the camera body 33.

The above-mentioned transmission hologram combiner 3
Reference numeral 1 also uses a volume hologram in this embodiment.

On the other hand, the display member 32 is arranged in front of the transmission type hologram combiner 31 and outside the optical path of the finder field, and is configured as, for example, an LCD with a backlight similar to that shown in FIG. .

Next, the operation of the finder device for a camera configured as described above will be described.

When the photographer 5 holds the camera toward the subject 4, the light from the subject 4 enters the transmission hologram combiner 31 almost perpendicularly, and passes through the transmission hologram combiner 31 for photographing. Of the subject 5 as the subject light flux 37.

On the other hand, when the above-described display is performed on the display member 32, the light is incident on the transmission type hologram combiner 31.

This light is refracted by the transmission type hologram combiner 31 and enters the eye of the photographer 5 as a display light flux 36.

At this time, due to the action of the transmission type hologram combiner 31, the image of the display member 32 is observed by the photographer 5 as a virtual image located several meters away from the transmission type hologram combiner 31, for example, on the subject side.

Thus, when the photographer 5 looks at the transmission type hologram combiner 31, the display member 3 is displayed on the real image of the subject 4.
The two virtual images are superimposed and observed, and even if the position of the eyes is slightly shifted, an almost accurate shooting range can be grasped.

The other points are the same as those of the first embodiment.
This is almost the same as the embodiment.

According to the third embodiment, by using a transmission type hologram, a diffraction efficiency close to 100% can be obtained, and almost the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. .

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the above-described first to third embodiments
The description of the same parts as those of the embodiment is omitted,
Only the differences will be mainly described.

In the fourth embodiment, a so-called sports finder is constructed using a transmission type hologram combiner which is detachably provided on the outer surface of a camera body.

That is, the foldable transmission hologram combiner 31 according to the third embodiment described above.
Is configured to be detachable in this embodiment, and the other points are the same as those of the third embodiment.

The second embodiment described above and the fourth embodiment
In the embodiment, the hologram combiner constituting the sports finder is made detachable, but the display member and the like may be made detachable, and other members and some of the elements may be made detachable. good.

According to the fourth embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the third embodiment can be obtained.
Since the transmission hologram combiner is detachable, the transmission hologram combiner having a different eye point, a virtual image forming position, and the like can be appropriately replaced and used as needed.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a volume hologram is used as a hologram. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a reflection type flat hologram can be used. However, since the planar hologram cannot be said to have sufficiently good wavelength selectivity, it is desirable that the light source used for the display member be as close as possible to a single color. That is, when an LED or the like is used as a light source, it can be used favorably, but white light cannot be used because it causes image blur or the like.

If the shape of the flat hologram is blazed, a diffraction efficiency of 100% can be achieved at one wavelength. Alternatively, when the surface is binary approximated, diffraction efficiency according to the approximate order can be obtained. As described above, the planar hologram has a part inferior in performance to the volume hologram, but since the surface shape may be determined, it can be mass-produced inexpensively by a conventional molding method. . Therefore, it is desirable to use a planar hologram in terms of cost.

Since the hologram has the thickness of the base material, when a reflection type hologram combiner is used, the image of the reflection by the surface of the base material (the surface opposite to the hologram) and the hologram The reflection image may be displayed as a double image.

The hologram can be separated by a non-specular reflection type in which the incident angle and the reflection angle of the hologram are different. However, when the hologram cannot be separated completely or when a specular reflection type hologram combiner is used, It is desirable that the double image (the image due to the surface reflection of the base material) be made inconspicuous by applying an antireflection means such as a coating or a film.

Further, since the hologram has a characteristic of controlling light by a diffraction grating, the peak wavelength of reflected light or refracted light changes due to physical change of the hologram and the base material. Therefore, the wavelength of the illumination light for display needs to be a wavelength in consideration of this point. vice versa,
For example, it is also possible to configure a display that changes according to a change in temperature by utilizing a physical change due to temperature.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Appendix] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) A sports finder having a hologram combiner capable of controlling the direction of light by reflecting a specific wavelength on the recorded interference fringes, and the hologram combiner is closer to the observer than the sports finder. Projection display means for projecting a predetermined display content at the specific wavelength from outside the optical path of the sports finder, and a subject luminous flux passing through the sports finder and a display luminous flux reflected by the hologram combiner. A viewfinder device for a camera, characterized in that observation is possible by optically superimposing images.

(2) A sports finder having a hologram combiner capable of controlling the direction of light by refracting a specific wavelength to the recorded interference fringes, and a hologram combiner closer to the subject than the sports finder is compared with the hologram combiner. Light projection display means for projecting a predetermined display content from the outside of the optical path of the sports finder at the specific wavelength, wherein the subject luminous flux passing through the sports finder and the display luminous flux refracted by the hologram combiner are provided. A viewfinder device for a camera, wherein observation is possible by optically superimposing.

(3) The finder device for a camera as described in Supplementary Note (1) or (2), wherein the projection display means includes an LCD with a backlight.

(4) The supplementary note (1) or (2), wherein the light emitting display means includes a display member for displaying at least one of a field frame, a distance measuring frame or a light measuring frame. Camera viewfinder device.

(5) The supplementary note (1) or (2), wherein the sports finder is provided so as to be foldable or detachable with respect to the camera body.
A finder device for a camera according to item 1.

(6) The camera finder device according to appendix (1) or (2), wherein said light emitting display means has display content switching means capable of switching display contents. .

(7) A sports finder having a light beam coupling element capable of controlling the direction of light by reflecting or refracting a specific wavelength to the recorded interference fringe and allowing the light beam from the subject to pass therethrough, Light projection display means for projecting predetermined display contents at the specific wavelength from outside the optical path of the sports finder to the element, and forming a virtual image of a display light flux reflected or refracted by the light flux coupling element. A finder device for a camera, wherein an image position is matched with the position of the subject.

(8) The camera finder device according to appendix (7), wherein the sports finder is provided so as to be foldable or detachable with respect to the camera body.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a camera finder device having a high-quality sports finder capable of observing a plurality of types of displays brightly and clearly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a state in which a subject is observed by a finder device of a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the display member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of display by the display member of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a subject is observed by a finder device of a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reflection type hologram combiner (light beam coupling element) 2, 32 ... Display member (light projection display means) 3, 33 ... Camera body 6, 36 ... Display light beam 7, 37 ... Subject light beam 11 ... LED 12 ... Diffusion plate 13 ... LCDs (display content switching means) 22, 23: visual field frames 24, 25, 26: distance measuring frames 31: transmission hologram combiner (light beam coupling element)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sports finder having a light beam coupling element capable of controlling the direction of light by reflecting or refracting a specific wavelength on a recorded interference fringe; and a sports finder for the light beam coupling element. Light-emitting display means for projecting predetermined display content at the specific wavelength from outside the optical path, and any of a subject light beam passing through the sports finder and a display light beam reflected or refracted by the light beam coupling element. A viewfinder device for a camera, wherein observation is possible by superimposing images. 2. The camera viewfinder device according to claim 1, wherein the sports viewfinder is provided so as to be foldable or detachable with respect to a camera body. 3. The finder device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein said light projection display means has display content switching means capable of switching display contents.