JP2002208387A - Battery storage device and camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve designability and portability as well as to do away with the need for allowing superfluous space for an emergency battery holder inside an electronic equipment, in a portable electronic equipment such as a camera which normally uses a built-in secondary battery, but can be operated with a common primary battery mounted on an emergency battery holder fitted to the equipment. SOLUTION: The battery storage device 20, attached to a portable electronic equipment body 10 normally driven by a main battery (an exclusive battery) B1, is provided with a battery room-forming member BX, at least a part of which makes up an outer package member 11 constituting an appearance of the portable equipment body 10, and which forms an auxiliary battery room BR for storing an auxiliary battery (a general-purpose battery) B2 other than the main battery (the exclusive battery) B1 by moving against the portable electronic equipment body 10. Further, the camera is the battery storage device 20 attached to a camera body 10 as a battery storage device for a camera.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery storage device used in, for example, cameras and other portable devices, and a camera provided with the battery storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In portable equipment such as a camera, portability is regarded as important, and thus miniaturization of the apparatus is strongly desired. For this reason, for example, as a power supply used for a camera, a small and high energy can be stably supplied for a long time,
In addition, a dedicated battery set in a specific shape compatible with the battery housing of the camera is frequently used.

The above-mentioned dedicated battery is very preferable for miniaturization of a camera and the like. However, compared to commercially available general-purpose batteries, they have the disadvantage that they are relatively expensive and that they are not easily available. So, for example, if you go abroad,
When the extra batteries brought to the store run out, it is almost impossible to obtain and replenish the batteries at the site. For this reason, a situation in which subsequent shooting cannot be performed is caused.

[0006] Conventionally, there has been known an apparatus capable of operating the apparatus body using a battery other than the dedicated battery instead of the dedicated battery.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-25944 discloses a dedicated battery housed in a portable electronic device by attaching a battery box containing a spare battery to the bottom of a portable terminal and making an electrical connection. There is shown a device which can be used as a backup power supply without removing it.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-329388, a rechargeable battery and a dry battery are housed in a back-to-back state on the front side and the back side of one battery case. A device is shown that can be selectively coupled to the front or back side for mounting. According to this device, the rechargeable battery and the dry battery are
Since it can be mounted on electronic devices at the same time, the trouble of carrying extra batteries separately can be eliminated, and the battery to be used can be changed from one battery to the other by mounting the battery case by turning it 180 °. It is possible to switch as needed.

[0007]

If the conventional apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned publication is used, it becomes possible to use another battery, for example, a commercially available general-purpose battery in place of the main dedicated battery as appropriate. However, any of the devices disclosed in the above publications require a battery box and a battery case provided separately from the device main body. Therefore, when carrying these battery boxes or battery cases in a state where they are separated from the apparatus main body, there is a possibility that they may be misplaced or lost.

On the contrary, the user carries the battery box and the battery case in a state where the battery box and the battery case are attached to the apparatus body in advance.
And when operating the main unit with the main dedicated battery,
A battery chamber accommodating a battery in a non-use state other than the dedicated battery is always provided alongside the apparatus main body. For this reason, the size of the entire device naturally increases, and the size of the entire device such as a camera increases in a normal use state using a main dedicated battery.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a battery storage device and a camera having the following advantages.

(A) In a normal use state using a main battery, there is no possibility that the size of the battery storage space, and consequently the entire device, will become large. Therefore, there is no possibility that the usability of the device including a portable device such as a camera is deteriorated or the portability is impaired.

(B) When the main battery (dedicated battery) is exhausted, an auxiliary battery (general-purpose battery) can be used as a built-in power supply instead of the main battery (dedicated battery) as appropriate.

(C) Since no battery box or the like is required, there is no risk of misplacing or losing them.

[0013]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a battery storage device and a camera according to the present invention are mainly characterized in that they are configured as follows. Note that characteristic configurations other than the following will be clarified in the embodiment.

