Video camera having an indicator for warning of the occurrence of matters which interrupt recording

• US 5,189,524 A
• Filed: 09/06/1989
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kono, Tetsuo, Tsumazawa, Hiroyuki, Yoshida, Tadahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Wayne R.
• Application Number:
  US07/403,761
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 358/310, 358/327, 358/335, 358/336, 358/906, 358/909, 360/6, 360/60, 360/66, 360/69, 360/71, 360/74.6, 360/137, 360/33.1, 369/53, 369/58
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

An indicator provided on the surface of a video camera for warning of the occurrence of a matter which interrupts the recording; for example, dew on a recording head and the approach of a tape end. These occurrences during a recording operation must be informed to a subject as well as to a photographer who stands without looking into a finder of the video camera.

Claims

1. A video camera for recording pictures comprising:

means for recording pictures to a medium;

first detecting means for detection that the end of the medium for recording is near;

second detecting means for detecting that a voltage of a power source is below as predetermined level;

a single element, provided as a first indicator on the front surface of the video camera, for indicating that the recording is carried out by the recording means in a first sate and that the end of the medium for recording is near of the voltage of the power source is below the predetermined level in a second state; and

means or changing the indicating same of the single element from the fist state to the second state when the first detecting means detects that the end of the medium for recording is near or the second detecting means detects that the voltage of the power source is below the predetermined level during the recording by the recording means.

2. The video camera of claim 1, further comprising a second indicator which is provided in a finder for indicating that the recording is carried out by the recording means.

3. The video camera of claim 1, further comprising a second indicator which is provided in a finder for indicating that the first detecting means defects that the end of the medium for recording is near, and a third indicator which is provided in the finder for indicating that the second detecting means detects that the voltage of the power source is below the predetermined level.

4. The video camera of claim 1, wherein the single element provided as a first indicator is a light emitting diode.

5. A video camera which can indicate various kinds of camera conditions comprising:

first indicating means provided on the front surface of the video camera for indicating plural kinds of camera conditions in the same indicating state irrespective of the kind of the camera condition, said plural kinds of camera conditions making it impossible to continue recording pictures; and

second indicating means provided in a finder for indicating what kind of the camera condition is indicated by said first indicating means.

6. A video camera for recording pictures comprising:

means for recording pictures to a medium;

first indicating means provided on the front surface of the video camera for indicating that the recording is carried out by the recording man in a first state and for indicating plural kinds of camera conditions in a second state;

second indicating means provided in a finder for indicating what kind of camera condition is indicated by said first indicating means in the second state;

first controlling means for controlling the first indicating means so as to change the indicating state from the first state to the second state when one of the plural kinds of camera conditions occurs during the recording by the recording means; and

second controlling means of controlling the second indicating means so as to indicate the kind of occurring camera condition.

7. The video camera of claim 6, further comprising means for detecting that the end of the medium for recording is near, and one of the plural kinds of camera conditions is that the end of the medium for recording is near.

8. The video camera of claim 6, further comprising means for detecting that a voltage of a power source is below a predetermined level, and one of the plural kinds of camera conditions is that the voltage of the power source is below the predetermined level.

9. The video camera of claim 6, further comprising means for detecting dew in the recording means, and one of the plural kinds of camera conditions is that dew id formed in the recording means.

10. A video camera for recording pictures comprising:

means for recording pictures to a medium;

first indicating means provided on the front surface of the video camera for indicating that the recording is carried out by the recording means in a first indicating state, wherein said indicating means further indicates plural kinds of camera conditions which make it impossible to continue recording pictures in at least one indicating state different from said first indicating state;

second indicating means provided in a finder for indicating what kind of camera condition is indicated by said first indicating means;

first controlling means for controlling the first indicating means so as to change the indicating state when one of the plural kinds of camera conditions occurs during the recording by the recording means; and

second controlling means for controlling the second indicating means so as to indicate the kind of the occurring camera condition.