Video camera

• US 5,128,770 A
• Filed: 02/27/1991
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Yoshiaki, Inana, Katsuya, Hoshi, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, David K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARBER, WENDY RAE
• Application Number:
  US07/660,987
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 358/229, 358/210, 354/81, 354/293, 455/603
• US Class Current: 348/211.4
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

A video camera is disclosed in which a drive device for at least swinging or tilting a main body of the video camera is disposed within the video camera main body or within a grip arranged in the lower portion of the video camera main body.

Claims

1. A video camera comprising a drive device within a main body of the video camera capable of at least swinging or tilting the video camera main body, wherein said drive device comprises a tripod mounting member to be screwed to a tripod, a ring gear fixed to said tripod mounting member, support means for supporting said tripod mounting member and ring gear in such a manner that they are free to rotate with respect to said video camera main body, and a swing drive part for rotating said ring gear.

4. A video camera according to claim 1, wherein said camera is adapted to receive infrared rays from a remote control device, said camera further comprising an infra-red rays receiving sensor disposed in said video camera main body for receiving infra-red rays from said remote control device and

a control circuit disposed in said video camera main body for controlling said drive device in accordance with an infra-red rays signal input to said control circuit from said infra-red rays receiving sensor.

2. A video camera comprising a drive device within a main body of the video camera capable of at least swinging or tilting the video camera main body, wherein said drive device comprises a tripod mounting member to be screwed to a tripod, a tilt chassis for supporting said tripod mounting member, a support shaft for supporting said tilt chassis in such a manner that it is free to incline with respect to said video camera main body, and a tilt drive part for rotating said tilt chassis about said support shaft to incline said tilt chassis with respect to said video camera main body.

3. A video camera including within a main body of the video camera a drive device capable of at least swinging or titling the video camera main body, wherein said drive device comprises a tripod mounting member to be screwed to a tripod, a ring gear fixed to said tripod mounting member, a tilt chassis for supporting said tripod mounting member and ring gear in such a manner that they are free to rotate with respect to said video camera main body, a support shaft for supporting said tilt chassis in such a manner that it is free to incline with respect to said video camera main body, a swing drive part including a worm disposed coaxially with said support shaft and meshing with said ring gear for rotating said ring gear by means of said worm, and a tilt drive part for rotating said tilt chassis about said support shaft to incline said tilt chassis with respect to said video camera main body.

5. In a video camera including a grip in the lower portion of a main body thereof, the improvement comprising, a drive device disposed within said grip for at least swinging or tilting said video camera main body.

6. A video camera as set forth in claim 5, wherein said grip is inclinably disposed in the lower portion of said video camera main body by means of a shaft of rotation.

7. A video camera as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive device comprises a gear fixed to said rotary shaft of said grip and a tilt drive part for rotating said gear.

8. A video camera as set forth in claim 6, wherein said drive device comprises a cylinder interposed between said grip and said video camera main body, and said drive device rotates said video camera main body about said shaft of rotation to incline said video camera main body by extending a piston rod of said cylinder.

9. A video camera as set forth in claim 5, wherein said drive device comprises support means including a shaft of rotation, of which axial direction extends longitudinally of said grip, for supporting said grip in a freely rotatable manner, a ring gear fixed to said shaft of rotation, and a swing drive part for rotating said ring gear.

10. A video camera as set forth in claim 9, wherein said grip includes a tripod mounting member in the bottom portion thereof.

11. A video camera as set forth in claim 10, wherein said tripod mounting member is disposed integrally with said rotary shaft of said support means.

12. A video camera as set forth in claim 9, wherein said drive device comprises a gear fixed to said rotary shaft of said grip and a tilt drive part for rotating said gear.

13. A video camera as set forth in claim 9, wherein said drive device comprises a cylinder interposed between said grip and said video camera main body, and wherein said drive device inclines said video camera main body about said shaft of rotation by extending a piston rod of said cylinder.

14. In a video camera including a grip in the lower portion of a main body thereof adapted to be folded and unfolded, the improvement comprising:

a drive device disposed within said grip for at least swinging or tilting said video camera main body, wherein said grip is inclinably disposed in the lower portion of said video camera main body by means of a shaft or rotation and, wherein said video camera main body includes a swing center member on the lower surface thereof, and said drive device, in a state in which said grip is folded and said video camera main body is placed on a horizontal plane, rotatively moves said grip on said horizontal plane to thereby swing said video camera main body about said swing center member.

15. In a video camera including a grip in the lower portion of a main body thereof, the improvement comprising:

a drive device disposed within said grip for at least swinging or tilting said video camera main body, wherein said grip is inclinably disposed in the lower portion of said video camera main body by means of a shaft of rotation, and wherein said grip includes a connecting member having one end disposed in the bottom portion of said grip and the other end mountable on and removable from said video camera main body, said connecting member including a leg portion which can be openable and closable about said grip.

16. A video camera comprising:

a grip having an upper and a lower member, said upper member of said grip having a shaft of rotation and disposed inclinably in a lower portion of said video camera by means of said shaft of rotation, said upper member having an angle of inclination which is adjustable, and said lower member of said grip being disposed rotatably in a lower portion of said grip by means of a connecting shaft;

a swing drive means disposed within said lower member of said grip for rotating said upper member by means of said connecting shaft; and

a tripod mounting member disposed in a bottom portion of said lower member of said grip.