Abstract: A camera apparatus in which a video camera and a photographic camera are integrally combined or which has a self-timer function, and an aspect conversion circuit for converting the orientation of an image are provided. A normal mode and a self-timer mode are provided, and in either mode, a shutter pulse synchronized with a vertical synchronizing signal is obtained from an output signal of a frequency divider, while in the self-timer mode, a timer is driven by the output signal of the frequency divider, whereby the frequency divider is used in both modes. Alternatively, a still mode and a video mode is provided, and in the still mode, a shutter pulse and a record pulse are output in response to an operation of a shutter switch, while in the video mode, the record pulse is output in response to an operation of a record switch and the shutter pulse is output in response to an operation of the shutter switch.

Abstract: A method can record or reproduce a digital audio signal and a digital video signal simultaneously. An N-bit (N: positive integer) digital audio signal is positioned at a higher bit side and an M-bit (M: positive integer) digital video signal is positioned at a lower bit side so as to form an (N+M)-bit digital signal which is recorded or reproduced in this condition. Since the digital video signal is positioned at the lower bit side, the digital video signal may not affect the reproduced audio signal even if the (N+M)-bit digital signal is processed as the digital audio signal in the reproducing process.

Abstract: A video camera system for generating a shutter pulse for operating a photo-camera or other still image recording means in response to detecting a predetermined magnitude change in an average level of a pick-up signal representative of an image. As a detecting signal, both level detecting signals for an iris control and an AGC control, for example, are used. When the status of a foreground object zone is changed with movement of a person or an object, the level change of the image pick-up signal becomes a value larger than a predetermined value and a shutter pulse is automatically generated.

Abstract: A video camera or the like which comprises light emission means such as a strobe illuminating a foreground object includes white balance sensing. Since white balance of an image picked-up signal of foreground object being picked up with light emission of light emission means is controlled in accordance with colour temperature information, the effect of other sources of light besides the light emission means is taken into consideration.

Abstract: In a video camera in strobe mode, when a condition for strobe light emission is ready, the aperture of an iris is reduced and the gain of an AGC amplifier is fixed at a predetermined value. Accordingly, a dark image representing the condition ready for strobe light emission is displayed on an electronic view finder, and in addition saturation of charge accumulation is prevented.

Abstract: A video camera having a zoom function and a camera system are provided, wherein a ratio of view fields of the video camera and a photographic camera is calculated based on information about zooming powers of imaging lenses, and an image frame of the photographic cameras is displayed in a variable size at an electronic viewfinder in accordance with the ratio of the view fields and based on a picked-up image of fixed size, or a picked-up image is displayed in a variable size on the basis of the image frame of the photographic camera. View angles of the video camera and the photographic camera are obtained from the information about the zooming powers of the imaging lenses, and zoom adjustment is carried out with the view angles coinciding with each other, or the zooming power of one of the video camera and the photographic camera is adjusted such that the view angles become equal to each other.

Abstract: A method can record or reproduce a digital audio signal and a digital video signal simultaneously. An N-bit (N: positive integer) digital audio signal is positioned at a higher bit side and an M-bit (M: positive integer) digital video signal is positioned at a lower bit side so as to form an (N+M)-bit digital signal which is recorded or reproduced in this condition. Since the digital video signal is positioned at the lower bit side, the digital video signal may not affect the reproduced audio signal even if the (N+M)-bit digital signal is processed as the digital audio signal in the reproducing process.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously recording and reproducing a digital audio signal and a digital video signal for a dynamic picture. A digital signal is recorded and reproduced in N bits (N: integer), and an image area, an audio area and a control area are formed by part of the N bits. Compressed digital video signals for multiple screens forming a dynamic picture are allocated in the image area in each compression reference period. A digital audio signal in each compression reference period is allocated in the audio area in the compression reference period. Data, such as compression information, which concerns a digital signal to be allocated in the image area or audio area, is allocated in the control area. As a digital video signal carrying a vast amount of information is recorded in a compressed manner, and the compression information is recorded at the same time, recording and reproducing the digital video signal for a dynamic picture can be executed without problems.

Abstract: A video tape recorder which is capable of reproducing video signals from either of the VHS system and .beta. system tape cassettes. The video signal recorded on a magnetic tape of either one of the VHS system or .beta. system tape cassettes can be recorded on the magnetic tape of the other type tape cassette and reproduced therefrom.

Abstract: Compressed air is blown into a pool of molten solder during soldering to form air bubbles which rapidly rise in the molten solder toward the top. The rising air bubbles strike against a printed circuit board and electric and or electronic components temporarily fixed thereto to achieve soldering. After soldering, inert gas is introduced into the molten solder instead of the air.

Abstract: A soldering method comprises forming bubbles by blowing gas into a pool of molten solder, and striking the bubbles against a printed circuit board with electric and or electronic components temporarily fixed thereto to solder them to each other.

Abstract: Information reproducing and recording apparatus is disclosed which has a tape recorder mechanism, a disc recorder mechanism and an electric circuit for reproducing and recording and in which information obtained from the disc recorder mechanism is recorded on the side of the tape recorder mechanism in the state that the tape recorder mechanism and the disc recorder mechanism are in constant-speed forwarding and reproducing modes of operation, respectively. Switching of the disc recorder from a non-reproducing mode to the reproducing mode of operation is detected and, based on the detecting signal, the tape recorder mechanism is automatically changed over from a stop mode to the constant-speed forwarding mode of operation. Switching of the tape recorder mechanism from the stop mode to the constant-speed forwarding mode of operation is detected and, based on the detecting signal, the disc recorder mechanism is automatically altered from the non-reproducing mode to the reproducing mode of operation.