Automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder and method thereof

• US 5,378,973 A
• Filed: 08/09/1993
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hyoung-Gwon
• Primary Examiner(s): IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/103,219
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 318/34, 318/590, 318/640, 318/603, 318/649, 388/906, 250/221, 250/201, 350/521, 350/515, 350/538, 358/224, 358/906, 358/22, 358/209, 358/909, 358/227, 358/229, 358/93, 354/219, 354/94, 354/407, 354/82, 354/409, 354/81, 354/199, 354/222, 354/221, 354/106, 354/400, 354/195.12
• US Class Current: 318/640
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

An automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus in a camcorder for automatically moving an electronic view finder in accordance with camcorder set motion includes a set motion detector for output of a control signal in accordance with intentional movement of the camcorder and an eye angle adjustor for adjusting an angle of the electronic view finder in response to the control signal. The automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus eliminates the discomfort of manually adjusting an angle of the electronic view finder and prevent a trembling motion resulting from angle adjustment of the electronic view finder from being recorded along with the desired image. A method for operating the adjusting apparatus is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder, comprising:

a motion detector for output of a control signal in accordance with motion of a body of a camcorder; and

an eye angle adjuster for adjusting an angle of the electronic view finder with respect to said body in response to said control signal.

2. The automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder as defined in claim 1, wherein said motion detector comprises:

a position sensor disposed at a lens for detecting at least one of up/down motion and left/right motion of the body and for generating a first signal;

an amplifier for amplifying the first signal to generate a motion signal;

a low pass filter for detecting an intentional motion signal;

an analog-to-digital converter for converting the intentional motion signal output from the low pass filter to a digital signal; and

a microcomputer for calculating directions of motion and magnitudes of travel corresponding to a desired angle of the electronic view finder.

3. The automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder as defined in claim 2, wherein the position sensor comprises a horizontal position sensor and a vertical position sensor, said horizontal position sensor and said vertical position sensor each generating a respective voltage in accordance with motion of said body.

4. The automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder as defined in claim 2, wherein the microcomputer is operatively connected to a memory storing information related to movement of the view finder in accordance with said digital signal.

5. The automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder as defined in claim 4, wherein said memory is a read only memory.

6. The automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder as defined in claim 2, wherein the microcomputer is operatively connected to a switch, operation of said switch being indicative of an automatic eye angle adjusting mode.

7. The automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder as defined in claim 1, wherein the eye angle adjustor comprises:

a motor controller for generating a motor driving signal in response to said control signal output from the set motion detector;

a plurality of step motors driven in response to said motor driving signal output from the motor controller; and

a driver driven by said step motors to adjust a viewing angle of the electronic view finder.

8. The automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder as defined in claim 7, wherein the step motors comprise an up/down driving step motor and a left/right driving step motor and wherein said motor driving signal includes an up/down driving signal and a left/right driving signal output from the motor control unit.

9. The automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder as defined in claim 8, wherein the driver adjusts said viewing angle in at least one of an up direction, a down direction, a left direction and a right direction.

10. An automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder as defined in claim 7, wherein the driver adjusts said viewing angle in at least one of an up direction, a down direction, a left direction and a right direction.

11. A method for controlling an automatic eye angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic view finder, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining motion of a body on which said view finder is mounted;

(b) calculating directions of motion and magnitudes of travel corresponding to said motion of said body; and

(c) adjusting an angle of the electronic view finder with respect to said body in response to said motion of said body.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said step (a) comprises the steps of:

(d) determining whether an automatic eye angle adjusting mode of operation has been initiated; and

(e) determining whether any intentional of said body motion has occurred.