JPS61234668A - Finder of electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the switching operation between an electronic view finder and an optical finder unnecessary and to make a device small in size by forming an expanded image of an object, which is projected near the center of the visual field of the electronic view finder, in the visual field of the optical finder arranged adjacently to the electronic view finder. CONSTITUTION:The light from an object 1 passes an objective lens 2 of an electronic camera, a half mirror 3, and a master lens 9 to form an object image on a CCD 4 as an image receiving part of the electronic camera. A part of the light reflected on the half mirror 3 is expanded by a lens system and reaches photographer's eye 7 through an eyepiece lens 6. Information of the object image formed on the CCD 4 is sent to an electronic view finder 8 as an electric signal. This finder 8 consists of a small-sized CRT, and the object image is projected on the CRT surface on a basis of the electric signal. This object image reaches photographer's eye 7 through the eyepiece lens 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a finder for an electronic camera that is a combination of an electronic viewfinder and an optical finder.

(Prior Art) As a finder for an electronic camera, an electronic viewfinder that clearly projects a subject image on a CRT-tube is known.

However, these electronic viewfinders generally have drawbacks such as the images are monochrome, color images cannot be seen, the images lack clarity, and it takes some time from power input to displaying the subject image. Therefore, in order to compensate for this drawback, a switchable optical viewfinder has been proposed in addition to the electronic viewfinder.

A known device equipped with both viewfinders is one that uses a mirror to switch to the viewfinder intended by the photographer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-154826). In many cases, the operation must be performed in parallel with focusing, for example. Therefore, this switching operation is often troublesome for the photographer, and as a result, there is a problem that a valuable photo opportunity may be missed.

(Objective of the Invention) The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and eliminates the need to switch between an electronic viewfinder and an optical finder, and further enables cost reduction and miniaturization of the finder optical system. The purpose of this invention is to provide a viewfinder for an electronic camera.

(Structure of the Invention) The finder of the electronic camera according to the present invention includes an optical finder disposed adjacent to the field of view of the electronic viewfinder, and magnification of a subject projected near the center of the field of view of the electronic pico-finder. The present invention is characterized in that an image is formed within the field of view of the optical finder.

Note that the above-mentioned "adjacent" refers to cases where, for example, a rectangular field of view of an electronic viewfinder and a rectangular field of view of an optical finder are formed adjacent to each other; This also includes cases where the visual fields are formed adjacent to each other.

(Effects of the Invention) If the finder of the electronic jj camera according to the present invention is used, the fields of view of both the electronic viewfinder and the optical finder are arranged adjacent to each other, and it is possible to view the subject image in both finders at the same time. Because of this, there is no need to switch between both viewfinders like with conventional viewfinders. This allows you to concentrate only on operations such as focusing.
As a result, there is less risk of removing the image while it is out of focus or missing an important photo opportunity.

In addition, since an enlarged image of the subject projected near the center of the electronic viewfinder is formed within the field of view of the optical finder, you can adjust the focus without turning on the power, and you can adjust the zoom magnification each time. There's no need to raise it.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, since the optical viewfinder is shaped like a sea urchin that only sees a portion of the photographic screen, it is possible to use a lens with a narrower field of view than with conventional viewfinders, allowing for a more compact viewfinder optical system. It is also possible to reduce costs.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an embodiment according to the present invention.

Light from a subject 1 passes through an objective lens 2, a half mirror 3, and a master lens 9 of an electronic camera, and forms an image of the subject on a CCD 4, which is an image receiving section of the electronic camera. Also, a part of the light reflected by the half mirror 3 is transmitted to the lens system 5A.
, 5B, and 5C, and reaches the photographer's 17 via the eyepiece 6. The optical system from the half mirror 3 to the eyepiece lens 6 constitutes an optical finder system. Since the reflective surface 3A of the half mirror 3 is formed so as to reflect a part of the light rays near the center of the light from the subject 1, the photographer's eyes 7 can see the light through this optical finder. Of the subject images formed on the CCD 4, the image near the center can be seen.

On the other hand, the information on the subject image formed on the CCDJ is sent to the recording system in the form of an electrical signal, and at the same time, the information on the subject image is also sent to the electronic viewfinder 8 in the form of an electrical signal.
sent to. This electronic viewfinder 8 is a small C
It consists of an RT and projects an object image on the OR'T tube surface based on the above electrical signals. Then, this subject image reaches the Oka photographer 17 through the eyepiece lens 6.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the viewfinder field of view of the finder of FIG. 1. FIG.

In FIG. 2, part A is the field of view of the electronic viewfinder, and part B is the field of view of the optical finder. An enlarged image of the subject at a portion C near the center of the field of view (A) of the electronic viewfinder is formed in the area shown below.

In this way, the field of view (B) of the optical finder is arranged within the field of view (A) of the electronic viewfinder because the field of view of the subject image projected on the tube surface of the electronic viewfinder 8 in FIG. Inside, there is a reflective mirror 5d for the optical finder system.
This is because it is arranged. By moving the set position of the reflecting mirror 5d from side to side relative to the tube surface of the electronic viewfinder 8, the field of view of the electronic viewfinder (A) and the field of view of the optical finder (B) can be changed, for example, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, it can be formed in an arrangement as shown in FIG. If both fields of view are arranged as shown in Figure 3, CC
It becomes possible to view the entire subject image formed on D4 through the electronic viewfinder.

Note that the optical finder system according to the present invention is of course not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and various other complicated optical systems may be applied.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the finder of an electronic camera according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the viewfinder field of view in FIG. 1, and FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of changing the arrangement of the finder field of view. 1...Subject 3...Half mirror 4.
・・CCD 6・・Eyepiece 7・・・・
Photographer's eyes 8: electronic viewfinder Aν.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Consisting of an electronic viewfinder and an optical finder disposed adjacent to the field of view of the electronic viewfinder, the optical finder captures a subject image near the center of the field of view of the electronic viewfinder. A viewfinder for an electronic camera, characterized in that the viewfinder is enlarged.