U.S. patent application number 09/796366 was filed with the patent office on 2001-09-06 for camera having liquid crystal display.
This patent application is currently assigned to ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Shono, Tetsuji.
Application Number | 20010019662 09/796366 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18580583 |
Filed Date | 2001-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010019662 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shono, Tetsuji |
September 6, 2001 |
Camera having liquid crystal display
Abstract
A camera including a liquid crystal display is provided with a
light interception hood mounting portion corresponding to the
liquid crystal display, and a light interception hood which is
detachably attached to the light interception hood mounting
portion. The light interception hood is provided with a hood body
which prevents external light entering the liquid crystal display
when the light interception hood is attached to the light
interception hood mounting portion, and a magnifier through which
the liquid crystal display can be viewed.
Inventors: |
Shono, Tetsuji; (Saitama,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1941 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
18580583 |
Appl. No.: |
09/796366 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
396/287 ;
348/E5.025; 396/374 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 17/18 20130101;
H04N 5/2254 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
396/287 ;
396/374 |
International
Class: |
G03B 017/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 6, 2000 |
JP |
2000-60238 (P) |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A camera comprising a liquid crystal display wherein: said
camera is provided with a light interception hood mounting portion
corresponding to the liquid crystal display; said camera includes a
light interception hood which is detachably attached to the light
interception hood mounting portion; and said light interception
hood is provided with a hood body which prevents external light
from entering the liquid crystal display when the light
interception hood is attached to the light interception hood
mounting portion, and a magnifier through which the liquid crystal
display can be viewed.
2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising: an
attachment detecting device for detecting attachment of the light
interception hood to the light interception hood mounting portion;
and an adjusting device responsive to the attachment detecting
device for adjusting the illuminance of a back light of the liquid
crystal display.
3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said light interception
hood is provided with a light reflecting optical system which
reflects an image of the liquid crystal display so that said image
is incident on the magnifier.
4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the magnifier of the
light interception hood comprises a fish-eye lens system.
5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the magnifier of the
light interception hood is movable in a direction parallel with a
plane in which a screen of the liquid crystal display lies.
6. A camera system comprising a camera and a light interception
hood separate from said camera; said camera comprising a liquid
crystal display and a light interception hood mounting portion
corresponding to said liquid crystal display; and said light
interception hood, which is detachably attached to said light
interception hood mounting portion of the camera, comprising a hood
body which prevents external light from entering the liquid crystal
display when the light interception hood is attached to the light
interception hood mounting portion and a magnifier through which
the liquid crystal display can be viewed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a camera having a liquid
crystal display.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In a camera having a liquid crystal display in which an
enlarged image to be taken can be indicated, it is possible to
determine the composition of a picture of an object to be
photographed and indicated in the liquid crystal display or to
reproduce and indicate a photographed picture in the liquid crystal
display. However, for example, if a picture is taken outdoors,
where intense light such as sunlight is incident upon the liquid
crystal display, there is a tendency for the image indicated in the
liquid crystal display not being able to be seen clearly, since the
backlight of the liquid crystal display is considerably weaker than
the sunlight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to prevent intense
light entering a liquid crystal display of a camera whereby a
picture indicated in the liquid crystal display can be clearly
viewed.
[0006] To achieve the object mentioned above, according to the
present invention, a camera is provided, including a liquid crystal
display wherein the camera is provided with a light interception
hood mounting portion corresponding to the liquid crystal display,
and a light interception hood which is detachably attached to the
light interception hood mounting portion. The light interception
hood is provided with a hood body which prevents external light
from entering the liquid crystal display when the light
interception hood is attached to the light interception hood
mounting portion, and a magnifier through which the liquid crystal
display can be viewed.
[0007] Preferably, the camera further includes an attachment
detecting device for detecting attachment of the light interception
hood to the light interception hood mounting portion, and an
adjusting device responsive to the attachment detecting device for
adjusting the illuminance of a back light of the liquid crystal
display.
[0008] The light interception hood can be provided with a light
reflecting optical system which reflects an image of the liquid
crystal display so that the image is incident on the magnifier.
[0009] The magnifier of the light interception hood can be a
fish-eye lens system to reduce the thickness thereof. The magnifier
of the light interception hood can be provided so as to be movable
in a direction parallel with a plane in which a screen of the
liquid crystal display lies. Accordingly, a portion of the image in
the liquid crystal display can be selectively viewed.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
camera system is provided, including a camera and a light
interception hood separate from the camera. The camera includes a
liquid crystal display and a light interception hood mounting
portion corresponding to the liquid crystal display. The light
interception hood, which is detachably attached to the light
interception hood mounting portion of the camera, includes a hood
body which prevents external light from entering the liquid crystal
display when the light interception hood is attached to the light
interception hood mounting portion, and a magnifier through which
the liquid crystal display can be viewed.
