JP2003304431A - Cradle for digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cradle for a digital camera which shares a role of increasing a function of the camera so that needs of reducing in size and weight and needs of increasing in a function of the camera may be allowed to be compatible. <P>SOLUTION: The cradle 10 for the digital camera 1 comprises: a housing 2 having an opening; a charging unit housed in the opening for charging a built-in battery of the camera 1 for obtaining image data of a subject focused on a solid state imaging element, by obtaining a power from the battery and operating the camera 1; and an interface for sending the image data to a personal computer. This cradle 10 further comprises a battery 11a having a larger capacity than the built-in battery. When the camera 1 is housed in the opening, a required power is supplied to the camera 1 instead of the built-in battery, or together with the built-in battery from the battery 11a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera cradle that enhances the functions of a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some digital cameras have a digital camera cradle as an accessory, which has a function of charging a built-in battery and connecting the digital camera to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC). Is being carried out. However, since the digital camera cradle is not provided with any function other than the charging function and the interface function with the PC, there are few opportunities for utilization.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a digital camera cradle.

In FIG. 1, a cradle 10 for a digital camera is provided with a housing 2 having an opening 2a at an upper part thereof, and when the digital camera 1 is inserted into the opening 2a, the battery of the digital camera 1 is charged, and the digital camera 1 is used. The captured image can be sent to the PC 3 and displayed as an image. Although not shown, the housing 2 includes a charging circuit for charging the battery of the digital camera 1 and an interface for connecting the video external terminal of the digital camera 1 to the cable 4 connected to the PC 3. The charging circuit is connected to a power cord 5 with a plug that plugs into a commercial power outlet.

[0005] Today, the needs for visual communication are increasing more and more, and a video conference system utilizing a videophone or a personal computer is being developed. Furthermore, along with the development of digital cameras, there are some cases where the digital camera is used as a peripheral device for inputting images to a computer and is fixedly installed on the computer, or the digital camera itself is incorporated into the computer. There is.

However, a camera fixedly incorporated in a personal computer is used as a means of visual communication,
For example, it is practically difficult to photograph a document such as a document or a drawing for a conference, transmit the document by using a communication line, and use it as a means for showing to the other party.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-152047 discloses that
Disclosed is a stand configured to utilize a digital camera as a means for inputting image data to a personal computer, house a digital camera body, and input image data captured by the housed camera body to a PC. ing. This stand has a connector that connects to the output port of the camera body.
A cable connectable to C is connected. Then, by changing the angle of the camera housed in the stand, it is possible to take pictures of documents such as conference documents and drawings.

[0008]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
In the stand disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 000-152047, even if the functionality as an image input means to a PC is improved, a new function is added to the digital camera itself, and the function of the digital camera itself is improved. It wasn't translated.

[0009] Today, mobile terminals such as mobile phones and notebook computers are rapidly spreading, and there is a strong need for weight reduction and thickness reduction of these mobile terminals. For cameras, as well as mobile terminals, there is a need for weight reduction and size reduction. Strong demand.

However, unlike a camera for silver halide photography, a digital camera requires electric power for image processing and electric power for driving various automated functions, so that the battery consumes a lot of power, so that the battery space is reduced. It is difficult to realize the downsizing of the digital camera body and to extend the continuous shooting time by using the built-in battery of the downsized camera body or increase the number of shots of the semiconductor memory for recording image data. Accompanied by.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention has a function of enhancing the functions of the digital camera in order to satisfy both the needs of downsizing and weight saving of the digital camera and the needs of enhancing the functions. The purpose is to provide a cradle for.

[0012]

A cradle for a digital camera according to the present invention that achieves the above object operates by receiving power from a housing having an opening and a built-in battery housed in the opening to operate a subject. In a digital camera cradle having a charging unit for charging the built-in battery of a digital camera which forms an image on a solid-state image pickup device to obtain image data, and an interface for sending the image data to a personal computer, a battery is provided, When the digital camera is housed in the opening, a required electric power is supplied from the battery to the digital camera instead of or together with the built-in battery.

As described above, since the digital camera cradle is provided with a battery that supplies power to the digital camera instead of the built-in battery of the digital camera or together with the built-in battery, the digital camera remains in the opening. You can shoot continuously for a long time.

Here, the digital camera is a fixedly mounted first memory for storing the image data,
Alternatively, the digital camera cradle has a first memory mounting portion for mounting a removable first memory, and the digital camera cradle has a storage capacity larger than that of the first memory and stores the image data. A second memory mounted on the second memory, or a second memory mounting section for mounting the removable second memory, and when the digital camera is housed in the opening, the second memory is stored in the second memory. Alternatively, it is preferable to store the image data in both the first memory and the second memory.

As described above, if the digital camera cradle is provided with a memory having a storage capacity larger than that of the memory fixedly or removably set in the digital camera in a fixed or removable manner, the digital camera can be cradleed. It is possible to significantly increase the number of continuous shots that can be taken while still housed in the opening. It is also a preferable aspect that the housing has a tripod screw hole for fixing a tripod on a bottom surface portion opposite to the opening portion.

As described above, if the bottom of the digital camera cradle has a tripod screw hole for fixing the tripod, the tripod is used for a long time while the digital camera is accommodated in the opening of the digital camera cradle. You can take a picture.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the digital camera cradle of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the digital camera cradle of this embodiment is placed on, for example, a desk.

Cradle 1 for digital camera shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a housing 2 having an upper opening, a battery housing portion 11 for housing a large-capacity battery on the front left side of the housing 2, and a memory housing for housing a large-capacity memory 12a on the front right side of the housing 2. And a section 12. The digital camera 1 is housed in the opening 2a of the housing 2 with the front surface of the digital camera 1 including the imaging lens 1a, the finder 1b, and the flash emission window 1c facing forward.

Here, a power cord for obtaining commercial power,
The cable connected to the PC is shown in a detached state, but if necessary, insert the power cord or the cable to connect to the PC into the connector of the digital camera cradle 10 to charge the built-in battery of the digital camera 1. It is also possible to display an image taken by the digital camera 1 on a PC. In addition, with the power cord and the cable connected to the PC disconnected, a large-capacity battery 11a instead of the built-in battery and a large-capacity memory 12a can be used to perform continuous shooting for a long time. .

Here, the battery storage portion 11 of the present embodiment.
The large-capacity battery 11a is stored therein, but the large-capacity battery 11a does not necessarily have to be stored. A battery having a capacity equal to that of the internal battery is stored, and the required power is supplied to the digital camera 1 together with the internal battery. You may decide to do it.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which a tripod is attached to the digital camera cradle of this embodiment.
The digital camera cradle 10 shown in FIG.
There is a tripod screw hole 21 for fixing the tripod 20 in the bottom surface portion 2b of the, and the tripod 20 is attached to the tripod screw hole 21, but other than that, it is the same as that described in FIG. Is omitted.

As described above, by removing the power cord and the cable for connecting to the PC, the digital camera 1 can be freely moved and photographed while being housed in the digital camera cradle 10. By using the large-capacity battery 11a and the large-capacity memory 12a, it is possible to perform continuous shooting for a long time even in a place where commercial power cannot be obtained, as compared with the case where shooting is performed only by the camera 1. become. Further, since a tripod can be attached to the digital camera cradle 10, it is possible to perform continuous shooting for a long time while the tripod is fixed. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a circuit and the like showing an example of a connection state between the digital camera and the digital camera cradle.

In FIG. 4, the digital camera 1 includes a CPU 100 for controlling the entire camera, functional units, and
BUS wiring 1 that connects the CPU 100 and each functional component
05 and a power supply unit 12 that supplies power to the digital camera 1.
0, the setting system set by the operator, the autofocus function, the automatic exposure function, etc. are omitted.

Each functional component has an image pickup lens 1a for forming an image of a subject on a solid-state image pickup device (a CCD image pickup device is used in this embodiment, and will be referred to as a "CCD" hereinafter) 110, and a plurality of vertical and horizontal arrangements. The photoelectric conversion element thus configured constitutes each pixel, converts the light amount distribution according to the light image of the subject into an electric signal, and accumulates it as an electric charge, and the electric charge is read out as an RGB signal at the timing set by the timing generator. Also, a dual correlation sampling amplifier (CDSAMP) 111 for suppressing noise
An A / D converter 112 for converting an RGB signal into a digital signal, a memory (RAM) 101 for storing the digitized RGB signal, and an RG stored in the memory 101.
After the B signal is subjected to γ correction or the like, it is converted into an analog signal again to output the luminance signal Y and the color signal C and stored in the memory, and the memory 101 and the memory 101.
A compression processing circuit 114 for performing JPEG compression processing on the luminance signal Y and the color signal C stored in the memory, a media controller 102 for sending the YC signal subjected to JPEG compression processing by the compression processing circuit 114 to a semiconductor memory, and a semiconductor memory A first memory mounting portion 1e for mounting the image signal and the image signal processing circuit 1
A video encoder 115 that performs an encoding process on the analog YC signal output from the reference numeral 13. The video encoder 115 includes an image display unit 1 including a liquid crystal panel.
The analog YC signal is displayed as an image on d. At the same time, an interface 115a for connecting the output of the video encoder 115 to the second connector 14 for connecting to the PC of the digital camera cradle 10 is provided.
The image data output from the media controller 102 is stored in the semiconductor memory inserted in the first memory mounting section 1e. At the same time, an interface 102a for recording the output image data in the large-capacity semiconductor memory 12a of the digital camera cradle 10 is provided.

