Patent Publication Number: US-2005122416-A1

Title: Camcorder having detachable display part

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean Patent Application No. 2003-88700, entitled CAMCORDER HAVING DETACHABLE DISPLAY PART, filed on Dec. 8, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a camcorder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a camcorder having a detachable display part capable of photographing an image while viewing the image captured by a lens through the display part even at a remote area from the camera part due to detachability of the display part.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A camcorder, which is one type of an image photographing apparatus, is a portable device that photographs moving pictures. Because of this convenience, the camcorder is used worldwide. The conventional camcorder comprises a lens part for capturing an image of an object, a view finder for viewing the image captured by the lens part, a camera part having a record part for selectively recording the captured image in response to a user&#39;s selection, and a display part for displaying the image captured by the lens part such that the captured image can be viewed externally.  
      Generally, the lens part has a zoom function for widening a range of photographable areas. The record part records the image captured by the lens part on a recording medium. A user can then manipulate a corresponding switch and reproduce the recorded image. For the recording medium, a magnetic tape is most widely used. The record part comprises a recording/reproducing device capable of recording the captured image on the recording medium and reproducing the recorded image, and a device for inserting and taking out the recording medium. Camcorders are also available that use a hard disk, a compact disk or a memory stick as a recording medium. Images stored on such recording media can be reproduced and edited via a directly connected computer.  
      The display part is disposed in one side of the camera part, and since the images captured by the lens part appear in real-time on the viewfinder located outside, the user can conveniently view these captured images without direct physical contact with the view finder. Also, in case of reproducing the recorded image in the record part, the photographed images can be directly viewed since the recorded images are displayed on the outside view finder. One example of a widely used display part is a liquid crystal display (LCD).  
      In the situation that the camera part has an additional remote control function, photographing can still be performed even though the user is remotely located from where the camcorder is disposed on a tripod or other designated surface. In conventional camcorders, however, the display part is attached to the camera part and the camcorder may have a limited photographable range of areas. For instance, when a user desires to photograph an object located behind an obstacle, the user is unable to accurately photograph the object since it is impossible to confirm the image captured by the lens part through the display part.  
      Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a camcorder has been developed with a display part capable of rotating towards a lens part for the situation in which a user photographs himself or herself after fixing the camcorder on the tripod. In this situation, however, there may be a problem that the user is unable to accurately confirm the image displayed on the small display part from far away. Also, since the conventional camcorder is designed to photograph an object by holding the camera part with the user&#39;s hands, there may be a problem that photographing postures is restricted in certain cases in using the conventional camcorder.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a camcorder capable of photographing an object even when a display part is attached to the camera part or detached from the camera part thereby increasing the ability to take different photographic postures and increasing the accuracy in taking remote photography. It is another object of the present invention to provide a camcorder with a handle that allows a user to photograph desired objects or scenes freely.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camcorder comprising a camera part having a lens part for capturing an image of an object and a record part for recording the captured image selectively, and a display part having a predetermined structure for allowing the display part to be attached to, or detached from, the camera part and for displaying the captured image while the display part is attached to, or detached from, the camera part. The display part further has a remote control function for controlling the camera part.  
      In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the camera part comprises a first connection part to which the display part is attached, the first connection part being disposed on a top portion of the camera part, and a first transceiving part for making a wireless signal transmission with the display part. The display part comprises a second connection part connected with the first connection part of the camera part and is disposed on a bottom portion of the display part, and further comprises a second transceiving part for making a wireless signal transmission when the display part is detached from the camera part. The first connection part of the camera part and the second connection part of the display part comprises a wire communication terminal and a charging terminal.  
      In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first transceiving part and the second transceiving part are Bluetooth modules. The camera part according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a handle on a bottom portion and a stabilizer that is formed at a bottom portion of the handle to support the camera part to stand on a floor. Since the camcorder according to an embodiment of the present invention has the detachable display part, it is easier to photograph an object located at the back of an obstacle, and the accuracy in photographing is improved since a user photographs the object while viewing an image of the object displayed on the display part.  
      Because the handle according to an embodiment of the present invention serves as a stabilizer for supporting the camera part with increased stability, and can furthermore be selectively attached to the camera part, the freedom in taking various photographing postures is increased when an object is photographed by using the camcorder with the detachable display part. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above aspects and features of the present invention will be more apparent by describing certain embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a standing state of a camcorder having a detachable display part according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an opened state of the display part attached to a camera part of the camcorder having the detachable display part shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of a camera part included in a camcorder having a detachable display part according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram of a display part included in a camcorder having a detachable display part according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view showing a socket of a camera part and plug of a display part in a camcorder having a detachable display part according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the display part with the plug shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the camera part with the socket shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a photographing performance with a camcorder having a detachable display part standing on a floor according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a photographing performance by holding a handle of a camcorder having a detachable display part according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a photographing performance by holding a camera part of a camcorder having a detachable display part according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
      Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail for purposes of conciseness and clarity.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a camcorder having a detachable display part comprises a camera part  10 , a display part  30 , and a handle  50 . On the exterior side of the camera part  10 , there is a holder  8  for hanging a string for providing convenient portability of the camera part  10 .  
