Finder for single-lens reflex type digital cameras

• US 6,091,910 A
• Filed: 02/23/1999
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Mihara, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS JR, RUSSELL E
• Application Number:
  US09/255,715
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 396/373, 396/384
• US Class Current: 396/373
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/06 with lenses with or without reflectors

Abstract

A finder for single-lens reflex type digital cameras includes a reflecting plane for splitting a light beam from an imaging optical system of a camera into two beams directed toward an image sensor and a finder system, a prism system for erecting an image, and an ocular optical system. The prism system has an entrance surface, a reflecting surface consisting of one plane, a reflecting surface of roof shape, and an exit surface. An optical path between the entrance surface and the reflecting surface consisting of one plane is practically perpendicular to an optical path between the reflecting surface of roof shape and the exit surface in the prism block.

Claims

1. A finder for single-lens reflex type digital cameras, comprising:

a reflecting plane constructed and arranged to split a light beam from an imaging optical system of a camera into two beams directed toward an image sensor and a finder system;

an image-erecting prism system; and

an ocular optical system,

wherein said image-erecting prism system and said ocular optical system are arranged along a traveling direction of light in said finder system placed after a position of the image formed by said imaging optical system,

wherein said prism system comprises, in order along the traveling direction of the light in one prism block, an entrance surface, a first reflecting surface consisting of one plane face, a second reflecting surface of roof shape, and an exit surface,

wherein said first reflecting surface folds an optical path toward an opposite side of said ocular optical system in reference to said exit surface, and

wherein the optical path between said entrance surface and said first reflecting surface intersects, inside the prism block, an optical path between said second reflecting surface and said exit surface.

2. A finder according to claim 1, wherein said finder satisfies the following conditions:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.8<

L/(np·

fE)<

1.6

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.8<

L.sub.2 /L.sub.1 <

2.0

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">20<

θ

.sub.1 <

35

where L is an axial distance from said entrance surface to said exit surface of said prism system, np is a refractive index of a medium of said prism system, fE is a combined focal length of said finder system on a pupil side of a position of the image formed by said imaging optical system, L₁ is an axial distance from said entrance surface to said first reflecting surface of said prism system, L₂ is an axial distance from said second reflecting surface to said exit surface of said prism system, and θ

₁ is an angle made by an optical axis from said entrance surface to said first reflecting surface, of said prism system with a normal line to said first reflecting surface.

3. A finder according to claim 1, wherein said ocular optical system includes, in order from an object side, a positive lens having an object-side surface that is convex toward the object side and a negative lens having a pupil-side surface that is concave toward a pupil side, and satisfies the following conditions:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-6<

(R.sub.31 +R.sub.32)/(R.sub.31 -R.sub.32)<

-0.1

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.1<

(R.sub.33 +R.sub.34)/(R.sub.33 -R.sub.34)<

15

where R₃₁ and R₃₂ are radii of curvature of the object-side surface and a pupil-side surface, respectively, of said positive lens and R₃₃ and R₃₄ are radii of curvature of an object-side surface and the pupil-side surface, respectively, of said negative lens.

4. A finder according to claim 3, wherein said ocular optical system has aspherical surfaces and is constructed so that said negative lens is movable for diopter adjustment, said ocular optical system further satisfying the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-1.2<

(fE/R.sub.32)-(fE/R.sub.33)<

1.2

where fE is a combined focal length of said finder system on a pupil side of a position of the image formed by said imaging optical system.

5. A finder according to claim 4, wherein said prism system for erecting an image is constructed so that said exit surface thereof is shaped into a curved surface which is convex toward the pupil side and satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-20<

RP/fE<

-0.7

where RP is a radius of curvature of the exit surface of said prism system for erecting the image.

6. A finder according to claim 1, wherein said finder system is placed on a transmission side of said reflecting plane for splitting a light beam from said imaging optical system.

7. A finder according to claim 1, wherein said finder satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.72<

H/V<

1

where H is a longitudinal dimension of a finder field and V is a lateral dimension of the finder field.

