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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera includes an imaging unit provided in a camera body
to take an image electrically, an optical finder provided at an
edge portion of the body, and a display apparatus provided in the
body to display the taken image. The display apparatus includes
a panel including a display area arranged nearer to a rear surface
of the body than the imaging unit in the body, a projection projecting
outwardly from a part of a periphery of the display area, a looking-out
portion at a predetermined part of the projection, and a pixel drive
unit for driving matrix pixels of the display area at the remaining
part of the projection. In the body, the area of the panel corresponds
to a window formed in the rear surface, the looking-out portion
of the projection overlaps with the finder, and the drive unit is
arranged in a side of the finder.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image display apparatus which is provided in a camera main
body of a digital camera, the camera main body having an optical
finder, to display an image taken by the digital camera, the image
display apparatus comprising a display panel including: a display
area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix; a
projection which projects outwardly from at least a part of an outer
periphery of the display area; a lookout enabling portion which
is arranged at a predetermined part of the projection and enables
lookout from one of both sides of the projection to the other side;
and a pixel drive unit which is arranged at the remaining part of
the projection, wherein, when the image display apparatus is provided
in the camera main body, the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined
part of the projection of the display panel overlaps with the optical
finder, and the pixel drive unit at the remaining part of the projection
is arranged in a side of the optical finder.
2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
lookout enabling portion of the projection of the display panel
includes one of a transparent material and an opening.
3. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
display panel is a liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal
display panel includes: a pair of transparent substrates arranged
to face each other; a frame-like sealing member which surrounds
and seals a gap between the pair of transparent substrates to correspond
to an outer periphery of the display area; a liquid crystal layer
which is provided in a sealed area surrounded by the frame-like
sealing member corresponding to the outer periphery of the display
area in the gap between the pair of transparent substrates; and
a plurality of electrodes which are arranged at parts on inner surfaces
of the pair of transparent substrates corresponding to the display
area to face each other and to operate liquid crystals therebetween
as a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a part of one of
the pair of transparent substrates projects outwardly from at least
a part of the outer periphery of the display area and the outwardly
projecting part of one transparent substrate provides the projection,
and the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined part of the
projection includes one of a material of the predetermined part
of one transparent substrate providing the projection and an opening
formed at the predetermined part.
4. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a panel case accommodating the display panel therein, wherein the
panel case includes: a display area opening which corresponds to
the display area of the display panel and through which the display
area is exposed; and a lookout enabling portion opening which corresponds
to the lookout enabling portion of the projection of the display
panel and through which the lookout enabling portion is exposed.
5. The image display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
display panel is a liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal
display panel includes: a pair of transparent substrates arranged
to face each other; a frame-like sealing member which surrounds
and seals a gap between the pair of transparent substrates to correspond
to an outer periphery of the display area; a liquid crystal layer
which is provided in a sealed area surrounded by the frame-like
sealing member corresponding to the outer periphery of the display
area in the gap between the pair of transparent substrates; and
a plurality of electrodes which are arranged at parts on inner surfaces
of the pair of transparent substrates corresponding to the display
area to face each other and to operate liquid crystals therebetween
as a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a part of one of
the pair of transparent substrates projects outwardly from at least
a part of the outer periphery of the display area and the outwardly
projecting part of one transparent substrate provides the projection,
and the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined part of the
projection includes one of a material of the predetermined part
of one transparent substrate providing the projection and an opening
formed at the predetermined part.
6. A digital camera comprising: a camera main body which has a
front surface, a rear surface, an edge portion, and an image display
window formed on the rear surface; an imaging unit which is provided
in the camera main body and electrically takes an image; an optical
finder which is provided at the edge portion of the camera main
body; and an image display apparatus which is provided in the camera
main body and displays an image taken by the imaging unit, wherein
the image display apparatus includes a display panel including:
a display area which is arranged nearer to the rear surface than
the imaging unit in the camera main body and in which a plurality
of pixels are arranged in a matrix; a projection which projects
outwardly from at least a part of an outer periphery of the display
area; a lookout enabling portion which is arranged at a predetermined
part of the projection and enables lookout from one of both sides
of the projection to the other side; and a pixel drive unit which
is arranged at the remaining part of the projection, and when the
image display apparatus is arranged in the camera main body, the
display area of the display panel corresponds to the image display
window, the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined part of
the projection of the display panel overlaps with the optical finder,
and the pixel drive unit at the remaining part of the projection
is arranged in a side of the optical finder.
7. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein the lookout
enabling portion of the projection of the display panel of the image
display apparatus includes one of a transparent material and an
opening.
8. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the display
panel of the image display apparatus is a liquid crystal display
panel, the liquid crystal display panel includes: a pair of transparent
substrates arranged to face each other; a frame-like sealing member
which surrounds and seals a gap between the pair of transparent
substrates to correspond to an outer periphery of the display area;
a liquid crystal layer which is provided in a sealed area surrounded
by the frame-like sealing member corresponding to the outer periphery
of the display area in the gap between the pair of transparent substrates;
and a plurality of electrodes which are arranged at parts on inner
surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates corresponding to
the display area to face each other and to operate liquid crystals
therebetween as a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a part
of one of the pair of transparent substrates projects outwardly
from at least a part of the outer periphery of the display area
and the outwardly projecting part of one transparent substrate provides
the projection, and the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined
part of the projection includes one of a material of the predetermined
part of one transparent substrate providing the projection and an
opening formed at the predetermined part.
9. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein a finder object
window is formed at the edge portion in the front surface of the
camera main body, an eyepiece window is formed at the edge portion
in the rear surface of the camera main body, the optical finder
includes a finder optical system having one end facing the finder
object window and the other end facing the eyepiece window, the
lookout enabling portion of the projection of the display panel
of the image display apparatus includes a transparent material,
and the lookout enabling portion including the transparent material
is interposed between the eyepiece window at the edge portion in
the rear surface of the camera main body and the other end of the
optical finder facing the eyepiece window.
10. The digital camera according to claim 9, wherein the display
panel of the image display apparatus is a liquid crystal display
panel, the liquid crystal display panel includes: a pair of transparent
substrates arranged to face each other; a frame-like sealing member
which surrounds and seals a gap between the pair of transparent
substrates to correspond to an outer periphery of the display area;
a liquid crystal layer which is provided in a sealed area surrounded
by the frame-like sealing member corresponding to the outer periphery
of the display area in the gap between the pair of transparent substrates;
and a plurality of electrodes which are arranged at parts on inner
surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates corresponding to
the display area to face each other and to operate liquid crystals
therebetween as a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a part
of one of the pair of transparent substrates projects outwardly
from at least a part of the outer periphery of the display area
and the outwardly projecting part of one transparent substrate provides
the projection, and the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined
part of the projection includes a material of the predetermined
part of one transparent substrate providing the projection.
11. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein a finder object
window is formed at the edge portion in the front surface of the
camera main body, an eyepiece window is formed at the edge portion
in the rear surface of the camera main body, the optical finder
includes a finder optical system having one end facing the finder
object window and the other end facing the eyepiece window, the
lookout enabling portion of the projection of the display panel
of the image display apparatus includes an opening, and the other
end of the optical finder facing the eyepiece window at the edge
portion in the rear surface of the camera main body is inserted
into the opening of the lookout enabling portion of the projection
of the display panel.
12. The digital camera according to claim 11, wherein the display
panel of the image display apparatus is a liquid crystal display
panel, the liquid crystal display panel includes: a pair of transparent
substrates arranged to face each other; a frame-like sealing member
which surrounds and seals a gap between the pair of transparent
substrates to correspond to an outer periphery of the display area;
a liquid crystal layer which is provided in a sealed area surrounded
by the frame-like sealing member corresponding to the outer periphery
of the display area in the gap between the pair of transparent substrates;
and a plurality of electrodes which are arranged at parts on inner
surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates corresponding to
the display area to face each other and to operate liquid crystals
therebetween as a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a part
of one of the pair of transparent substrates projects outwardly
from at least a part of the outer periphery of the display area
and the outwardly projecting part of one transparent substrate provides
the projection, and the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined
part of the projection includes an opening formed at the predetermined
part of one transparent substrate providing the projection.
13. The digital camera according to claim 6 further comprising
a panel case accommodating the display panel therein, wherein the
panel case includes: a display area opening which corresponds to
the display area of the display panel and through which the display
area is exposed; and a lookout enabling portion opening which corresponds
to the lookout enabling portion of the projection of the display
panel and through which the lookout enabling portion is exposed.
14. The digital camera according to claim 13, wherein a finder
object window is formed at the edge portion in the front surface
of the camera main body, an eyepiece window is formed at the edge
portion in the rear surface of the camera main body, the optical
finder includes a finder optical system having one end facing the
finder object window and the other end facing the eyepiece window,
the lookout enabling portion opening of the panel case is interposed
between the eyepiece window in the rear surface of the camera main
body and the other end of the finder optical system in the camera
main body, and the other end of the finder optical system is inserted
into a part of the lookout enabling portion opening of the panel
case facing the other end.
15. The digital camera according to claim 14, wherein the lookout
enabling portion of the projection of the display panel of the image
display apparatus includes a transparent material, and the lookout
enabling portion including the transparent material is interposed
between the eyepiece window at the edge portion in the rear surface
of the camera main body and the other end of the optical finder
facing the eyepiece window.
16. The digital camera according to claim 15, wherein the display
panel of the image display apparatus is a liquid crystal display
panel, the liquid crystal display panel includes: a pair of transparent
substrates arranged to face each other; a frame-like sealing member
which surrounds and seals a gap between the pair of transparent
substrates to correspond to an outer periphery of the display area;
a liquid crystal layer which is provided in a sealed area surrounded
by the frame-like sealing member corresponding to the outer periphery
of the display area in the gap between the pair of transparent substrates;
and a plurality of electrodes which are arranged at parts on inner
surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates corresponding to
the display area to face each other and to operate liquid crystals
therebetween as a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a part
of one of the pair of transparent substrates projects outwardly
from at least a part of the outer periphery of the display area
and the outwardly projecting part of one transparent substrate provides
the projection, and the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined
part of the projection includes a material of the predetermined
part of one transparent substrate providing the projection.
17. The digital camera according to claim 14, wherein the lookout
enabling portion of the projection of the display panel of the image
display apparatus includes an opening, and the other end of the
optical finder is inserted into the opening of the lookout enabling
portion of the projection of the display panel through the lookout
enabling portion opening of the panel case.
18. The digital camera according to claim 17, wherein the display
panel of the image display apparatus is a liquid crystal display
panel, the liquid crystal display panel includes: a pair of transparent
substrates arranged to face each other; a frame-like sealing member
which surrounds and seals a gap between the pair of transparent
substrates to correspond to an outer periphery of the display area;
a liquid crystal layer which is provided in a sealed area surrounded
by the frame-like sealing member corresponding to the outer periphery
of the display area in the gap between the pair of transparent substrates;
and a plurality of electrodes which are arranged at parts on inner
surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates corresponding to
the display area to face each other and to operate liquid crystals
therebetween as a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a part
of one of the pair of transparent substrates projects outwardly
from at least a part of the outer periphery of the display area
and the outwardly projecting part of one transparent substrate provides
the projection, and the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined
part of the projection includes an opening formed at the predetermined
part of one transparent substrate providing the projection.
19. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein a finder object
window is formed at the edge portion in the front surface of the
camera main body, an eyepiece window is formed at the edge portion
in the rear surface of the camera main body so that the eyepiece
window is arranged adjacent to the image display window and communicates
with the image display window, the optical finder includes a finder
optical system having one end facing the finder object window and
the other end facing the eyepiece window, one transparent plate
is fitted in the eyepiece window and image display window which
communicate with each other in the rear surface of the camera main
body, a frame-like light shielding mask corresponding to a peripheral
edge of the image display window is provided on the transparent
plate, and a window frame member surrounding the eyepiece window
is provided on the rear surface of the camera main body.
20. The digital camera according to claim 19, wherein a width dimension
of a part of the window frame member of the eyepiece window adjacent
to the image display window is set to fall within a range of a width
dimension of a part of the light shielding mask of the image display
window adjacent to the part of the window frame member of the eyepiece
window adjacent to the image display window, and the part of the
window frame member of the eyepiece window adjacent to the image
display window is overlapped with the part of the light shielding
mask of the image display window adjacent to the part of the window
frame member of the eyepiece window within the range of the width
dimension of the part of the light shielding mask of the image display
window adjacent to the part of the window frame member of the eyepiece
window adjacent to the image display window.
Digital Camera Patent Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-187845,
filed Jun. 25, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an image display apparatus
mounted on a digital camera, and a digital camera provided with
this image display apparatus.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Each of most digital cameras in which an image is electrically
taken through an imaging unit has an optical finder and an image
display apparatus (monitor) which displays the image taken through
the imaging unit. And, the digital camera includes imaging lenses
provided in a camera main body and a charge-coupled-device provided
to face the imaging lenses in the camera main body.
