Camera

• US 6,778,777 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2000
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Asakura, Yasuo, Fujii, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US09/694,944
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 396/176, 396/178, 396/177, 396/535, 396/540, 396/89, 396/104, 396/106, 396/111, 396/121, 348/373, 348/376
• US Class Current: 396/535
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies

Abstract

An electronic camera having therein a CCD (image sensing device). A lens barrel is mounted on a camera body thereof. As focusing means, this camera has therein a ranging unit in an active AF manner and a contrast detector in a contrast AF manner using subject light from the lens barrel. A grip portion is arranged at the left side (as seen from the subject) of the camera body. A peak portion is arranged over the grip portion. A ranging window for the ranging unit is arranged over the peak portion. When the camera body is held, it is possible to prevent fingers from moving to the front of the ranging window and covering the window by the peak portion. Even if the lens barrel has a large aperture, it is also possible to arrange the ranging unit on the front portion of the camera body.

Claims

1. A camera, comprising:

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end side of a camera body,

a grip portion arranged at another end side of the camera body and projecting forward from the camera body,

a window for a ranging unit, arranged at an upper side of a front face of the camera body and in the camera body between the grip portion and the photographing lens barrel, and

a finger-restricting portion arranged in the camera body below the window for the ranging unit, one end portion of the finger-restricting portion being formed to project from the grip portion toward the photographing lens barrel,

wherein said finger-restricting portion restricts positions of a user'"'"'s fingers when the user grips a front portion of the grip portion.

2. The camera according to claim 1,

wherein at least one portion of the window for the ranging unit, positioned at one side of the grip portion, is arranged over the finger-restricting portion projecting toward a side of the photographing lens barrel adjacent to said finger-restricting portion.

3. The camera according to claim 1,

wherein a cut-off portion having a plane substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the photographing lens is positioned near a portion projecting toward an adjacent side of the photographing lens barrel in the finger-restricting portion, and the window for the ranging unit is arranged so that one portion thereof invades into the cut-off portion.

4. The camera according to claim 1,

which comprises a first focusing means disposed correspondingly to the window for the ranging unit, and a second focusing means for outputting focusing signals responsive to subject light projected into the photographing lens barrel.

5. The camera according to claim 1,

which is an electronic camera having an image sensing device for converting a subject image made by the photographing lens barrel photoelectrically, and

which further comprises an active type first focusing means disposed correspondingly to the window for the ranging unit,

a contrast type second focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device, and

a control means for controlling the first focusing means and the second focusing means responsive to a subject state and a photographing state.

6. The camera according to claim 5, wherein the subject state is subject brightness or contrast, and the photographing state is a photographing state that a zooming ratio is adjusted, or photographing close range state, and the control means selects and controls, on the basis of these, one of the first focusing means and the second focusing means.

7. A camera comprising:

a photographic lens barrel arranged at one end side of a camera body;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting forward from the camera body;

a projecting portion integrated so as to project upward from the upper surface at the side of the one end portion of the camera body, at which the photographing lens barrel is arranged;

a ranging unit in said camera body;

a window for said ranging unit, arranged to be exposed near a base portion of the photographing lens barrel and on a front surface of the projecting portion; and

a movably mounted electronic flash lid which forms one portion of the projecting portion at an upper part of the window for the ranging unit which is arranged to be exposed on the front of the projecting portion, when an electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid is closed when not in use, the electronic flash lid being movable to pop up, when the electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid is used, the electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid being enabled to emit light by popping-up of the electronic flash lid.

8. A camera comprising:

a photographic lens barrel arranged at one end side of a camera body;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting forward from the camera body;

a projecting portion integrated so as to project upward from the upper surface at the side of the one end portion of the camera body, at which the photographing lens barrel is arranged;

a ranging unit in said camera body;

a window for said ranging unit, arranged to be exposed near a base portion of the photographing lens barrel and on a front surface of the projecting portion; and

a movably mounted electronic flash lid which forms one portion of the projecting portion at an upper part of the window for the ranging unit, the electronic flash lid being movable to pop up, when the electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid is used, the electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid being enabled to emit light by popping-up of the electronic flash lid;

wherein the electronic flash unit is supported by the electronic flash lid making one portion of the projecting portion when the electronic flash unit is not used;

the electronic flash lid covers the window for the ranging unit when the electronic flash unit is not used; and

the electronic flash lid pops up when the electronic flash unit is used, so as to permit emission of light from the electronic flash unit and focusing.

