Hand-held video camera-recorder-printer and methods for operating same

• US 6,442,336 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/483,928
• Time in Patent Office: 2,638 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5225, H04/N.576, H04/N.979, H04/N.592, 360/35.1, 360/33.1, 360/31, 360/10.3, 358/335, 358/342, 358/906, 358/909.1, 386/1, 386/38, 386/46, 386/117-121, 348/207
• US Class Current: 386/362
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/212 Motion video recording combined with still video recording television signal recording H04N5/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• 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

A portable camera and recording device capable of recording motion picture and still image signals on an erasable magnetic tape and, in an embodiment thereof, still images on hard copy as photographic images. A single assembly supports a television camera at one end, a videocassette recorder behind the television camera and an instant photographic camera below or to the side of the television camera. Still and motion picture images of image phenomena recorded as full-frame video picture signals on the magnetic tape and are displayable on a miniature electronic display screen within the housing. Controls on the housing permit select still images of frames of recorded picture information to be selectively displayed on the screen, viewed though an eyepiece and passed through an aperture of an instant photographic camera for photoghic reproduction. Methods for effectively operating the camera and producing magnetic recordings and hard copy recordings are also provided.

Claims

1. A portable video unit comprising:

(a) a hand-held, box-like housing supporting;

(i) a camera having an output for electrical video picture signals representative of image phenomena occurring outside said housing,

(ii) a video recorder and reproduction device electrically coupleable to the output of the camera and having an output for picture signals reproduced from a record member supported in said housing,

(iii) a video-signal display unit including a display screen viewable from the exterior of said housing, and

(iv) a printer electrically coupled to the video recorder and reproduction device;

(b) a manually operated selection switch having two positions, wherein, without operating any other switch, in the first position, the video-signal display unit is coupled to the output of said camera and in the second position, the video-signal display unit is coupled to the output of said video recorder and reproduction device; and

(c) a manually operated printing trigger that, when in a predetermined position, causes the printer to output a hard copy of the image displayed on the screen.

2. A unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a microphone supported by said housing, and wherein said video recorder and reproduction device is configured to store and to reproduce audio signals produced by said microphone on said record member.

3. A unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a battery supported in said housing.

4. A unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a digital memory supported in the housing and coupled and sized to store a single frame of video picture signals, and wherein the memory is coupled to the printer and the printing trigger, so that when the printing trigger is activated, video picture signals are first stored in the memory and then reproduced from the memory and applied to the printer.

5. A unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

(a) said record member comprises video recording tape;

(b) said housing further includes a receptacle sized to receive a cassette holding a quantity of said tape;

(c) said video recorder and reproduction device includes reproduction and recording heads; and

(d) said receptacle is positioned to dispose said tape against said heads when a cassette is inserted therein.

6. A unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a cathode ray tube.

7. A unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a charge coupled device.

8. A portable video unit comprising:

(a) a hand-held, box-like housing;

(b) a camera supported within said housing and having an input for image phenomena occurring outside said housing;

(c) a first switch that, when activated by a camera operator, causes said camera to generate video picture signals on an output thereof;

(d) a video recorder supported within said housing, having an input electrically coupled to said camera output, and having a reproduction device electrically coupled to an output of said recorder;

(e) a second switch that, when placed by the camera operator in a predetermined position, causes said video recorder to record on a record member single-frame video picture signals received from said camera output at the input of said video recorder;

(f) a video monitor supported within said housing, coupled to display video picture signals, and having a screen viewable from the exterior of said housing;

(g) a third switch coupled to allow the camera operator to switch the display on the video monitor between said camera output and said recorder output without operating any other switch;

(h) a hard-copy printer supported by the housing; and

(i) a fourth human-operated switch coupled to cause the printer to print a single-frame image from the output selected by the third switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

(a) a microphone supported by said housing;

(b) an audio recorder and reproduction device configured to store and to reproduce audio signals produced by said microphone on said record member, which comprises a quantity of recording tape;

(c) a battery supported in said housing;

(d) a digital memory supported by said housing and coupled and sized to store a single frame of video picture signals and associated audio signals; and

(e) a receptacle in said housing, which is (i) sized to receive a cassette holding a quantity of said tape, and (ii) positioned to dispose said tape against reproduction and recording heads of said recorder and reproduction device when a cassette is inserted therein.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the hard-copy printer is detachably connected to the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fourth switch is voice-responsive.

12. A method for generating, recording, and printing image information comprising:

(a) hand holding and directing a portable television camera and recording unit defined by a housing that includes a television camera, a video recorder and playback unit, a video monitor having a display screen, and a printer;

(b) operating the television camera to scan an image field and to output video picture signals;

(c) applying said video picture signals to the monitor to display the image field;

(d) upon demand, recording said video picture signals on a recording member supported by the housing;

(e) toggling a control switch, without operating any other switch, to switch the signals applied to said video monitor from the video picture signals generated by the television camera to video picture signals reproduced from said recording member, to display on said video monitor a previously recorded image; and

(f) selectively printing a single frame of said video picture signals, comprising either said camera-outputted signals or said reproduced signals.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 including as part of (f) first storing said frame of video picture signals in a digital memory in said housing.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein (d) comprises inserting a magnetic tape cassette in a receptacle of the housing and recording individual frame of video picture signals on the tape.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising storing said frame along with a code signal.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein (f) comprises employing said code signal to reproduce a selected frame of video recording from said magnetic tape.

17. A method in accordance with claim 12 including reproducing a selected single frame of recorded video information and applying it to said video monitor instead of video information generated by the television camera, to display on said video monitor a previously recorded still image, and wherein (f) comprises printing said selected still image.