US4172645A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual purpose finder display for single lens reflex camera
Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1977-07-26
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Granted: 1979-10-30
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Expires: 1997-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A finder display for both shutter speed and diaphragm priority modes in an SLR camera includes a liquid crystal or the like indicator cell 12 having closely side-by-side Tv and Av scales 13, 14 sharing in common the first E, OVER and UNDER characters 15, 16 and 17 and an illuminable dot indicator 18, such as an LED. The scales are longitudinally offset such that the number of laterally aligned numerals in both scales never exceeds four, which serves to further reduce the display width and its projection into the finder viewing field.
Inventors
- 👤 Seijiro Tokutomi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:45
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/18; G03B17/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A finder display for a single lens reflex camera for selectively indicating either the exposure meter value of the shutter speed in a shutter speed priority control mode (ES) or the exposure meter value of the aperture opening in a diaphragm control mode (EE), comprising: (a) a finder viewing field, (b) a single, elongated, electro-optical element disposed in said viewing field at one side thereof, (c) side-by-side shutter speed (Tv) and diaphragm (Av) scales disposed thereon, (d) both of said scales being disposed closely adjacent each other on the electro-optical element, (e) a single column of illuminable indicator dots selectively energizable in response to the exposure meter output disposed closely adjacent one of the scales, laterally aligned with the indicia of both scales, and operably shared in common with both scales, (f) characters E, OVER and UNDER fixedly inscribed on the electro-optical element and shared in common by both of said scales, and (g) said scales being relatively longitudinally offset such that the lateral sum of aligned numerals in both scales never exceeds four, whereby the overall width of the electro-optical element is minimized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A finder display for a single lens reflex camera for selectively indicating either the exposure meter value of the shutter speed in a shutter speed priority control mode (ES) or the exposure meter value of the aperture opening in a diaphragm control mode (EE), comprising: (a) a finder viewing field, (b) a single, elongated, electro-optical element disposed in said viewing field at one side thereof, (c) side-by-side shutter speed (Tv) and diaphragm (Av) scales disposed thereon, (d) both of said scales being disposed closely adjacent each other on the electro-optical element, (e) a single column of illuminable indicator dots selectively energizable in response to the exposure meter output disposed closely adjacent one of the scales, laterally aligned with the indicia of both scales, and operably shared in common with both scales, (f) characters E, OVER and UNDER fixedly inscribed on the electro-optical element and shared in common by both of said scales, and (g) said scales being relatively longitudinally offset such that the lateral sum of aligned numerals in both scales never exceeds four, whereby the overall width of the electro-optical element is minimized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A finder display as defined in claim 1, wherein the electro-optical element is a liquid crystal cell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4047189A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-10-29 | 1983-04-30 | 1983-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-10-29 | 1987-04-30 | 1987-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-10-29 | 1991-04-30 | 1991-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |