JP2000029112A - Camera, docking station for camera and tripod for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate layout design and to avoid cost rising in the production or the storage of attachments by providing a terminal for an external power source and a terminal for an image monitor inside a tripod hole. SOLUTION: A round hole 24 having a specified inside diameter Da and specified depth La is bored at the center part of the bottom of the tripod hole 22 of the camera 20, and a pair of electrodes 27 and 28 to which electric wires 25 and 26 are connected respectively is attached to the inner wall surface of the hole 24. A pin 29 having a specified outside diameter Db and specified length Lb is attached to the center part of the tip of a male screw 23 on the upper surface of the docking station 21, and a pair of electrodes 32 and 33 to which electric wires 30 and 31 are connected respectively is attached to the outer wall surface of the pin 29. For example, by connecting the positive and the negative electrodes of the extenal power source to the electric wires 30 and 31 respectively, the external power is transmitted through a path such as the electric wires 30 and 31, the electrodes 32 and 33 of the pin 29, the electrodes 27 and 28 of the round hole 24 and the electric wires 25 and 26 of the camera 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, a docking station for a camera, and a tripod for a camera, and more particularly to a terminal for an external power supply, a terminal for an image monitor, or a terminal for a signal interface with an external information processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a camera, a docking station for the camera, and a tripod for the camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Cameras, especially electronic still cameras,
The image of the subject passing through the photographic lens is converted into a video signal by a two-dimensional image sensor (generally a CCD: charge coupled device), and the video signal is displayed on a liquid crystal display or recorded in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. In particular, since the recorded image can be freely taken into an information processing device such as a personal computer via a communication interface, processing such as copying, editing and processing of the image, and transferring to a remote location can be freely performed. It has excellent features that conventional film cameras do not have.

FIG. 5 is a connection state diagram of a conventional electronic still camera with an external device. The electronic still camera 1 is provided with a terminal box 2 with a cover. Inside the terminal box 2, for example, a terminal 3 for an external power supply is provided.
And a terminal 4 for an image monitor, a terminal 5 for a signal interface with an external information processing device, and the like.
When an external power supply is used, a dedicated power supply adapter 6 is prepared, and the jack 8 at the end of the attached cable 7 is inserted into the external power supply terminal 3. Alternatively, when the recorded image is to be displayed on the television monitor 9 and enjoyed, a dedicated video cable 10 is prepared, and the jack 11 at the end thereof is inserted into the terminal 4 for the image monitor. Alternatively, when transferring an image to an external information processing device 12 such as a personal computer, a dedicated interface cable 13 is prepared, and a jack 14 at the end thereof is inserted into the signal interface terminal 5.

[0004] The above is an example of cable connection.
As shown in FIG. 1, a dedicated interface box 15 called a docking station may be used.
In FIG. 6, power supply and signal terminals 17 (multi-pin terminals) are provided on the top surface of the interface box 15 and the bottom surface of the electronic still camera 16, and only the electronic still camera 16 is set in the interface box 15. Thus, it is possible to supply external power, output an image to a television monitor, transfer an image to an external information processing device, and the like without using a special cable.

[0005]

However, in the case of cable connection (see FIG. 5), it is necessary to secure a space for the terminal box 2 in the camera body, which hinders the layout design of the camera body. However, there is a problem in that the cost of manufacturing, storage and distribution of accessories is increased due to the necessity of special cables, and also when a docking station is used (see FIG. 6), the camera body is not connected to a power supply or the like. There is a problem that a space for the signal terminal 17 must be ensured, and similarly, a hindrance to the layout design of the camera body cannot be avoided.

