Camera-integrated video recorder apparatus

• US 5,381,179 A
• Filed: 12/10/1993
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kashimura, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Application Number:
  US08/164,993
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 358/909, 358/209, 358/906, 358/224, 358/210, 358/229, 358/41, 354/219, 354/223, 354/288, 348/376, 348/373-375, 348/372, 348/211, 348/207, 348/222, 348/333, 348/233, 348/341, 348/369
• US Class Current: 348/376
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A camera-integrated video recorder in which a camera portion and a recorder portion are disposed in a single casing is arranged in such a manner that a grip portion having a viewfinder and a control portion for controlling the recorder portion is rotatably and detachably fastened to the casing. The grip portion acts as a remote control device for remote-controlling the camera portion and the recorder portion when it has been detached from the casing. The casing has an image transmission circuit for transmitting monitor image information to the viewfinder in the grip portion.

Claims

1. A camera-integrated video recorder in which a camera means and a recorder means are disposed in a single casing, comprising:

a casing having a first power source;

a grip having an electronic viewfinder and a control portion for controlling operations of said camera means and said recorder means, and having a second power source;

an attachment base for fastening said grip and rotatably fastened to said casing, said attachment base having a locking mechanism capable of locking the fastened state of said grip and electric connectors for electrically connecting said grip to said casing in the state that said grip has been fastened thereto;

selecting means for making to supply said casing and said grip with power by only the second power source in the state that said grip has been fastened to said attachment base;

said grip detachably fastened to said attachment base, said grip being arranged to be capable of effecting remote control of said camera means and/or said recorder means by using said control portion in the state where said grip is detached from said attachment base.

2. A camera-integrated video recorder according to claim 1, wherein said grip has a portion for accommodating a power source battery.

3. A camera-integrated video recorder in which a camera means and a recorder means are disposed in a single casing having an attachment base to which a grip having an image monitor means and a control portion for controlling said camera means and said recorder means is detachably fastened, said camera-integrated video recorder comprising:

a first power source disposed in said casing;

a second power source disposed in said grip;

means for rotatably fastening said attachment base to said casing, said attachment base having a locking mechanism capable of locking the fastened state of said grip and having electrical connectors for electrical connection of said grip to said casing in the fastened state of said grip;

selecting means for making to supply said casing and said grip with power by only the second power source in the state that said grip has been fastened to said attachment base;

operation information transmission means disposed in said grip and capable of remote-controlling said camera means and said recorder means by transmitting operation information of said control portion in the state that said grip has been detached from said attachment base; and

image transmission means disposed in said casing and capable of transmitting image information to said image monitor means of said grip in the state that said grip has been detached from said attachment base,

wherein said image transmission means in said casing is rendered inoperative in the state that said casing and said grip have been coupled to each other and is rendered operative in the state that said casing and said grip have been separated from each other,

wherein said operation information transmission means disposed in said grip is rendered inoperative in the state that said casing and said grip have been coupled to each other and is rendered operative in the state that said casing and said grip have been separated from each other,

wherein a receiving circuit disposed in said grip for receiving image information transmitted from said image transmission means in said casing is rendered inoperative in the state that said casing and said grip have been coupled to each other and is rendered operative in the state that said casing and said grip have been separated from each other, and

wherein a receiving circuit disposed in said casing for receiving operation information transmitted from said operation information transmission means in said grip is rendered inoperative in the state that said casing and said grip have been coupled to each other and is rendered operative in the state that said casing and said grip have been separated from each other.

4. A camera-integrated video recorder according to claim 3, wherein said casing and said grip each accommodate a power source battery.

5. A camera-integrated video recorder according to claim 4, wherein said power source battery in said casing is arranged in such a manner that its power supply path is turned off in the state that said casing has been coupled to said grip and is turned on in the state that said casing and said grip have been separated from each other.

