Still video camera having a viewfinder with superimposed images

• US 4,853,787 A
• Filed: 09/06/1988
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Kurth, Guenther V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRINICH, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US07/240,302
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 358/909, 358/213.17, 358/213.15, 358/224, 358/209, 354/476, 354/478
• US Class Current: 348/341
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

A still video camera in which the image-forming beam from an objective lens is split by a beamsplitter and the same image is centered on two solid state image sensors. The images on the sensors are visible and are combined by the beamsplitter and viewed through a viewfinder.

Claims

1. An electronic camera including:

means for mounting an objective lens for creating an image of an object;

a beamsplitter disposed to split the beam transmitted by a lens mounted in the mounting means into a transmitted beam and a reflected beam;

first solid state image sensor means disposed in the focal plane of the transmitted beam and for creating an electrical analog of the optical image on the first sensor means;

second solid state image sensor means disposed in the focal plane of the reflected beam and for creating an electrical analog of the optical image on the second sensor means;

a view finder;

means for directing light reflected by the first solid state image sensor and by the beamsplitter, and light reflected by the second solid state image sensor and transmitted by the beamsplitter, into said viewfinder, whereby the two images viewed through said viewfinder are superimposed;

means for capturing the electrical analogs of the optical images; and

means for preventing ambient light outside the viewfinder entering the camera through the viewfinder during the capture of the electrical analogs of optical images on the first and second sensor means, which analogs are to be read for recreation of a desired image.

2. An electronic camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for directing light reflected by the sensors into said viewfinder is formed at least in part by said beamsplitter.