Viewfinder, and control method and imaging apparatus thereof

• US 8,125,554 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yanagisawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kao, Yih-Sien
• Application Number:
  US12/070,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: D16200-220, D16237-250
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

A viewfinder according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a display unit including a display surface on which a picture is displayed based on a picture signal supplied from an imaging apparatus; and an eyepiece unit, which is detachably attached to the display unit, configured to enlarge a picture displayed on the display surface to make the picture visually recognizable; wherein the display unit includes the display surface, a display control unit configured to display the picture on the display surface based on the picture signal, and a detecting unit configured to detect the presence/absence of attachment of the eyepiece unit; and wherein the display control unit is configured so as to laterally invert a picture to be displayed on the display surface based on the detection of the detecting unit, and also so as to change the brightness of a picture to be displayed on the display surface.

Claims

1. A viewfinder, comprising:

a display unit including a display surface on which a picture is displayed based on a picture signal supplied from an imaging apparatus; and

an eyepiece unit, which is detachably attached to said display unit, configured to enlarge a picture displayed on said display surface to make the picture visually recognizable;

said display unit including;

a display control unit configured to display said picture on said display surface based on said picture signal, and

a detecting unit configured to detect the presence/absence of attachment of said eyepiece unit; and

wherein said display control unit is configured to laterally invert a picture to be displayed on said display surface based on the detection of said detecting unit, and to change the brightness of a picture to be displayed on said display surface,

when the detecting unit detects presence of attachment of said eyepiece unit, the brightness of the picture to be displayed on said display surface is a first brightness preset by a user of the viewfinder, and when the detecting unit detects absence of attachment of said eyepiece unit, the brightness of the picture to be displayed on said display surface is a second brightness preset by a user of the viewfinder,

the first and second brightness levels are preset by the user by operating a pushbutton switch of the display unit to display on the display surface a setting menu screen for performing various settings of the viewfinder including a brightness setting, operating a pushbutton switch of the display unit to display on the display surface a picture brightness setting screen, and operating a pushbutton switch of the display unit to increase/decrease a numeric value indicating the level of brightness, and the first and second brightness levels are used without automatic modification, and

the display unit is configured such that the display surface pivots between a first position at which the display surface is viewed when the eyepiece unit is attached to the display unit and a second position at which the display surface is viewed when the eyepiece unit is not attached to the display unit.

2. The viewfinder according to claim 1, wherein said display unit further comprises:

a lamp configured to display the operation state of said imaging apparatus or said display unit, and

a lamp control unit configured to drive said lamp based on said operation state;

said eyepiece unit enlarges the display of said lamp together with said picture to make both visually recognizable;

and said lamp control unit is configured to change the brightness of said lamp based on the detection by said detecting unit.

3. The viewfinder according to claim 2, wherein said display unit further comprises:

a display panel;

said display panel includes a front surface including said display surface;

said front surface includes a front plate in which an opening is formed;

and said display surface is provided to locate in the inside of said opening;

and said lamp is provided on said front plate.

4. The viewfinder according to claim 2, wherein, in accordance with change in the brightness of said lamp by said display control unit, the brightness of said lamp is set to a third brightness when the presence of attachment of said eyepiece unit is detected, and to a fourth brightness having a higher value than said third brightness when the absence of attachment of said eyepiece unit is detected.

5. The viewfinder according to claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises:

a main unit detachably attached to a camera body of said imaging apparatus; and

a display portion on which a picture image-captured at said camera body side is displayed;

said display portion includes

a supporting member which is connected to said main unit so as to rotate,

a display panel including said display surface, and

a connecting mechanism configured to connect said supporting member and said display panel to swing between a laid state in which said display panel is laid on said supporting member and a standing state in which said display panel stands from said supporting member.

