Abstract:
Disclosed is a scanning image display device for displaying an image on a plurality of display screens. The image display device includes a light source, a scanner for two-dimensionally scanning with light from the light source, and a controller which is electrically connected with the light source and the scanner. The controller controls the light source and the scanner to form an image on the surfaces to be scanned. The scanner is configured to be capable of scanning the independent plurality of scanning surfaces with the light from the light source.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a scanning display device for forming an image by two-dimensional scanning with a light beam, and more particularly to a scanning display device having a plurality of scanning surfaces. In addition, the present invention relates to a video image taking apparatus such as a digital still camera or a digital video camcorder, having the scanning display device serving as an electronic viewfinder.  
         [0003]     2. Related Background Art  
         [0004]     An apparatus for recording an image obtained by an image pickup device represented by a charge-coupled device (CCD) includes a so-called digital stall camera (hereinafter referred to as a DSC) and a digital video camcorder (hereinafter referred to as a DVC) The DSC and the DVC each are generally provided with a finder for exhibiting an image taking area to a user.  
         [0005]     For a large number of apparatuses, an optical view finder having a specific optical system is used as the finder in addition to an optical system for performing image pickup by a CCD or the like. However, in the case of such an optical view finder system using the optical system in addition to the optical system utilized for image pickup, there is a problem in that an image taking region observed through the finder is different from an image taking region of an image which is actually taken by a so-called parallax, in particular, in close-up image taking.  
         [0006]     In contrast to this, there is an electronic viewfinder for displaying, as an image, a signal from the image pickup device such as the CCD on a display panel like a small size liquid crystal panel and enlarging the image for observation using an optical system. According to the electronic viewfinder, without being processed, the signal from the image pickup device is utilized. Therefore, an image having same view angle as that of the image, which is actually to be taken, can be observed, so that the image taking region can be determined with parallax error-free view.  
         [0007]     An electronic viewfinder system using a scanning image display device as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-084291 has been proposed as an electronic viewfinder system in which a high-resolution image can be obtained. The scanning image display device is of a finder system which does not utilize a conventional display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and can obtain the high-resolution image. Because the liquid crystal panel or the like is not utilized as the display device, for example, a manufacturing problem such as the occurrence of a pixel defect is unlikely to cause.  
         [0008]     On the other hand, for a large number of DSCs and DVCs, a direct-view display element having a size of several inches is provided on the side surface or rear surface of a main body in addition to a conventional near eye viewfinder. The direct-view display element is utilized instead of the viewfinder by displaying the signal from the image pickup device without being processed as in the electronic viewfinder. In this case, as compared with the conventional viewfinder, an effect such as an improvement of the degree of freedom of posture in image taking is obtained. The direct-view display element is also used to display an image taking condition, a battery level, the number of taken images, and the like. Therefore, an effect such as an improvement of convenience is large when the DSC or the DVC is used.  
         [0009]     However, the direct-view display element has a defect that display is hard to be viewed in an environment of lighted surroundings such as the outdoors on a bright day. Therefore, the direct-view display element cannot always serve as the viewfinder.  
         [0010]     Therefore, in the DSC and the DVC, in order that an image taking region is checked regardless of a state such as lighting of the surroundings and convenience that information including a current image taking condition is also displayed is ensured, it is preferable that the direct-view display element is provided on the side surface or, rear surface in addition to the electronic view finder.  
         [0011]     When the DSC or the DVC is provided with two display systems, that is, both the electronic viewfinder and the direct-view display element, it is necessary to provide at least two display devices such as liquid crystal panels. Therefore, a reduction in size and weight of an image taking apparatus becomes difficult, so that an increase in cost of the image taking apparatus occurs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     An object of the present invention is to provide a scanning image display device capable of performing display on a plurality of display screens by a single scanning display mechanism.  
         [0013]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a video image taking apparatus which includes, for example, a near eye electronic view finder, which is to be looked through, and a direct-view display element provided on a side surface or rear surface and can utilize two display modes of the electronic view finder and the direct-view display element with a single scanning display mechanism and perform high resolution display.  
         [0014]     To solve the above-mentioned problems, an image display device according to an example of the present invention includes: a light source; a scanner for two-dimensional scanning with light from the light source; and a controller which is electrically connected with the light source and the scanner and controls the light source and the scanner so as to form an image on the scanning surface, in which the scanner is configured to be capable of scanning plurality of scanning surfaces independent from each other with the light from the light source.  
         [0015]     An image taking apparatus of the present invention according to an example of the present invention includes: an image taking optical system; a photoelectric transducer for receiving an image formed by the image taking optical system and converting the image into an electrical signal; and the above-mentioned image display device, in which the controller of the image display device controls the light source and the scanner based on the electrical signal from the photoelectric transducer so as to form the image on the scanning surfaces.  
         [0016]     The image taking apparatus has an electronic viewfinder and a direct-view display element as display portions of the image display device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic structural diagram showing a scanning image display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows an example of a two dimensional scanner using a deflection mirror device (MEMS scanner) for the scanning image display device;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are explanatory views showing a switching means of a scanning center of the deflection mirror device in Embodiment 1;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is an example of an explanatory graph showing scanning amplitude of the deflection mirror device in. Embodiment 1;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is another example of an explanatory graph showing the scanning amplitude of the deflection mirror device in Embodiment 1;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are explanatory views showing a scanning method using the scanner in the scanning image display device;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  shows an example of the two dimensional scanner used for the scanning image display device;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a schematic structural diagram showing a scanning image display device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is an example of an explanatory graph showing scanning amplitude of a deflection mirror device in Embodiment 2;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is an explanatory view showing a scanning center switching means used for a scanning image display device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is an explanatory graph related to a scanning amplitude of a deflection mirror device in Embodiment 3; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a schematic structural diagram showing an image taking apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     Hereinafter, a scanning image display device and a video image taking apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described.  
       (Embodiment 1)  
       [0030]     Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a scanning image display device according to Embodiment 1. A reflection mirror  13  bends an optical path of a light beam  12  emitted from a light source  11  and the light beam  12  is incident on a reflection scanner  14 . The light beam  12  incident on the reflection scanner  14  is scanned in two-dimensional directions by the scanner  14 . Gradation of the light beam  12  emitted from the light source  11  and an angle of the light beam  12  with which the scanning performed by the scanner  14  are controlled by a controller  113  electrically connected with the light source  11  and the scanner  14  (which may be wired connection or wireless connection). Therefore, it is possible to draw a predetermined image. When a plurality of light sources having different wavelengths are used for the light source  11 , full color image display can be achieved.  
         [0031]     For example, a light source for generating laser light, such as a laser diode (semiconductor laser) can be used as the light source  11 . When an LED or a light source for generating general scattering light is used, it is effective to provide an optical system for converting light from the LED or the light source into a sufficiently slit beam.  
         [0032]     As described later, in  FIG. 1 , the scanner  14  can scan at least one of or both of an optical element composing an eyepiece optical system  15  and a back screen  18  having a diffusion plate characteristic through a predetermined optical system  111 .  
         [0033]     In the case where an object scanned with the light beam  12  by the scanner  14  is changed, when all the objects to be scanned are included in a region which can be scanned by the scanner  14 , by selecting the scanning region of the scanner  14  by the controller  113 , it is possible to scan a plurality of objects to be scanned.  
         [0034]     On the other hand, when a plurality of objects to be scanned are not included in the scanning region, the scanning region may be changed by a means for changing a mounted angle of the scanner  14  as described later.  
         [0035]     For example, when a position of the reflection mirror  13  is changed without changing the scanning angle and mounted angle of the scanner  14 , the object to be scanned can be changed by changing an incident angle of the light beam  12  incident on the scanners  14 .  
         [0036]     Further, the object to be scanned can be also changeable by switching the optical path of the light flux exited from the scanner  14  to a different direction, such as by using a polarization beam splitter for transmitting or reflecting light according to a selected polarization state of the light, or by disposing a reflection mirror on an exit optical path of the light flux exited from the scanner  14  whose mounted angle is changeable.  
         [0037]     In this embodiment, the case where a plurality of objects to be scanned are scanned by selecting the scanning region of the scanner  14  by the controller  113 , in particular, when the plurality of objects to be scanned are included in the region which can be scanned by the scanner  14  will be described below.  
