FR2773228A1 - VIEWFINDER STRUCTURE FOR A CAMERA - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a camera comprising a suitably located viewfinder (31, 41, 51, 61, 611, 81, 811, 101, 111, 131, 151), an appropriate number of viewfinders, a movable viewfinder (151), a extractable sight (81, 811), a rotating sight (61, 611), a sight with external connection (101, 111, 131) and / or a sight (51) for the night vision. The new viewfinder structure for a camera according to the present invention has great flexibility of use depending on the person who uses it, so as to allow the latter to take photographs in comfortable conditions.

Description

VIEWFINDER STRUCTURE FOR A CAMERA

  The present invention relates to a structure of

  viewfinder for a camera, and more particularly

  visually a viewfinder structure for a camera

  convenient and comfortable phique whatever, left or

  right, the user's favorite eye. The pre-

  sente invention also relates to a viewfinder structure

  for a camera, which allows the user to

  tor to work in the dark. Furthermore, this

  The invention relates to a viewfinder structure for a camera.

  photographic eye, which is extendable from the box

  camera, so as to allow

  to take a photo in comfortable conditions.

  In a commonly used camera, the window 11 of the viewfinder is installed in an upper part of the housing 12, as seen in Figure 1. When one of the user's eyes 13 approaches the window 11 of the viewfinder , its nose 14 is capable of pressing against the casing 12. As a result, the eye 13 may not come close enough to the window 11 of the viewfinder, or the nose 14 will be in position

uncomfortable.

  Tseng, the inventor of the present invention, describes in US Patent No. 5,608,483 a camera

  with low viewfinder, as shown in Figure 2. The window

  The viewfinder is located in a lower part of the camera body, which makes it possible to reduce the defect described above. However, part of the user's nose, although smaller, still presses against the camera body, and thereby affects vision, through the eye, through the viewfinder window. Tseng further describes the production of a recessed portion in the bottom of the camera body to place the

  nose, but such a configuration will complicate the structure

ture of the camera.

  In addition, conventional cameras

  They only have one viewfinder window, so it is inconvenient for the user to close one of their eyes and open the other in front of the window.

  viewfinder, the objective being to achieve a better operation

tune-up.

  In addition, taking a photo at night is not convenient due to poor visibility unless lighting is provided. We know, however, that inadequate light can destroy the photo or disturb the subject being photographed. The present invention aims to provide a camera that allows the user to observe the subject to be photographed through the viewfinder

  of the device, without additional lighting.

  The present invention also aims to provide

  tion a camera with multiple viewfinders, so that it is convenient and comfortable for

  users with different viewing habits

tion.

  The present invention also aims to provide

  tion a camera comprising flexible points to allow the mounting of a viewfinder, so as to be able to eliminate the discomfort of the nose of the user, or the shift between the eye of the user and the window of the viewfinder, which results from the nose pressing against the

device housing.

  A first aspect of the present invention relates to

  a camera which includes a camera body

  photographic eye to take a picture of a subject; at least one viewfinder comprising a window arranged on the

  device housing at a point near the bottom of the bowl

  tier of the device, to allow observation of the subject, one of the viewfinders exercising a night vision function so as to allow the user to locate the subject

  in a relatively obscure atmosphere.

  There may be a single viewfinder, which is preferably located at a point near the lower right or lower left corner of the camera body. If the viewfinder is an elongated viewfinder, it is

  preferably located at a point near the bottom of the housing.

  There can also be two viewfinders, and the viewfinders are preferably placed at points close to the

  two lower corners of the camera housing

  phique. More particularly, the two viewfinders make a distance between them essentially equal to the interocular distance of the user, so that the user

  can observe with his two eyes the subject to be photographed

phier.

  The viewfinder is preferably an equipment for the

  night vision, which includes a lens for receiving

  see the subject image and transmit it to obtain an optical signal; an image intensifier tube, connected to the objective and for receiving and converting the optical signal into an electronic signal, and producing a reinforced optical signal in response to the electronic signal; and an eyepiece, on which the image of the subject will appear

  response to the enhanced optical signal.