[0011] The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained
in Japanese Patent Application No.2000-60238 (filed on Mar. 6,
2000) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The invention will be discussed below in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
camera having a liquid crystal display and a light interception
hood;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a detection device for
detecting attachment and detachment of a light interception hood
and an adjusting device for adjusting the illuminance of the
backlight of a liquid crystal display;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a camera having a light
interception hood attached thereto, according to a first embodiment
of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a camera having a light
interception hood attached thereto, according to a second
embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
camera having a liquid crystal display and a light interception
hood;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a camera having a light
interception hood attached thereto, according to a third embodiment
of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a
camera having a liquid crystal display and a light interception
hood;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a light interception hood
according to a fourth embodiment; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in
FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] A digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1 is provided on the rear
surface thereof with a liquid crystal display 11 in which an image
formed by a photographing lens 10a (see FIG. 2), and picked-up by
an image pickup device, (not shown) is indicated. If intense light
is incident on the liquid crystal display 11, the image indicated
in the liquid crystal display cannot be seen clearly. Embodiments
of the present invention to prevent external light from being
incident on the liquid crystal display 11 will be discussed below
with reference to the drawings.
[0023] FIGS. 1 through 3 show a first embodiment of the invention
in which the liquid crystal display 11 provided in the camera 10 is
provided with a mounting shoe (light interception hood mounting
portion) 12 (a pair of vertical rails 12a) on a peripheral portion
thereof. A light interception hood 16 which can be detachably
attached to the mounting shoe 12 includes a substantially
rectangular tubular hood body 16a made of a light intercepting
material, a Fresnel lens 18 in the hood body 16a, whose size
corresponds to the size of the screen of the liquid crystal display
11, and a magnifier 17 which magnifies a picture image transmitted
through the Fresnel lens 18. The hood body 16a is provided, on the
side on which the Fresnel lens 18 is provided, with a peripheral
foot portion 16b in the form of a flange which can be detachably
attached to the mounting shoe 12. In the illustrated embodiment,
the pair of vertical rails 12a extend in the vertical direction of
the camera 10, however, it is possible to provide rails extending
in the lateral (horizontal) direction.
[0024] The mounting shoe 12 is provided with an attachment
detection member (attachment detecting device) 13. As can be seen
in FIG. 2, the attachment detection member 13 is rotatable about a
pivot shaft 13a and is continuously biased in the counterclockwise
direction by a biasing device (not shown) such as a spring, so that
a projection 13b thereof protrudes from the associated mounting
shoe 12 (camera 10). When the foot portion 16b of the light
interception hood 16 is attached to the mounting shoe 12 (pair of
vertical rails 12a), the projection 13b is depressed, so that the
attachment detection member 13 is rotated clockwise about the pivot
shaft 13a in accordance with the movement of the projection 13b.
Consequently, a pressing portion 13c of the attachment detection
member 13 is rotated clockwise to turn a detection switch 14 ON.
Conversely, when the light interception hood 16 is detached from
the mounting shoe 12, the detection member 13 is rotated
counterclockwise to release the pressing portion 13c from the
detection switch 14 to thereby turn the detection switch 14 OFF.
When the detection switch 14 is turned ON, a control circuit
(adjusting device) 15 reduces the brightness (dims) of a back light
11a of the liquid crystal display 11.
[0025] In the camera constructed as above, if it is difficult for
an operator to see the indication of the liquid crystal display 11
due to external light incident thereupon, the light interception
hood 16 is attached to the mounting shoe 12 of the camera 10 (FIG.
3). When the image is viewed through the magnifier 17, the image in
the liquid crystal display 11 is clear in spite of the fact that
the surrounding light is bright, since the external light is
intercepted. Moreover, owing to the presence of the Fresnel lens
18, the image can be seen clearly even at the peripheral portion of
the screen of the liquid crystal display. In addition to the
foregoing, the control circuit 15 operates in response to the
signal from the detection switch 14 which is turned ON when the
light interception hood 16 is attached to reduce the brightness of
the back light 11a of the liquid crystal display. Consequently, the
brightness of the liquid crystal display 11 is made appropriate,
and hence, not only can the image in the liquid crystal display be
viewed clearly, but also the electrical power consumption can be
reduced. Moreover, if the light interception hood 16 is
unnecessary, for example when no interception of the external light
is needed or the image in the liquid crystal display is viewed by
many people at one time, the light interception hood 16 can be
removed from the camera 10.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in
which a hood body 16c of the light interception hood 160 is
provided with a light reflecting optical system which includes a
first mirror (first reflection surface) 19a and a second mirror
(second reflection surface) 19b, wherein the light interception
hood 16 is constructed smaller than the light interception hood 16
of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, light emitted
from the liquid crystal display 11 and transmitted through the
Fresnel lens 18 is reflected by a first mirror 19a by 90 degrees
and is reflected by a second mirror 19b by 90 degrees, so that an
image magnified by the magnifier 17 can be viewed. Consequently, it
is possible to reduce the thickness of the light interception hood
160 (in the right and left direction in FIG. 4). As in the first
embodiment, the light interception hood 160 is provided with the
foot portion 16b and the camera 10 is provided with the attachment
detection member 13, the detection switch 14, and the control
circuit 15, so that the brightness of the back light 11a of the
liquid crystal display can be reduced when the light interception
hood 160 is attached.
