JP2000056383A - Display device within finder for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable many pieces of photographing information to be visually recognized by a photographer by diversifying the display states of respective indexes and changing the display states of the respective indexes. SOLUTION: This display device is provided with a finder optical system observing a picture on a focusing plate 15, plural AF(automatic focusing) frames 15a, 15b and 15c arranged at the plate 15 or near it and constituted of a light deflection means and plural illumination light sources 24a, 24b and 24C individually illuminating the plural AF frames from the outside of the plate 15. The light deflection means constituting the respective AF frames is constituted so that luminous flux from the corresponding illumination light source is deflected toward the inside of the photographing optical path of the observer of the finder optical system. In this case, the light deflection means is constituted of the aggregate of plural prisms. The plural illumination light sources are provided with plural light emission parts 24d enabling the respective AF frames to be irradiated with the light beams of two or more different colors.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a display device in a viewfinder of a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is known that a single-lens reflex camera having a multi-point distance measuring function has a plurality of focus frames (AF frames) indicating a plurality of focus ranges in a finder visual field. Further, among single-lens reflex cameras having such a plurality of focus frames, there is known a single-lens reflex camera in which a currently selected focus frame is displayed by light emission so as to be visually recognized by a photographer.

As described above, in the type in which the currently selected focus frame is displayed by light emission, each focus frame is constituted by an aggregate (light deflecting means) of fine prisms formed on a focus plate, and the corresponding focus frame is provided outside the finder optical path. There is a type in which a light beam from a light emitting unit (illumination light source) is applied to a currently selected focus frame so that a photographer can visually recognize the focus frame.

As described above, in a conventional camera in which an index such as a focus frame is illuminated and displayed in a finder field of view using a corresponding illuminator provided outside a finder optical path,
Since the light emitting unit that illuminates each indicator emits monochromatic light (for example, red light by a red LED), there are only three types of display modes of each indicator that are illuminated and displayed: on, off, and blinking. For this reason, it was not possible for the photographer to visually recognize a large amount of photographing information by changing the display mode of each index.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has a plurality of indices such as a focus frame formed of an aggregate of fine prisms in a finder optical path.
By illuminating each of the indices with a corresponding illumination light source and displaying the indices in a viewfinder display device, the display mode of each of the indices is diversified, and the display mode of each of the indices is changed to obtain a large amount of shooting information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device in a viewfinder of a camera which enables a photographer to visually recognize the image.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a finder optical system for observing an image on a focus plate disposed at a position optically equivalent to an image forming plane of a photographing optical system; and a specific area within a field of view of the finder optical system. A plurality of indices comprising light deflecting means provided on or near the focus plate; and a plurality of illumination light sources for individually illuminating the plurality of indices from outside the focus plate. The light deflecting means constituting the index is:
In a display device in a viewfinder of a camera that deflects a light beam from a corresponding illumination light source into an observation optical path of an observer of a viewfinder optical system, a light deflecting unit forming each index includes an aggregate of a plurality of prisms, and a plurality of prisms. The illumination light source includes a plurality of light emitting units that can emit at least two or more different colors of light to each index. According to this configuration, for example, if the plurality of light-emitting units are configured by a red light-emitting unit that emits red light and a green light-emitting unit that emits green light, each index is red, green, and three colors of orange, which is a mixed color of these. The display becomes possible, and by changing the display mode of each index, a lot of photographing information can be visually recognized by the photographer. In addition, each of the plurality of light emitting units can be configured by a two-color light emitting LED that illuminates the corresponding index.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 5 shows an AF single-lens reflex camera to which the present invention is applied. This single-lens reflex camera is an AF single-lens reflex camera having a multi-point ranging function, and has a camera body 1
0, and a photographing lens 40 detachably attached to the front part of the camera body 10.

The photographing lens 40 has a photographing optical system 41 including an AF lens group which moves forward and backward along a photographing optical axis O in a lens barrel (not shown). The AF lens group includes a gear train 30 provided in the camera body 10, the camera body 10 and the photographing lens 40.
Are driven by the rotation of an AF motor 32 provided on the camera body 10 via an AF coupler 50 provided over the camera body 10 and a gear train 43 provided in the lens barrel.
The photographing lens 40 has a built-in lens ROM 45 in which lens information is stored in advance. The lens information stored in the lens ROM 45 includes a plurality of lens information contacts provided in the camera body 10 and the photographing lens 40, respectively. 52
Through the body microcomputer 34 provided in the camera body 10.

Further, in the camera body 10, a mirror box 13 for supporting the quick return mirror 11 therein, a pentaprism 17 fixed above the mirror box 13, and an eyepiece fixed behind the pentaprism 17 A lens (Fine loupe) 19 is provided. Mirror box 13 and pentaprism 17
A focusing plate (focusing screen) 15 is fixed therebetween. In the camera body 10, a focus detection device 21 and a light emitting device 23 are provided below the mirror box 13.
Is provided.

In the photographing standby state before the release, most of the subject light flux that has entered the camera body 10 through the photographing optical system 41 is first reflected upward by the quick return mirror 11 to form an image on the focus plate 15. You. The formed subject image (laterally inverted image) is inverted right and left by the pentaprism 17, and is observed through the eyepiece 19 as an erect image whose right, left, up, and down directions are correct.

On the other hand, a part of the subject light beam entering the camera body 10 through the photographing lens 40 passes through a half mirror portion 11a provided at a substantially central portion of the quick return mirror 11, and is behind the quick return mirror 11. Incident on the sub-mirror 12 provided on the side. The light beam that has entered the sub-mirror 12 is reflected downward and enters the focus detection device 21.

As shown in FIG. 7, the camera of this embodiment automatically focuses (AF) at any one of the center ranging point C, the left ranging point L and the right ranging point R in the finder field of view FV.
It employs a three-point ranging method. Focus detection device 21
Is a phase difference detection type distance measuring sensor, and incorporates three AF sensor units (not shown) corresponding to the center distance measuring point C, the left distance measuring point L, and the right distance measuring point R, respectively.

The body microcomputer 34 performs a predetermined exposure calculation based on a photometric signal obtained from a TTL photometric device (not shown) and film sensitivity information, and calculates an appropriate shutter speed and aperture value. Further, the body microcomputer 34
Photographing processing based on these proper shutter speed and aperture value, that is, the quick return mirror 11 is flipped from the standby position to the photographing position, and a shutter mechanism (not shown)
Then, an aperture mechanism (not shown) is driven to expose the film. Further, the body microcomputer 34 performs
The AF motor 32 is driven to move the AF lens group to a focusing position to focus on the subject.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the upper surface (mat surface) 15x of the focus plate 15, a center ranging point C, a left ranging point L and a right ranging point R in the finder field of view FV shown in FIG. , Three light deflecting units (light deflecting means), that is, a central light deflecting unit 15a, a left light deflecting unit 15b, and a right light deflecting unit 15c are provided. Each of these light deflection units 15
a, 15b, and 15c denote focus frames (A) observed in the viewfinder visual field via the eyepiece lens 19.
F frame).

Each of the light deflecting portions 15a, 15b, 15c has a hollow rectangular frame shape, and the frame portion is formed of a plurality of fine prisms 15p formed integrally with the focus plate 15 and extending parallel to each other. . That is, each light deflecting unit 15a, 1
5b and 15c are a plurality of prisms 1 extending parallel to each other.
It consists of a 5p aggregate. Each light deflecting unit 15a, 15
The ridges of the plurality of prisms 15p constituting the b and 15c are located in the left-right direction of the finder visual field, that is, the camera body 10p.
5 (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 5). A light beam emitted from a corresponding light source of the light emitting device 23 from below the focus plate 15 is incident on each of the light deflecting portions 15a, 15b, 15c of the focus plate 15 thus configured. Hereinafter, the light emitting device 23 will be described in detail.

