US007876373B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Ochi et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`(54) CAMERA WITH VIEWFINDER
`
`(75) Inventors: Masahito Ochi, Chiba (JP); Hisashi
`Sano, Tokyo (JP); Toshiaki Maeda,
`Yokohama (JP); Kazuma Hosoi,
`Narashino (JP); Akira Ohmura, Tokyo
`(JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Nikon Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 753 days.
`
`2007/0248345 A1 * 10, 2007 Nozaki et al. ............... 396,123
`2008/0088729 A1
`4/2008 Ochi et al. ............. 348,333.01
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`A 05-145818
`A 08-063597
`A 2001-016573
`
`6, 1993
`3, 1996
`1, 2001
`
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Justin PMisleh
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Oliff & Berridge, PLC
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/907,088
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 9, 2007
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2008/008.4484A1
`Apr. 10, 2008
`O
`O
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`Oct. 10, 2006
`(JP)
`............................. 2006-276637
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04N 5/222
`(2006.01)
`GO3B 13/02
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................................. 348/333.01: 396/374
`(58) Field of Classification Search ....................... None
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`A camera includes a first image pickup section that photo
`graphs a recording-purpose image, a viewfinder optical sys
`tem, a second image pickup section, a mounting section, a
`display processing section, a displaying section, and a con
`R. p
`viewfinder E" system has an eye
`piece section that can observe an optical image of a subject
`with a light flux from a photographing optical path of the first
`image pickup section. The second image pickup section pho
`tographs a view confirming image from an optical path dif
`ferent from that of the first image pickup section. The mount
`ing section acquires focal-length information of an
`interchangeable lens. The display processing section
`executes display processing that superimposes a frame indi
`cating a range of a field angle of the first image pickup section,
`onto the view confirming image. The displaying section pro
`vides the eyepiece section with the view confirming image
`having been processed with the display processing. The con
`trolling section switches between a first state to provide the
`eyepiece section with the optical image and a second state to
`provide the eyepiece section with the view confirming image.
`6,037.972 A * 3/2000 Horiuchi et al. ............... 348.64
`Then, the displaying section changes a size of a frame based
`6,441,854 B2 * 8/2002 Fellegara et al.
`348,333.13
`SS R 33. Miyama - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 33 on the focal-length information when in the second state.
`2007/0084493 A1* 4/2007 Prusmack ................... 135,135
`2007/0242942 A1* 10, 2007 Nozaki et al. ............... 396,123
`
`22 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`00. BAR
`(200ING STATE OF SENIAGE PICKUP SECTION
`
`
`
`NDICATION OF
`FOCAExch
`OF ENS (29
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 1 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`31
`
`
`
`APERTURE
`DRIVING
`SECTION
`
`LENS
`MICRO
`COMPUTER
`
`
`
`ZOOM
`ENCODER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`18
`
`12
`
`FIG.
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 3 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`48c
`
`26
`
`25
`
`27
`
`FOCAL POINT
`
`PHOTOMETRY
`SECTIO" | DEETING
`
`S SECTION
`
`SEQUENCE
`CONTROLLING
`SECTION
`
`PHOTOGRAPH
`SETTING
`SECTION
`
`DISPLAY
`PROCESSING
`SECTION
`
`FACE
`DETECTING
`SECTION
`
`50a
`
`50b
`
`50C
`
`50
`
`49
`
`EXTERNAL
`I/F
`
`op 47
`.. 46
`
`MAN
`MONITOR
`
`DISPLAYING
`/F
`
`45
`
`43
`
`44
`
`51
`
`RECORDING
`
`52
`
`
`
`.
`
`WDE
`PREVIEW
`BUTTON
`
`APERTURE
`PREVIEW
`BUTTON
`
`:
`
`48
`
`.
`
`700
`SWITCH
`
`N
`VIEWFNDER
`MONITOR
`
`
`
`
`
`.
