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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
Free setting of the angle or direction of a camera is available
while the camera is being inserted into a cradle. A cradle for a
digital camera is provided, which is capable of confirming a display
screen of the camera, changing the recording medium or battery,
or mounting or demounting a communication cable or the like while
the camera is being mounted on the cradle without deteriorating
the camera holding. The cradle has a structure such that a tripod
screw hole is formed on the bottom surface of the cradle, thereby
capable of fixing the cradle to a tripod while the digital camera
is being inserted into the cradle. By making the height of rubber
pads equal or higher than that of a tripod base, the cradle can
be stably placed on a desk or the like. The cradle also has a structure
that, among the walls holding the camera, a part of the walls that
cover a liquid-crystal monitor of the camera, a media slot for a
memory card, a terminal part including a power supply terminal or
USB terminal is constituted by movable walls. The movable walls
can be used as a simple tripod by employing a free stop structure
or click stop structure.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A cradle for a digital camera, wherein a part of wall surface
which holds a digital camera is movable.
2. The cradle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wall surface
of the cradle covering at least one of a media insertion part, an
image display part, a terminal part and a battery insertion part
provided in the digital camera is constituted by a movable wall.
3. The cradle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cradle comprises
standing walls each of which holds two sides forming a corner of
at least one pair of diagonal corner portions of a digital camera
whose cross section has a generally rectangular shape.
4. The cradle as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the movable wall
surface is constituted by a movable wall which is rotatably supported;
an angle adjustment device which is capable of adjusting a stop
angle of the movable wall is provided to the cradle; and the movable
wall is capable of being used as a leg portion for supporting the
cradle.
5. The cradle as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the wall surface
portion of the cradle which covers an image display part provided
to the digital camera is constituted by a rotatable movable wall;
and a mirror is formed inside of the movable wall which faces a
display screen of the image display part.
6. The cradle as set forth in claim 1, comprising: a camera mounting
part on which a digital camera is mounted; a first communication
device which performs communication with the digital camera mounted
on the camera mounting part; a second communication device which
performs communication with an external device such as a personal
computer; and a power supply terminal which supplies power to the
digital camera mounted on the camera mounting part.
Digital Camera Patent Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Divisional of co-pending application
Ser. No. 10/166,366, filed on Jun. 11, 2002, the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated by reference and for which priority
is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a cradle for a digital
camera, and in particular to a structure of a cradle suitable for
a digital camera having a communication function with an external
device such as a personal computer.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-44050
discloses a connection structure between a first electronic instrument
such as a cellular phone and a second electronic instrument corresponding
to its cradle. Not limited to the cellular phone, but also in the
field of digital still camera, the system in which a cradle is used
to charge a battery of a digital camera or perform data communication
with an external device such as a personal computer is known.
[0006] In many cases, the cradle for the digital camera is mainly
used in the following two ways. The first one is, as shown in FIG.
9, to place a cradle 104 at a position near an external device such
as a personal computer (PC) 100, for example, on a desk 102 for
performing communication between the personal computer 100 and a
camera 106 through the cradle 104. The second one is to use the
camera 106 as a PC camera for image inputting while the camera 106
is being mounted on the cradle 104.
[0007] However, in any of the use patterns described above, the
camera attitude depends on the main body of the cradle, and therefore,
there is little flexibility in the camera angle, thus causing inconveniences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been developed in view of the
above-described circumstances, and its object is to provide a cradle
for a digital camera enabling to set up a camera with flexible attitude
while the camera is being mounted on a cradle.
[0009] Furthermore, for example, since a camera having a shape
which is longer than is wide has its center of gravity at a relatively
high position, it is preferable to make the side and rear walls
of the cradle higher for enhancing camera holding, which also serves
to prevent the camera from dropping. In general, on the rear surface
of the digital camera, a liquid-crystal display part capable of
displaying images or characters, various switch buttons and the
like are provided, and on the side surfaces of the camera, a medium
slot into which a removable medium is inserted, an audio/video output
terminal, a power supply terminal and a terminal of communication
interface such as USB are provided.
[0010] In case of the above-described cradle having high walls,
the liquid-crystal display part, various switch buttons, medium
slot cover, terminal part and the like of the camera are covered
with the walls, and accordingly, it is impossible to confirm the
contents of the display such as images, insert or slide out the
medium, and attach or detach a communication cable or the like.
[0011] The present invention has also been developed in view of
the above-described circumstances, and its object is to provide
a cradle for a digital camera enabling to confirm the display on
the liquid-crystal display part, exchange recording media and plug
in the communication cable or the like, as required, without deteriorating
the camera holding while the camera is being mounted on the cradle.
