Viewfinder and image display/pickup apparatus using liquid crystal

• US 5,185,712 A
• Filed: 01/24/1992
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakamura, Hideki, Sato, Makoto, Shimazaki, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Application Number:
  US07/825,826
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 358/224, 358/209, 358/60-63, 358/230, 358/56, 358/59, 353/31, 353/34, 340/789 AL, 340/719, 354/219
• US Class Current: 348/333.08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/06 with lenses with or without reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/54 with projector
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/53 of electronic viewfinders, e.g. rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3105 for displaying all colours simultaneously, e.g. by using two or more electronic spatial light modulators simultaneous projection in colour photography G03B33/10; beam splitting or combining systems per se G02B27/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3176 wherein the projection device is incorporated in a camera details of cameras adapted for combination with a projector not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B17/54

Abstract

A liquid crystal viewfinder includes a plurality of liquid crystal display sections for respectively displaying images of a plurality of colors so as to obtain a full-color image, and an eyepiece. The liquid crystal display sections are arranged on the same plane along an outer side surface of an image pick up apparatus. The eyepiece is arranged outside the liquid crystal display sections in such a manner that the optical axis of the eyepiece is set to be substantially parallel to the direction in which the liquid crystal display sections are arranged. An image light reflecting mirror is arranged on the incidence side of the eyepiece so as to reflect an image light beam from one of the liquid crystal display sections to the eyepiece. Image light synthesizing mirrors are arranged between the image light reflecting mirror and the eyepiece so as to reflect image light beams from the other liquid crystal display sections to the eyepiece and to transmit the image light beam reflected by the image light reflecting mirror.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal viewfinder, comprising:

a case having an opening portion;

a fluorescent lamp arranged along a bottom surface of said case and in parallel therewith, said fluorescent lamp having a given length;

a liquid crystal display panel substrate arranged substantially in parallel with said fluorescent lamp, said fluorescent lamp radiating light onto said liquid crystal panel substrate, said liquid crystal panel substrate including first, second and third liquid crystal display panels formed thereon;

a first optical member for reflecting a light beam made incident thereon via the first liquid crystal display panel;

a second optical member for reflecting a light beam made incident thereon via the second liquid crystal display panel and for transmitting the light beam reflected by the first optical member;

a third optical member for reflecting a light beam made incident thereon via the third liquid crystal display panel and for transmitting the light beam reflected by the second optical member; and

an eyepiece provided at the opening portion of said case, on which a light beam output from the third optical member is made incident;

said eyepiece being positioned at said opening to be substantially parallel to both said bottom surface of said case and to said fluorescent lamp; and

said liquid crystal display panel substrate having a length which is at least equal to the given length of said fluorescent lamp.

2. A liquid crystal viewfinder according to claim 1, wherein said first, second and third liquid crystal display panels respectively display first, second and third colors.

3. A liquid crystal viewfinder, comprising:

a case having an opening portion;

a liquid crystal display panel substrate arranged in said case, and including first, second and third liquid crystal display panels;

light source means for irradiating light beams on said first, second and third liquid crystal display panels;

first optical means for reflecting a light beam made incident thereon via the first liquid crystal display panel;

second optical means for reflecting a light beam made incident thereon via the second liquid crystal display panel and for transmitting the light beam reflected by the first optical means, said second optical means including three reflection means for reflecting incident light beams substantially at a right angle;

third optical means for reflecting a light beam made incident thereon via the third liquid crystal display panel and for transmitting a light beam made incident thereon via the second optical means, said third optical means including three reflection means for reflecting incident light beams substantially at right angle;

an eyepiece provided at said opening portion of said case, on which a light beam output from the third optical means is made incident; and

said first second and third optical means being located such that the respective distances which light beams travel from the first, second and third liquid crystal panels to said eyepiece are substantially the same.

4. A viewfinder according to claim 3, wherein said light source means comprises a fluorescent lamp.

5. A viewfinder according to claim 3, wherein said light source means comprises a single light source.

6. A viewfinder according to claim 3, wherein said eyepiece outputs a light beam substantially at a right angle with respect to said liquid crystal display panels.

7. A viewfinder according to claim 3, wherein said first, second and third liquid crystal display panels are arranged in a line of given length, and said light source means has a length which is substantially the same as or greater than that of the line of said liquid crystal display panels.

8. A viewfinder according to claim 7, said first, second and third liquid crystal display panels have a common scanning electrode.

9. A liquid crystal viewfinder comprising:

a case having an opening portion;

an eyepiece provided at said opening portion of said case;

light source means arranged along a wall surface of said case opposing said eyepiece and substantially in parallel with the wall surface;

a liquid crystal display panel substrate arranged substantially in parallel with said light source means, said panel substrate including first, second and third liquid crystal display panels, and said second liquid crystal display panel opposing said eyepiece;

optical means for transmitting a light beam output from said second liquid crystal display panel so that said light beam is made incident on said eyepiece, and for making light beams output from said first and third liquid crystal display panels incident on said eyepiece after reflecting the light beams at least once; and

said optical means including optical members for substantially equalizing the respective distances which light beams travel from the first, second and third liquid crystal display panels to the eyepiece.

10. A viewfinder according to claim 9, wherein said optical member comprises a transparent body which suppresses light beam diffusion.

11. A viewfinder according to claim 9, wherein said light source means comprises a fluorescent lamp.

12. A view finder according to claim 9, wherein said first, second and third liquid crystal display panels are arranged in a line of given length, and said light source means has a length which is substantially the same as or greater than that of the line of said liquid crystal display panels.