Camera-integrated video recorder apparatus having a concealable operation member

• US 5,515,174 A
• Filed: 06/16/1994
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Abe, Takeshi, Nagasawa, Kenichi, Tanaka, Chifuyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Khoi
• Application Number:
  US08/260,677
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/906, 358/909.1, 348/207, 348/211, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 360/33.1
• US Class Current: 386/358
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

A camera-integrated type video recorder apparatus having a camera part and a recorder part which records an image pickup signal outputted from the camera part comprises a grip which is provided for holding the apparatus in a shooting state and is arranged near to a cassette mounting part which is provided for mounting and demounting a tape cassette on and from the recorder part, and an operation part which is openably and closably arranged near to the cassette mounting part and includes a plurality of operation keys for operations on the apparatus. When the apparatus is held in the shooting state, the grip and the operation part jointly close the cassette mounting part. When the grip and the operation part are in an open state, the tape cassette is mountable and demountable while the operation part is held in a predetermined operating position. Further, while the apparatus is in the shooting state, the operation keys are kept in an inoperable position.

Claims

1. A camera-integrated type recorder apparatus comprising:

a) a camera part;

b) a recorder part arranged to record an image pickup signal outputted from said camera part;

c) a casing arranged to house said camera part and said recorder part therein; and

d) an operation part arranged to be rotatable between a first position and a second position and having operation keys provided on a first surface of said operation part for reproducing recorded image information and a grip formed on a second surface opposed to the first surface of said operation part, said operation part being arranged such that, when said apparatus is in a shooting state, said operation part is kept in a first position where the first surface is concealed to make said operation keys inoperable and, when said apparatus is in a reproducing state, said operation part is kept in a second position which is located away from the first position to make said operation keys operable.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation part is arranged to be attachable to and detachable from said casing and to serve as a remote control unit when said operation part is detached from said casing.

3. A camera-integrated type recorder apparatus comprising:

a) a camera part;

b) a recorder part arranged to record an image pickup signal outputted from said camera part;

c) a casing arranged to house said camera part and said recorder part therein;

d) a package mounting part arranged to mount and demount a package housing a recording medium on and from said recorder part;

e) a cover arranged to be lockable in a state of covering said package mounting part and to inhibit the package from being mounted and demounted when said package mounting part is covered by said cover;

f) first locking means for locking said cover;

g) second locking means different from said first locking means; and

h) an operation part having operation keys for reproducing recorded image information, said operation part being arranged such that, when said apparatus is in a shooting state, said operation part is locked to said cover by said second locking means to be kept in a position in which said operation keys are concealed.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said operation part is arranged to be attachable to and detachable from said casing and to serve as a remote control unit when said operation part is detached from said casing.

5. A video camera arranged to record on a recording medium a video signal obtained by an image pickup action and to reproduce the video signal from the recording medium, wherein:

said video camera has two surfaces of substantially same area and four surfaces smaller than said two surfaces, one of said two surfaces being provided thereon with the image pickup operation keys related to image pickup and recording and being provided with a plurality of projections, the plurality of projections being arranged for placement in contact with a support surface to support the camera body in a balanced fashion on the projections, and the other of said two surfaces being provided thereon with reproducing operation keys related to reproduction and a mounting mechanism for mounting the recording medium.

6. A video camera according to claim 5, wherein said reproducing operation keys are arranged on an operation board of a rotatable member which is mounted on said first side, said rotatable member being rotatable between a first position and a second position and arranged to be exposed when said rotatable member is in said first position and not to be exposed when said rotatable member is in said second position.

7. A video camera according to claim 6, wherein said rotatable member is attachable to and detachable from said first side and has a function of transmitting information on an operation of said reproducing operation keys to said camera body.

8. A camera-integrated type recorder apparatus comprising:

a) a camera part;

b) a recorder part arranged to record an image pickup signal outputted from said camera part;

c) a casing arranged to house said camera part and said recorder part therein;

d) a package mounting part arranged to mount and demount a package housing a recording medium on and from said recorder part;

e) grip means including;

a first grip part arranged to be capable of opening and closing a package insertion/removal opening at said package mounting part at a first position adjacent to said package mounting part;

second grip part arranged to be openable and closable at a second position adjacent to said package mounting part and having a plurality of operation keys for operating said recorder apparatus, said second grip part concealing said operation keys when said second grip part is in a closed condition and being arranged to permit operating said operation keys when said second grip part is in an open condition;

said first and second grip parts being arranged to be in a closed condition to permit holding said recorder apparatus when said recorder apparatus is operated to record the image pickup signal outputted from said camera part; and

f) a cover arranged to be formed a part of a surface of the apparatus, movable with the package mounting part.

9. A recorder apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first and second grip parts are arranged such that, when said recorder apparatus is held by a user for an operation to record the image pickup signal outputted from said camera part, said package mounting part is kept closed jointly by said first and second grip parts to inhibit the package from being mounted on and demounted from said package mounting part and, when said first and second grip parts are in an open condition, the package is allowed to be mounted on and demounted from said package mounting part.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said operation part is arranged to be attachable to and detachable from said casing and to serve as a remote control unit when said operation part is detached from said casing.

11. A video camera according to claim 9, wherein said operation keys relate to reproduction.

12. A video camera according to claim 9, wherein said operation part is capable of engaging said grip in the shooting state.

13. An integrated video camera and video recorder apparatus, using a package having a recording medium comprising:

a) a camera portion;

b) a recording portion connected to the camera portion for recording on a package a video signal provided by the camera portion, the package being selectively insertable in and removable from the apparatus;

c) a casing for housing therein the camera and recording portions, the casing having formed therein a package access opening for accommodating insertion and removal of the package into and from the apparatus; and

d) a remote control unit having operating buttons for operating the apparatus from a distance by wireless transmission of operation signals;

wherein the casing includes means for selectively attaching the remote control unit to the apparatus in a position such that the remote control unit covers at least a portion of the package access opening.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the operation buttons of the remote control unit include buttons for controlling video signal playback by the recording portion.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the means for selectively attaching the remote control unit includes means for mounting the remote control unit for pivotal motion between a first position in which the operating buttons are exposed and a second position in which the remote control unit covers at least a portion of the package access opening and the operating buttons are hidden.

16. An integrated video camera and video cassette recorder apparatus using a package housing a recording medium comprising:

a) a camera portion;

b) a recording portion connected to the camera portion for recording on a package a video signal provided by the camera portion, the recording portion including a packing mounting mechanism movable between an operation position for mounting the package for operation with the recording portion and an ejection position for inserting the package in or removing the package from the apparatus;

c) a casing for housing therein the camera and recording portions, the casing having formed therein an access opening for accommodating movement of the mounting mechanism between the operation position and the ejection position; and

d) a remote control unit having operating buttons for operating the apparatus from a distance by wireless transmission of operating signals;

wherein the casing includes means for selectively attaching the remote control unit to the apparatus in a position such that the remote control unit covers at least a portion of the access opening.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the operation buttons of the remote control unit include buttons for controlling video signal playback by the recording portion.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the means for selectively attaching the remote control unit includes means for mounting the remote control unit for pivotal motion between a first position in which the operating buttons are exposed and a second position in which the remote control unit covers at least a portion of the access opening and the operating buttons are hidden.