Unified compact video camera and VCR

Abstract: A unified compact video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus (VCR) having a video camera unit and a VCR unit which includes a cassette holder arranged in a common hollow body at opposite sides of its median plane, and also having a viewfinder disposed on the same side of the median place as said VCR.

Description: This invention relates generally to a unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus (VCR), and more particularly is directed to the provision of such unified video camera and VCR which is compact and light in weight so as to be conveniently portable. It is known to provide a unified video camera and VCR with a viewfinder through which the image being recorded can be readily monitored, see for example EP-A-0 248 676. Typically, a cathode-ray tube (CRT) is used in an electronic viewfinder for displaying the image being received by an image pick-up device in the video camera. An electronic viewfinder of the type using a CRT screen usually requires a relatively large space therefor, with the result that the viewfinder tends to project beyond the housing or body of the unified video camera and VCR and thereby resists reduction of the overall size of the device. Accordingly, it is an aim of this invention to provide a unified video camera and VCR which avoids the above mentioned problem, associated with the prior art. Moreover, it is also an aim of this invention to provide a unified video camera and VCR, as aforesaid, with a viewfinder which further permits reduction of the overall size of the device. It is further desirable to provide a unified video camera and VCR, as aforesaid, in which the proportion of the surface of the housing or body constituting dead space is minimized by arranging a strap for use in gripping or holding the body at the same side of the latter as a cassette holder so that the opposite side of the body is available for positioning of the various switches and buttons by which operations of the video camera and the VCR are controlled. In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a unified compact video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: a hollow body defining an interior space; a video camera unit including a camera lens assembly disposed in said interior space; a video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit disposed in said interior space, said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit including a cassette holder compartment moveable between a loaded position wholly within said body and an eject position in which said holder compartment projects out of an opening; and a viewfinder characterised by: said interior space having a longitudinally extending vertical median plane, wherein said opening for ejecting the cassette is arranged along the top and a side of said body to one side of said plane; said video camera unit being offset toward the other side of said median plane; said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit being offset toward said one side of said median plane in longitudinally overlapping relation to said video camera unit; and by said viewfinder being disposed at said other side of said median plane above said video camera unit, said viewfinder being variable in axial length, in a telescopic manner, between a retracted position and an expanded position in which said viewfinder is substantially longer than said body. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a unified video camera and VCR, as aforesaid, has a recess extending along an upper portion of the body at the same side of the median plane as the viewfinder, and the viewfinder is pivotally mounted on the body for pivoting between a first angular position or orientation in which the viewfinder is substantially nested in the recess and a second angular position in which the viewfinder extends obliquely out of the recess. The above features and advantages of the present invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and wherein corresponding parts are identified by the same reference numerals in the several views of the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a compact and light weight unified video camera and VCR according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the unified video camera and VCR as viewed from the opposite side thereof; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the unified video camera and VCR shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the unified video camera and VCR of Figs. 1 and 2 as viewed from the side opposite to that where a cassette holder compartment is situated; Fig. 5 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the viewfinder according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially in section, of an eye piece included in the telescopic viewfinder of Fig. 5; and Figs. 7A and 7B are perspective views illustrating use of the viewfinder in different respective positions relative to the body of the unified video camera and VCR. Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that a unified compact video camera and VCR 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention generally comprises a hollow body or housing 2 which is generally of rectangular box-shaped configuration and has a longitudinally extending median plane, for example, as indicated by the dot-dash line 2a on Fig. 3, a video camera unit 4 offset to one side of the median plane 2a within the housing 2, and a video cassette recording and/or reproducing (VCR) unit generally indicated at 3 and which is disposed in the hollow body 2 toward the other side of the median plane 2a in longitudinally overlapping relation to the video camera unit 4. As shown particularly on Figs. 1 and 4, the side of the body 2 which accommodates the video camera unit 4 is formed with a bulbous protrusion 4a extending along the lower portion of the body 2 and forming a receptacle for a camera lens assembly 6 which has a power zooming capability and is a component of the video camera unit 4. The camera lens assembly 6 has a lens cylinder 8 extending from the forward end or mouth of the receptacle 4a and carrying an objective lens 7 (Fig. 3). Continuing with the general description of the unified video camera and VCR 1, it will be seen that the VCR unit 3 includes a cassette compartment holder assembly 5 which, in its loading position and as shown on Fig. 2, defines an upper side wall portion 5a of the body 2 at the side of the latter remote from the bulbous protrusion 4a. As hereinafter described in detail, the cassette compartment holder assembly 5 is adapted to receive a video cassette, for example, an 8-mm video tape cassette, and to eject the same through an opening extending along the top and a side of the body 2 at the same side of the longitudinal median plane as the VCR unit 3. A lid 12 is pivoted on the top of the body 2 for closing the top portion of the opening and thereby covering and protecting the cassette in the cassette compartment holder assembly 5 when the latter is disposed in a loading position, as hereinafter described in detail. A viewfinder assembly 9 is mounted on the body 2 at the same side as the video camera unit 4 but is disposed above the camera lens assembly 6 in the protrusion 4a. As shown on Fig. 4, the viewfinder 9 is mounted on the body 2 for pivoting between a first orientation or position shown in full lines on Fig. 4 and in which the viewfinder 9 is accommodated substantially within a recess or depression 4b extending along the body 2 above the protrusion 4a, and an upwardly pivoted position, indicated in dot-dash lines at 9' on Fig. 4 and in which the viewfinder extends obliquely upward out of the recess 4b. The range of pivotal movement of the viewfinder 9 is desirably approximately 90°. As shown particularly on Fig. 5, the viewfinder 9 includes a viewing screen assembly 50 comprised of upper and lower, semi-cylindrical housing portions 50a and 50b which are suitably secured to each other and contain a cathode-ray tube (CRT) 51 having its screen exposed at a window 50d formed in an end wall 50c of the viewing screen assembly 50. At the end of the viewing screen assembly 50 remote from the end wall 50c, there is provided a transverse extension 52 (Figs. 3 and 4) which is rotably mounted within a receptacle 4c formed in the body 2 (Fig. 4) for permitting the described pivotal movement of the viewfinder 9 through approximately 90° upwardly from the nested position of the latter. The lower semi-cylindrical portion 50b of the housing of the viewing screen assembly 50 has a recess 50e (Fig. 4) therein for receiving a latching projection 4e projecting from the bottom surface of the recess 4b. Engagement of the latching projection 4e in the recess 50e is effective to prevent inadvertent movement of the viewfinder 9 from its reset position. An edit switch 53 which is to be operated in an edit mode of the apparatus also extends from the body 2 within the recess 4b so as to be hidden from view and protected by the viewfinder 9 when the latter is within its rest position shown in full lines on Fig. 4. Referring again to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the viewfinder 9 further comprises an eye piece assembly 60 which generally includes a cylindrical holder 61, an outer housing 62, a lens 63 within a lens holder 64, a lens adjustment ring 65 and an eye cap holder 66. The holder 61 is shown to include a relatively large diameter cylindrical section 61a and a smaller diameter cylindrical section 61e. The large diameter section 61a is dimensioned to be slidable on the housing of viewing screen assembly 50 and has 4 substantially L-shaped guide slots 61b formed therein at regular intervals around the cylindrical section 61a. These guide slots 61b slidably receive respective connecting pins 54 which project radially outward from the outer surface of the viewing screen assembly 50 for positioning the eye piece assembly 60 relative thereto. A pair of diametrically opposed strips 61c formed with inwardly projections 61d (Fig. 6) are offset radially outward from the large diameter section 61 adjacent the end of the latter to which the small diameter section 61e is connected. Thus, the engaging strips 61c are spaced radially outward from the outer surface of the large diameter section 61a so