GB2322755A

GB2322755A - Recording/reproducing apparatus with detachable camera

Info

Publication number: GB2322755A
Application number: GB9810610A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Young-Gyo Choi; Bong-Rae Park
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-03
Filing date: 1995-02-02
Publication date: 1998-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-02
Also published as: GB2322996B; GB9810610D0; GB9810615D0; GB2322996A; GB2322755B

Abstract

A video camera is attachable to the main body of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus such as a half-inch VHS or 8mm VCR. Video signals may be modulated in the camera for transmission to the VCR. The camerafits into a slot 202 in the VCR body, guided by protrusion 202A on the VCR in groove 230A on the camera. The camera is retained by an elastically fitted rocker stop 207 on the VCR engaging a groove 212 on the camera and is released by a slide knob 208. The slide knob 208 is in slidable contact with the rocker stop 207 so as to release the latter.

Description

A MAGNETIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS HAVING A DETACHABLE CAMERA The present invention relates in general to a system which combines a camera portion for photographing an object with a magnetic recording/ reproducing apparatus.

In recent years, a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus which is conventionally called a videocassette recorder (VCR) has been developed in various types. Such VCRs have been widely distributed and are now considered a virtual necessity for the home, with demand rapidly increasing.

A VCR for home use generally uses half-inch tape which adopts a video home system (VHS) method. Such a VCR is usually placed in the living room of a home to record television broadcasts and reproduce the recorded broadcasts as desired.

More recently, portable camcorders have been developed. In such a portable camcorder, a photographer views an object via a viewfinder and photographs the object. Then, an image of the photographed object is recorded on a magnetic tape and the image can be reproduced by a user at any time.

Using the above camcorder, however, a photographer cannot easily photograph himself. Also, the mere presence of a camcorder operator tends to place a photographed person (subject) on guard or feel self-conscious, whereby the subject will, intentionally or otherwise, behave in an unnatural manner. In addition, though events (conferences, weddings, interviews, etc.) may be recorded without a camcorder operator by using a camcorder and tripod, such camcorders are generally costly and the preparation and placement of a tripod is inconvenient.

Here, when photographing a meeting procedure using a camcorder, the camera should be directed toward a given speaker. In general, a photographer who manipulates the camera individually photographs each speaker. Otherwise, the photographing of plural subjects using a plurality of cameras generally requires editing. However, the former case causes inconveniences due to the tracking and photographing of every speaker, while the latter case increases installation costs.

On the other hand, an audio direction recognition system using a pair of microphones which are spatially separated from each other to identify the direction of a second signal source with respect to a first signal source is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,581,758.

It is an aim of at least the preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide an apparatus for photographing a subject whilst maintaining a natural manner of the subject.

It is an aim of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus capable of easily photographing, recording and reproducing conferences, various business meetings, family gatherings, etc., in a natural atmosphere without a photographer's manipulation, by incorporating a camera portion which photographs an object in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus such as a videocassette recorder and placing the cameraintegrated magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus in a predetermined position.

Another aim is to provide a camera-integrated magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus having a camera attaching/detaching device so as to enable an object to be photographed from various angles, in which a camera portion is attached or detached with respect to a main body of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus to facilitate portability and safekeeping.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising: a camera portion for outputting photographed object information as video and audio signals; and a main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus for recording the video and audio signals on a magnetic recording medium and reproducing the recorded signals from the magnetic recording medium; wherein the camera portion is attachable to and detachable from the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a camera portion for use with a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, wherein the camera portion is arranged to be attachable to and detachable from the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

Preferably, said magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is a video cassette recorder.

Preferably, the video cassette recorder receives a magnetic recording medium in the form of a cassette tape of half-inch VHS or 8mm format.

Preferably, the camera portion comprises means for transmitting said video and audio signals to said main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, when the camera portion is detached from said main body.

Ideally, said means comprises a modulator for modulating video and audio signals which are obtained from photographing the object and transmitting the modulator signals to the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

Preferably, a camera attaching/detaching device is provided having: a camera coupling groove formed on the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus for coupling said camera portion on one side thereof and a guide slot formed in the coupling groove; a rocker having a stop which protrudes into the camera coupling groove and which has a predetermined elasticity, the rocke.r being installed in the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus; the camera portion being detachably installable in the camera coupling groove and in which a fitting groove for resiliently engaging the stop of the rocker is formed on one side of the camera portion; and a slide knob which is movably installed in the guide slot of the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus so as to be siidably In contact with the inner surface of the rocker and resiliently biased by resilient biasing means, to enable the release of the stop of the rocker from the fitting groove of the camera.

The attaching/detaching device preferably further comprises a leaf spring which is installed on the bottom surface of the camera coupling groove of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus for protruding the camera from the camera coupling groove by a predetermined distance when the camera is separated from the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

For a better understanding of the invent ion, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus having a camera attaching/detaching device; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the camera separated from the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the camera attaching/detaching device shown in Figure 1; Figures 4A and 43 are cross-sectional views showing states in which the camera shown in Figure 3 is combined with and separated from the main body of the magnetic recoraing/reproducing apparatus of Figure 1, respectively.

Referring to Figure 1 which is a perspective view of a preferred magnetic recording/ reproducing apparatus, a door 2 into which a cassette tape (not shown) can be inserted as in a conventional magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, is installed in a front panel of a main body 1 of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. The inserted cassette tape may be a half-inch VHS tape or an 8mm tape.

Also in the front panel, various keys and lamps are installed to control and monitor the operation of the camera-integrated magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. For example, a power button 4A, stop/eject button 4B, a fast search button 4C, display window 4D, a record lock-out key 4E, an eject button 4F, a record button 4G, a TV/VIDEO switching button 4H, a channel selection button 41, a pause lamp 4J, a reproducing lamp 4K, and a control panel 4L by which a number of contrast and brightness adjustments can be made, can be further provided on the front panel. Here, reference numeral 30 represents a condenser microphone. Reference numeral 32 represents a camera lens.

The camera, when located within the a recording/reproducing apparatus, can photograph objects in a comfortable environment for conferences, meetings or at home, by simply setting the apparatus in a predetermined location (for example, on a desk) . This is achieved without a special camcorder, by attaching a video camera to a videocassette recorder.

As shown in Figure 1, the camera attaching/detaching device, which will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 3 and 4, is mounted on the inner surface of the lateral panel of the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a separation-type camera 230 separated from magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 200 of Figure 1, which will be described in detail with reference to Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 3, a camera coupling groove 202 is formed on the inner surface of the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. A fitting hole 203 is formed on the inner surface of camera coupling groove 202. A guide protrusion 202A is formed on the back of camera coupling groove 202. A guide slot 204 of a predetermined length is formed on the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus adjacent to fitting hole 203. A rocker 206 having a bracket-like shape, which has a predetermined resilience and a stop 207 protruded inward toward camera coupling groove 202 through fitting hole 203 at its free end, is fixedly installed inside the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. Here, it is desirable that rocker 206 be made of a synthetic material, and could be formed of a metal material. Separation-type camera 230 is capable of being attached or detached from camera coupling groove 202 of the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. A fitting groove 212 to which stop 207 of rocker 206 is elastically fitted is formed on one side of the camera 230 and opposes fitting hole 203. The rocker 206 is installed to be movable while being in slidable contact with the inner side of a slide knob 208 for detaching stop 207 of rocker 206 from fitting groove 212 of camera 230 through guide slot 204 of the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/rroducing apparatus. A spring stop 205 is formed on one inner side of the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. A coil spring 209, a resilient means for elastically biasing slide knob 208, is installed between spring stop 205 and slide knob 208. A connector 236 coupled to plug 232 of camera 230 is installed at the front end of camera coupling groove 202. A leaf spring 213, a resilient means elastically coming into contact with camera 230 and for protruding camera 230 by a predetermined distance in the direction of separation from the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, is installed at one end of camera coupling groove 202. A square through-hole 214 is formed on leaf spring 213, to allow access for plug 232. A guide groove 230A being in slidable contact with guide protrusion 202A is formed on both ends of camera 230.

The operation of the camera attaching/detaching device will be described below.

First, in the case when camera 230 is coupled to the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, as shown in Figure 12A, as plug 232 of camera 230 is inserted into camera coupling groove 202 of magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 200, rocker 206 is elastically deformed so that stop 207 is pushed out while in contact with camera 230 and that the lower end of camera 230 comes into contact with leaf spring 213. When camera 230 is fully inserted, leaf spring 213 is compressed and elastically deformed so that rocker 206 returns to the initial state by its own resilient force and that stop 207 is fitted into fitting groove 212 of camera 230. By doing so, camera 230 is coupled to the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

in this state, camera 230 operates as explained with reverence to Figs. 1-5 and thus photographs an object.

