Eletronic viewfinder device and imaging device

Abstract

The electronic viewfinder 3 includes a reflective type liquid crystal display 315 , a finder optical system 32 , and a transmission plate 34 that transmits a part of the optical image signal collected by the finder optical system 32 therethrough and reflects at least a part of a remaining optical image signal. The reflective type liquid crystal display 315 includes a light source 311 that emits light, a liquid crystal plate 315 , a reflecting plate 316 , and a polarizing plate 314 . The transmission plate 34 is disposed to be inclined in a direction opposite to a inclined direction of the polarizing plate such that a transmission plane 341 thereof is not perpendicular to the optical axis of the finder optical system 32.

1 . An electronic viewfinder apparatus which is provided in an imaging apparatus, comprising:
 a reflective type liquid crystal display that outputs an optical image signal;   a finder optical system that collects the optical image signal outputted from the reflective type liquid crystal display; and   a transmission unit that transmits a part of the optical image signal collected by the finder optical system therethrough and reflects at least a part of the remaining optical image signal, wherein   the reflective type liquid crystal display includes:
 a light source that emits light; 
 a liquid crystal unit disposed on an optical axis of the finder optical system such that a surface of the liquid crystal unit thereof is perpendicular to the optical axis; 
 a reflecting unit that is disposed on a back side of the liquid crystal unit and on the optical axis of the finder optical system such that a reflection plane of the reflecting unit is perpendicular to the optical axis, and that reflects light emitted from the light source through the liquid crystal unit; and 
 a polarizing unit that is disposed to be inclined so as not to be perpendicular to the optical axis of the finder optical system, the polarizing unit reflecting light emitted from the light source toward a side of the reflecting unit and allows the light passing through the liquid crystal unit and reflected by the reflecting unit to pass therethrough toward a side of the finder optical system as an optical image signal, and 
   the transmission unit is disposed to be inclined in a direction opposite to an inclined direction of the polarizing unit such that a transmission plane thereof is not perpendicular to the optical axis of the finder optical system.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic viewfinder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when the electronic viewfinder apparatus is included in an imaging apparatus, each of the polarizing unit and the transmission unit is disposed such that one side thereof closer to the finder optical system in an optical axis direction is located lower in an up and down direction of the imaging apparatus than another side thereof farther away from the finder optical system as a result of incline of the polarizing unit and the transmission unit. 
     
     
         3 . An imaging apparatus comprising an electronic viewfinder apparatus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the polarizing unit and the transmission unit is disposed such that one side thereof closer to the finder optical system in an optical axis direction is located lower in an up and down direction of the imaging apparatus than another side farther away from the finder optical system as a result of incline of the polarizing unit and the transmission unit. 
     
     
         5 . An electronic viewfinder apparatus comprising:
 a reflective type liquid crystal display operable to output an optical image signal;   a finder optical system operable to collect the optical image signal outputted from the reflective type liquid crystal display; and   a transmission unit operable to transmit a part of the optical image signal collected by the finder optical system and reflect at least a part of the remaining optical image signal collected by the finder optical system, wherein   the reflective type liquid crystal display includes:
 a light source operable to emit light; 
 a liquid crystal device having a surface disposed perpendicular to an optical axis of the finder optical system; 
 a reflecting unit disposed on a back side of the liquid crystal device such that a reflection plane of the reflecting unit is perpendicular to the optical axis of the finder system, the reflecting unit reflecting light emitted from the light source; and 
 a polarizing unit disposed to be inclined so as not to be perpendicular to the optical axis of the finder optical system, the polarizing unit reflecting light emitted from the light source toward a side of the reflecting unit and allowing the light passing through the liquid crystal device and reflected by the reflecting unit to pass therethrough toward a side of the finder optical system as an optical image signal; 
   wherein the transmission unit is disposed to be inclined in a direction opposite to an inclined direction of the polarizing unit such that a transmission plane thereof is not perpendicular to the optical axis of the finder optical system.   
     
     
         6 . An imaging apparatus comprising an electronic viewfinder apparatus according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         7 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the polarizing unit and the transmission unit is disposed such that one side thereof closer to the finder optical system in an optical axis direction is located lower in vertical direction of the imaging apparatus than another side thereof farther away from the finder optical system as a result of incline of the polarizing unit and the transmission unit. 
     
     
         8 . A digital camera comprising an electronic viewfinder apparatus according to  claim 5 .