JP3094472B2 - Portable video camera device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable video camera device useful for a personal video camera device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of personal video camera devices have been proposed, all of which have a small size and are configured to be portable.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a conventional portable video camera device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a small video camera, a stereo microphone 2, a white balance,
It has control operation means 3 for auto iris, electric zoom, auto / manual focus, etc., and of course, has an image pickup means such as a CCD and weighs about 470 g.

[0004] Reference numeral 4 denotes a portable 8 mm video cassette recorder (hereinafter referred to as 8 mm VTR), and 5 denotes an 8 mm VT.
It is a battery unit that is detachably attached to the housing unit of the R4. The 8 mm VTR 4 has a width of 144 x height of 50 x depth of 100 mm, and a weight of about 490 g. It is summarized in size.

[0005] Reference numeral 7 denotes a monitor LCD having a size of about 4 inches and capable of viewing an 8 mm VTR video or the like.

The above-mentioned small video camera 1 and 8 mm VTR
In addition, the LCD 7 is connected to video cables 8 and 9 each having a length of about 1.5 m to 5 m, and these cables are detachable between respective devices by plug jacks.

In the above-described configuration, the 8 mm VTR and the LCD are separated from each other.
There is also known a portable video camera device configured to take a picture of a D-integrated 8 mm VTR in cooperation with a small video camera 1.

According to the above configuration, the small VTR or 8 mm VTR 4 and the battery unit 5 are lowered to the waist, and the small video camera 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a camera head) is held in hand so that various types of imaging can be carried easily. You can do it. However, in this configuration, the battery unit 5 mounted for portable use
In order to drive the camera head 1, a small VTR or an 8 mm VTR is required. Further, since the camera head 1 includes a camera driving section and a camera control operation function, it is difficult to make the camera head lightweight and small enough.

Another conventional example for overcoming the above-mentioned difficulties is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 11, parts corresponding to those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. However, since the camera head 1 of FIG. It is possible to reduce the size as compared with 10.

The camera head 1 is connected to a camera control unit (hereinafter referred to as CCU) 10 by a detachable video camera cable 8.

The CCU 10 has a small size, for example, has a size such that it can be lowered to the waist, has a camera head control operating means 3 for adjusting the white balance and iris of the camera head 1, and further has a drive for driving the camera head. Parts are also built in.

The external microphone 2 for stereo is also C
It is removably attached to the CU10 and is portable VT.
It is connected to R12 by a dedicated cable 11.

The portable VTR 12 has a monitor display device such as an LCD 7, and the battery unit 5 is detachably mounted as a power source for the camera head 1 as well as the portable VTR 12 and the CCU 10.

[0015]

According to the structure shown in FIG. 11, the camera head 1 can be made extremely small. However, since the camera head 1 and the CCU 10 are driven by the battery unit 5 mounted on the portable VTR 12, the portable VTR 12 and the CCU 10
A dedicated cable 11 that can be electrically connected within the range of movement of the camera head 1 must be provided at a distance of 10 meters or more between the cables 10. In addition to these dedicated cables, a power cable (not shown) must be provided. I had to.

For this reason, the camera head 1 is held
When taking an image of a predetermined subject with the CU 10 attached to the waist, not only can the camera be freely moved only within the laying range of the dedicated cable 11, but also if the dedicated cable 11 and the power cable become longer, the photographer's free movement is remarkably increased. In addition to hindrance, there is a problem that a dedicated portable VTR 12 is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a camera head which is not limited to movement and is not only convenient to carry, but also connected to dedicated equipment only. Instead, it is to provide a portable video recorder system having various combination functions.

[0018]

As shown in FIG. 1, an example of a portable video camera apparatus according to the present invention is a small camera image pickup means 1 having only image pickup means or image pickup means with built-in camera drive means. And a portable control housing unit which is electrically connected to the small camera imaging means 1 via a cable 8 or the like and has a control operation means 3 such as white balance of the small camera imaging means 1. 13 and
The battery unit 5 is detachably provided in the control housing unit 13.

[0019]

In the portable video camera device of the present invention, an extremely small camera imaging means (camera head) 1 and a small control housing unit 13 are connected by a cable 8, and a battery unit 5 is detachably mounted on the control housing unit 13. Since the imaging is performed in such a manner as to be able to be set, a portable video recorder system which is not limited to movement and is not only convenient to carry but also has various combination functions can be obtained.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a portable video camera apparatus according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera head of a small camera, that is, an imaging means such as a CCD and a lens system, or if there is a function such as a focus or an iris, only a driving function for operating the function is provided.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a control housing having a control operation means 3 such as a group of control operation switches, which can detachably mount the battery unit 5 and which can be detachably mounted to other AV equipment housings. Unit.