The light emitting device 23 is disposed below the front part of the mirror box 13 and has a central light emitting portion 24a and a left light emitting portion 24 arranged along the left-right direction of the camera body 10.
b and the right side light emitting section 24c. These central light emitting portion 24a, left light emitting portion 24b, and right light emitting portion 24c
The central light deflecting unit 15a on the focus plate 15, the left light deflecting unit 1
5b and the right light deflecting unit 15c, respectively, and are arranged so as to face the inside of the mirror box 13 through an opening 13a formed at the front of the bottom plate of the mirror box 13.

Each of the light emitting sections 24a, 24b, 24c has a light source 24d and a prism 24e for deflecting a light beam from the light source 24d and projecting the light toward a corresponding light deflecting section (15a, 15b or 15c). are doing. Prism 24
In e, a condensing lens is integrally formed on each of the three emission surfaces for emitting the light beams from the light emitting units 24a, 24b, and 24c. Further, between each light source 24d and the corresponding incident surface of the prism 24e, a first light source that regulates the range of the incident light flux from the light source 24d incident on the incident surface of the prism 24e is used.
The mask 24f is fixed, and similarly, the prism 24
A second mask 24g that regulates a range of a light beam emitted from the emission surface of the prism 24e is fixed between each emission surface of the e and the opening 13a formed in the bottom wall of the mirror box 13 (FIG. 6). reference). Note that the first mask 24 is shown in FIG.
f and the second mask 24g are not shown.

Each light source 24d is connected to a red LE
It is composed of a two-color light emitting LED integrally provided with a D element RE and a green LED element GE, and can emit any one of red light, green light, and orange light that is a mixed color thereof.
The luminous flux emitted from the light source 24d of each light emitting unit passes through the corresponding first mask 24f, prism 24e, second mask 24g, and opening 13a, and the corresponding light deflecting unit (15a, 15b).
Or 15c) is incident at a fixed incident angle. The incident light enters the corresponding light deflecting unit from a direction substantially orthogonal to the ridge direction of each prism 15p of the light deflecting unit.

FIG. 2 shows a light beam BL from the central light emitting portion 24a.
1 shows a state in which the light is incident on the corresponding central light deflecting unit 15a and is deflected. Of the light beam BL1, the focus plate upper surface 1
Light beam BL1a emitted from 5x central light deflection unit 15a
Is a focus plate upper surface 15 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the focus plate 15.
The light exits from x and goes to the pentaprism 17. On the other hand, of the light beam BL1, the light beam BL1b emitted from a portion other than the central light deflecting portion 15a on the focus plate upper surface 15x emits from the focus plate upper surface 15x at an emission angle substantially similar to the incident angle on the focus plate lower surface 15w. Therefore, it does not go to the pentaprism 17. That is, the light flux B incident on the central light deflection unit 15a
In L1, only the light beam emitted from the central light deflection unit 15a reaches the eyepiece lens 19.

In FIG. 2, only the state of the light beam BL1 with respect to the central light deflecting section 15a has been described. However, the light beam BL2 from the left light emitting section 24b entering the left light deflecting section 15b and the right light beam entering the right light deflecting section 15c. The same applies to the light beam BL3 from the portion 24c. That is, the left light deflection unit 15
As for the light beam BL2 incident on the light beam b, only the light beam emitted from the left light deflector 15b reaches the eyepiece 19, and the light beam BL3 incident on the right light deflector 15c is only the light beam emitted from the right light deflector 15c. Reach 19. Therefore, the irradiation light from any one of the light emitting units (24a, 24b or 24c) is converted into the corresponding light deflection unit (15a, 15b or 15c).
When the light is incident on c), the light deflector is illuminated and displayed in the viewfinder field. That is, each of the light emitting units 24a, 24
When any one of b and 24c emits red light, green light, or orange light that is a mixed color thereof, the corresponding light deflecting unit (15
a, 15b or 15c) emits light in that emission color. The display device in the viewfinder of the single-lens reflex camera of the present embodiment includes:
Each light deflecting unit 15a, 15b, 15c and each light emitting unit 24
a, 24b, 24c and the like.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the light deflection portion light emission display processing by the body microcomputer 34. AF of this embodiment
In a single-lens reflex camera, when a release button (not shown) is half-pressed, a defocus amount is calculated at each of the center ranging point C, the left ranging point L, and the right ranging point R, and the calculated defocus amount is calculated. When the subject is focused on and the release button is fully pressed, a release operation is performed. When the release button is half-pressed, the process enters the flow chart shown in FIG.