6. A camera apparatus comprising a camera body and a wireless remote controller for operating said camera body, said camera body having a first power source and an image transmission means for transmitting photographed or reproduced image information, and said wireless remote controller having a second power source, an operation means for operating said camera body, operation information transmission means for transmitting operation information of said operation means to said camera body, a receiving circuit for receiving image information transmitted from said image transmission means in said camera body, image monitoring means for monitoring said image information received by said receiving circuit, wherein a grip is formed in said wireless remote controller and an attachment base for fastening said grip and rotatably fastened to said camera body, said attachment base having a locking mechanism capable of locking the fastened state of said grip and electrical connectors for electrically connecting said grip to said camera body in the state that said grip has been fastened thereto, said grip serving as a rotary grip arranged to be detachable from said camera body and capable of rotatably supporting said camera body in the state that said grip has been fastened to said attachment base, said image monitoring means being arranged to operate as an electronic viewfinder in the state that said wireless remote controller is attached to said camera body, and wherein said camera apparatus further comprises selecting means for making to supply said casing and said grip with power by only said second power source in the state that said grip has been fastened to said attachment base.

7. A camera apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said camera body and said grip each accommodate a power source battery.

8. A camera apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said power source battery in said camera body is arranged in such a manner that its power supply path is turned off in the state that said camera body and said remote controller have been coupled to each other and is turned on in the state that said camera body and said remote controller grip have been separated from each other.

9. A camera apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said image transmission means in said camera body is rendered inoperative in the state that said camera body and said grip have been coupled to each other and is rendered operative in the state that said wireless remote controller has been detached from said camera body.

10. A camera apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said operation information transmission means in said wireless remote controller is rendered inoperative in the state that said camera body and said wireless remote controller have been coupled to each other.

11. A camera apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said receiving circuit in said wireless remote controller and capable of receiving image information transmitted from said image transmission means in said camera body is rendered inoperative in the state that said camera body and said wireless remote controller have been coupled to each other.

12. A camera apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a receiving circuit disposed in said camera body for receiving operation information transmitted from said operation information transmission means in said wireless remote controller is rendered inoperative in the state that said wireless remote controller has been coupled to said camera body.

13. A camera-integrated video recorder in which a camera means and a recorder means are disposed in a single casing having a first power source, the camera-integrated video recorder comprising:

a grip having an electronic viewfinder and a control portion for controlling operations of said camera means and said recorder means, and having a second power source, first connecting means for making to input video signals to said electronic viewfinder from said camera means, second connecting means for making to input signals for said controlling operations to said casing from said control portion, and third connecting means for making to supply said casing with power by the second power source;

and attachment base for fastening said grip and fastened to said casing;

said grip detachably fastened to said attachment base, said grip being arranged to be capable of effecting remote control of said camera means and/or said recorder means by using said control portion in the state where said grip is detached from said attachment base;

switching means for executing connection of said first connecting means to said electronic viewfinder, connection of said second connecting means to said control portion and connection of said third connecting means to said second power source respectively in the sate that said grip has been fastened to said attachment base, releasing each of said connections in the state where said grip is detached from said attachment base.

14. A camera-integrated video recorder according to claim 13, said attachment base having a locking mechanism capable of locking the fastened state of said grip and electric connectors for electrically connecting said first, second and third connecting means in the state that said grip has been fastened thereto.

15. A camera-integrated video recorder in which a camera means and a recorder means are disposed in a single casing, comprising:

a casing having a first power source;

a grip having an electronic viewfinder and a control portion for controlling operations of said camera means and said recorder means, and having a second power source;

an attachment base for fastening said grip and fastened to said casing;

selecting means for making to supply said casing and said grip with power by only the second power source in the state that said grip has been fastened to said attachment base;

said grip detachably fastened to said attachment base, said grip being arranged to be capable of effecting remote, control of said camera means and/or said recorder means by using said control portion in the state where said grip is detached from said attachment base.

16. A camera-integrated video recorder according to claim 15, said attachment base having electric connectors for electrically connecting said grip to said casing in the state that said grip has been fastened thereto.

17. A camera-integrated video recorder according to claim 16, said attachment base having a locking mechanism capable of locking the fastened state of said grip.