Viewfinder for video cameras

A viewfinder which comprises:

• a liquid crystal display panel of a dot-matrix type having a predetermined area of an image display surface;
• a light condenser having a focal point;
• a light generator including a fluorescent element for generating white light rays and having a light emitting surface having a smaller area than said predetermined area of said image display surface of said liquid crystal display panel, said light generator being disposed by said area of said light emitting surface located at or near said focal point of said light condenser;
• and
• a magnifier for magnifying an optical image of said liquid crystal display panel to present it to a viewer;
• said condenser being operable to convert the white light rays emitted from said light emitting surface into parallel light rays and then to illuminate said image display surface of said liquid crystal panel, said liquid crystal display panel being operable to modulate the white light rays, emerging outwardly from said condenser, based on a video signal.

A viewfinder which comprises:

• a liquid crystal display panel of a dot-matrix type having a predetermined area of an image display surface;
• a light generator for emitting white light rays by irradiating a fluorescent substance with ultraviolet light rays;
• a light condenser for converting the light rays from the light generator into parallel light rays and including at least one convex lens and having first and second lens surfaces opposite to each other and confronting said light generator and said liquid crystal display panel, respectively, said first lens surface having a radius of curvature which is greater than that of said second lens surface;
• and
• a magnifier for magnifying an optical image of said liquid crystal display panel to present it to a viewer;
• said liquid crystal display panel being operable to modulate the white light rays, emerging outwardly from said condenser, based on a video signal.

A viewfinder which comprises:

• a liquid crystal display panel having a predetermined area of an image display surface;
• a light condenser having a focal point;
• a light generator having a light emitting surface having a smaller area than said predetermined area of said image display surface of said liquid crystal display panel, said light generator being disposed by said area of said light emitting surface located at or near said focal point of said light condenser;
• said condenser being operable to collect white light rays emitted from said light emitting surface so as to illuminate said image display surface of said liquid crystal panel, said liquid crystal display panel being operable to modulate the white light rays, emerging outwardly from said condenser, based on a video signal.

A viewfinder which comprises:

• a light emitter including a casing containing a fluorescent substance and mercury molecules and a heater, said light emitter operable to emit visible light rays when electrons generated by said heater act on said mercury molecules contained within said casing to generate ultraviolet light rays and when the ultraviolet light rays so generated subsequently illuminate said fluorescent substance contained within said casing;
• a light condenser for converting the light rays from said light emitter into parallel light rays;
• and
• a liquid crystal display panel of a dot-matrix type for modulating the light rays emerging outwardly from said condenser.

A viewfinder which comprises:

• a light emitter including a casing containing a fluorescent substance and mercury molecules and a heater, said light emitter operable to emit visible light rays when electrons generated by said heater act on said mercury molecules contained within said casing to generate ultraviolet light rays and when the ultraviolet light rays so generated subsequently illuminate said fluorescent substance contained within said casing;
• a light condenser for converting white light rays emitted from said light emitter into parallel light rays;
• a liquid crystal display panel of a dot matrix type having color filters for modulating the light rays emerging outwardly from said condenser;
• and
• a magnifier for magnifying an optical image of said liquid crystal display panel to present it to a viewer;
• said condenser including at least one convex lens having first and second lens surfaces opposite to each other and confronting said light generator means and said liquid crystal display panel, respectively, said first lens surface having a radius of curvature which is greater than that of said second lens surface.

A viewfinder which comprises:

• a light emitter including a casing containing a fluorescent substance and mercury molecules and a heater, said light emitter operable to emit visible light rays when electrons generated by said heater act on said mercury molecules contained within said casing to generate ultraviolet light rays and when the ultraviolet light rays so generated subsequently illuminate said fluorescent substance contained within said casing;
• a light condenser for converting white light rays emitted from said light emitter into parallel light rays;
• a liquid crystal display panel of a dot-matrix type having color filters for modulating the light rays emerging outwardly from said condenser;
• and
• a magnifier for magnifying an optical image of said liquid crystal display panel and presenting a magnified virtual image to a viewer.

A viewfinder which comprises;

• a light emitter including a light emitting diode having a molded resin, said molded resin having a plurality of chips molded therein for generating red, blue and green light;
• an adjuster for adjusting a white balance of light emerging outwardly from said molded resin by controlling an electric current or voltage applied to said plurality of chips;
• a light condenser for converting the light from said light emitter into a bundle of light rays of a narrow directionality;
• a liquid crystal display panel of a dot-matrix type for modulating light emerging outwardly from said light condenser;
• and
• a magnifier for magnifying an optical image of said liquid crystal display panel and presenting a magnified virtual image to a viewer.

A video camera which comprises a viewfinder and an image taker, said viewfinder comprising:

• a light emitter including a light emitting diode having a molded resin, said molded resin having a plurality of chips molded therein for generating red, blue and green light;
• an adjuster for adjusting a while balance of light emerging outwardly from said molded resin by controlling an electric current or voltage applied to said plurality of chips;
• a light condenser for converting light from said light emitter into a bundle of light rays of a narrow directionality;
• a liquid crystal display panel of a dot-matrix type for modulating light emerging outwardly from said light condenser;
• and
• a magnifier for magnifying an optical image of said liquid crystal display panel and presenting a magnified virtual image to a viewer.

A viewfinder which comprises:

• a light generator;
• a light condenser for converting light rays emitted from said light generator into parallel rays of light;
• a polymer dispersed liquid crystal display panel for modulating light rays emerging outwardly from said light condenser;
• and
• a magnifier for magnifying an optical image of said liquid crystal display panel and presenting a magnified virtual image to a viewer, said magnifier having an optical axis which is aligned with a normal passing through a center of an image area of said liquid crystal display panel;
• said light rays from said light condenser being incident upon said liquid crystal display panel slantwise relative thereto.

A video camera which comprises a viewfinder and an image taker, said viewfinder comprising:

• a light generator;
• a light reflector for bending light rays emitted from said light generator;
• a light condenser for converting light rays reflected by said reflector into parallel light rays;
• a liquid crystal display panel of a dot-matrix type for modulating light rays emerging outwardly from said light condenser;
• a magnifier for magnifying an optical image of said liquid crystal display panel and presenting a magnified virtual image to a viewer.