The control operation means 3 composed of a group of control operation switches is composed of a group of operation switches such as an automatic lock and release, a start / stop switch, an iris control, a white balance control, an electronic shutter control, and the like. Are provided on the left side plate 13L, and the operation of the camera head 1 can be performed by these operations like a remote control.

A knob 14 that can be removed by pressing the battery unit 5 is provided below the control operation switch group 3 on the left side plate 13L of the control housing unit 13. The guide member 15 inserted into a recess (not shown) provided on the surface of the unit 5 facing the front surface of the control housing unit 13 is locked and released, and the battery unit 5 is mounted on the control housing unit 13. Or it is separated.

The jack 16 of the battery unit 5 (see FIG. 2) is further provided on the front plate 13F of the control housing unit 13.
And upper and lower plates 13P and 13U
A holding plate 17 for holding the space between the top and bottom of the battery unit 5
a and 17b, and inside these holding plates 17a and 17b, there are provided convex portions 19, 19 which fit into the concave portions 18, 18 of the battery unit 5.

On the upper surface plate 13P, a connector 20a such as a jack connected to a plug provided at the end of the cable 8 connecting the camera head 1 and an 8 mm jack 21 for connecting to equipment such as an 8 mm VTR are provided. And a connector 20b for connecting a cable 22 having a leading end.

As shown in FIG. 2, various input / output terminals 23 are arranged on the right side plate 13L of the control housing unit 13.
The input / output terminal 23 includes, for example, an S terminal 23a, a video output terminal 23b, an audio output terminal 23c, an external input microphone terminal 23d, and an external microphone power terminal 23.
e, etc.

A battery terminal 24 for supplying a power supply voltage when connecting to various AV devices is provided on a rear plate 13B of the control housing unit 13. Further, concave portions 25, 25, which are convenient for coupling with the AV devices, are formed vertically. It is provided on the back plate 13B side of the plates 13P and 13U.

Of course, the control housing unit 13 includes a control circuit for remotely controlling the camera head 1 by operating a switch group of the control operation means 3, and the plug 1 fitted to the jack 16 of the battery unit 5 for power supply.
7 is connected to the jack 24 provided on the back plate 13B and drives the control circuit. The housing has a maximum size of about 24 mm wide x 46 mm deep x 89 mm high. It is summarized.

FIG. 3 shows various system configuration examples using the head camera 1, the battery unit 5 and the control housing unit 13 described above.

In FIG. 3, as the cable 8 for connecting the head camera 1 and the control housing unit 13, a cable having a relatively short cable length and a cable 8A having a length of about 10 meters are prepared.

In the system configuration occupied in the upper part of FIG. 3, a plug 40 fitted to a connector 20a such as a jack of the cable 8 is provided at one end and a small VT with an 8 mm monitor at the other end.
For example, a conversion cable 43 to which a 12-pin connector 42 is connected to be connected to an R (Sony Trademark, Video Walkman) 41 is prepared, and a small-sized 8 mm monitor with a monitor is directly provided without passing through the control housing unit 13 of this example. The battery unit 5 is connected to the VTR 41, and the battery unit 5 is directly mounted on the small VTR 41 with a monitor for 8 mm and serves as a power supply for driving the head camera 1.

Reference numeral 44 denotes an 8 mm VTR and a component type compact 8 mm VTR in which a display device such as an LCD functioning as a monitor is formed separately. The battery unit 5 can be mounted on the 8 mm small VTR 44. It has been.

The middle part shown in FIG. 3 is mechanically and integrally connected to an 8 mm VTR 41 with an 8 mm monitor to which a battery unit 5 is added via a control housing unit 13 of the present invention. The upper unit of the body unit 13 is connected to the head camera 1 via the connector 20a and the cable 8. The lower part of the middle part mechanically couples the component-type 8 mm small-sized VTR 44 to the back plate of the control housing unit 13 and the battery unit 5 to the front plate of the control housing unit 13. is there.

The most common imaging method of the portable video camera apparatus having the above-described structure is as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a camera photographer 26 holds a small camera head 1 in one hand.
By mounting an integrated unit of the 8 mm VTR 44 and the battery unit 5 on the waist via a belt or the like to the control housing unit 13 and performing imaging, a lightweight and compact portable video camera device can be obtained.

In the above case, the belt is 8 mm VTR 44,
The drive housing unit 13 was hung down alongside the battery unit 5, but as shown in FIG.
The control housing unit 13 is fitted to a holder 31 provided on a shoulder strap 30 attached to the camera head 1, and the camera head 1 and the control housing unit 13 are connected by a cable 8 to provide a small monitor with an 8 mm monitor. Cable 22 between VTRs 41
You may make it connect by.

