JP2007318495A - Attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an attachment capable of connecting a plurality of kinds of digital cameras with different design shapes to one and the same cradle. <P>SOLUTION: A weight 25 for a first balancer and a weight 27 for a second balancer are moved in accordance with the positions of a first connector 19 to be connected to the connector 18 of a plurality of digital cameras 11 and a tripod screw 23 to be connected to a tripod screw hole 30. A centroid position obtained by adding the centroid position of each digital camera 11 to its own changed centroid position is made to be identical with two axes of rotation of a cradle 13. The centroid position of the digital camera 11 and the attachment 12 unified into a single body is made to be identical regardless of the types of the digital cameras 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an attachment that allows a plurality of types of digital cameras to be attached to an electric head cradle.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electrical communication connection connectors are often provided on the top surface of a cradle and the bottom surface of a digital camera so that the digital camera can be mounted on a cradle (or station) as a table. This enables communication from the cradle to a connected device such as an external personal computer.

  In connection with the above, the applicant has already proposed a connection system including a pan head device and an adapter for connecting the pan head device and an electronic device (for example, a digital camera) (Patent Document 1).

These connectors are composed of a composite connector in which other signal transmission terminals such as a USB terminal, a power supply terminal, a release signal terminal, and the like are grouped together as necessary.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-060937

  However, the conventional cradle is compatible only with a dedicated digital camera, and a commercially available digital camera cannot be connected to the cradle.

  In many cases, the connector for signal connection is not a composite connector but is provided on the side surface of the digital camera, and its position varies, making it difficult to connect directly to the connector on the cradle side.

  There are many types of design shapes for digital cameras, and in order to connect multiple types of digital cameras to the same cradle, it is necessary to attach attachments having shapes suitable for each digital camera, and the types of attachments increase.

  Also, even if each digital camera is connected to a cradle equipped with an electric pan head function that rotates the shooting direction of the digital camera via an attachment, the load on the cradle drive system varies depending on the type of digital camera. In some cases, there is a difference in the operation guarantee of the electric head function and the operation becomes impossible.

  Here, in the case of a digital camera, there is not much difference in weight in the compact type. The difference in torque load applied around the rotation axis that rotates and moves in the photographing direction of the digital camera has a greater influence on the operation guarantee of the electric head function than the weight difference between the digital cameras.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an attachment capable of connecting a plurality of types of digital cameras having different design shapes to the same cradle.

  In order to achieve the above object, an attachment according to claim 1 is an attachment attached to the image photographing means so that the image photographing means can be attached to and detached from a cradle with a pan head function having two orthogonal rotation axes. A first connecting means electrically connected to the communication connecting means of the image photographing means and a second connecting means physically connected to the fixing means of the image photographing means are provided so as to be movable. A first weight member that is moved corresponding to the position of the connecting means and a second double member that is moved corresponding to the position of the second connecting means are provided so as to be able to change the position of the center of gravity, The first weight member and the second double member are moved in correspondence with the positions of the first connection means connected to the communication connection means of the image photographing means and the second connection means connected to the fixing means. Shi And the position of the center of gravity of each of the image capturing unit, a center-of-gravity position obtained by summing the own altered center of gravity position, characterized in that the same for the two rotation axes of the cradles.

  The attachment of the present invention has a first weight member and a second double member corresponding to the positions of the first connection means connected to the communication connection means of the plurality of image photographing means and the second connection means connected to the fixing means. Moving. The center-of-gravity position obtained by adding the center-of-gravity position of each image capturing means and the changed center-of-gravity position is made the same for the two rotation axes of the cradle. That is, the center positions of the integrated image photographing means and attachment are made the same regardless of the type of the image photographing means. Accordingly, it is possible to connect a plurality of types of digital cameras having different design shapes to the same cradle.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a digital camera is attached to an electric head cradle via an attachment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the attachment 12 is attached to a digital camera 11. An electric camera platform cradle 13 comprising an electric camera platform cradle body 14, a pan pedestal 15, and a tilt pedestal 16 has a drive source so that the photographing direction of the digital camera 11 can be changed.