[0012] To achieve the above-described object, a cradle for a digital
camera according to the present invention has a tripod screw hole
into which a fixing male screw used in a tripod for a camera can
be screwed by being screwed in.
[0013] According to the present invention, since the tripod screw
hole is provided in the cradle for the digital camera, the cradle
can be fixed on the tripod while the digital camera is being inserted
into the cradle. This makes it possible to freely set the direction
or angle of the camera by using the platform of the tripod, thus
increasing the flexibility in setting arrangement.
[0014] According to an aspect of the present invention, the cradle
for a digital camera includes: a camera mounting part on which a
digital camera is mounted; a first communication device which performs
communication with the digital camera mounted on the camera mounting
part; a second communication device which performs communication
with an external device such as a personal computer; and a power
supply terminal which supplies power to the digital camera mounted
on the camera mounting part.
[0015] According to this aspect, long-duration photographing becomes
possible by supplying power to the digital camera from the cradle
through the power supply terminal. Image data photographed by the
digital camera is transmitted to the cradle through the first communication
device, and then transmitted from the cradle to the external device
through the second communication device. As the first and second
communication devices, it is preferable to apply a bi-directional
communication interface such as USB and IEEE1394.
[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, in
the above-described cradle for a digital camera of the present invention,
the height of leg parts provided on a bottom surface of the cradle
is equal to or higher than that of a tripod base which serves as
a tripod fixing surface. In the case where the cradle is placed
on a flat surface such as a desk surface, the leg parts support
the cradle and the tripod base is not in contact with the placing
surface. Even if the tripod base contacts the placing surface, its
height is equal to that of the leg parts, and therefore, good stability
is obtained.
[0017] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
the cradle includes: a locking device which fixes a digital camera
to the cradle by a mechanical engaging device when the digital camera
is mounted; and a releasing device which releases the fixing. According
to this aspect, the digital camera is securely fixed on the cradle
by the locking device, the digital camera does not drop even if
the camera attitude (or photographing angle) is largely tilted by
the tripod.
[0018] Also, to achieve the above-described object, in a cradle
for a digital camera according to the present invention, a part
of wall surface which holds a digital camera is movable.
[0019] For example, the wall surface covering at least one of a
media insertion part, an image display part, a terminal part and
a battery insertion part provided in the digital camera is constituted
by a movable wall.
[0020] According to the present invention, in the cradle on which
the camera is mounted, a part of the wall surfaces formed around
the camera mounting part is constituted by a movable wall member
(movable wall), and therefore, it becomes possible to mount or demount
recording media, confirm the contents of display in the image display
part, attach or detach a cable plug, change the battery or the like,
while the camera is being inserted into the cradle.
[0021] As an aspect of the cradle of the present invention having
the movable wall, it is preferred that, not to deteriorate the camera
holding, the cradle has standing walls each of which holds two sides
forming a corner of at least one pair of diagonal comer portions
of a digital camera whose cross section has a generally rectangular
shape.
[0022] According to an aspect of the present invention, the movable
wall surface is constituted by a movable wall which is rotatably
supported, and wherein an angle adjustment device which is capable
of adjusting a stop angle of the movable wall is provided in the
cradle, and the movable wall can also be used as a leg portion for
supporting the cradle.
[0023] By supporting the movable wall with a structure capable
of adjusting the angle such as a free stop type and a click stop
type, the movable wall can be utilized as a simple tripod as required.
This makes it possible to freely control the angle of the camera
inserted into the cradle.
[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
wall surface portion of the cradle which covers an image display
part provided in the digital camera is constituted by a rotatable
movable wall, and a mirror is formed inside of the movable wall
which faces a display screen of the image display part. There is
a possibility of occurrence of the case where the space behind the
cradle is narrow and the display screen of the image display part
on the rear surface of the camera cannot be confirmed depending
upon the setting environment of the cradle. In the present invention,
by constituting the wall surface of the cradle corresponding to
the image display part of the digital camera by a movable wall and
providing a mirror on the inside (the side facing the image display
part) of the movable wall, the display screen can be confirmed by
adjusting the mirror at an appropriate angle.
[0025] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
the cradle for a digital camera includes: a camera mounting part
on which a digital camera is mounted; a first communication device
which performs communication with the digital camera mounted on
the camera mounting part; a second communication device which performs
communication with an external device such as a personal computer;
and a power supply terminal which supplies power to the digital
camera mounted on the camera mounting part.
