Control switch for a portable digital video camera

摘要

An integrated hands-free, point of view, action-sports, digital video camera (or camcorder) (10) includes: a rotary horizon adjustment controller (14) for adjusting the orientation of a horizontal image plane (16) recorded by an image sensor with respect to the orientation of a camera housing (22); a laser alignment system with laser sources (48) capable of projecting light to define a horizontal projection axis (52) that is coordinated with orientation of the horizontal image plane (16); a manually operable switch (80), which covers a microphone (90) whenever the switch (80) is in the OFF position, for controlling video data capture; and a “quick-release” mounting system (120) that retains a desired orientation of the camera (10).

主权项

1. A digital video camcorder, comprising:
a camera housing; a lens; a first data storage medium; an image sensor for capturing image data through the lens and directly or indirectly providing the image data to the first data storage medium; a video encoder that cooperates with the image sensor; a microprocessor that provides instructions to the video encoder; a microphone for capturing audio data and directly or indirectly providing the audio data to the first data storage medium and/or to a second data storage medium; a manually operable switch for controlling operation of the image sensor, the video encoder, and the microphone, wherein the manually operable switch has an ON position and an OFF position such that placement of the switch in the ON position causes power to be supplied to the image sensor, video encoder, and microphone and causes recording of video and audio data onto the first data storage medium and/or the second data storage medium to be initiated; and a switch activator for the manually operable switch, wherein the switch activator is moveable over a slidably engageable surface of the camera housing to slidably engage the camera housing wherein the camcorder further comprises:
a front in proximity to the lens,a back in opposition to the front,a top extending between the front and the back,a bottom extending between the front and the back, wherein the bottom is in opposition to the top,a side extending between the top and the bottom,a top length between the front and the back, anda side height between the top and the bottom, wherein the top length is greater than the side height, and wherein the camera housing has a top surface area at the top, and the slidably engageable surface forms a major portion of the top surface area.