When camera 230 is detached from the main body 200 of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, as shown in Figure 12B, as slide knob 208 installed at guide slot 204 of the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus moves, rocker 206 is elastically deformed due to the slidable contact with guide slot 204 so that stop 207 is detached from fitting groove 212 of fitting groove 212 of camera 230. Simultaneously, leaf spring 213 returns to the initial state by its own resilient force. The resilient force of leaf spring 213 causes camera 230 to protrude by a predetermined length outward from camera coupling groove 202. Here, slide knob 208 returns to the initial state by coil spring 209. Rocker 206 is elastically deformed with stop 207 being in contact with the lateral surface of camera 230. Subsequently, as camera 230 is completely detached from camera coupling groove 202, rocker 206 returns to the initial state by its own resilient force.

As described above, the camera attaching/detaching device is capable of coupling/separating the camera with/from the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, to thereby allow an object to be photographed from a desired angle. Suitably, the camera portion is a wireless camera.

Advantageously, the camera can be separated from a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus and placed in a desired remote location, such as on a tripod.

Wherever reference is made within this application to photographs etc., it should be appreciated that these terms are intended to extend to both still, and motion photography.

This application has been divided from co-pending application number 95 01055.9, published as GB 2 286 312A.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising: a camera portion for outputting photographed object information as video and audio signals; and a main body for recording the video and audio signals on a magnetic recording medium and reproducing the recorded signals from the magnetic recording medium; wherein the camera portion is attachable to and detachable from the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

2. A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is a video cassette recorder.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the video cassette recorder receives a magnetic recording medium in the form of a cassette tape of half-inch VHS or 8mm format.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the camera portion comprises means for transmitting said video and audio signals to said main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, when the camera portion is detached from said main body.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the camera portion comprises: a modulator for modulating video and audio signals which are obtained from photographing the object and transmitting the modulator signals to the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

6. A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a camera attaching/detaching device having: a camera coupling groove formed on the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus for coupling said camera portion on one side thereof and a guide slot formed in the coupling groove; a rocker having a stop which protrudes into the camera coupling groove and which has a predetermined elasticity, the rocker being installed in the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus; the camera portion being detachably installable in the camera coupling groove and in which a fitting groove for resiliently engaging the stop of the rocker is formed on one side of the camera portion; and a slide knob which is movably installed in the guide slot of the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus so as to be slidably in contact with the inner surface of the rocker and resiliently biased by resilient biasing means, to enable the release of the stop of the rocker from the fitting groove of the camera.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the attaching/detaching device further comprises a leaf spring which iS installed on the bottom surface of the camera coupling groove of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus for protruding the camera from the camera coupling groove by a predetermined distance when the camera is separated from the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

8. A detachable camera portion for use with a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A camera portion for use with a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, wherein the camera portion is arranged to be attachable to and detachable from the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

9. A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus having a camera portion attachable to and detachable therefrom, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanyiny drawings.

10. A camera portion for use with a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising: a camera portion for outputting photographed object information as video and audio signals; and a main body for recording the video and audio signals on a magnetic recording medium and reproducing the recorded signals from the magnetic recording medium; wherein the camera portion is attachable to and detachable from the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus by means of a camera attaching/detaching device having: a camera coupling groove formed on the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus for coupling said camera portion on one side thereof and a guide slot formed in the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus in the region of said coupling groove; a rocker having a stop which protrudes into said camera coupling groove and which has a predetermined elasticity, the rocker being installed in the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus; the camera portion being detachably installable in the camera coupling groove and in which a fitting groove for resiliently engaging the stop of the rocker is formed on one side of the camera portion; and a slide knob which is movably installed in said guide slot so as to be slidably in contact with the inner surface of the rocker and resiliently biased by resilient biasing means, to enable the release of the stop of the rocker from the fitting groove of the camera.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attaching/detaching device further comprises a leaf spring which is installed on the bottom surface of the camera coupling groove of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus for protruding the camera from the camera coupling groove by a predetermined distance when the camera is separated from the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

3. A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is a video cassette recorder.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the video cassette recorder receives a magnetic recording medium in the form of a cassette tape of half-inch VHS or 8mm format.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the camera portion comprises means for transmitting said video and audio signals to said main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, when the camera portion is detached from said main body.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the camera portion comprises: a modulator for modulating video and audio signals which are obtained from photographing the object and transmitting the modulated signals to the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

7. A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus having a camera portion attachable to and detachable therefrom, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.