      The camera part  10  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . The camera part  10  comprises a lens part  1  for capturing an image of an object, a record part  13  for selectively recording the captured image by the lens part  1  on a recording medium, and a first control part  11  for converting the above captured image into an electrical signal that can be displayed on display part  30  and for controlling peripheral configuration elements. The camera part  10  further comprises a first transceiving part  15  for wirelessly transmitting the electrical signal converted by the first control part  11  to the display part  30  and for receiving a camera part control signal from the display part  30 . The first control part  11  is connected with a first connection part  17  for transmitting the image signal to the display part  30 , and is also connected to a first power part  19  for supplying power to the first control part  11  and the peripheral configuration elements.  
      In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lens part  1  uses a zoom lens capable of varying a focus length. Specifically, the zoom lens automatically operates by a driving source in response to a signal from the control part. Operation of zoom lenses are well known to those skilled in the art of the present invention, and therefore will be omitted. As described above, the record part  13  records an image captured by the lens part  1  on a recording medium. The record part  13  comprises a recording/reproducing device for recording an image signal on a recording medium and for reproducing the recorded image signal, the record part  13  further comprises a recording medium carrying device for inserting the recording medium into a main body of the camera part  10  and for taking the recording medium out of the main body. Although a magnetic tape can be used as the recording medium, a digital recording medium capable of editing/reproducing the recorded data through the use of a computer. In this case, the computer has direct access to the recording medium. Examples of digital recording media are a hard disk, a compact disk and a memory stick. The recording/reproducing device in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is configured to record data on the above-mentioned digital recording medium and reproduce the recorded data.  
      The first control part  11  converts an image captured by the lens part  1  into an image signal that can be viewed on the display part  30 , and transmits the image signal to the display part  30  through the first connection part  17  or the first transceiving part  15 . The first control part  11  controls a photographing activity by controlling the lens part  1  and the record part  13  in response to a signal provided from the display part  30  and received through the first transceiving part  15  or the first connection part  17 .  
      The first transceiving part  15  wirelessly transmits the image signal converted by the first control part  11  to the display part  30 . The first transceiving part  15  receives a camera part control signal transmitted wirelessly from the second transceiving part  43  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) of the display part  30 , and transmits the camera part control signal to the first control part  11 . The first and the second transceiving parts  15  and  43  can use any type of wireless transceiving modules capable of transmitting and receiving image signals, voice signals and other data signals. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, however a Bluetooth module is used for a wireless local area network.  
      The first connection part  17  fixes the display part  30  to the upper surface of the camera part  10  and transmits various signals between the display part  30  and the camera part  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the first connection part  17  is formed as a socket on the upper surface of the camera part  10 . A second connection part  45  ( FIG. 6 ) of the display part  30  is assembled with the first connection part  17  to fix the display part  30  onto the camera part  10 . Because the first connection part  17  of the camera part  10  is formed in the socket type, the second connection part  45  of the display part  30  therefore is a plug type. It is also possible to have the converse combination, wherein the display part  30  is a socket type and the camera part  10  is formed as a plug type. The first and second connection parts  17  and  45  respectively include first and second wire communication terminals  18  and  46  for transmitting and receiving an image signal and a camera part control signal, and first and second charging terminals  20  and  48  for charging a second power part  47  of the display part  30  by using power supplied from the first power part  19  of the camera part  10 . Also, the first and second connection parts  17  and  45  have a first interlocking structure  21  and a second interlocking structure  49  for fixing the display part  30  on the camera part  10 , respectively (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ).  
      The first power part  19  supplies the power to the first control part  11 , the lens part  1 , the record part  13 , the first transceiving part  15 , and the first connection part  17  and, preferably uses a rechargeable battery. The first power part  19  also charges the second power part  47  of the display part  30  through the first and second connection parts  17  and  45 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the display part  30  comprises a view finder  32  for displaying an image transmitted from the camera part  10 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is a remote control function that allows the camera part  10  to be controlled while viewing the displayed image on the view finder  32 . The display part  30  comprises the view finder  32  for displaying an image signal transmitted from the camera part  10 , input keys  36  for controlling the camera part  10 , and the second transceiving part  43  for receiving the image signal wirelessly transmitted from the first transceiving part  15  of the camera part  10  and for wirelessly transmitting signals from the input keys  36 . The display part  30  further comprises the second connection part  45  for transmitting and receiving image and camera part control signals via the first connection part  17  of the camera part  10 , and a second control part  41  for controlling the view finder  32 , the input keys  36 , the second transceiving part  43 , and the second connection part  45 . The display part  30  still further comprises the second power part  47  for supplying power to the view finder  32 , the input keys  36 , the second transceiving part  43 , the second connection part  45 , and the control part  41 .  
