Patent ID: 6496653
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A camera operating apparatus for operating at least one camera unit at an operation direction and at an operation speed which are to be changed by an operator, comprising:a retainer having an operation surface; a joystick mounted on said retainer to control said operation direction and said operation speed of said camera unit and having a center axis and a center point located on said center axis, said joystick being pivotable around said center point of said joystick to assume a first angular position where said joystick is inclined with respect to said operation surface of said retainer, and a second angular position where said joystick is inclined with respect to said operation surface of said retainer at an inclination angle between said center axes of said joystick positioned at said first and second angular positions, said inclination angle being variably set with respect to said operation speed; angle signal inputting means for inputting an angle signal indicative of each of a group of inclination angle ranges in which said inclination angle of said joystick is divided, said group of inclination angle ranges including a minimum inclination angle range, a maximum inclination angle range, and an intermediate inclination angle range between said minimum and maximum inclination angle ranges; a plurality of keys each operatively arranged on said retainer to perform a key-pushed action and a key-released action, each of said keys being operative to input a speed signal indicative of said key-pushed action thereof, said keys including a specified key selected for said operation speed of said camera unit desired by said operator with respect to each of said inclination angle ranges; information recording means for recording specific relevant information between said angle signal inputted from said angle signal inputting means and said speed signal inputted from said specified key; and signal processing means for processing said speed signal in response to said angle signal from said angle signal inputting means to be outputted to said camera unit in accordance with said specific relevant information recorded by said information recording means.