  The pan pedestal 15 is positioned above the electric head cradle body 14 and is held by the electric head cradle body 14 so as to be rotatable around the pan rotation axis (in the direction of arrow P).

  The tilt pedestal 16 is positioned above the pan pedestal 15 and is detachably mounted with an attachment 12 attached to the digital camera 11, and is held on the pan pedestal 15 so as to be rotatable about a tilt rotation axis (in the direction of arrow T). Is done.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the attachment and the digital camera in FIG. 1 are removed from the electric head cradle.

  In FIG. 2, a connector (convex side) 17 is provided on the upper surface of the tilt pedestal 16 and is for communication connection for electrically connecting the attachment 12 and the electric platform cradle 13. As will be described later, a connector (concave side) corresponding to the connector 17 is also provided on the lower surface of the attachment 12.

  With this connector 17, electronic data can be transmitted / received, and power can be supplied from the electric head cradle 13 to the digital camera 11.

  Here, although not shown, a stop hook for physically connecting the attachment 12 is provided on the upper surface of the tilt base 16. On the other hand, a hole that fits into the retaining hook is provided on the lower surface of the attachment 12, and the attachment 12 and the tilt base 16 are connected by the hook and the hole.

  When the attachment 12 is removed from the electric head cradle 13, the operator presses the release button so that the fitting of the retaining hook on the upper surface of the tilt base 16 and the hole on the lower surface of the attachment 12 is released. These configurations are omitted because they are not directly related to the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the attachment in FIG. 1 is attached to the first digital camera.

  In FIG. 3, the attachment 12 is partially cut away. An attachment 12 is attached to the first digital camera 11a. A tripod fixing screw hole (hereinafter referred to as a tripod screw hole) 30 as a fixing means is provided on the bottom surface of the first digital camera 11a. A connector 18 for communication connection is provided on the side surface of the first digital camera 11a.

  In the case of a dedicated digital camera corresponding to a cradle, the connector 18 is often provided on the bottom surface. In a case other than a dedicated digital camera, the connector 18 is often provided on the side surface of the digital camera.

  This is because when the connector 18 for communication connection is provided on the side of the digital camera, even if the tripod is fixed to the digital camera, the connector 18 is not covered by the tripod base, and a cord or the like is inserted into the connector 18 and connected. This is because the operation is easy.

  Each of the following components is provided in the attachment 12.

  The first connector 19 is a first connection means that is electrically connected to the connector 18 of the first digital camera 11a. A rack gear is provided on the back side of the electric connector of the first connector 19. The first slide slot 20 allows the first connector 19 to slide.

  The flexible cable 21 is adapted for sliding movement of the first connector 19. The second connector 22 is a third connection means provided on the surface of the attachment 12 that contacts the electric head cradle 13 and connected to the first connector 19 via the flexible cable 21.

  Thus, the attachment 12 has a configuration in which the first connector 19 corresponding to the position of the connector 18 of the first digital camera 11a and the second connector 22 corresponding to the position of the connector 17 of the electric head cradle 13 are arranged. Become.

  Thereby, in order to connect with the connector 17 of the electric head cradle 13, the connector 12 is provided on the bottom surface of the dedicated digital camera by using the attachment 12 serving as a relay.

  The first connector 19 and the second connector 22 may not be the same type of connector, and may be a combination of a USB terminal connector and a composite connector, for example.

  The tripod screw 23 is a second connection means for physically connecting to the tripod screw hole 30 of the first digital camera 11a. Thereby, the first digital camera 11 a can be firmly fixed to the attachment 12.

  The second slide slot 24 allows the tripod screw 23 to slide. The shape of the second slide slot 24 is not linear, and is provided so that the tripod screw 23 moves along a predetermined locus.

