JP4241548B2 - Cradle for imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cradle for an image pickup apparatus that is appropriately attached to an image pickup apparatus such as a small digital still camera and is used for image transfer to an external device and charging.

Although a small digital still camera is smaller than a compact camera for silver halide film, it can store many shot images and can easily leave only the necessary images. It is rapidly spreading to the elderly.
And by reducing power consumption, downsizing the recording medium, and adopting a dedicated optical system / battery, the size of a conventional compact camera is smaller than the size of a shirt pocket, resulting in higher image quality. Improvements are being made every day with the aim of achieving this.
In such a small digital still camera, since the accommodation space in the housing is limited, the configuration is necessary only for photographing.

On the other hand, in some electronic devices such as a small digital still camera, a trapezoidal cradle on which the electronic device is mounted is used for connection to an external device such as a desktop computer. The cradle is provided with a connector for electrical connection with an electronic device and a connector used for connection with an external device, so that the connection between the electronic device and the external device can be facilitated. Thereby, since the connector of the electronic device main body can be omitted, the electronic device can be reduced in size.
In some cases, an AC power adapter is connected to the cradle, power is supplied to the electronic device through the cradle, and a battery in the electronic device is charged.

As a conventional cradle, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The electronic device system disclosed in Patent Document 1 relates to an improvement of an electronic device system including an electronic device and a docking station (cradle) that intervenes connection of the electronic device to an external device. In addition to improving the visibility of the status display of the electronic equipment, it is described that a charging operation error does not occur.
JP 2002-232750 A (2nd page, FIG. 1)

However, the docking station (cradle) in the electronic device system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal for connecting to an external device, a power input terminal, a video output terminal, and these are assembled together. A connection button, a power button for operating on / off of the power of the digital camera (imaging device), and a status display light emitting unit. In the electronic device and the docking station, the former is dropped into the mounting recess provided in the latter, and the connection connector provided in the former and the connection terminal provided in the latter recess are engaged. And is configured to be positioned.
Thus, the conventional docking station (cradle) is used as it is installed on a desk indoors, and its application is limited.

  In view of the above, the present invention proposes a cradle for an imaging apparatus that improves the functions of the imaging apparatus and can be used conveniently.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the cradle for an imaging device of the present invention has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, has an imaging lens on the first main surface, and has an image on the second main surface facing the first main surface. An image pickup apparatus cradle having an image pickup device having a monitor, having an image pickup operation element on the top surface of the first main surface and the second main surface, and having an electrical connection terminal on the bottom surface. A recess having a bottom portion larger than the bottom surface, a camera connection terminal that engages with an electrical connection terminal disposed in the recess, and a camera stopper fixing hole outside the upper recess, and a tripod A fixing screw is provided on the bottom surface, and a camera stopper is provided so that the imaging device placed in the recess can be detachably fixed from above by a fixing hole.

  According to the cradle for an imaging device of the present invention configured as described above, the imaging device is cradled using the camera stopper in a state where the electrical connection terminal of the imaging device and the camera connection terminal provided in the cradle recess are engaged. In addition, the image pickup apparatus can be attached to a tripod while being fixed to the cradle, and shooting can be performed in a stable posture.

  According to the present invention, in the above-described cradle for an imaging device, the camera stopper includes a lens adapter part and is configured to be detachable from the imaging device while being fixed to the cradle. It is equipped with.

  According to the cradle for an image pickup apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, for example, a telephoto conversion lens is attached to the lens adapter portion of the camera stopper, and a flash or a telephoto microphone is attached to the accessory shoe of the cradle and fixed to a tripod. In addition, it is possible to take a telephoto image from a place away from the stage with an imaging device with a telephoto conversion lens integrated with a tripod. In addition, it is easy to remove the imaging device from the cradle and remove only the imaging device, take a snap shot by hand, and then attach it to the cradle again to continue telephoto shooting in the previous setting state. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a cradle for an imaging apparatus that can be conveniently used by adding various devices to the cradle and the camera stopper and adding various photographing functions that cannot be performed by the imaging apparatus alone.

Hereinafter, an example of the best mode for carrying out the cradle for an image pickup apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Here, FIG. 1 shows the cradle of this example, FIG. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of insertion / extraction of the digital still camera (imaging device) to / from the cradle, FIG. 2A is an explanatory view when it is attached, and FIG. 2B is an explanatory view when it is taken out. 3 and 4 are a perspective view of a digital still camera as an example of an imaging apparatus mounted on the cradle of this example, FIG. 3 is a perspective view, and FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the battery / memory cover at the bottom of the digital still camera, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for taking pictures with the digital still camera. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for fixing the digital still camera to the cradle.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, reference numeral 30 denotes an imaging apparatus cradle of this example, and in FIGS. 2A and 2B, 20 denotes a digital still camera which is an imaging apparatus mounted on the imaging apparatus cradle 30.
First, the digital still camera 20 mounted on the imaging apparatus cradle 30 of this example will be described with reference to FIGS.

The digital still camera 20 of this example has a size of 90 mm in width, 60 mm in height, 18 mm in depth (thickness), and is formed in a small and thin shape with a depth / height <1/3. 3 and FIG. 4, the four corners of the side surface connecting the front surface 20-1 as the first main surface and the back surface 20-2 as the second main surface of the flat and substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing. After chamfering into a cylindrical surface to form a continuous surface, a top is provided over the entire circumference of this side surface.
That is, on the side surface of the rectangular parallelepiped whose four corners are chamfered, first, a chamfering line 20c-1 is provided on the upper surface side 20-3 shown in FIG. 3 so as to be closer to the rear surface 20-2. A straight line 20c-3 for chamfering is provided on the side 20-5 of the bottom shown in FIG. 4 connecting the back 20-2 so as to be closer to the front 20-1.
Then, the shortest line passing through the side surface is set by connecting both ends of the straight line 20c-1 set on the upper surface side 20-3 and 20c-3 set on the bottom surface 20-5. At this time, the lines set on the side surface are curved lines continuously bound by the cylindrical surfaces at the four corners and become a part of the ellipse, and the flat portions of the side surfaces become straight lines 20c-2 and 20c-4 that divide the surface diagonally ( 3 and 4).

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the straight lines 20 c-1, 20 c-2, 20 c-3, 20 c-4 and the curves of the four corners as the top are inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the top. As shown, a slope 20d is formed on the front surface 20-1 side of the straight lines 20c-1 to -4, and a slope 20e is formed on the back surface 20-2 side. In the following, the four corners of the rectangular parallelepiped are rounded, and the closed straight line 20c-1, 20c-2, 20c-3, 20c-4 and the closed curve of the four corners are referred to as “ridge line 20c”. That's it.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the ridgeline 20c gives the maximum outer dimensions of the width and height of the digital still camera 20 of this example in order to give the maximum height of the housing. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a wide inclined surface is formed on the front surface 20-1 side on the upper surface side 20-3 of the imaging device, and both side surfaces 20-4 (see FIG. 3) and 20-6 (FIG. 4) are provided substantially obliquely on an inclined surface 20d having a substantially inverted triangle whose width becomes narrower as it approaches the bottom side 20-5. Also, at this time, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the width of the side surface 20-4, 20-6 of the digital still camera 20 is increased toward the back surface 20-2, and the width becomes wider as the bottom surface side 20-5 is approached. A triangular slope 20e (FIG. 4) is connected to the slope 20e on the upper side 20-3.
The casing of the digital still camera 20 is manufactured by press-molding a plate-like metal into a shape in which the outer shape shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is divided into two parts by a ridgeline 20c.

Then, an (imaging) lens 24 in which a lens barrier (protection plate) (not shown) is incorporated is arranged on the front upper right side of the housing shown in FIG. 3, and a flash 22 and a self-timer lamp (also used as an AF illuminator) are arranged on the side. ) 23 is provided.
Further, on the upper surface side 20-3, an image pickup operation unit 49 including a shutter button 36 and a POWER button 37, which are image pickup operators, are provided.

Further, on the upper side 20-3, a shooting mode changeover switch 27 and a strap attachment portion 32 for attaching a wrist strap (not shown) are provided on the left side of the digital still camera 20 shown in FIG.
Although not shown, the optical system incorporated in the digital still camera 20 of this example is such that an optical image of a subject is bent downward at a right angle using a prism and is imaged by an image sensor (CCD). The thickness of 20 itself is made small.

On the back of the digital still camera 20, as shown in FIG. 4, an image monitor 25 using a liquid crystal or the like, a zoom (wide angle / telephoto) button 26, a control button 28 including four-way arrow keys and a center determination key, an image The size switching / deleting button 29 is provided.
Reference numeral 30 denotes a screen display / LCD backlight button, 31 denotes an access lamp, and 33 denotes a speaker.

4, at the bottom of the digital still camera 20, as shown in FIG. 4, a multi-connection terminal 38 to which a plug with cable 42 (see FIG. 5B) is attached, a memory insertion port 20a, and a battery insertion port 20b (FIGS. 5A to 5B). A battery / memory cover 39 is provided to freely open and close.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the battery / memory cover 39 is normally closed, and if necessary, first slides upward in the order of arrows A and B in the figure to unlock, and then turns forward. It can be moved and opened. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the memory card 40 or the battery 41 is inserted into the exposed memory insertion port 20a and the battery insertion port 20b. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, after rotating from the front to the back in the order of arrows C and D in the figure, it can be slid downward to be locked and closed.

The memory card 40 used here is a stick-like non-volatile memory element and is detachably attached to the digital still camera 20. The battery 41 is a thin plate-like substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape obtained by downsizing a lithium ion secondary battery or the like.
The replacement and insertion of the memory card 40 are performed when the image file in the memory becomes full during shooting, and the replacement and insertion of the battery 41 are performed when the battery runs out during shooting.

In this digital still camera 20, after the memory card 40 and the battery 41 are mounted, first, the POWER button 37 disposed on the upper side 20-3 shown in FIG. The barrier is in an open state and can be electrically photographed.
Then, after setting the desired shooting mode with the mode changeover switch 27 shown in FIG. 3, the digital still camera 20 is held as shown in FIG. 6, and the shot image of the subject is displayed on the image monitor 25 (see FIG. 4) on the back surface 20-2. After confirming the above, the shutter button 36 is pressed, and the photographed image data is recorded and stored in a memory element of the memory card 40 attached to the digital still camera 20 with a predetermined image size.
A plurality of captured images can be reproduced and confirmed with the control button 28, and those that have failed can be deleted with the image size switching / deleting button 29.

  Next, the cradle 30 to which the digital still camera 20 is mounted will be described with reference to FIGS.

The cradle 30 is formed by plastic molding or the like, and as shown in FIG. 1A, the bottom surface 20-5 of the digital still camera 20 (see FIG. 2B) so that the lower part of the digital still camera 20 fits in completely. A recess 30-1 that is slightly larger than that shown in FIG. 4 is provided in the upper portion, and is electrically engaged with the multi-connection terminal 38 provided on the bottom surface 20-5 of the digital still camera 20 inside the recess 30-1. A camera connection terminal 32 to be connected is provided.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the back of the cradle 30 is connected to an A / V OUT terminal 33 for connection to a video input terminal of a television receiver, a USB terminal 34 for connection to a personal computer, etc., and a DC plug. A DC IN terminal 35 connected to the AC power adapter is provided. Further, a screw hole for fixing a tripod (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface, and further, two substantially rectangular holes for attaching a camera stopper 31 (to be described later) are provided on the back side above the cradle 30 as shown in FIG. 1B. .

As shown in FIG. 2A, the cradle 30 when installed on the desk indoors is mounted with the image monitor 25 (see FIG. 4) on the back surface 20-2 of the digital still camera 20 facing the front surface in the concave portion 30-1 of the upper part. The multi-connection terminal 38 on the bottom surface 20-5 of the digital still camera 20 is used in a state where it is connected to the camera connection terminal 32 of the cradle 30.
Then, the captured image data is transferred to a personal computer connected via a cable via the USB terminal 34 to perform trimming, image correction processing, or the like, or a DC plug 42 connected to the DC IN terminal 35 (see FIG. 5B). The battery 41 (see FIG. 5B) built in the digital still camera 20 is charged by the AC power adapter via
As shown in FIG. 2B, the digital still camera 20 is detached from the cradle 30 by lifting the digital still camera 20 upward while gripping the cradle 30 and engaging the multi connection terminal 38 and the camera connection terminal 32 with each other. To release.

