US3837736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera and microphone combination having a variable directional characteristic in accordance with a zoom lens control
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-29
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1993-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A simultaneous picture and sound recording system provides variation of the directional characteristic of a sound-receiving microphone in accordance with the zoom lens adjustment of a motion picture camera. The motion picture camera having a zoom lens is provided with a potentiometer which is interlocked with a zoom control ring capable, upon rotation, of moving the zoom lens assembly along the optical axis to derive a difference signal which is fed to an electric circuit device incorporated in the system. The electric circuit device is connected to a microphone having a variable directional characteristic so that the output signal from the device is directed to the input of the microphone. The combination makes it possible to increase the directional response characteristic of the microphone in the main direction, while adjusting the focal length of the motion picture camera from the wide angle setting to the telephoto setting.
Inventors
- 👤 M Ogiso
- 👤 T Itani
- 👤 K Hosoe
- 👤 K Takahashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B31/00; G03B31/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for varying the directional characteristic of a sound-receiving microphone arrangement in accordance with the adjustment of the focal length of an associated camera, comprising in combination, a sound-receiving microphone arrangement provided with a directional characteristic variable means capable of varying its directional characteristic in response to a directional characteristic variable signal input from outside, a means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment over the entire zooming region arrangEd in interlocking relationship with a zoom lens control means provided in the camera, and a control means for controlling the variation of the directional characteristic of the microphone arrangement connected both to said signal generating means and to said microphone arrangement, said control means having a means for detecting the output signal from said signal generating means, and a means for generating a directional characteristic variable signal which directs the detected output of said detecting means to the input of said directional characteristic variable means, so that the directional characteristic of the microphone arrangement can be varied in accordance with the zoom lens adjustment of the camera.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for varying the directional characteristic of a sound-receiving microphone arrangement in accordance with the adjustment of the focal length of an associated camera, comprising in combination, a sound-receiving microphone arrangement provided with a directional characteristic variable means capable of varying its directional characteristic in response to a directional characteristic variable signal input from outside, a means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment over the entire zooming region arrangEd in interlocking relationship with a zoom lens control means provided in the camera, and a control means for controlling the variation of the directional characteristic of the microphone arrangement connected both to said signal generating means and to said microphone arrangement, said control means having a means for detecting the output signal from said signal generating means, and a means for generating a directional characteristic variable signal which directs the detected output of said detecting means to the input of said directional characteristic variable means, so that the directional characteristic of the microphone arrangement can be varied in accordance with the zoom lens adjustment of the camera.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said sound-receiving microphone arrangement further includes a condenser microphone having a variable directional characteristic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said sound-receiving microphone arrangement includes a ribbon microphone having openings through which the velocity component may pass on.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment further includes a variable resistor arranged in interlocking relationship with the zoom lens control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said control means further includes a circuit for providing a signal for comparison with the output of said detecting means so that the directional characteristic of the microphone arrangement is varied from omnidirectional to unidirectional while adjusting the zoom lens from the wide angle setting to the telephoto setting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said directional characteristic variable signal generating means of said control means for controlling the variation of the directional characteristic of the microphone arrangement further includes a bridge circuit containing said means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment as one arm and a resistor for giving information for the directional characteristic variation as another arm.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for varying the directional characteristic of a sound-receiving microphone device in accordance with the adjustment of the focal length of an associated camera comprising in combination, a microphone device having a directional characteristic, said device having openings through which the velocity component may pass on, and means for varying the areas of the openings, a zoom lens control means for moving axially the zoom lens assembly provided in the camera to effect the adjustment of the focal length, a means for giving an information corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment over the entire zooming region arranged in interlocking relationship with said zoom lens control means, and a control means for operatively connecting said information giving means with said means for varying the areas of the openings of the microphone device, said means detecting the information from said information giving means and permitting said opening area variable means to be driven in response to said information, so that the directional characteristic of said microphone device can be varied in accordance with the zoom lens adjustment of the camera.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for varying the directional characteristic of a sound-receiving microphone device in accordance with the adjustment of the focal length of an associated camera comprising in combination, a microphone device having a directional characteristic, said device having openings through which the velocity component may pass on, and means for varying the areas of the openings, a zoom lens control means for moving axially the zoom lens assembly provided in the camera to effect the adjustment of the focal length, a means for giving an information corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment over the entire zooming region arranged in interlocking relationship with said zoom lens control means, and a control means for operatively connecting said information giving means with said means for varying the areas of the openings of the microphone device, said means detecting the information from said information giving means and permitting said opening area variable means to be driven in response to said information, so that the directional characteristic of said microphone device can be varied in accordance with the zoom lens adjustment of the camera.