[0026] According to this aspect, long-duration photographing becomes
possible by supplying power to the digital camera from the cradle
through the power supply terminal. Image data photographed by the
digital camera is transmitted to the cradle through the first communication
device, and then transmitted from the cradle to the external device
through the second communication device. As the first and second
communication devices, it is preferable to apply a bi-directional
communication interface such as USB and IEEE1394.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and
advantages thereof, will be explained in the following with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cradle for a digital
camera and the digital camera according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the camera
is mounted on the cradle;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bottom surface of
the cradle;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the camera
is fixed to a tripod by using the cradle;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a cross section of a main part that shows a relation
between rubber pads provided on the bottom surface of the cradle
and a tripod base;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a cross section of a main part that shows another
relation between the rubber pads provided on the bottom surface
of the cradle and the tripod base;
[0034] FIG. 7 is a cross section of a main part that shows a state
where the cradle is fixed on a platform of the tripod;
[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment
of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a use
pattern of a conventional cradle for a digital camera;
[0037] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a cradle for a digital
camera and the digital camera according to another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 11 is a cross section of a main part that shows an
example of a support structure for movable walls of the cradle;
[0039] FIG. 12 is a cross section of a main part that shows another
support structure for the movable walls;
[0040] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the support structure
that is viewed from the direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG.
12;
[0041] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a use pattern of the
cradle;
[0042] FIG. 15 is a rear-side perspective view showing another
use pattern of the cradle;
[0043] FIG. 16 is a rear-side perspective view showing a cradle
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 17 shows a use pattern of the cradle shown in FIG.
16; and
[0045] FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a cradle for a digital camera
and the digital camera according to a further embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] Hereinunder a preferred embodiment of a cradle for a digital
camera according to the present invention will be described in accordance
with the accompanying drawings.
[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cradle for a digital
camera and a digital camera before mounting according to an embodiment
of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing
a state where the camera is mounted on the cradle. A camera 10 shown
in these figures is a digital camera that is equipped with an image
pickup element such as CCD, and is capable of converting an optical
image of a subject into electronic image data and recording it onto
a recording medium, which has a function of recording/reproducing
a still image and sound-accompanying moving image. The recording
medium may be a removable medium or a memory incorporated in the
main body of the camera (internal memory).
[0048] In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 11 depicts a casing, 12
depicts a lens barrier, 13 depicts a shutter button, 14 depicts
a mode dial, 15 depicts a pop-up flash, 16 depicts a finder window,
17 depicts a self-timer lamp, 18 depicts a flash adjustment sensor
and 19 depicts a microphone. On a bottom surface 11A of the casing
11 of the camera 10, a connector 20 (hereinafter, referred to as
a camera connector) for electrically connecting with a cradle 30
is provided.
[0049] On the upper part of the cradle 30, a camera mounting part
32 (hereinafter, referred to as a mounting part) for placing the
camera 10 is formed, and on a bottom part of the mounting part 32,
a connector 34 (hereinafter, referred to as a cradle connector)
for electrically connecting with the camera 10 is provided. Around
the mounting part 32, a wall part 36 standing upward is formed,
whose inner periphery is substantially the same shape as an outer
periphery of a lower part of the casing 11 of the camera 10.
[0050] Along the direction of an arrow A from above in FIG. 1,
the camera 10 is inserted into the mounting part 32 of the cradle
30, and then the camera connector 20 is connected to the cradle
connector 34 in conjunction with the insertion operation, whereby
both of them are electrically connected and the lower part of the
camera 10 is held by the wall part 36. As shown in FIG. 2, to expose
an audio/video output (A/V output) terminal 22, digital (USB) terminal
23 and power supply input terminal 24 provided on the side surface
of the camera 10, the corresponding portion of the wall part 36
of the cradle are cut away. However, to enhance the holding for
the camera 10, wall height of the portion (indicated by the reference
numeral 36A in FIG. 2) that support the rear part of the camera
10 is made to be relatively high.
[0051] In FIG. 2, the reference numeral 25 depicts a cover (slot
cover) of a media slot for inserting a memory card as a recording
medium. In the state where the camera 10 is mounted on the cradle
30, a part of the slot cover 25 is covered with the wall part 36,
and therefore, it is impossible to open the slot cover 25.
[0052] As the communication interface between the camera 10 and
the cradle 30, various types of interfaces such as a serial interface,
for example, USB, IrDA, IEEE1394 or the like, and a parallel interface
are applicable. In this embodiment, it is supposed that the USB
interface is applied. Each of the camera connector 20 and cradle
connector 34 shown in FIG. 1 is constituted by a complex terminal
in which a USB terminal, power supply terminal and any other signal
communication terminals, as required, are united in a single connector.
[0053] Not shown in FIG. 1, though, the USB terminal (indicated
by the reference numeral 46 in FIG. 3) and the power supply terminal
(indicated by the reference numeral 48 in FIG. 3) are provided on
the rear surface of the cradle 30. A USB cord 52 is connected to
the USB terminal 46 and a power supply cord 54 from an AC power
adapter (not shown in figures) is connected to the power supply
terminal 48. By connecting the cradle 30 and an external device
(not shown in FIG. 1) such as a personal computer via the USB cord
52, it becomes possible to perform bi-directional communication
between the camera 10 and the external device.