`
`48d
`
`SECOND
`ANALOG
`PROCESSING
`SECTION
`
`SECOND
`DIGITAL
`PROCESSING
`SECTION
`
`—- 42
`23
`POWER
`SUPPLYING
`FIRST
`SECTION
`DIGITAL
`PROCESSING
`SECTION
`
`FIRST
`ANALOG
`PROCESSING
`SECTION
`
`y- 41
`
`N S s N N N Š
`
`-
`
`FG.3
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 4 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`START
`
`S101
`START TO SUPPLY POWER
`TO SECOND MAGE SENSOR
`
`(B)
`
`
`
`
`
`IS WIDE
`PREVIEW BUTTON
`PRESSED
`
`S103
`
`ISS
`DISPLAYED
`
`
`
`S04
`
`Y ES
`STOP SI DISPLAY
`
`
`
`S113
`
`
`
`PERFORM WIDE PREVIEW
`DISPLAY PROCESSING
`
`S105
`PERFORM SETTING OPERATION
`OF PHOTOGRAPHING CONDITION
`S106
`
`PERFORM WIDE PREVIEW
`DETERMINATION CONTROL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S THERE
`PHOTOGRAPHING
`INSTRUCTION?
`
`
`
`S115
`
`YES
`PERFORM PHOTOGRAPHING
`PROCESSING OF INTENDED IMAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`DE
`EY DISPLAY
`TED?
`NO
`STOP OPERATIONS OF FOCAL
`POINT DETECTING SECTION
`AND PHOTOMETRY SECTION
`S109
`
`PERFORM LIGHT
`SHIELDING OPERATION
`
`S110
`ACQUIRE LENS INFORMATION
`OF LENS UNT
`
`S111
`
`PERFORMAF OF LENS OF
`SECOND IMAGE PCKUP SECTION
`S112
`INTALIZE AE AND AWB OF
`SECOND IMAGE PICKUP SECTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S116
`S PRESSING OF
`WIDE PREVIEW BUTTON
`RELEASED?
`YES
`S117
`STOP PHOTOGRAPHING WIEW
`CONFIRMING IMAGE AND TURN OFF
`IN-WIEWFINDER MONITOR
`
`S118
`RELEASE LIGHT SHIELDING STATE
`S119
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S POWER OFF
`
`NO
`
`S12
`
`YE S
`STOP TO SUPPLY POWER
`TO SECOND IMAGE SENSOR
`
`(B)
`
`FIG.4
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`(3
`
`OPTICAL IMAGE OF
`VIEWFNDER OPTICAL SYSTEM
`
`FIG.5
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 7 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`31
`
`
`
`
`
`APERTURE
`DRIVING
`SECTION
`
`12
`
`18
`
`NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSYSNRNSYNSN
`ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
`
`FIG.7
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 8 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`
`
`O
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(a)
`
`OPTCAL AXIS
`OF LENS (29)
`
`- - - - -
`
`OPTICAL 4.
`OF LENS UNIT (12)
`
`VIEW CONFIRMING IMAGE
`BEFORE ZOOMING
`TO TELESCOPICSIDE
`
`VIEW CONFIRMING IMAGE A
`AFTER ZOOMING
`TO TELESCOPICSIDE
`
`.
`
`PHOTOGRAPHING AREA OF
`PHOTOGRAPHING AREA OF
`FIS'GSEED'So FIRST IMAGE PICKUP SECTION
`
`(b)
`
`OPTICAL AXIS
`OF LENS (29)
`
`-------
`
`-------
`
`OPTICAL AXIS
`OF LENS UNIT (12)
`
`B2
`
`B1
`
`WEW CONFIRMING IMAGE
`
`VIEW CONFIRMING MAGE
`
`AT SUBJECT DISTANCE B2 AT SUBJECT DISTANCE B1 ..