The cradle 30 can be used more conveniently by using a camera stopper 31 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. As shown in FIG. 7A, the camera stopper 31 has a substantially inverted J shape. The upper portion of the digital still camera 20 is sandwiched by a bent portion 31d of the inverted J shape, and two hooks 31a provided at the lower end portion. , 31a are inserted into and engaged with the rectangular holes 30-3 and 30-3 of the cradle 30, so that the cradle 30 is mounted without any interference.
In addition, the camera stopper 31 has a horizontally long hole 31b so that the flash 22 is exposed when the cradle 30 is mounted together with the digital still camera 20, and a round hole 31c so that the self-timer lamp 23 is exposed under the hole 31b. Provided.
The camera stopper 31 is attached to the cradle 30 by pushing the two hooks 31a and 31a at the lower end of the camera stopper 31 into the two substantially rectangular holes 30-3 and 30-3 of the cradle 30 as shown in FIG. 7A. As shown in FIG. 7B, the fingers are sandwiched between the two anti-slip portions on the hooks 31a and 31a to apply a force to bend the hooks inward. In this state, the camera stopper 31 is moved upward. Pull it up.

  According to the cradle 30 configured as described above, the connection between the digital still camera 20 and an external device such as a personal computer or the connection for charging the battery 41 built in the digital still camera 20 is performed only on a normal use. The digital still camera 20 is fixed to the cradle 30 via the camera stopper 31 without being rattled, and in this state, the digital still camera 20 is fixed to a tripod using the screw hole 36 on the bottom of the cradle 30 to perform shooting in a stable installation state. In particular, in the digital still camera 20 having a moving image shooting function, there is no possibility of camera shake, so that a stable image can be obtained.

Next, another example of the best mode for carrying out the cradle for an image pickup apparatus of this example will be described with reference to FIGS. The imaging apparatus cradle of this example is different from the cradle 30 of FIG. 1 in that the form of the camera stopper is different and an accessory shoe is provided.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the cradle together with a camera stopper, an external flash, and a digital still camera. FIG. 9 is a front view, FIG. 9B is a plan view, and FIG. 9C is a side view in a state where a camera stopper, an external flash, and a digital still camera are incorporated in the cradle. FIG. 10 is a perspective view in which a conversion lens is attached to the digital camera of FIG. 9 and fixed to a tripod.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 50 denotes a cradle, and a camera stopper 51, an external flash 55 and the digital still camera 20 are incorporated in the cradle 50.
The cradle 50 is provided with an accessory shoe 53 on the upper surface of a substantially rectangular shape, and an elongated recess 50-1 to which the lower part of the digital still camera 20 is attached and a camera connection terminal 52 is provided, and a camera stopper 51 for fixing the cradle 50. Two substantially rectangular holes 50-3, 50-3 and two screw insertion holes 50-4, 50-4 are formed. Also, a screw hole for fixing a tripod (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface.
Although not shown in the cradle 50, an A / V OUT terminal, a USB terminal, and a DC IN terminal are provided as in the cradle of the example of FIG.

  When the digital still camera 20 is mounted on the cradle 50, the camera stopper 51 is formed with a lens adapter portion 51b at a position that is the front surface of the imaging lens 24, and is pivotable by a hinge with a spring built in the upper portion. A character-shaped part 51c is provided. In addition, two hooks 51a and 51a and two screw holes are provided in the lower portion of the camera stopper 51.

The cradle 50 of FIG. 8 configured as described above is inserted from the bottom side of the cradle 50 after the hooks 51a and 51a of the camera stopper 51 are first pushed into the two substantially rectangular holes 50-3 and 50-3. It is fixed with a screw. At this time, since the camera stopper 51 is mounted so as to straddle the placed digital still camera 20 from above, the digital still camera 20 can be fixed to the cradle 50 without wobbling.
Next, the digital still camera 20 is mounted with the L-shaped part 51c on the upper part of the camera stopper 51 rotated and opened against the urging force of the spring (see FIG. 8), and the flash 55 is attached to the accessory shoe 53. set. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9, the digital still camera 20 and the flash 55 can be assembled in the cradle 50.
That is, as shown in the plan view 9A and the front view 9B, the flash 55 is arranged on the right side of the image lens 24, and the lens adapter portion 51b of the camera stopper 51 is arranged on the front. Further, as shown in the side view 9C, the digital still camera 20 can be removed by rotating the L-shaped part 51c with the camera stopper 51 fixed to the cradle 50.

In the state of being incorporated in the cradle 50 as described above, for example, a wide-angle or telephoto conversion lens 54 shown in FIG. 9 is attached by a two-dot chain line, and provided on the bottom surface of the cradle 50 as shown in FIG. It can be fixed on a tripod using a tripod screw hole and photographed.
Here, when a telephoto conversion lens (teleconversion lens) 54 is mounted, a lens adapter unit 51b equipped with a flash 55 and a teleconversion lens 54 and a digital still are used in a shooting such as a presentation on a slightly dark stage indoors. The cradle 50 incorporating the camera 20 is fixed to a tripod, and the subject on the stage can be illuminated and the subject can be photographed larger by the zoom function of the digital still camera 20 itself.
In addition, with the lens setting state as it is, only the digital still camera 20 is detached and a snap shot is taken on the back of the stage and the like, and it is attached to the cradle 50 again to perform the performance on the stage with the previous shooting setting. Shooting can be resumed easily.

  Similarly, shooting with a wider viewing angle can be performed using a wide-angle conversion lens (wide conversion lens). Further, a telephoto microphone may be attached to the accessory shoe 53. By using the cradle 50 of this example, the battery built in the digital still camera 20 can be charged for a long time without worrying about battery consumption. Full-scale shooting can be performed.

  According to the imaging apparatus cradle 50 of FIG. 8 configured as described above, in addition to the original function of the cradle 50, the digital still camera 20 is incorporated so as to cover the camera stopper 51 as a separate component from above. Therefore, not only the camera stopper 51 and the digital still camera 20 are integrated without wobbling, but also the digital still camera 20 can be attached and detached without changing the attachment state by the rotating portion of the camera stopper 51. Then, the conversion lens 54 is attached to the lens adapter portion of the camera stopper 51, and a flash 55 or the like is additionally attached to the accessory shoe 53 of the cradle 50 and fixed to a tripod, thereby greatly improving the functions of the original digital still camera 20. It is possible to realize shooting in a stable state.

  In addition, although the example of the cradle in FIG. 8 has been described as an example where one accessory shoe is provided, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of cradles may be provided.

  In addition, although the description has been made on the case where the memory card 40 is used as the imaging device mounted on the cradle of this example, other recording media such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a hard disk drive, and a hologram memory are used instead of the memory card 40. Of course, the present invention may be used for an image pickup apparatus.

  Needless to say, the imaging device case of the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and can take other various configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 illustrates a cradle for an imaging device according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention, where A is a perspective view and B is a rear perspective view. FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of attaching and taking out of an imaging apparatus to a cradle for an imaging apparatus according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the imaging device with which it mounts on the cradle for imaging devices of the example of FIG. It is a back perspective view of the imaging device with which the imaging device cradle of FIG. 1 is attached. 1A and 1B are explanatory views of an opening operation, B an attachment scanning, and C a closing operation of a battery / memory cover at the bottom of the imaging device attached to the imaging device cradle of the example in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the imaging | photography state of the imaging device by the example of one embodiment of this invention. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of the camera stopper in the cradle for an image pickup apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which A is attached and B is taken out. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the cradle for imaging devices by the other example of one embodiment of this invention, and another combination member. 8 is a plan view, B is a front view, and C is a side view in which a digital still camera or the like is incorporated in the cradle for an image pickup apparatus in the example of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state which attached the conversion lens to the cradle for imaging devices of the example of FIG. 9, and was attached to the tripod.

Explanation of symbols

20 ... Digital still camera, 30 ... Cradle, 31 ... Camera stopper

Claims (3)

It has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, has an imaging lens on the first main surface, has an image monitor on a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, and has the first main surface and the first main surface In the cradle for an imaging device of an imaging device configured to have an imaging operator on the upper surface of the main surface of 2 and to have an electrical connection terminal on the bottom surface,
A concave portion having a bottom portion larger than the bottom surface of the imaging device and a camera connection terminal that engages with the electrical connection terminal disposed in the concave portion are provided on the upper side, and a fixing hole for a camera stopper is provided on the upper concave portion. With a tripod fixing screw on the bottom,
A cradle for an image pickup apparatus, wherein the camera stopper is provided so that the image pickup apparatus placed in the recess can be detachably fixed from above by the fixing hole. The cradle for an imaging device according to claim 1,
The camera stopper,
A cradle for an image pickup apparatus, comprising a lens adapter unit and configured to be detachable from the image pickup apparatus while being fixed to the cradle. The cradle for an imaging device according to claim 1,
An cradle for an imaging apparatus, wherein the cradle includes an accessory shoe.

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