[0054] In case of USB connection, the camera 10 has the following
communication operation modes: a card reader function (storage mode)
for reading or writing the recording medium in the camera 10 from
a personal computer (external device); and an image input device
function (PC camera mode) for performing photographing in the state
where the camera 10 is connected to a personal computer, and transmitting
the photographed image to the personal computer. The camera 10 has
a configuration such that the operation mode in the USB connection
can be selectively switched by using a menu screen or the like.
[0055] The camera 10 is equipped with a rechargeable battery not
shown in the figures, and accordingly, it is possible to charge
the battery by setting the camera 10 to the cradle 30. Not limited
to charging the battery as described above, the power provided from
an external power supply connected via the power supply cord 54
is available as a power supply of the camera 10.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 1, a power switch 38 is provided on a front
surface 30A of the cradle 30. By pressing operation on the power
switch 38, the power supply of the cradle 30 is made to be ON/OFF.
Above the power switch 38, a display part 39 composed of a light-emitting
diode (LED) is provided to indicate the operation status of the
cradle 30 by combination of illumination status and illumination
color of the display part 39.
[0057] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bottom surface of
the cradle 30. As shown in the figure, on each of four comers of
the bottom surface of the cradle 30 a rubber pad 40 is provided,
and on an approximate center portion of the bottom surface a screw
hole 42 for fixing the tripod (hereinafter, referred to as a tripod
screw hole) and tripod base 44 are provided. Various shapes of the
tripod screw hole may be available, but the commonly used screw
hole of 1/4 inch (JIS-standard size) is preferred. The tripod base
44 serves as a mounting surface in mounting the cradle 30 on a platform
(see the reference numeral 62 in FIG. 4) at an upper portion of
the tripod. As shown in FIG. 3, the tripod screw hole 42 is formed
at an approximate center of the tripod base 44 and on the surface
of the base, non-slip projections and depressions 44A are provided.
Since an aspect may be possible wherein a pin for stopping rotation
(or for positioning) is provided on the platform 62, a corresponding
aspect may also be available wherein a hole with which the pin is
engaged is formed on the tripod base.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 3, on the rear side of the bottom portion
of the cradle 30, a deep depression part 33 capable of accommodating
connector parts of the USB cord 52 and the power supply cord 54
is formed, and on a rear surface 30B of the cradle 30, a cut-away
part 37 corresponding to the depression part 33 is formed. On a
vertical wall part 33A of the depression part 33, which faces the
cut-away part 37, the USB terminal 46 and the power supply terminal
48 are provided. If the cradle 30 is placed on a flat surface such
as a desk surface while the USB cord 52 and the power supply cord
54 are connected to the USB terminal 46 and the power supply terminal
48, respectively, the connector parts of the cords 52 and 54 are
accommodated in the depression part 33, and therefore, the cradle
30 can be placed with stability, not being isolated from the surface
due to the cords 52 and 54.
[0059] Next, the operation of the cradle 30 with the above-described
configuration will be described.
[0060] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state where the
camera 10 is mounted on the tripod 60 by using the cradle 30 of
this embodiment. On the upper part of the tripod 60 for the camera,
the platform 62 is provided, on which the cradle 30 is placed and
an male screw for fixing (not shown in FIG. 4, but indicated as
the reference numeral 66 in FIG. 7) is screwed from beneath the
platform 62 to engage with the tripod screw hole 42 shown in FIG.
3, thereby fixing the cradle 30.
[0061] By adjusting the leg length of the tripod 30 or operating
an operation bar 64 as appropriate, the direction and/or angle of
the camera 10 can be controlled at will. Also, it becomes possible
to perform long-duration intermittent photographing and long-duration
moving image photographing by supplying power to the camera 10 from
the cradle 30. Image data photographed by the camera 10 can be transmitted
to an external device such as a personal computer via the USB cord
52.
[0062] FIG. 5 is a cross section of a main part showing the relation
between the rubber pads 40 and the tripod base 44. As shown in the
figure, in the cradle 30 of this embodiment, the height of the tripod
base 44 is lower than that of the rubber pads 40. Therefore, when
the cradle 30 is placed on a flat surface such as a surface of desk
70, the cradle 30 is supported by the rubber pads 40, thus making
the tripod base 44 and an female screw member 43 (the member to
be the tripod screw hole 42) for the tripod do not contact the desk
surface, whereby the cradle 30 can be stable.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 6, the tripod base 44 has substantially
the same height as the rubber pads 40 at the maximum. Given that
the tripod base 44 is higher than the rubber pads 40, the rubber
pads 40 do not contact the desk surface. Therefore, the stability
is deteriorated, which is undesirable.