  The first balancer weight 25 is a first weight member that is moved in response to the movement of the first connector 19. The first balancer weight 25 is provided with a rack gear on the surface on the first connector 19 side, and is provided so as to be slidable inside the attachment 12.

  The spur gear 26 meshes with the rack gear of the first connector 19 and the rack gear of the first balancer weight 25. When the first connector 19 is moved in the first slide slot 20 by the spur gear 26, the first balancer weight 25 is interlocked.

  Therefore, the position of the center of gravity of the entire attachment 12 changes in the vertical direction.

  The second balancer weight 27 is a second double member that is moved in accordance with the movement of the tripod screw 23. The second balancer weight 27 is provided so as to be slidable inside the attachment 12. A round long hole is provided in the center of the second balancer weight 27, and the tip of the tripod screw 23 passes through the round long hole. . Here, the tripod screw 23 itself also functions as a balancer weight.

  Thus, when the tripod screw 23 moves in the second slide slot 24, the second balancer weight 27 is interlocked.

  Therefore, the center-of-gravity position of the entire attachment 12 changes in the left-right direction and also in the front-rear direction.

  Here, the position of the center of gravity, the position of the connector 18 and the position of the tripod screw hole 30 differ depending on the type of the digital camera.

  When attaching the attachment 12 to the first digital camera 11a, first, the position of the center of gravity of the first digital camera 11a is measured in advance, and the position of the connector 18 and the position of the tripod screw hole 30 are also measured.

  On the other hand, the attachment 12 has a first balancer weight 25 and a second balancer weight 27 according to the position of the first connector 19 connected to the connector 18 and the position of the tripod screw 23 connected to the tripod screw hole 30. To change the position of the center of gravity of the entire attachment 12.

  The relationship between the position of the center of gravity when the attachment 12 is attached to the first digital camera 11a and the electric head cradle 13 will be described.

  The centroid position obtained by adding the centroid position of the first digital camera 11a and the changed centroid position of the attachment 12, that is, the centroid position when the first digital camera 11a and the attachment 12 are integrated is as follows. Set.

  In the state shown in FIG. 1, the position of the center of gravity when the first digital camera 11 a and the attachment 12 are integrated is a constant position with respect to the tilt rotation axis and the pan rotation axis of the electric head cradle 13. The balancer weight positions are set in accordance with the measured values. For example, the position of the center of gravity is set to be vertically upward at a point where the tilt rotation axis and the pan rotation axis intersect.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the attachment in FIG. 1 is attached to the second digital camera.

  In FIG. 4, the attachment 12 is partially cut away. Compared with the first digital camera 11a in FIG. 3, the second digital camera 11b has a particularly narrow width dimension, a slightly narrower vertical dimension and depth dimension, a center of gravity position on the right side in the left-right direction, and slightly in the up-down direction. It is on the lower side and the depth direction is almost the same.

  Here, similarly to the first digital camera 11a of FIG. 3, the position of the center of gravity of the second digital camera 11b is measured in advance, and the position of the connector 18 and the position of the tripod screw hole 30 are also measured. The first connector 19 moves slightly downward from the position corresponding to the first digital camera 11a, the first balancer weight 25 moves slightly upward, the tripod screw 23 moves to the left, and the second balancer. The use weight 27 moves to the left.

  Then, the balancer weights are set so that the center of gravity position where the attachment 12 is attached to the second digital camera 11b and added together is the same as the center of gravity position where the attachment 12 is attached to the first digital camera 11a and added together. Keep it.

  That is, the gravity center position when the second digital camera 11b and the attachment 12 are integrated with each other and the gravity center position when the first digital camera 11a and the attachment 12 are integrated with each other.

  Thus, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the relationship between the center of gravity position where the attachment 12 is attached to the second digital camera 11 b and added together and the tilt rotation axis and the pan rotation axis of the electric head cradle 13 is the first digital camera. It becomes the same as the case of 11a.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the attachment in FIG. 1 is attached to the third digital camera.