[0006] The optical finder includes a finder object window and an
eyepiece window, which are provided in front and rear surfaces of
the camera main body, and a finder optical system which is provided
in the camera main body and has one end facing the finder object
window and the other end facing the eyepiece window. Usually, the
optical finder is arranged at an upper edge portion of the camera
main body in consideration of the easiness of viewing the eyepiece
window while the camera is held by a user.
[0007] The image display apparatus comprises a display panel, such
as a liquid crystal display panel. The display panel includes a
display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix,
a projection which projects upwards or downwards from an upper edge
or lower edge of an outer periphery of the display area, and a pixel
drive unit which is mounted on the projection. In the field of the
digital camera two types of image display apparatuses are used,
one of which is a fixed type and another of which is a movable type.
[0008] In a digital camera disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent
Application KOKAI Publication No. 11-160787, and comprising a fixed
type image display apparatus, a monitor opening is provided below
an eyepiece window of an optical finder on a rear surface of a camera
main body, and an image display apparatus is arranged below the
optical finder in the camera main body. The image display apparatus
exposes a display area of its display panel to the outside of the
camera main body through the monitor opening in the rear surface
of the camera main body.
[0009] In a digital camera disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent
Application KOKAI Publication No. 10-191114, and comprising a movable
type image display apparatus, the image display apparatus is provided
on a rear surface of a camera main body in such a manner that this
apparatus can slide in up-and-down directions. The movable type
image display apparatus is arranged at an upper end position when
the optical finder is not used, and the display apparatus is arranged
at a lower end position when the optical finder is used. The movable
type image display apparatus arranged at the upper end position
covers an eyepiece window of an optical finder, and the display
apparatus arranged at the lower end position is moved from and exposes
the eyepiece window. The movable type image display apparatus projects
its lower end portion downwards from the camera main body.
[0010] In the field of the digital camera, it is desired to make
the display area of the image display apparatus being as large as
possible so that a user can easily view a monitored image displayed
on the display area.
[0011] However, in the conventional display panel including the
projection projecting upwards or downwards from the upper edge or
lower edge of the display area as described above, a dimension of
the display area in the up-and-down directions is reduced by an
amount corresponding to a dimension of the projection in the up-and-down
directions as compared with a dimension of the entire display panel
in the up-and-down directions.
[0012] Therefore, in the conventional digital camera comprising
the fixed type image display apparatus and structured as described
above, the dimension of the entire display panel in the up-and-down
directions is restricted to be within the dimension of a part of
the camera main body below the optical finder, and hence the dimension
of the display area in the up-and-down directions is restricted
to be smaller than the dimension of the part of the camera main
body below the optical finder in the up-and-down directions.
[0013] On the contrary, in the conventional digital camera comprising
the movable type image display apparatus and structured as described
above, the dimension of the entire display panel in the up-and-down
directions can be increased to match with the dimension of the rear
surface of the camera main body in the up-and-down directions. Therefore,
as compared with the digital camera comprising the fixed type image
display apparatus, the digital camera comprising the movable type
image display apparatus can use the display panel having a larger
dimension in the up-and-down directions, and hence the display panel
can have the display area having a larger dimension in the up-and-down
directions.
[0014] However, in the digital camera comprising the movable type
image display apparatus, a structure for making the movable type
image display apparatus being slidable on the rear surface of the
camera main body is complicated, and its manufacturing cost is high.
Furthermore, in the digital camera comprising the movable type image
display apparatus, the display panel of the image display apparatus
must be slid in the up-and-down directions in accordance with use
or nonuse of the optical finder, and hence it makes the utilization
of the digital camera being troublesome.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, an image display
apparatus which is provided in a camera main body of a digital camera,
the camera main body having an optical finder, to display an image
taken by the digital camera, comprises a display panel including:
a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a
matrix; a projection which projects outwardly from at least a part
of an outer periphery of the display area; a lookout enabling portion
which is arranged at a predetermined part of the projection and
enables lookout from one of both sides of the projection to the
other side; and a pixel drive unit which is arranged at the remaining
part of the projection.
[0016] When the image display apparatus is provided in the camera
main body, the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined part
of the projection of the display panel overlaps with the optical
finder, and the pixel drive unit at the remaining part of the projection
is arranged in a side of the optical finder.
[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, a digital
camera comprises: a camera main body which has a front surface,
a rear surface, an edge portion, and an image display window formed
on the rear surface; an imaging unit which is provided in the camera
main body and electrically takes an image; an optical finder which
is provided at the edge portion of the camera main body; and an
image display apparatus which is provided in the camera main body
and displays an image taken by the imaging unit.
[0018] The image display apparatus includes a display panel including:
a display area which is arranged nearer to the rear surface than
the imaging unit in the camera main body and in which a plurality
of pixels are arranged in a matrix; a projection which projects
outwardly from at least a part of an outer periphery of the display
area; a lookout enabling portion which is arranged at a predetermined
part of the projection and enables lookout from one of both sides
of the projection to the other side; and a pixel drive unit which
is arranged at the remaining part of the projection.
[0019] When the image display apparatus is arranged in the camera
main body, the display area of the display panel corresponds to
the image display window, the lookout enabling portion at the predetermined
part of the projection of the display panel overlaps with the optical
finder, and the pixel drive unit at the remaining part of the projection
is arranged in a side of the optical finder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention, and together with the general description given above
and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve
to explain the principles of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to
a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera shown in FIG.
1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III
in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a rear view of an image display apparatus used
in the digital camera shown in FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a front view of the image display apparatus shown
in FIG. 4;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VI-VI
in FIG. 4;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a rear view of a display panel of the image display
apparatus shown in FIG. 4;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the display panel taken
along a line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a digital camera according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a digital camera according
to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a rear view of a display panel of an image display
apparatus used in the digital camera shown in FIG. 10;
[0032] FIG. 12 is a rear view of a digital camera according to
a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 13 is a view showing a rear surface of the digital
camera shown in FIG. 12 in a state where an image display window
frame member surrounding an image display window and an eyepiece
window frame member surrounding an eyepiece window are removed;
[0034] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIV-XIV
in FIG. 12;
[0035] FIG. 15 is a rear view of a display panel of an image display
apparatus used in the digital camera shown in FIG. 12; and
[0036] FIG. 16 is a front view of the display panel shown in FIG.