that the inwardly directed projections 61d on the strips 61c are engageable in cutouts 62a formed in an edge portion of the cylindrical cover 62 when the latter extends axially over the large diameter section 61a of the finder holder 61 (Fig. 6). The lens holder 64 carrying the lens 63 is diametrically dimensioned so as to be rotatable within the smaller diameter section 61e of the holder 61. The lens adjustment ring 65 is diametrically dimensioned so as to be rotatable around the outer surface of the section 61e, and the ring 65 is shown to be provided with a pair of inwardly projecting pins 65a extending radially therefrom. Such inwardly projecting pins 65a can extend through T-shaped slots 61f formed in the small diameter section 61e and each having a stem opening at the free edge of the section 61e. The inwardly projecting pins 65a are sufficiently long so that the inner ends thereof can slidably engage in respective helically arranged grooves 64a formed in the outer surface of the lens holder 64. The eye cap holder 66 is dimensioned to fit over the free end portion of the smaller diameter section 61e and has diametrically opposed openings 66a positioned to be engaged by claws 61g extending outwardly from the section 61e. The lens holder 64 is further formed, in its outer surface, with a pair of axially extending grooves 64b which receive axial guide projections 61h extending inwardly from the inner surface of the section 61e of the holder 61. The engagement of the projections 61h in the grooves 64b serves to rotably couple the lens holder 64 and the finder holder 61 while permitting relative axial displacements thereof. By reason of the engagement of the pins 65a of the lens adjustment ring 65 in the helical grooves 64a of the lens holder 64, a rotational force exerted on the lens holder 64 through the lens adjustment ring 65 is converted into an axial thrust for shifting the lens holder 64, and hence the lens 63 therein, in the axial direction. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the focal distance of the lens 63 is selected so that the screen of the CRT 51 can be brought into focus when viewed through the eye piece assembly 60 only if the finder holder 61 is in an expanded condition in which it is shifted away from the viewing screen assembly 50. In other words, when the viewfinder 9 is in a contracted condition with the finder holder 61 shifted toward the viewing screen assembly 50, the lens 63 is maintained out of focus in respect to the screen of the CRT 51. The described viewfinder 9 embodying this invention is constructed to be maintained in its contracted condition by restricting movement of each of the connecting pins 54 along the respective slot 61b in the axial expanding direction by means of a projection 61b' resiliently projecting into the foot or circumferencially extending end portion of each L-shaped slot 61b. On the other hand, the viewfinder 9 can be maintained in its expanded condition by restricting the movement of each of the connecting pins 54 along the respective slot 61b by means of a projection 61b extending resiliently into each L-shaped slot 61b near to the end of the axially directed portion thereof. With the arrangement of the viewfinder 9 as described above, the latter can be stored, when not in use, in its contracted condition so as to be wholly contained within the recess 4b of the body 2, whereby to minimize the overall dimensions of the unified video camera and VCR 1. In such stored position, the lens 63 is not focused in respect to the screen of the CTR 51. On the other hand, when operating the unified video camera and VCR 1, the viewfinder 9 is manipulated to its expanded condition so that an eye cap 67 (Fig. 6) mounted on the eye cap holder 66 extends well beyond the camera body 2 for easy access by the operator's eye. Furthermore, by reason of the pivotal mounting of the viewfinder 9 on the body 2, the pivotal position of the viewfinder 9 can be selected for convenient use thereof when operating the unified video camera and VCR from an erect position (Fig. 7A) or from a low or crouching position (Fig. 7B). As shown on Fig. 3, circuit boards generally indicated at 200 are preferably separated into a group of circuit boards 202 for the video camera functions, and a group of circuit boards 204 for the VCR functions. Such arrangement or layout of the circuit boards in two groups 202 and 204 makes it possible to reduce the number of circuit elements and thereby assist in minimizing the size of the unified video camera and VCR. It will be further appreciated that, in the unified video camera and VCR according to this invention, the mass and size of the apparatus have been substantially reduced without giving rise to difficulties in conveniently arranging the various switches and buttons required for controlling the operations of the video camera unit and the VCR unit. Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: A unified video camera and video cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus (1), comprising: a hollow body (2) defining an interior space; a video camera unit (4) including a camera lens assembly (6) disposed in said interior space; a video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit (3) disposed in said interior space, said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit including a cassette holder compartment (5) moveable between a loaded position wholly within said body and an eject position in which said holder compartment (5) projects out of an opening; and a viewfinder (9), characterised by: said interior space having a longitudinally extending vertical median plane (2a), wherein said opening for ejecting the cassette is arranged along the top and a side of said body to one side of said plane; said video camera unit (4) being offset toward the other side of said median plane; said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit (3) being offset toward said one side of said median plane in longitudinally overlapping relation to said video camera unit; and by said viewfinder (9) being disposed at said other side of said median plane above said video camera unit (4), said viewfinder being variable in axial length, in a telescopic manner, between a retracted position and an expanded position in which said viewfinder is substantially longer than said body. An apparatus as in claim 1; wherein said viewfinder includes an axially telescopic housing containing a video image projecting screen (51), a lens (63) and an eye cap (67), said lens having a focal length selected to cause focusing of said lens at said screen in said expanded operative condition. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2; wherein said body has a recess (46) extending along its upper portion at said other side, and said viewfinder is pivotally mounted on said body for pivoting between a first orientation in which said viewfinder, when in said retracted condition is nested substantially in said recess and a second orientation in which said viewfinder extends obliquely upward out of said recess. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims; further comprising a lid (12) mounted on said body for movement between a closed position for closing said opening at the top of the body when said cassette holder compartment is in said loaded position and an opened position leaving said opening unobstructed for movement of said cassette holder compartment (5) to said eject position. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4; wherein said camera lens assembly (6) has a power zoom mechanism (100) and zoom control switch means for said power zoom mechanism mounted on said lid so that, in said closed position of the lid, said zoom control switch means (20) are actuable by fingers of the or an operator's hand cradling said body. An apparatus as in claim 5; wherein said lid is pivoted on said body for angular displacements between said opened and closed positions about an axis adjacent said median plane, and said lid has an angled edge portion (12a) along a side thereof remote from said axis of pivoting and which, in said closed position of the lid, downwardly overlaps an edge portion of said body adjacent said opening for preventing pinching of the operator's fingers between said edge portion of the body and said lid. An apparatus as in claim 6; further comprising a first array of switches (74) for controlling operations of said video camera unit, and a second array of switches (73) for controlling operations of said video cassette recording and/or reproducing unit, said first and second arrays or switches being arranged at the outside of said body at said other side of said median plane. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims; further comprising a record start and stop switch (45) disposed at the outside of a rear portion of said body at said one side of the median plane so as to be actuable by a thumb of the operator's hand (H) cradling the body. An apparatus as in claim 8; further comprising lock means (41-45) associated with said start and stop switch (45) and being movable between a locking position for locking said start and stop switch in a stop condition and a stand-by position in which said start and stop switch is actuable to a record start condition. An apparatus as in claim 9; wherein said lock means includes a rotary member (42) movable between a first angular position corresponding to said locking position and a second angular position corresponding to said stand-by position. An apparatus as in claim 10; wherein said rotary member has a radial extension (46) which, in said second angular position, is oriented to provide a rest for the operator's thumb.

Inventors: HOSHINO MITSUO, IDE YOSHIHIRO, KAWAGUCHI TAKASHI, MASUDA TAKASHI, MORIMIYA YUJI, NOGO YUICHIRO, SHIMADA MITSUHIRO, TSUTSUMI YUKA, HOSHINO, MITSUO, IDE, YOSHIHIRO, KAWAGUCHI, TAKASHI, MASUDA, TAKASHI, MORIMIYA, YUJI, NOGO, YUICHIRO, SHIMADA, MITSUHIRO, TSUTSUMI, YUKA, Hoshino, Mitsuo, c/o Sony Corporation, Ide, Yoshihiro, c/o Sony Corporation, Kawaguchi, Takashi, c/o Sony Corporation, Masuda, Takashi, c/o Sony Corporation, Morimiya, Yuji, c/o Sony Corporation, Nogo, Yuichiro, c/o Sony Corporation, Shimada, Mitsuhiro, c/o Sony Corporation, Tsutsumi, Yuka, c/o Sony Corporation
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: H04N5, G11B31