Image capturing apparatus with laser-framing viewfinder and laser pointer functions

Abstract

A laser source is installed inside a housing for generating a laser beam. A first lens group is installed inside the housing for diverging the laser beam from the laser source. A reflecting object is installed inside the housing in a rotatable manner for reflecting the laser beam from the first lens group. A second lens group is installed inside the housing for diverging the laser beam from the reflecting object. A framing mask masks the laser beam and displays a laser-framing viewfinder. A third lens group is installed on the housing for focusing the laser beam. A camera lens is installed on the housing for capturing an image framed in the laser-framing viewfinder. When the reflecting object rotates to a first location a laser-framing viewfinder is generated. When the reflecting object rotates to a second location a laser pointer is generated.

1. An image capturing apparatus with laser-framing viewfinder and laser pointer functions, the image capturing apparatus comprising:
 a housing;  
 a laser source installed inside the housing for generating a laser beam;  
 a first lens set installed inside the housing for diverging the laser beam;  
 a reflector installed inside the housing in a rotatable manner for reflecting the laser beam from the first lens set;  
 a second lens set installed inside the housing for diverging the laser beam reflected by the reflector;  
 a framing mask for masking the laser beam diverged by the second lens set to form a laser-framing viewfinder;  
 a third lens set installed on the housing for focusing the laser beam from the first lens set; and  
 a camera lens installed on the housing for capturing an object in the laser-framing viewfinder;  
 wherein when the reflector rotates to a first position, the reflector is capable of reflecting the laser beam from the first lens set, the second lens set is capable of diverging the laser beam reflected by the reflector, and the framing mask is capable of masking the laser beam diverged by the second lens set to form the laser-framing viewfinder, and when the reflector rotates to a second position, the third lens set is capable of focusing the laser beam from the first lens set.  
 
     
     
       2. The image capturing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reflector is a plane mirror. 
     
     
       3. The image capturing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a main body and a sliding set installed on the main body, and the laser source is installed inside the main body, and the first lens set and the second lens set are installed inside the sliding set. 
     
     
       4. The image capturing apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an optical viewfinder comprising two optical viewfinder ports installed on the main body for receiving light to view the object being image captured. 
     
     
       5. The image capturing apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a fourth lens set installed on the sliding set, wherein the fourth lens set slides to a position between the two optical viewfinder ports with the sliding set. 
     
     
       6. The image capturing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the fourth lens set comprises a plano-concave lens and a convexo-concave lens. 
     
     
       7. The image capturing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the framing mask comprises shading material. 
     
     
       8. The image capturing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a connecting port for outputting image data. 
     
     
       9. The image capturing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the connecting port conforms to the USB or the IEEE1394 standards. 
     
     
       10. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
   a housing:        a laser source disposed in said housing, said laser source being capable of generating a laser beam;        a first lens disposed in said housing, said first lens being capable of diverging the laser beam;        a second lens disposed in said housing, said second lens being capable of focusing the laser beam; and        a reflector disposed in said housing, said reflector being capable of directing the laser beam through one of said first lens or said second lens.      
     
     
       11. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a framing mask capable of masking the laser beam if diverged by said first lens.  
     
     
       12. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a framing mask capable of masking the laser beam if diverged by said first lens and a camera lens disposed in the housing for capturing an object framed by said framing mask.  
     
     
       13. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , said reflector being movable from a first position to direct the laser beam through said first lens, and to a second position to permit the laser beam to pass through said second lens.  
     
     
       14. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , said reflector being rotatably movable.  
     
     
       15. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a viewfinder disposed in said housing, said viewfinder comprising two viewfinder ports.  
     
     
       16. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
   means for emitting a coherent light beam, said coherent light beam emitting means being disposed in a housing;        first means for refracting light being disposed in said housing, said first refracting means being capable of diverging the coherent light beam emitted by said coherent light beam emitting means;        second means for refracting light being disposed in said housing, said second refracting means being capable of focusing the coherent light beam emitted by said coherent light beam emitting means; and        means for reflecting light being disposed in said housing, said reflecting means being capable of directing the coherent light beam through one of said first refracting means or said second refracting means.      
     
     
       17. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising means for framing the coherent light beam if diverged by said first refracting means.  
     
     
       18. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising means for framing the coherent light beam if diverged by said first refracting means and means for refracting an image being disposed in the housing, said image refracting means being capable of capturing an object framed by said framing means.  
     
     
       19. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , said reflecting means being movable from a first position to direct the coherent light beam through said first refracting means, and to a second position to permit the coherent light beam to pass through said second refracting means.  
     
     
       20. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , said reflecting means being rotatably movable.  
     
     
       21. An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising means for indicating a field of view, said field of view indicating means comprising two points of passage for light.  
     
     
       22. A method, comprising:
   emitting a coherent light beam;        diverging the coherent light beam in a first mode of operation; and        focusing the coherent light beam emitted in a second mode of operation; and        reflecting the coherent light beam through a diverging refractor during said diverging or through a focusing refractor during said focusing.      
     
     
       23. A method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising framing the coherent light beam if diverged during said diverging.  
     
     
       24. A method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising framing the coherent light beam if diverged during said diverging, and
   capturing an object framed during said framing.      
     
     
       25. A method as claimed in  claim 22 , said reflecting comprising directing the coherent light beam through the diverging refractor during said diverging, and permitting the coherent light beam through the focusing refractor during said focusing.  
     
     
       26. A method as claimed in  claim 22 , said reflecting comprising rotating a reflector.  
     
     
       27. A method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising indicating a field of view via two points of passage for light.