Hybrid Optical-Digital Viewfinder Focus Highlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras with live-view images displayed on a large liquid crystal display device suffer from camera shake when the shutter button is pushed, and the displayed image has a time lag relative to the actual subject state, making it difficult to confirm the focus state intuitively.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus with an optical finder, a display portion inside the finder to superimpose the photographic subject optical image and image, and a control portion to highlight the focus region, allowing intuitive focus state determination while observing the actual subject through the optical finder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a live-view image is displayed on a large liquid crystal display device, then the photographer can check the photographic image, but camera shake occurs easily when the shutter button is pushed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical finder as an intermediary device between the photographer's eye and the camera body. The finder includes a display portion that shows the live-view image, allowing the photographer to check the photographic image while maintaining a stable shooting posture through the viewfinder, thereby eliminating camera shake associated with viewing large rear displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the display function from the two-dimensional rear liquid crystal display to a combined optical-digital viewing experience through the finder. By superimposing the live-view image onto the optical viewfinder, it creates a new dimension of information display that allows stable viewing and shooting simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If a live-view image is displayed on a large liquid crystal display device, then the photographic image can be checked, but the image has a time lag with respect to the actual state of the photographic subject
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies focus state determination to only the necessary portion of the image (the focus region) rather than processing the entire live-view image. By determining focus state for specific areas and displaying colored overlays only on those regions, the system reduces processing time and minimizes time lag while still providing useful focus information to the photographer.
3Measurement precision
If the focus state is determined and displayed on the rear display device, then the focus region can be confirmed, but the photographer cannot intuitively grasp the focus state while observing the actual subject
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes to indicate focus state, displaying colored overlays (such as green for in-focus regions and red for out-of-focus regions) directly on the live-view image within the optical finder. This allows the photographer to intuitively grasp the focus state by seeing colored indicators superimposed on the actual subject view, combining precise measurement with intuitive visual feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the optical viewfinder image with the digital live-view image displaying focus information. By superimposing the colored focus state indicators onto the optical image path, the photographer can simultaneously observe the actual subject through the optical system and the focus state information, creating a unified visual experience that enhances intuitive understanding.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital camera 10 includes an imaging device 21a, a finder device 15, a phase difference information analyzing portion 71 and a control portion 32. In the finder device 15, an image in which an OVF optical image formed by an objective optical system 65 and an image displayed on a display portion 61 are superimposed on each other can be observed through an eyepiece window 17. The phase difference information analyzing portion 71 determines a focus region and a non-focus region in a photographic subject imaged by the imaging device 21a. The control portion 32 makes control to display an image Eg for highlighting the focus region E in the OVF optical image on the display portion 61 in the state in which the OVF optical image can be observed through the eyepiece window 17.