[0064] FIG. 7 is a cross section of a main part showing a state
where the cradle 30 is fixed to the platform 62. As shown in the
figure, when the cradle 30 is placed on the platform 62, the rubber
pads 40 are not in contact with the platform 62. Since the size
of the platform 62 is roughly fixed, it is desirable to design the
positional relation between the rubber pads 40 and the tripod base
44 so that the rubber pads 40 and the platform 62 are not in contact
with each other when the cradle 30 is fixed on the platform 62 in
consideration of the size of typical platforms currently on the
market. Accordingly, the tripod base 44 is brought into intimate
contact with the platform 62. The tripod male screw 66 is screwed
in the tripod screw hole 42 and engaged therewith, thus fixing the
cradle 30 with stability.
[0065] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment
of the present invention. In FIG. 8, same or similar parts as those
of FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals, and explanation
thereof will be omitted.
[0066] On the top surface of a cradle 80 shown in FIG. 8, a depression
part 82 is formed as a camera mounting part. On the bottom surface
of the depression part 82, a cradle connector 34 for electrically
connecting with a camera 90 and hooks 84 for connecting and fixing
(locking) the camera 90 are provided.
[0067] The camera 90 is a digital camera capable of converting
an optical image of a subject entering through a photographing lens
92 into an electrical signal by an image pickup element such as
a CCD, and recording electronic image data having been obtained
onto a recording medium. On the bottom surface of the camera 90,
a camera connector 20 and engaging parts (hooking parts) 94 for
engaging with the hooks 84 of the cradle 80 are formed.
[0068] When the camera 90 is inserted into the depression part
82 of the cradle 80, the camera connector 20 is connected with the
cradle connector 34 and the hooks 84 of the cradle 80 are engaged
with the engaging parts 94 of the camera 90, whereby the camera
90 is fixed on the cradle 80.
[0069] Not shown in FIG. 8, though, the rubber pads 40, tripod
base 44 and tripod screw hole 42 are provided on the underside of
the cradle 80 as in the case of FIG. 3, thus capable of mounting
the cradle 80 on the tripod 60. Because the camera 90 is securely
fixed on the cradle 80 by a mechanical locking system in which the
hooks 84 of the cradle 80 are engaged with the engaging parts 94
of the main body of the camera, the camera 90 does not drop even
if the attitude of the camera 90 is largely tilted by the tripod
60.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 8, by performing an operation of sliding
a lock release button 86 provided on the front surface 80A of the
cradle 80 to the left direction in FIG. 8, the hooks 84 are moved
to a lock releasing direction (left direction in FIG. 8) in conjunction
with the operation, thereby releasing the engaged state (releasing
the lock). Since it is possible to operate the lock release button
86 in the state where the cradle 80 is fixed to the tripod, the
user can separate the camera 90 from the cradle 80 as required.
[0071] Next, a further embodiment of the present invention will
be described.
[0072] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a cradle for a digital
camera and the digital camera according to this embodiment of the
present invention. A camera 110 is a digital camera capable of converting
an optical image of a subject entering through a photographing lens
112 into an electrical signal by an image pickup element such as
a CCD, and recording electronic image data having been obtained
onto a recording medium. In this embodiment, a memory card called
as Smart Media (Solid-State Floppy Disk Card) is used as the recording
medium. However, kind of the recording medium is not limited thereto,
and any other recording medium such as Compact Flash can be applied.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 10, the camera 110 has a generally rectangular
parallelepiped-shape which is longer than is wide, and on the front
surface of a casing 111, the photographing lens 112, a finder window
113, self-timer lamp 114 and a flash part 115 are provided. A shutter
button 116 is provided on a top surface, and a slot cover 118 is
provided on a side surface of the camera. The slot cover 118 is
a door for protecting a media slot (not shown in FIG. 10, but indicated
as the reference numeral 171 in FIG. 14), which is mounted to be
opened/closed by a hinge mechanism not shown in the figure. The
slot cover 118 is locked by a lock mechanism not shown in the figure
when it is closed. By operating a lock release knob 119 in a downward
direction in FIG. 10, latch of the lock mechanism (not shown in
the figure) of the slot cover 118 becomes off and the slot cover
118 is opened.
[0074] On an underside 111A of the casing 111 of the camera 110,
a connector (hereinafter, referred to as a camera connector) 120
for electrically connecting with a cradle 130 is provided.
