Optical system for a single-lens reflex type video still camera

• US 4,757,387 A
• Filed: 10/09/1986
• Issued: 07/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Saito, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRINICH, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US06/917,212
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 358/909, 358/213.13, 358/225, 358/209
• US Class Current: 348/342
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A video still camera of the single lens reflex type is provided having a movable finder mirror for reflecting light passed through an objective lens, and a movable optical low-pass filter for preventing a light component having a spatial frequency lower than a predetermined value from being incident on an image receiving element. The finder mirror is located at a position in a photographing path through which photographing light passes when the camera is in a finder observation condition, while the optical low-pass filter is located at that position instead of the finder mirror when the camera is in a photographing condition. A driving device for selectively positioning either the finder mirror or the optical low-pass filter at the position is provided. The compactness of the video still camera is improved.

Claims

1. A video still camera comprising:

an objective lens;

image receiving means for receiving an image formed by light transmitted through the objective lens;

spatial frequency cutting off means for cutting off a component of the light having a predetermined spatial frequency;

reflecting means, movable between a finder observation position in a photographing path from the objective lens to the image receiving means and a photographing position retracted out of the photographing path, for reflecting light transmitted through the objective lens when the reflecting means is located at the finder observation position; and

moving means for moving the spatial frequency cutting off means and the reflecting means wherein the reflecting means and the spatial frequency cutting off means are interlocking such that the spatial frequency cutting off means is moved into the photographing path when the reflecting means is moved from the finder observation position to the photographing position, and wherein the spatial frequency cutting off means is movable to a retracting position which permits movement of the reflecting means from the photographing position to be finder observation position.

2. A video still camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spatial frequency cutting off means comprises an optical low-pass filter.

3. A video still camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising light measuring means for measuring an amount of light transmitted through the objective lens, second reflecting means for reflecting light transmitted through the objective lens towards the light measuring means, and means for interlocking the second reflecting means with the spatial frequency cutting off means whereby the second reflecting means moves with the spatial frequency cutting off means.

4. A video still camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second reflecting means comprises a half mirror through which a part of light incident thereon is transmitted.

5. A video still camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving means includes means for interlocking the spatial frequency cutting off means and the reflecting means so that both of them are shifted in connection with each other.

6. A video still camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving means includes means for pivotally supporting the reflecting means along a first rotational axis extending perpendicularly to an optical axis of the objective lens, means for pivotally supporting the spatial frequency cutting off means along a second rotational axis extending perpendicularly to the optical axis of the objective lens and the first rotational axis, and means for connecting the rotation of the reflecting means with the rotation of the spatial frequency cutting off means.

7. A video still camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving means includes means for integrally mounting the reflecting means to the spatial frequency cutting off means, means for slidably guiding the spatial frequency cutting off means in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the objective lens and means for sliding the spatial frequency cutting off means integrally with the reflecting means.

8. A video still camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving means includes means for pivotally supporting a reflecting means along a rotational axis extending perpendicularly to the optical axis of the objective lens, means for slidably supporting the spatial frequency cutting off means in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens, and means for connecting the rotation of the reflecting means with the slide operation of the spatial frequency cutting off means.

9. A video still camera comprising:

an objective lens;

image receiving means for receiving an image formed by light transmitted through the objective lens along a photographing path;

an optical low-pass filer for cutting off light having a spatia frequency component higher than a predetermined spatial frequency, wherein the filter is selectively movable to a position in the photographing path;

a finder mirror for reflecting light transmitted through the objective lens towards a finder optical system, wherein the finder mirror is selectively movable to the position in the photographing path; and

moving means for moving the optical low-pass filter and the finder mirror whereby one of them is selectively moved into the position in the photographing path.

10. A video still camera as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a half mirror for transmitting a part of the light transmitted through the objective lens towards the image receiving means and for reflecting another part of the light transmitted through the objective lens, means for moving the half mirror in connection with the finder mirror whereby one of them is selectively moved to the position in the photographing path, and light receiving means for receiving the part of the light reflected by the half mirror, wherein the light receiving means generates an output for controlling a flash light emission of a flash device.