The digital camera cradle 10 has a charging circuit 16 connected to the first connector 13 connected to the charging terminal 120a of the digital camera 1 and a cord with a plug for supplying commercial power to the charging circuit 16. P that is connected to the outlet 5a and the second connector 14 that connects to the interface 115a of the digital camera 1
A large capacity battery 11a connected to the first connector 13 of the charging circuit 16 and a third connector connected to the interface 102a with the output of the media controller 102. 1
5 and a second memory mounting section 12 for storing image data output from the media controller 102 and to which a large-capacity removable memory 12a is mounted. The large capacity battery 11a can be charged by the charging circuit 16.

The charging circuit 16 includes a transformer 16
A well-known current control type normal charging circuit composed of a, two diodes 16b, and a resistor 16c is used, but the charging circuit 16 is not limited to this, and a short-time charging circuit or a quick charging circuit is used. It may be. In addition, the semiconductor memory mounted on the first memory mounting portion 1e, and the second memory
Large-capacity memory 12a mounted in the memory mounting unit 12 of
Can be attached and detached together, but need not necessarily be attached and detached, and may be fixedly attached.

When the digital camera 1 is housed in the digital camera cradle 10, the first, second and third connectors 13, 1 provided in the digital camera cradle 10 are provided.
4 and 15 are terminals 12 for charging the digital camera, respectively.
0a or the interfaces 102a and 115a.

Therefore, when the capacity of the built-in battery 120b of the digital camera 1 becomes small, the cord 5 with a plug for supplying commercial power is connected to the outlet 5a of the charging circuit 16.
The internal battery 120b is charged when it is plugged in. When the large capacity memory 12a is inserted into the second memory mounting portion 12, the image data is stored in the large capacity memory 12a. Further, when the cord 5 with the plug for supplying commercial power is pulled out from the outlet of the charging circuit 16 or the power switch (not shown) is disconnected while the large capacity battery 11a is housed, the large capacity battery 11a is included in the digital camera 1. Power is supplied from.

As described above, even if the digital camera 1 is lightweight and compact and cannot be continuously photographed for a long time, it can be continuously photographed for a long time by accommodating it in the cradle 10 for a digital camera, and its function can be improved. it can.

[0031]

As described above, the cradle for a digital camera of the present invention has a battery for supplying electric power instead of the built-in battery or together with the built-in battery. As an accessory, the digital camera is housed in the digital camera cradle to enable continuous shooting for a long time, and when removed, it becomes a small digital camera, so that the function of the digital camera can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a digital camera cradle.

FIG. 2 shows a digital camera cradle according to the present embodiment,
For example, it is a schematic front view showing a state of being placed on a desk.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which a tripod is attached to the digital camera cradle of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of circuits and the like showing an example of a connection state between a digital camera and a cradle for a digital camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 digital camera 1a Imaging lens 1b finder 1c Flash emission window 1d image display section 1e First memory mounting part 2 housing 2a opening 2b bottom 3 PC 4 cables 4a connector 5 power cord 5a outlet 10 Digital Camera Cradle 11 Battery compartment 11a Large capacity battery 12 Second memory mounting part 12a Large capacity memory 13 First connector 14 Second connector 15 Third connector 16 charging circuit 16a transformer 16b diode 16c resistance 20 tripod 21 Tripod screw hole 100 CPU 101 memory 102 media controller 102a, 115a interface 105 BUS wiring 110 CCD 111 CDSAMP 112 A / D converter 113 Image signal processing circuit 114 compression processing circuit 115 video encoder 120 power supply 120a charging terminal 120b built-in battery

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing having an opening, and a digital camera housed in the opening which operates by receiving power from a built-in battery to form an image of a subject on a solid-state image sensor to obtain image data. A cradle for a digital camera having a charging section for charging a built-in battery and an interface for sending the image data to a personal computer, comprising: a battery, and when the digital camera is housed in the opening, the built-in battery is Alternatively or together with the built-in battery, a required power is supplied from the battery to the digital camera. 2. The digital camera includes a first memory fixedly mounted for storing the image data, or a first memory mounting portion for mounting a removable first memory. The digital camera cradle has a storage capacity larger than that of the first memory, stores the image data, and has a second memory that is fixedly mounted or a second memory that is detachably mounted. When the digital camera is housed in the opening,
To the second memory, or to the first memory and the second memory
The cradle for a digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the image data is stored in both the memory and the memory. 3. The cradle for a digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a tripod screw hole for fixing a tripod on a bottom surface portion opposite to the opening portion.