View finder of zoom lens camera

Claim 2

View finder apparatus of a zoom lens camera, said view finder apparatus comprising: a zoom lens; an object distance measuring device having a light emitter and a light receiver; a zoom finder device comprising means for varying the field of view of said zoom finder device in association with said zoom lens, said zoom finder device being positioned between said light emitter and said light receiver of said object distance measuring device; a strobe positioned so that one of said light emitter and said light receiver is positioned between said strobe and said zoom finder device; and means for associating movement between said zone finder device and said strobe so that said strobe is moved in response to movement of said zoom finder device.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said zoom lens comprises a power zoom lens.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said zoom finder device comprises a variable power lens group movable in an optical axis direction of said zone lens, and an association drive mechanism for driving said variable power lens group in association with a zooming operation of said power zoom lens.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said association drive mechanism is positioned between said variable power lens group and said light receiver.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a lens frame, which is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis of said zoom lens, to support said variable power lens group.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said association drive mechanism comprises an association pin provided on the lens frame, a cylindrical can which is rotated about a rotational shaft substantially parallel to the optical axis and which engages with said association pin to move said lens frame, and a gear train which rotates said cylindrical cam in association with the power zooming operation.

Claim 8

The view finder apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said associating means comprises first transmitting means for transmitting motion from said zoom lens to said zoom finder device to move said zoom finder device in association with movement of said zoom lens; and second transmitting means for transmitting motion from said zoom finder device to said strobe to move said strobe in association with movement of said zoom finder device.

Claim 9

The view finder apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second transmitting means comprises first association means for moving at least a first member in association with the lens of said zoom finder device and second association means for moving at least a second member in association with said strobe, wherein each of said first association means and said second association means comprises means for continuously engaging said first and second members with each other to thereby associatively move said first and second association members.

Claim 10

The view finder apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first member comprises a first lever which rotates in association with movement of the lens of said zoom finder device, and further wherein said second member comprises a second lever which rotates in association with movement of said strobe.

Claim 11

The view finder apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for continuously engaging comprise respective gear portions provided on each of said first member and said second member, whereby said respective gear portions engage with each other to thereby associatively move said first and second members with respect to each other.

Claim 12

The view finder apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for continuously engaging comprise respective gear portions provided on each of said first lever and said second lever, whereby said respective gear portions engage with each other to thereby associatively rotate said first and second levers with respect each other.

Claim 13

The view finder apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unitary frame for holding said object distance measuring device and said zoom finder device as a unitary subassembly of the zoom lens camera.

Claim 14

A zoom lens camera comprising: a zoom lens; a view finder assembly including a view finder, an object distance measuring device having a light emitter and a light receiver, and a zoom finder device which varies the field of view of said view finder in association with the zoom lens, said zone finder device being positioned between said light emitter and said light receiver of said object distance measuring device; a zoom strobe device positioned so that one of said light emitter and said light receiver is positioned between said zoom strobe device and said view finder, said zoom strobe device having an illuminating angle varying mechanism for varying the illuminating angle of the zoom strobe device in association with the zoom lens; and means for associating movement between said zoom finder device and said illuminating angle varying mechanism; said zoom strobe device comprising an illuminating angle varying member movable in the optical axis direction; said zoom finder device comprising a variable power lens group movable in an optical axis direction of the zoom lens, and an association drive mechanism for driving said variable power lens group in association with a zooming operation of the zoom lens; said zoom lens camera further comprising a first association lever which rotates in association with movement of said variable power lens group, a second association lever which rotates in association with movement of said illuminating angle varying member, and gear portions provided on said first and second association levers, to engage with each other, wherein said illuminating angle varying member and said zoom finder device are associated by said first and second association levers and gear portions.

Claim 15

A zoom lens camera comprising: a zoom lens; a view finder assembly including a view finder, an object distance measuring device having a light emitter and a light receiver, and a zoom finder device which varies the field of view of said view finder in association with the zoom lens, said zone finder device being positioned between said light emitter and said light receiver of said object distance measuring device; a zoom strobe device positioned so that one of said light emitter and said light receiver is positioned between said zoom strobe device and said view finder, said zoom strobe device having an illuminating angle varying mechanism for varying the illuminating angle of the zoom strobe device in association with the zoom lens; and means for associating movement between said zoom finder device and said illuminating angle varying mechanism; said zoom strobe device comprising an illuminating angle varying member movable in the optical axis direction; said zoom finder device comprising a variable power lens group movable in an optical axis direction of the zoom lens, and an association drive mechanism for driving said variable power lens group in association with a zooming operation of the zoom lens; said zoom lens camera further comprising a first association lever which rotates in association with movement of said variable power lens group, a second association lever which rotates in association with movement of said illuminating angle varying member, and gear portions provided on said first and second association levers, to engage with each other, wherein said illuminating angle varying member and said zoom finder device are associated by said first and second association levers and gear portions.

Claim 16

A zoom lens camera according to claim 13, further comprising a lens frame which is movable in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis of the zoom lens to support said variable power lens group.

Claim 17

A zoom lens camera according to claim 14, wherein said lens frame is provided with an association pin projecting therefrom to rotate said first association lever.

Claim 18

A zoom lens camera according to claim 15, wherein said illuminating angle varying mechanism comprises a reflecting shade, a xenon lamp, and a movable frame which supports said reflecting shade and said xenon lamp.

Claim 19

A zoom lens camera according to claim 16, wherein said movable frame is provided with an association pawl that engages with said second association lever to move said movable frame in the optical axis direction.

Claim 20

A zoom lens camera according to claim 17, further comprising racks provided on said illuminating angle varying member and said variable power lens group and extending parallel to the optical axis, and a gear train in mesh with said racks, wherein said illuminating angle varying member and said variable power lens group are associated by said racks and said gear train.

Claim 21

The zoom lens camera of claim 13, further comprising a unitary frame for holding said object distance measuring device and said zoom finder device as a unitary sub-assembly of the zoom lens camera.

Claim 22

Apparatus including a zoom finder having a variable power lens group movable in an optical axis direction and a zoom strobe device having an illuminating angle varying mechanism movable in the optical axis direction, wherein the variable power lens group and the illuminating angle varying mechanism are associatively moved, said apparatus comprising: a driving apparatus of the zoom strobe having racks provided on the variable power lens group and the illuminating angle varying mechanism and extending in the optical axis direction, and a gear train provided between said racks through which the variable power lens group and the illuminating angle varying mechanism are associatively moved.

Claim 23

Apparatus including a zoom finder having a variable power lens group movable in an optical axis direction and a zoom strobe device having an illuminating angle varying mechanism movable in the optical axis direction, wherein the variable power lens group and the illuminating angle varying mechanism are associatively moved, said apparatus comprising: a driving apparatus of the zoom strobe having racks provided on the variable power lens group and the illuminating angle varying mechanism and extending in the optical axis direction, and a gear train provided between said racks through which the variable power lens group and the illuminating angle varying mechanism are associatively moved.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the variable power lens group is mounted in a camera having a power zoom lens, and in which the magnification thereof is varied in accordance with a zooming operation of said power zoom lens.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a lens frame which supports the variable power lens group to move the variable power lens group in the optical axis direction, wherein one of said racks is provided on said lens frame.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the illuminating angle varying mechanism comprises a reflecting shade, a xenon lamp, and a movable frame which supports said reflecting shade and said xenon lamp.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein another of said racks is provided on said movable frame.