(1) The battery storage device of the present invention is a battery storage device attached to a main body of a portable device (camera, video camera, recorder, etc.) usually driven by a main battery (dedicated battery), An auxiliary battery chamber for storing an auxiliary battery (general-purpose battery) other than the main battery by moving at least a part of the exterior of the mobile device main body and constituting the exterior of the mobile device main body. A battery chamber forming member to be formed is provided.

In the above apparatus, the battery chamber forming member is normally moved (reduced) to a predetermined position.
The main body of the portable device is substantially in a reduced state having no auxiliary battery chamber for storing the auxiliary battery. Therefore, the size of the main body of the portable device in a normal state is kept in a minimum state, the portability inherent to the main body of the portable device is not impaired, and the device is excellent in usability.

When the battery chamber forming member is moved (expanded) to another predetermined position as required, an auxiliary battery chamber capable of storing an auxiliary battery is mounted on the portable device body. For this reason, it becomes possible to use an auxiliary battery (general-purpose battery) instead of the main battery (dedicated battery) as appropriate.

Since a battery box and a battery case for the auxiliary battery, which are conventionally required, are not required at all, there is no risk of misplacing or losing them.

(2) The camera according to the present invention is characterized in that the battery storage device described in (1) above is attached to a camera body as a camera battery storage device.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of a camera to which a battery storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. It is the perspective view seen from the camera front side shown, and (b) is the perspective view which looked at the mode at the time of using an auxiliary battery from the camera front side.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a camera body;
The camera body 10 is covered with an exterior member 11. A photographing lens barrel 14, a finder front window 15, and the like are provided on the front surface of the exterior member 11, and a release button 16 is provided on the upper surface of the exterior member 11. Although not shown, a finder eyepiece window, an operation mode switching button, and the like are provided on the rear surface of the exterior member 11. The camera body 10 is normally driven by a main battery (a dedicated battery B1 described later).

A battery storage device 20 is provided at a grip GR at one end (left end in the figure) of the camera body 10. The battery storage device 20 includes a dedicated battery storage unit 17 for storing the dedicated battery B1 as the main battery, and a battery cover 21 disposed so as to cover the outside thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the battery storage device 20. As shown in FIG.
Numeral 7 has a vertically long slot 18 into which a dedicated battery B1 can be loaded from one end face of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped block toward the depth direction, as indicated by a dashed arrow M. A battery contact piece (not shown) for taking out power from the dedicated battery B1 is provided inside the slot 18. On both upper and lower surfaces of the block, contacts 12, 13 to be described later are arranged with only their contact portions exposed. A pair of guide grooves 19a, 1 are formed along one side edge of the upper and lower surfaces of the block.
9b (19b is not shown) is formed.

The battery cover 21 originally has the dedicated battery storage 17
This is for protecting the dedicated battery B1 loaded in the slot 18 of the first embodiment, and has a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape with one end opened. Thus, the battery cover 21 can be fitted into the dedicated battery storage 17 from the opening end side to cover the entire outer surface of the dedicated battery storage 17 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. ing.

A pair of engaging pins 24a, 24b slidably engaged with the pair of guide grooves 19a, 19b are provided at corner positions near the open ends on the inner surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the battery cover 21. Have been. Thus, as shown by the arrow X in FIG. 1B, the battery cover 21 is positioned between the first position (reduced position) P1 and the second position with respect to the dedicated battery storage 17, in other words, with respect to the camera body 10. It is mounted so as to be movable between a position (extended position) P2 and a direction intersecting the optical axis O of the camera body 10.

When the battery cover 21 is at the first position P1, the dedicated battery B1 stored in the dedicated battery storage section 17 is protected. When the battery cover 21 is in the second position P2
, The internal space of the exterior member 11 is enlarged, and an auxiliary battery chamber BR for storing an auxiliary battery (general-purpose battery) B2 other than the dedicated battery B1 appears. That is, the battery lid 21 has a function as the battery chamber forming member BX. Since the battery chamber forming member BX shown in the present embodiment utilizes the existing battery lid 21, substantially the entire outer surface thereof forms a part of the exterior member 11 constituting the appearance of the camera body 10. .

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing the structure of the main part of the camera according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3A is a top view showing a state when a dedicated battery is used, with the battery cover upper side wall removed, and FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the aspect at the time of using a battery. 4A and 4B are views showing the configuration of a main part of the camera according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a top view showing a state when an auxiliary battery is used, with a battery lid upper side wall removed, and FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the aspect at the time of use.

As shown in FIG. 3, a notch 21S is provided on the left edge (upper edge in the figure) of the opening end of the battery cover 21 as a "relief" when the battery cover 21 rotates. . One end face and right side face of the dedicated battery storage part 17 (lower side face in the figure)
At the corner where they intersect at right angles,
Chamfer 1 that is relatively large as "escape" when pivoting
7T is provided.

Thus, the battery cover 21 is in the second position P
In FIG. 2, the battery insertion / removal opening of the auxiliary battery chamber BR can be opened by rotating a predetermined angle (about 90 °) about the engagement pins 24a and 24b as indicated by an arrow θ in FIG. I have.

The battery cover 21 has upper and lower side walls 21a, 21b.
Are provided with battery contact pieces 22 and 23 for taking out the power source of the auxiliary battery B2. These battery contact pieces 22 and 2
3 is integrated so as to move with the battery lid 21.

Therefore, when the battery cover 21 moves to the first position, as shown in FIG.
a and 23a stop at positions beyond the respective contact portions 12a and 12b of the pair of contacts 12 and 13 embedded and fixed in the camera body 10. Therefore, the battery contact pieces 22 and 23
It is in a state of being locked by the contacts 12 and 13, and the detachment does not occur by a slight vibration or the like. In other words, the battery cover 2 fitted into the dedicated battery storage 17
1 is stably held.

When the battery cover 21 is moved to the second position P2, as shown in FIG.
a and 23a are embedded and fixed in the camera body 10 and have a predetermined wiring (not shown).
The contact portions 13a and 12b of the thirteen contacts with a predetermined pressure. Thus, the power supply from the auxiliary battery B2 stored in the auxiliary battery chamber BR can be accurately performed.

Next, a description will be given of how to use the battery storage device of the present embodiment configured as described above. First, when the camera is used in a normal state, as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the dedicated battery fully charged in the slot 18 of the dedicated battery storage 17 is used. B1
Is loaded, and the battery cover 21 is closed for use. At this time, the battery cover 21 is at the first position P1, and the entire camera is in a reduced state.

The special battery B1 as when going abroad
When the battery B1 is discharged in a place where it is difficult to obtain the battery, the battery cover 21 is moved from the first position P1 shown in FIG. 1A to the second position shown in FIG. Position P2
Withdraw to By doing so, the internal space of the exterior member 11 is enlarged, and the auxiliary battery chamber BR, which did not exist before, appears. Then, at the second position P2, the battery cover 21 is rotated by about 90 ° as shown in FIG. Then, the battery insertion opening of the auxiliary battery chamber BR is largely opened.

In such a state, the dedicated battery B1 loaded in the slot 18 of the dedicated battery storage unit 17 is extracted, and the purchased general-purpose battery is inserted as the auxiliary battery B2 as indicated by a broken arrow N in FIG. It is loaded into the auxiliary battery chamber BR from the opening. Thereafter, the battery cover 21 is rotated to the original angular position to obtain the state shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the respective contact portions 22a and 23a of the battery contact pieces 22 and 23 are replaced with the respective contact portions 12a and 23a of the contacts 12 and 13.
13a at a predetermined pressure. Thus, the auxiliary battery B2 can be used as a camera power supply instead of the dedicated battery B1.

The above-mentioned auxiliary battery B2 is, for example, an AA battery or the like. Further, the battery may be configured so that two or more batteries can be loaded simultaneously (by connecting them in series).

(Characteristics of Embodiment) [1] The battery storage device of the above-described embodiment is usually provided in a portable device (camera, video camera, recorder, etc.) body 10 driven by a main battery (dedicated battery) B1. A battery storage device 20 to be attached, at least a part of which forms an exterior member 11 constituting an appearance of the portable device main body 10, and which moves with respect to the portable device main body 10, thereby excluding the main battery B 1. Auxiliary battery (general purpose battery) B
A battery chamber forming member BX that forms an auxiliary battery chamber BR for storing the battery compartment 2.

In the above device, the battery chamber forming member BX
Is normally moved to the predetermined position P1 (reduction operation), the portable device main body 10 is in a reduced state in which there is substantially no auxiliary battery room BR for storing the auxiliary battery B2. For this reason, the mobile device body 10 in the normal state
Since its size is kept to a minimum, the portability inherent in the portable device main body 10 is not impaired, and the usability is excellent.

When the battery chamber forming member BX is moved to another predetermined position P2 (expansion operation) as necessary, the auxiliary battery chamber BR capable of storing the auxiliary battery B2 is provided in the portable device body 10. State. Therefore, when necessary, an auxiliary battery (general-purpose battery) is used instead of the main battery (dedicated battery) B1.
B2 can be used.

Since a battery box and a battery case for an auxiliary battery, which are conventionally required, are not required at all, there is no risk of misplacing or losing them.

[2] The battery storage device according to the above embodiment is the device according to [1], wherein the battery chamber forming member BX has two positions, a first position P1 and a second position P2. The first position P is provided movably between the positions.
1 is a battery lid 21 that protects the main battery B1 stored in the portable device body 10 and forms an auxiliary battery chamber BR for storing the auxiliary battery B2 at the second position P2. And

In the above-described apparatus, the auxiliary battery compartment BR necessary for storing the auxiliary battery B2 by simply moving the battery cover 21 for protecting the main battery B1 inherent in the portable device body 10 is provided. Since it is formed, no new member is required.

[3] The battery storage device according to the embodiment is the device according to [2], wherein the battery cover 21
Is characterized in that by sliding from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the internal space of the exterior member 11 is enlarged to form the auxiliary battery chamber BR.

In the above device, the auxiliary battery chamber BR can be easily formed only by sliding the battery cover 21, so that the device is easy to use.

[4] The battery storage device according to the embodiment is the device according to [2], wherein the battery cover 21
Slides from the first position P1 to the second position P2 to expand the internal space of the exterior member 11 to form the auxiliary battery chamber BR, and to rotate at the second position P2. By moving, the battery insertion opening of the auxiliary battery chamber BR is enlarged.

In the above-described apparatus, the battery insertion / removal opening of the auxiliary battery chamber BR is greatly opened by rotating the battery lid 21, so that the storage / removal operation of the auxiliary battery B2 with respect to the auxiliary battery chamber BR is facilitated.

[5] The battery storage device in the above embodiment is the device described in [2], [3] or [4], wherein the battery cover 21 is for taking out the power supply of the auxiliary battery B2. It is characterized by having battery contact pieces 22 and 23.

In the above device, the power supply from the auxiliary battery B2 can be easily and accurately performed.

[6] In the camera according to the embodiment, the battery storage device 20 according to any one of [1] to [5] is used as the camera battery storage device.
It is characterized by being attached to.

[7] The camera according to the embodiment is the camera according to the above [6], wherein the battery storage device 2
0 indicates that the battery cover 21 of the battery storage device 20 is provided on the grip portion GR of the camera body 10 so as to be movable in a direction X crossing the optical axis O of the camera body 10. Features.

In the above camera, the battery storage device 20
Is provided on the grip portion GR of the camera body 10,
Even when a relatively large general-purpose battery is stored as the auxiliary battery B1, the balance of the camera body 10 is not lost, and the stability at the time of shooting is ensured.

[8] The camera according to the above embodiment is the camera according to the above [7], wherein the battery cover 21 is
The camera includes battery contact pieces 22 and 23 that move together with the battery cover 21. When the battery cover 21 moves to the second position, the battery contact pieces 22 and 23 are fixed in the camera body 10. The battery lid 2 contacts the contacts 12 and 13 and
1 is provided so as to supply power from the auxiliary battery B2 stored in the auxiliary battery chamber BR formed by the power supply device 1.

In the above camera, the battery contact pieces 22 and 2
Since the power supply line is connected by contact between the power supply line 3 and the contacts 12 and 13, there is no risk of disconnection as compared with the case where the power supply line is connected by wires or the like.

(Modifications) The battery housing device and the camera shown in the above-described embodiment include the following modifications.

An auxiliary battery chamber is formed by using a battery chamber forming member separate from the battery lid.

[0055]

According to the present invention, a battery housing device and a camera having the following functions and effects can be provided.

(A) In a normal use state in which the main battery is used, the auxiliary battery chamber does not substantially exist, so that there is no possibility that the battery storage space and thus the entire device will become large. Therefore, there is no possibility that the usability of the device including a portable device such as a camera is deteriorated or the portability is impaired.

(B) When the main battery (dedicated battery) is exhausted, the auxiliary battery chamber can be easily made to appear by moving the battery chamber forming member. An auxiliary battery (general-purpose battery) can be used as a built-in power supply.

(C) Since no battery box or the like is required, there is no risk of misplacement or loss.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing the appearance of a camera to which a battery storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a mode when a dedicated battery is used and viewed from the front side of the camera; () Is a perspective view of the mode when the auxiliary battery is used, as viewed from the front side of the camera.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of a camera to which the battery storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a configuration of a main part of a camera to which the battery storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a top view, and FIG.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a configuration of a main part of a camera to which the battery storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied, wherein FIG. A top view, (b) is a longitudinal section showing an aspect at the time of using an auxiliary battery.

[Description of References] 10: Portable device body (camera body) 11: Exterior member 12, 13, ... A pair of contacts 17 ... Dedicated battery storage portion 17T ... Relatively large chamfered portion 19a, 19b ... Guide groove 20 Battery storage device 21 Battery cover (battery chamber forming member BX) 21S Notch portion as “escape” 22, 23 Battery connection pieces 24a, 24b A pair of engagement pins B1 Main battery (dedicated) B2 ... Auxiliary battery (general-purpose battery) P1 ... First position (reduced position) P2 ... Second position (expanded position) BR ... Auxiliary battery chamber GR ... Grip section

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 7, 2001 (2001.3.7)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 7

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A battery housing device usually attached to a main body of a portable device driven by a main battery, at least a part of which constitutes an exterior member constituting an external appearance of the main body of the portable device, and is attached to the main body of the portable device. A battery storage device, comprising: a battery chamber forming member that forms an auxiliary battery chamber for storing an auxiliary battery other than the main battery by moving with respect to the main battery. 2. The battery chamber forming member includes a first position and a second position.
The first position is provided so as to be movable between two positions to protect the main battery stored in the portable device main body at the first position, and to store the auxiliary battery at the second position. 2. The battery housing according to claim 1, wherein the battery housing forms an auxiliary battery chamber. 3. The auxiliary battery compartment, wherein the battery cover slides from the first position to the second position to expand the internal space of the exterior member and form the auxiliary battery chamber. Item 3. A battery storage device according to item 2. 4. The battery cover according to claim 2, wherein the battery cover slides from the first position to a second position to expand the internal space of the exterior member and form the auxiliary battery chamber. The battery storage device according to claim 2, wherein by rotating at the position, a battery insertion / removal opening of the auxiliary battery chamber is enlarged. 5. The battery storage device according to claim 2, wherein the battery cover has a battery contact piece for taking out a power supply of the auxiliary battery. 6. A camera, wherein the battery storage device according to claim 1 is attached to a camera body as a camera battery storage device. 7. The battery storage device is provided on a grip portion of the camera main body, and a battery cover of the battery storage device is provided so as to be movable in a direction intersecting an optical axis of the camera main body. The camera according to claim 6, wherein: In the above camera, since the battery storage device is provided on the grip portion of the camera body, even when a relatively large general-purpose battery is stored as an auxiliary battery, the balance of the camera body is not lost, and stability during shooting is stable. Nature is secured. 8. The battery cover includes a battery contact piece that moves together with the battery cover, and when the battery cover moves to the second position, the battery contact piece is fixed in the camera body. 8. The camera according to claim 7, wherein the camera is provided so as to be in contact with the contact and supply power from an auxiliary battery stored in an auxiliary battery chamber formed by the battery cover.