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for varying the directional characteristic of a sound-receiving microphone in accordance with the adjustment of the focal length of an associated camera comprising in combination, a microphone having a directional characteristic variable means capable of varying the directional characteristic from the omnidirectional to unidirectional ones, a zoom lens control means for moving axially the zoom lens assembly provided in the camera to effect the adjustment of the focal length, a means for giving an information corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment over the entire zooming region arranged in interlocking relationship with said zoom lens controL means, and a directional characteristic control means for operatively connecting said information giving means with said directional characteristic variable means of the microphone, said means having a control circuit for detecting the information introduced from said information giving means and generating an operation signal directing to said directional characteristic variable means in such a manner that while the zoom lens is adjusted from the wide angle setting to the telephoto setting, the directional characteristic of said microphone is varied from omnidirectional to unidirectional.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for varying the directional characteristic of a sound-receiving microphone in accordance with the adjustment of the focal length of an associated camera comprising in combination, a microphone having a directional characteristic variable means capable of varying the directional characteristic from the omnidirectional to unidirectional ones, a zoom lens control means for moving axially the zoom lens assembly provided in the camera to effect the adjustment of the focal length, a means for giving an information corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment over the entire zooming region arranged in interlocking relationship with said zoom lens controL means, and a directional characteristic control means for operatively connecting said information giving means with said directional characteristic variable means of the microphone, said means having a control circuit for detecting the information introduced from said information giving means and generating an operation signal directing to said directional characteristic variable means in such a manner that while the zoom lens is adjusted from the wide angle setting to the telephoto setting, the directional characteristic of said microphone is varied from omnidirectional to unidirectional.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
196 words
A system for varying the directional characteristic of a sound-receiving microphone in accordance with the adjustment of the focal length of an associated camera comprising in combination, a sound-receiving device composed of two microphones having cardioid unidirectional characteristics arranged in series and connected with each other in opposite phases, an adjusting means for varying the relative distance between the two microphones connected in series in order to vary the directional characteristic of said sound-receiving device, a zoom lens control means for moving axially the zoom lens assembly provided in the camera to effect the adjustment of the focal length, a means for giving an information corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment over the entire zoom region arranged in interlocking relationship with said zoom lens control means, and a directional characteristic control means inserted between said information giving means and said adjusting means, said means detecting the information from said information giving means and transmitting the information capable of driving said adjusting device in such a manner that while said zoom lens is adjusted from the wide angle setting to the telephoto setting, the relative distance between the two microphones is decreased by the said adjusting means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
196 words
A system for varying the directional characteristic of a sound-receiving microphone in accordance with the adjustment of the focal length of an associated camera comprising in combination, a sound-receiving device composed of two microphones having cardioid unidirectional characteristics arranged in series and connected with each other in opposite phases, an adjusting means for varying the relative distance between the two microphones connected in series in order to vary the directional characteristic of said sound-receiving device, a zoom lens control means for moving axially the zoom lens assembly provided in the camera to effect the adjustment of the focal length, a means for giving an information corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment over the entire zoom region arranged in interlocking relationship with said zoom lens control means, and a directional characteristic control means inserted between said information giving means and said adjusting means, said means detecting the information from said information giving means and transmitting the information capable of driving said adjusting device in such a manner that while said zoom lens is adjusted from the wide angle setting to the telephoto setting, the relative distance between the two microphones is decreased by the said adjusting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
145 words
A combination of a motion picture camera for continuous picture recording and a recording device for simultaneous sound recording containing a motion picture camera having a zoom lens and a zoom lens control means for moving axially the zoom lens assembly of said zoom lens, a means for giving an information corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment arranged in interlocking relationship with said zoom lens control means, a microphone device having a directional characteristic variable in response to the information from said information giving means, said device being provided with a directional characteristic giving means connected with said information giving means to detect the information from said information giving means so that said means gives a resultant directional characteristic to the output of said microphone, and a sound-recording device connected to the output of said microphone, said device recording the output signals of said microphone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
145 words
A combination of a motion picture camera for continuous picture recording and a recording device for simultaneous sound recording containing a motion picture camera having a zoom lens and a zoom lens control means for moving axially the zoom lens assembly of said zoom lens, a means for giving an information corresponding to the zoom lens adjustment arranged in interlocking relationship with said zoom lens control means, a microphone device having a directional characteristic variable in response to the information from said information giving means, said device being provided with a directional characteristic giving means connected with said information giving means to detect the information from said information giving means so that said means gives a resultant directional characteristic to the output of said microphone, and a sound-recording device connected to the output of said microphone, said device recording the output signals of said microphone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |