Connecting apparatus for a video tape recorder having a built-in camera

• US 5,465,117 A
• Filed: 08/27/1993
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kakuno, Imao, Sakurai, Nobumasa, Ide, Yoshihiro, Okayasu, Yoshisada, Mitsui, Hidero
• Primary Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan V.
• Application Number:
  US08/112,475
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/372, 348/207, 348/376, 354/293, 354/74, 354/75
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A built-in camera type video tape recorder as disclosed that can be loaded on a connecting apparatus for connecting the built-in camera type video tape recorder having video signal, audio signal, and control signal terminals and a power supply connecting terminal to other electrical machinery and apparatus. It comprises a supporting member formed at one side wall of the built-in camera type video tape recorder and having a shutter member, the shutter member being opened in a ganged relation with a shutter which is opened when the built-in camera type video tape recorder is loaded on the connecting apparatus, and a terminal portion facing an opening portion of the shutter member of aid supporting member and being electrically connected to a signal input and output portion projected from the opening portion opened when a shutter of the connecting apparatus is opened. A connecting apparatus for connecting such a built-in camera type video tape recorder comprises an apparatus body being connected to the other electrical machinery and apparatus via a cable, an input and output terminal portion for connecting respective terminals of the built-in camera type video tape recorder to the apparatus body, the built-in camera type video tape recorder being loaded onto the apparatus body, a shutter mechanism for opening a shutter provided on the apparatus body by a slide operation, and a terminal portion for electrically connecting the signal input and output terminal portion.

Claims

1. A built-in camera type video tape recorder adapted to be loaded onto a connecting apparatus having video signal, audio signal, and control signal terminals and a power supply connecting terminal for connecting said recorder to other electrical apparatus, said recorder and connecting apparatus comprising:

a) a supporting member formed at one side wall of said recorder having an opening therein, said supporting member having a shutter member disposed therein for normally closing said opening;

b) a holding surface formed on said connecting apparatus, said holding surface having an opening disposed therein and a shutter plate for normally closing said opening;

wherein said shutter member is adapted to open in a ganged relationship with said shutter plate when said recorder is loaded onto said connecting apparatus;

c) a signal input and output portion disposed in said connecting apparatus and positioned to be uncovered by said shutter plate when opened; and

d) a terminal portion disposed in said recorder and positioned to be uncovered by said shutter member when opened and to be electrically connected to said signal input and output portion, said signal input and output portion being adapted to project into said opening on the holding surface of said connecting apparatus and towards said terminal portion when said shutter plate is opened.

2. A built-in camera type video tape recorder according to claim 1, wherein the shutter member of said supporting member is biased so as to normally cover said terminal portion by a spring force of a spring member.

3. A built-in camera type video tape recorder according to claim 2, wherein said supporting member is provided on a bottom surface of said video tape recorder.

4. A built-in camera type video tape recorder according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member is provided on a bottom surface of said recorder.

5. A built-in camera type video tape recorder adapted to be loaded onto a connecting apparatus having video signal, audio signal, and control signal terminals and a power supply connecting terminal for connecting said recorder to other electrical apparatus, said recorder and connecting apparatus comprising;

a) a supporting member formed at one side wall of said recorder, said supporting member having an opening therein and a shutter member disposed therein for normally closing said opening;

b) a holding surface formed on said connecting apparatus, said holding surface having an opening disposed therein and a shutter plate for normally closing said opening, wherein said shutter member is adapted to open in a ganged relationship with said shutter plate when said recorder is loaded onto said connecting apparatus;

c) a signal input and output portion disposed in said connecting apparatus and positioned to be uncovered by said shutter plate when opened;

d) a terminal portion disposed in said recorder and positioned to be uncovered by said shutter member when opened and to be electrically connected to said signal input and output portion; and

e) wherein said connecting apparatus further comprises a locking member and said supporting member includes a concave engagement portion which engages with said locking member when said recorder is loaded onto said connecting apparatus to thereby fix the position of said recorder.

6. A built-in camera type video tape recorder according to claim 5, wherein said supporting member is provided on a bottom surface of said recorder.

7. A connecting apparatus for connecting a built-in camera type video tape recorder having video signal, audio signal, and control signal terminals and a power supply connecting terminal for connecting said recorder to other electrical apparatus, said connecting apparatus comprising:

a) an apparatus body having terminals thereon for connecting said connecting apparatus to said other electrical apparatus;

b) a terminal portion for connecting respective terminals of said recorder to said apparatus body when said recorder is loaded onto said apparatus body;

c) a support surface having an opening therein, a normally closed shutter for closing said opening, and a shutter mechanism for opening said shutter when said recorder is loaded onto said support surface by a slide operation; and

d) means for projecting said terminal portion from said opening in the support surface, said projecting means being operated in a ganged relationship with said shutter opening mechanism, to project said terminal portion into engagement with a corresponding terminal disposed in said recorder.

8. The connecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for projecting electrically connects said terminal portion to said corresponding terminal of said recorder when said shutter is opened.

9. The connecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said corresponding terminal of said recorder is positioned behind a shutter member and wherein said shutter member is opened at the same time as the shutter of said apparatus body is opened.

10. The connecting apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking said recorder to said apparatus body when said apparatus body and said recorder are electrically connected to each other.

11. The connecting apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a compartment in which an AC adaptor for supplying a power to said apparatus body is detachably positioned.

12. A connecting apparatus for connecting a built-in camera type video tape recorder (VTR) with other electrical devices, said VTR having a support member having an opening therein covered by a normally closed shutter plate and a terminal portion positioned proximate said opening so as to be uncovered when said shutter plate is in its open position, said connecting apparatus comprising:

a) audio, video and power terminals for connection to said other electrical devices;

b) a support surface on which said VTR may be mounted, said support surface having an opening therein and a slidable shutter member for normally covering said opening;

c) a connection terminal disposed in said connecting apparatus proximate said opening, said terminal being positioned to be uncovered by said shutter member when opened;

d) a shutter mechanism for biasing said shutter member in its closed position and responsive to the mounting of said VTR on said support surface to synchronously open said shutter member and shutter plate and move said connection terminal into engagement with said terminal portion.

13. The connection apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a locking mechanism for holding the shutter plate of said VTR open when said VTR is mounted on said connecting apparatus.

14. The connecting apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means, associated with said shutter mechanism, for projecting said connection terminal through the opening in the support surface and into engagement with the terminal portion of said VTR.