  A second aspect of the present invention relates to a camera which comprises a housing for taking an image of the subject; a viewfinder with a

  window to observe the subject; and a device for

  cord, which allows the viewfinder to be pivotally connected

  camera body, so that the viewfinder can be rotated to a hidden position inside the camera body.

  the camera when the camera is not in use

  read, and in an observation position, outside the camera body, when the latter

is in use.

  The camera body has

  preferably a recessed portion, intended to receive

  see the viewfinder in the hidden position, and the connection device can be a hinge. A third aspect of the present invention relates to

  a camera which includes a camera body

  photographic eye to take a picture of a subject; a viewfinder mounted in the camera body and extractable therefrom, and having a window for

  observe the subject; and a drive device,

  strung to the viewfinder to exert a force on it,

  in order to partially extract the viewfinder from the camera body

  photographic reel when the latter is in use

  and bring the viewfinder back into the housing when

  the camera is not used.

  The driving device can comprise two elevations arranged on two opposite sides of the viewfinder, so that the user can, with two fingers, hold

  the elevations to extract the viewfinder.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to

  a camera which includes a camera body

  photographic eye to take a picture of a subject, and

  a viewfinder with a window to observe the subject.

  The camera body has a first coupling device on one of its surfaces, the viewfinder has a separate body from that of the camera

  photographic, and has a second delivery device

  one of its surfaces, and the viewfinder is secure

  jetti to the camera body by the enclosure

  first and second coupling means when the camera is in use, and is detached from the camera body

  when the latter is not used.

  If several viewfinders are to be mounted on the box

  third of the camera, it will be possible to have a larger coupling device on the others

device housing surfaces.

  The first coupling device can be a guide rail, attached to the surface of the camera body, and the second coupling device is a sliding member, which can engage with each of the guide rails and can slide smoothly along these. Of this

  way, the first and second delivery devices

  can engage with each other,

  to connect the viewfinder to the camera body

  tographic. Alternatively, the second coupling device can be a guide rail fixed to the surface of the viewfinder, and the first coupling device can be a sliding element which can engage the guide rail and can slide without strokes along the latter. In this way, we can also

achieve the same result.

  In another example, the first delivery device

  is a hook groove, arranged on the surface

  face of the camera body, the second coupling device is a sliding part, and

  the hook groove extends from a lower surface

  camera housing so that the sliding part enters the groove from

  from the bottom surface of the camera body-

  graphic. A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to

  a camera which includes a camera body

  photographic eye for taking an image of a subject, which has a groove arranged in the housing of the camera at a point close to the bottom of this housing; and a sight, movably mounted in the groove,

  and having a window to allow observation of the subject.

  For each of the cameras from the second to the fifth aspect according to the present invention, it is preferable that the viewfinder is an equipment for night vision, so as to allow the user to locate

  be the subject in a relatively obscure atmosphere.

  The invention will be better understood with regard to the

  below description and attached drawings, which show exemplary embodiments of the invention, drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically shows the relationship between the position of the user's face and that of

  the viewfinder window in a still camera

  ditional; Figure 2 schematically shows the relationship between the position of the user's face and that of the viewfinder window in another camera of the current state of the art; Figure 3A schematically shows a first embodiment of a camera according to the present invention;

  Figure 3B shows schematically how a user

  a reader accustomed to taking photos by observing with the right eye uses the camera of Figure 3A;

  Figure 3C schematically shows how a user

  a reader accustomed to taking photos by observing with the left eye uses the camera of Figure 3A;

  Figure 3D shows schematically how the user

  sator observes the target photographed with both eyes using the camera of Figure 3A; Figure 4 schematically shows a second embodiment of a camera according to the present invention; Figure 5 schematically shows equipment for night vision corresponding to a third embodiment of a camera according to the present invention, when looking from the side of the camera body; Figures 6A and 6B schematically show a

  fifth embodiment of a camera

  that according to the present invention, o Figure 6A is a schematic rear view and Figure 6B a schematic side view of the camera; Figure 7 schematically shows a sixth embodiment of a camera according to the present invention; Figure 8 schematically shows a seventh embodiment of a camera according to the present invention; Figure 9 schematically shows an eighth embodiment of a camera according to the present invention; Figure 10 schematically shows a ninth embodiment of a camera according to the present invention; Figures 11A and 11B show schematically

  a tenth embodiment of a photographic apparatus

  phique according to the present invention, o Figure 11A and a schematic rear view and Figure 11B a schematic view from below of the camera; Figure 12 schematically shows an eleventh embodiment of a camera according to the present invention; Figure 13 schematically shows a twelfth embodiment of a camera according to the present invention; Figure 14 schematically shows a thirteenth embodiment of a camera according to the present invention; and Figure 15 schematically shows a fourteenth embodiment of a camera according to

the present invention.

