Shutterless digital camera and method of using same
US6809772B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 28, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/67
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A shutterless digital camera includes an optical viewfinder having a pair of spaced apart mirrors for facilitating in one mode of operation through-the-lens viewing of an object image to be captured and for facilitating in the same one mode of operation through-the-lens display unit viewing of a captured object image. A mirror control system facilitates the moving of at least one of the mirrors to permit the object image to be captured and further facilitates the moving of at least the other one of the mirrors to permit display unit viewing of the captured object image.The method of using the shutterless digital camera includes passing object light indicative of the object image through a primary lens system and a secondary lens system to permit a user to view the object image prior to the object image being stored for reproduction purposes and subsequently passing display light indicative of the object image through the secondary lens system only to permit the user to view the object image subsequent to the object image being stored for reproduction purposes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.