Digital Camera Patent AbstractFree 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 ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. A cradle for a digital camera, comprising: a tripod screw hole
into which a fixing male screw used in a tripod for a camera is
capable of being screwed; a wall part including a rear wall portion
and left and right side wall portions, wherein each of the left
and right side wall portions includes an upper edge section adjacent
to the rear wall portion having a height substantially equal to
a height of the rear wall portion, the upper edge section on one
of the left and right side wall portions extending further forward
than on the other of the left and right side wall portions, the
other of the left and right side wall portions including a vertical
edge section extending vertically downward from a forward end of
the upper edge section, and a lower edge section extending substantially
in a forward direction toward a front of the cradle from a lower
end of the vertical edge section, thereby forming a side cut away
portion, the cut away portion exposing one or more terminals provided
on a side surface of the camera.
2. The cradle as set forth in claim 1, further 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; and a power supply
terminal which supplies power to the digital camera mounted on the
camera mounting part.
3. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 2, further
comprising a locking device which fixes the digital camera to the
cradle by a mechanical engaging device when the digital camera is
mounted; and a releasing device which releases the locking device.
4. The cradle for a digital camera according to claim 2, wherein
the external device is a personal computer.
5. The cradle for a digital camera according to claim 2, wherein
the second communications device allows the cradle and external
device to be freely oriented with respect to each other.
6. The cradle as set forth in claim 1, wherein a height of a leg
part 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.
7. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a depression part formed on a rear side of a bottom portion
of the cradle.
8. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a cut-away part formed on a rear side of a bottom portion
of the cradle, the cut-away part being disposed rearward of the
tripod screw hole.
9. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising four compressible pads extending in a direction perpendicular
to a bottom of the cradle, the pads being adapted to support the
cradle when the cradle is placed on a flat surface.
10. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a camera mounting part having a surface that is substantially
horizontal, the rear wall portion and the left and right side wall
portions rising orthogonally from the camera mounting part.
11. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein
each of the right and left side wall portions includes: a front
corner section which is angled inward toward a front of the cradle.
12. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a front surface of the cradle extending downward from
an exposed front edge of the camera mounting part.
13. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the right and left side wall portions include: front corner sections
which angle inward toward each other in order to wrap around lower
front corners of the camera mounted on the camera mounting part.
14. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 13, wherein
no wall is provided along the front edge of the camera mounting
part between front corner sections of the cradle.
15. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 13, when
the digital camera is mounted on the camera mounting part, a portion
of the camera between the front corner sections of the wall part
is exposed.
16. A cradle for a digital camera, comprising: a tripod screw hole
into which a fixing male screw used in a tripod for a camera is
capable of being screwed; a cut-away part formed on a bottom surface
of the cradle; a wall part adapted to support the camera, wherein
a highest section of the wall part is disposed directly above the
cut-away part, wherein a height of the wall part is highest along
a rear of the cradle and along rear sections of left and right side
wall portions of the cradle, the height of the wall part being lower
along forward sections of the left and right side wall portions
adjacent to a front of the cradle, the forward sections being stepped
down from the rear sections.
17. The cradle as set forth in claim 16, further 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; and
a power supply terminal which supplies power to the digital camera
mounted on the camera mounting part.
18. The cradle for a digital camera according to claim 17, wherein
the external device is a personal computer.
19. The cradle for a digital camera according to claim 17, wherein
the second communications device allows the cradle and external
device to be freely oriented with respect to each other.
20. The cradle as set forth in claim 16, wherein a height of a
leg part 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.
21. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 16, further
comprising a locking device which fixes the digital camera to the
cradle by a mechanical engaging device when the digital camera is
mounted; and a releasing device which releases the locking device.
22. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 16, wherein
the cut-away part is disposed rearward of the tripod screw hole.
23. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 16, wherein
the cut-away part includes at least three vertical wall part, and
is open on the bottom portion and a rear portion of the cradle.
24. The cradle for a digital camera as set forth in claim 16, further
comprising four compressible pads extending in a direction perpendicular
to a bottom of the cradle, the pads being adapted to support the
cradle when the cradle is placed on a flat surface. Digital Camera Patent DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
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.
2. Description of the Related Art
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 corner portions
of a digital camera whose cross section has a generally rectangular
shape.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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:
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;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the camera is
mounted on the cradle;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bottom surface of the cradle;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the camera is
fixed to a tripod by using the cradle;
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;
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;
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;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a use pattern
of a conventional cradle for a digital camera;
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;
FIG. 11 is a cross section of a main part that shows an example
of a support structure for movable walls of the cradle;
FIG. 12 is a cross section of a main part that shows another support
structure for the movable walls;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the support structure that
is viewed from the direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a use pattern of the cradle;
FIG. 15 is a rear-side perspective view showing another use pattern
of the cradle;
FIG. 16 is a rear-side perspective view showing a cradle according
to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17 shows a use pattern of the cradle shown in FIG. 16; and
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
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.
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).
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.
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.
Along the direction of an allow A from above in FIG. 1, the camera
10 is inserted into the camera 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 can be seen in FIG. 1, the camera
mounting part 32 has an upper surface that is substantially horizontal.
The wall part 36 includes a rear wall portion 36R and left and right
side wall portions 36S, rising vertically from rear and side edges
of the camera mounting part 32. Each of the left and right wall
portions 36S includes an upper edge section 36A adjacent to and
having the same height as the rear wall portion 36R. However, the
left and right side wall portions 36S are not symmetrical. As can
be seen in FIGS 1 and 2. the upper edge section 36A on one of the
left and right side wall portions 36S extends further in a forward
direction than on the other of the left and right of the side wall
portions 36S. As shown in FIG. 1. the other of the side wall portions
36S includes a vertical edge section 36V extending vertically downward
from a forward end of the upper edge section 36A, and a lower edge
section 36L extending substantially in a forward direction toward
a front of the cradle 30 from a lower end of a respective vertical
edge section 36V. The right and left side wall portions 36S also
include front corner sections 36C which angle inward toward each
other in order to wrap around lower front corners of the casing
11 of the camera when the camera 10 is mounted on the camera mounting
part 32. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vertical edge section 36V
and the lower edge section 36L on the right side of the cradle 30
form a side cut away portion 36CA. in order 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. 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. Specifically, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the height
of wall part 36 is highest (reference numeral 36A in FIG. 2) along
a rear wall portion 36R of the cradle 30 and along upper sections
36A of both the left and right side wall portions 36S of the cradle
30. On the other hand, the height of the wall part 36 is lower along
the lower edge section 36L on one side of the cradle and along the
front corner sections 36C adjacent to a front of the cradle 30,
in order 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bottom surface of the cradle
30. As shown in the figure, on each of four corners 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.
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.
Next, the operation of the cradle 30 with the above-described configuration
will be described.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Next, a further embodiment of the present invention will be described.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
According to the present invention, the range of uses of the cradle
becomes wider, and its conveniences are increased.
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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