`
`PHOTOGRAPHING AREA OF
`PHOTOGRAPHING AREA OF
`FIRST MAGE PICKUP SECTION FRST IMAGE PICKUP SECTION
`
`FIG.8
`
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`IPR2024-00219
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 9 Of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`ZOOM BAR
`(ZOOMING STATE OF SECOND IMAGE PICKUP SECTION)
`
`
`
`80-200
`
`INDICATION OF
`FOCAL LENGTH
`OF LENS (29)
`
`VIEW CONFIRMING MAGE
`(N-VIEWFNDERMONITOR)
`
`FRAME DISPLAY INDICATING FIELD ANGLE
`OF FIRST IMAGE PICKUP SECTION
`
`FIG.9
`
`
`
`ZOOM BAR
`(ZOOMING STATE OF SECOND IMAGE PICKUP SECTION)
`
`IND CATION OF
`FOCAL LENGTH
`OF LENS (29)
`
`VIEW CONFIRMING IMAGE
`(N-VIEWFNDER MONTOR)
`
`FRAME DISPLAY INDICATING FIELD ANGLE
`OF FIRST IMAGE PICKUP SECTION
`
`FIG. O
`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 10 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`ZOOM BAR
`(ZOOMING STATE OF SECOND IMAGE PICKUP SECTION)
`
`
`
`
`
`5 i
`
`INDICATION OF
`FOCAL LENGTH
`OF LENS (29)
`
`
`
`VIEW CONFIRMING IMAGE
`(IN-WIEWFINDER MONITOR)
`
`FRAME DISPLAY INDICATING FIELD ANGLE
`OF FIRST MAGE PICKUP SECTION
`
`
`
`FIG.
`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 11 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`IMAGE HEGHT
`
`
`
`DSPLAY AREA OF FELD ANGLE
`OF FIRST MAGE PICKUP SECTION
`ON N-VEWFNDER MONTOR
`(SIZE IS FIXED)
`
`FELD ANGLE OF
`FIRST IMAGE
`PCKUP SECTION
`(ZOOM UP)
`
`FELD ANGLE OF
`SECOND IMAGE
`PCKUP SECTION
`
`M /
`
`C
`
`FIELD ANGLE
`
`FIG. 12
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 12 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`29
`
`29a
`
`30 (42)
`
`
`
`wzZzZzZzZzZzzzZzZzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
`No.RRRRRRRRRSONNNNNNNNNNN8NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
`
`FIG. 3
`
`NS
`
`CRO M
`PUTER
`CO
`
`18
`
`12
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`
`
`MOVEMENT OF MOVABLE
`MEMBER WHEN SHIFTNG
`
`TO FIRST al
`
`FG. 4
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 14 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`STATE AFTER ADJUSTING POSITION
`OF CAMERA UNIT
`
`
`
`NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
`ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
`
`F.G. 5
`
`12
`
`18
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Sheet 15 of 15
`
`US 7.876,373 B2
`
`-59
`
`59a
`
`DIGIT
`ANALOG
`OCESSINGHo-PROCESSING
`PS35s,
`SECTION |
`
`59b
`
`59C ------
`
`
`
`48c
`
`26
`
`25
`
`55
`
`
`
`
`
`62
`
`WDE
`PREVIEW
`BUTTON
`
`APERTURE
`PREVIEW
`BUTTON
`
`VIEWFINDER
`MONITOR
`
`28
`
`N S N N N N N N
`
`PHOTOMETRY F93ABNT is serio
`
`DETECTING IS SECTION
`
`48d
`
`50
`
`
`
`SEQUENCE - 50a
`CONTROLLING
`SECTION
`
`PHOTOGRAPH
`SETTING
`SECTION
`
`DISPLAY
`PROCESSING
`SECTION
`FACE
`DETECTING
`SECTION
`
`50b
`
`50C
`
`50c
`
`49
`
`POWER
`SUPPLYING
`SECTION
`
`41
`
`51
`
`47
`
`EXTERNAL ep
`
`MAN
`MONITOR
`
`origin
`
`DISPLAYING
`
`MEMORY
`
`RECORDING p
`
`46
`
`45
`
`43
`
`44
`
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`

`US 7,876,373 B2
`
`1.
`CAMERAWITH VIEWFINDER
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
`priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-276637,
`filed on Oct. 10, 2006, the entire content of which is incorpo
`rated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`2
`displaying section, and a controlling section. The viewfinder
`optical system has an eyepiece section that can observe an
`optical image of a subject with a light flux from a photograph
`ing optical path of the first image pickup section. The second
`image pickup section photographs a view confirming image
`from an optical path different from that of the first image
`pickup section. The mounting section can mount and dis
`mount an interchangeable lens and acquires focal-length
`information of an interchangeable lens. The display process
`ing section executes display processing that Superimposes a
`frame indicating a range of a field angle of the first image
`pickup section, onto the view confirming image. The display
`ing section provides the eyepiece section with the view con
`firming image having been processed with the display pro
`cessing. The controlling section Switches between a first state
`to provide the eyepiece section with the optical image and a
`second state to provide the eyepiece section with the view
`confirming image. Then, the displaying section changes a
`size of a frame based on the focal-length information when in
`the second State.