9. A camera comprising:

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end side of a camera body;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting forward from the camera body;

a projecting portion projecting upward from an upper surface of the camera body, which is located above the photographing lens barrel;

a ranging unit window arranged to be exposed above a base portion of the photographing lens barrel and on a front of the projecting portion; and

an electronic flash unit arranged to be exposed at the front of the projecting portion and displaced from the ranging unit;

wherein the electronic flash unit arranged in the front of the projecting portion is arranged over the ranging unit;

wherein said camera is an electronic camera having an image sensing device for photoelectrically converting a subject image made by the photographing lens barrel,

which further comprises;

an active type first focusing means disposed in alignment with the ranging unit window;

a contrast type second focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device; and

a control means for controlling the first focusing means and the second focusing means on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

10. A camera comprising:

a photographic lens barrel arranged at one end side of a camera body;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting forward from the camera body;

a projecting portion integrated so as to project upward from the upper surface at the side of the one end portion of the camera body, at which the photographing lens barrel is arranged;

a ranging unit in said camera body;

a window for said ranging unit, arranged to be exposed near a base portion of the photographing lens barrel and on a front surface of the projecting portion; and

a movably mounted electronic flash lid which forms one portion of the projecting portion at an upper part of the window for the ranging unit which is arranged to be exposed on the front of the projecting portion, when an electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid is closed when not in use, the electronic flash lid being movable to pop up, when the electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid is used, the electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid being enabled to emit light by popping-up of the electronic flash lid;

wherein said camera is an electronic camera having an image sensing device for photoelectrically converting a subject image projected on the image sensing device by the photographing lens barrel; and

which further comprises;

an active type first focusing means disposed behind the ranging unit window;

a contrast type second focusing means for outputting focusing signals responsive to subject light projected into the image sensing device; and

a control means for controlling the first focusing means and the second focusing means on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

11. An electronic camera according to claim 10,

wherein the subject state is subject brightness or contrast, and the photographing state is a photographing state that a zooming ratio is adjusted, or photographing at close range state, and the control means selects and controls, on the basis of these, one of the first focusing means and the second focusing means.

12. A camera comprising:

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end side of a camera body;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting forward from the camera body;

a projecting portion projecting upward from an upper surface of the camera body, which is located above the photographing lens barrel;

a ranging unit window arranged to be exposed above a base portion of the photographing lens barrel and on a front of the projecting portion; and

an electronic flash unit arranged to be exposed at the front of the projecting portion and displaced from the ranging unit;

wherein said camera is an electronic camera having an image sensing device for photoelectrically converting a subject image made by the photographing lens barrel,

which further comprises;

an active type first focusing means disposed in alignment with the ranging unit window;

a contrast type second focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device; and

a control means for controlling the first focusing means and the second focusing means on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state,

wherein the subject state is subject brightness or contrast, and the photographing state is a photographing state that a zooming ratio is adjusted, or photographing at close range state, and the control means selects and controls, on the basis of these, one of the first focusing means and the second focusing means.

13. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body;

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end side of the camera body, the photographing lens barrel having therein a photographing lens which can be focusing-driven;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting forward from the camera body;

an image sensing device arranged behind the photographing lens in the camera body;

a contrast type focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

a projecting portion integrated so as to project upward from an upper surface of the camera body and above the photographing lens barrel;

an active type focusing means in the camera body;

a window for a ranging unit disposed in front of the active type focusing means, serving as the ranging unit, and arranged fixedly at a lower part on a front of the projecting portion;

an electronic flash unit fixedly arranged over the window for said ranging unit; and

a control means for controlling the contrast type focusing means and the active type focusing means on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

14. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body having a given height;

said lens barrel having a diameter that is at least one-half (½

) of the height of the camera body; and

lies within a perimeter of a front face of the camera;

a photographing lens barrel arranged adjacent one end of the camera body;

a grip portion arranged adjacent another end of the camera body and projecting forward from a front surface of the camera body;

a window for a ranging unit, arranged along the front surface of the camera body and being positioned between the grip portion and the photographing lens barrel;

a finger-restricting portion arranged in the camera body below the window for the ranging unit, an end portion of the finger-restricting portion projecting away from the grip portion and toward the photographing lens barrel;

a concavity arranged above the finger-restricting portion and being defined by first, second and third planar surfaces, said first surface being a top surface of said finger-restricting portion, said second surface extending upward from said first surface to define an extension of said camera body front surface and said third surface extending upwardly from said first surface and forming an inside corner with said first surface and forming an inside corner with said second surface; and

said ranging unit window being arranged so that at least a portion thereof extends into said concavity.

15. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body having a given height;

said lens barrel having a diameter that is at least one-half (½

) of the height of the camera body; and

lies within a perimeter of a front face of the camera;

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end of the camera body;

an image sensing device in said camera body for photoelectrically converting a subject image made by the photographing lens barrel;

a contrast type focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

a grip portion arranged at an opposite end of the camera body and projecting outwardly from the camera body;

a window for a ranging unit arranged at an upper side of a front of the camera body and located between the grip portion and the photographing lens barrel;

an active type focusing means arranged behind the ranging unit window;

a finger-restricting portion arranged in the camera body below the window for the ranging unit, one end portion of the finger-restricting portion being formed to project from the grip portion toward the photographing lens barrel;

a concavity arranged above the finger-restricting portion and being defined by first, second and third planar surfaces, said first surface being a top surface of said finger-restricting portion, said second surface extending upward from said first surface to define an extension of said camera body front surface and said third surface extending upwardly from said first surface and forming an inside corner with said first surface and forming an inside corner with said second surface; and

a control means for controlling the active type focusing means and the contrast type focusing means on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

18. An electronic camera according to claim 15, 16 or 17,

wherein the subject state is subject brightness or contrast, and the photographing state is a photographing state that a zooming ratio is adjusted, or photographing at close range state, and the control means selects and controls, on the basis of these, one of the first focusing means and the second focusing means.

19. An electronic camera according to claim 15, 16 or 17,

wherein the subject state is subject brightness or contrast, and the photographing state is a photographing state that a zooming ratio is adjusted, or photographing at close range state, and the control means selects and controls, on the basis of these, one of the first focusing means and the second focusing means.

16. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body;

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end of the camera body, the photographing lens barrel having therein a photographing lens which can be focusing-driven;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting outwardly from the camera body;

an image sensing device arranged behind the photographing lens in the camera body;

a contrast type focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

a movable electronic flash lid forming one portion of a projecting portion which projects upwardly from the camera body and above the photographing lens barrel whereby, an electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid is enabled to emit light by popping-up of the electronic flash lid;

a ranging unit employed as an active type focusing means disposed in the camera body;

a window for said ranging unit disposed in front of the ranging unit and at a lower part of a said front of the projecting portion; and

a control means for controlling the contrast type focusing means and the active type focusing means on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

17. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body;

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end side of the camera body, the photographing lens barrel having therein a photographing lens which can be focusing-driven;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting outwardly from the camera body;

an image sensing device arranged behind the photographing lens in the camera body;

a contrast type focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

an electronic flash unit which can emit light by popping-up of a movable electronic flash lid forming a portion of a projecting portion which projects upwardly from an upper surface of the camera body and above the photographing lens barrel, the electronic flash unit and a window for a ranging unit being supported by the electronic flash lid;

an active type focusing means arranged behind the ranging window; and

a control means for controlling the contrast type focusing means and the active type focusing means on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

20. A camera comprising:

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end side of a camera body and projecting in a forward direction from a front of the camera body;

a grip portion arranged at another end side of the camera body and projecting forward from the front of the camera body;

a projecting portion projecting upward a given amount from top of the camera body and adjacent a base portion of the photographing lens barrel;

a ranging unit window fixed on a front of the projecting portion; and

an electronic flash unit fixed at the front of the projecting portion and arranged above the ranging unit window,

wherein the ranging unit window and the electronic flash unit are exposed at the front of the projecting portion, the ranging window being positioned between the electronic flash unit and the base of the photographing lens barrel; and

wherein the projecting portion is fixed on the camera and enables both the ranging unit and the flash unit to be constantly exposed on the exterior of the camera.

21. A camera according to claim 20,

said camera being an electronic camera having an image sensing device for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed on the image sensing device by the photographing lens barrel,

and further comprising:

an active type first focusing means disposed in alignment with the ranging unit window;

a contrast type second focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device; and

a control means for controlling the first focusing means and the second focusing means on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

22. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body;

a photographing lens barrel arranged near one end of the camera body and projecting outwardly from a front of the camera body, the photographing lens barrel having therein a focusing driven photographing lens;

an image sensing device arranged in the camera body and behind the photographing lens;

a first focusing device for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

a grip portion arranged at another end side of the camera body and projecting outwardly from the camera body;

a projecting portion projecting upward from a top of the camera body, the projecting portion having an electronic flash lid which forms part of the projecting portion when the electronic flash unit is not used, and pops up to an operating position when the electronic flash unit is used;

the electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid being enabled to emit light when moved to the operating position;

a second focusing device provided along a front of the projecting portion, said second focusing device being located on a subject side of the projecting portion; and

a controller for controlling the first focusing device and the second focusing device based on a subject state and a photographing state.

23. The electronic camera of claim 22,

wherein the first focusing means is a contrast type focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device, and

the second focusing means is a ranging unit comprised of an active type focusing means disposed behind a ranging unit window.

24. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body;

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one side of the camera body to project forward from a front of the camera body, the photographing lens barrel having therein a focusing-driven photographing lens;

an image sensing device arranged behind the photographing lens in the camera body;

a first focusing device for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

a grip portion arranged at another side of the camera body and projecting forward from the camera body;

a projecting portion projecting upward from a top of the camera body, a part of the projecting portion popping up to an operating position to permit a flash photography;

an electronic flash unit supported by one portion of the projecting portion which pops up, the electronic flash unit being enabled to emit light when in the operating position;

a ranging unit window arranged on a front of the projecting portion;

a second focusing device arranged behind the ranging unit window; and

a controller for controlling the first focusing device and the second focusing device based on a subject state and a photographing state.

25. An electronic camera according to claim 24,

wherein the first focusing device is a contrast type focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device, and the second focusing device is an active type focusing means disposed in alignment with the ranging unit window.

26. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body;

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end side of the camera body, the photographing lens barrel having therein a photographing lens which can be focusing-driven;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting forward from the camera body;

an image sensing device arranged behind the photographing lens in the camera body;

a contrast type focusing device for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

a projecting portion projecting upward from a top of the camera body and above the photographing lens barrel;

an active type focusing device in the camera body;

a window for a ranging unit disposed in front of the active type focusing means, serving as the ranging unit, and fixedly arranged at a lower part of a front of the projecting portion;

an electronic flash unit fixedly arranged over the window for said ranging unit; and

a controller for controlling the contrast type focusing device and the active type focusing device on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

27. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body;

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end of the camera body, the photographing lens barrel having therein a photographing lens which can be focusing-driven;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting outwardly from the camera body;

an image sensing device arranged behind the photographing lens in the camera body;

a contrast type focusing device for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

a movable electronic flash lid forming one portion of a projecting portion which projects upwardly from a top of the camera body and above the photographing lens barrel whereby, an electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid is enabled to emit light by popping-up of the electronic flash lid;

a ranging unit employed as an active type focusing device disposed in the camera body;

a window for said ranging unit disposed in front of the ranging unit and at a lower part of a front of the projecting portion; and

a controller for controlling the contrast type focusing device and the active type focusing device on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

28. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body;

a photographing lens barrel arranged at one end side of the camera body, the photographing lens barrel having therein a photographing lens which can be focusing-driven;

a grip portion arranged at the other end side of the camera body and projecting outwardly from the camera body;

an image sensing device arranged behind the photographing lens in the camera body;

a contrast type focusing device for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

an electronic flash unit which can emit light by popping-up of a movable electronic flash lid forming a portion of a projecting portion which projects upwardly from an upper surface of the camera body and above the photographing lens barrel, the electronic flash unit and a window for a ranging unit being supported by the electronic flash lid;

an active type focusing device arranged behind the ranging window; and

a controller for controlling the contrast type focusing device and the active type focusing device on the basis of a subject state and a photographing state.

29. An electronic camera, comprising:

a camera body;

a photographing lens barrel arranged at a front of the camera body and projecting outwardly from the camera body toward a subject from a side of one end of the camera body, the photographing lens barrel having therein a focusing driven photographing lens;

an image sensing device arranged in the camera body and behind the photographing lens;

a first focusing device for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

a grip portion arranged at another end side of the camera body and projecting outwardly from the camera body;

a projecting portion provided on the camera body and projecting upwardly from a top of the camera body and above the photographing lens barrel, the projecting portion having an electronic flash lid which forms one portion of the projecting portion when photography is not performed, and pops up to an operating position to permit flash photography;

an electronic flash unit which is supported by the electronic flash lid being enabled to emit light when in the operating position;

a second focusing device provided on a front of and on a subject side of the projecting portion; and

a controller for controlling the first focusing device and the second focusing device based on a subject state and a photographing state.

30. The electronic cameral of claim 29,

wherein the first focusing device is a contrast type focusing device for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device, and

the second focusing device is an active type focusing device disposed correspondingly to the ranging unit window.

31. An electronic camera, comprised of first, second and third major blocks, namely a camera body block, a photographing lens barrel unit block and a flash unit/focusing unit block, respectively;

the first block comprising a camera body;

the second block comprising a photographing lens barrel arranged at a front of the camera body and projecting away from a front face of the camera body block and toward a subject from a side of one end of the camera body block, the photographing lens barrel block having therein a focusing driven photographing lens;

an image sensing device arranged in the camera body and behind the photographing lens;

a first focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device;

a grip portion integral with and arranged at another end side of the camera body and projecting outwardly from a front surface of the camera body;

the third block being mounted upon a top of the camera body;

the focusing unit of the third block comprising a second focusing device having a ranging unit window which is positioned above a base of the photographing lens barrel and facing the subject;

the electronic flash unit of said third block comprising an electronic flash lid positioned behind the second focusing means, the electronic flash lid fixedly supporting an electronic flash unit and exposing the electronic flash unit by popping up to move the electronic flash unit to an operating position; and

a controller for controlling the first focusing device and the second focusing device based on a subject state and a photographing state.

32. The electronic camera of claim 31,

wherein the first focusing means is a contrast type focusing means for outputting focusing signals by use of subject light projected into the image sensing device, and

the second focusing means is an active type focusing means disposed correspondingly to the ranging unit window.