Patent ID: 7800654
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A picture-taking apparatus, comprising: an apparatus main body; and a remote control device for controlling said apparatus main body, wherein said apparatus main body includes (i) an image-pickup optical system having a plurality of movable optical elements, (ii) an actuator for moving said plurality of optical elements, (iii) a first optic operating member for instructing movement of said plurality of optical elements, (iv) an image-pickup unit having an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting light from said image-pickup optical system, (v) a first image-pickup operation member for instructing image-pickup operation of said image-pickup unit, (vi) a picture-taking direction operation unit for controlling a picture-taking direction of said apparatus main body, (vii) a picture-taking direction driving unit for moving said apparatus main body into the picture-taking direction, and (viii) an apparatus-main-body-side communication unit for enabling communication with said remote control device, wherein said remote control device includes (ix) a second optic operating member associated with the first optic operating member of said apparatus main body for instructing movement of said plurality of optical elements of said image-pickup optical system at said apparatus main body, (x) a second image-pickup operation member associated with the first image-pickup operation member of said apparatus main body for instructing image-pickup operation of said image pickup unit at said apparatus main body, (xi) a picture-taking direction operation member for instructing a picture-taking direction to said picture-taking direction driving unit, and (xii) a remote-control-device-side communication unit for enabling communication with said apparatus main body, and wherein the first optic operating member, the first image-pickup operation member, and the picture-taking direction operation unit of the apparatus main body each provide manual control of said plurality of optical elements, said image-pickup unit, and the picture-taking direction of said apparatus main body, respectively, and wherein the second optic operating member, the second image-pickup operation member, and the picture-taking direction operation member of the remote control device provide remote control of said plurality of optical elements, said image-pickup unit, and the picture-taking direction of said apparatus main body, respectively, and wherein the remote control device has a structure that provides maneuverability similar to directly maneuvering the apparatus main body.