Patent Application
20220321751
The present disclosure generally relates to a viewfinder apparatus for a camera, and in particular, a flexible viewfinder apparatus and a wearable viewfinder apparatus.
A digital camera typically provides a viewfinder for aiding photo or video composition during shooting. A viewfinder can be an optical viewfinder or an electronic viewfinder. An optical viewfinder can observe an image of a subject through an optical path. Examples of the electronic viewfinder include an LCD (liquid-crystal display) monitor and OLED (organic light-emitting diode) monitor. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) can also be used to display photos and/or videos that are stored in a digital camera. The electronic viewfinder can also provide a user interface for operating, configuring, and controlling various functions and operations of a camera.
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure, in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure, and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
Aspects of the present disclosure provide an electronic viewfinder apparatus, system, assembly, and method that can provide ease of operation and flexible camera configurations suitable for different applications and installation scenarios when using an electronic viewfinder (EVF).
One aspect of the disclosure provides a camera viewfinder apparatus. The camera viewfinder apparatus includes an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a viewfinder support configured to removably connect with the EVF. The viewfinder support includes an EVF interface configured to communicatively and removably connect with the EVF to provide the EVF with an image signal from a camera. The viewfinder support further includes a camera interface configured to communicatively and removably connect with the camera to receive the image signal from the camera. The camera viewfinder apparatus further includes a signal transport configured to communicatively connect the viewfinder support with the camera to transfer the image signal from the camera to the viewfinder support.
According to one aspect of the camera viewfinder apparatus, the viewfinder support includes a viewfinder mount that includes a plurality of first mounting interfaces respectively located on different sides of the viewfinder support.
According to one aspect of the camera viewfinder apparatus, the plurality of first mounting interfaces include a plurality of male cold shoe interfaces configured to removably connect the viewfinder mount with a support member in a plurality of orientations.
According to one aspect of the camera viewfinder apparatus, the viewfinder support further includes a control handle comprising a button that is operable to control a recording operation (e.g., start/stop recording) of the camera.
According to one aspect of the camera viewfinder apparatus, the viewfinder support further includes an adjustable bracket. The adjustable bracket includes a rotatable mounting interface configured to removably connect with the viewfinder mount. The rotatable mounting interface is rotatable around a first axis. The adjustable bracket further includes a pivot portion that forms an opening for receiving an elongated member of a camera mounting bracket. The elongated member is rotatable around a second axis of the opening.
According to one aspect of the camera viewfinder apparatus, the adjustable bracket further includes a first locking mechanism for locking an angular position of the rotatable mounting interface around the first axis; and a second locking mechanism for locking an angular position of the adjustable bracket around the second axis.
According to one aspect of the camera viewfinder apparatus, the viewfinder mount includes a first signal interface and a second signal interface. The first signal interface is configured to receive the image signal in a first format from the camera, and the second signal interface is configured to transmit the image signal in a second format to the EVF.
According to one aspect of the camera viewfinder apparatus, the viewfinder mount further includes a signal conversion circuit configured to convert the image signal from the first format to the second format.
According to one aspect, the camera viewfinder apparatus further includes a camera adapter. The camera adapter includes a first signal interface configured to removably and mechanically connect with an external signal interface of the camera to receive the image signal from the camera. The camera adapter further includes a second signal interface configured to transmit the image signal to the viewfinder support.
According to one aspect of the camera viewfinder apparatus, the signal transport is configured to transfer the image signal using a connection cable or wireless communication.
One aspect of the disclosure provides a viewfinder mount for an electronic viewfinder (EVF). The viewfinder mount includes a first signal interface configured to receive a first image signal from a camera. The viewfinder mount further includes a second signal interface configured to removably connect with an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and transmit a second image signal corresponding to the first image signal to the EVF. The viewfinder mount further includes a plurality of mounting interfaces that are respectively located on different sides of the viewfinder mount.
According to one aspect of the viewfinder mount, the plurality of mounting interfaces include a plurality of cold shoe interfaces respectively facing different directions.
According to one aspect of the viewfinder mount, the plurality of cold shoe interfaces includes a first cold shoe interface, a second cold shoe interface, and a third cold shoe interface. The first cold shoe interface is located on a first side of the viewfinder mount. The second cold shoe interface is located on a second side of the viewfinder mount, and the second side is perpendicular to the first side. The third cold shoe interface is located on a third side of the viewfinder mount, and the third side is perpendicular to the second side and parallel to the first side.
According to one aspect of the viewfinder mount, the second signal interface is located on a fourth side of the viewfinder mount between the first side and the third side.
In one aspect, the viewfinder mount further includes a format conversion circuit configured to convert the first image signal to the second image signal.
One aspect of the disclosure provides a wearable camera viewfinder apparatus. The wearable camera viewfinder apparatus includes a wearable frame configured to be worn by a user and at least one electronic viewfinder (EVF) assembly. The at least one EVF assembly is rotatably connected with the wearable frame such that the at least one EVF assembly corresponds to the eye of the user. The at least one EVF assembly includes a camera interface configured to receive an image signal from a camera using at least one of a connection cable or a wireless connection between the EVF assembly and the camera.
According to one aspect of the wearable camera viewfinder apparatus, the wearable frame includes an eye frame, a right arm, and a left arm. The right arm is pivotably connected with a first end of the eye frame. The left arm is pivotably connected with a second end of the eye frame. The at least one EVF assembly is pivotably connected to the eye frame.
According to one aspect of the wearable camera viewfinder apparatus, at least one of the right arm or the left arm includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a first end and a second end, and the first end is pivotably connected with the eye frame. The second portion is slidably connected with the second end of the first portion, and the second portion includes a bent portion shaped for engaging an ear of the user.
According to one aspect of the wearable camera viewfinder apparatus, the at least one EVF assembly includes an electronic viewfinder (EVF) that includes a signal interface and a viewfinder mount. The viewfinder mount includes an EVF interface configured to communicatively and removably connect with the signal interface of the EVF for transferring the image signal.
According to one aspect of the wearable camera viewfinder apparatus, the viewfinder mount further includes a camera interface for receiving the image signal from the camera via a connection cable removably connected between the camera interface and the camera.
According to one aspect of the wearable camera viewfinder apparatus, wherein the EVF includes an eyecup for covering an eye of the user.
According to one aspect of the wearable camera viewfinder apparatus, the at least one EVF assembly includes a first EVF assembly corresponding to the right eye of the user and a second EVF assembly corresponding to the left eye of the user. The first EVF assembly and the second EVF assembly are independently pivotable with respect to the eye frame.
According to one aspect of the wearable camera viewfinder apparatus, wherein the at least one EVF assembly includes at least one button operable to control an operating mode of the first EVF assembly and the second EVF assembly. The operating mode includes a binocular mode, monocular mode, and a multi-camera mode.
In one aspect, the wearable camera viewfinder further includes a camera adapter. The camera adapter includes a first signal interface and a second signal interface. The first signal interface is configured to removably connect to the camera to receive the image signal. The second signal interface is configured to transmit the image signal to the at least one EVF assembly.
These and other aspects of the invention will become more fully understood upon a review of the detailed description, which follows. Other aspects, features, and implementations will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following description of specific, exemplary implementations in conjunction with the accompanying figures. While features may be discussed relative to certain implementations and figures below, all implementations can include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more implementations may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used in accordance with the various examples discussed herein. In similar fashion, while exemplary implementations may be discussed below as apparatus, device, system, or method implementations, it should be understood that such examples can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details.
In the field of photography, photographers can compose and obtain the desired shooting effect through an electronic viewfinder (EVF). A typical EVF is installed and rigidly fixed on the camera. Therefore, in some shooting scenarios, it can be inconvenient or impractical for the photographer to monitor or operate the EVF due to space and/or position limitations. Therefore, aspects of the present disclosure provide an EVF apparatus and system that can flexibly connect an EVF to a camera such that the EVF can be used in various shooting scenarios with ease.