`According to a second aspect of the invention, a camera
`includes a first image pickup section that photographs a
`recording-purpose image, a viewfinder optical system, a sec
`ond image pickup section, a mounting section, a display
`processing section, a displaying section, and a controlling
`section. The viewfinder optical system has an eyepiece sec
`tion that can observe an optical image of a Subject with a light
`flux from a photographing optical path of the first image
`pickup section. The second image pickup section photo
`graphs a view confirming image from an optical path different
`from that of the first image pickup section. The mounting
`section can mount and dismount an interchangeable lens and
`acquires focal-length information of an interchangeable lens.
`The display processing section executes display processing
`that Superimposes a frame indicating a range of a field angle
`of the first image pickup section, onto the view confirming
`image. The displaying section provides the eyepiece section
`with the view confirming image having been processed with
`the display processing. The controlling section Switches
`between a first state to provide the eyepiece section with the
`optical image and a second state to provide the eyepiece
`section with the view confirming image. Then, the displaying
`section fixes the size of the frame when in the second state and
`also changes the display of the view confirming image based
`on the focal-length information.
`According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first or
`second aspect of the invention the camera further includes a
`Zooming section. The Zooming section adjusts a display area
`of the view confirming image by optically or electronically
`changing a magnifying power of the second image pickup
`section.
`According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the third
`aspect of the invention the displaying section performs a
`warning indication indicative of a limit of the variable range
`of the magnifying power on a telescopic side or on a wide
`angle side of the Zooming section, based on the focal-length
`information.
`According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the first or
`second aspect of the invention the display processing section
`adjusts a display area by distorting the view confirming image
`by image processing.
`According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the first or
`second aspect of the invention the display processing section
`executes display processing that Superimposes an indication
`indicative of a focal length of the second image pickup sec
`tion onto the view confirming image.
`
`1. Field
`The present invention relates to cameras having a view
`finder Suitable for telescopic photographing and the like.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Conventionally, a digital camera can determine a photo
`graphing composition by displaying an image currently pho
`tographed onto a display device, such as an LCD monitor.
`Especially in a video camera, there is also known a camera,
`wherein an auxiliary photographing section that photographs
`a wide angle image for viewfinder display is provided inde
`pendently of a recording-purpose image pickup section. In
`addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publica
`tion No. Hei-5-145818 is listed as an example of the above
`described camera.
`Incidentally, the conventional single lens reflex camera
`includes a TTL (Through The Lens) optical viewfinder that
`observes an image of a Subject with a reflected light from a
`movable mirror disposed on a photographing optical path.
`With such an optical viewfinder, the state of a subject through
`an optical shooting system can be confirmed as it is, however,
`when the field angle of the optical shooting system is narrow
`as in telescopic photographing, the field of view becomes
`extremely narrow. For this reason, a camera configured to
`observe a wide angle electronic image from an eyepiece sec
`tion of the above-described optical viewfinder has also been
`studied.
`In the camera configured to observe a wide angle electronic
`image from the eyepiece section of the optical viewfinder, the
`display area of an electronic image usually does not coincide
`with the field angle of the optical shooting system, so it is
`requested that the field angle of the optical shooting system
`can be known on an electronic image.
`Moreover, in the camera configured to observe a wide
`angle electronic image from the eyepiece section of the opti
`cal viewfinder, if the display of an electronic image of the
`viewfinder can be switched depending on the situation, the
`convenience of a camera will be improved further.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`SUMMARY
`
`50
`
`The present invention has been made to solve at least one of
`the above-described problems of the prior art. One of the
`objects of the present invention is to provide a means capable
`of confirming the state of field and the photographing area of
`an image pickup section in a camera capable of observing an
`electronic image through an optical viewfinder.
