Camera utilizing detection of visual line

• US 5,857,121 A
• Filed: 09/12/1997
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakano, Hirofumi, Arai, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US08/928,749
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 396/51, 396/296, 396/374, 348/78, 348/333, 348/334
• US Class Current: 396/51
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/02 Viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2213/025 Sightline detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications

Abstract

A camera includes an electronic viewfinder adapted to electrically display a photographing image, a visual line detection unit for detecting the position of a camera operator'"'"'s visual line on a picture plane of the electronic viewfinder, and a display processing unit for displaying on the electronic viewfinder a photographing-related information involved in a camera photographing. In such a camera, the display processing unit controls a display position of the photographing-related information in accordance with an output of the visual line detection unit.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

(A) detecting means for detecting a position of visual line of sight of an observer in a pre-determined field and providing output signals indicative of said detected positon;

(B) illumination means for use in visual line detection by said detection means;

(C) a monitor, adapted to electrically display in said predetermined field an image, having a spectral characteristic which is substantially set to have no influence on a light emitted from said illumination means;

(D) generating means for generating signals containing character display data indicative of a warning of an abnormal condition concerning an operation of said electronic apparatus; and

(E) display processing means for receiving said signals containing said display data and displaying said display data on the monitor at said detected position of said observer'"'"'s visual line of sight.

2. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said monitor is an electronic viewfinder.

3. An electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising image pick-up means for converting an image of a subject into an electric signal.

4. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means projects light emitted from said illumination means onto an operator'"'"'s eyeball, and detects the operator'"'"'s visual line by using a reflected light from the operator'"'"'s eyeball.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display data includes character data.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display data includes power source information.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display data includes speed information.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said illumination means emits infrared light.

9. An electronic apparatus being capable of using with a line of sight detecting device having detecting means for detecting a position of a visual line of sight of an observer in a predetermined field and providing output signals indicative of said detection position, illumination means for use in visual line detection by said detection means, comprising:

(A) generating means for generating character display data indicative of a warning of an abnormal condition concerning an operation of said electronic apparatus;

(B) display, adapted to electrically display in said predetermined field the display data, having a spectral characteristic which is substantially set to have no influence on a light emitted from said illumination means; and

(C) display processing means for displaying said display data on the display at said detected position of said observer'"'"'s visual line of sight.

10. A monitor according to claim 9, wherein said display data includes character data.

11. A monitor according to claim 9, wherein said display data includes power source information.

12. A monitor according to claim 9, wherein said display data includes speed information.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said illumination means emits infrared light.