[0075] The cradle 130 has a box shape with a bottom, and its top
is opened. On a bottom part of a camera mounting part (hereinafter,
referred to as a mounting part) 132 to place the camera 110, a connector
(hereinafter, referred to as a cradle connector) 134 for electrically
connecting with the camera 110 is provided. At the outer periphery
part of the mounting part 132, a wall 136 which stands upwardly
is formed, and an inner peripheral shape of the wall 136 generally
matches the outer peripheral shape of the lower part of the casing
111 of the camera 110.
[0076] By inserting the camera 110 into the cradle 130 along the
direction indicated by an allow A from above in FIG. 10, in conjunction
with the insertion operation, the camera connector 120 is connected
with the cradle connector 134, whereby both of the camera 110 and
the cradle 130 are electrically connected, and the lower part of
the camera 110 is held by the wall 136.
[0077] The wall 136 is composed of column parts 138, 139, 140 and
141 integrally formed with a main body 131 of the cradle 130 and
movable walls 143, 144, 145 and 146. The column parts 138, 139,
140 and 141 are wall members fixed to (do not move) the four corners
of the cradle and standing upwardly, whose cross sections have generally
an L-shape. The shape of the cross sections of the column parts
138, 139, 140 and 141 is designed to correspond to an external shape
of the casing 111 so that the four corners of the camera 110 (ridge
lines in a longitudinal direction and the corner parts which are
proximate to the ridge lines) are held by the column parts 138,
139, 140 and 141 when the camera 110 is inserted into the cradle
130. The camera 110 having a shape which is longer than is wide
has its center of gravity at a relatively high position, the wall
136 is formed to be relatively high corresponding thereto.
[0078] The movable walls 143, 144, 145 and 146 are supported around
axes near the base portions between adjacent two column parts (138,
139), (139, 140), (140, 141) and (141, 138), respectively, and the
movable walls 143, 144, 145 and 146 have structures such that the
upper side of each wall is, as indicated by an allow of the dashed
line, movable toward the outside of the cradle 130. The support
structures of the movable walls 143, 144, 145 and 146 will be described
later with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
[0079] As the communication interface between the camera 110 and
the cradle 130 shown in FIG. 10, various types of interfaces such
as a serial interface, for example, USB, IrDA, IEEE1394 or the like,
and a parallel interface are applicable. In this embodiment, it
is supposed that the USB interface is applied. Each of the camera
connector 120 and cradle connector 134 shown in FIG. 10 is constituted
by a complex terminal in which a USB terminal, power supply terminal
and any other signal communication terminals, as required, are united
in a single connector.
[0080] Not shown in FIG. 10, though, the USB terminal (indicated
by the reference numeral 185 in FIG. 15) and the power supply terminal
(indicated by the reference numeral 186 in FIG. 15) are provided
on the rear surface of the cradle 130. A USB cord 148 is connected
to the USB terminal 185 and a power supply cord 149 from an AC power
adapter (not shown in the figures) is connected to the power supply
terminal 186. By connecting the cradle 130 and an external device
(not shown in FIG. 10) such as a personal computer via the USB cord
148, it becomes possible to perform bi-directional communication
between the camera 110 and the external device.
[0081] In case of USB connection, the camera 110 has the following
communication operation modes: a card reader function (storage mode)
for reading or writing to the recording medium of the camera 110
from a personal computer (external device); and an image input device
function (PC camera mode) for performing photographing in the state
of connecting the camera 110 to a personal computer and transmitting
the photographed image to the personal computer. The camera 110
has a configuration such that the operation mode in the USB connection
can be selectively switched by using a menu screen or the like.
[0082] The camera 110 is equipped with a rechargeable battery not
shown in the figures, and accordingly, it is possible to charge
the battery by setting the camera 110 to the cradle 130. Not limited
to charging the battery as described above, the power provided from
an external power supply connected via the power supply cord 149
is available as a power supply of the camera 110.
[0083] FIG. 11 is a cross section of a main part showing an example
of the support structure (free stop structure) of the movable wall.
With reference to the figure, only the movable wall 143 will be
described, but the same structure is applied to any other movable
walls 144, 145 and 146. As shown in FIG. 11, a through hole 152
is formed at the lower part of the movable wall 143, through which
a shaft 151 passes to serve as an axis of rotation. Between the
movable wall 143 and the main body 131 of the cradle 130, a friction
metal sheet 154 is provided. The cross section of the friction metal
sheet 154 has a U-shape (a shape of topless box), and a passing
hole 157 through which the shaft 151 passes is formed at a narrow
parts 156 that stand along the column parts 138 and 139. A connection
part 158 for connecting the narrow parts 156 of right and left sides
is fixed to the bottom part of the cradle main body 131 with screws
155.
