Video still camera

• US 7,428,017 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hiroyuki, Yoshida, Chisato, Hirono, Yuu, Kaho, Sachi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DURNFORD GESZVAIN, DILLON
• Application Number:
  US10/207,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20020186315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,248 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.06, 348/333.07, 348/371, 348/373, 396/199
• US Class Current: 348/375
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0503 Built-in units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

A digital still camera has a cylindrical image pick up portion with a lens, a strobe unit, and a display. The image pick up unit is cylindrical and is rotatably held at each end, so that the lens and strobe unit move in concert. The image pick up unit can be rotated to face the rear of the camera, where the display is located, so that the user can do self-images.

Claims

1. An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

a body;

an image pickup portion connected to said body and having a lens unit and a strobe unit, wherein said lens unit and said strobe unit are spaced apart from each other on said image pickup portion;

a display portion connected to said body and having a display unit for displaying an image picked up by said image pickup portion, said image pickup portion being rotatable relative to said display unit;

a locking mechanism to lock the image pickup portion from rotation, the locking mechanism impeding rotation of the image pickup portion when the locking mechanism is engaged in a locking position, the locking mechanism mounted on the body proximate to the image pickup portion,

a finger settlement portion on the image pickup portion, the finger settlement portion comprising ridges proximate to the locking mechanism, and

wherein said image pickup portion rotates relative to said display unit for shooting an object located in front of said display unit or in back of said display unit, and wherein said display portion is detachable from said apparatus.