Patent ID: 6693667
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A digital camera having a viewfinder for viewing an object image, comprising:a zoom control switch arrangement for enabling a user to zoom in and zoom out of an optical visualization of the object image; a zoom control responsive to said zoom control switch arrangement for effecting zooming of the object image in the viewfinder; said zooming the object image in the viewfinder being an effective zoom indicative of the effects of optical zoom and digital zoom; wherein said zoom control switch arrangement includes: a zoom in switch for generating a zoom in control signal; and a zoom out switch for generating a zoom out control signal; wherein said zoom control includes: a primary lens arrangement mounted in a primary light path for facilitating the capture of the object image with optical zoom effects; a secondary lens arrangement mounted in a common light path with the viewfinder for facilitating the visualization of the object image with optical zoom and digital zoom effects; a motor arrangement for moving the secondary lens arrangement along at least a portion of said common light path to help effect the visualization of the optical zoom effects; said motor arrangement for moving the secondary lens arrangement along at least another portion of said common light path to help effect the visualization of the optical zoom and digital zoom effects; said motor arrangement further for moving the primary lens arrangement along at least a portion of said primary light path for helping to effect the capture of the object image with optical zoom effects; and a microprocessor coupled to said motor arrangement and responsive to said zoom in control signal and said zoom out control signal for controlling the movement of said secondary lens arrangement to effect the visualization of the optical zoom and digital zoom effects in the viewfinder.