US6442336B1 — Hand-held video camera-recorder-printer and metho…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 170 words

A portable video unit comprising: (a) a hand-held, box-like housing supporting: (i) a camera having an output for electrical video picture signals representative of image phenomena occurring outside said housing, (ii) a video recorder and reproduction device electrically coupleable to the output of the camera and having an output for picture signals reproduced from a record member supported in said housing, (iii) a video-signal display unit including a display screen viewable from the exterior of said housing, and (iv) a printer electrically coupled to the video recorder and reproduction device; (b) a manually operated selection switch having two positions, wherein, without operating any other switch, in the first position, the video-signal display unit is coupled to the output of said camera and in the second position, the video-signal display unit is coupled to the output of said video recorder and reproduction device; and (c) a manually operated printing trigger that, when in a predetermined position, causes the printer to output a hard copy of the image displayed on the screen.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 170 words

A portable video unit comprising: (a) a hand-held, box-like housing supporting: (i) a camera having an output for electrical video picture signals representative of image phenomena occurring outside said housing, (ii) a video recorder and reproduction device electrically coupleable to the output of the camera and having an output for picture signals reproduced from a record member supported in said housing, (iii) a video-signal display unit including a display screen viewable from the exterior of said housing, and (iv) a printer electrically coupled to the video recorder and reproduction device; (b) a manually operated selection switch having two positions, wherein, without operating any other switch, in the first position, the video-signal display unit is coupled to the output of said camera and in the second position, the video-signal display unit is coupled to the output of said video recorder and reproduction device; and (c) a manually operated printing trigger that, when in a predetermined position, causes the printer to output a hard copy of the image displayed on the screen.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

A unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a microphone supported by said housing, and wherein said video recorder and reproduction device is configured to store and to reproduce audio signals produced by said microphone on said record member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

A unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a battery supported in said housing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 70 words

A unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a digital memory supported in the housing and coupled and sized to store a single frame of video picture signals, and wherein the memory is coupled to the printer and the printing trigger, so that when the printing trigger is activated, video picture signals are first stored in the memory and then reproduced from the memory and applied to the printer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 65 words

A unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein: (a) said record member comprises video recording tape; (b) said housing further includes a receptacle sized to receive a cassette holding a quantity of said tape; (c) said video recorder and reproduction device includes reproduction and recording heads; and (d) said receptacle is positioned to dispose said tape against said heads when a cassette is inserted therein.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

A unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a cathode ray tube.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

A unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display unit comprises a charge coupled device.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 210 words

A portable video unit comprising: (a) a hand-held, box-like housing; (b) a camera supported within said housing and having an input for image phenomena occurring outside said housing; (c) a first switch that, when activated by a camera operator, causes said camera to generate video picture signals on an output thereof; (d) a video recorder supported within said housing, having an input electrically coupled to said camera output, and having a reproduction device electrically coupled to an output of said recorder; (e) a second switch that, when placed by the camera operator in a predetermined position, causes said video recorder to record on a record member single-frame video picture signals received from said camera output at the input of said video recorder; (f) a video monitor supported within said housing, coupled to display video picture signals, and having a screen viewable from the exterior of said housing; (g) a third switch coupled to allow the camera operator to switch the display on the video monitor between said camera output and said recorder output without operating any other switch; (h) a hard-copy printer supported by the housing; and (i) a fourth human-operated switch coupled to cause the printer to print a single-frame image from the output selected by the third switch.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 210 words

A portable video unit comprising: (a) a hand-held, box-like housing; (b) a camera supported within said housing and having an input for image phenomena occurring outside said housing; (c) a first switch that, when activated by a camera operator, causes said camera to generate video picture signals on an output thereof; (d) a video recorder supported within said housing, having an input electrically coupled to said camera output, and having a reproduction device electrically coupled to an output of said recorder; (e) a second switch that, when placed by the camera operator in a predetermined position, causes said video recorder to record on a record member single-frame video picture signals received from said camera output at the input of said video recorder; (f) a video monitor supported within said housing, coupled to display video picture signals, and having a screen viewable from the exterior of said housing; (g) a third switch coupled to allow the camera operator to switch the display on the video monitor between said camera output and said recorder output without operating any other switch; (h) a hard-copy printer supported by the housing; and (i) a fourth human-operated switch coupled to cause the printer to print a single-frame image from the output selected by the third switch.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 121 words

The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: (a) a microphone supported by said housing; (b) an audio recorder and reproduction device configured to store and to reproduce audio signals produced by said microphone on said record member, which comprises a quantity of recording tape; (c) a battery supported in said housing; (d) a digital memory supported by said housing and coupled and sized to store a single frame of video picture signals and associated audio signals; and (e) a receptacle in said housing, which is (i) sized to receive a cassette holding a quantity of said tape, and (ii) positioned to dispose said tape against reproduction and recording heads of said recorder and reproduction device when a cassette is inserted therein.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the hard-copy printer is detachably connected to the housing.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 11 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fourth switch is voice-responsive.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 162 words

A method for generating, recording, and printing image information comprising: (a) hand holding and directing a portable television camera and recording unit defined by a housing that includes a television camera, a video recorder and playback unit, a video monitor having a display screen, and a printer; (b) operating the television camera to scan an image field and to output video picture signals; (c) applying said video picture signals to the monitor to display the image field; (d) upon demand, recording said video picture signals on a recording member supported by the housing; (e) toggling a control switch, without operating any other switch, to switch the signals applied to said video monitor from the video picture signals generated by the television camera to video picture signals reproduced from said recording member, to display on said video monitor a previously recorded image; and (f) selectively printing a single frame of said video picture signals, comprising either said camera-outputted signals or said reproduced signals.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 162 words

A method for generating, recording, and printing image information comprising: (a) hand holding and directing a portable television camera and recording unit defined by a housing that includes a television camera, a video recorder and playback unit, a video monitor having a display screen, and a printer; (b) operating the television camera to scan an image field and to output video picture signals; (c) applying said video picture signals to the monitor to display the image field; (d) upon demand, recording said video picture signals on a recording member supported by the housing; (e) toggling a control switch, without operating any other switch, to switch the signals applied to said video monitor from the video picture signals generated by the television camera to video picture signals reproduced from said recording member, to display on said video monitor a previously recorded image; and (f) selectively printing a single frame of said video picture signals, comprising either said camera-outputted signals or said reproduced signals.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method in accordance with claim 12 including as part of (f) first storing said frame of video picture signals in a digital memory in said housing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein (d) comprises inserting a magnetic tape cassette in a receptacle of the housing and recording individual frame of video picture signals on the tape.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising storing said frame along with a code signal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein (f) comprises employing said code signal to reproduce a selected frame of video recording from said magnetic tape.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method in accordance with claim 12 including reproducing a selected single frame of recorded video information and applying it to said video monitor instead of video information generated by the television camera, to display on said video monitor a previously recorded still image, and wherein (f) comprises printing said selected still image.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-08-26	2006-02-25	2006-08-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-08-26	2010-02-25	2010-08-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-08-26	2014-02-25	2014-08-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hand-held video camera-recorder-printer and methods for operating same

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