Mirror adjusting apparatus of view finder

• US 5,369,456 A
• Filed: 06/23/1993
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yokota, Hidetaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Monroe H.
• Application Number:
  US08/080,110
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 354/222, 354/219, 354/221, 354/224
• US Class Current: 396/378
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/12 to compensate for change of camera lens or size of picture

Abstract

An adjusting apparatus of a mirror having a reflecting surface located in an optical path of a view finder. The apparatus includes a casing to which the mirror is attached, a mirror adjusting mechanism which is movable between a fixed state and an adjustable state in which the mirror is rotatable about an adjusting axis passing through the reflecting surface of the mirror. The fixed state corresponds to a design position of the mirror with respect to the casing. The mirror adjusting mechanism is brought to the fixed state upon attaching the mirror to the casing without effecting an adjustment of the mirror adjusting mechanism. The design position is within a range of angular adjustment corresponding to the adjustable state of the mirror adjusting mechanism.

Claims

1. An adjusting apparatus of a mirror having a reflecting surface located in an optical path of a view finder, comprising:

a convex cylindrical surface provided on a securing member to which the mirror is secured, said convex cylindrical surface being perpendicular to a plane including an optical axis of light incident upon the mirror and an optical axis of light reflected off the mirror, said convex cylindrical surface having a center of curvature located on a center axis of the mirror surface;

a recessed cylindrical surface provided on a supporting member of the mirror corresponding to said convex cylindrical surface;

a rotation restricting member which restricts the rotation of the mirror to hold the mirror at a reference design position most likely to make a visual field coincident with a field frame, when said convex cylindrical surface engages with said recessed cylindrical surface;

rotation and adjustment permitting means for releasing the rotation restricting member to permit the rotation and adjustment of the mirror while maintaining engagement of said convex cylindrical surface with said recessed cylindrical surface; and

means for preventing rotation of the mirror with respect to an adjusting axis once an adjusted position for the mirror has been set by said mirror adjusting means, said rotation preventing means being independent of said rotation restricting member;

wherein a hole is provided on said cylindrical surface of said supporting member, and wherein guide grooves are provided on a rear surface of said supporting member opposite the recessed cylindrical surface, said guide grooves being parallel with central axes of said convex cylindrical surface and said recessed cylindrical surface and located on opposite sides of a bisector of an angle defined by the optical axis of the light incident upon the mirror and the optical axis of the light reflected off the mirror.

2. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said securing member is provided with a post which extends through said hole at the center portion of said convex cylindrical surface, and wherein projections are provided on said rotation restricting member and fitted in said guide grooves of the supporting plate.

3. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising biasing means for biasing said rotation restricting member and said securing member towards each other and into contact with said supporting member.

4. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said rotation and adjustment permitting means comprises means for separating the projections of said rotation restricting member from the associated guide grooves.

5. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment of the mirror can be effected after said rotation restricting member is moved against said biasing means to disengage the projections from the associated guide grooves.

6. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said convex cylindrical surface and said recessed cylindrical surface substantially prevent rotation of the mirror an axis other than the adjusting axis.

7. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotation preventing means comprises an adhesive.

8. An adjusting apparatus of a mirror having a reflecting surface located in an optical path of a view finder, comprising:

a convex cylindrical surface provided on a securing member to which the mirror is secured, said convex cylindrical surface being perpendicular to a plane including an optical axis of light incident upon the mirror and an optical axis of light reflected off the mirror, said convex cylindrical surface having a center of curvature located on a center axis of the mirror surface;

a recessed cylindrical surface provided on a supporting member of the mirror corresponding to said convex cylindrical surface;

a rotation restricting member which restricts the rotation of the mirror to hold the mirror at a predetermined optimal position when said convex cylindrical surface engages with said recessed cylindrical surface; and

,

rotation and adjustment permitting means for releasing the rotation restricting member to permit the rotation and adjustment of the mirror while maintaining engagement of said convex cylindrical surface with said recessed cylindrical surface;

wherein a hole is provided on said recessed cylindrical surface, and wherein guide grooves are provided on a rear surface of said supporting member opposite said recessed cylindrical surface, said guide grooves being parallel with central axes of said convex cylindrical surface and said recessed cylindrical surface and located on opposite sides of a bisector of an angle defined by the optical axis of the light incident upon the mirror and the optical axis of the light reflected off the mirror.

9. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said securing member is provided with a post which extends through said hole at the center portion of said convex cylindrical surface, and wherein projections are provided on said rotation restricting member and fitted in said guide grooves of said supporting member.

10. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for biasing said rotation restricting member and said security member towards each other and into contact with said supporting member.

11. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said rotation and adjustment permitting means comprises means for separating the projections of said rotation restricting member from the associated guide grooves.

12. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the adjustment of the mirror can be effected after said rotation restriction member is moved against said biasing means to disengage the projections from the associated guide grooves.

13. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said convex cylindrical surface and said recessed cylindrical surface substantially prevent rotation of the mirror about all but one axis.

14. An adjusting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for initially setting the mirror, prior to adjustment, in a position most likely to result in a coincident field of view and picture plane.