Accordingly, the present invention facilitates the layout design of the camera body by transmitting power or signals by using a "tripod hole" provided in most cameras, and manufactures accessories. The purpose is to avoid an increase in storage and distribution costs.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera having a terminal for an external power supply, a terminal for an image monitor, a terminal for a signal interface with an external information processing device, and a tripod hole. In the camera, the terminal is provided inside the tripod hole.
A camera according to a second aspect of the present invention is the camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the terminal provided inside the tripod hole is a terminal for optical communication. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera docking station comprising: a coupling member coupled to a tripod hole of a camera; and an electric or optical connection means attached to a tip of the coupling member. A power supply or a signal is transmitted by electrical or optical connection between the electrical connection means and a terminal provided inside the tripod hole of the camera. In the camera tripod according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a connecting member and a leg that are connected to a tripod hole of the camera are attached to the base portion, and an electrical connecting means is attached to a tip of the connecting member, and the electrical connection is performed. An electric connection between the means and a terminal provided inside a tripod hole of the camera supplies a voltage of a battery built in the leg and / or the base. In the invention described in each claim, "tripod" is a word indicating a tool for fixing a camera, and as a matter of course, means a tripod of three feet, as well as one foot. The so-called "monopod" also means.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking an electronic still camera as an example. <First Embodiment> In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes an electronic still camera (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "camera"), and reference numeral 21 denotes a docking station. A male screw 23 (coupling member) that can be screwed into a tripod hole 22 provided on the bottom surface of the camera 20 is attached to the upper surface of the docking station 21. The docking station 20 and the docking station 21 can be combined. In addition to the screwing method, for example, a male screw of a type that can be screwed into a tripod hole with one touch is used, but in the following description, the screwing method will be unified for convenience. Incidentally, the illustrated male screw 23 is integrally attached to the shaft of the first gear 21a, and the second gear 21b meshed with the first gear 21a.
Is rotated by hand around the outside of the device. That is, by turning the second gear 21b in the SET direction, the male screw 23 can be connected to the tripod hole 22 of the camera 20. By turning the second gear 21b in the RELEASE direction, the male screw 23 and the tripod hole 22 of the camera 20 can be connected. Can be released. Therefore, since it is not necessary to rotate the camera 20 or the docking station 21, there is no trouble in operation.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the tripod hole 22 and the male screw 23. The center of the bottom of the tripod hole 22 has a predetermined inner diameter Da.
A round hole 24 having a predetermined depth La is formed, and a pair of electrodes 27 and 28 to which electric wires 25 and 26 are connected are attached to the inner wall surface of the round hole 24, respectively. The round hole 24 and the electrodes 27 and 28 constitute the “terminal provided inside the tripod hole” described in the gist of the invention. on the other hand,
A pin 29 having a predetermined outer diameter Db and a predetermined length Lb is attached to the center of the tip of the male screw 23.
A pair of electrodes 32 and 33 to which electric wires 30 and 31 are respectively connected are attached to the outer wall surface of 9. The pins 29 and the electrodes 32 and 33 constitute "electrical or optical connection means attached to the tip of the coupling member (male screw 23)" described in the gist of the invention. Here, the above Da and D
b is substantially equal, and La and Lb have a relationship of La> Lb.
That is, the inner diameter Da of the round hole 24 is substantially equal to the outer diameter Db of the pin 29, and the depth La of the round hole 24 is larger than the length Lb of the pin 29.
When the pin 29 is inserted into the pin 29, it is an essential matter to obtain reliable contact between the two electrodes and to prevent the pin 29 from coming off.

In such a configuration, when the male screw 23 of the docking station 21 is screwed into the tripod hole 22 of the camera 20, the round hole 24 and the pin 29 approach each other along the axis of the tripod hole 22 and the male screw 23. First, finally pin 2
9 enters the inside of the round hole 24 and the electrodes 32, 3 of the pin 29
3 comes into contact with the electrodes 27 and 28 of the round hole 24. Thus, for example, the docking station 21
If the positive and negative electrodes of an external power supply (an external battery or a power supply obtained by converting a commercial power supply to a predetermined potential) are connected to the electric wires 30 and 31, respectively, the electrodes 3 of the electric wires 30, 31 and the pins 29 can be connected.
2, 33, the electrodes 27 and 28 of the round hole 24 and the wires 25 and 26 of the camera 20 can transmit an external power supply. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a terminal box for a power supply in the camera body, so that the layout design is facilitated, and an extraordinary effect that an increase in manufacturing, storage and distribution costs of accessories can be avoided can be obtained. In addition, since the round hole 24 for pin connection is provided at the bottom of the tripod hole 22, there is no danger of accidentally touching the electrodes 25 and 26 when carrying the device, and it is difficult for dust to be attached to prevent poor contact. Also, there is an effect that no inconvenience is caused in using the tripod.

In the above example, transmission of an external power supply has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the camera 20
The serial transmission of an image from the camera 20 to the docking station 21 (or vice versa) is performed by setting the cables 25 and 26 of the docking station 21 and the cables 30 and 31 of the docking station 21 to a cable standard compatible with serial communication such as RS-232C. be able to. Alternatively, remote control can be performed by sending a control signal from the camera 20 to the docking station 21 (or vice versa).

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 3 shows a modification which is specialized only for transferring image signals and control signals.
0, which is usually drawn out of a light emitting / receiving element (not shown) in an Ir (infrared) communication unit 34 for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device through a dedicated window (not shown). The tip is a terminal for optical communication,
This is an example in which the tripod hole 36 is exposed at the bottom of the hole. According to this example, IrDA (InfraRed Data Association)
Standard optical signals can be guided from the optical fiber 35 to the bottom of the tripod hole 36. By attaching a light receiving element to the tip of the male screw of the docking station, transmission of images and control signals by optical communication is ensured. It can be carried out.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a tripod that is preferably used for the camera 20 (using a tripod hole for transmitting power) according to the first embodiment. In this figure, a tripod 40 is provided with a base 42 on which an external screw 41 having substantially the same structure as the external screw 23 provided in the docking station 21 of the first embodiment is attached.
And three extendable legs 43 to 45 swingably attached to three sides of the base portion 42. The telescopic legs 43 to 45 may not be "stretched" (fixed length or assembled type). And three telescopic legs 4
A battery 46 is detachably built in all or at least one of the batteries 3 to 45. Each of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 46 is connected to a male screw 2 through an unillustrated electric wire.
3 are connected to a pair of electrodes (see reference numerals 32 and 33 in FIG. 2). Note that a battery 46 may be built in the base 42. Here, a three-legged tripod is shown to exemplify a typical camera fixture, but the number of legs is not limited. It may be a one-legged so-called “monopod”.

In such a configuration, while the camera 20 is set on the tripod 40, power is supplied to the camera 20 from the battery 46 built in the tripod 40, so that battery consumption of the camera 20 can be suppressed. In addition to this, even if the battery of the camera 20 is completely exhausted, a unique effect that photography and image reproduction can be continued using the battery 46 built in the tripod 40 is obtained. The effect of increasing the stability of 40 is also obtained.

The application of the present invention is not limited to an electronic still camera. Any camera that has a terminal for an external power supply, a terminal for an image monitor, or a terminal for a signal interface with an external information processing apparatus can be applied without exception.

[0016]

According to the camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera having a terminal for an external power supply, a terminal for an image monitor, or a terminal for a signal interface with an external information processing apparatus, and having a tripod hole. Since the terminal is provided inside the tripod hole, it is not necessary to provide a terminal box for a power supply or a signal in the camera body, so that layout design can be facilitated, and manufacturing and storage of accessories can be achieved. An extraordinary effect of avoiding an increase in distribution costs can be obtained. In addition, since the terminal is provided inside the tripod hole, there is no risk of accidentally touching the terminal when carrying the terminal, and it is difficult for dust to adhere to prevent poor contact, and there is no inconvenience in using the tripod. The effect is also obtained. According to the camera of the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal provided inside the tripod hole is used as a terminal for optical communication. , Ir (infrared)
Communication can be performed, and image signals and control signals can be transmitted without any trouble. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a docking station for a camera, comprising: a coupling member coupled to a tripod hole of the camera; and an electric or optical coupling means attached to a tip of the coupling member. Alternatively, a power supply or a signal is transmitted by electrical or optical connection between an optical connection means and a terminal provided inside a tripod hole of the camera, so that a camera provided with a terminal in the tripod hole (for example, A docking station suitable for use in the camera according to claim 1) can be provided. According to the camera tripod according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the connecting member and the leg that are connected to the tripod hole of the camera are attached to the base portion,
An electric connection means is attached to a tip of the coupling member, and the electric connection means is built in the leg and / or the base portion by an electric connection between the electric connection means and a terminal provided inside a tripod hole of a camera. The battery voltage is supplied, so that the battery consumption of the camera can be reduced, and even if the camera battery is completely exhausted, shooting and image playback can be continued using the battery built into the tripod. And the effect of increasing the stability of the tripod by the weight of the battery.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of cable connection.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a use state of the docking station.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Terminal for external power supply 4 Terminal for image monitor 5 Terminal for signal interface 20 Electronic still camera (camera) 21 Docking station 22 Tripod hole 23 Male screw (coupling member) 24 Round hole (provided inside the tripod hole) Terminals 27, 28 Electrodes (terminals provided inside the tripod hole) 29 Pins (electrical or optical connection means) 32, 33 Electrodes (electrical or optical connection means) 35 Optical fiber (terminal for optical communication)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A camera having a terminal for an external power supply, a terminal for an image monitor, or a terminal for a signal interface with an external information processing device and having a tripod hole, wherein the terminal is provided inside the tripod hole. A camera characterized by the following. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the terminal provided inside the tripod hole is a terminal for optical communication. 3. A coupling member coupled to a tripod hole of the camera, and an electric or optical connection means attached to a tip of the coupling member, wherein the electric or optical connection means is connected to a tripod hole of the camera. A docking station for a camera, wherein power is transmitted or a signal is transmitted by electrical or optical connection with a terminal provided inside. 4. A mounting member and a leg, which are connected to a tripod hole of the camera, are attached to the base portion, and an electric connecting means is mounted at a tip of the connecting member, and the electric connecting means and the inside of the tripod hole of the camera are attached. A camera tripod that supplies a voltage of a battery built in the leg and / or the base by electrical connection with a terminal provided in the camera.