# US 7,609,960 B2 · Finder device and camera > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,960 B2 - Document ID: US7609960B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/443,649 - Filed: 2006-05-31 - Published: 2006-11-30 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-31 - Assignees: Olympus Imaging Corp. - Inventors: Yoichiro Okumura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609960B2 ## CPC - G03B 17/20: visible in viewfinder - 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) ## Abstract The present invention discloses a finder device and camera including the finder device having an information display device arranged near a mat screen on which a subject image is formed, and an imaging device for acquiring a finder image including the subject image on the mat screen. In this structure, the operation of the information display device is stopped in response to the imaging operation of the imaging device. This can prevent the subject image and the image displayed by the information display device from being difficult to see due to the difference between the brightness of the image on the mat screen and the brightness of the information display device. The information display device can be configured such that it superimposes, for example, shooting information and focus points on the image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A finder device comprising: a mat screen on which a subject image is formed; an information display device arranged adjacent to the mat screen; a finder optical system for allowing a user to optically observe the subject image on the mat screen and the display contents of the information display device; and an imaging device for acquiring a finder image including the subject image on the mat screen through at least an optical element that is part of the finder optical system, wherein the information display device stops its information display operation during the imaging operation of the imaging device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The finder device according to claim 1 wherein the information display device includes a light emitting device for emitting light on the mat screen to cause a superimpose display. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The finder device according to claim 1 wherein the information display device includes an LCD display device located adjacent to the mat screen and a back light device for illuminating the LCD display device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The finder device according to claim 1 wherein the information display device is a display device for displaying shooting information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The finder device according to claim 1 wherein the information display device is a display device for displaying a focus point. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The finder device according to claim 1, further comprising an image display device for displaying the finder image acquired by the imaging device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The finder device according to claim 6 wherein the image display device superimposes the display contents of the information display device on the image of the finder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The finder device according to claim 6 wherein the image display device displays an image made similar to the finder image observable through the finder optical system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A camera comprising the finder device according to claim 1. ### Claim 10 A finder device comprising: a mat screen on which a subject image is formed; an information display device, arranged adjacent to the mat screen, for causing a superimpose display on the mat screen; a finder optical system for allowing a user to optically observe the subject image on the mat screen; and an imaging device for acquiring a finder image including the subject image on the mat screen through at least an optical element that is a part of the finder optical system, wherein the information display device does not perform information display operation during the imaging operation of the imaging device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The finder device according to claim 10 wherein the information display device includes a light emitting device for emitting light on the mat screen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The finder device according to claim 10 wherein the information display device is a display device for displaying a focus point. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The finder device according to claim 10 further comprising an image display device for displaying the finder image acquired by the imaging device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The finder device according to claim 13 wherein the image display device superimposes on the finder image an image made similar to the image superimposed by the information display device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A camera comprising the finder device according to claim 10. ### Claim 16 A camera comprising: a mat screen on which a subject image is formed; an information display device arranged on or adjacent to the mat screen; an imaging device for capturing a finder image including the subject image on the mat screen, and a control part for controlling the information display device not to cause a display while the imaging device is performing the imaging operation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The camera according to claim 16, further comprising an image display device for displaying an image captured by the imaging device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The camera according to claim 16, further comprising a finder optical system for allowing a user to observe the subject image on the mat screen and the display contents of the information display device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The camera according to claim 16 wherein the information display device includes a projection device for projecting an image on the mat screen to cause a superimpose display, and the control part controls the projection device to be turned off during the imaging operation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The camera according to claim 16 wherein the information display device includes an LCD display device located adjacent to the mat screen and a back light device for illuminating the LCD display device, and the control part controls the back light device to be turned off during the imaging operation. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The camera according to claim 16 wherein the information display device displays a focus point or shooting information. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The camera according to claim 18 wherein the information display device combines the finder image with information to be displayed by the information display device and displays the combined image. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The camera according to claim 22 wherein the image display device displays an image made similar to the finder image observable through the finder optical system.