Video camera apparatus with a connecting device for easy connection with electric apparatus

• US 5,341,171 A
• Filed: 08/07/1992
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takehiko, Suzuki, Toshinori, Okayasu, Yoshisada, Mori, Akinari
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARBER, WENDY RAE
• Application Number:
  US07/926,169
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 358/209, 358/909, 358/229, 358/906
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

Abstract

A video camera apparatus including a video camera device, a battery for supplying electric energy to the video camera device, an adapter detachably mounted in the video camera device to connect the video camera device with the battery, and a connecting device. The video camera device may be attached to the base unit and thereby be connected with another electrical apparatus, such as a VCR.

Claims

1. An adapter apparatus contained in a housing for detachably connecting a video camera device with a battery, comprising:

a first side having a video camera device mounting site for detachably mounting the video camera device said video camera device mounting site having power supply terminals and video and audio signal terminals connectable respectively to power supply terminals and video and audio signal terminals of the video camera device;

a second side having a battery mounting site for detachably mounting the battery said battery mounting site having power supply terminals which are connectable respectively to power supply terminals of the battery; and

a third side provided with a remote control signal terminal connectable to a remote control signal terminal of the video camera device.

2. An adapter apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said video and audio signal terminals of the video camera device mounting site are connected via a cable with said video and audio signal terminals of the video camera device.

3. An adapter apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cable is passed through a tubular grip belt which is attached to the video camera device whereby the video camera device may be stably held.

4. A connecting device contained in a housing for detachably mounting a video camera device thereon to couple the video camera device to an electric apparatus, comprising:

a battery mounting site for detachably mounting a battery, said battery mounting site having power supply terminals connectable to the power supply terminals of the battery; and

an adapter mounting site for detachably mounting an adapter, said adapter mounting site having power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals and a remote control signal terminal which are connectable respectively to power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals and a remote control signal terminal of the adapter.

5. A connecting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said housing of said connecting device has means for sensing a remote control signal.

6. A video camera apparatus comprising:

a video camera device for recording video and audio information on a recording medium, the video camera device including power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals, and a remote control signal terminal;

a battery having power supply terminals for supplying electric energy to the video camera device through said power supply terminals of the camera; and

an adapter detachably mountable onto the video camera device, the adapter including a remote control signal terminal connectable to the remote control signal terminal of said video camera device, a first mounting site for detachably mounting the adapter to the video camera device, and a second mounting site for detachably connecting the battery to the adaptor;

wherein said first mounting site includes means for detachably mounting said adapter on said video camera device, first power supply terminal, and video and audio signal terminals, whereby said first power supply terminals and said video and audio signal terminals are coupled respectively to said power supply terminals and said video and audio signal terminals of the video camera device when said adapter is mounted on the video camera device; and

wherein said second mounting site includes means for detachably mounting the battery on the adaptor and second power supply terminals, whereby said power supply terminals of the battery is coupled to said second power supply terminals when the battery is mounted on the adaptor.

7. A video camera apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said second mounting site of the adaptor further includes second video and audio terminals and a second remote control terminal, and the video camera apparatus further comprises:

a connecting device for coupling the video camera device to an electric apparatus, said connecting device including a first mounting site for detachably connecting the connector to the adaptor and a second mounting site for detachably connecting the battery to the connector;

wherein said first mounting site of the connecting device includes first power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals, and a remote control signal terminal connectable respectively with said second power supply terminals, said second video and audio signal terminals and said second remote control signal terminal of said second mounting site of the adapter; and

wherein said second mounting site of the connecting device includes second power supply terminals connectable with the power supply terminals of the battery, whereby the battery may be recharged by the connecting device.

8. A video camera apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said video and audio signal terminals of said first mounting site of the adapter are coupled to said video and audio signal terminals of the video camera device with a cable.

9. A video camera apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said cable is passed through a tubular grip belt which is attached to the video camera device whereby the video camera device may be stably held.

10. A video camera apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connecting device includes an opening and a folding member pivotable between an upstanding position and a closing position, said folding member being fittable into said opening in the closing position, and wherein said first mounting site and said second mounting site of the connecting device are located on opposite sides of the folding member.

11. A video camera apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said connecting device has means for detecting a remote control signal.

12. A video camera apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said cable is detachably connected at both ends thereof with the video and audio signal terminals of said first mounting site of the adapter and said video and audio signal terminals of said video camera device.

13. A connecting device contained in a housing for detachably mounting a video camera device thereon to couple the video camera device to an electric apparatus, comprising:

a battery mounting site for detachably mounting a battery, said battery mounting site having power supply terminals connectable to the power supply terminals of the battery; and

an adapter mounting site for detachably mounting an adapter, said adapter mounting site having power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals and a remote control signal terminal which are connectable respectively to power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals and a remote control signal terminal of the adapter,

wherein the connecting device includes an opening and a folding member pivotable between an upstanding position and a closing position, said folding member being fittable into said opening in the closing position, and wherein said first mounting site and said second mounting site of the connecting device are located on opposite sides of the folding member.

14. A connecting device contained in a housing for detachably mounting a video camera device thereon to couple the video camera device to an electric apparatus, comprising:

a battery mounting site for detachably mounting a battery, said battery mounting site having power supply terminals connectable to the power supply terminals of the battery; and

an adapter mounting site for detachably mounting an adapter, said adapter mounting site having power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals and a remote control signal terminal which are connectable respectively to power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals and a remote control signal terminal of the adapter,

wherein said housing of said connecting device has a direct current output terminal.

15. A connecting device contained in a housing for detachably mounting a video camera device thereon to couple the video camera device to an electric apparatus, comprising:

a battery mounting site for detachably mounting a battery, said battery mounting site having power supply terminals connectable to the power supply terminals of the battery; and

an adapter mounting site for detachably mounting an adapter, said adapter mounting site having power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals and a remote control signal terminal which are connectable respectively to power supply terminals, video and audio signal terminals and a remote control signal terminal of the adapter,

wherein the battery is charged upon mounting on said battery mounting site.