Hitachi, Ltd.

Seiko Nakasuna

Takeshi Kawarai

Takanori Nishiyama

Shuji Toyoshima

Hirotaka Kobayashi

Yuuhei Abe

Yuichi Kosukegawa

Michiaki Ezure

Jiro Nishigaki

Shigeru Ichimura

Kazuyoshi Yamada

A camcorder (1) has a VCR portion (2) including a video tape drive (2a), and a camera portion (3) including a lens block (4). The VCR portion and camera portion are rotatably connected (11) for movement to a configuration convenient for photographing (FIG. 2 ) and to a compact configuration convenient for carrying (FIG. 1 ). A switch (1010) switches between a camera mode in the photographing configuration and a VCR mode in the carrying configuration. In the camera mode, the VCR portion records video signals from the lens block on the video tape and, in a VCR operation mode, the VCR portion only plays back previously recorded video tapes. The switch is mounted within one of the VCR and camera portions such that the switch is not accessible from the outside. During rotation, a linkage (100) moves a lens cover (12) between lens covering and exposing positions. In the lens exposing position, infrared transmissive portions (109,110) align with a light emitting portion (202) and a light receiving portion (203) of an autofocus range finder (201). In this manner, the camcorder folds to a compact configuration for convenience in storing and carrying and unfolds to conform to the operator's hands and body for convenience in photographing.

Folding camcorder for compact storage

A video camera combined with VCR comprises a camera unit for imaging an object and producing a video signal representing an image of the object, and a video signal recording unit including a supply reel base, a take-up reel base, and a cylinder assembly made up of a fixed cylinder and a rotatable cylinder having a magnetic head built therein for recording the video signal on magnetic tape. The cylinder assembly is positioned in a direction longitudinally outward of a reel hub with respect to the other reel hub of a tape cassette loaded in the video signal recording unit. The camera unit is positioned toward the object in front of the video signal recording unit.

Video camera combined with a VCR having a cylinder assembly positioned

A DC power source light which is mountable to and dismountable from a camera body of a video camera is supplied with power from a battery provided in said camera body so that said DC power source light is made compact and light in weight. Further, either said camera body or said DC power source light has a unit for preventing excess discharge of said battery and a unit for preventing excess current when the switch is turned on, thereby to protect said battery.

Video camera having DC power source light

In a camera integrated with a VTR, a hotographing method by use of a self timer is disclosed. This method comprises the steps of: setting a recording standby state; supplying to a display section a repetitive signal for allowing the display section to be alternately repetitively lit on and off by operating a self timer operating element; supplying a light-on signal to the display section when a predetermined time has passed to thereby light on the display section, supplying an operation signal to the VTR section, cancelling the camera recording standby state, and thereby starting a recording; and stopping the supply of the light-on signal to the display section after the elapse of a predetermined time after the recording was started to thereby light off the display section, stopping the supply of the operation signal to the display section, and thereby returning to the camera recording standby state.

Method of shooting by camera integrated with VTR

A VTR-integrated camera comprising a VTR unit with recording and playback functions and a camera unit integrated with each other is disclosed. The camera is set in a camera recording stand-by mode when a lid covering the camera unit is moved. Then, the recording can be started simply by operating a recording start button.

Growing community of inventors

Katsuta, Japan

Seiko Nakasuna