In some aspects, an electronic viewfinder (EVF) extension system allows an EVF to be operatively connected with a camera to enable the use of the EVF at a large number of positions relative to the camera. In some aspects, the EVF extension system can be used in various configurations that can mitigate the difficulty of using the EVF in different shooting scenarios. The EVF extension system enables a photographer to operate a camera in a large number of shooting scenes to achieve various shooting effects with ease.
Referring now to
In some aspects, the EVF 161 can have a camera interface 1611 that can be removably and electrically installed in the EVF interface 111 of the viewfinder mount 11. The camera interface 1611 can provide the EVF 161 with power, for example, supplied from the camera 16 via the viewfinder mount 11. Further, the camera interface 1611 can provide a communication interface between the EVF 161 and the viewfinder mount 11. The communication interface can be implemented using any suitable signal communication bus, channel, or interconnection, for example, USB (Universal Serial Bus), PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), FireWire, etc. In some aspects, the EVF 161 can include an electronic display (e.g., LCD or OLED monitor) that can display an image or video to a viewer. When the EVF 161 is operatively connected with the camera 16 via the viewfinder mount 11 and camera adapter 12, the EVF 161 can display an image based on an image signal generated by the camera 16. For example, the camera 16 can generate the image signal based on images captured by its lens or stored at the camera 16, and the image signal can be transmitted to the EVF via the camera adapter 12 and/or viewfinder mount 11.
In some aspects, the camera 16 can have a viewfinder mount 162 that can receive the camera adapter 12 or the EVF 161. The viewfinder mount 162 can provide an external signal interface 163 that can communicatively and removably connect with the EVF 161 or the camera adapter 12. In some aspects, the camera adapter 12 has a signal interface 122 that can connect with the external signal interface 163 on the camera 16. For example, the signal interface 122 of the camera adapter 12 can electrically connect with the signal interface 163 of the camera 16 to allow power transfer and signal communication between the camera 16 and the camera adapter 12. The signal interface 163 of the camera allows the camera 16 to provide power to the EVF 161 and perform signal communication with the EVF 161, directly or via the camera adapter 12. The signal interface 122 of the camera adapter 12 can be removably installed in the signal interface 163 of the camera 16.
In some aspects, the camera adapter 12 and the viewfinder mount 11 can be operatively connected together using a signal transport (e.g., a signal cable or connection cable 14) that allows signal communication (e.g., image signal) and power transfer between the camera adapter 12 and the viewfinder mount 11. In one aspect, a first end 141 of the signal transport 14 can be connected with an interface port 115 of the viewfinder mount 11, and a second end 142 of the signal transport 14 can be connected with an EVF interface 121 of the camera adapter 12, so as to enable signal transmission and power transfer. In operation, the EVF 161 can receive power and an image signal from the camera 16 via the connection through the camera adapter 12, signal transport 14, and viewfinder mount 11. In some aspects, the EVF 161 may be powered using a power source (e.g., battery) that is independent of the camera 16. In that case, the signal transport 14 may not supply power to the EVF 161 via the EVF mount 11. In some aspects, the signal transport 14 can be replaced by a wireless connection that allows the camera 16 to send an image signal to the EVF 161 using wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ultra-wideband, etc.).
In some aspects, the viewfinder mount 11 can be removably connected with a control handle 13 by installing one of the male cold shoe interfaces 112, 113, or 114 in a suitable mounting interface (e.g., a female cold shoe interface 132) of the control handle 13. The control handle 13 can function as a handheld unit to provide a method for holding, maneuvering, and/or positioning the EVF 161 in the desired direction and/or position to facilitate shooting and composition of videos and photos. In some aspects, the control handle 13 can be equipped with one or more buttons or switches (e.g., button 131) that can be operated by a user for controlling one or more camera functions (e.g., start/stop of recording). For example, the button 131 can be operated to transmit a control signal to the camera 16 via a wireless signal (e.g., Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), and the camera 16 is equipped to receive the wireless signal and perform the corresponding functions. Therefore, a photographer can use the control handle 13 and the EVF 161 to monitor the shooting scene and remotely control the camera 16.