8. A finder for single-lens reflex type digital cameras, comprising:

a reflecting plane for splitting a light beam from an imaging optical system of a camera into two beams directed toward an image sensor and a finder system;

a prism; and

an ocular optical system,

wherein said prism and said ocular optical system are arranged along a traveling direction of light in said finder system placed after a position of the image formed by said imaging optical system,

wherein said prism comprises, in order along the traveling direction of the light, a first reflecting surface, a second reflecting surface, and a third reflecting surface,

wherein a normal line to said first reflecting surface and a normal line to said second reflecting surface lie in a plane and intersect one another,

wherein said plane intersects an optical axis of said imaging optical system,

wherein an axial light beam from said imaging optical system is reflected by said third reflecting surface, to be substantially parallel with the optical axis of said imaging optical system,

wherein said ocular optical system includes, in order from an object side, an object side surface of a biconvex lens that has a larger absolute value of curvature than an absolute value of curvature of a pupil-side surface thereof and a pupil side surface of a biconcave lens that has a larger absolute value of curvature than an absolute value of curvature of an object-side surface thereof, and

wherein said finder satisfies the following conditions;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">1<

l.sub.2 /l.sub.1 <

1.4

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.8<

L/L(np·

fE)<

1.6

where l₁ is an axial distance from said first reflecting surface to said second reflecting surface of said prism, l₂ is an axial distance from said second reflecting surface to said third reflecting surface of said prism, L is an axial distance from an entrance surface to an exit surface of said prism, np is a refractive index of a medium of said prism, and fE is a combined focal length of said finder system on a pupil side of a position of the image formed by said imaging optical system.

9. A finder according to claim 8, wherein said ocular optical system has aspherical surfaces and is constructed so that said biconcave lens is movable for diopter adjustment, said ocular optical system further satisfying the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-1.2<

(fE/R.sub.32)-(fE/R.sub.33)<

1.2

where fE is a combined focal length of said finder system on a pupil side of a position of the image formed by said imaging optical system, R₃₂ is a radius of curvature of the pupil-side surface of said biconvex lens, and R₃₃ is a radius of curvature of the object-side surface of said biconcave lens.

10. A finder according to claim 9, wherein said prism is constructed so that said exit surface thereof is shaped into a curved surface which is convex toward the pupil side and satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-20<

RP/fE<

-0.7

where RP is a radius of curvature of the exit surface of said prism.

11. A finder according to claim 8, wherein said finder system is placed on a transmission side of said reflecting plane for splitting a light beam from said imaging optical system.

12. A finder according to claim 8, wherein said reflecting plane for splitting a light beam from said imaging optical system is constructed with a half mirror, said half mirror reflecting the light beam toward said image sensor and transmitting the light beam toward said finder system, and a reflecting surface is interposed between said half mirror and said position of the image formed by said imaging optical system.

13. A finder according to claim 8, wherein said finder satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.72<

H/V<

1

where H is a longitudinal dimension of a finder field and V is a lateral dimension of the finder field.

14. A finder for single-lens reflex type digital cameras, comprising:

a reflecting plane for splitting a light beam from an imaging optical system of a camera into two beams directed toward an image sensor and a finder system;

an image-erecting prism system; and

an ocular optical system,

wherein said prism system and said ocular optical system are arranged along a traveling direction of light in said finder system placed after a position of the image formed by said imaging optical system,

wherein said ocular optical system includes, in order from an object side, an object side surface of a positive lens which is convex toward the object side and a pupil side surface of a negative lens which is concave toward the pupil side, and

wherein said finder satisfies the following conditions;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-6<

(R.sub.31 +R.sub.32)/(R.sub.31 -R.sub.32)<

-0.1

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.1<

(R.sub.33 +R.sub.34)/(R.sub.33 -R.sub.34)<

15

where R₃₁ and R₃₂ are radii of curvature of the object-side surface and the pupil-side surface, respectively, of said positive lens and R₃₃ and R₃₄ are radii of curvature of the object-side surface and the pupil-side surface, respectively, of said negative lens.

15. A finder according to claim 14, wherein said ocular optical system has aspherical surfaces and is constructed so that said negative lens is movable for diopter adjustment, said ocular optical system further satisfying the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-1.2<

(fE/R.sub.32)-(fE/R.sub.33)<

1.2

where fE is a combined focal length of said finder system on a pupil side of a position of the image formed by said imaging optical system.

16. A finder according to claim 15, wherein said image-erecting prism system is constructed so that an exit surface thereof is shaped into a curved surface which is convex toward the pupil side and satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">-20<

RP/fE<

-0.7

where RP is a radius of curvature of the exit surface said image-erecting prism system.

17. A finder according to claim 14, wherein said finder system is placed on a transmission side of said reflecting plane for splitting a light beam from said imaging optical system.

18. A finder according to claim 14, wherein said finder satisfies the following condition:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.72<

H/V<

1

where H is a longitudinal dimension of a finder field and V is a lateral dimension of the finder field.