DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA WITH RETRACTABLE DATA CONNECTOR AND RESIDENT SOFTWARE APPLICATION
A digital video camera may include a digital video image sensor for capturing digital video footage to be stored on an internal memory. The digital video image sensor and internal memory may be housed in a camera body. A retractable arm having a data connector may be attached to the camera body. The arm can be extended from and retracted into the camera body, while the data connector can be used to transfer digital video footage to an external device, such as a computer. The data connector may conform to a standard for connecting peripheral devices, such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard or the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394 (IEEE 1394) standard.
1 . A system comprising:
a peripheral device; and
an apparatus comprising a digital video image sensor, a camera body configured to contain the digital video image sensor, an arm permanently attached to the camera body, and a data connector that adheres to a standard for connecting to the peripheral device, wherein the data connector is permanently attached to the arm.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the arm is configured to swivel about an axis in a first direction.
3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the arm is configured to swivel about the axis in a second direction opposite the first direction.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device comprises a personal computer.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises an internal memory, wherein the internal memory is configured to store digital video footage captured by the digital video image sensor.
6 . The system of claim 5 the data connector includes data paths configured to transfer the digital video footage to the peripheral device.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the data connector conforms to a USB standard for connecting the peripheral device.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device is configured to access an internal memory in the apparatus when the peripheral device is connected to the apparatus.
9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the data connector conforms to a USB standard for connecting the peripheral device.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a digital video camera.
11 . The system of claim 10 wherein the data connector conforms to a USB standard for connecting the peripheral device.
12 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a software application resident on the apparatus, wherein the software application executes without user intervention after the peripheral device is connected to the apparatus.
13 . The system of claim 12 wherein the data connector conforms to a USB standard for connecting the peripheral device.
14 . The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a playback user input element configured to enable viewing of digital video footage captured by the digital video image sensor;
a delete user input element configured to enable deletion of the digital video footage;
a record user input element configured to control capturing of the digital video footage;
a power user input element configured to enable a power supply of the apparatus; and
a rocker switch having soft-key functions determined by a mode in which the apparatus is operating.
15 . The system of claim 14 wherein the data connector conforms to a USB standard for connecting the peripheral device.
16 . The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises an internal memory for storing digital video footage.
17 . The system of claim 16 wherein the data connector conforms to a USB standard for connecting the peripheral device.