Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A cradle for a digital camera. When a digital camera is set in a
retainer of the cradle, side portions of a wall formed at the retainer
are disposed to shield a charging terminal and a USB terminal formed
at a lower portion of a side surface of a casing of the digital
camera. Thus, a charging cord and a USB cord cannot be connected
directly to the charging terminal and the USB terminal when the
digital camera has been set in the digital camera cradle. That is,
when the digital camera is set in the cradle, it is possible to
prevent redundant connection of connecting cords to any ones of
a plurality of connecting terminals formed in the digital camera
that are of kinds the same as other connecting terminals of the
digital camera, which others are connected to connecting terminals
provided at the cradle. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cradle for a digital camera provided with connecting terminals
of a first plurality of kinds, the cradle comprising: a retainer
for retaining therein a digital camera; a shield formed at the retainer;
and a composite terminal including integratedly formed connecting
terminals of a second plurality of kinds, wherein, when the digital
camera is set in the cradle, the shield shields, of the connecting
terminals of the first plurality of kinds, connecting terminals
that are of the same kinds as the connecting terminals of the second
plurality of kinds, and the shield comprises an upper end portion
and, when the digital camera is completely set in the retainer,
the upper end portion of the shield substantially aligns with an
upper end portion of the uppermost-positioned connecting terminal
of the connecting terminals that are shielded by the shield.
2. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the connecting terminals that are shielded by the shield include
a charging terminal and an external device connecting terminal.
3. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the external device connecting terminal comprises a personal computer
connecting terminal.
4. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the upper end portion of the shield substantially aligns with an
upper end portion of the uppermost-positioned one of the charging
terminal and the external device connecting terminal.
5. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the upper end portion of the shield substantially aligns with an
upper end portion of the uppermost-positioned one of the charging
terminal and the personal computer connecting terminal.
6. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the digital camera further includes an AV terminal, and the shield
does not shield the AV terminal when the digital camera is set in
the retainer.
7. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the digital camera includes a digital camera side composite terminal
having integrally formed therein connecting terminals of kinds corresponding
to kinds of the connecting terminals that are shielded by the shield,
and the digital camera side composite terminal electrically connects
to the composite terminal formed at the cradle when the digital
camera is set in the retainer.
8. A cradle for a digital camera an claimed in claim 3, wherein
the digital camera includes a digital camera aide composite terminal
having integrally formed therein connecting terminals of kinds corresponding
to kinds of the connecting terminals that are shielded by the shield,
and the digital camera side composite terminal electrically connects
to the composite terminal formed at the cradle when the digital
camera is set in the retainer.
9. A cradle for a digital camera provided with connecting terminals
of a first plurality of kinds, the cradle comprising: a retainer
for retaining therein a digital camera; a shield formed at the retainer;
and a composite terminal including integratedly formed connecting
terminals of a second plurality of kinds, wherein, when the digital
camera is set in the cradle, the shield shields, of the connecting
terminals of the first plurality of kinds, connecting terminals
that are of the same kinds as the connecting terminals of the second
plurality of kinds, and the digital camera comprises a digital camera
side composite terminal having integrally formed therein connecting
terminals of kinds corresponding to kinds of the connecting terminals
that are shielded by the shield, and the digital camera side composite
terminal electrically connects to the composite terminal formed
at the cradle when the digital camera is set in the retainer.
10. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein
the connecting terminals that are shielded by the shield include
a charging terminal and an external device connecting terminal.
11. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 10, wherein
the external device connecting terminal comprises a personal computer
connecting terminal.
12. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein
the digital camera further includes an AV terminal, and the shield
does not shield the AV terminal when the digital camera is set in
the retainer.
13. A cradle for a digital camera that comprises a first plurality
of connecting terminals comprising different types of connecting
terminals, the cradle comprising: a retainer for retaining therein
the digital camera; a shield disposed at the retainer; and a composite
terminal comprising a second plurality of connecting terminals that
comprises different types of connecting terminals, wherein the different
types of connecting terminals are integrated together, wherein,
when the digital camera is set in the cradle, connecting terminals
in the first and second plurality of connecting terminals that are
of the same type are shielded by the shield, and the shield comprises
an upper end portion and, when the digital camera, is completely
set in the retainer, the upper end portion of the shield substantially
aligns with an upper end portion of the uppermost-positioned connecting
terminal of the first plurality of connecting terminals that are
shielded by the shield.
14. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein
the connecting terminals that are shielded by the shield include
a charging terminal and an external device connecting terminal.
15. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein
the digital camera further comprises an AV terminal, and the shield
does not shield the AV terminal when the digital camera is set in
the retainer.
16. A cradle for a digital camera that comprises a first plurality
of connecting terminals comprising different types of connecting
terminals, the cradle comprising: a retainer for retaining therein
the digital camera; a shield disposed at the retainer; and a composite
terminal comprising a second plurality of connecting terminals that
comprises different types of connecting terminals, wherein the different
types of connecting terminals are integrated together, wherein,
when the digital camera is set in the cradle, connecting terminals
in the first and second plurality of connecting terminals that are
of the same type are shielded by the shield, and the digital camera
comprises a digital camera side composite terminal having integrally
disposed therein connecting terminals corresponding to the type
of connecting terminals shielded by the shield, and the digital
camera side composite terminal electrically connects to the composite
terminal formed at the cradle when the digital camera is set in
the retainer.
17. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 16, wherein
the connecting terminals that are shielded by the shield include
a charging terminal and an external device connecting terminal.
18. A cradle for a digital camera as claimed in claim 16 wherein
the digital camera further comprises an AV terminal, and the shield
does not shield the AV terminal when the digital camera is set in
the retainer.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cradle for retaining therein
a digital camera provided with a plurality of connecting terminals.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 8, there has been conventionally a digital camera
200 provided with a plurality of connecting terminals such as a
charging (power source) terminal 204 and a USB terminal 206 serving
as an external device connecting terminal at the lower portion of
a side surface 202A of a casing 202.
However, in the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG.
8, the charging terminal 204 and the USB terminal 206 formed in
the digital camera 200 may be exposed to the outside in the state
in which the digital camera 200 is set in a digital camera cradle
210. In the digital camera cradle 210, a charging terminal connector
and a USB terminal connector, neither shown, are generally formed
at a retaining surface 210A for retaining the digital camera 200
therein. The charging terminal connector and the USB terminal connector
are designed to be connected to a charging terminal 212 and a USB
terminal 214, respectively, which are formed at a lower surface
202B of the casing 202 of the digital camera 200.
As a result, with the above-described configuration, the digital
camera 200 is set in the digital camera cradle 210, and thus both
of a charging cord 216 and a USB cord 218 are connected to the digital
camera 200 via the digital camera cradle 210. However, another charging
cord or a USB cord serving as a personal computer connecting cord
may be accidentally connected redundantly to the charging terminal
204 or the USB terminal 206, respectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-described
situation. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a cradle for a digital camera that is capable, when a digital
camera is set in the cradle, of preventing redundant connection
of connecting cords to those of a plurality of connecting terminals
formed in the digital camera that are of kinds that are also connected
to connecting terminals provided at the cradle.
In order to achieve the above-described object, a cradle for a
digital camera according to a first aspect of the present invention
includes: a retainer for retaining therein a digital camera provided
with connecting terminals of a first plurality of kinds; a shield
formed at the retainer; and a composite terminal including integratedly
formed connecting terminals of a second plurality of kinds, wherein,
when the digital camera is set in the cradle, the shield shields,
of the connecting terminals of the first plurality of kinds, connecting
terminals that are the same kinds as the connecting terminals of
the second plurality of kinds.
Consequently, when the digital camera is set in the retainer in
the digital camera cradle, since the shield formed at the retainer
shields those of the plurality of connecting terminals formed in
the digital camera that are of kinds that are also connected to
the connecting terminals provided at the cradle, connecting cords
cannot be connected directly to such connecting terminals. As a
result, it is possible to prevent redundant connection of connecting
cords when the digital camera is set in the digital camera cradle.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital
camera cradle according to the first aspect of the present invention,
the connecting terminals shielded by the shield are a charging terminal
and/or an external device connecting terminal.
Consequently, further according to the first aspect of the present
invention, it is possible to prevent redundant connection of a charging
cord and/or external device connecting cord to the charging terminal
and/or external device connecting terminal of the digital camera.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the external
device connecting terminal in the digital camera cradle according
to the second aspect of the present invention is a personal computer
connecting terminal.
Consequently, further according to the second aspect of the present
invention, it is possible to prevent redundant connection of a personal
computer connecting cord to the personal computer connecting terminal
of the digital camera.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a predetermined
position of the shield is aligned with a set-state comfirmation
means formed at the side of the digital camera in the state in which
the digital camera is completely set in the retainer, in the digital
camera cradle according to any one of the first to third aspects
of the present invention.
Consequently, further according to the first to third aspects of
the present invention, since a predetermined position of the shield
is aligned with the set-state comfirmation means formed on the side
of the digital camera when the digital camera is set in the retainer
in the digital camera cradle, it is possible to confirm that the
digital camera is completely set in the retainer. As a result, it
is possible to prevent a setting deficiency of the digital camera
in the digital camera cradle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a digital
camera is set in a digital camera cradle according to a first embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the
digital camera has not yet been set in the digital camera cradle
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a lower surface of the digital
camera cradle according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a rear surface of the digital
camera cradle according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a leg
of the digital camera cradle according to the first embodiment of
the present invention is used.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which a
digital camera is set in a digital camera cradle according to a
modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a digital
camera is set in a digital camera cradle according to a second embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which a
digital camera is set in a digital camera cradle of the prior art.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a digital
camera is set in a digital camera cradle according to another modification,
different from that of FIG. 6, of the first embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A digital camera cradle according to a first embodiment of the
present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 5 and 9.
As shown in FIG. 2, a composite terminal 14 configured by integrating
with each other a charging terminal and a USB terminal that serves
as a personal computer connecting terminal is formed at a lower
surface 12A of a casing 12 of a digital camera 10. The digital camera
10 can be inserted from above down into a retainer 22 in a digital
camera cradle 20 (in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG.
2).
As shown in FIG. 1, a charging terminal 11 and a USB terminal 13,
which serves as a personal computer connecting terminal or an external
device connecting terminal, are formed at a lower portion of a side
surface 12B of the casing 12 of the digital camera 10. The charging
terminal 11 and the USB terminal 13 are used when the digital camera
10 is not set in the digital camera cradle 20. Furthermore, an AV
(audio/video) terminal 15 is formed above the USB terminal 13 in
the casing 12 of the digital camera 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the retainer 22 for setting the digital camera
10 therein is formed at the upper portion of the digital camera
cradle 20. At an outer peripheral portion of the retainer 22 a wall
24 is formed upward. The height of the wall 24 is gradually reduced
from a highest rear portion 24A to front portions 24C via side portions
24B, which serve as a shield. The front portions 24C are divided
into right and left portions by a cutout 26 formed at a width direction
central portion. The inner circumferential shape of the wall 24
in the retainer 22 substantially conforms with the outer peripheral
shape of a lower portion of the casing 12 of the digital camera
10. In the state in which the digital camera 10 is inserted into
the retainer 22 in the digital camera cradle 20, the lower surface
12A of the casing 12 of the digital camera 10 continuously abuts
against a predetermined position of a bottom 22A of the retainer
22.
At the bottom 22A of the retainer 22 in the digital camera cradle
20 is formed a composite terminal connector 28, which is configured
by integrating a charging terminal connector and a USB terminal
connector with each other. The composite terminal connector 28 is
formed at such a position as to connect to the composite terminal
14 of the digital camera 10 in the state in which the digital camera
10 is inserted into the retainer 22 of the digital camera cradle
20. Consequently, when the digital camera 10 is inserted into the
retainer 22 of the digital camera cradle 20, the composite terminal
connector 28 of the digital camera cradle 20 can be automatically
connected to the composite terminal 14 of the digital camera 10.
Moreover, in the state in which the composite terminal connector
28 of the digital camera cradle 20 is securely connected to the
composite terminal 14 of the digital camera 10, that is, when the
digital camera 10 is completely set in the retainer 22 of the digital
camera cradle 20, the side portions 24B of the wall 24 can shield
both the charging terminal 11 and the USB terminal 13 formed at
the lower portion of the side surface 12B of the casing 12 of the
digital camera 10 and, further, an upper end 13A of the USB terminal
13, which serves as a set-state comfirmation means, and an upper
surface 24D of the side portion 24B are designed to align with each
other, as shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, at a front surface 20A of the digital camera
cradle 20 is disposed a main switch 29, of a pushbutton type. Depressing
the main switch 29 can turn on or off a power source for the digital
camera cradle 20. Additionally, a display 30 consisting of an LED
is disposed above the main switch 29 at the front surface 20A of
the digital camera cradle 20 and, further, an upper portion of the
display 30 is exposed at the bottom 22A of the retainer 22.
As shown in FIG. 3, a deep cavity 32 is formed at a rear portion
of a lower surface 20B of the digital camera cradle 20 and, further,
a cutout 34 continuous with the cavity 32 is formed at a lower portion
of a rear surface 20C of the digital camera cradle 20. Moreover,
a charging terminal 40 and a USB terminal 42 are formed on a vertical
wall 32A of the cavity 32 opposite to the cutout 34. Accordingly,
a charging cord 44 is connected to the charging terminal 40, and
a USB cord 46 is connected to the USB terminal 42, such that the
charging cord 44 and the USB cord 46 are made to pass through the
cutout 34, as shown in FIG. 4.
Also, a shallow cavity 48 is formed at a front portion of the lower
surface 20B of the digital camera cradle 20, and a foldable leg
50 can be contained in the cavity 48. The leg 50 is pivotally supported
via pins 52 at front portions of right and left side walls 48A and
48B of the cavity 48, and can therefore be pivoted in directions
H indicated by arrows B and C in FIG. 3. Consequently, when the
leg 50 is pivoted in the direction indicated by the arrow C from
a usage position shown in FIG. 3, the leg 50 is moved to a contained
position; in contrast, when the leg 50 is pivoted in the direction
indicated by the arrow B from the contained position, the leg 50
is moved to the usage position. When the leg 50 is located at the
usage position, as shown in FIG. 5, the front surface 20A of the
digital camera cradle 20 can be oriented more upwardly than when
the leg 50 is located at the contained position (see FIG. 2).
As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera cradle 20 includes therein
a control circuit 51 provided with a microcomputer. The control
circuit 51 is designed to automatically start communications via
the USB terminal as soon as it detects an energized state between
the composite terminal connector 28 and the composite terminal 14
after the digital camera 10 is set in the retainer 22 in the digital
camera cradle 20.
Furthermore, the control circuit 51 is designed to automatically
turn on the power source for the digital camera 10 when it detects
the energized state between the composite terminal connector 28
and the composite terminal 14 after the digital camera 10 is set
in the retainer 22 in the digital camera cradle 20, and to automatically
turn off the power source for the digital camera 10 after a predetermined
period of time has passed.
Moreover, the control circuit 51 is designed to automatically turn
on the power source for the digital camera cradle 20 when it detects
the energized state between the composite terminal connector 28
and the composite terminal 14 after the digital camera 10 is set
in the retainer 22 in the digital camera cradle 20, and to automatically
turn off the power source for the digital camera cradle 20 after
a predetermined period of time has passed.
Additionally, the control circuit 51 is designed to light the display
30, for example, yellow during communications via the USB terminal,
and to light the display 30, for example, red during charging by
the charging terminal.
Next, explanation will be given of operation of the present embodiment.
In the present embodiment, when the digital camera 10 is set in
the retainer 22 of the digital camera cradle 20, the composite terminal
14 of the digital camera 10, which is configured by integrating
the charging terminal and the USB terminal with each other, can
be automatically connected to the composite terminal connector 28
formed in the retainer 22 of the digital camera cradle 20, which
is configured by integrating the charging terminal connector and
the USB terminal connector with each other.
At this time, since the side portions 24B of the wall 24 formed
at the retainer 22 can shield the charging terminal 11 and the USB
terminal 13 formed at the lower portion of the side surface 12B
of the casing 12 of the digital camera 10 in the present embodiment,
the charging cord 44 and the USB cord 46 cannot be connected directly
to the charging terminal 11 and the USB terminal 13 of the digital
camera 10 when the digital camera 10 is set in the digital camera
cradle 20. As a consequence, it is possible to prevent any redundant
connection of the charging cord 44 and/or the USB cord 46 when the
digital camera 10 is set in the digital camera cradle 20.
Furthermore, since the upper end 13A of the USB terminal 13, which
serves as the set-state comfirmation means, and the upper surface
24D of the side portion 24B of the wall 24 are aligned with each
other when the digital camera 10 is set in the retainer 22 in the
digital camera cradle 20 of the present embodiment, it can be confirmed
that the digital camera 10 has been completely set in the retainer
22 in the digital camera cradle 20. Consequently, it is possible
to prevent any setting deficiency of the digital camera 10 in the
digital camera cradle 20.
Moreover, when the control circuit 51 detects the energized state
between the composite terminal connector 28 and the composite terminal
14 after the digital camera 10 is set in the retainer 22 in the
digital camera cradle 20 of the present embodiment, communications
via the USB terminal can be automatically started, thereby enhancing
operability.
Additionally, when the control circuit 51 detects the energized
state between the composite terminal connector 28 and the composite
terminal 14 after the digital camera 10 is set in the retainer 22
in the digital camera cradle 20 of the present embodiment, the control
circuit 51 automatically turns on the power source for the digital
camera 10, and, after a predetermined period of time has passed,
automatically turns off the power source for the digital camera
10, thereby further enhancing operability.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the control circuit 51 automatically
turns on the power source for the digital camera cradle 20 when
it detects the energized state between the composite terminal connector
28 and the composite terminal 14 after the digital camera 10 is
set in the retainer 22 in the digital camera cradle 20, and, after
a predetermined period of time has passed, automatically turns off
the power source for the digital camera cradle 20, thereby further
enhancing operability.
Additionally, in the present embodiment, the control circuit 51
lights the display 30, for example, yellow during communications
via the USB terminal and red during charging by the charging terminal.
As a consequence, it is possible to readily confirm whether or not
communications are being carried out via the USB terminal. Thus,
it is possible to prevent erroneous detachment of the digital camera
10 from the retainer 22 in the digital camera cradle 20 during the
communications via the USB terminal, and further, to readily confirm
whether or not the digital camera 10 is being electrically charged.
Moreover, since the communications indicating means and charging
indicating means are integrated into the single display 30, the
configuration is simple, thereby reducing cost.
Also, the upper end 13A of the USB terminal 13 serving as the set-state
comfirmation means and the upper surface 24D of the side portion
24B are aligned with each other when the digital camera 10 is set
in the retainer 22 in the digital camera cradle 20 of the present
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1. However, for example, as shown in
FIG. 6, a design line 70 formed at a lower portion of the front
surface 12C of the casing 12 of the digital camera 10 may be used
as the set-state comfirmation means instead, and the design line
70 may be aligned with a straight line connecting upper surfaces
24E of the right and left front portions 24C of the wall 24.
Also, in the present embodiment, the side portions 24B of the wall
24 formed at the retainer 22 in the digital camera cradle 20 are
configured to shield the charging terminal 11 and the USB terminal
13 formed at the lower portion of the side surface 12B of the casing
12 in the digital camera 10 when the digital camera 10 having the
charging terminal 11 and the USB terminal 13 is set in the digital
camera cradle 20 of the present embodiment. However, the side portions
24B of the wall 24 formed at the retainer 22 in the digital camera
cradle 20 may instead be configured to shield one of the charging
terminal 11 and the USB terminal 13 in the digital camera 10, when
the digital camera 10 that is set in the digital camera cradle 20
has either the charging terminal 11 or the USB terminal 13 formed
at the lower portion of the side surface 12B of the casing 12.
Alternatively, although a USB terminal, which is a wire terminal
serving as a personal computer connecting terminal, is provided
in the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, the personal
computer connecting terminal is not limited to wire terminals such
as USB terminals, and may be, for example, a wireless terminal that
uses BLUETOOTH technology or infrared radiation.
Also, the communications indicating means and the charging indicating
means are integrated into the single display 30 and lighting colors
are changed in the present embodiment. However, communications and
charging may instead be discriminated by variations of lighting
or flashing in the same color. Alternatively, the display 30 to
serve as the communications indicating means and another display
62 to serve as the charging indicating means may be disposed independently
of each other in the digital camera cradle 20, as shown in FIG.
9.
Also, in the present embodiment, the charging terminal connector
and the USB terminal connector are integrated into the composite
terminal connector 28 of the digital camera cradle 20. However,
if the charging terminal and the USB terminal, which are formed
at the digital camera 10 side and are used for connection to the
digital camera cradle 20, are instead provided separately from each
other, the charging terminal connector and the USB terminal connector
may also be provided separately from each other in the digital camera
cradle 20.
Subsequently, description will be given of a second preferred embodiment
of a cradle for a digital camera according to the present invention,
with reference to FIG. 7.
Here, constituent members the same as those in the first embodiment
are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions
thereof will accordingly be omitted hereinafter.
As shown in FIG. 7, an AV terminal shield 24F extends upward from
the side portion 24B of the wall 24 of the digital camera cradle
20 of the present embodiment. In a state in which the digital camera
10 is set in the digital camera cradle 20, the AV terminal shield
24F shields an AV terminal 15 in the digital camera 10.
Although not shown, an AV terminal is formed substantially at the
same location as the charging terminal 40 and USB terminal 42 (see
FIG. 3) in the digital camera cradle 20. An AV cord 48 is connected
to the AV terminal.
Next, explanation will be given of operation of the present embodiment.
Functions and effects similar to those of the first embodiment
can be produced in the present embodiment. Furthermore, the AV terminal
shield 24F can shield the AV terminal 15 of the digital camera 10
when the digital camera 10 is set in the digital camera cradle 20.
As a consequence, the AV cord 48 cannot be connected directly to
the AV terminal 15 in the digital camera 10. Therefore, it is possible
to prevent redundant connection of the AV cord 48 when the digital
camera 10 is set in the digital camera cradle 20.
Although the present invention has been described in detail with
respect to the particular embodiments, it is not limited to the
above-described embodiments. It will now be apparent to those skilled
in the art that other variations and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention. |