Camera apparatus for electronic conference

Claim 2

A camera unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein a connector adapted to be connected to an external unit is provided at the rear surface of the rear part of said support body.

Claim 3

A camera unit used in an communication system for picking up and displaying at least image data through bidirectional communication means, and adapted to be set on display means, comprising: a pick-up body incorporating therein lens means for picking up a subject; and a support body for supporting said pick-up body so as to allow said pick-up body to rotate in horizontal and vertical planes, whereby said pick-up body is projected into a space in front of said support body while said lens means is located at a position where said lens means can have a pick-up range substantially excluding said support body when said pick-up body is turned downward to a substantially vertical position.

Claim 4

A camera unit as set forth in claim 3, wherein a connector adapted to be connected to an external unit is provided at the rear surface of the rear part of said support body.

Claim 5

A camera unit for an electronic conference, comprising: a first body incorporating lens means for picking up a subject; a second body having first support means for supporting said first body so as to allow said first body to rotate in a vertical plane, and first drive means for rotating said first body; and a third body having second support means for supporting said second body so as to allow said second body to rotate in a horizontal plane, and second drive means for rotating said second body; whereby said first support means has a rotatable range in which said first body can be turned from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, and said first body is projected into a space in front of said second body when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position.

Claim 6

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first body has rotary shafts at its left and right side surfaces at frontmost and lowest positions thereof, said first drive means has a drive gear, and said rotary shafts are journalled to said first support means while said drive gear in said first drive means is engaged with a gear fixed to at least one of said rotary shafts.

Claim 7

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first body has rotary shafts at its left and right side surfaces at frontmost and lowest positions thereof, said first drive means has a drive gear, said rotary shafts are journalled to said first support means while said drive gear in said first drive means is engaged with a gear fixed to one of said rotary shafts, and said first support means is stored in said second body through the intermediary of means for longitudinally moving said first support means.

Claim 8

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first body has rotary shafts at its left and right side surfaces at frontmost and lowest positions thereof, and said first drive means has a drive arm which is journalled at its one end to said first support means, and is fixed to at its other end to one of said rotary shafts.

Claim 9

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set in forth claim 5, wherein a connector adapted to be connected to an external unit is provided at the rear surface of the rear part of said third body.

Claim 10

A camera unit for an electronic conference, comprising: a first body incorporating lens means for picking up a subject; a second body having a recessed space for storing therein said first body, first support means for supporting said first body so as to allow said first body to rotate in a vertical plane, first drive means for rotating said first body, and image signal processing means for processing an image signal obtained from said lens means; a third body having second support means for supporting said second body so as to allow said second body to rotate in a horizontal plane, and second drive means for rotating said second body; and control means for controlling said image signal processing means, said first drive means and said second drive means, whereby said first support means has a rotatable range in which said first body can be turned from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, and said first body is stored in said recessed space when it is turned to said substantially horizontal position, and said first body is projected into a space in front of said second body when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position.

Claim 11

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first body has rotary shafts at its left and right side surfaces at frontmost and lowest positions thereof, said first drive means has a drive gear, and said rotary shafts are journalled to said first support means while said drive gear in said first drive means is engaged with a gear fixed to at least one of said rotary shafts.

Claim 12

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first body has rotary shafts at its left and right side surfaces at frontmost and lowest positions thereof, said first drive means has a drive gear, said rotary shafts are journalled to said first support means while said drive gear in said first drive means is engaged with a gear fixed to one of said rotary shafts, said first support means is stored in said second body through the intermediary of means for longitudinally moving said first support means, and said control means carries out such a control that said first support means is moved forward before the first body is turned to said substantially vertical position.

Claim 13

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first body has rotary shafts at its left and right side surfaces at frontmost and lowest positions thereof, and said first drive means has a drive arm which is journalled at its one end to said first support means, and is fixed to at its other end to one of said rotary shafts.

Claim 14

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set forth in any of claims 10 to 13, wherein said control means includes memory means which has previously stored therein set data for setting said lens means at a most suitable focal distance and zooming ratio in order to allow said lens means to pick up a document subject when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position, and said control means reads said set data from said memory means so as to control the lens means which is therefore set to a predetermined focal distance and zooming ratio, when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position.

Claim 15

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set forth in any of claims 10 to 14, wherein said lens has an automatic focusing function, said control means includes memory means which has previously stored therein set data for setting said lens means at a most suitable zooming ratio in order to allow said lens means to pick up a document subject when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position, and said control means reads said set data from said memory means so as to control the lens means which is therefore set to a predetermined zooming ratio, when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position.

Claim 16

A camera unit for an electronic conference as set forth claim 10, wherein a connector adapted to be connected to an external unit is provided at the rear surface of the rear part of said third body.

Claim 17

A camera unit for an electronic conference comprising: a first body incorporating lens means for picking up a subject, and having rotary shafts at left and right side surfaces at frontmost and lowest positions; a second body having a recessed space for storing therein said first body, first support means to which said rotary shafts are journalled, for supporting said first body, rotatably in a vertical plane, first drive means having a drive gear, for rotating said first body, and image signal processing means for processing an image signal obtained from said lens means, said first body and said first drive means being position so that said drive gear in said first drive means is engaged with a gear fixed to one of said rotary shafts; a third body having second support means for supporting said second body, rotatably in a horizontal plane, and second drive means for rotating said second body, and having a rear part with a rear surface to which a connector adapted to be connected to an external unit is provided; and control means including memory means, for controlling said image signal processing means, said first drive means and said second drive means, whereby said first support means has a rotatable range in which said first body is rotatable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, said first body being stored in said recessed space when said first body is turned to said substantially horizontal position while the first body is projected into a space in front of said second body, and said memory means has previously stored therein set data for setting said lens means at a most suitable focal distance and zooming ratio in order to allow said lens means to pick up a document subject when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position, said control means reading said set data from said memory means so as to control the lens means which is therefore set at a predetermined focal distance and zooming ratio when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position.

Claim 18

A camera unit for an electronic conference comprising: a first body incorporating lens means having an automatic focusing function, for picking up a subject, and having rotary shafts at left and right side surfaces at frontmost and lowest positions thereof; a second body having a recessed space for storing therein said first body, first support means to which said rotary shafts are journalled, for supporting said first body, rotatably in a vertical plane, first drive means having a drive gear, for rotating said first body, and image signal processing means for processing an image signal obtained from said lens means, said first body and said first drive means being position so that said drive gear in said first drive means is engaged with a gear fixed to one of said rotary shafts; a third body having second support means for supporting said second body, rotatably in a horizontal plane, and second drive means for rotating said second body, and having a rear part with a rear surface to which a connector adapted to be connected to an external unit is provided; control means including memory means, for controlling said image signal processing means, said first drive means and said second drive means, whereby said first support means has a rotatable range in which said first body is rotatable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, said first body being stored in said recessed space when said first body is turned to said substantially horizontal position while the first body is projected into a space in front of said second body, said memory means has previously stored therein set data for setting said lens means at a most suitable zooming ratio in order to allow said lens means to pick up a document subject when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position, said control means reading said set data from said memory means so as to control the lens means which is therefore set at a predetermined zooming ratio when said first body is turned to said substantially vertical position.