JP2003068394A - Cradle device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cradle device in which a connector is exposed outside when an electronic apparatus is attached. SOLUTION: There are provided a connector 26 to which an electronic camera 10 is connected, and an escape member 30 which is a member to which the bottom surface of the electric camera 10 contacts when it is attached and which escapes in the same direction, in parallel, as the attaching direction of the electronic camera 10 when the electronic camera 10 is attached. When the escape member 30 escapes as the electronic camera 10 is attached, the connector 26 is so exposed as to be connected to the electronic camera 10. So, the connector 26 is not exposed outside while the electronic camera 10 is not attached, and the connector 26 is exposed outside when the electronic camera 10 is attached.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cradle device, and more particularly to a cradle device provided with a connector for connecting to an electronic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cradle device has been known which is used for installing an electronic camera to supply power and for connecting the electronic camera and a personal computer by communication. The cradle device is provided with a connector for connecting to an electronic camera, and the cradle device can also serve as a stand for standing the electronic camera.

[0003]

However, in the conventional cradle device, power is supplied to the electronic camera,
A terminal (including a connector) for connecting a communication line is exposed, and a contact point of the terminal is contaminated, which easily causes poor conduction.

Although the terminal and its connector are provided on the inner surface of the cradle device, there is a possibility of accidental contact by the user, and there is a risk of deformation of the terminal and its connector due to external force, and the terminal and its connector. There was a risk of injury if the user touched the sharp edge.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a cradle device in which the connector is not exposed to the outside when the electronic device is not installed and the connector is exposed to the outside when the electronic device is installed. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a cradle device according to the present invention is a cradle device for installing an electronic device such as an electronic camera, and a connector for connecting to the electronic device and the electronic device. A bottom member of the electronic device is in contact with the device when the device is installed, and a retracting member that retracts in parallel with the installation direction of the electronic device along with the installation of the electronic device is provided. It is characterized in that the connector is configured to be exposed so as to be connectable to an electronic device when the connector is retracted by being installed.

According to the present invention, the cradle device is a member for contacting the connector for connecting the electronic device and the bottom surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed, and also installs the electronic device when the electronic device is installed. A retracting member that retracts in parallel to the same direction, and when the retracting member retracts along with the installation of the electronic device, the connector is exposed so that the connector can be connected to the electronic device. When not installed, the connector is not exposed to the outside, and when the electronic device is installed, the connector can be exposed to the outside.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the cradle device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a cradle device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera 10 which is a form of electronic equipment installed in the cradle device 20 includes:
A socket 12 is provided in which a power source that serves as a power source of the electronic camera 10 and terminals for communication such as image transmission / reception are arranged. The socket 12 is provided with a shutter, and is configured to protect the terminals provided in the socket 12 from the external environment during normal shooting.

Since the shutter interferes with the connection of the connector to the socket portion 12, when the socket opening / closing pilot 14 is pushed by a protrusion such as a boss, the socket portion 1
The shutter protecting 2 is configured to open. The state of the socket portion 12 shown in the figure shows a state in which the shutter is closed.

As shown in the figure, in the cradle device 20 for installing electronic equipment such as the electronic camera 10, the electronic equipment installation section 22 for installing the electronic camera 10 and the electronic camera installation section 22 for the electronic camera 10 are installed. Electronic camera 1 when installing
A socket opening / closing boss 24 that pushes the socket opening / closing pilot 14 provided at 0, a connector 26 that connects to the socket portion 12 of the electronic camera 10, and a cable that connects a conductor wire or the like connected to the connector 26 to another device or the like. And 28 are provided.

The socket opening / closing boss 24 and the connector 26 are fixed to the cradle device 20 side, and even when the electronic camera 10 is installed in the electronic equipment installation section 22,
It never moves.

Further, the electronic equipment installation section 22 of the cradle device 20 is a member which the bottom surface of the electronic equipment comes into contact with when the electronic equipment such as the electronic camera 10 is installed, and the electronic equipment is installed as the electronic equipment is installed. A retracting member 30 that retracts in parallel with the installation direction of the is provided.

When the retracting member 30 is retracted with the installation of the electronic device (in the example shown in FIG. 1, the retracting member 30 is retracted downward in the figure), the socket opening / closing boss 24 is largely exposed, so that the user can When the electronic camera 10 is installed, the socket opening / closing boss 24 first pushes the socket opening / closing pilot 14 provided in the electronic camera 10 to push the electronic camera 1
The shutter provided in the socket portion 12 of 0 opens.

Next, when the user further inserts the electronic device in the downward direction, the connector 26 is exposed so that the electronic device can be connected, and the socket portion 12 of the electronic camera 10 and the connector 26 are connected. Then, a power source serving as a power source of the electronic camera 10 and a communication line for communication such as image transmission / reception are connected to a predetermined signal line of the cradle device 20.

Therefore, the connector 26 has the retracting member 30.
Is not exposed until the electronic device is installed in the cradle device 20, the user does not accidentally contact the connector 26, the connector 26 is deformed by an external force, and the sharp edge of the connector 26 is not exposed. It is possible to prevent an injury caused by the user touching the part. Further, the amount of protrusion of the socket opening / closing boss 24 can be small.

FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional view of the cradle device according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, a tie rod 32 (guide member) for guiding the retracting member 30 in parallel with the installation direction of the electronic equipment is rotatably supported on the main body side of the cradle device 20. The bearings 34, 34, the bearings 38, 38 that rotatably support the tie rod 36 (guide member) provided in the direction perpendicular to the tie rod 32, and the retracting member 30 are always biased upward in the same figure. A biasing means 44 for applying a force is provided.

Further, on the lower surface of the retracting member 30, guide portions 40, 40 for slidably supporting one end of the tie rod 32 substantially in parallel with the surface of the retracting member 30, and one end of the tie rod 36 of the retracting member 30. Guide part 4 slidably supported substantially parallel to the surface
2, 42 are provided. By the action of the tie rod 32 and the tie rod 36, the retracting member 30 is guided parallel to the installation direction of the electronic device.

FIG. 3 shows a protective member of the cradle device according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the retracting member 30 of the cradle device 20 is provided with a brush-like cover 50 for covering the connector 26 from the outside. With the installation of the electronic device, the retracting member 30 is arranged in parallel with the installation direction of the electronic device.
When is retracted, the cover 50 (protective member) is bent upward to retract and the connector 26 is exposed so that it can be connected to an electronic device.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the terminals (including the connector) for supplying electric power to the electronic equipment and connecting the communication lines are not normally exposed to the outside, the contacts of the terminals become dirty. It is possible to prevent the conduction failure due to.

In the example shown in the figure, the connector 26 is exposed by bending the brush-like cover 50, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cover 50 rotates. As much as possible, the object of the present invention can be achieved even if a supporting member represented by a bearing is provided. The cover 50 is not limited to the brush-shaped material, and the object of the present invention can be achieved even if it is a protective member made of an elastic material such as a rubber cover or a resin cover. is there.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the cradle device according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the cradle device 120
Include an electronic device installation section 122 for installing electronic devices such as the electronic camera 10 and an electronic device installation section 12 for the electronic camera 10.
2, the socket opening / closing boss 124 that pushes the socket opening / closing pilot 14 provided in the electronic camera 10 when installed in the electronic camera 10.
A connector 126 connected to the socket 12 of the electronic camera 10; a detection means 128 for detecting attachment of an electronic device such as the electronic camera 10; and a connector 126 shielded from the external environment to protect the electronic device before installation. And a protection member 150 that protects it.

In the embodiment shown in the figure, the socket opening / closing boss 124 and the connector 126 are integrally formed and slidable downward in the figure. The connector 126 and the cradle device 120 include the connector 12
A guide portion 13 that serves as a guide for sliding in the vertical direction such as 6
0 is provided.

On the other hand, the detecting means 128 for detecting the mounting of the electronic device such as the electronic camera 10 is formed in the shape of an arm, and detects the mounting of the electronic device (moves in the direction a shown in the figure).
Then, the fulcrum 132 rotates about the fulcrum 132 in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG.
6 and the socket opening / closing boss 124 are moved in the direction A of FIG.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
A biasing means 144 (a tension spring in the example shown in the drawing) is provided for biasing a force in the direction of pressing each other and one end of the arm, and the connector 126 and the socket opening / closing boss 12 are provided.
The force may be applied in the direction of pulling 4 and 4 downward as shown in FIG.

Therefore, when the detection means 128 detects the mounting of the electronic device, the connector 126 is exposed so that it can be connected to the electronic device. Therefore, even when the electronic device is not installed in the cradle 120, the user mistakenly makes the connector 12.
It is possible to prevent the connector 126 from being deformed by an external force and the injury caused by the user touching the sharp edge portion of the connector 126.

[0031]

As described above, according to the cradle device of the present invention, the connector for connecting the electronic device and the bottom surface of the electronic device are in contact with each other when the electronic device is installed, and the electronic device is installed. With a retracting member that retracts in parallel with the installation direction of the electronic device,
Since the connector is configured to be exposed so that the connector can be connected to the electronic device when the retractable member retracts with the installation of the electronic device, the connector is not exposed to the outside in a state where the electronic device is not installed, and the electronic device is exposed. When installed, the connector can be exposed to the outside.

According to another aspect of the invention, a protective member such as a brush-like cover for covering the connector is provided on the retracting member, and the retracting member retracts when the retracting member retracts as the electronic device is installed. Since the connector is exposed so that it can be connected to electronic equipment, it is possible to set the terminal of the connector etc. to a state where it is not normally exposed to the outside. It is possible to prevent the poor continuity.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a cradle device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cradle device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a protective member of the cradle device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the cradle device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Electronic camera, 12 ... Socket part, 14 ... Socket opening / closing pilot, 20 ... Cradle device, 22 ... Electronic equipment installation part, 24 ... Socket opening / closing boss, 26 ... Connector,
28 ... Cable, 30 ... Retraction member, 32 ... Tie rod,
34 ... Bearing, 36 ... Tie rod, 38 ... Bearing, 40 ... Guide part, 42 ... Guide part, 44 ... Biasing means, 50 ... Cover, 12
0 ... Cradle device, 122 ... Electronic device installation section, 124
... Socket opening / closing boss, 126 ... Connector, 128 ... Detecting means, 130 ... Guide part, 132 ... Support point, 144 ... Energizing means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cradle device for installing an electronic device such as an electronic camera, comprising a connector for connecting to the electronic device, a member which is in contact with the bottom surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed, and A retracting member that retracts in parallel with the installation direction of the electronic device with installation, and when the retracting member retracts with the installation of the electronic device, the connector is exposed so that it can be connected to the electronic device. A cradle device characterized in that 2. The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein the retracting member is provided with a guide member that guides the retracting member in parallel with the installation direction of the electronic device. 3. The retracting member is provided with a protective member made of an elastic material such as a brush-like cover for covering the connector, a rubber cover, and a resin cover. 3. The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein when the retracting member retracts in parallel with the installation direction of the electronic device, the protection member retracts and the connector is exposed so as to be connectable to the electronic device. 4. A cradle device for installing an electronic device such as an electronic camera, the detecting device detecting attachment of the electronic device, a connector connected to the electronic device, and the detecting device detecting attachment of the electronic device. Then, a connector driving means for exposing the connector so that the connector can be connected to an electronic device.