Camera stabilizer platform and camcorder therefor

• US 6,862,407 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles H. Gale
• Original Assignee: Charles H. Gale
• Inventors: Gale, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/434,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20040223753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.2, 396/421, 396/422, 396/535, 396/25, 396 27- 29, 396 56- 59, 396/267
• US Class Current: 396/59
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Abstract

A stabilizing platform for attachment to the bottom of a hand held camcorder to steady the filming of subjects with the use of fiber optics in the body of the platform to send remote control infrared signals to the infrared receiving port on the camcorder. The platform includes a two piece bar that is held together with a locking bolt and includes a mounting screw which attaches the camera to the top of the platform and also attaches a handle below the platform. A remote control is attached to the handle. The remote control also can be imbedded into the handle so that the infrared signal can go from the handle directly into the base of the camera body thus giving the user instant control of the signal, and improve the quality of the picture. A second infrared receiving port is located on the bottom of the camcorder so that the user may send remote infrared signals to camcorder from behind the unit.

Claims

1. A video/DVD camcorder comprising a body having a first infrared signal receiving port on a first surface and a second infrared signal receiving port on a bottom surface, wherein infrared signals are received from a single remote control unit through both the first and second infrared signal receiving ports to control operation of the video/DVD camcorder.

2. The video/DVD camcorder of claim 1, wherein the first infrared signal receiving port is located on a front surface of the body.