# US 11,442,336 B2 · Imaging apparatus, finder display control method of imaging apparatus, finder display control program of imaging apparatus, and viewfinder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,336 B2 - Document ID: US11442336B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/861,843 - Filed: 2020-04-29 - Published: 2020-08-13 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-31 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation - Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation - Inventors: Kosuke Takahashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442336B2 ## CPC - G03B 11/00: Filters or other obturators specially adapted for photographic purposes - G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)} - G02F 1/13318: {Circuits comprising a photodetector} - G02F 1/163: Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor - G03B 13/06: with lenses with or without reflectors - G03B 17/20: visible in viewfinder - H04N 23/63: by using electronic viewfinders - H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes - G02F 2203/58: Multi-wavelength, e.g. operation of the device at a plurality of wavelengths - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Provided are an imaging apparatus capable of maintaining favorable visibility of display in a finder, a finder display control method of the imaging apparatus, a finder display control program of the imaging apparatus, and a viewfinder. The viewfinder (30) includes an observation optical system (32), a finder LCD (36), a beam splitter (34) that superimposes display of the finder LCD (36) on an optical image of a subject observed through the observation optical system (32), an electronic variable ND filter (40) that adjusts a light amount of the optical image of the subject incident into the beam splitter (34), a transmittance measurement unit (90) that measures the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter (40) changing over time in a case where the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter (40) is switched, and a finder LCD display control unit (110b) that controls the light amount of the display device in real time on the basis of the result of measurement of the transmittance measurement unit (90). The finder LCD display control unit (110b) controls the light amount of the finder LCD (36) so as to keep constant a light amount ratio of the optical image of the subject observed through the observation optical system (32) and the display of the finder LCD (36) superimposed on the optical image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus comprising: an optical finder through which an optical image of a subject is observed; a display; a superimposing optical element that is disposed in an optical path of the optical finder so as to superimpose displaying by the display on the optical image of the subject observed through the optical finder; an electronic variable ND filter that is disposed in an optical path of the optical finder so as to adjust a light amount of the optical image of the subject incident into the superimposing optical element; a transmittance measurer that measures a transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter changing over time in a case where the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter is switched; and a processor configured to control a light amount of the display on the basis of a result of measurement of the transmittance measurer so as to keep constant a light amount ratio of the optical image of the subject observed through the optical finder and the displaying by the display superimposed on the optical image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmittance measurer includes a temperature sensor that measures temperature and a clock that measures an elapsed time since the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter is switched, and specifies the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter, on the basis of information about the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and information about the elapsed time measured by the clock. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmittance measurer includes a light emitter and a light receptor that are disposed to face each other with the electronic variable ND filter interposed therebetween, and measures the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter by receiving light, which is emitted from the light emitter, through the light receptor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmittance measurer includes a reflector, and a light emitter and a light receptor that are disposed to face the reflector with the electronic variable ND filter interposed therebetween, and measures the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter by receiving light, which is emitted from the light emitter and reflected by the reflector, through the light receptor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reflector is provided on the electronic variable ND filter in a holder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical finder is composed of an optical system, which is independent of an imaging lens, to observe an optical image of a subject incident through a finder window from an eyepiece. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the electronic variable ND filter is provided in the finder window. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic variable ND filter is composed of an electrochromic element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an illuminance sensor that measures external light, wherein the processor switches the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter on the basis of a result of photometry of the illuminance sensor. ### Claim 10 A finder display control method of an imaging apparatus including an optical finder through which an optical image of a subject is observed, a display, a superimposing optical element that is disposed in an optical path of the optical finder so as to superimpose displaying by the display on the optical image of the subject observed through the optical finder, and an electronic variable ND filter that is disposed in an optical path of the optical finder so as to adjust a light amount of the optical image of the subject incident into the superimposing optical element, the method comprising: a step of measuring a transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter changing over time in a case where the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter is switched; and a step of controlling the light amount of the display on the basis of a result of measurement of the transmittance so as to keep constant a light amount ratio of the optical image of the subject observed through the optical finder and the displaying by the display superimposed on the optical image. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory and computer-readable recording medium, the recording medium for causing a computer to execute, in a case where instructions stored in the recording medium are read by the computer, a finder display control function of an imaging apparatus including an optical finder through which an optical image of a subject is observed, a display, a superimposing optical element that is disposed in an optical path of the optical finder so as to superimpose displaying by the display on the optical image of the subject observed through the optical finder, and an electronic variable ND filter that is disposed in an optical path of the optical finder so as to adjust a light amount of the optical image of the subject incident into the superimposing optical element, the function including: a function of acquiring information about a result of measurement of a transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter changing over time in a case where the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter is switched; and a function of controlling the light amount of the display on the basis of a result of measurement of the transmittance so as to keep constant a light amount ratio of the optical image of the subject observed through the optical finder and the displaying by the display superimposed on the optical image. ### Claim 12 A viewfinder comprising: an observation optical system through which an optical image of a subject incident through the finder window from the eyepiece is observed; a display; a superimposing optical element that is disposed in an optical path of the observation optical system so as to superimpose displaying by the display on the optical image of the subject observed through the observation optical system; an electronic variable ND filter that is disposed in an optical path of the observation optical system so as to adjust a light amount of the optical image of the subject incident into the superimposing optical element; a transmittance measurer that measures a transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter changing over time in a case where the transmittance of the electronic variable ND filter is switched; and a processor that controls a light amount of the display on the basis of a result of measurement of the transmittance measurer so as to keep constant a light amount ratio of the optical image of the subject observed through the observation optical system and the displaying by the display superimposed on the optical image.