  Figure 3A schematically shows a first embodiment of a camera according to the present invention. The camera includes two viewfinders 31 mounted in a camera housing 32. Each of the viewfinders 31 has a window 311 to allow the user to observe the subject to be photographed. The two viewfinders are arranged at points close respectively to the lower right corner and the lower left corner of the housing 32 of

the camera.

  If the user is used to taking photos while looking with his right eye 33, he can use the viewfinder close to the lower left corner so as to avoid

  to press its nose 34 against the housing of the camera

  tographic, as seen in Figure 3B. At the con-

  milking, if the user is used to taking photos while looking with his left eye 35, he can use the viewfinder located at the lower right corner so as to avoid pressing his nose 34 against the camera body, as seen in Figure 3C. Furthermore, the user can also take photos using his two eyes, if the distance between the two viewfinders 31 corresponds approximately to his distance

  interocular, as seen in Figure 3D. Most

  share of users find it comfortable and pleasant to

make a binocular observation.

  Figure 4 schematically shows a second embodiment of a camera according to the present invention. The camera

  presented in Figure 4 is similar to that of the first

  best embodiment, except that there is only one viewfinder, which is elongated. The viewfinder 41 is located near the bottom of the housing 42 of the camera, and is wide enough to allow the user

  to use both eyes to observe objects.

  A third embodiment of the camera according to the invention has an aspect similar to that of the first embodiment, except that one

  viewfinders is an equipment for night vision.

  The night vision equipment allows the user to

  try to locate the subject to be photographed in a relatively obscure atmosphere. If he also uses a very sensitive film in conjunction with the viewfinder for night vision, the user will be able to take a photo in the absence of intense light, which will prevent the auxiliary light and the flash from disturbing the surroundings

from subject.

  Figure 5 schematically illustrates the equipment 51 for night vision, when looking at the housing 52 from the side. The equipment 51 for night vision comprises a lens 53, an image intensifier tube 54 and an eyepiece 55, which are connected to form a one-piece assembly. The image of a subject (not shown) crosses lens 53 to give a signal

  optical. The optical signal enters the reinforced tube.

  image sensor 54 to be converted into an electro-

  fuck. The electronic signal then bombards the fluorescent material in the image intensifier tube 54, which produces a reinforced optical signal. The reinforced optical signal corresponding to the image of the subject is then projected onto the eyepiece 55, and can be observed

by the user.

  If desired, the two viewfinders can be

  night vision equipment.

  A fourth embodiment of the camera according to the invention has an appearance similar to that of the camera of the second form

  except that the extended viewfinder is a team-

  ment for night vision. The equipment for night vision is similar to that described and presented in Figure 5.

  Figures 6A and 6B show in a dried manner

  shows a fifth embodiment of a camera according to the present invention. Figure 6A is a schematic rear view of the apparatus, and the

  Figure 6B a schematic side view. The camera-

  graph shown in Figures 6A and 6B includes equipment for night vision, similar to that described in the third embodiment and which is presented in Figure 5, and which will serve as a viewfinder 61, as well as a housing 62 of camera. The

  camera body 62 has a door

  tion 63 recessed at one of its lower corners. The viewfinder 61 is connected to the housing 62 of the camera by a hinge 64, and the

  viewfinder 61 can rotate pivotally around the frame

  niere 64. When the camera is in use, the viewfinder 61 rotates to an observation position outside the housing 62 of the camera to be used. When the camera is not in use, you can rotate

  the viewfinder 61 to bring it back into the recessed portion-

  ment 63, that is to say it is possible to rotate it to a hidden position inside the housing.

