Patent ID: 6614481
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A hood device for an image pickup apparatus, said image pickup apparatus comprising: i) a body housing; ii) an image pickup optical system housed in said body housing that captures an image in a field of view; iii) an image display screen provided on an outer surface of said body housing; and iv) said body housing comprising an image pickup light-passage formed therein through which environmental light may enter said image pickup optical system, said hood device comprising:a hood mechanism coupled to said body housing and movable between first and second positions; said hood mechanism being configured to, when in said first position, cover said image display screen and close said image pickup light-passage; said hood mechanism being configured to, when in said second position, uncover said image display screen, leave said image pickup light-passage open and shade said image display screen from environmental light by at least partially surrounding said image display screen; said hood mechanism comprises a hood member connected to said body housing to pivot; said hood member comprises a first plate portion and a second plate portion; said first and second plate portions being configured to cover said image display screen and close said image pickup light-passage, respectively, when said hood mechanism is in said first position; said body housing comprises a front wall defining a front surface and a top wall defining a top surface; said image pickup light-passage being provided in said front wall of said body housing; said image display screen being provided on said top surface of said body housing; said first and second plate portions of said hood member are configured to lie in said top and front surfaces, respectively, of said body housing when said hood mechanism is in said first position; and said first and second plate portions of said hood member are configured to lie at one side and in front, respectively, of said image display screen and extend upright relative to said top surface of said body housing for shading said image display screen from environmental light when said hood mechanism is in said second position.