Returning to FIG. 3, the lowermost system configuration will be described. The control housing unit 13 integrated with the battery unit 5 is connected to the camera head 1 via the cable 8 or 8A, and the home video tape recorder 45 or the camera 1 is connected with an audio cable, a video cable or an S terminal cable. Body video tape recorder 46
Or the like, the subject captured by the camera head 1 can be recorded or reproduced.

FIG. 6 shows a method of carrying the camera-integrated video tape recorder 46 described with reference to FIG. 3 and the portable video camera device of the present invention. It has a battery 48 for driving the VTR, and is configured to be hung on the shoulder by the shoulder band 30. The control housing unit 13 of this embodiment, in which the battery unit 5 is mounted, is fixed to a holder 31 provided on the shoulder band 30, and the cable 8 is connected from the control housing unit 13 to the camera head.

FIG. 7 shows a stationary VTR such as a home VTR.
A battery is added to a TR or a portable or relatively large VTR 52 or the like to be driven, and a monitor is displayed on a display device 51 such as a CRT.
3 is connected to the control housing unit 13 mounted on the holder 31 attached to the band, and the power of the control housing unit 13 is supplied from the battery 50 on the VTR 52 side to take an image in parallel with the camera head 1. is there.

As described above, according to the portable video camera device of this embodiment, it is possible to connect to various video recorder devices.
What is not limited to a specific device is obtained.

Hereinafter, a method of using the portable video camera device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8D and 9A to 9D.

[0042] Figure 8A watchman, or downhole imaging, as climbing photographing such as hands wearing the small camera head hat 27 and the like in the imaging method when they want infarction, the battery unit 5 and 8 mm Control housing unit 1 including VTR 44
3 is attached to the waist to take an image.

FIG. 8B shows an imaging method when riding on a bicycle or a motorcycle 28 or the like, wherein the camera head 1 is suspended and fixed near the front wheel of the hat 27 or the bicycle or the motorcycle 28 to capture an image while traveling. The battery unit 5, the 8 mm VTR 44, and the control housing unit 13 are mounted on the waist via a band or the like.

FIG. 8C shows a case in which the outside scene is continuously photographed from the automobile 29. The control operation of the control housing unit 13 in which the camera head 1 is provided at the outside ceiling or near a window while driving is kept at hand. The switch group of the means 3 is controlled to record an image signal on the 8-mm VTR 44.

FIG. 8D shows a case in which a bird's-eye view is taken from the air using a hang rider or the like. Weight 55 is attached to the band of the rider on the hang rider 54, and the control housing unit 13, the battery unit 5 and the 8 mm V
The flight is performed by fixing the TR44 and the like.

FIG. 9A shows a case in which overhead photographing is performed with the camera head 1 fixed to the model airplane 56 from the air, showing the control housing unit 13, the battery unit 5, and the 8 mm VTR 44.
Is mounted, and an image is taken while being steered from the ground by the wireless device 56a .

FIGS. 9B and 9C show the case of underwater imaging, in which the camera head 1 is made waterproof, attached to the tip of a rod 57 and submerged in the sea 58, and used for control operation of the control housing 13 from the ground. An underwater scene is recorded and recorded on an 8-mm VTR 44 or the like by controlling with a switch. FIG. 9C shows a water-proof control case which is used for marine sports and holds a waterproof camera head 1 in a hand. The body unit 13 and the battery unit 5 and the 8 mm VTR 44 are attached to the body to perform underwater photographing and recording.

FIG. 9D shows the camera head 1 attached to the tip of the rod 57 at the time of imaging in a high place with the control housing unit 13 at hand.
5 shows an example in the case of performing control imaging recording by operating.

It goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0050]

According to the portable video camera apparatus of the present invention, not only can image adjustment be performed by remote control, but also it can be used as a single small camera.
By connecting to a VTR or the like as a recording means, it is possible to obtain various types of separate type video recorder systems.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a portable video camera device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view seen from a direction A in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a portable video camera device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an imaging method of the portable video camera device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a portable method of the portable video camera device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another explanatory view of the method of carrying the portable video camera device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is still another explanatory view of a portable method of the portable video camera device of the present invention.

8A to 8D are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method of using the portable video camera device of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A to 9D are other explanatory views showing a method of using the portable video camera device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a conventional portable video camera device.

FIG. 11 is another configuration diagram of a conventional portable video camera device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera head 3 Control operation means 4 8mm VTR 5 Battery unit 13 Control housing unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A small camera image pickup means having only an image pickup means or a camera drive means built-in image pickup means, and the small camera image pickup means is electrically connected to the small camera image pickup means via a cable or the like. A portable video camera device comprising: a portable control housing unit having control operation means such as a white balance of an imaging means; and a battery unit detachably mounted on the control housing unit.