[0027] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the present
invention. In the third embodiment, the light interception hood 260
is provided on the cylindrical hood body 16d with the magnifier 17
incorporated therein. The magnifier 17 is constructed as a fish-eye
magnifier (fish-eye lens system) providing a negative distortion
and having a negative lens (group) 21 and a positive lens (group)
22. In the magnifier 17, substantially all of a photographic image
of the liquid crystal display 11 can be viewed so that the portion
of the photographed image that is indicated in the center portion
of the screen of the liquid crystal display 11, which is generally
considered most important, is enlarged, and the portion of the
photographed image that is indicated in the periphery of the screen
of the liquid crystal display 11 is distorted. Moreover, the
magnifier 17, which is small in the optical axis direction,
contributes to miniaturization of the light interception hood 260.
As in the first embodiment, the light interception hood 260 is
provided with the foot portion 16b and the camera 10 is provided
with the attachment detection member 13, the detection switch 14,
and the control circuit 15, so that the brightness of the back
light 11a of the liquid crystal display can be reduced when the
light interception hood 260 is attached.
[0028] FIGS. 7 through 9 show a fourth embodiment of the present
invention, in which a part of the image in the liquid crystal
display 11 is selected and is enlarged by the magnifier 17. The
magnifier 17 is slidable in the direction parallel with a plane in
which the screen of the liquid crystal display 11 lies.
[0029] Namely, the light interception hood 360 in the fourth
embodiment is provided with a lens holder 24 which holds the
magnifier 17 and a hood member 20 which supports the lens holder 24
so as to be slidable within the hood member 20. The lens holder 24
is provided with a barrel portion 24a, having an outer diameter D4,
which holds the magnifier 17. The barrel portion 24a is provided,
on an end face thereof adjacent to the liquid crystal display 11,
with a flange 24b having an outer diameter D5 and a thickness t2.
The hood member 20 includes a base substrate 20a which is made of a
rectangular plate portion 23a which covers the liquid crystal
display 11 and foot portions 23e formed at right and left ends of
the plate portion 23a, and a cover plate 20b which is identical in
size to the base substrate 23a and is provided with a hole 23d
having diameter D3 (> D4). The base substrate 20a is provided,
on the plate portion 23a thereof, with a central through hole 23b
having diameter D1, and is provided on the surface of the plate
portion 23a away from the liquid crystal display 11, with a recess
23c having a diameter D2 (>D5) and a depth t1 (>t2). The lens
holder 24 is supported so as to be slidable with respect to the
hood member 20 by the flange 24b of the lens holder 24 being fitted
into the recess 23c of the base substrate 20a and by covering and
securing the cover plate 20b on the base substrate 20a. Similar to
the first embodiment, in the fourth embodiment, the brightness of
the back light 11a of the liquid crystal display can be reduced
when the light interception hood 360 is attached.
[0030] According to the fourth embodiment of the light interception
hood 360 constructed as described above, the image in the liquid
crystal display 11 can be selectively viewed by moving the barrel
portion 24a (magnifier 17) within the range in which the outer
diameter portion of the flange 24b comes into contact with the
inner diameter portion of the recess 23c or the outer diameter
portion of the barrel portion 24a comes into contact with the hole
23d. Moreover, the small and thin magnifier 17 makes it possible to
reduce the thickness of the light interception hood 360.
[0031] The above-described first through fourth embodiments of the
present invention have been applied to a digital still camera,
however, the invention can be applied to any camera having a liquid
crystal display, including, for example, an eight-millimeter video
camera, etc.
[0032] As can be understood from the above discussion, in a camera
having a liquid crystal display according to the present invention,
the image in the liquid crystal display can be viewed clearly even
outdoors, by using the light interception hood. Furthermore, since
the light interception hood can be detachably attached to the
camera, the light interception hood can be employed without
increasing the size of the camera. Moreover, if the camera is
provided with an attachment detecting device (detection member 13)
for detecting the attachment and detachment of the light
interception hood and an adjusting device for adjusting the
illuminance of the back light of the liquid crystal display, it is
possible to appropriately reduce the brightness of the back light
of the liquid crystal display when the light interception hood is
attached, so that not only can the image in the liquid crystal
display be clearly viewed, but also the electric power consumption
can be reduced. In addition, the light interception hood can be
made small by constructing the optical system of the light
interception hood so as to include a combination of mirrors, or a
fish-eye magnifier, or by constructing the optical system of the
light interception hood so as to be movable in a direction parallel
to a plane which is parallel to the surface of the liquid crystal
display.
[0033] Obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiments of
the present invention described herein, such modifications being
within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed. It is
indicated that all matter contained herein is illustrative and does
not limit the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *