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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
In order that a recording medium can be attached to or detached
from a main body of a digital camera in a state in which the digital
camera is mounted on a stand for digital camera, there is provided
the stand in which, a portion of a wall portion of the stand, facing
a lower portion of a slot cover formed at a side surface of the
camera man body of the digital camera in a state in which the digital
camera is mounted on a holding portion of the stand, is an opening
and closing wall portion, and the cover of the main body can be
opened by opening the opening and closing wall portion.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A stand for digital camera, the stand comprising: a recording
medium attaching and detaching portion, through which a recording
medium can be attached to or detached from a main body of the digital
camera in a state in which the digital camera is mounted on the
stand, wherein the recording medium attaching and detaching portion
is a cut-out portion.
2. A stand for digital camera, the stand comprising: a wall formed
substantially upwardly at a holding portion on which a main body
of the digital camera is mounted; and a recording medium attaching
and detaching portion, formed at the wall, through which a recording
medium can be attached to or detached from the main body in a state
in which the digital camera is mounted on the stand, wherein the
recording medium attaching and detaching portion is a cut-out portion
formed at the wall.
3. A stand for digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the
recording medium attaching and detaching portion is provided at
the stand at a position which corresponds to a position of an accommodating
portion at which the recording medium is accommodated in the main
body of the digital camera.
4. A stand for digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the
recording medium attaching and detaching portion is provided at
the wall of the stand at a position which corresponds to a position
of an accommodating portion at which the recording medium is accommodated
in the main body of the digital camera.
5. A stand for digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the
recording medium attaching and detaching portion is provided at
the stand at a position which corresponds to a position of a cover
of the main body of the digital camera in the state in which the
digital camera is mounted on the stand, the cover covering an opening
of an accommodating portion at which the recording medium is accommodated
in the main body of the digital camera.
6. A stand for digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the
recording medium attaching and detaching portion is provided at
the wall of the stand at a position which corresponds to a position
of a cover of the main body of the digital camera in the state in
which the digital camera is mounted on the stand, the cover covering
an opening of an accommodating portion at which the recording medium
is accommodated in the main body of the digital camera.
Digital Camera Patent Description
[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/270,352
filed Oct. 15, 2002. The entire disclosure of the prior application,
application Ser. No. 10/270,352 is considered part of the disclosure
of the accompanying continuation application and is hereby incorporated
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a stand for digital camera,
and particularly to a stand for digital camera on which a digital
camera, in which recording medium capable of attaching to or detaching
from a main body of the digital camera is used, is mounted.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Conventionally, in an ordinal digital camera, a recording
medium on which a photographed image or the like is recorded can
be attached to or detached from (inserted into or picked up from)
a main body of the digital camera. The image is easily read out
by inserting the recording medium, picked up from the main body
of the digital camera, into an image reading device such as a personal
computer.
[0006] However, as shown in FIG. 9, in an ordinal digital camera
100, a recording medium accommodating portion 102 which accommodates
a recording medium is provided at a lower side portion of a main
body 106 of the digital camera 100, the lower side portion being
apart from a portion, at which a member necessary for photographing
function is provided, such as a lens accommodating portion 104.
Accordingly, in a state in which the digital camera 100 is mounted
on a stand (a cradle) 108, a lower portion 102A of the recording
medium accommodating portion 102 is positioned inside a side wall
portion 108A of the cradle 108, therefore, a door of the recording
medium accommodating portion 102 cannot be opened Accordingly, the
recording medium cannot be pulled out from the recording medium
accommodating portion 102. Accordingly, when the recording medium
is pulled out from the main body 106, it is necessary to disengage
the digital camera 100 from the cradle 108, and this operation is
troublesome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the aforementioned circumstances, it is an object
of the present invention to provide a stand for digital camera in
which a recording medium can be attached to or detached from a main
body of the digital camera in a state in which the digital camera
Is mounted on the stand for digital camera.
[0008] A first aspect of the present invention is a stand for digital
camera comprising a recording medium attaching and detaching portion
by which recording medium can be attached to or detached from a
main body of the digital camera in a state in which the digital
camera is mounted on the stand for digital camera.
[0009] In a second aspect of the present invention according to
the first aspect, the recording medium attaching and detaching portion
is an opening and closing portion.
[0010] In a third aspect of the present invention according to
the first aspect, the recording medium attaching and detaching portion
is a cut-out portion.
[0011] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a stand for
digital camera comprising: a wall formed substantially upwardly
at a holding portion on which a main body of the digital camera
is mounted; and a recording medium attaching and detaching portion,
formed at the wail, by which recording medium can be attached to
or detached from the main body in a state in which the digital camera
is mounted on the stand for digital camera.
[0012] In a fifth aspect of the present invention according to
the fourth aspect, the recording medium attaching and detaching
portion is an opening and closing portion.
[0013] In a sixth aspect of the present invention according to
the fourth aspect, the recording medium attaching and detaching
portion is a cut-out portion.
[0014] In a seventh aspect of the present invention according to
the fifth aspect, the recording medium attaching and detaching portion
can rotate around a rotation-axis thereof.
[0015] In an eighth aspect of the present invention according to
the fifth aspect, the recording medium attaching and detaching portion
can slide on the wall.
[0016] In a ninth aspect of the present invention according to
the eighth aspect, the recording medium attaching and detaching
portion is provided with a grip portion for griping.
[0017] In a tenth aspect of the present invention according to
the seventh or eighth aspect, the recording medium attaching and
detaching portion faces a portion of a cover of the main body for
covering an opening of an accommodating portion for accommodating
the recording medium, in a state in which the digital camera is
mounted on the holding portion of the stand.
[0018] Accordingly, in the first and fourth aspects of the present
invention, even in a state in which the digital camera is mounted
on the stand, the recording medium can be attached to or detached
from the main body of the digital camera due to the recording medium
attaching and detaching portion. Therefore, operationability is
improved.
[0019] In the second aspect of the present invention, because the
recording medium attaching and detaching portion is the opening
and closing portion which can be opened and closed, by opening the
opening and closing portion, the recording medium can be attached
to or detached from the main body of the digital camera even in
a state in which the digital camera is mounted on the stand. Moreover,
by closing the opening and closing portion, performance of supporting
digital camera by the stand is improved.
[0020] In the third aspect of the present invention, in addition
to the effect of the first aspect, because the opening and closing
portion can be easily formed by forming the cut-out portion at the
stand, the structure of the stand is simple.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a stand for digital
camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention
in a state in which an opening and closing wall portion is opened.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the stand for digital
camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention
in a state in which the opening and closing wall portion is closed.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along 3-3 line in FIG.
2.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the stand for digital
camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention
in a state in which the digital camera is not mounted on the stand
for digital camera.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a stand for digital
camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention
in a state in which an opening and closing wall portion is opened.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the stand for digital
camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention
in a state in which the opening and closing wall portion is closed.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view along 7-7 line in FIG.
6.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a stand for digital
camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a stand for digital
camera in a prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a stand for a digital camera relating
to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described
hereinafter in detail.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, a composite terminal 14 is formed at
a lower surface 12A of a main body 12 of a digital camera 10 in
order to connect to a stand for digital camera 20 (hereinafter,
a cradle 20). The composite terminal 14 is a terminal in which a
terminal for charging and a USB terminal as a terminal for connecting
to a personal computer are integrated. Also, the digital camera
10 can be mounted on a holding portion 22 of the cradle 20 downwardly
from above (namely, in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG.
4).
[0032] A terminal for charging 11 and a USB terminal 13 are respectively
formed at a lower portion of a side surface 12B of the main body
12 of the digital camera 10. The terminal for charging 11 and the
USB terminal 13 are used when the digital camera 10 is not mounted
on the cradle 20.
[0033] The holding portion 22 on which the digital camera 10 is
mounted is formed at an upper portion of the cradle 20. A wall portion
24 having a rear wall 24A, both side walls (left and right walls)
24B and a front wall 24C is formed upwardly at a peripheral portion
of the cradle 20. Among the walls forming the wall portion 24, a
height of the rear wall 24A is the highest, the both side walls
24B are the second highest, and the front wall 24C is the lowest.
The front wall 24C is divided into left and right portions by a
cut-out 26 formed at a central portion thereof in a width direction.
Inner peripheral configuration of the wall portion 24 at the holding
portion 22 substantially coincides with outer peripheral configuration
of the lower portion of the main body 12 of the digital camera 10.
The lower surface 12A of the main body 12 of the digital camera
10 always abuts on a predetermined position at a bottom portion
22A of the holding portion 22 in a state in which the digital camera
10 is mounted on the holding portion 22 of the cradle 20.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, a cover (a slot cover) 18 capable of
opening and closing is formed at the lower portion of the side surface
12B of the main body 12 of the digital camera 10. A recording medium
33 can be attached to or detached from (inserted into or pulled
out from) a slot 31 built into the main body 12 of the digital camera
10 by the cover 18 being opened.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the wall portion 24 of
the cradle 20, facing a lower portion 18A of the slot cover 18 in
a state in which the digital camera 10 is mounted on the holding
portion 22 of the cradle 20, is an opening and closing wall portion
25 serving as a recording medium attaching and detaching portion.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, the opening and closing wall portion
25 of the cradle 20 can be rotated frontward (in a direction indicated
by an arrow B in FIG. 3) by a hinge 25A formed at a front end portion
of the opening and closing wall portion 25 (namely, the opening
and closing wall portion 25 can be rotated around an axis thereof).
In a closed state in which the opening and closing wall portion
25 is closed, indicated by solid lines in FIG. 3, an engaging portion
25B formed at a rear end portion of the opening and closing wall
portion 25 is engaged with an engaging portion 24D formed between
the rear wall 24A and the side wall 24B of the wall portion 24.
It is also preferable that the engaging portion 25B abuts on the
engaging portion 24D in the closed state. It is preferable that
the opening and closing wall portion 25 is urged in a closing direction
thereof by a spring or the like.
[0037] On the other hand, the cover 18 of the digital camera 10
can be rotated forward (in the direction indicated by the arrow
B in FIG. 3) by a hinge 18B formed at a front end portion of the
cover 18. In a closed state in which the cover 18 is closed, indicated
by solid lines in FIG. 3, an engaging portion 18C formed at a rear
end portion of the cover 18 is engaged with an engaging portion
12C formed at a side of the main body 12. It is also preferable
that the cover 18 is urged such that the engaging portion 12C is
held by or abuts on the engaging portion 12C in the closed state.
[0038] The hinge 25A of the opening and closing wall portion 25
of the cradle 20 is positioned forward in a camera-front direction
(that is, in a direction toward a front of the digital camera) with
respect to a position of the hinge 18B of the cover 18 of the digital
camera 10. By moving the opening and closing wall portion 25 to
an open position thereof indicated by two-dot chain lines in FIG.
3, the cover 18 can be moved to an open position thereof indicated
by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the recording medium
33 can be attached to or detached from the slot 31 when the opening
and closing wall portion 25 of the cradle 20 and the cover 18 of
the digital camera 10 are in an open state shown in FIG. 1.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, a composite terminal connecting portion
28, in which a charging terminal connecting portion and a USB terminal
connecting portion are integrated, is formed at the bottom portion
22A of the holding portion 22 of the cradle 20. The composite terminal
connecting portion 28 is formed at a position at which the composite
terminal connecting portion 28 is connected to the composite terminal
14 of the digital camera 10 in a state in which the digital camera
10 is mounted on the holding portion 22 of the cradle 20. Accordingly,
when the digital camera 10 is mounted on the holding portion 22
of the cradle 20, the composite terminal connecting portion 28 of
the cradle 20 is automatically connected to the composite terminal
14 of the digital camera 10.
[0040] A main switch 29, which is of a push button type, is provided
at a front surface 20A of the cradle 20. A power supply of the cradle
20 can be changed between a power-on state and a power-off state
by pushing-operation of the main switch 29. Also, a display portion
30, which comprises a LED (light emitting diode) and serves as displaying
means for indicating a communicating state and as displaying means
for indicating a charging state, is provided at the front surface
20A of the cradle 20. The display portion 30 is located above the
main switch 29. An upper portion of the display portion 30 is also
exposed at the bottom portion 22A of the holding portion 22.
[0041] A terminal for charging and a USB terminal are respectively
formed at a rear surface of the cradle 20 (not shown in the drawings).
A cord for charging 44 and a USB cord 46 serving as a cord for connecting
to an external device can be connected respectively to the terminal
for charging and the USB terminal.
[0042] A control circuit 51 provided with a microcomputer is built
into the cradle 20. The control circuit 51 is set such that communication
by the USB terminal is automatically started in a case in which
the digital camera 10 is mounted on the holding portion 22 of the
cradle 20 and it is detected that the composite terminal connecting
portion 28 and the composite terminal 14 are in a conducting state.
[0043] Also, the display portion 30 is controlled by the control
circuit 51 so that the display portion 30 lights up, for example,
yellow when communication is performed by the USB terminal, and
the displaying portion 30 lights up, for example, red when charging
is preformed by the terminal for charging.
[0044] Next, operation of the present invention according to the
present embodiment will be described.
[0045] In the present embodiment, by the digital camera 10 being
mounted on the holding portion 22 of the cradle 20, the composite
terminal connecting portion 28 formed at the holding portion 22
of the cradle 20, in which the charging terminal connecting portion
and the USB terminal connecting portion are integrated, is automatically
connected to the composite terminal 14 in which the terminal for
charging and the USB terminal of the digital camera 10 are integrated.
[0046] Also, in the present embodiment, by making the opening and
closing wall portion 25 rotate in the direction indicated by the
arrow B shown in FIG. 3 so as to be positioned in the open position
thereof indicated by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 3, the cover
18 can be moved to the open position thereof indicated by the two-dot
chain lines in FIG. 3 in a state in which the digital camera 10
is mounted on the holding portion 22 of the cradle 20. Accordingly,
even in a state in which the digital camera 10 is mounted on the
holding portion 22 of the cradle 20, the recording medium 33 can
be attached to or detached from the slot 31 by the opening and closing
wall portion 25 of the cradle 20 and the cover 18 of the digital
camera 10 being in the open state as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore,
operationability is improved.
[0047] Moreover, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2,
by closing the opening and closing wall portion 25 of the cradle
20 and the cover 18 of the digital camera 10, performance of (capability
for) supporting digital camera 10 by the wall portion 24 of the
cradle 20 is improved.
Second Embodiment
[0048] Referring to FIGS. 5-7, a cradle for digital camera relating
to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described
hereinafter in detail.
[0049] Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are applied to
the same components, members and structures as those of the first
embodiment and the descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0050] As show in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, the
opening and closing wall portion 25 of the cradle 20 is slidable
in upward and downward directions. By gripping a grip portion 25C
formed at an upper portion of the opening and closing wall portion
25 and moving it downward, the opening and dosing wall portion 25
can be moved from a closing position thereof shown in FIG. 6 to
an open position thereof shown in FIG. 5.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 7, convex portions 25D and 25E are formed
respectively at a front end portion and a rear end portion of the
opening and closing wall portion 25. The convex portions 25D and
25E are inserted into guide rails 24E formed at the wall portion
24 of the cradle such that the opening and closing wall portion
25 of the cradle 20 is slidable by force applied thereto equal to
or more than a predetermined value. Accordingly, the opening and
closing wall portion 25 can be held at the closing position shown
in FIG. 6.
[0052] The convex portion 25D at the front side of the opening
and closing wall portion 25 of the cradle 20 is positioned forward
with respect to a position of the hinge 18B of the cover 18 of the
digital camera 10 in a camera-front direction (that is, in a direction
toward a front of the digital camera). By that the opening and closing
wall portion 25 is positioned in an open position thereof shown
in FIG. 6, the cover 18 can be moved to an open position thereof
indicated by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 7. Accordingly, the recording
medium 33 can be attached to or detached from the slot 31 when the
opening and closing wall portion 25 of the cradle 20 and the cover
18 of the digital camera 10 are in an open state shown in FIG. 5.
[0053] Next, an operation of the second embodiment will be described.
[0054] In the present embodiment, by making the opening and closing
wall portion 25 slide downward so as to be positioned in the open
position thereof shown in FIG. 5, the cover 18 of the digital camera
10 can be moved to the open position thereof indicated by the two-dot
chain lines in FIG. 7 in a state in which the digital camera 10
is mounted on the holding portion 22 of the cradle 20. Accordingly,
even in a state in which the digital camera 10 is mounted on the
holding portion 22 of the cradle 20, the recording medium 33 can
be attached to or detached from the slot 31 by the opening and closing
wall portion 25 of the cradle 20.and the cover 18 of the digital
camera 10 being in the open state shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, operationability
is improved.
[0055] Moreover, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6,
by closing the opening and closing wall portion 25 of the cradle
20 and the cover 18 of the digital camera 10, performance of (capability
for) supporting digital camera 10 by the wall portion 24 of the
cradle 20 is improved.
Third Embodiment
[0056] Referring to FIG. 8, a cradle for digital camera relating
to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described
hereinafter in detail.
[0057] Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are applied to
the same components, members and structures as those of the first
embodiment and the descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, instead of
the opening and closing wall portion 25 of the cradle 20 in the
respective embodiments described above, a cut-out portion 54 whose
configuration is rectangle, as recording medium attaching and detaching
means, is formed at the wall portion 24 of the cradle 20 from an
upper portion of the wall portion 24. Due to this cut-out portion
54, the cover 18 of the digital camera 10 can be moved to an open
position thereof.
[0059] Next, an operation of the third embodiment will be described.
[0060] In the present embodiment due to the cut-out portion 54
formed at the wall portion 24 of the cradle 20, the cover 18 of
the digital camera can be moved to the open position thereof shown
in FIG. 8 in a state in which the digital camera 10 is mounted on
the holding portion 22 of the cradle 20. Accordingly, even in a
state in which the digital camera 10 is mounted on the holding portion
22 of the cradle 20, the recording medium 33 can be attached to
or detached from the slot 31. Therefore, operationability is improved.
[0061] Moreover, in the present embodiment, because the cut-out
portion 54 is easily formed at the cradle 20, the structure of the
cradle 20 is simple.
[0062] The specified embodiments of the present invention are described
above in detail, however, the present invention is not limited to
the same. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that various
other embodiments can be provided within the scope of the present
invention. For example, the recording medium attaching and detaching
means formed at the cradle 20 is not limited to the opening and
closing wall portion 25 or the cut-out portion 54 in the embodiments
described above.
[0063] In the first and the fourth aspects of the present invention,
due to the structure described above, there is provided excellent
effect in that, even in a state in which the digital camera is mounted
on the cradle, the recording medium can be attached to or detached
from the main body of the digital camera.
[0064] Further, in the second and the fifth aspects of the present
invention, in addition to the effect of the first and fourth aspects,
there is provided excellent effect in that performance of supporting
digital camera by the cradle is improved.
[0065] Further, in the third and the sixth aspects of the present
invention, in addition to the effect of the first and fourth aspects,
there is provided excellent effect in the structure of the cradle
is simple. |