# US 7,612,821 B1 · Modular camcorder

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- Number: US 7,612,821 B1
- Document ID: US7612821B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 11/773,320
- Filed: 2007-07-03
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2006-07-19
- Assignees: Team Research, Inc.
- Inventors: Chorng-Guang Hsia
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612821B1

## CPC

- H04N 23/631: {Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters}
- H04M 1/0254: {comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules}
- H04M 1/0264: {for a camera module assembly}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

Modular camcorders are described. According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a modular camcorder includes a digital video camera unit (“camera unit”) and a portable multimedia player (PMP) modular unit (“PMP unit”). The camera unit includes a camera means for capturing images of an object, and a recording means for recording the captured images and associated audio therewith. The PMP unit comprises a display monitor (e.g., LCD) and a storage device (e.g., hard disk). In the standalone mode, the PMP unit is an apparatus such as a MP3 player. When the PMP unit is coupled to the camera unit via a pair of matching connectors, the combined device becomes the modular camcorder. The pair of matching connectors (e.g., a female/male, or male/female) is designed such that one of them is located on the camera unit and the other on the PMP unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modular camcorder comprising:
a camera unit and an optional camera unit camcorder control application installed thereon, said camera unit comprises
a lens configured to capture one or more optical images of objects,
a microphone configured to capture audio signals associated with the optical images,
an imager configured to convert the captured optical images to electrical video signals,
an analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize the electrical signals to digital signals, and
a processor together with a memory configured to compress the digital signals and to encode the captured audio signals; and
a portable multimedia player (PMP) unit and a PMP unit camcorder control application installed thereon, said PMP unit comprises a storage device configured to store the compressed digital signals and the encoded audio signals,
a display screen configured to display the captured optical images and to play back the stored digital signals,
a memory configured to store the PMP unit camcorder control application,
a microprocessor configured to execute instructions from the PMP unit camcorder control application and a user input interface configured to enable a user to traverse a menu of camcorder control commands and select one of the commands, wherein said PMP unit is coupled to said camera unit via a first connector in said camera unit and a second connector in said PMP unit and the menu of camcorder control commands is activated only when said camera unit is detected by the PMP unit camcorder control application.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The modular camcorder of claim 1, wherein said camera unit further comprises a user controls interface configured to control functions of said camera unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The modular camcorder of claim 1, wherein said camera unit further comprises a view finder configured to let a user to see what the optical images being captured by the lens.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The modular camcorder of claim 1, wherein the digital signals comprise at least one still or moving image signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The modular camcorder of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are matching pair with corresponding pins and receptacles for pins in accordance with a modular camcorder connector interface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The modular camcorder of claim 1, wherein the pins and receptacles for pins comprise Universal Serial Bus pins and power pins.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The modular camcorder of claim 6, wherein the pins and receptacles for pins further comprise control pins for said camera unit.