Image recording/reproducing device

• US 20040004667A1
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solvay Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Solvay Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ebine, Nobuhito, Kato, Shogo, Morikawa, Masayoshi, Shioyama, Yoshinori, Yamaoka, Masato
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

An image recording/replaying device, such as a video camera, has various operating switches which have enhanced operability so as to suit a mode of use. The image recording/replaying device includes an image display section (3) that is foldably, unfoldably, and rotatably supported at a body (2) internally incorporating a taking lens (4). The image recording-replaying device also includes a control switch (14) including an operating key (15) and a plurality of contacts disposed at end portions and an intersection of a cross-shaped portion of the operating key in correspondence with end portions and the central portion of the operating key, in which, by pressing any one of the end portions and the central portion of the operating key, the contact disposed in correspondence with the pressed portion is closed. The control switch further includes direction selection switches which are such that particular directions within a display screen of the image display section correspond to the directions of the positions of the four end portions of the operating key. The direction selection switches are such that the directions used within the display screen of the image display section and corresponding to the directions of the positions of the four end portions of the operating key are changed in accordance with a change in the orientation of the image display section resulting from rotation of the image display section.

Claims

1. An image recording/replaying device including an image display section foldably, unfoldably, and rotatably supported at a body including a taking lens, the image recording/replaying device comprising:

a control switch comprising an operating key and a plurality of contacts disposed at end portions and an intersection of a cross-shaped portion of the operating key in correspondence with end portions and the central portion of the operating key, in which, by pressing any one of the end portions and the central portion of the operating key, the contact disposed in correspondence with the pressed portion is closed,

wherein the control switch further comprises direction selection switches which are such that particular directions within a display screen of the image display section correspond to the directions of the positions of the four end portions of the operating key, and

wherein the direction selection switches are such that the directions used within the display screen of the image display section and corresponding to the directions of the positions of the four end portions of the operating key are changed in accordance with a change in the orientation of the image display section resulting from rotation of the image display section.

2. An image recording/replaying device according to claim 1, wherein the body has a housing having a vertically long rectangular form at the time of ordinary use of the body, and wherein the image display section is folded and unfolded with a folding-and-unfolding axis extending horizontally and parallel to an optical axis of the taking lens as the center of rotation, and is accommodated in the vertically long rectangular form along a side surface of the body.

3. An image recording/replaying device according to claim 1, wherein, when the control switch is operated in an optical axis direction at the time of ordinary use of the body, the image display section is such that particular directions within the display screen correspond to horizontal directions, whereas, when the control switch is operated in a direction at right angles to the optical axis, the image display section is such that the other particular directions within the display screen correspond to vertical directions.

4. An image recording/replaying device according to claim 1, wherein, when the body is used by holding the body with a long side set horizontally while an image display surface of the image display section is accommodated facing the outside, the control switch is disposed at a location where the control switch is easily operated with a hand holding the body.

5. An image recording/replaying device according to claim 4, wherein, in the case where the body is used by holding the body with the long side set horizontally while the image display surface of the image display section is accommodated facing the outside, when the control switch is operated in an optical axis direction, the image display section is such that particular directions within the display screen correspond to vertical directions, whereas, when the control switch is operated in a direction at right angles to the optical axis, the image display section is such that the other particular directions within the display screen correspond to horizontal directions.