[0084] The positions of the passing hole 157 of the friction metal
sheet 154 and the through hole 152 of the movable wall 143 are aligned,
and the shaft 151 is passed through the holes. Male screws 161 and
162 are formed at both ends of the shaft 151, and the male screw
161 at one end (left end in FIG. 11) is screwed in to engage with
a nut 164 provided in the column part 138 of the cradle main body
131. The nut 164 has a rotation stop 165 which engages with the
friction metal sheet 154.
[0085] The male screw 162 at the other end (right end in FIG. 11)
of the shaft 151 is screwed to be engaged with a tightening adjustment
nut 166. At a part of the column part 139, an opening 139A is formed
so that the tightness of the nut 166 can be adjusted. According
to this structure, the tightness of the nut 166 can be adjusted,
whereby appropriate friction capable of stopping the movable wall
143 at an arbitrary angle is obtained.
[0086] FIG. 12 is a cross section of a main part showing another
example (click stop structure) related to the support structure
of the movable wall, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the
example viewed from the direction indicated by an allow B in FIG.
12.
[0087] As shown in these figures, a projecting part (hereinafter,
referred to as an axis part) 143A of a cylindrical shape, which
serves as an axis of rotation is provided to the movable wall 143,
and plural click holes 143B are formed on the same circumferential
line around the axis part 143A. On the column part 139 of the cradle
main body 131, a depression part 139B is formed to serve as a bearing
with which the axis part 143A of the movable wall 143 is engaged.
The axis part 143A of the movable wall 143 is inserted into the
depression part 139B, and accordingly, the movable wall 143 is rotatably
supported.
[0088] On the column part 139, a click ball 168 for engaging with
one of the click holes 143B is provided, and a spring 169 applies
a force to the click ball 168 toward the movable wall (the left
direction in FIG. 12). By tilting the movable wall 143, a position
of the click hole 143B with which the click ball 168 is engaged
is changed, and the stop angle of the movable wall 143 is controlled
in accordance with the position of the click hole 143B.
[0089] Next, the operation of the cradle 130 with the above-described
configuration will be explained. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing
an example of a use pattern of the cradle 130. As shown in the figure,
by tilting the movable walls 143, 144, 145 and 146 of the cradle
130, the movable walls 143, 144, 145 and 146 function as leg parts
for supporting the cradle 130. As explained with reference to FIGS.
12 and 13, each of the movable walls 143, 144, 145 and 146 has the
structure that it can be stopped at a free angle (arbitrary angle
or any of plural positions) in tilting, and therefore, the camera
110 can be controlled at a desired angle when the cradle 130 is
placed on a desk or the like.
[0090] By opening the movable wall 144 on the side surface of the
cradle, the front surface of the slot cover 118 is opened up, thus
making it possible to open or close the slot cover 118 in the state
where the camera 110 is inserted into the cradle 130. A memory card
173 can be inserted or slid out by opening the slot cover 118 and
exposing the media slot 171. If the slot cover 118 is opened during
power-on condition, control is executed to automatically turn the
power off for protecting the medium.
[0091] Not show in the figures, though, on the side surface of
the camera opposed to the side of the media slot 171, terminals
such as an audio/video output (A/V output) terminal, digital (USB)
terminal and power supply input terminal are provided, and the cradle
130 has a structure that these terminals are laid opened by tilting
the movable wall 146 that covers the relevant side surface of the
camera. Accordingly, a plug of a cable that is not shown in the
figures can be connected with the terminal in the state where the
camera 110 is inserted into the cradle 130.
[0092] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing another use pattern
of the cradle 130 viewed from the side of the rear surface. As shown
in the figure, on the rear surface of the camera, a finder 176,
a power supply button 177, a mode lever 178, a menu/OK button 179,
a BACK button 180, a cross button 181, a display panel 182 and a
liquid-crystal monitor 183 are provided. The mode lever 178 is an
operation device for switching between the photographing mode and
the reproducing mode.
[0093] The menu/OK button 179 is used for transferring from a normal
screen of each mode to a menu screen, or performing determination
of the selected contents, provision of instruction of executing
(confirming) a process, or the like. The BACK button 180 is used
for canceling an item selected from the menu, returning to the preceding
operation or the like.
[0094] The cross button 181 is a multi-function operation part
capable of inputting instructions in the four directions right,
left, upward and downward. In the reproducing mode, the left key
and the right key function as one-frame backward button and one-frame
forward button, respectively. The upward key and the downward key
are used as a zoom key for magnification adjustment in a reproduction
zoom function or an electronic zoom function in a photographing
process. The cross button 181 also functions as an operation button
for selecting a menu item from the menu screen displayed by pressing
the menu/OK button 179 or instructing the selection of the various
setting items in each menu. On a display panel 182, icons indicating
the operation mode of the camera 110 or functions of the cross button
181 are displayed in accordance with the operation status.