  In FIG. 5, the attachment 12 is partially cut away. Compared to the first digital camera 11a in FIG. 3, the third digital camera 11c for photographing an image has a slightly narrower width dimension and a smaller vertical dimension and depth dimension, and the attachment position to the attachment 12 is slightly deeper. The position of the center of gravity is slightly on the right side in the left-right direction, is on the lower side in the up-down direction, and the depth direction is substantially the same, but is slightly deeper with respect to the attachment 12.

  Here, similarly to the first digital camera 11a of FIG. 3, the position of the center of gravity of the third digital camera 11c is measured in advance, and the position of the connector 18 and the position of the tripod screw hole 30 are also measured. From the position corresponding to the first digital camera 11a, the first connector 19 is moved downward, the first balancer weight 25 is moved upward, the tripod screw 23 is moved slightly to the left, and is used for the second balancer. The weight 27 moves slightly to the left. Here, the tripod screw 23, which is also a balancer weight, moves slightly forward due to the shape of the second slide slot 24.

  The balancer weights are set so that the center of gravity position where the attachment 12 is attached to the third digital camera 11c and added together and the center of gravity position where the attachment 12 is attached to the first digital camera 11a and added together are the same. Keep it.

  That is, the position of the center of gravity when the third digital camera 11c and the attachment 12 are integrated with the position of the center of gravity when the first digital camera 11a and the attachment 12 are integrated.

  Thus, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the relationship between the center of gravity position obtained by adding the attachments 12 to the third digital camera 11c and adding them together and the tilt rotation axis and pan rotation axis of the electric head cradle 13 is as follows. It becomes the same as the case of 11a.

  Also, the center of gravity position obtained by adding the attachments 12 to the second digital camera 11b in FIG. 4 and the sum of the respective positions are the same as the position of the center of gravity obtained by adding the attachments 12 to the third digital camera 11c in FIG.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the digital camera 11 and the attachment 12 are integrated by moving the balancer weights according to the positions of the connectors 18 and the tripod screw holes 30 of the plurality of types of digital cameras 11. The center-of-gravity position can be equalized.

It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the digital camera to the electric head cradle via the attachment which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the attachment and digital camera in FIG. 1 from the electric pan head cradle. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attaches the attachment in FIG. 1 to a 1st digital camera. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attaches the attachment in FIG. 1 to a 2nd digital camera. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attaches the attachment in FIG. 1 to a 3rd digital camera.

Explanation of symbols

11 Digital camera (Image shooting means)
12 Attachment
13 Electric pan cradle
14 Electric pan head cradle body 15 Pan base
16 Tilt base
17 Connector
18 Connector (communication connection means)
19 First connector (first connection means)
20 First slide slot
21 Flexible cable
22 Second connector (third connection means)
23 Tripod screw (second connection means)
24 Second slide slot
25 Weight for first balancer (first weight member)
26 Spur gear
27 Weight for second balancer (second double member)
30 Tripod screw hole (fixing means)

Claims (3)

To attach the image photographing means to the cradle with a pan head function having two orthogonal rotation axes, in order to make the image photographing means detachable, in the attachment attached to the image photographing means,
A first connecting means electrically connected to the communication connecting means of the image photographing means and a second connecting means physically connected to the fixing means of the image photographing means are provided so as to be movable;
A first weight member that is moved according to the position of the first connecting means and a second double member that is moved according to the position of the second connecting means are provided so that the position of the center of gravity can be changed. ,
The first weight member and the second double member corresponding to the positions of the first connection means connected to the communication connection means of the plurality of image photographing means and the second connection means connected to the fixing means. Move and
The attachment characterized in that the center of gravity position obtained by adding the center of gravity of each of the image photographing means and the changed center of gravity is made the same with respect to the two rotation axes of the cradle.   The third connection means is provided on a surface in contact with the cradle, and an electrical signal input / output from the first connection means is converted and input / output to / from the third connection means. attachment.   The attachment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the first weight member and the second double member is used as a power supply means, and power is supplied to the image photographing means.

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