Battery Compartment Patents (Class 396/539)
  • Patent number: 10477091
    Abstract: An imaging unit includes an imaging device that transmits an image data to an external display device; and an installation portion that is attachable to and detachable from the display device. The imaging device includes a communication part that transmits an image data to the display device, an outer barrel, and an imaging element. The installation portion includes a slider that is slidable with respect to the outer barrel, a first attached body that is connected to the slider, a second attached body that can change its gap with the first attached body, and a biasing member that biases the first attached body and the second attached body in a direction in which a gap therebetween becomes narrowed, in which the display device is grasped by the first attached body and the second attached body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Okabe, Osamu Mizukami, Yuuji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9661231
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a communication circuit that transmits an image data to an external display device, and an image sensor. The imaging device also includes an outer case in which the image sensor is disposed, and a coupling a coupling portion disposed at a rear side of the imaging device, where the rear side is opposite side from an light incident side of the image sensor. A large-diameter portion and an inclined portion are provided in the outer case, in a manner that the diameter of the inclined portion is reduced according to approach from the large-diameter portion to the rear side, and an image taking button is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Tsuge
  • Patent number: 8956060
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a body mount to which an interchangeable lens is attachable; an imaging device; and a circuit board. The circuit board is arranged between the body mount and the imaging device, and an opening or a cut part through which light from the interchangeable lens toward the imaging device passes is formed in the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dai Shintani
  • Patent number: 8824884
    Abstract: A security camera enclosure that includes an internal power source that is protected from being tampered with. The internal power source is located within a battery box. The battery box is disposed within an outer housing. The outer housing also houses a camera, a communication device, and a battery control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: David W. Trujillo
  • Patent number: 8787749
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an exterior cover including a strap attachment portion, a circuit board on which an electric element that generates heat is mounted, and a chassis member to which the circuit board is fixed and through which the heat generated by the electric element is transferred. The chassis member is formed of a metallic material, and the chassis member includes a reinforcing portion arranged to overlap the strap attachment portion to reinforce the strap attachment portion. The reinforcing portion is disposed to be exposed inside the strap attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 8752246
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus excellent in workability in mounting a lid to an apparatus housing. The electronic apparatus comprises a housing having a pair of bearing portions, and a battery lid unit having a pair of shafts for being rotatably fitted in the bearing portions, respectively. A movable shaft of the shafts is axially retractable, and the battery lid unit is openable and closable with respect to the housing about the shafts. An urging spring has a contact portion for contact with the housing, and urges the battery lid unit in an opening direction with respect to the housing. The contact portion is moved according to retraction of the movable shaft such that an urging range through which the urging member urges the lid in the opening direction becomes smaller than a range of the pivotal motion of the lid with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Inoue, Satoshi Kawase
  • Patent number: 8582023
    Abstract: An electronic device capable of generating a click force when a lid member is operated to be opened or closed, without increasing the number of parts. The electronic device includes a storage case formed with a first shaft hole in which a pivot shaft of a battery lid is positioned when the battery lid is locked with the storage case and a second shaft hole in which the pivot shaft is positioned when the battery lid is released from locking with the storage case. A hook portion of the storage case is disposed to face a space extending between the first and second shaft holes, and pivoted in a direction to expand the space when the pivot shaft is moved between the first and second shaft holes than when the pivot shaft is positioned in the first or second shaft hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8565594
    Abstract: In an opening/closing cover mechanism, an opening/closing cover is provided with a slidable plate in such a manner as to freely make a reciprocating motion in one direction. The slide plate slides in the one direction in the state in which the opening/closing cover is closed, thereby locking the opening/closing cover when the slide plate is at locked position. A cam mechanism is disposed in an opposing portion defined between an opening edge of an accommodation chamber and an outer peripheral edge portion of the opening/closing cover, both of the edges being faced with each other in the state in which the opening/closing cover is closed, to function when the slide plate slides in the one direction in the state in which the opening/closing cover is closed. The cam mechanism allows a pressing force to act on the opening/closing cover along an axial direction of a hinge axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiya Shibata, Yukiya Maeda
  • Patent number: 8306416
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a mount to which a lens unit is mountable, an imager operable to generate an image signal from light incident through the lens unit, a light-emitter operable to emit light, and an electric storage device operable to supply electric power to the light-emitter. The electric storage device is disposed behind the mount and below the imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8244122
    Abstract: The electronic device according to the present invention comprises a body having an opening part defined therein, a cover member for opening and closing the opening part of the body, a pivotally supporting mechanism for pivotally supporting a base end part of the cover member at a position adjacent to the opening part of the body, and a cam mechanism provided to opposed parts of the body and the cover member. The cam mechanism comprises a slidable contact surface and a sliding part relatively sliding on the slidable contact surface along a predetermined cam curve as the cover member is opened and closed, and the predetermined cam curve is defined about a pivot of the pivotally supporting mechanism and so as to make the cover member move in either direction of two opposite directions along the pivot of the pivotally supporting mechanism in a process of closing the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takenori Itoda, Yasuhiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8131145
