Patent ID: 6091453
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
Simple, rugged apparatus useful for inspection of a remote or obstructed field of view, comprising:A. a hand-held shaft having one end and an opposite end;B. a support;C. a pivot securing said support to the opposite end of said shaft;D. a miniature video camera mounted on said support, having a window for admitting an image and having a field of view;E. a light source comprising at least one electric-powered illuminating lamp disposed on said support and illuminating at least part of the field of view;F. a video monitor operatively connected for receiving a video signal from said video camera and displaying a video image of objects in the field of view; andG. a power source operatively connected for supplying electrical power to said video camera and said video monitor;wherein at least one of said video camera, said light source, and said video monitor is a higher voltage device and at least one other of them is a lower voltage device, and said power source is a dual-voltage power source comprising plurality of batteries connected in series and connected to a first conductor at the positive end of said series, a second conductor at the negative end of said series, and a third conductor tapping said batteries between the negative and positive ends of said series, wherein said first and second conductors supply power to said at least one higher voltage device and said third conductor and one of said first and second conductors supply power to said at least one lower voltage device.