`Moreover, one of the objects of the present invention is, in
`a camera capable of observing an electronic image through an
`optical viewfinder, to provide a means capable of acquiring
`various kinds of information depending on the situation with
`out detaching eyes from the viewfinder.
`A camera according to a first invention includes a first
`image pickup section that photographs a recording-purpose
`image, a viewfinder optical system, a second image pickup
`section, a mounting section, a display processing section, a
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
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`

`

`3
`According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the first
`or second aspect of the invention the camera further includes
`a calculating section. The calculating section calculates par
`allax between the first image pickup section and the second
`image pickup section based on the focal-length information.
`Then, the display processing section electronically corrects
`the position of the frame with respect to the view confirming
`image based on a data of the parallax.
`According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the first
`or second aspect of the invention the camera further includes
`a calculating section. The calculating section calculates par
`allax between the first image pickup section and the second
`image pickup section based on the focal-length information.
`Then, the display processing section electronically corrects a
`display area of the view confirming image based on a data of
`the parallax.
`According to a ninth aspect of the invention, a camera
`includes a first image pickup section that photographs a
`recording-purpose image, a viewfinder optical system, a sec
`ond image pickup section, a Zooming section, a displaying
`section, and a controlling section. The viewfinder optical
`system has an eyepiece section that can observe an optical
`image of a Subject with a light flux from a photographing
`optical path of the first image pickup section. The second
`image pickup section photographs a view confirming image
`from an optical path different from that of the first image
`pickup section. The Zooming section adjusts a display area of
`the view confirming image by electronically changing a mag
`nifying power of the second image pickup section. The dis
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`playing section provides the eyepiece section with the view
`confirming image. The controlling section switches between
`a first state to provide the eyepiece section with the optical
`image and a second state to provide the eyepiece section with
`the view confirming image.
`A camera according to a tenth invention includes a first
`image pickup section that photographs a recording-purpose
`image, a viewfinder optical system, a second image pickup
`section, a displaying section, and a controlling section. The
`viewfinder optical system has an eyepiece section that can
`observe an optical image of a Subject with a light flux from a
`photographing optical path of the first image pickup section.
`The second image pickup section photographs a view con
`firming image from an optical path different from that of the
`first image pickup section. The displaying section provides
`the eyepiece section with the view confirming image. The
`controlling section switches between a first state to provide
`the eyepiece section with the optical image and a second State
`to provide the eyepiece section with the view confirming
`image and also causes the displaying section to display the
`recording-purpose image after photographing of the record
`ing-purpose image.
`A camera according to an eleventh invention includes a
`first image pickup section that photographs a recording-pur
`pose image, a viewfinder optical system, a second image
`pickup section, a displaying section, and a controlling sec
`tion. The viewfinder optical system has an eyepiece section
`that can observe an optical image of a Subject with a light flux
`from a photographing optical path of the first image pickup
`section. The second image pickup section photographs a view
`confirming image from an optical path different from that of
`the first image pickup section. The displaying section pro
`vides the eyepiece section with the view confirming image.
`The controlling section switches between a first state to pro
`vide the eyepiece section with the optical image and a second
`state to provide the eyepiece section with the view confirming
`image and also causes the displaying section to display at
`
`4
`least one of a reproduced image of the recording-purpose
`image and a setting screen of the camera when in the second
`State.
`In addition, the camera of the present invention does not
`necessarily need to incorporate the image pickup section for
`photographing a view confirming image. For example, a cam
`era which photographs a view confirming image using an
`external camera unit and also provides an eyepiece section
`with a view confirming image received from the camera unit,
`and a camera system including the above-described camera
`and camera unit are also included in a specific embodiment of
`the present invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a photographing mecha
`nism of an electronic camera in a first embodiment;
`FIG. 2 is a front view of a camera body in the first embodi
`ment;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the camera body in the first
`embodiment;
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the elec
`tronic camera regarding a wide preview display in the first
`embodiment;
`FIG. 5 is a view showing a display state of an optical image
`of a subject in a viewfinder optical system;
`FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of the wide
`preview display processing in FIG. 4;
`FIG. 7 is a view showing a state of the camera body during
`the wide preview display;
`FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a correspondence between
`a view confirming image and a photographing area of a first
`image pickup section;
`FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a view confirming
`image in the wide preview display;
`FIG. 10 is a view showing a display state of a view con
`firming image when Zooming the scene of FIG. 9 to a tele
`scopic side;
`FIG. 11 is a view showing a display state of a view con
`firming image when Zooming the scene of FIG. 9 to a wide
`angle side;
`FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a display area
`when distorting a view confirming image;
`FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of a photographing mecha
`nism of an electronic camera in a second embodiment;
`FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state where a
`movable member is in a second position;
`FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of a photographing mecha
`nism of an electronic camera system in a third embodiment;
`and
`FIG.16 is a block diagram of the electronic camera system
`in the third embodiment.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Description of First Embodiment
`
`Hereinafter, the structure of a single lens reflex electronic
`camera of a first embodiment will be described with reference
`to the accompanying drawings.
`FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a photographing mechanism of
`the electronic camera in the first embodiment. Moreover,
`FIG. 2 is a front view of a camera body in the first embodi
`ment. The electronic camera of the first embodiment includes
`a camera body 11, and a lens unit 12 that houses an optical
`shooting system.
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`A pair of mounts 13, 14 serving as male and female mounts
`is provided in the camera body 11 and the lens unit 12,
`respectively. The lens side mount 14 is coupled with the
`camera side mount 13 by means of a bayonet mechanism or
`the like, whereby the lens unit 12 is interchangeably attached
`to the camera body 11. Moreover, electric contacts (not
`shown) are provided in the above-described mounts 13, 14,
`respectively. When the camera body 11 is connected to the
`lens unit 12, contact between the electric contacts results in
`the establishment of electrical connection between the both.
`First, the structure of the lens unit 12 is described. The lens
`unit 12 includes a Zoom lens 15, a Zoom encoder 15a, a focus
`lens 16, a lens driving section 16a, an aperture 17, an aperture
`driving section 17a, and a lens microcomputer 18. In addi
`tion, the Zoom encoder 15a, the lens driving section 16a, and
`the aperture driving section 17a are connected to the lens
`microcomputer 18, respectively.
`The Zoom lens 15 is a lens for adjusting a focal length, and
`is movable forward and backward in the optical axis direction
`in response to the operation of a Zoom ring (not shown).
`Moreover, the Zoom encoder 15a for detecting a position in
`the optical axis direction of the lens is attached to the Zoom
`lens 15.
`The focus lens 16 is a lens for adjusting a focus position and
`is movable forward and backward in the optical axis direc
`tion. The lens driving section 16a drives the focus lens 16 by
`a motor (not shown) and outputs a position in the optical axis
`direction of the focus lens 16 to the lens microcomputer 18.
`The aperture 17 adjusts the amount of light incident upon
`the camera body 11 by opening and closing aperture blades.
`The aperture driving section 17a controls the opening of the
`aperture 17 by a motor (not shown).
`The lens microcomputer 18 communicates with the camera
`body 11 via the electric contact of the mount 14 and carries
`out various controls in the lens unit 12. Moreover, the lens
`microcomputer 18 transmits a lens data and the like recorded
`on a ROM (not shown) to the camera body 11.
`Incidentally, the lens unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 is just an
`example of the structure of a typical Zoom lens unit. Thus,
`other than the above-described lens unit 12, for example, a
`lens unit without the lens microcomputer 18, a lens unit of a
`single focal lens, and the like can be attached to the camera
`body 11 of the first embodiment.
`Next, the structure of the photographing mechanism of the
`camera body 11 is described. The camera body 11 includes a
`main mirror 21, a mechanical shutter 22, a first image sensor
`23, a sub mirror 24, a focal point detecting section 25, a
`viewfinder optical system (32 to 35), a photometry section 26,
`a Superimposing section (SI section) 27, an in-viewfinder
`monitor 28, an interchangeable lens 29, and a second image
`sensor 30.
`The main mirror 21, the mechanical shutter 22, and the first
`image sensor 23 are disposed along the optical axis of the
`optical shooting system. The Sub mirror 24 is disposed behind
`the main mirror 21. Moreover, the viewfinder optical system,
`the photometry section 26, the SI section 27, the in-view
`finder monitor 28, the lens 29, and the second image sensor 30
`are disposed in an upper part of the camera body 11. More
`over, the focal point detecting section 25 is disposed in a
`lower region of the camera body 11. In addition, a hot shoe 31
`for attaching a flash emission device or the like is provided in
`an upper part of the camera body 11.