When the release button is half-pressed, first, a defocus amount is calculated at each of the center ranging point C, the left ranging point L, and the right ranging point R (S101). Next, the defocus amount at the distance measuring point at which the minimum defocus amount is calculated is stored in a RAM or the like, and a drive amount for driving the AF lens group of the photographing optical system 41 is obtained based on the defocus amount. Then, the AF lens group is driven by this driving amount (S10).
3, S105, S107). Thereafter, it is determined whether the object is in focus or out of focus. If not, steps S105 and S1 are performed again.
07, and if it is determined that the subject is in focus, the next step S
The process proceeds to the process of S111 (S109).

In the process of step S111, step S111
The focus area (the central light deflector 15) corresponding to the distance measuring point for which the minimum defocus amount has been calculated in the process of 103
a) At least one of the light sources 24d of the respective light emitting units 24a, 24b, 24c emits light so that the left light deflecting unit 15b or the right light deflecting unit 15c) emits light. Subsequently, a timer is started, and then a release permission is issued and the process returns (S113, S115). Step S
The timer process of 113 is a process of turning off the light source 24d turned on in the process of step S111 after a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) elapses after the timer is started.

In the process of step S111, each light emitting unit 24
a, 24b, and 24c, when the corresponding light source 24d emits light to cause any of the light deflecting units to emit light, each light source 24d
If it is controlled to selectively emit any of red light, green light and orange light which is a mixed color of these, the light deflecting unit (15a, 15b or 15c) for emitting and displaying light can be controlled to emit red light, green light or orange light. Color display can be performed with three colors of light. For example, when a configuration is adopted in which one focusing point to be automatically focused (AF) can be arbitrarily selected from three focusing points, a center ranging point C, a left ranging point L, and a right ranging point R, When the distance point is selected, the light deflector (15a, 15b or 15c) corresponding to the currently selected distance measuring point emits red light,
A display mode is possible in which the light is turned off after the selection of the distance measuring point, and then the light deflector emits green light when focused at the selected distance measuring point. Further, when the camera is in focus but in a backlight state, a display mode such as causing the corresponding light deflection unit to emit orange light is possible.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration in which one focusing point to be automatically focused (AF) can be arbitrarily selected from three focusing points of a center ranging point C, a left ranging point L and a right ranging point R. 9 shows an example of the light deflection unit light emission display processing by the body microcomputer 34 in the case of FIG. The AF single-lens reflex camera that performs this processing is provided with a manual switch (not shown) that is turned on when selecting a ranging point and turned off after the selection of the ranging point. When this manual switch is turned on, a focus detection point selection mode is entered. In this mode, a desired focus detection point is set by operating a selection button (not shown) provided on the camera body 10 or the like. The light deflector corresponding to the point (15
a, 15b or 15c) to emit red light, the light source 24 of the corresponding light emitting portion (24a, 24b or 24c).
The red LED element RE of (d) emits light (step S20).
1, S203, S205). Thereafter, if there is no need to switch the ranging points, the mode exits from the ranging point selection mode, and the light source 24d that has been emitting red light is turned off (step S20).
7, S209, S201). After that, the normal photographing mode is set, and when focusing is performed at the selected distance measuring point, the light deflector (15a, 15b or 15c) corresponding to the distance measuring point is displayed in green.

As described above, according to the AF single-lens reflex camera of the present embodiment to which the present invention is applied, each of the light emitting units 24a, 24a
4b, 24c can be displayed in any of the emission colors of red, green, and orange, which is a mixed color of these, and many shootings can be performed by changing the display colors of the light deflectors 15a, 15b, 15c. The information can be visually recognized by the photographer.
Furthermore, by not only turning on and off the light deflectors 15a, 15b, and 15c but also flickering, more photographing information can be visually recognized by the photographer.

In the above embodiment of the present invention, each light source 24d is constituted by a two-color light emitting LED integrally provided with a red LED element RE and a green LED element GE, but the red LED element, the green LED element and the blue LED element are integrated. May be constituted by three-color light-emitting LEDs provided for the above. In this case, each LED
By adjusting the light amount of the element, each of the light deflecting sections 15a, 1
5b and 15c can be displayed in full color.

In this embodiment, three light deflecting units 15a, 15b and 15 functioning as focus frames are provided.
Although c is formed on the focus plate 15, each light deflector may be formed on a transparent plate or the like provided near the focus plate 15 instead of this structure.

In this embodiment, three light deflecting units functioning as focus frames are provided, and a number of light emitting units corresponding to the three light deflecting units are provided. However, two or four light deflecting units are provided. One or more light deflecting units may be provided and the number of light emitting units corresponding to the number of the light deflecting units may be provided.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of light deflecting units are configured as focus frames, but may be configured as indices used for purposes other than the focus frame.

In this embodiment, one of the plurality of light deflection units selected by the light deflection unit light emission display processing shown in FIG.
One of the light deflecting units is controlled to emit light. However, the present invention is not limited to this control mode.
A configuration may be employed in which one or more light deflecting units simultaneously emit and display light.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an AF single-lens reflex camera. However, the present invention can be applied to a lens shutter camera.

[0033]

As described above, according to the display device in the finder of the camera of the present invention, the light deflecting means constituting each index is constituted by an aggregate of a plurality of prisms, and the plurality of illumination light sources are connected to each index. , A plurality of light-emitting portions capable of irradiating at least two or more different colors of light can be displayed in multiple colors on each index so that a large number of pieces of photographing information can be visually recognized by the photographer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective external view showing a focus plate of an AF single-lens reflex camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the central light deflecting unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 6;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the focus plate viewed from above in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an AF single-lens reflex camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of an AF single-lens reflex camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a center ranging point, a left ranging point, and a right ranging point in a finder visual field FV.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of light deflection unit light emission display processing by the body microcomputer.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of light deflection unit light emission display processing by the body microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Camera body 11 Quick return mirror 13 Mirror box 15 Focus plate 15a Central light deflecting unit 15b Left light deflecting unit 15c Right light deflecting unit 15p Prism 15x Focus plate top surface 23 Light emitting device 24a Central light emitting unit 24b Left light emitting unit 24c Right light emitting unit 24d Light source 24e Prism 40 Shooting lens 41 Shooting optical system RE Red LED element GE Green LED element

Claims (4)

[Claims] A viewfinder optical system for observing an image on a focusing plate disposed at a position optically equivalent to an image forming plane of a photographing optical system; and indicating a specific area in a field of view of the viewfinder optical system. A plurality of indices provided on the focus plate or in the vicinity thereof, each of the indices including light deflecting means; and a plurality of illumination light sources for individually illuminating the plurality of indices from outside the focus plate. The light deflecting means is a display device in a finder of a camera that deflects a light beam from a corresponding illumination light source into an observation optical path of an observer of a finder optical system, wherein the light deflecting means constituting each index is an aggregate of a plurality of prisms. The plurality of illumination light sources are provided with a plurality of light emitting units capable of irradiating at least two or more different colors of light to the respective indicators. 2. The viewfinder display device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting units comprises a two-color light emitting LED for illuminating a corresponding index. Display device inside. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of indices are formed integrally with a focus plate. 4. The display device in a viewfinder of a camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is an AF single-lens reflex camera having a multipoint ranging function, and each of the plurality of indices is a focus. A display device in a viewfinder of a camera, wherein the display device is configured as a frame.