6. The viewfinder according to claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises:

a main unit which is detachably attached to a camera body of said imaging apparatus; and

a display portion on which a picture image-captured at said camera body side is displayed;

said display portion includes

a supporting member which is connected to said main unit to rotate,

a display panel including said display surface, and

a connecting mechanism configured to connect said supporting member and said display panel to swing between a laid state in which said display panel is laid on said supporting member and a standing state in which said display panel stands from said supporting member;

and said supporting member is connected to said main unit to rotate on an imaginary axis extending in the horizontal direction of said camera body in a state in which said main unit is attached to said camera body;

and said display surface is turned to the lateral direction of said camera body in said laid state, and is turned backward in said standing state.

7. The viewfinder according to claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises:

a main unit which is provided integrally to a camera body of said imaging apparatus; and

a display portion on which a picture image-captured at said camera body side is displayed;

said display portion includes

a supporting member which is connected to said main unit to rotate,

a display panel including said display surface, and

a connecting mechanism configured to connect said supporting member and said display panel to swing between a laid state in which said display panel is laid on said supporting member and a standing state in which said display panel stands from said supporting member;

and said supporting member is connected to said main unit to rotate on an imaginary axis extending in the horizontal direction of said camera body;

and said display surface is turned to the lateral direction of said camera body in said laid state, and is turned backward in said standing state.

8. A control method for a viewfinder including a display unit that includes (a) a display surface on which a picture is displayed based on picture signals supplied from an imaging apparatus and (b) a display control unit configured to display said picture on said display surface, and an eyepiece unit detachably attached to said display unit and configured to enlarge a picture displayed on said display surface to make the picture visually recognizable, said control method comprising:

detecting the presence or absence of attachment of said eyepiece unit; and

laterally inverting a picture to be displayed on said display surface based on said detection, and changing the brightness of a picture to be displayed on said display surface,

when presence of attachment of said eyepiece unit is detected in the detecting step, the brightness of the picture to be displayed on said display surface is a first brightness preset by a user of the viewfinder, and when absence of attachment of said eyepiece unit is detected in the detecting step, the brightness of the picture to be displayed on said display surface is a second brightness preset by a user of the viewfinder,

the first and second brightness levels are preset by the user by operating a pushbutton switch of the display unit to display on the display surface a setting menu screen for performing various settings of the viewfinder including a brightness setting, operating a pushbutton switch of the display unit to display on the display surface a picture brightness setting screen, and operating a pushbutton switch of the display unit to increase/decrease a numeric value indicating the level of brightness, and the first and second brightness levels are used without automatic modification, and

adjusting the display unit such that the display surface pivots between a first position at which the display surface is viewed when the eyepiece unit is attached to the display unit and a second position at which the display surface is viewed when the eyepiece unit is not attached to the display unit.

9. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

a camera body configured to image a picture; and

a viewfinder provided on said camera body;

wherein said viewfinder includes

a display unit including a display surface on which a picture is displayed based on a picture signal supplied from said camera body, and

an eyepiece unit which is detachably attached to said display unit and configured to enlarge a picture displayed on said display surface to make the picture visually recognizable;

said display unit includes

a display control unit configured to display said picture on said display surface based on said picture signal, and

a detecting unit configured to detect the presence/absence of attachment of said eyepiece unit;

said display control unit is configured to laterally invert a picture to be displayed on said display surface based on the detection of said detecting unit, and to change the brightness of a picture to be displayed on said display surface,

when the detecting unit detects presence of attachment of said eyepiece unit, the brightness of the picture to be displayed on said display surface is a first brightness preset by a user of the viewfinder, and when the detecting unit detects absence of attachment of said eyepiece unit, the brightness of the picture to be displayed on said display surface is a second brightness preset by a user of the viewfinder,

the first and second brightness levels are preset by the user by operating a pushbutton switch of the display unit to display on the display surface a setting menu screen for performing various settings of the viewfinder including a brightness setting, operating a pushbutton switch of the display unit to display on the display surface a picture brightness setting screen, and operating a pushbutton switch of the display unit to increase/decrease a numeric value indicating the level of brightness, and the first and second brightness levels are used without automatic modification, and

the display unit is configured such that the display surface pivots between a first position at which the display surface is viewed when the eyepiece unit is attached to the display unit and a second position at which the display surface is viewed when the eyepiece unit is not attached to the display unit.