  A sixth embodiment of the pho-

  The graphic of the present invention has an analog structure.

  log to that of the camera of the fifth embodiment, except that it has two viewfinders instead of one in the camera, as seen in Figure 7. One of the viewfinders is located in one point near the lower left corner, and the other is located at a point near the lower right corner. In this case, the housing 62 of the camera has

  another recessed portion 631, and another char-

  nière 641 is provided to connect the additional viewfinder 611 to the housing 62 of the camera. In addition, one of the viewfinders is an equipment for night vision, similar to that which is described in the third embodiment and is presented in Figure 5, and the other

is a general purpose viewfinder.

  Figure 8 schematically shows a seventh embodiment of the camera according to the present invention. The camera also includes a housing 82 and a viewfinder 81. The camera housing 82 has a recessed portion 85 at a point near one of its lower corners, to receive the viewfinder 81. The viewfinder 81 is mounted in the housing 82 so that it can be extracted therefrom, and has a stop member 84 to prevent the viewfinder from being completely extracted from the housing 82 of the camera. In addition, two elevations 83 are provided on two opposite sides of the viewfinder 81, which will be held by the fingers of the user, to partially extract the viewfinder 81 from the housing 82 of the camera when the latter is in progress.

  of use, and to bring the viewfinder 81 back into the po-

  recess rtion 85 when the appliance is not in use

  read. The elevations 83 can be arranged on the upper surface and the lower surface of the viewfinder 81, as seen in FIG. 8, or else can be arranged on the front surface and the rear surface,

to achieve the same result.

  An eighth embodiment of the pho-

  The tographic device according to the invention has a structure similar to that of the camera of the seventh embodiment, except that it has two viewfinders instead of one on the camera, as seen in Figure 9. One of the viewfinders is located at a point near the lower left corner, and the other is located at a point near the lower right corner. In this case, the housing 82 of the camera has another recessed portion 851, and two additional elevations 831 are provided to facilitate the extraction of the viewfinder

  811. In addition, in this case, one of the sights is a team-

  ment for night vision, similar to that described in the third embodiment and which is shown in Figure 5, and the other is a general purpose viewfinder.

  Figure 10 shows a ninth embodiment

  tion of the camera according to the present invention

  tion, in schematic side view, with a housing 102 and an elongated viewfinder 101 similar to that shown in Figure 4. The viewfinder 101 has a width equal to the width of the housing 102 of the camera. The

  camera body 102 has a door

  tion in recess 105 on its lower part, and which will accommodate, in an extractable manner, the elongated viewfinder

  101. When the camera is in use

  Reading, the viewfinder 101 is pulled down from the housing 102 of the camera, thanks to two fingers of the user who hold the two opposite side surfaces 106 of the viewfinder 101, and a stop member

  104 is used to prevent the viewfinder from being completely

  rely extracted from the housing 102 of the camera

  than. When the camera is not in use, the viewfinder can be pushed up

  to return to the recess portion 105.

  Figures 11A and 11B show in a way

  schematic a tenth embodiment of the apparatus

  photographic eye according to the present invention. Figure 11A is a schematic rear view and Figure 11B a

  schematic view from below of the camera.

  The camera includes a housing 112 and a viewfinder 111, which have different envelopes. There is a guide slide 114 on a side surface of the camera body 112, and a sliding member 115 is provided on a side surface of the viewfinder 111. When the camera is in use, the sliding element 115 engages the guide slide 114 to combine the

  viewfinder 111 to the housing 112 and arrive at a camera-

  assembled graphic. When the camera is not

  not in use, viewfinder 111 can be detached

from housing 112.

  An eleventh embodiment of the camera-

  graph of the invention, as shown in Figure 12, has a structure similar to that of the camera of the tenth embodiment, except that the guide slide 124 of the housing 122 is mounted in a recess portion 125 of housing 122 of

the camera.

  A twelfth embodiment of the pho-

  The tograph of the present invention, shown in Figure 13, has a structure similar to that of the camera of the tenth embodiment, except that the guide rail 134 is mounted on a surface of the viewfinder 131, and the element sliding 135 is mounted on

  a surface of the housing 132 of the camera.