`The main mirror 21 is rotatably supported by means of a
`non-illustrated rotating shaft, and is Switchable between an
`observation state and a retreated state. The main mirror 21 in
`the observation state is inclined and disposed in front of a
`mechanical shutter 22 and the first image sensor 23. The main
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`mirror 21 in this observation state reflects a light flux passing
`through the optical shooting system upwards and leads the
`same to the viewfinder optical system. Moreover, a centerpart
`of the main mirror 21 is a half mirror. Then, a part of the light
`flux that is transmitted through the main mirror 21 is refracted
`downward by means of the sub mirror 24 and is led to the
`focal point detecting section 25. In addition, the focal point
`detecting section 25 detects an image shift amount of a Sub
`ject image, the Subject image being divided by a non-illus
`trated separator lens, for each AF area and carries out focus
`detection according to the so-called phase difference detect
`ing method.
`On the other hand, the main mirror 21 in the retreated state
`is positioned away from the photographing optical path by
`being flipped upward together with the sub mirror 24. When
`the main mirror 21 is in the retreated State, a light flux passing
`through the optical shooting system is led to the mechanical
`shutter 22 and the first image sensor 23.
`The viewfinder optical system includes a diffusing screen
`(focal plane plate)32, a condenser lens 33, a pentagonal prism
`34, and an eyepiece lens 35. The pentagonal prism 34 among
`the optical elements of the viewfinder optical system is
`housed in a position of an overhang part 11a of the camera
`body 11.
`The diffusing screen 32 is positioned above the main mir
`ror 21, and a light flux reflected by the main mirror 21 in the
`observation state forms an image onto the diffusing screen 32
`once. The light flux forming an image on the diffusing screen
`32 passes through the condenser lens 33 and the pentagonal
`prism 34, and is led to an exit plane having an angle of 90°
`with respect to an incident plane of the pentagonal prism 34.
`Then, the light flux from the exit plane of the pentagonal
`prism 34 will reach a user's eye via the eyepiece lens 35. In
`addition, a plane opposite to the exit plane of the pentagonal
`prism 34 serves as a half mirror.
`The photometry section 26 has a light-receiving plane in
`which photo detectors are disposed in two dimensions. Then,
`the photometry section 26 causes a part of the light flux
`forming an image on the diffusing screen 32 to re-form an
`image onto the light-receiving plane, whereby a photograph
`ing screen is divided into a plurality of portions according to
`a light flux passing through the optical shooting system, thus
`allowing photometry. In addition, the photometry section 26
`is disposed in the vicinity of the pentagonal prism 34.
`The SI section 27 carries out superimposing display (SI
`display), which Superimposes the position of an AF area
`during photographing onto an optical image of the viewfinder
`optical system, by irradiating the diffusing screen 32 with an
`illumination light.
`The in-viewfinder monitor 28 is disposed facing the half
`mirror plane (plane opposite to the exit plane) of the pentago
`nal prism 34. A view confirming image to be described below
`and the like are displayed on the in-viewfinder monitor 28.
`The lens 29 is exposed to an exterior of the camera body 11
`and is interchangeably attached to a lens fixing section 29a of
`the camera body 11. Moreover, the second image sensor 30
`directly photographs a subject via the lens 29. The second
`image sensor 30 can photograph a Subject from an optical
`path different from that in the first image sensor 23 that
`photographs with a light flux passing through the lens unit 12.
`In addition, the field angle of the lens 29 is set so as to be a
`wider angle than the field angle of the lens unit 12.
`Moreover, the lens 29 and the second image sensor 30 of
`the first embodiment are housed in the overhang part 11a of
`the camera body 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the overhang part
`11a of the camera body 11 is positioned substantially in a
`middle portion on the upper surface side of the camera body
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`11, and is formed in a shape projecting upward of the camera
`body 11. That is, because the positions of the lens 29 and
`second image sensor 30 are away from the position of the
`mount 13 of the camera body