Imaging apparatus with multiple pickups, processing and displays

Claim 2

An imaging apparatus, comprising: (a) an apparatus body; (b) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals, each of said two image pickup means including a magnification system for varying a magnification of said image; (c) two display means for respectively displaying images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, said two image pickup means and said two display means being integrally provided in said apparatus said two display means being capable of displaying information relative to a photographing state other than the images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, the information relative to the photographing state including magnifications of said respective two image pickup means.

Claim 3

An imaging apparatus, comprising: (a) an apparatus body; (b) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals; (c) two display means for respectively displaying images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, said two image pickup means and said two display means being integrally provided in said apparatus body, said two display means being capable of displaying information relative to a photographing state other than the images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, the information relative to the photographing state including a distance to a subject and/or a luminance of the subject light.

Claim 4

An imaging apparatus, comprising: (a) an apparatus body; (b) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals; (c) two display means for respectively displaying images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, said two image pickup means and said two display means being integrally provided in said apparatus body, said two display means being capable of displaying information relative to a photographing state other than the images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, the information relative to the photographing state including a distance to a subject and/or a luminance of the subject light.

Claim 5

An imaging apparatus comprising: (a) an apparatus body; (b) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals; (c) signal processing means for performing processing of the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means; (d) two display means for respectively displaying images relative to the image signals generated by said two image pickup means and subjected to the processing performed by said signal processing means; said two image pickup means, said signal processing means and said two display means being integrally provided in said apparatus body; (e) characteristic switching means for switching a characteristic of said signal processing means in accordance with a photographing state; and (f) two shake correcting means providing for said respective two image pickup means and arranged to correct shakes of associated subject images, said two shake correcting means synchronously performing the shake correction operations.

Claim 6

An imaging apparatus comprising: (a) an apparatus body; (b) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals; (c) signal processing means for performing processing of the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means; (d) two display means for respectively displaying images relative to the image signals generated by said two image pickup means and subjected to the processing performed by said signal processing means; said two image pickup means, said signal processing means and said two display means being integrally provided in said apparatus body; (e) characteristic switching means for switching a characteristic of said signal processing means in accordance with a photographing state; and (f) two shake correcting means providing for said respective two image pickup means and arranged to correct shakes of associated subject images, said two shake correcting means synchronously performing the shake correction operations.

Claim 7

An imaging apparatus comprising: (a) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals; (b) signal processing means for performing processing of the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means; (c) two display means capable of respectively displaying images relative to the image signals generated by said two image pickup means and subjected to the processing performed by said signal processing means; (d) two shake correcting means provided for said respective two image pickup means and arranged to correct shakes of associated subject images; (e) control means for controlling operations of said two image pickup means, operations of said signal processing means and operations of said two shake correcting means, respectively; (f) output means for externally outputting the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means; and (g) characteristic switching means for interlockingly switching characteristics of said respective two image pickup means and a characteristic of said signal processing means.

Claim 8

An imaging apparatus comprising: (a) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals; (b) signal processing means for performing processing of the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means; (c) two display means capable of respectively displaying images relative to the image signals generated by said two image pickup means and subjected to the processing performed by said signal processing means; (d) two shake correcting means provided for said respective two image pickup means and arranged to correct shakes of associated subject images; (e) control means for controlling operations of said two image pickup means, operations of said signal processing means and operations of said two shake correcting means, respectively; (f) output means for externally outputting the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means; and (g) characteristic switching means for interlockingly switching characteristics of said respective two image pickup means and a characteristic of said signal processing means.

Claim 9

A viewing apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of image forming optics for forming a plurality of optical images; (b) a plurality of viewing means for viewing said plurality of images; (c) a plurality of image stabilizing members for stabilizing said optical image viewed by said plurality of viewing means respectively; (d) detection means for detecting a shake of said viewing apparatus and for forming a common detection signal; and (e) driving means for driving said plurality of image stabilizing members in response to said common detection signal.

Claim 10

A viewing apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of image forming optics for forming a plurality of optical images; (b) a plurality of viewing means for viewing said plurality of images; (c) a plurality of image stabilizing members for stabilizing said optical image viewed by said plurality of viewing means respectively; (d) detection means for detecting a shake of said viewing apparatus and for forming a common detection signal; and (e) driving means for driving said plurality of image stabilizing members in response to said common detection signal.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of viewing means comprise display members.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of viewing means comprise liquid crystal display members.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said image stabilizing member includes an optical stabilizing member for stabilizing said optical image.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said image stabilizing member includes a variable angle prism.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of viewing means include a plurality of image pickup means for picking up said optical images respectively.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said drive means includes a memory for compensating the characteristic difference between said plurality of image stabilizing members.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said viewing apparatus is a binocular.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of image forming optics form a common object image.

Claim 19

A binocular apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of image forming optics for forming a plurality of optical images; (b) a plurality of viewers for viewing said plurality of images; (c) a plurality of image stabilizing members for stabilizing said optical images viewed by said plurality of viewers respectively; (d) detection means for detecting a shake of said binocular apparatus and for forming a common detection signal; and (e) drive means for driving said plurality of image stabilizing members in response to said common detection signal.

Claim 20

A binocular apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of image forming optics for forming a plurality of optical images; (b) a plurality of viewers for viewing said plurality of images; (c) a plurality of image stabilizing members for stabilizing said optical images viewed by said plurality of viewers respectively; (d) detection means for detecting a shake of said binocular apparatus and for forming a common detection signal; and (e) drive means for driving said plurality of image stabilizing members in response to said common detection signal.

Claim 21

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of viewers comprise display members.

Claim 22

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of viewers comprise liquid crystal display members.

Claim 23

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said image stabilizing member includes an optical stabilizing member for stabilizing said optical image.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said image stabilizing member includes a variable angle prism.

Claim 25

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said drive means includes a memory for compensating the characteristic difference between said plurality of image stabilizing members.

Claim 26

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of image forming optics form a common object image.

Claim 27

A binocular apparatus comprising: (a) a pair of image forming optics for forming a pair of optical images; (b) a pair of viewing finders for viewing said pair of images; (c) a pair of image stabilizing members for stabilizing optical images viewed by said pair of said viewing finders respectively; (d) detection circuit means for detecting a shake of said binocular apparatus and for forming a common detection signal; and (e) drive circuit means for driving said pair of image stabilizing members in response to said common detection signal.

Claim 28

A binocular apparatus comprising: (a) a pair of image forming optics for forming a pair of optical images; (b) a pair of viewing finders for viewing said pair of images; (c) a pair of image stabilizing members for stabilizing optical images viewed by said pair of said viewing finders respectively; (d) detection circuit means for detecting a shake of said binocular apparatus and for forming a common detection signal; and (e) drive circuit means for driving said pair of image stabilizing members in response to said common detection signal.

Claim 29

A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said pair of viewing finders comprise display devices.

Claim 30

A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said pair of viewing finders comprise liquid crystal display devices.

Claim 31

A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image stabilizing member includes an optical stabilizing member for stabilizing said optical image.

Claim 32

A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image stabilizing member includes a variable angle prism.

Claim 33

A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a plurality of image pickup devices for picking up said optical images respectively.

Claim 34

A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said drive circuit means include a memory for compensating the characteristics difference between said pair of image stabilizing members.

Claim 35

A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said pair of image forming optics form a common object image.

Claim 36

A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said drive circuit means concurrently drive said pair of image stabilizing members.

Claim 37

A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said drive circuit means cooperatively drive said pair of image stabilizing members.

Claim 38

A viewing apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of image forming optical systems for forming a plurality of optical images; (b) a plurality of viewing members for viewing said plurality of images formed by said plurality of image forming optical systems; (c) a plurality of image stabilizing means for stabilizing said image viewed by said viewing members; (d) drive means for driving said plurality of image stabilizing means; and (e) a compensation means for compensating a characteristic difference between said plurality of stabilizing means.

Claim 39

A viewing apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of image forming optical systems for forming a plurality of optical images; (b) a plurality of viewing members for viewing said plurality of images formed by said plurality of image forming optical systems; (c) a plurality of image stabilizing means for stabilizing said image viewed by said viewing members; (d) drive means for driving said plurality of image stabilizing means; and (e) a compensation means for compensating a characteristic difference between said plurality of stabilizing means.

Claim 40

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of viewing members comprise image display members.

Claim 41

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of viewing members comprise liquid crystal display members.

Claim 42

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of image stabilizing means include a plurality of optical stabilizing members for respectively stabilizing said plurality of images.

Claim 43

An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said optical stabilizing member comprises a variable angle prism.

Claim 44

An apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising motion detecting means for detecting a motion of said apparatus.

Claim 45

An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said drive means drives said plurality of image stabilizing means according to an output of said motion detecting means.

Claim 46

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said compensation means include a memory for compensating the characteristic difference between said plurality of stabilizing means.

Claim 47

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of image forming optical systems, said plurality of viewing members, said plurality of image stabilizing means, said drive means and said compensation means are integrally provided in an apparatus body.

Claim 48

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said viewing apparatus is a binocular.