Intrafinder display apparatus, for a camera, utilizing organic electroluminescence devices

• US 6,980,247 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1999
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kodama, Shinichi, Yaji, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/420,466
• Time in Patent Office: 2,261 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.08, 348/333.09, 348/333.11, 396/287, 313/504, 313/505
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30

Abstract

Organic electroluminescence (EL) devices displaying the information of a camera are formed directly on a surface of a screen mat arranged near an image formation surface of a finder optical system. A CPU for the camera drives the organic EL device, under a forward or a reverse bias, as required, to enable light of a green or a red color to be emitted.

Claims

1. An intrafinder display apparatus for a camera, said intrafinder display apparatus comprising:

a finder optical system for guiding an image of a subject along an optical path to a viewing element;

an organic electroluminescence device formed directly on a surface of an optical member surface in the optical path of said finder optical system; and

a drive circuit for driving said organic electroluminescence device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said organic electroluminescence device comprises a surface illuminant for selectively switching emission light to a desired color of a plurality of colors, and

wherein said drive circuit is driven to switch the color of the emission light in accordance with an operation state of a camera.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical member comprises a prism, and said organic electroluminescence device is formed on one face of said prism.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said organic electroluminescence device is formed on the surface of the optical member by one of vapor evaporation, spin coating, dipping and photobleaching.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said organic electroluminescence device comprises a surface illuminant for selectively switching emission light to a desired color of a plurality of colors.