15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
First Embodiment
[0037] A digital camera according to a first embodiment of the
present invention will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 8.
[0038] This digital camera is of an imaging lens retractable type,
and includes a camera main body 1 having a rectangular case as shown
in FIGS. 1 to 3. In the rectangular case, a width in right-and-left
directions is set to 87 mm, a height is set to 57 mm and a thickness
between front and rear surfaces is set to 23 mm, for example.
[0039] An imaging lens 2 is retractably provided on the front surface
of the camera main body 1. The imaging lens 2 is retracted into
the camera main body 1 when it is not used for taking an object,
and is projected forward from the front surface of the camera main
body 1 when it is used for taking the object.
[0040] The imaging lens 2 is configured as a known zoom lens.
[0041] A finder object window 3 is formed at a right corner in
an upper end portion of the front surface of the camera main body
1, and the finder object window 3 is covered with a transparent
cover member 4. A finder frame mask 4a which restricts a visual
field of the finder is formed on the cover member 4.
[0042] An eyepiece window 5 is formed at a left corner in an upper
end portion of the rear surface of the camera main body 1, and the
eyepiece window 5 is covered with a transparent cover member 6.
An eyepiece window frame member 7 which surrounds the eyepiece window
5 is provided on the rear surface, and the eyepiece window frame
member 7 is configured by a light shielding mask.
[0043] An image display window 8 is formed below the eyepiece window
5 in the rear surface of the camera main body 1, and the image display
window 8 is covered with a transparent cover member 9. An image
display window frame member 9a which restricts an image display
area on the image display window 8 is provided on the cover member
9, and the image display window frame member 9a is configured by
a light shielding mask.
[0044] An electronic flash window 11 is formed at the upper end
portion in the front surface of the camera main body 1 on the side
which is opposite to the finder object window 3 with respect to
the imaging lens 2. A non-illustrated known electronic flash unit
is arranged at a position corresponding to the electronic flash
window 11 in the camera main body 1.
[0045] A mode selecting key 12 for selecting and setting various
operating modes in the digital camera is provided in the right side
of the image display window 8 on the rear surface of the camera
main body 1.
[0046] A shutter button 13 is provided at a right corner portion
on an upper surface of the camera main body 1.
[0047] A main switch, a zooming key for operating a zooming of
the imaging lens 2, a recording medium insertion slot into which
a recording medium for exchanging electronic information with an
electronic circuit in the digital camera can be inserted, a connector
insertion slot into which a connector of an external connection
unit for connecting the electronic circuit in the digital camera
with an external electronic device including, e.g., a personal computer
is inserted, and others are further provided on the outer surface
of the camera main body 1. However, all of them have known configurations,
and they are not illustrated to simplify the drawings.
[0048] In an internal space of the camera main body 1, a charge
coupled device 14 is arranged in the vicinity of an inner end of
the imaging lens 2. In this embodiment, a combination of the imaging
lens 2 and the charge coupled device 14 constitutes an imaging unit
which takes an image electrically.
[0049] An optical finder is arranged at an upper end portion in
the camera main body 1. The optical finder includes a finder optical
system 15 which has one end facing the finder object window 3 and
the other end 16 facing the eyepiece window 5. The finder optical
system 15 is configured to change a visual field of the optical
finder in accordance with the zooming of the imaging lens 2.
[0050] An image display apparatus 20 for displaying an image taken
by the imaging unit is further provided in the internal space of
the camera main body 1.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, the image display apparatus 20
includes a display panel 21 which is arranged nearer to the rear
surface than the imaging unit in the internal space of the camera
main body 1, and a panel case 22 which accommodates the display
panel 21.
[0052] The display panel 21 has a display area 21a in which a plurality
of pixels are arranged in a matrix and which corresponds to the
image display window 8 in the rear surface of the camera main body
1.
[0053] In this embodiment, the display panel 21 is configured by
a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel
includes: a pair of transparent substrates 23, 24 arranged to face
each other; a frame-like sealing member 25 which surrounds and seals
a gap between the pair of transparent substrates 23, 24 to correspond
to an outer periphery of the display area 21a; a liquid crystal
layer 26 which is provided in a sealed area surrounded by the frame-like
sealing member 25 corresponding to the outer periphery of the display
area 21a in the gap between the pair of transparent substrates 23,
24; and a plurality of electrodes 27, 28 which are arranged at parts
on inner surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates 23, 24 corresponding
to the display area 21a to face each other and to operate liquid
crystals provided therebetween as a plurality of pixels arranged
in a matrix.
[0054] In detail, the display panel 21 in this embodiment is configured
by an active matrix drive type liquid crystal display panel. Therefore,
the plurality of electrodes 27 are arranged in a matrix at a part
corresponding to the display area 21a on the inner surface of one
transparent substrate 24 to provide a plurality of pixel electrodes,
and a plurality of TFTs (thin film transistors) 29 are formed at
the part on the inner surface of one transparent substrate 24 to
correspond to the plurality of electrodes 27. At a part corresponding
to the display area 21a on the inner surface of the other transparent
substrate 23, color filters 30R, 30B, and 30B of red, green, and
blue are formed to face respectively the plurality of pixel electrodes
27 on the inner surface of one transparent substrate 24. On the
inner surface of the other transparent substrate 23, one film-like
electrode 28 is further arranged to cover these color filters 30R,
30G and 30B and functions as a common opposed electrode.
[0055] Each TFT 29 has a non-illustrated gate electrode formed
on the inner surface of one transparent substrate 24, a non-illustrated
transparent gate insulating film formed on the entire inner surface
of one transparent substrate 24 to cover the gate electrode, a non-illustrated
i-type semiconductor film formed on the gate insulating film to
face the gate electrode, and a non-illustrated source electrode
and drain electrode formed to be laminated on both side surfaces
of the i-type semiconductor film through an n-type semiconductor
film.
[0056] The plurality of pixel electrodes 27 are formed on the non-illustrated
transparent gate insulating film, and each pixel electrode 27 is
connected the source electrode of the TFT 29 corresponding thereto.
A non-illustrated gate wiring is formed along each of a plurality
of rows of the plurality of pixel electrodes 27 on the inner surface
of one transparent substrate 24, and each non-illustrated gate wiring
is electrically connected to the gate electrodes of the plurality
of TFTs 29 corresponding to the row of the plurality of pixel electrodes
27 which is along each non-illustrated gate wiring. A non-illustrated
data wiring is formed along each of a plurality of columns of the
plurality of pixel electrodes 27 on the non-illustrated transparent
gate insulating film on the inner surface of one transparent substrate
24, and each non-illustrated data wiring is electrically connected
to the drain electrodes of the plurality of TFTs 29 corresponding
to each column of the plurality of pixel electrodes 27 which is
along each non-illustrated data wiring.
[0057] At the part corresponding to the display area 21a on the
inner surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates 23, 24, a non-illustrated
orientation film is further provided to cover the plurality of pixel
electrodes 27 and the common opposed electrode 28. The non-illustrated
orientation film orients molecular axes of the liquid crystal in
a predetermined direction while each of the plurality of pixel electrodes
27 is not applied with electric current.
[0058] Polarizing plates 31, 32 are arranged on outer surfaces
of the pair of transparent substrates 23, 24 with transmission axes
thereof being set in a predetermined direction.
[0059] It is noted that the active matrix drive type liquid crystal
display panel of the display panel 21 of this embodiment can be
of a TN (twisted nematic) type or a homogenous orientation type.
[0060] The display panel 21 includes a projection 21b which projects
outwardly from at least a part of the outer periphery of the display
area 21a, a lookout enabling portion 21c which is arranged at a
predetermined part of the projection 21b and enables lookout from
one of both sides of the projection 21b to the other side, and a
pixel drive unit 21d which is arranged at the remaining part of
the projection 21b.
[0061] In this embodiment, each of the pair of transparent substrates
23, 24 has a rectangular shape. And, one transparent substrate 24
in which the plurality of pixel electrodes 27 and the plurality
of TFTs 29 are formed at the part of the inner surface thereof corresponding
to the display area 21a has a larger dimension in the up-and-down
directions than that of the other transparent substrate 23, and
an upper edge portion 24a of one transparent substrate 24 projects
upward more than an upper edge of the other transparent substrate
23. The upper edge portion of one transparent substrate 24 provides
the projection 21b of the display panel 21.
[0062] In this embodiment, a predetermined part of the upper edge
portion 24a of one transparent substrate 24 provides the lookout
enabling portion 21c at the predetermined part of the projection
21b of the display panel 21. This means that the lookout enabling
portion 21c includes a transparent material of one transparent substrate
24.
[0063] The pixel drive unit 21d of the display panel 21 includes
two drive elements 33, 34 arranged on the remaining part of the
upper edge portion 24a of one transparent substrate 24. One drive
element 33 is an LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit) which is configured
as a scanning drive element for supplying gate signals (scanning
signals) to the non-illustrated gate wirings formed on the inner
surface of one transparent substrate 24 as described above. And,
the other drive element 34 is an LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit)
which is configured as a data writing drive element for supplying
image data signals to the non-illustrate data wirings formed on
the inner surface of one transparent substrate 24 as described above.
[0064] On the remaining part of the projection 21b of the display
panel 21, i.e., on the remaining part of the upper edge portion
24a of one transparent substrate 24, a plurality of scanning drive
element connection leads 35 and a plurality of data writing drive
element connection leads 36 are formed. The scanning drive element
connection leads 35 connect the plurality of non-illustrated gate
wirings formed as described above with a plurality of output terminals
of the scanning drive element 33, and the data writing drive element
connection leads 36 connect the plurality of non-illustrate data
wirings formed as described above with a plurality of output terminals
of the data writing drive element 34 are formed.
[0065] Further, on the remaining part of the projection 21b of
the display panel 21, i.e., on the remaining part of the upper edge
portion 24a of one transparent substrate 24, a plurality of drive
element input leads 37 connected with a plurality of input terminals
of the scanning drive element 33 and a plurality of data writing
drive element input leads 38 connected with a plurality of input
terminals of the data writing drive element 34 are formed. The drive
element input leads 37 and the data writing drive element input
leads 38 are further connected with a plurality of wirings of a
flexible wiring board 39 through which the scanning drive element
33 and the data write drive element 34 are connected with a non-illustrated
electric circuit in the internal space of the camera main body 1.
[0066] The panel case 22 is formed of a metal plate, and includes
a light receiving opening 40 formed to expose a part corresponding
to the display area 21a in one transparent substrate 24 of the display
panel 21, a display area opening 41 formed to expose a part corresponding
to the display area 21a in the other transparent substrate 23 of
the display panel 21, and lookout enabling portion openings 42 and
43 formed to expose the both surfaces of the lookout enabling portion
21c at the predetermined part of the projection 21b of the display
panel 21, i.e., at the predetermined part of the upper edge portion
24a of one transparent substrate 24. Further, a non-illustrated
flexible wiring board insertion opening is formed in the panel case
22 to allow the flexible wiring board 39 extending from the projection
21b of the display panel 21 to pass through the panel case 22.
[0067] Each of the light receiving opening 40 and the display area
opening 41 both of which correspond to the display area 21a has
a dimension slightly larger than the dimension of the display area
21a.
[0068] In the internal space of the camera main body 1, the display
panel 21 of the image display apparatus 20, together with the panel
case 22, is arranged nearer to the rear surface of the camera main
body 1 than the charge coupled device 14 which is a part of the
imaging unit. And, the display area opening 41 in the rear surface
of the panel case 22 is arranged near to the transparent cover member
9 of the image display window 8 in the rear surface of the camera
main body 1, the lookout enabling portion opening 43 in the rear
surface of the panel case 22 is arranged near to the transparent
cover member 6 of the eyepiece window 5 in the rear surface of the
camera main body 1, and the other end 16 of the finder optical system
15 is inserted into the lookout enabling portion opening 42 in the
front surface of the panel case 22.
[0069] As a result, in the display panel 21 in the panel case 22,
the display area 21a faces the transparent cover member 9 of the
image display window 8 in the rear surface of the camera main body
1 through the display area opening 41 of the panel case 22, and
the outer periphery of the display area 21a is surrounded by the
image display window frame member 9a provided on the cover member
9. Additionally, the lookout enabling portion 21c at the predetermined
part of the projection 21b faces the other end 16 of the finder
optical system 15 through the lookout enabling portion opening 42
in the front surface of the panel case 22, and further faces the
transparent cover member 6 of the eyepiece window 5 in the rear
surface of the camera main body 1 through the lookout enabling portion
opening 43 in the rear surface of the panel case 22. This means
that the lookout enabling portion 21c at the predetermined part
of the projection 21b of the display panel 21 overlaps with the
finder optical system 15 of the optical finder. And, the pixel drive
unit 21d at the other part of the projection 21b of the display
panel 21 is arranged in a side of the finder optical system 15 of
the optical finder.
[0070] In the internal space of the camera main body 1, a surface
emitting unit 44 is provided to face the light receiving opening
40 in the rear surface of the panel case 22 of the image display
apparatus 20. The surface emitting unit 44 emits and projects light
toward the display area 21a of the display panel 21 through the
light receiving opening 40 in the rear surface of the panel case
22.
[0071] The non-illuminated electric circuit provided in the internal
space of the camera main body 1 includes, e.g., an image taking
control circuit for controlling an electrical taking of an image
by the imaging unit, an image data processing circuit for performing
data processing of the image electrically taken by the imaging unit,
and an image data output circuit for outputting image data processed
by the image data processing circuit, and the flexible wiring board
39 extending from the pixel drive unit 21d of the projection 21b
of the display panel 21 is connected to the image data output circuit.
[0072] As apparent from the above detailed explanation, in the
digital camera of this embodiment, the display panel 21 provided
in the image display apparatus 20 which is arranged in the camera
main body 1 and which displays the image taken by the digital camera
includes the display area 21a in which a plurality of pixels are
arranged in a matrix, the projection 21b projecting outwardly from
at least a part of the outer periphery of the display area 21a,
the lookout enabling portion 21c arranged at the predetermined part
of the projection 21b and enabling the lookout from one of the both
sides of the projection 21b to the other side, and the pixel drive
unit 21d arranged at the remaining part of the projection 21b.
[0073] And, when the image display apparatus 20 is provided in
the camera main body 1, the lookout enabling portion 21c at the
predetermined part of the projection 21b of the display panel 21
overlaps with the optical finder of the camera main body 1, and
the pixel drive unit 21d at the remaining part of the projection
21b is arranged in the side of the optical finder.
[0074] In more detail, the display panel 21 is the liquid crystal
display panel, and the upper edge portion 24a which is the part
projecting outwardly from at least a part of the outer periphery
of the display area 21a in one transparent substrate 24 of the pair
of transparent substrates 23, 24 of the liquid crystal display panel
21 provides the projection 21a. Further, the transparent material
at the predetermined part of the upper edge portion 24a providing
the projection 21a in one transparent substrate 24 provides the
lookout enabling portion 21c.
[0075] The display panel 21 is arranged nearer to the rear surface
of the camera main body 1 than the charge coupled device 14 included
in the imaging unit of the camera main body 1, and the lookout enabling
portion 21c of the upper edge portion 24a is interposed between
the eyepiece window 5 in the upper end portion of the rear surface
of the camera main body 1 and the other end 16 facing the eyepiece
window 5 in the finder optical system 15 included in the optical
finder while the display area 21a is faced to the image display
window 8 in the rear surface of the camera main body 1.
[0076] Therefore, the dimension of the image display window 8 in
the up-and-down directions (i.e., the dimension of the display area
21a of the display panel 21 of the image display apparatus 20 in
the up-and-down directions) in the rear surface of the camera main
body 1 can be set from the vicinity of the lower end of the rear
surface to the vicinity of the lower edge of the eyepiece window
5.
[0077] Concretely, in the rear surface of the camera main body
1 having the width of 87 mm in the right-and-left directions and
the height of 57 mm as described above, a diagonal length of the
image display window 8 (i.e., a diagonal length of the display area
21a of the display panel 21 of the image display apparatus 20) can
be set to 63.5 mm (2.5 inch).
[0078] On the contrary, in a digital camera using a conventional
display panel in which a lookout enabling portion is not provided
in a projection projecting outwardly from at least a part of an
outer periphery of a display area and being provided with a pixel
drive unit, a diagonal length of an image display window (i.e.,
a diagonal length of a display area of the display panel of the
image display apparatus) can merely be set to 50.8 mm (2 inches)
at maximum in the rear surface of the camera main body having the
width of 87 mm in the right-and-left directions and the height of
57 mm as described above.
[0079] Furthermore, the display panel 21 of the image display apparatus
20 used in the digital camera of the embodiment is accommodated
in the panel case 22 including the display area opening 41 which
corresponds to the display area 21a of the display panel 21 and
exposes the display area 21a and the lookout enabling portion openings
42, 43 which correspond to the lookout enabling portion 21c of the
projection 21b of the display panel 21 and expose the lookout enabling
portion 21c. Such a panel case 22 facilitates the handling of the
display panel 21 of the image display apparatus 20, and hence facilitates
the assembling work of the display panel 21 of the image display
apparatus 20 into the internal space of the camera main body 1.
[0080] Moreover, the other end 16 of the finder optical system
15, corresponding to the eyepiece window 6 in the rear surface of
the camera main body 1, is inserted into the lookout enabling portion
opening 42 of the panel case 22, facing the other end 16 of the
finder optical system 15. As a result, the use of the panel case
22 does not increase the thickness of the camera main body 1 in
the back-and-forth directions.
Second Embodiment
[0081] Now, a digital camera according to a second embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9.
[0082] A most part of a configuration of the digital camera according
to the second embodiment is the same as the most part of the configuration
of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present
invention mentioned above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
[0083] Therefore, in the digital camera according to the second
embodiment, the structural elements which are the same as those
in the digital camera according to the first embodiment are denoted
by the same reference numerals as those denoting the structural
elements in the digital camera according to the first embodiment
corresponding to the structural elements in the digital camera according
to the second embodiment, thereby eliminating the detailed explanations
of such structural elements.
[0084] A cross section of the digital camera according to the second
embodiment shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to the cross section of the
digital camera according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3.
[0085] The digital camera according to the second embodiment is
different from the digital camera according to the first embodiment
in the arrangement of the display panel 21 in the panel case 22.
[0086] In detail, in the digital camera according to the second
embodiment shown in FIG. 9, one transparent substrate 23 of the
display panel 21 in the panel case 22 faces the light receiving
opening 40 in the front surface of the panel case 22, and the other
transparent substrate 24 having the upper edge portion 24a providing
the projection 21a faces the display area opening 41 in the rear
surface of the panel case 22.
[0087] As apparent from the comparison between the cross section
of the digital camera according to the second embodiment shown in
FIG. 9 and the cross section of the digital camera according to
the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the other end 16 of the finder
optical system 15 facing the lookout enabling portion opening 42
in the front surface of the panel case 22 can be further deeply
inserted into the lookout enabling portion opening 42 in the front
surface of the panel case 22 by a distance substantially corresponding
to a thickness of one transparent substrate 23, due to such an arrangement
of the display panel 21 in the panel case 22 of the digital camera
according to the second embodiment.
[0088] This means that a dimension (a thickness) of the camera
main body 1 in the back-and-forth directions in the digital camera
according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9 can be reduced
by at least an amount corresponding to the above-described distance
as compared with a dimension (a thickness) of the camera main body
1 in the back-and-forth directions in the digital camera according
to the first embodiment depicted in FIG. 3.
Third Embodiment
[0089] Now, a digital camera according to a third embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
10 and 11.
[0090] A most part of a configuration of the digital camera according
to the third embodiment is the same as the most part of the configuration
of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present
invention mentioned above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
[0091] Therefore, in the digital camera according to the third
embodiment, the structural elements which are the same as those
in the digital camera according to the first embodiment are denoted
by the same reference numerals as those denoting the structural
elements in the digital camera according to the first embodiment
corresponding to the structural elements in the digital camera according
to the third embodiment, thereby eliminating the detailed explanations
of such structural elements.
[0092] A cross section of the digital camera according to the third
embodiment shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to the cross section of
the digital camera according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.
3. And, a rear surface of the display panel 21 of the digital camera
according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to
the rear surface of the display panel 21 of the digital camera according
to the first embodiment depicted in FIG. 7.
[0093] The digital camera according to the third embodiment is
different from the digital camera according to the first embodiment
in the structure of the lookout enabling portion 21c provided in
the predetermined part of the projection 21b of the display panel
21 of the image display apparatus 20. The lookout enabling portion
21c of this embodiment includes an opening 24b formed at the predetermined
part of the upper edge portion 24a of one transparent substrate
24 providing the projection 21b of the display panel 21.
[0094] As a result, when the image display apparatus 20 is arranged
in the internal space of the camera main body 1 to overlap the lookout
enabling portion 21c at the predetermined part of the projection
21b of the display panel 21 with the finder optical system 15 included
in the optical finder, the opening 24b formed at the predetermined
part of the upper edge portion 24a of one transparent substrate
24 providing the projection 21b of the display panel 21 is positioned
near to the eyepiece window 5 on the rear surface of the camera
main body 1, and the other end 16 of the finder optical system 15
included in the optical finder is inserted into the opening 24b
as the lookout enabling portion 21c at the predetermined part of
the upper edge portion 24a of one transparent substrate 24 of the
display panel 21.
[0095] This means that, as shown in FIG. 10, the other end 16 of
the finder optical system 15 inserted into the lookout enabling
portion opening 42 in the front surface of the panel case 22 accommodating
the display panel 21 therein can be arranged more closely to the
eyepiece window 5 in the rear surface of the camera main body 1
through the opening 24b at the predetermined part of the upper edge
portion 24a of one transparent substrate 24 of the display panel
21 and the lookout enabling portion opening 43 in the rear surface
of the panel case 22.
[0096] Therefore, this also means that a dimension (a thickness)
of the camera main body 1 in the back-and-forth directions in the
digital camera according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10
can be reduced by at least an amount of a total of a dimension (thickness)
of each of the pair of transparent substrates 23, 24 in the back-and-forth
directions of the display panel 21 in the panel case 22 and a dimension
(depth) of the lookout enabling portion opening 43 in the back-and-forth
directions in the rear surface of the panel case 22, as compared
with the dimension (thickness) of the camera main body 1 in the
back-and-forth directions in the digital camera according to the
first embodiment depicted in FIG. 3.
Fourth Embodiment
[0097] Now, a digital camera according to a fourth embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
12 to 16.
[0098] A most part of a configuration of the digital camera according
to the fourth embodiment is the same as the most part of the configuration
of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present
invention mentioned above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
[0099] Therefore, in the digital camera according to the fourth
embodiment, the structural elements which are the same as those
in the digital camera according to the first embodiment are denoted
by the same reference numerals as those denoting the structural
elements in the digital camera according to the first embodiment
corresponding to the structural elements in the digital camera according
to the fourth embodiment, thereby eliminating the detailed explanations
of such structural elements.
[0100] A difference of the digital camera according to the fourth
embodiment from the digital camera according to the first embodiment
lies in that the eyepiece window 5 and the image display window
8 both of which are formed in the rear surface of the camera main
body 1 communicates with each other, as shown in FIG. 13. More precisely,
the lower edge of the eyepiece window 5 communicates with a part
of the upper edge of the image display window 8 in the rear surface
of the camera main body 1. And, the eyepiece window 5 and the image
display window 8 communicating with each other as described above
are covered with one common transparent cover member 50.
[0101] By forming the eyepiece window 5 and the image display window
8 in the rear surface of the camera main body 1 to communicate with
each other as described above, a manufacturing cost required to
form the eyepiece window 5 and the image display window 8 in the
rear surface of the camera main body 1 can be reduced as compared
with a case in which the eyepiece window 5 and the image display
window 8 are independently formed.
[0102] Further, in the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment,
as shown in FIG. 15, the lookout enabling portion opening 43 and
the display area opening 41 are formed in the rear surface of the
panel case 22 to communicate with each other. More precisely, the
lower edge of the lookout enabling portion opening 43 communicates
with a part of the upper edge of the display area opening 41 in
the rear surface of the panel case 22.
[0103] By forming the lookout enabling portion opening 43 and the
display area opening 41 to communicate with each other in the rear
surface of the panel case 22 as described above, a manufacturing
cost required to form the lookout enabling portion opening 43 and
the display area opening 41 in the rear surface of the panel case
22 can be reduced as compared with a case in which the lookout enabling
portion opening 43 and the display area opening 41 are independently
formed.
[0104] Furthermore, in the digital camera according to the fourth
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the lookout enabling portion opening
42 and the light receiving opening 40 are formed in the front surface
of the panel case 22 to communicate with each other. More precisely,
the lower edge of the lookout enabling portion opening 42 communicates
with a part of the upper edge of the light receiving opening 40.
[0105] By forming the lookout enabling portion opening 42 and the
light receiving opening 40 in the front surface of the panel case
22 to communicate with each other as described above, a manufacturing
cost required to form the lookout enabling portion opening 42 and
the light receiving opening 40 to communicate with each other in
the front surface of the panel case 22 can be reduced as compared
with a case in which the lookout enabling portion opening 42 and
the light receiving opening 40 are independently formed.
[0106] Furthermore, in the digital camera according to the fourth
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a width dimension of a part of
the eyepiece window frame member 7 adjacent to the image display
window 8 is set to fall within a range of a width dimension of a
part of the image display window frame member 9a adjacent to the
eyepiece window 5. And, the part of the eyepiece window frame member
7 adjacent to the image display window overlaps with the part of
the image display window frame member 9a adjacent to the eyepiece
window 5 within the range of the width dimension of the part of
the image display window frame member 9a adjacent to the part of
the eyepiece window.