  A thirteenth embodiment of the camera of the present invention has a structure similar to that of the camera of the tenth embodiment, except that the housing 142 has two guide rails 144, as seen in the Figure

  14. In this case, two viewfinder sites can be selected

  or two viewfinders similar to the one described in the tenth embodiment and which is

  shown in Figure 11 can be fixed simultaneously-

  ment to the camera body 142.

  Figure 15 schematically shows a fourteenth embodiment of the camera of the present invention. The apparatus includes a housing 152, which has a groove 153 at a point near the bottom, and night vision equipment, which removably engages the groove 153, to serve as the viewfinder 151. The viewfinder 151 can move left and right along the groove, so the user can adjust the

  viewfinder to the desired comfortable position.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described and shown above, from which other modes and other embodiments can be provided, without however going beyond

of the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

Claims   1. Camera, characterized in that it comprises a camera housing (62, 82, 102, 112, 122, 132, 142) for taking a photo of a subject; and a viewfinder (61, 611, 81, 811, 101, 111, 131) having a window for viewing the subject, and located outside the camera body when   the latter is in use.   2. Camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the viewfinder (61, 611, 81, 811, 101, 111, 131) is an equipment for night vision (51), which allows the user to locate the subject in relatively obscure conditions.   3. Camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the viewfinder (61, 611, 81, 811, 101, 111, 131) is located on the side of a lower right or left corner of the camera body ( 62, 82, 102, 112, 122, 132, 142), or is located below   from a bottom surface of the camera body-   graph (62, 82, 102, 112, 122, 132, 142) when the latter deny is in use.   4. Camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the camera comprises   furthermore a connection device (64, 641) which allows   sets the viewfinder (61, 611) to be pivotally connected to the housing (62) of the camera so that the viewfinder can rotate pivotally to a position   hidden inside the housing (62) of the camera-   graphic, to be housed in a recessed portion (63, 631) of the housing (62) of the camera when the latter is not in use, and to an observation position outside the housing (62) of the camera when the latter is in during use.   5. Camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the camera further comprises a drive device (83, 831) connected to the viewfinder (81, 811) to exert a force on the latter, so as to extract partially the viewfinder (81, 811) of the housing (82) of the camera when the latter is in use, and to bring the viewfinder back into the housing (82) of the camera so that it either housed in a recessed portion (85, 851) of the housing (82) of the camera when the latter is not used.   6. Camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the viewfinder (101, 111, 131) has   a separate envelope from the camera body-   graphic (102, 112, 122, 132, 142), and is fixed to the box   third of the camera (102, 112, 122, 132, 142) via a socket between a first   coupling device (114, 124, 135, 144) and two   x coupling device (115, 134) when the device   camera is in use, and the viewfinder (101, 111, 131) can be detached from the camera body (102, 112, 122, 132, 142) when the latter is not used.   7. A camera characterized in that it comprises a camera housing (32, 52, 62, 82, 102, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152) for taking an image of a subject; and at least one viewfinder (31, 41, 51, 61, 611,   81, 811, 101, 111, 131, 151) having a window (311) available   placed on the camera body in one   point near the bottom of the camera housing   phique to allow observation of the subject, one of the viewfinders ensuring a night vision function so as to allow the user to locate the subject in relatively obscure conditions.   8. A camera according to claim 7, characterized in that the viewfinder (51) comprises a lens (53) intended to receive and pass an image of the subject to give an optical signal; a reinforcing tube   image (54) connected to the lens to receive and   vertizing the optical signal into an electronic signal and to produce a reinforced optical signal in response to the electronic signal; and an eyepiece (55) for presenting the image   of the subject in response to the enhanced optical signal.   9. Camera, characterized in that it comprises a camera housing (152) for taking an image of a subject, which has a groove (153) at a point close to the bottom of the camera housing ; and a viewfinder (151) removably mounted in the groove, and having a window for observe the subject.   10. Camera according to claim 9, characterized in that the viewfinder (151) is an equipment (51) for night vision which allows the user to locate the subject in relatively obscure conditions.