DIGITAL CAMERA DOCK
Use of a custom insert is obviated when a digital camera is attached to a base (dock). Two movable pins are provided, in such a way that a connector is sandwiched between the movable pins, on a digital camera attachment surface of a base (dock) which provides a digital camera with a recharging function and a printing function. The movable pins fit to holes in a bottom of the digital camera to thus act as guides during the course of attachment of the digital camera. Alternatively, the attachment surface itself may be configured so as to be vertically movable, and the attachment surface may descend during attachment of the digital camera and the attachment surface may be latched in a lower position after attachment of the same.
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-126571 filed on Apr. 28, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a digital camera dock, and more particularly, to a dock which is electrically connected to a digital camera to thus provide the digital camera with various functions, such as a recharging function, a printing function, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA digital camera dock (hereinafter simply referred to as a “dock”) which is connected to a digital camera and provides the digital camera with a recharging function and a printing function has hitherto been developed. For instance, the recharging dock supplies recharging power to the digital camera through use of an a.c. power source. A recharged state of a built-in battery of the digital camera is displayed on an indicator of the digital camera or an indicator of the dock. The user can recharge the digital camera by means of simply attaching the digital camera to the recharging dock. The recharging dock may also have a file transfer function of reading image data stored in memory of the digital camera and transferring the image data to the memory of a personal computer. The printer dock receives the image data stored in the memory of the digital camera and outputs the image data while the data are printed on a sheet of photographic paper. By means of simply attaching the digital camera to a printer dock, desired image data can be printed without involvement of a computer. The printer dock may also have the function of recharging a digital camera.
When the digital camera is attached to the dock, there are many cases where a custom insert previously prepared for each digital camera is attached to a dock in order to guide the digital camera during attachment or to protect the connection with a connector after attachment of the digital camera.
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-45278 describes a configuration for connecting connectors together. One of the connectors is provided with a guide pin and a spring-tensioned movable pin. The other connector is provided with a plane contact and a guide hole.
However, in the configuration where a custom insert is provided for each digital camera, a guide to be provided on the dock, including the guide section of the custom insert, must be provided so as to protrude higher than the connector of the dock, in order to exhibit a function of guiding a connection with the connector. Imposing restrictions on the dock greatly affect the internal configuration of the digital camera, which in turn hinders miniaturization of the digital camera.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention has been conceived in view of the above drawbacks in the related art, and provides a dock which can obviate a necessity for a custom insert.
The present invention provides a digital camera dock to which a digital camera is to be attached and which has a function of printing an image captured by the digital camera or recharging an internal battery of the digital camera, the dock comprising:
an attachment surface to which the digital camera is to be attached being supported so as to become vertically movable;
a first holding unit for fixedly holding the attachment surface in a first, upper position;
a second holding unit for fixedly holding the attachment surface in a second, lower position; and
a control unit for releasing the first holding unit to thus enable vertical movement of the attachment surface, which in a stable state is fixedly held in the first position by means of the first holding unit, when the digital camera is attached onto the attachment surface, and for actuating the second holding unit to thus fixedly hold the attachment surface in the second position when the attachment surface has lowered to thus establish an electrical connection with the digital camera via a connector.
The present invention also provides a digital camera dock to which a digital camera is to be attached and which has a function of printing an image captured by the digital camera or recharging an internal battery of the digital camera, the dock comprising:
a connector for establishing an electrical connection with the digital camera;
movable pins which are formed in the vicinity of the connector and supported in an impelled manner so as to be vertically movable; and
an attachment surface to which the digital camera is to be attached and which has the connector and the movable pins, wherein
the movable pins project and are impelled upwardly in a stable state, fit to hole sections formed in a bottom of the digital camera during attachment of the digital camera, and move downwardly along with the digital camera to thus act as guides for regulating a relative position between the digital camera and the connector.
The present invention obviates a necessity for use of a custom insert, and lessens restrictions on a digital camera.
The invention will be more clearly comprehended by reference to the embodiments provided below. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinbelow by reference to the drawings.
First EmbodimentAs shown in
At the time of attachment of the digital camera 10, the two movable pins 12c and 12d fit into holes formed in the bottom surface of the digital camera 10. The movable pins 12c and 12d are forcefully inserted against resilient force along with attachment of the digital camera 10. Limitations are imposed on longitudinal and lateral movements of the movable pins 12c and 12d. Hence, the digital camera 10 is connected to the connector 12a while being subjected to longitudinal and lateral positional restrictions above the printer dock 12.
As mentioned above, the movable pins 12c and 12d are provided on both sides of the connector 12a such that the connector 12a is sandwiched between the movable pins. As a result of the digital camera 10 being attached to the printer dock 12 while the movable pins 12c and 12d are taken as guides, attachment of the custom insert is obviated.
Since some users are accustomed to use of the custom insert 16, there may also arise a case where use of the custom insert 16 is desired. Even in such a case, the desire can be addressed by means of setting the extent to which the movable pins 12c, 12d sink to a level which does not hinder attachment of the custom insert 16.
In the first embodiment, the two movable pins 12c and 12d are configured so as to be movable in only the vertical direction. However, any of the movable pins may also be configured so as to be movable in the longitudinal or lateral direction as well.
In the first and second embodiments, the digital camera 10 is attached to the printer dock 12 while the two vertically-movable pins 12c, 12d formed in the printer dock 12 are used as guides. However, the movable pins 12c, 12d can also be caused to serve as guides which vertically actuate the attachment surface of the printer dock 12 in place of the movable pins.
As shown in
As shown in
Next, as shown in
Finally, as shown in
During removal of the digital camera 10, the latch 106 is released by means of operating an unillustrated button, whereby the slide plate 104 is moved leftward by means of restoration force of the spring 105. Upward movement of the camera support plate 201 is allowed, to thus disengage the connection of the connector.
As mentioned above, the vertical movement of the camera support plate 201 is restricted by the slide plate 104. Downward movement of the camera support plate 201 is allowed when the digital camera 10 is attached and pushed. When the digital camera 10 has been pushed down to a predetermined position, the slide plate 104 is locked, thereby enabling reliable connection of the connector 10a of the digital camera 10 with the dock-side connector 12a.
In the present embodiment, the attachment surface of the dock can also be made tiltable through only an arbitrary angle as shown in
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.
PARTS LIST
- 10 digital camera
- 10a connector
- 10c hole
- 10d hole
- 10e pin receiving section
- 10f pin receiving section
- 12 printer dock
- 12a connector
- 12b hole
- 12c movable pin
- 12d movable pin
- 12e fixing pin
- 12f fixing pin
- 12g first button
- 14 print sheet tray
- 16 custom insert
- 16a guide wall
- 16b opening section
- 16c protuberance section
- 16d hook
- 101 dock case
- 101a vertical groove
- 102 connector
- 104 slide plate
- 104a boss
- 105 spring
- 105a sloped section
- 106 latch
- 201 camera support plate
- 201a boss
- 202 trigger lever
- 202a edge portion
Claims
1. A digital camera dock to which a digital camera is to be attached and which has a function of printing an image captured by the digital camera or recharging an internal battery of the digital camera, the dock comprising:
- an attachment surface to which the digital camera is to be attached being supported so as to become vertically movable;
- a first holding unit for fixedly holding the attachment surface in a first, upper position;
- a second holding unit for fixedly holding the attachment surface in a second, lower position; and
- a control unit for releasing the first holding unit to thus enable vertical movement of the attachment surface, which in a stable state is fixedly held in the first position by means of the first holding unit, when the digital camera is attached onto the attachment surface, and for actuating the second holding unit to thus fixedly hold the attachment surface in the second position when the attachment surface has lowered to thus establish an electrical connection with the digital camera via a connector.
2. The digital camera dock according to claim 1, wherein
- the attachment surface has guide pins inserted into hole sections formed in a bottom of the digital camera; and
- the control unit releases the first holding unit to thus enable vertical movement of the attachment surface when the digital camera is attached to the attachment surface as a result of the hole section formed in the bottom of the digital camera having fitted to the guide pin.
3. A digital camera dock to which a digital camera is to be attached and which has a function of printing an image captured by the digital camera or recharging an internal battery of the digital camera, the dock comprising:
- a connector for establishing an electrical connection with the digital camera;
- movable pins which are formed in the vicinity of the connector and supported in an impelled manner so as to be vertically movable; and
- an attachment surface to which the digital camera is to be attached and which has the connector and the movable pins, wherein
- the movable pins project and are impelled upwardly in a stable state, fit to hole sections formed in a bottom of the digital camera during attachment of the digital camera, and move downwardly along with the digital camera to thus act as guides for regulating a relative position between the digital camera and the connector.
4. The digital camera dock according to claim 3, wherein an extent of downward movement of the movable pins is set to an extent which corresponds to the thickness of an attachment adapter for each type of the digital camera and the depth of the attachment surface and which allows attachment of the adapter to the attachment surface, thereby enabling use of the attachment adapter.
5. The digital camera dock according to claim 3, wherein the attachment surface is rotatable within a plane parallel to the attachment surface or tiltable with respect to the plane.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 4, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2007
Inventors: Hiroshi Komiyama (Nagano), Toyoo Kiuchi (Kawasaki-shi), Eiki Kondo (Tokyo), Toshihide Kasahara (Tokyo)
Application Number: 11/566,251
International Classification: H04N 5/225 (20060101); H04B 1/38 (20060101); H04M 1/00 (20060101);