The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 03, 2001
Jun Terashima, Kanagawa, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A compact and inexpensive camera is provided, in which an illuminating unit for illuminating finder indices is arranged so as not to interfere with a quick-return reflecting mirror nor interfere with a built-in electronic flash device. A finder optical system has a focusing screen provided therein, which has at least one finder index formed thereon. A reflecting mirror is disposed to make upward and downward movements in a flipping motion area between a reflecting position where the reflecting mirror reflects and guides a photographic light beam to the finder optical system, and a shooting position where the reflecting mirror recedes from a photographic light path. An illuminating unit illuminates the at least one finder index formed on the focusing screen to display the at least one finder index in superposition on a finder image formed by the photographic light beam. The illuminating unit is arranged at a lateral side of the flipping motion area of the reflecting mirror. Illuminating light from the illuminating unit is reflected by the reflecting mirror located in the reflecting position to illuminate the at least one finder index.