       FIG. 2  shows an exemplary display part  30  configured as described above according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the display part  30  is formed in a folder type similar to a general notebook. The display part  30  comprises a cover  31 , a body  35 , and a view finder  32  for displaying an image signal transmitted from the camera part  10  in the cover  31 . The display part  30  further comprises, a number of input keys  36  for controlling the camera part  10  that are disposed on a top surface of the body  35 . Although not illustrated, a second control part  41 , a second transceiving part  43  and a second power part  47  shown and discussed in reference to  FIG. 4  are formed inside the body  35 . The second connection part  45  is disposed on a bottom surface of the body  35 . The view finder  32  is formed in a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying an image captured by the lens part  1 . The input keys  36  include a variety of keypads typically mounted on a camcorder remote control. For instance, the input keys  36  can include a zoom key for controlling a zoom function of the lens part  1 , a record key for recording an image on a recording medium and a reproducing key for reproducing the image recorded on the recording medium.  
      A transceiving module corresponding to the first transceiving part  15  described in  FIG. 3  is built in the second transceiving part  43  in order for the second transceiving part  43  to make wireless communications with the first connection part  15  of the camera part  10  for transmitting and receiving different types of signals, such as image signals, the camera part control signal among others. Therefore, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a Bluetooth module is employed in both the first connection part  15  and the second transceiving part  43 . The second control part  41  outputs an image transmitted from the camera part  10  to the view finder  32  by controlling the second transceiving part  43  and the second connection part  45  and transmits the camera part control signal received from the input keys  36  to the camera part  10 . The second connection part  45  is formed at a location that corresponds to the first connection part  17  of the camera part  10 , and in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is formed as a receptacle type that comprises the second wire communication terminal  46  and the second charging terminal  48 . As described above, the second power part  47  supplies the necessary power to the view finder  32 , the second control part  41 , the input keys  36 , the second transceiving part  43 , and so forth. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second power part  41  uses a rechargeable battery and is configured such that it is recharged by the first power part  19  of the camera part  10  the power to recharge the second power part  41  by the first power part  19  is transmitted through the first and the second connection parts  17  and  45 .  
      The handle  50  is positioned at the bottom of the camera part  10  and, as shown in  FIG. 9 , is hand-sized to enable a photographing activity with one hand. A connection opening (not shown) is formed on a top part of the handle  50  such that it mates with an interlocking part (also not shown) disposed on the bottom surface of the camera part  10  to lock the handle  50  and camera part  10  together. Also, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a stabilizer  52  supports the camera part  10  such that it can stand on the ground. The stabilizer  52  can be attached to the bottom part of the handle  50 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a tripod is used as the stabilizer  52  in order to stably support the camera part  10 .  
      Operation of the camcorder having the detachable display part  30  will now be described in greater detail. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the display part  30  is detached from the camera part  10 . A signal of an image captured by the lens part  1 , can be transmitted from the first transceiving part  15  of the camera part  10 , and received by the second transceiving part  43  of the display part  30  and displayed on the view finder  32 . The user can focus the lens part  1  of the camera part  10  by manipulating the input keys  36  of the display part  30  and record an image on the recording medium.  
      When the display part  30  is attached to the camera part  10  as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the second connection part  45  of the display part  30  is inserted into the first connection part  17  of the camera part  10  and the two connection parts tightly interlock together. Wireless signal transmission between the camera part  10  and the display part  30  through the first and the second transceiving parts  15  and  43  is disabled, and the first wire communication terminal  18  of the first connection part  17  and the second wire communication terminal  46  of the second connection part  45  transmit various signals instead. The second power part  47  of the display part  30  is recharged with power from the first power part  19  of the camera part  10  through the first charging terminal  20  of the first connection part  17  and the second charging terminal  48  of the second connection part  45 . Hence, a user can record an image on the recording medium while viewing the image displayed on the view finder  32  even when the display part  30  is attached to the camera part  10 .  
      Hereinafter, several exemplary cases of photographing with use of the camcorder having the detachable display part according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the event that a user desires to photograph himself or herself by using the camcorder having the detachable display part, the user stands the camera part  10  on the ground using the stabilizer  52  of the handle  50 , and then positions herself in front of the lens part  1  of the camera part  10 . This photographing operation is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The lens  1  of the camera part  10  can be focused on the user through manipulation of the input keys  36 . The user&#39;s photograph of himself is substantially identical to the image the user displays on the view finder  32  of the display part  30 . Therefore, the image can be verified through the display part  30  even though the image is photographed in a remote area.  
      If a user intends to photograph an object located behind an obstacle, the user can still photograph the object by grabbing the handle  50  attached to the camera part  10  with one hand and the display part  30  with the other hand. By using the handle  50 , the user faces the lens part  1  of the camera part  10  to the rear of the obstacle and then confirms the image displayed on the view finder  32  of the display part  30 . The camera part  10  can be moved with the aid of the handle  50  until the desired image of the object is displayed on the view finder  32 , and if the desired image is displayed, the desired image is recorded on the recording medium by operating the input keys  36  of the display part  30 .  
      If a user desires to photograph an object using a conventional photographing method, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the user first attaches the display part  30  to the camera part  10  and then holds the camera part  10  and photographs the object by manipulating the input keys  36  while viewing the displayed image on the view finder  32 .  
      The foregoing embodiment and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the embodiments of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.