US5903706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imager apparatus with rotatable camera head
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1995-08-22
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Granted: 1999-05-11
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Expires: 2015-08-22
Abstract
Abstract An upside-down image, generated when a video camera is rotated about a horizontal axis to face to substantially the same direction as a display unit does, is electrically corrected to be an upright image. A video camera unit made compact to realize a reduction in weight of a video camera rotating mechanism. An image arrangement convertor circuit is provided between the video camera unit and a liquid crystal display serving as a display unit or a recording unit. A switch is provided in a housing for detecting an angular position of the video camera unit. The video camera, which has an imager device and a lens, is pivoted on an edge of the housing for rotation about an axis parallel to the edge. The image arrangement convertor circuit is operated unitarily in accordance with an angular position of the video camera to automatically correct an upside-down image to an upright image. Since the video camera unit is composed of minimally necessary parts and is rotatably pivoted on an edge of the housing, a rotatable joining portion of the video camera unit with the housing can be reduced in size and weight. This structure also allows the user to adjust the angle of the video camera unit only with the thumb and index finger.
Inventors
- 👤 Manabu Wakabayashi
- 👤 Iwao Aizawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N5/77; H04N5/772; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/51; H04N23/53; H04N23/55; H04N23/58; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N23/631
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing for pivoting said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory; and (3) signal switching means for controlling the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch whether said read address generator circuit is forced to generate read addresses in the same order as or in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator has generated write addresses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing for pivoting said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory; and (3) signal switching means for controlling the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch whether said read address generator circuit is forced to generate read addresses in the same order as or in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator has generated write addresses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a monitor disposed in said housing for displaying video signals outputted from said image arrangement convertor circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recorder disposed in said housing for recording video signals outputted from said image arrangement convertor circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a character/figure generator circuit, disposed between said video camera and said monitor, including a read address generator circuit for changing the direction of read scanning in accordance with said signal switching means, and a read only memory for storing character information, wherein said character/figure generator circuit generates a character or figure which is identifiable if said character or figure is turned over or turned around laterally, and said character or figure is displayed on said monitor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
217 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing for pivoting said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator circuit has generated the write addresses; (3) a monitor unit for outputting said video signal outputted from said image arrangement converter circuit; and (4) signal switching means for controlling the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch between a case where said camera circuit is directly connected with the monitor unit and a case where said camera circuit is connected with said monitor unit through said image arrangement convertor circuit intervening therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
217 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing for pivoting said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator circuit has generated the write addresses; (3) a monitor unit for outputting said video signal outputted from said image arrangement converter circuit; and (4) signal switching means for controlling the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch between a case where said camera circuit is directly connected with the monitor unit and a case where said camera circuit is connected with said monitor unit through said image arrangement convertor circuit intervening therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
214 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing for pivoting said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator circuit has generated the write addresses; (3) a recorder for recording said video signal outputted from said image arrangement converter circuit; and (4) signal switching means for controlling the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch between a case where said camera circuit is directly connected with said recorder and a case where said camera circuit is connected with said recorder through said image arrangement converter circuit intervening therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
214 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing for pivoting said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator circuit has generated the write addresses; (3) a recorder for recording said video signal outputted from said image arrangement converter circuit; and (4) signal switching means for controlling the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch between a case where said camera circuit is directly connected with said recorder and a case where said camera circuit is connected with said recorder through said image arrangement converter circuit intervening therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said signal switching means disconnects said image arrangement convertor circuit from said power supply circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said signal switching means disconnects said image arrangement convertor circuit from said power supply circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a character/figure generator circuit, disposed between said video camera and said monitor unit, including a read address generator circuit for changing the direction of read scanning in accordance with said signal switching means, and a read only memory for storing character information, wherein said character/figure generator circuit generates a character or figure which is identifiable if said character or figure is turned over or turned around laterally, and said character or figure is displayed on said monitor unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
An imager apparatus further comprising: (a) a housing including: (1) a monitor unit; and (b) a video camera pivoted for rotation about a vertical rotating axis of said housing unitarily determined by said monitor unit, including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to generate an opto-electrically converted signal; (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and signal switching means disposed in said housing for performing a signal switching operation corresponding to a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing; and horizontal scanning means disposed in said monitor unit for inverting the horizontal scanning direction, wherein said signal switching means switches said horizontal scanning means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
An imager apparatus further comprising: (a) a housing including: (1) a monitor unit; and (b) a video camera pivoted for rotation about a vertical rotating axis of said housing unitarily determined by said monitor unit, including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to generate an opto-electrically converted signal; (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and signal switching means disposed in said housing for performing a signal switching operation corresponding to a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing; and horizontal scanning means disposed in said monitor unit for inverting the horizontal scanning direction, wherein said signal switching means switches said horizontal scanning means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
150 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a housing including: (1) a monitor unit; and (b) a video camera pivoted for rotation about a vertical rotating axis of said housing unitarily determined by said monitor unit, including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to generate an opto-electrically converted signal; (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and further comprising a character/figure generator circuit, disposed between said video camera and said monitor, including a read address generator circuit for changing the direction of read scanning in accordance with a signal switching means, and a read only memory for storing character information, wherein said character/figure generator circuit generates a character of figure which is identifiable if said character or figure is turned over or turned around laterally, and said character or figure is displayed on said monitor unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
150 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a housing including: (1) a monitor unit; and (b) a video camera pivoted for rotation about a vertical rotating axis of said housing unitarily determined by said monitor unit, including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to generate an opto-electrically converted signal; (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and further comprising a character/figure generator circuit, disposed between said video camera and said monitor, including a read address generator circuit for changing the direction of read scanning in accordance with a signal switching means, and a read only memory for storing character information, wherein said character/figure generator circuit generates a character of figure which is identifiable if said character or figure is turned over or turned around laterally, and said character or figure is displayed on said monitor unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a substantially rectangular housing including: (1) a monitor unit; and (b) a video camera positioned on an edge portion of said housing for rotation about an axis parallel to said edge portion, including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to generate an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal, wherein said video camera is rotated such that said lens faces a plane of said housing so that said plane conceals and protects said lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a substantially rectangular housing including: (1) a monitor unit; and (b) a video camera positioned on an edge portion of said housing for rotation about an axis parallel to said edge portion, including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to generate an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal, wherein said video camera is rotated such that said lens faces a plane of said housing so that said plane conceals and protects said lens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imager apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a recorder disposed in said housing which records video signals outputted from said camera circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said edge portion is an upper edge portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said edge portion is a side edge portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
182 words
A imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing for pivoting said video camera for rotation about a predetermined axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory; and (3) signal switching means for controlling the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch whether said read address generator circuit is forced to generate read addresses in the same order as or in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator has generated write addresses.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
182 words
A imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit for generating a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing for pivoting said video camera for rotation about a predetermined axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory; and (3) signal switching means for controlling the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch whether said read address generator circuit is forced to generate read addresses in the same order as or in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator has generated write addresses.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
181 words
A imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head which opto-electrically converts light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit which generates a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing which pivots said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit which generates write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit which generates read addresses for said random access memory; and (3) switching circuit which controls the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch whether said read address generator circuit is forced to generate read addresses in the same order as or in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator has generated write addresses.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
181 words
A imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head which opto-electrically converts light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit which generates a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing which pivots said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit which generates write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit which generates read addresses for said random access memory; and (3) switching circuit which controls the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch whether said read address generator circuit is forced to generate read addresses in the same order as or in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator has generated write addresses.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a monitor disposed in said housing which displays video signals outputted from said image arrangement convertor circuit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a recorder disposed in said housing which records video signals outputted from said image arrangement convertor circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
84 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a character/figure generator circuit, disposed between said video camera and said monitor, including a read address generator circuit which changes the direction of read scanning in accordance with said switching circuit, and a read only memory for storing character information, wherein said character/figure generator circuit generates a character or figure which is identifiable if said character or figure is turned over or turned around laterally, and said character or figure is displayed on said monitor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
216 words
A imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head which opto-electrically converts light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit which generates a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing which pivots said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit which generates write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit which generates read addresses for said random access memory in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator circuit has generated the write addresses; (3) a monitor unit for outputting said video signal outputted from said image arrangement converter circuit; and (4) switching circuit which controls the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch between a case where said camera circuit is directly connected with the monitor unit and a case where said camera circuit is connected with said monitor unit through said image arrangement convertor circuit intervening therebetween.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
216 words
A imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head which opto-electrically converts light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit which generates a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing which pivots said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit which generates write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit which generates read addresses for said random access memory in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator circuit has generated the write addresses; (3) a monitor unit for outputting said video signal outputted from said image arrangement converter circuit; and (4) switching circuit which controls the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch between a case where said camera circuit is directly connected with the monitor unit and a case where said camera circuit is connected with said monitor unit through said image arrangement convertor circuit intervening therebetween.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said switching circuit disconnects said image arrangement convertor circuit from said power supply circuit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
87 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a character/figure generator circuit, disposed between said video camera and said monitor unit, including a read address generator circuit for changing the direction of read scanning in accordance with said signal switching means, and a read only memory for storing character information, wherein said character/figure generator circuit generates a character or figure which is identifiable if said character or figure is turned over or turned around laterally, and said character or figure is displayed on said monitor unit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
213 words
A imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head which opto-electrically converts light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit which generates a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing which pivots said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit which generates write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit which generates read addresses for said random access memory in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator circuit has generated the write addresses; (3) a recorder which records said video signal outputted from said image arrangement converter circuit; and (4) switching circuit which controls the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch between a case where said camera circuit is directly connected with said recorder and a case where said camera circuit is connected with said recorder through said image arrangement converter circuit intervening therebetween.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
213 words
A imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head which opto-electrically converts light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit which generates a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing which pivots said video camera for rotation about a horizontal axis, including: (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit which generates write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit which generates read addresses for said random access memory in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator circuit has generated the write addresses; (3) a recorder which records said video signal outputted from said image arrangement converter circuit; and (4) switching circuit which controls the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch between a case where said camera circuit is directly connected with said recorder and a case where said camera circuit is connected with said recorder through said image arrangement converter circuit intervening therebetween.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
An imager apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said switching circuit disconnects said image arrangement convertor circuit from said power supply circuit.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
181 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit which generates a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing which pivots said video camera for rotation about a predetermined axis, including; (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory; and (3) switching circuit which controls the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch whether said read address generator circuit is forced to generate read addresses in the same order as or in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator has generated write addresses.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
181 words
An imager apparatus comprising: (a) a video camera including: (1) a lens; (2) a camera head for opto-electrically converting light focused by said lens to an opto-electrically converted signal; and (3) a camera circuit which generates a video signal from said opto-electrically converted signal; and (b) a housing which pivots said video camera for rotation about a predetermined axis, including; (1) a power supply circuit; (2) an image arrangement convertor circuit having a random access memory for temporarily storing a video signal from said camera circuit, a write address generator circuit for generating write addresses for said random access memory, and a read address generator circuit for generating read addresses for said random access memory; and (3) switching circuit which controls the operation of said image arrangement convertor circuit in accordance with a rotating angular position of said video camera relative to said housing to switch whether said read address generator circuit is forced to generate read addresses in the same order as or in the order reverse to the order in which said write address generator has generated write addresses.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-10 | 2002-11-09 | 2003-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-10 | 2006-11-09 | 2007-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-10 | 2010-11-09 | 2011-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |