LED REFLECTOR DEVICE

• US 20030113108A1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concord Camera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Concord Camera Corporation
• Inventors: Bittner, Wilfried
• Granted Patent: US 6,571,064 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/296
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/20 visible in viewfinder

Abstract

A camera viewfinder reflector for directing light from an indicator outside the line-of-sight of the viewfinder into the viewfinder is provided. The reflector may be combined with an existing element of the camera assembly, such as a leaf spring, or may comprise a separate, distinct reflector component. Light from an indicator on the pc-board of the camera is reflected from a portion of the reflector that is located in the viewfinder at the periphery of the viewfinder lens assembly in fixed optical alignment with the ocular lens of the viewfinder.

Claims

1. A camera, comprising:

a viewfinder assembly including a first objective lens and a second ocular lens, said second ocular lens disposed in optical alignment with said first objective lens;

a visual indicator located outside of said viewfinder;

a reflector including at least one reflective section, at least a portion of said reflective section extending into said viewfinder in optical alignment with said second ocular lens; and

wherein light from said indicator is reflected from said reflective section to said ocular lens.

2. The camera of claim 1, wherein said visual indicator is an LED.

3. The camera of claim 2, wherein said LED is a surface mounted LED.

4. The camera of claim 3, wherein said reflector further includes at least a light pass section, wherein light from said LED passes said light pass section to said reflective section.

5. The camera of claim 4, wherein said reflector further includes at least a first reflector portion, wherein light from said LED is reflected from said first reflector portion, past said light pass section and to said reflective section.

6. The camera of claim 4, wherein said first lens and said second lens are part of a reverse Galilean viewfinder assembly.

7. The camera of claim 4, wherein said light pass section includes an opening through which light from said LED passes.

8. The camera of claim 4, wherein said light pass section has a width less than the width of said reflective section which permits light to pass said light pass section of said reflector to said reflective section.

9. The camera of claim 1, wherein said reflector further includes at least a light pass section, wherein light from said indicator passes said light pass section to said reflective section.

10. The camera of claim 9, wherein said reflector further includes at least a first reflector portion, wherein light from said indicator is reflected from said first reflector portion, past said light pass section to said reflective section.

11. A reflector for directing light from a remote indicator into the viewfinder of a camera, the reflector comprising:

a light pass section;

a reflective section, at least a portion of which is in optical alignment with the viewfinder, said reflective section including a reflection surface for reflecting light into the viewfinder; and

wherein said light pass section and said reflective section are separated by a bend.

12. The reflector of claim 11, wherein light from the remote indicator passes said light pass section to said reflective section.

13. The reflector of claim 12, wherein the indicator is a surface mounted LED.

14. The reflector of claim 13, wherein said light pass section includes an opening therethrough, said opening permitting light from said LED to pass to said reflective section.

15. The reflector of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of said light pass section has a width less than the width of said reflective section, wherein said reduced width section permits light from said LED to pass to said reflective section.

16. The reflector of claim 15, wherein said reflector is combined with an additional component of the camera.

17. The reflector of claim 16, wherein said reflector is additionally a leaf spring.

18. The reflector of claim 13, additionally including a first reflector section, wherein light from said LED is reflected from said first reflector section, past said light pass section and to said reflective section.

19. The reflector of claim 18, wherein said reflector is additionally a leaf spring.

20. A method of directing light from an indicator into the viewfinder of a camera, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a camera, including;

a viewfinder assembly including a first objective lens and a second ocular lens, said first and said second lenses being in optical alignment;

a visual indicator located outside said viewfinder;

a reflector including a reflective section, at least a portion of which is located in optical alignment with said second ocular lens

(b) activating said visual indicator to provide a visual signal outside the viewfinder; and

(c) reflecting said visual signal from said reflective section to said second ocular lens.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said reflector further includes a light pass section, said light pass section and said reflective section being separated by a bend.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said visual signal is reflected past said light pass section to said reflective section.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said reflector further includes at least a first reflector portion.

24. The method of claim 23, including the step of reflecting said visual signal off said first reflector section and past said light pass section in order to reflect said visual signal from said reflective section.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said visual indicator is a surface mounted LED.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said reflector is additionally a leaf spring.