[0107] More precisely, a dimension of the part of the eyepiece
window frame member 7, corresponding to the lower edge of the eyepiece
window 5, in the up-and-down directions is set to fall within a
range of a dimension of the part of the upper edge of the image
display window frame member 9a, corresponding to the lower edge
of the eyepiece window 5, in the up-and-down directions.
[0108] Therefore, the part of the eyepiece window frame member
7 corresponding to the lower edge of the eyepiece window 5 overlaps
with the part of the image display window frame member 9a corresponding
to the lower edge of the eyepiece window 5 in the range of the width
of the part of the image display window frame member 9a, corresponding
to the lower edge of the eyepiece window 5, in the up-and-down directions.
This guarantees that the part of the eyepiece window frame member
7 corresponding to the lower edge corresponding to the lower edge
of the eyepiece window 5 does not protrude into the image display
window 8 beyond the part of the image display window frame member
9a corresponding to the lower edge of the eyepiece window 5.
[0109] [Various Modifications]
[0110] The configuration of the display panel 21 accommodated in
the panel case 22 and the arrangement of the display panel 21 in
the panel case 22 in the fourth embodiment described with reference
to FIGS. 12 to 16 are the same as those in the first embodiment
described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. However, the configuration
and the arrangement may be either those in the second embodiment
described with reference to FIG. 9 or those in the third embodiment
described with reference to with FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0111] The display panel 21 of the image display apparatus 20 in
each of the first to fourth embodiments is accommodated in the panel
case 22, but the panel case 22 can be eliminated.
[0112] In each of the first to fourth embodiments, the finder optical
system 15 of the optical finder is arranged at the upper end portion
of the internal space of the camera main body 1, the finder object
window 3 is formed in the upper end portion of the front surface
of the camera main body 1, and the eyepiece window 5 is formed in
the upper end portion in the rear surface of the camera main body
1. However, the finder optical system 15 of the optical finder may
be arranged at one of the edge portions (including the upper end
portion, the lower end portion, and the right and left end portions)
in the internal space of the camera main body 1.
[0113] Therefore, in accordance with the arrangement of the finder
optical system 15 in the internal space of the camera main body
1, the finder object window 3 may be formed at one of edge portions
(including the upper end portion, the lower end portion, and the
right and left end portions) in the front surface of the camera
main body 1 and the eyepiece window 5 may be formed at one of the
edge portions (including the upper end portion, the lower end portion,
and the right and left end portions) in the rear surface of the
camera main body 1. For example, in a case that the finder optical
system 15 is arranged at one of the right and left end portions
in the internal space of the camera main body 1, the projection
21b of the image display panel 21 of the image display apparatus
20 is arranged at one of the right and left end portions in the
internal space in accordance with the arrangement of the finder
optical system 15 in the internal space, and the lookout enabling
portion 21c of the projection 21b is overlapped with the finder
optical system 15.
[0114] When this case is compared with another case in which the
projection 21b of the display panel 21 of the image display apparatus
20 does not have the lookout enabling portion 21c, a dimension (a
width) of the display area 21a of the display panel 21 in the right-and-left
directions can be set more large in the internal space of the camera
main body 1, and hence a dimension (a width) of the image display
window 8 in the right-and-left directions can be formed more large
in the rear surface of the camera main body 1.
[0115] Further, the eyepiece window 5 which is arranged at one
of the edge portions (including the upper end portion, the lower
end portion, and the right and left end portions) in the rear surface
of the camera main body 1 to adjoin the image display window 8 in
accordance with the arrangement of the finder optical system 15
in the internal space of the camera main body 1 can be formed to
communicate with the image display window 8.
[0116] In this case, it is preferable to set a width dimension
of the part of the eyepiece window frame member 7 of the eyepiece
window 5 adjacent to the image display window 8 to fall within a
range of a width dimension of the part of the light shielding mask
of the image display window frame member 9a of the image display
window 8 adjacent to the part of the eyepiece window frame member
7 of the eyepiece window 5 adjacent to the image display window
8, and to overlap the part of the eyepiece window frame member 7
of the eyepiece window 5 adjacent to the image display window 8
with the part of the light shielding mask of the image display window
frame member 9a of the image display window 8 adjacent to the eyepiece
window 5 within the range of the width dimension of the light shielding
mask of the image display window frame member 9a of the image display
window 8 adjacent to the eyepiece window 5. As a result, the part
of the eyepiece window frame member 7 of the eyepiece window 5 adjacent
to the image display window 8 does not project into the image display
window 8 beyond the part of the light shielding mask of the image
display window frame member 9a adjacent to the eyepiece window 5,
and it is possible to prevent viewing of the display area 21a of
the display panel 21 of the image display apparatus 20 which is
exposed in the image display window 8 from being deteriorated.
[0117] Moreover, in each of the first to fourth embodiments, the
display panel 21 of the image display apparatus 20 includes the
projection 21b to which the lookout enabling portion 21c and the
pixel drive unit 21d are provided and which projects upward from
the display area 21a. However, the display panel 21 includes any
other projection which projects in one or all of a downward direction
and right-and-left directions, a part of the pixel drive unit 21d
or any other electric and/or electronic circuits may be set on such
a projection.
[0118] At a part of the projection 21b excluding the lookout enabling
portion 21c, only a part of the pixel drive unit 21d may be provided
or other various electric and/or electronic circuits other than
the pixel drive unit 21d can be set.
[0119] Additionally, in each of the first to fourth embodiments,
although the display panel 21 of the image display apparatus 20
is the active matrix drive type liquid crystal display panel, it
can be any other drive type liquid crystal display panel. Alternatively,
any kind of display panel other than the liquid crystal display
panel may be used as long as the display panel of the image display
apparatus comprises a display area in which a plurality of pixels
are arranged in a matrix and a projection which projects outward
from at least a part of an outer periphery of the display area,
a lookout enabling portion is arranged at a predetermined part of
the projection, and a pixel drive unit is provided at the remaining
part of the projection. In such a case, if a self light emitting
type display panel is used, the surface light emitting unit 44 can
be eliminated from the internal space of the camera main body 1.
[0120] Further, the imaging lens 2 may be a single-focus lens which
can not move a focal distance.
[0121] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader
aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative
embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications
may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general
inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. |