← Back to Patent Explorer
US6018630A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Camera viewfinder having a viewpoint detecting apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1995-05-15
•
Granted: 2000-01-25
•
Expires: 2015-05-15
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A finder apparatus in which a viewpoint detecting apparatus is built in a finder unit and a light emitting device and a photosensing device constructing the viewpoint detecting apparatus are arranged in a space which is formed by notching a part of an eyepiece.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takashi Arai
  • 👤 Hirofumi Nakano

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 11:00
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/02; G03B2213/00; G03B2213/02; G03B2213/025

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 72 words
An image monitor apparatus comprising: an eyepiece having a lens; detecting means for detecting viewpoint information from light information reflected from an eye of an observer; and light guide means for guiding the light information indicative of a motion of the eye of said observer from said eyepiece to said detecting means, wherein said detecting means is arranged at a position adjacent to an edge portion of said lens of said eyepiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 72 words
An image monitor apparatus comprising: an eyepiece having a lens; detecting means for detecting viewpoint information from light information reflected from an eye of an observer; and light guide means for guiding the light information indicative of a motion of the eye of said observer from said eyepiece to said detecting means, wherein said detecting means is arranged at a position adjacent to an edge portion of said lens of said eyepiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects a position in a picture plane to which said observer observes on the basis of the light information indicative of the motion of said observer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises: a light source to irradiate a light beam in a specific wavelength region toward the eye of said observer; and photosensing means for receiving said light reflection information formed by the light beam from said light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said photosensing means comprises a charge coupled device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 44 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further having display means for displaying an image, and wherein an optical lens for leading a light image corresponding to said image to said light guide means is provided between said display means and said light guide means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light guide means comprises a dichroic mirror.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light guide means comprises a dichroic mirror which is arranged obliquely in the vertical direction for an optical axis of said eyepiece at an angle larger than 45°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light guide means comprises a beam splitter constructed by a plurality of prisms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion is formed with a space thereon by cutting off a portion of said eyepiece, and wherein said detecting means is arranged in the space of the edge portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5557364A Cited
JPH01241511A Cited
JPH0232312A Cited
US5606390A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-01-24 2003-07-26 2004-01-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-01-24 2007-07-26 2008-01-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-01-24 2011-07-26 2012-01-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag