Camera stabilizer platform and camcorder therefor

Abstract

A combination camcorder and a stabilizing platform for attachment to the bottom of the camcorder to steady the filming of subjects with the use of fiber optics positioned along the body of the camcorder to transmit remote control infrared signals to an infrared receiving port on the camcorder. The platform includes a two piece bar that is held together with a locking bolt and includes a mounting screw which attaches the camcorder to the top of the platform and also attaches a handle below the platform. A remote control is attached to the handle. The remote control also can be imbedded into the handle so that the infrared signal can go from the handle directly into the fiber optics thus giving the user instant control of the signal, and improve the quality of the picture. The fiber optic fibers are attached along a surface of the camcorder by tape or an adhesive.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A combination camcorder and camera stabilizer comprising: 
 a platform having a first end connectable to a camera and a second end extending outwardly from the first end to rest on a shoulder of a camera operator;    a handle connectable to the platform having camera controls contained thereon; and    means for transmitting camera control signals from the handle to a signal receiving port on the camera.    
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the means for transmitting camera control signals is a fiber optic tape applied to the camcorder.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the fiber optic tape includes a backing sheet, at least one fiber optic fiber, an adhesive to retain the fiber optic fiber to the backing sheet and the backing sheet to the camcorder.  
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein there are a plurality of fiber optic fibers.  
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the means for transmitting the camera control signals is a fiber optic cable extending through the platform having one end adjacent the camera controls in the handle and an opposite end adjacent the signal receiving port on the camera.  
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the means for transmitting the camera control signals is a signal bore extending through the platform such that control signals generated by the camera controls in the handle can pass through the signal bore in the platform and into the signal receiving port on the camera positioned above the signal bore.  
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein a fiber optic cable is positioned in the signal bore.  
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the handle has a remote control containing the camera controls.  
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the remote control is removably mounted on the handle.  
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the means for transmitting camera control signals comprises a fiber optic fiber and an adhesive.  
     
     
         11 . A combination camcorder and camera platform comprising: 
 a shoulder section having a shoulder pad at one end thereof;    a camera section movably attached to the shoulder section for supporting the camcorder;    a handle removably attached to the camera section;    a remote control removably attached to the handle; and    a fiber optic fiber for transmitting control signals from the remote control to a signal receiving port on the video camera.    
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the fiber optic fiber is positioned on a tape attached to the camcorder.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the fiber optic fiber has a first end adjacent the remote control and an opposite end adjacent the signal receiving port on the camera.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the camera section has a signal bore extending therethrough, such that control signals generated by the remote control can pass through the signal bore and into the first end of the fiber optic fiber  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the tape has a backing sheet and an adhesive.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the fiber optic fiber is directly attached to the camcorder by an adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . A camcorder comprising a body having an infrared signal receiving port and at least one fiber optic fiber attached to an outer surface of the camcorder extending along the outer surface to the infrared signal receiving port.  
     
     
         18 . The camcorder of  claim 17 , wherein the infrared signal receiving port is located on a front surface of the camera.  
     
     
         19 . The camcorder of  claim 17 , wherein the fiber optic fiber is attached to the surface of the camcorder by tape.  
     
     
         20 . The camcorder of  claim 17 , wherein the fiber optic fiber is attached to the surface of the camcorder by an adhesive.