         [0038]     In  FIG. 1 , the scanning center of the scanner  14  is located at an angle θ 1  relative to the incident direction of the light beam  12  (hereinafter referred to as State  1 ) and is on a first optical axis  19  which is the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system  15 . When the optical element composing the eyepiece optical system  15  is scanned with the light beam  12  by the scanner  14 , the light beam  12  is incident on the eyepiece optical system  15 . Here, the region scanned with the light beam  12  depends on the scanning angle of the scanner  14 . By configuring the eyepiece optical system  15  such that a deflection original position of the scanner  14  is made conjugate with a pupil  16  of an observer, the scanned light beam  12  passes through at substantially one point of the pupil  16  of the observer, thereby drawing a desirable image on a retina  17 . Thus, by two-dimensionally scanned with the light beam  12  by the scanner  14 , a two-dimensional image is formed on the retina  17 .  
         [0039]     On the other hand, the scanning center of the scanner  14  makes an angle θ 2 , which is different from the angle θ 1  in State  1 , with the incident direction of the light beam  12  (hereinafter referred to as State  2 ) and is on a second optical axis  110  for scanning the back screen  18  which is the direct-view display element. In this case, the back screen  18  is scanned with the light beam  12  through the projection optical system  111  by the scanner  14 . By using a transmission type diffusion plate having a light diffusion characteristic as the back screen  18 , a two-dimensional image is formed on the back screen  18  scanned with the light beam  12  in the two dimensional directions by the scanner  14 . Therefore, the observer  112  can observe the formed image.  
         [0040]     A function for determining a region of the back screen  18  scanned by the scanner  14 , a function correcting distortion caused by a positional relationship between the scanner  14  and the back screen  18 , and the like can be provided for the projection optical system  111 .  
         [0041]     In this embodiment, a deflection mirror device produced by a MEMS technique is used as an example of the scanner  14 .  FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the deflection mirror device. A deflection mirror device  24  is a mirror having a scanning function, which is produced by processing a Si substrate using the MEMS technique. A mirror  23  that reflects an incident light is held by two torsion bars  21  and  22 . The two torsion bars  21  and  22  are orthogonal to each other. A light beam which is incident on the scanner  14  is reflected on the mirror  23 . At this time, each of the two torsion bars  21  and  22  is twisted about a reflection surface of the mirror  23  by external force. Therefore, it is possible to change the orientation of the reflection surface of the mirror  23 , thereby scanning with the light beam incident on the mirror in the two-dimensional directions.  
         [0042]     A mechanism for changing a stationary position of the scanner  14  will be described below as an example of a means for changing the object to be scanned of the scanner  14 . The scanning center can be switched between State  1  and State  2  by, for example, changing the stationary position of the mirror of the deflection mirror device which is an example of the scanner  14 .  
         [0043]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  schematically show the occurrence of vibration motion in the rotating direction of the mirror of the deflection mirror device and an example of a switching means for switching the stationary position (scanning center). As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , electrodes  31  and  32  are disposed near the mirror  23  at opposite positions. Note that  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the case where the mirror is observed from a direction parallel to the torsion bar  21 . Similarly, even in the case where the mirror is observed from a direction parallel to the torsion bar  22 , electrodes  33  and  34  are disposed. A different voltage is applied to each of the electrodes  31  and  32  to generate electrostatic forces each having a different strength between the mirror  23  and the electrodes  31  and  32 . Therefore, the mirror  23  can be rotated about the torsion bar  21 . In this time, an electric potential of the mirror  23  is kept constant.  
         [0044]      FIG. 3A  shows a state of the deflection mirror device  24  in State  1 . The mirror  23  vibrates about a horizontal state as an origin in the rotating direction.  
         [0045]     In the state shown in  FIG. 3A , respective voltages applied to the electrodes  31  and  32  are expressed by the following expressions.  
         [0046]     Electrode 31: V31=−A(t)  
         [0047]     Electrode 32: V32=A(t)  
         [0048]     When the voltages whose amplitudes are equal to each other and polarities are opposed to each other are applied to the electrodes, the mirror  23  is rotated about the torsion bar  21  to perform scanning with the incident light beam. Here, t denotes a time and A(t) denotes an applied voltage component periodically varied with the time t.  
         [0049]     In contrast to the state shown in  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B  shows a state of the deflection mirror device  24  in State  2 . The mirror  23  vibrates about a position shifted from a horizontal state as an origin in the rotating direction. For example, when a bias voltage is applied to only the electrode  32 , electrostatic force is generated on only one side of the mirror  23  as shown in  FIG. 3B , thereby vibrating the mirror  23  about a tilt state thereof as an origin. Therefore, the state shown in  FIG. 3B  can be realized.  
         [0050]     In the state shown in  FIG. 3B , respective voltages applied to the electrodes  31  and  32  are expressed by the following expressions.  
         [0051]     Electrode 31: V31=−A(t)  
         [0052]     Electrode 32: V32=A(t)+V1  
         [0053]     According to the above-mentioned voltage application, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the mirror  23  vibrates about a state in which the mirror  23  is tilted as the scanning center. Therefore, it is possible to scan the object to be scanned different from that in State  1  with the incident light beam. Here, V 1  denotes a bias voltage applied to only the electrode  32 . Not only in the case where the bias voltage is applied to one of the electrodes but also in the case where a voltage having a different amplitude is applied to each of the electrodes, the scanning center can be adjusted.  
         [0054]     Only the motion about the torsion bar  21  is described. The motion about the torsion bar  22  is similarly produced.  
         [0055]      FIG. 4  is a schematic graph showing scanning characteristics of the scanner  14 .  FIG. 4  shows, of the scanning characteristics of the scanner  14 , in particular, a scanning characteristic in a vertical direction in the case where a scanning direction used for switching the scanning center corresponds to a vertical direction of a reproduced image.  
         [0056]     A line  41  is an example of a scanning characteristic of the scanner  14  in a vertical scanning direction. In  FIG. 4 , the ordinate indicates swing angle and the abscissa indicates time. It is possible that the scanner  14  has, as the scanning characteristic in the vertical scanning direction, a saw-tooth scanning characteristic including a linear region as indicated by the line  41 . Scanning in the horizontal direction corresponding to a position at each swing angle is performed in a part that slopes upward to the right, of each of regions drawn by the line  41  in  FIG. 4  as described below.  
         [0057]     In this time, the scanner  14  can has scanning amplitude  46  in the vertical direction, however, in practice, a single object to be scanned is not necessarily scanned with the scanning amplitude indicated by  46 . A range with the scanning amplitude  46  can be divided into two regions, that is, a region  47  and  48  having a scanning center  45  and  43 , respectively, different from the scanning center  45  to perform scanning having a small scanning amplitude  44  and  42 , respectively. For example, the region  47  is assigned to an optical path toward the eyepiece optical system  15  in  FIG. 1  and the region  48  is assigned to an optical path toward the direct-view display element  18  in  FIG. 1 . Therefore, it is possible to switch between two display modes. According to the above-mentioned mechanism, for example, in order to reproduce SVGA (800 in width and 600 in height) images on both screens of the view finder and the direct-view display element, which are disposed vertically adjacent to each other, by scanning using the scanner  14  through the optical path toward the eyepiece optical system  15  and the optical path toward the direct-view display element  18 , the scanner  14  requires the scanning amplitude  46  of at least 1200 lines corresponding to two times of 600 lines. When the image is displayed on the view finder, a signal is inputted from the controller  113  to the scanner  14  such that the mirror of the scanner  14  vibrates only with 600 lines corresponding to the region (amplitude)  47 , of the scanning amplitude  46  of 1200 lines, thereby performing scanning. Scanning is not performed on the other region. When the image is displayed on the direct-view display element, a predetermined bias is added to the signal from the controller  113  such that the mirror vibrates only with 600 lines corresponding to the region (amplitude)  48 . Thus, the image can be reproduced on the plurality of screens in the signal scanning display device.  