In one aspect, the EVF 161 may include a processing circuit 1610, a communication interface 1612, and a display 1613. In some aspects, the processing circuit 1610 may include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware and/or software configured to perform various functions of the EVF 161 described here, for example, to display an image or video on the display 1613 based on an image signal received by the communication interface. In some aspects, the display 1613 may be an LCD monitor, OLED monitor, or the like. In some aspects, the communication interface 1612 can perform signal communication with the camera 16, for example, via the camera interface 1611 of the EVF 161 and the connection cable 14. In some aspects, the communication interface 1612 can be equipped to receive an image signal from a camera (e.g., camera 16) using wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi, Ultra-wideband, etc.). For example, the communication interface 1612 may include a wireless transceiver for wireless communication with the camera.
The camera adapter 12 has an EVF interface 121, a camera signal interface 122, and processing circuitry 123. The processing circuitry 123 can receive an image signal of a first format from the camera 16 via the camera signal interface 122. For example, the camera signal interface 122 can receive the image signal via the external signal interface 163 of the camera 16. The processing circuitry 123 can convert the image signal from a first format to a second format that can be supported by an EVF (e.g., EVF 161). In some aspects, the processing circuitry 123 may not convert the image signal format when the EVF can support the image signal of the first format. In that case, the processing circuitry 123 can simply transmit the image signal of the first format to the EVF via the EVF interface 121. In some aspects, the camera adapter 12 can transfer power and an image signal from the camera signal interface 122 to the EVF interface 121 without format conversion. In some aspects, the camera adapter 12 may not include the processing circuitry 123. In some aspects, the processing circuitry 123 may include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware and/or software configured to perform the various functions of the camera adapter 12 described herein. In some aspects, the EVF interface 121 may be equipped to communicate with the EVF 161 using wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband, etc.). For example, the EVF interface 121 may include a wireless transceiver for wireless communication with the EVF.
In some aspects, the above-described flexible EVF system includes a camera mounting bracket 17 (see
In some aspects, the adjustable bracket 15 can be attached to the elongated member 171 through an opening 151 at a pivot portion 154 of the bracket. The opening 151 can be shaped to allow the elongated member 171 to slide easily therein. In one example, the opening 151 may have a cylindrical shape sized for limiting the movement of the elongated member 171 in a predetermined direction. For example, the elongated member 171 can move in a translational direction and rotate inside the opening 151 to enable flexible adjustment of the position and angle of the adjustable bracket 15 relative to the elongated member 171 and the adjustable bracket 15. The adjustable bracket 15 can also provide a first locking mechanism 152 (e.g., thumbscrew or latch) that can be operated to clamp on the elongated member 171 such that the angular position of the adjustable bracket 15 can be fixed at the desirable position with respect to the elongated member 171.
In some aspects, the adjustable bracket 15 can have a rotatable mounting interface (e.g., a female cold shoe interface 153) for removably connecting with the viewfinder mount 11. For example, the female cold shoe interface 153 can receive any one of the male cold shoe interfaces 112, 113, and 114 of the viewfinder mount 11. Therefore, the viewfinder mount 11 can be removably attached to the adjustable bracket 15 using the female cold shoe interface 153 in different orientations (e.g., horizontal and vertical orientations). In some aspects, the female cold shoe interface 153 can be adjustable in a rotational direction to adjust the rotational angle (angular position) of the female cold shoe interface 153 and the attached viewfinder mount 11. In one example, the rotational axis of the female cold shoe interface 153 can be parallel to an axial of the opening 151. The adjustable bracket 15 can provide a second locking mechanism 155 (e.g., a thumb screw or hand screw) for fixing a rotational angle (angular position) of the female cold shoe interface 153. When the second locking mechanism 155 is set in a released position, the female cold shoe interface 153 can freely rotate in the adjustable bracket 15. When the second locking mechanism 155 is set in a locked position, the female cold shoe interface 153 is fixed in the adjustable bracket 15. When an EVF assembly (e.g., the EVF 161 connected with the viewfinder mount 11) is attached to the adjustable bracket 15, the EVF assembly can be easily adjusted to the desired position. With the rotatable female cold shoe interface 153 and the opening 151, the adjustable bracket 15 can provide adjustment in two axes of rotation. For example, the female cold shoe interface 153 can be adjusted in a first rotational axis, and the opening 151 when attached to the elongated member 171 allows the adjustable bracket 15 to be adjusted (e.g., pivot or rotate) in a second rotational axis.
