Camera Body Layout for Compact Electronic Viewfinder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional interchangeable lens digital cameras are hindered in size reduction due to the presence of a mirror box and inefficient placement of components when transitioning to electronic viewfinders.
Innovation Solution
A camera body design without a mirror box, where the electronic viewfinder is positioned beside the body mount and above the shutter drive device, allowing for more efficient component placement and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If an electronic viewfinder is disposed where a conventional optical viewfinder function component used to be disposed, then the viewfinder function is maintained, but the camera body cannot be made smaller because the same amount of space above the body mount is required
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic viewfinder is repositioned from the traditional position above the body mount to a new location beside the body mount and above the shutter drive device. This spatial reconfiguration in a different dimension allows for more efficient use of available space, reducing the camera body size while maintaining the viewfinder function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible component layout that adapts the electronic viewfinder position to the specific spatial constraints of the camera body. By making the viewfinder placement dynamic rather than fixed in the traditional position, the design optimizes space utilization and enables compactness.
2Ease of operation
If a mirror box is included in the camera body, then the optical viewfinder function is achieved, but the camera body size increases making it difficult to reduce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the mirror box component from the camera body, replacing the traditional optical viewfinder system with an electronic viewfinder. This extraction eliminates the space-consuming mirror box while maintaining the essential viewfinder function through electronic means.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical optical viewfinder system involving mirrors and prisms is replaced with an electronic viewfinder system using electronic displays and optical guides. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical components and reduces the overall camera body size.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables a more compact camera body by optimizing the layout of the electronic viewfinder and shutter drive device, reducing the camera's size while maintaining functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The imaging element includes a light receiving face arranged to receive light passing through the lens unit, and converts an optical image of the subject into an electrical signal
Implementation Method 2
a viewfinder optical system arranged to guide the subject image displayed by the viewfinder image display unit to the eyepiece
Data Source
AI summary
A camera body allows the mounting of a lens unit configured to form an optical image of a subject, and includes a body mount, an imaging element, a shutter, a shutter drive device, and an electronic viewfinder. The body mount allows a lens unit to be mounted. The imaging element includes a light receiving face arranged to receive light passing through the lens unit, and converts an optical image of the subject into an electrical signal. The shutter is disposed between the body mount and the imaging element, and arranged to block light passing through the lens unit. The shutter drive device controls the exposure time of the imaging element by driving the shutter. The electronic viewfinder includes an eyepiece, a viewfinder image display unit configured to electronically display an image of the subject, and a viewfinder optical system arranged to guide the subject image displayed by the viewfinder image display unit to the eyepiece. The electronic viewfinder is disposed above the shutter drive device and beside the body mount when viewed in a first direction perpendicular to the light receiving face in a landscape orientation.