         [0058]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a scanning method of performing scanning with the light beam  12  using the scanner  14 . In the scanning image display device according to this embodiment, an image is produced by scanning with a single beam in the longitudinal and lateral directions by the scanner  14 . Specifically, scanning is performed on a line in the horizontal direction and then scanning is performed on a line located below the line by one line. Such scanning is repeated to scan the entire screen. With respect to the horizontal scanning direction in this case, as shown in  FIG. 6B , it is effective for drawing to reverse the scanning direction every line in view of a drawing speed. This case is compared with the case where scanning is performed by a scanning method corresponding to a type of an image generally produced by an image pickup device or the like as shown in  FIG. 6A . As a result, it should be noted that image signals on a line ( 64 ) drawing hatched pixels, corresponding to a return route are treated as image data in a reverse direction to a line direction ( 63 ) of data produced by the image pickup device.  
         [0059]     In this embodiment, the scanning characteristic in the vertical scanning direction, which is used for switching of the display means, is set to the saw-tooth drive characteristic including the linear region. The scanning characteristic may be set to a sinusoidal drive characteristic as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this case, the scanner has a scanning characteristic indicated by reference numeral  51  and scanning amplitude indicated by reference numeral  56 . In the case of State  1 , drawing can be performed by vertical direction scanning having a scanning characteristic  52 , a scanning center  54 , and scanning amplitude  57 . In the case of State  2 , drawing can be performed by vertical direction scanning having a scanning characteristic  53 , a scanning center  55 , and scanning amplitude  58 .  
         [0060]     In this embodiment, the example using the two-dimensional deflection mirror device capable of performing scanning in the two-dimensional directions by itself as the scanner is described. Even when a two-dimensional scanning unit  73  in which a deflection mirror device  71  capable of performing scanning only in a one-dimensional direction is combined with a scanning mirror  72  for performing vertical direction scanning is used as shown in  FIG. 7 , the same effect can be obtained.  
       (Embodiment 2)  
       [0061]      FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram showing a scanning image display device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The scanning image display device according to Embodiment 2 has substantially the same structure as in Embodiment 1. However, a switching means for the display means serving as the objects to be scanned by the scanner  14  in Embodiment 2 is different from that in Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, assume that members for which the same reference numerals as those used in Embodiment 1 are provided have the same functions. Therefore, the detail descriptions related to the members are omitted here.  
         [0062]      FIG. 9  shows, of the scanning characteristics of the scanner  14  in Embodiment 2, in particular, a scanning characteristic in the vertical direction. In Embodiment 1, in order to switch the display means, the object to be scanned by the scanner  14  is changed by changing the rotation and vibration range of the mirror  23  included in the scanner  14 . In contrast to this, in Embodiment 2, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the scanner always performs reciprocation in a range  96  corresponding to the entire area which can be scanned in the vertical scanning direction. An optical path  97  for the viewfinder and an optical path  98  for the direct-view display element are arranged adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction within the range  96  subjected to the reciprocation. Therefore, simultaneous display can be performed on both screens in the range (optical path)  97  corresponding to the near eye viewfinder and the range (optical path)  98  corresponding to the direct-view display element.  
         [0063]     For example, when the resolution of the view finder and a back panel each is a resolution of SVGA (800×600), the scanner  14  having the scanning amplitude equal to or larger than 1200 lines is prepared. Here, it is possible that an image having 800 pixels×600 lines is displayed on the view finder by 600 lines corresponding to the range  97  and simultaneously the image having 800 pixels×600 lines is displayed on the direct-view display element by 600 lines corresponding to the range  98 .  
         [0064]     On the other hand, when either one of the displays is performed, the light beam  12  is emitted from the light source  11  to only an area corresponding to a specified display portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent drawing in an area other than the area corresponding to the specified display portion. Even in this case, the lens of the scanner  14  vibrates with the entire scanning amplitude corresponding to the range  96 , so that the control becomes easier.  
         [0065]     Switching between the display on the viewfinder and the display on the direct-view display element may be automatically performed using a sensor  81  provided below the finder system. The sensor  81  is composed of a light source for emitting infrared light and a detector for detecting reflection infrared light. When an observer looks through the viewfinder, the infrared light from the light source is reflected on the face of the observer and the reflected light is detected by the detector. When the reflected light is detected, it is determined that the observer looks through the viewfinder. Therefore, an image is displayed on the electronic finder side. When the reflected light is not detected, it is determined that the observer does not look through the viewfinder. Therefore, the display mode is automatically switched to the direct-view display element side. Of course, the display mode may be manually switched.  
         [0066]     As described above, according to the structure in this embodiment, it is possible to simultaneously display the image on two display means, that is, the viewfinder and the direct-view display element or display the image on either one of the two display means. However, in practice, the possibility that both the viewfinder system and the back panel are simultaneously observed is low. In addition, the simultaneous display causes an increase in electric power consumption. Therefore, it is desirable to display the image on either one of the two display means. For example, when the direct-view display element is intended to use while the viewfinder is used, it is desirable to perform display switching to eliminate the display on the viewfinder. Of course, the image may be simultaneously outputted to the two display means.  
       (Embodiment 3)  
       [0067]     Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . In Embodiment 3, a manner of switching between two display methods by rotating the entire scanner  14  about the mirror deflection original point of the scanner will be described as a modified example of Embodiment 1. According to the mechanism, even when the scanner  14  having a small swing angle is used, scanning can be performed by switching between a plurality of objects to be scanned which are separated from one another in view of an angle. A structure other than a display method switching means is identical to that in Embodiment 1 and therefore the detail description related to the structure other than the switching means is omitted here.  
         [0068]      FIG. 10  is an explanatory view showing a mechanism for changing the object to be scanned by the scanner  14  in this embodiment. As shown in FIG.  10 , the scanner  14  can be mechanically rotated about a rotating center  1005  of the deflection mirror  23  in the vertical scanning direction as an axis, that is, in a direction parallel to paper. According to the rotation of the scanner, the incident angle of the light beam  12  on the deflection mirror can be changed to switch the scanning range from a range  1004   a  to a range  1004   b.    
         [0069]      FIG. 11  is a graph showing a scanning characteristic in the vertical scanning direction in this embodiment. Scanning in the vertical scanning direction has a saw-tooth scanning characteristic including a linear region as indicated by reference numeral  1101 . In State  1  in Embodiment 1, scanning is performed in a range  1004   a  with a scanning center  1102 . When the display method is switched (to State  2  in Embodiment 1), the scanning center is shifted from an initial center  1102  to a position  1103 , thereby performing scanning in a range  1004   b . Therefore, by rotating the entire scanner to shift the scanning center in each of States  1  and  2 , the display means can be switched.  
       (Embodiment 4)  
       [0070]     In Embodiment  4 , a video image taking apparatus using the scanning image display device described above will be described.  FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing the video image taking apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0071]     In  FIG. 12 , an image pickup optical system  101  forms images of a light beam from the outside on an image pickup element (photoelectric transducer)  102 . The image pickup element  102  converts the incident light beam into an electric signal and outputs the signal to a signal processing means  103 . The signal processing means  103  converts the input signal in a format suitable for a memory means  104  and a format suitable for the controller  113  of the scanning image display device. Then, the converted signals are outputted to the memory means  104  and the controller  113 . That is, the controller  113  and the signal processing means  103  are electrically connected with each other, thereby electrically connecting the controller  113  with the image pickup element  102 . Note that “the electrical connection” indicates that a state in which an electrical signal can be communicated between both regardless of wired connection or wireless connection.  
         [0072]     According to the mechanism as described above, the controller  113  makes at least one of the view finder and the direct-view display element to display an image taken by the video image taking apparatus. Therefore, the image can be provided for the observer and the contents of the image can be checked. The memory means  104  records image by storing the signal from the signal processing means  103  in a magnetic tape or a memory composed of a semiconductor device.  
         [0073]     As described above, in the scanning image display device for scanning with a light beam in the two-dimensional directions to display an image, it is possible to display the image on a plurality of locations by the signal scanner by providing a plurality of objects to be scanned by the scanner. When the scanning image display device is applied to the video image taking apparatus, for example, displaying on the viewfinder display and displaying on the direct-view display element located on the rear surface can be realized by single scanner. When switching between the two kinds of display methods is performed by the single device, it becomes possible to simplify a system structure.  
         [0074]     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-342959 filed on Oct. 1, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.