In some aspects, referring to
In some aspects, a viewfinder support can be an assembly including one or more of the viewfinder mount 11, the control handle 13, and the adjustable bracket 15.
In some aspects, the viewfinder mount 26 includes a camera interface 262 and an EVF interface 261. The camera interface 262 (e.g., a signal port) can receive electrical signals (e.g., an image signal) from the camera 16. The viewfinder mount 26 may include circuitry configured to process and transmit the image signal to the EVF 21/22 via the EVF interface 261. In some aspects, the viewfinder mount 26 may include circuitry configured to wirelessly receive the image signal from the camera 16.
In some aspects, the viewfinder mount 26 may be equipped with one or more control buttons (e.g., three exemplary buttons 263 shown in
In some aspects, the camera adapter 23 may be the same as the camera adapter 12 described above in relation to
In some aspects, the camera adapter 23 can include circuitry similar to those included in the camera adapter 12, for example, signal processing circuitry (e.g., processing circuitry 123) and wireless communication circuitry (e.g., EVF interface 121). The signal interface 122 can removably connect to the EVF interface 163 of the camera 16 and exchange electronic signals (e.g., image signals) with the camera 16. Using the camera adapter 23, the camera 16 can transmit image signals to the viewfinder mounts 26 via wired transmission or wireless transmission. For example, a wired transmission can use a connection cable or data transport 24 between the camera adapter 23 and the viewfinder mounts 26. In one aspect, the connection cable 24 has a first connector 241 for removably connecting to the camera adapter 23, and two second connectors 242 and 243 for removably connecting to the two viewfinder mounts 26, respectively.
In some aspects, as shown in
In some aspects, the left and right arms 252 can respectively rotate or pivot around the corresponding folding shaft 253 onto the eye frame 255 in a folded configuration for easy storage when the wearable EVF apparatus 25 is not used. In some aspects, each extension portion 251 can telescope and slide inside a slot of the arm 252 to adjust the EVF apparatus 25 for the head size and/or ear position of the wearer. Each viewfinder mount 26 can independently rotate or pivot around the shaft 254 to adjust the positions of the EVF for the respective usage modes of the EVF apparatus 25.
While the above description contains many specific implementations of the invention, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of specific implementations thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the implementations illustrated, but by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Within the present disclosure, the word “exemplary” is used to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation or aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects of the disclosure. Likewise, the term “aspects” does not require that all aspects of the disclosure include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. The term “coupled” is used herein to refer to the direct or indirect coupling between two objects. For example, if object A physically touches object B, and object B touches object C, then objects A and C may still be considered coupled to one another—even if they do not directly physically touch each other. For instance, a first object may be coupled to a second object even though the first object is never directly physically in contact with the second object. The terms “circuit” and “circuitry” are used broadly, and intended to include both hardware implementations of electrical devices and conductors that, when connected and configured, enable the performance of the functions described in the present disclosure, without limitation as to the type of electronic circuits, as well as software implementations of information and instructions that, when executed by a processor, enable the performance of the functions described in the present disclosure.
The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. A phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a; b; c; a and b; a and c; b and c; and a, b and c. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.”