[0095] The liquid-crystal monitor 183 can be used as an electronic
finder for confirming an angle of view in photographing, and is
capable of displaying a preview of photographed images or the reproduced
images read from the memory card 173 loaded into the camera 110.
The selection of the menu using the cross button 181 or setting
of various setting items in each menu is also performed by using
the display screen of the liquid-crystal monitor 183. Moreover,
information such as the number of frames that can be photographed
(as to the moving image, length of time that can be used for photographing),
a reproduced frame number, macro mode, recording image quality and
the number of pixels, is also displayed on the liquid-crystal monitor
183.
[0096] In the state where the movable wall 145 stands at the rear
surface of the cradle 130, the liquid-crystal monitor 183 is covered
with the movable wall 145, but if the movable wall 145 is tilted
as shown in FIG. 15, the liquid-crystal monitor 183 is exposed.
Accordingly, by tilting the movable wall 145 at the rear surface
of the cradle 130 as required, the screen of the liquid-crystal
monitor 183 can be observed.
[0097] As a modification of the above-described use pattern, as
shown in FIG. 16, a mirror 188 can be provided on the inside of
the movable wall 145 (on the side facing the liquid-crystal monitor
183) at the rear surface of the cradle 130. According to the use
pattern, for example, as shown in FIG. 17, even if an obstacle 192
exists just behind the location where the cradle 130 is placed when
placing the cradle 130 on a desk 190, it becomes possible to confirm
the contents of the display on the liquid-crystal monitor 183 by
utilizing the mirror 188.
[0098] The applicable range of the present invention is not limited
to the above-described embodiments. In the above-described cradle
130, the four corners of the camera 110 are held by four L-shaped
column parts 138, 139, 140 and 141. However, in practicing the present
invention, the cradle may have any structure unless the camera is
not unstable when the movable walls are opened, and as its concrete
form, various structures may be available. Not to deteriorate the
camera holding in the cradle having movable wall surfaces, as shown
in FIG. 18, it is desirable that the cradle 195 has standing walls
(fixed standing walls) 196 and 197 each of which holds two sides
((194A, 194B) or (194C, 194D)) forming a corner of at least a pair
of diagonal corners among four corners of the camera 110.
[0099] Not shown in the figures, though, if a battery cover is
provided on a side surface of the camera, it is preferable to constitute
the portion of the wall part of the cradle that covers the battery
cover by the movable wall. According to this configuration, the
battery changeover can be performed while the camera is being inserted
into the cradle. Therefore, this is the effective configuration
especially for a camera system having a function that the charging
of the rechargeable battery in the camera is performed by the cradle.
[0100] As described above, according to the present invention,
the cradle for the digital camera can be fixed to the tripod while
the digital camera is being inserted into the cradle because the
tripod screw hole is provided to the cradle. This makes it possible
to freely set the direction or angle of the camera by using the
platform of the tripod, thus increasing the flexibility in setting
arrangement. Long-duration photographing also becomes possible by
supplying power to the digital camera from the cradle.
[0101] According to another aspect of the present invention, since
the cradle has a structure that a part of the wall surfaces is movable,
it is possible to mount or demount the removable media, confirm
the contents of display, attach or detach the connectors, change
the battery or the like, while the camera is being inserted into
the cradle. Therefore, in the case where the camera and a personal
computer are connected for communication by using the cradle and
image transmission or the like is performed therebetween, since
it is possible to mount or demount the recording media while the
camera is being inserted into the cradle, the camera can be used
as a card reader.
[0102] In the case where the camera inserted into the cradle is
placed on a desk or the like to perform photographing or image reproduction
independently, namely, without connection with a personal computer,
or in the case where the camera is connected to a personal computer
and is controlled from the personal computer, the display screen
of the camera can be observed by opening the movable wall of the
cradle to open up the image display screen of the camera.
[0103] In the cradle of the present invention, by providing standing
walls each of which holds two sides forming a corner of at least
a pair of diagonal corners among four corners of the digital camera
whose cross section has a generally rectangular shape, the camera
holding cannot be deteriorated even if the movable walls are opened.
[0104] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
cradle has a structure that the movable walls can be also used as
a simple tripod, and therefore, it becomes possible to freely control
the angle of the camera inserted into the cradle.
[0105] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
since the wall surface of the cradle corresponding to the image
display part of the digital camera is constituted by a movable wall
and a mirror is provided on the inside (the side facing the image
display part) of the movable wall, even in a narrow space, the image
display screen can be confirmed by means of the mirror by adjusting
the angle of the movable wall.
[0106] According to the present invention, the range of uses of
the cradle becomes wider, and its conveniences are increased.
[0107] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention
to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the
contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternate
constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope
of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
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