Television – Special applications – Film – disc or card scanning
Reexamination Certificate
1996-02-29
2002-01-15
Tran, Thai (Department: 2615)
Television
Special applications
Film, disc or card scanning
C348S333060, C348S373000, C396S348000, C396S429000, C396S535000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06339447
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image sensing apparatus having an image sensing unit and a display unit for reproducing a video output from this image sensing unit.
In the field of cameras, video cameras are recently popular. With a video camera, photographed image information of a dynamic or still image can be recorded on a recording medium, e.g., a magnetic recording medium such as a video tape or a video floppy, or a solid-state memory such as a memory card without performing a development process, unlike a silver halide camera. Additionally, image information which is being photographed or already recorded on a recording medium can be immediately reproduced on a television monitor or the like. Furthermore, along with the recent progress in technology, compact and light weight video cameras become popular, allowing long-time use in outdoors.
Using the above features, video cameras having a compact (3 to 4 inches) liquid crystal display unit combined with a camera, which is used as a view finder in the photographing operation or a reproducing device for reproducing a recorded image, are also widely used because of convenience. On the other hand, apparatuses dedicated to reproduce negative (positive) film image information on a television monitor or convert film image information into an electrical signal and print it by a video printer, or adapters for allowing a photographing operation using a negative (positive) film by a video camera while fixing the film in front of the photographing lens of the video camera are also available.
These apparatuses generally have an illumination unit in addition to a holding unit for holding a photographing lens and an object (film) at a predetermined distance or a mounting unit for mounting the object. By illuminating the film from the back with uniform light obtained by this illumination unit, the photographing operation can be satisfactorily performed. The illumination unit is constituted by a light-emitting unit using a cold cathode-ray tube or the like, an inverter circuit unit for supplying power to the light-emitting unit, a diffusion unit for diffusing light from the light-emitting unit to obtain almost uniform light, and the like.
However, to satisfactorily perform the photographing operation by using such a conventional apparatus, the film must be illuminated, as described above. A special illumination unit is required for this purpose, resulting in an economical disadvantage for the user.
In this case, the following problem is posed due to the influence of a decrease in peripheral light amount of the photographing lens. When an object with a uniform luminance distribution is photographed, the peripheral portion becomes dark as indicated by a solid line in
FIG. 3
due to a decrease in peripheral light amount of the photographing lens. Normally, this phenomenon is not so conspicuous. However, in negative-positive reversal, the central portion becomes dark as indicated by a solid line in
FIG. 4
, resulting in an unnatural image.
Some conventional video recording apparatuses called electronic still cameras or video movie cameras can reproduce photographed video information on a display unit arranged integrally with a camera.
FIG. 24
is a view schematically showing a conventional information recording/reproducing apparatus. Reference numeral
1000
denotes a camera body;
1010
, a display unit arranged on the rear surface of the camera body
1000
; and
1020
, a grip with which the user holds the camera body
1000
. The user can observe an object image on the display unit
1010
during or after the photographing operation.
Generally, a liquid crystal display element is used for the display unit
1010
. In a liquid crystal display element, however, the allowance of an angle (angle of field) with respect to the line of sight for obtaining a satisfactory image is small. Therefore, to obtain an angle of field for obtaining a satisfactory view of the display unit
1010
while setting the camera body
1000
toward an object in the photographing operation, the user must take a forced posture.
The expensive liquid crystal display element used for the display unit
1010
may be damaged because it is always exposed in use and unused states.
An electronic still camera or a video movie camera as a photographing unit is often used in outdoors. Therefore, when the display unit
1010
is irradiated with a sun beam or the like, it is difficult to satisfactorily view an image reproduced on the display unit
1010
.
In the arrangement shown in
FIG. 24
, the grip
1020
for holding the camera body
1000
is arranged at one end of the camera body
1000
. This arrangement causes a moment to act on a hand holding the camera body
1000
, resulting in a large load on the user during a long-time photographing operation.
In addition, since a large grasping force is necessary to hold the camera body, it is difficult to operate the release button and the like of the camera with the hand holding the camera body
1000
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image sensing apparatus having an image sensing means and a display means for performing a display on the basis of a video output from the image sensing means, which can illuminate an object by using the display means in a photographing operation and reduces an economical load on a user.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus capable of photographing an object such as a film without using any dedicated illumination means.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus capable of obtaining an appropriate image while preventing the central portion of the image from becoming dark even in negative-positive reversal without using a special illumination device.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus which can correct a color developed when display means is used as illumination means, thereby easily realizing desired color temperature conversion.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus which can correct a color developed when display means is used as illumination means, thereby removing a desired color component.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus which can detect the luminance distribution of light transmitted through a photographing lens and correct the luminance distribution of illumination light emitted from display means on the basis of the detected luminance distribution, thereby achieving appropriate luminance distribution correction.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus which does not force a user holding the apparatus in an unnatural posture and does not tire the user even in long-time use.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus having an easily operable release button and the like.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus capable of satisfactorily observing display contents on display means.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus which can adjust the positional relationship between photographing means and display means, thereby allowing satisfactory observation of display contents on the display means in a photographing operation.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus which can protect the display surface of display means in an unused state.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus which can easily photograph a sheet-like object such as a film.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a compact image sensing apparatus.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image sensing apparatus which al
Etoh Kazuhiko
Kurahashi Sunao
Ogura Shigeo
Sekita Makoto
Takahashi Kenji
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Onuaku Christopher
Tran Thai
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