    Abstract: The present invention is a lightweight, cordless security camera comprising a lightweight stand or tripod, a video camera with pan, tilt, and zoom articulation and an audio microphone, a wireless networking interface enabling wireless access to the camera controls, video, and audio data streams, an antenna enabling transmission and reception of the aforementioned data via the aforementioned wireless networking interface, and a lightweight, battery power supply providing power to the video camera and wireless networking system. The lightweight, battery power supply includes one or more quickly coupled and uncoupled lightweight batteries which can be easily and quickly interchanged to provide continuous power to the security camera. This enables security forces such as police and military forces to safely and continuously monitor and surveil areas including crime scenes and combat theaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Karl Frederick Scheucher
  • Patent number: 8095001
    Abstract: In a digital camera implementing the present invention, a metal tripod seat is arranged on a cabinet, a circuit part that generates heat is accommodated in the cabinet, the circuit part is connected with the tripod seat in a heat conducting manner, and a cover strip made of resin extending from the cabinet covers the tripod seat. The tripod seat is arranged at one end of the cabinet, and the outer surface of the cabinet has a projection formed at a site facing the circuit part, and forms a heat radiating space allowing flow of heat to the other end of the cabinet with the circuit part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20110242315
    Abstract: A wildlife surveillance camera has a housing and first and second battery compartments located in the housing, which battery compartments are sized to receive at least two batteries in end-to-end fashion. The battery compartments are separated from each other by a gap which contains the electronics for the camera. The camera unit has an inner door that closes the access openings into the battery compartments. An outer door is provided to provide access to the inner door. The camera image sensor, the triggering device and the display are all mounted to the rear portion of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher B. Barley, James Brandon Roach, Geoffrey A. Mantooth
  • Patent number: 7993795
    Abstract: An electronic device including a fuel container to accumulate fuel inside thereof, a fuel cell device body unit engaged with the fuel container and comprising a power generating cell to generate electricity by using the fuel which is supplied from the fuel container and an electronic device body unit in which the electricity is supplied from the fuel cell device body unit, and the electronic device body unit comprises a case having a concave portion in which the fuel cell device body unit and the fuel container are housed, an opening part which forms an open end of the concave portion, and the fuel cell device body unit and the fuel container are engageable with and separable from each other and detachable from the concave portion in a state where the fuel cell device body unit and the fuel container are engaged to one another and only the fuel container is detachable from the concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsushi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7983554
    Abstract: In a camera, air orifices for linking the space inside a cell compartment with the outside of a casing are disposed in a position other than the grip portion which is held by a user, in the vicinity of the center of the front surface of the casing, that is, in the vicinity of a lens-barrel. A concave-convex portion serving as an air orifice guard is formed at the side opposite to that where the lens-barrel is disposed with respect to the air orifices. As a result, even when the user takes a picture of an object by holding the camera with his/her own hand, the air orifices are prevented from being closed by the user's hand. Oxygen (air) can be constantly supplied to the fuel cell accommodated inside the cell compartment, and the fuel cell can continuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 7881605
    Abstract: A camera with a built-in projector includes: a camera unit equipped with photographing components including an optical system; and a projector module equipped with a projecting optical system, with an optical axis extending along a longer side of the projector module running substantially parallel to an optical axis of the camera unit extending along a longer side of the camera unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Goto, Nobuaki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100265388
    Abstract: A container unit (27) of an electronic camera is composed of a loading lid (35) and a slot forming surface (32) in which slots (33a, 33b) are formed. The loading lid is rotatably and slidably attached to a shaft support member (39), which is disposed on the slot forming surface, via a lid attachment shaft (38). The loading lid is provided with a claw (40). A torsion spring (42) is secured to the lid attachment shaft. The slot forming surface is provided with a frame (41) and a block-shaped protrusion (43). The torsion spring engages with the protrusion to click and lock the loading lid at a lock position where the claw engages with the frame. Upon sliding the loading lid to a lock release position where the claw is disengaged from the frame, the loading lid is automatically rotated to an open position owing to the torsion spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Mitsuo Soumi
  • Patent number: 7751703
    Abstract: An electronic device has a casing with an article housing formed therein openable/closable by means of a lid. A locking mechanism locking the lid to a closing position comprises a locking member movably supported with respect to the casing and an engagement reception piece formed on the lid and engaging with the locking member. The locking member moves among a locking position where the locking member engages with the engagement reception piece to lock the lid to the closing position, a first unlocking position where the locking member retreats from the locking position and is removed from the engagement reception piece while the part of the locking member projects to the opening of the article housing, and a second unlocking position where the locking member retreats from the first unlocking position and the part of the locking member does not project to the opening of the article housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Tanabe, Minoru Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7736072
    Abstract: A battery pack for a camera includes a main housing for containing one or more batteries. An adaptor electrically connected to the one or more batteries protrudes from the main housing and is configured for electrical engagement with a camera supported on the main housing. The battery pack optionally includes one or more of the following: a display screen on the main housing for displaying system functions or images and videos captured by the camera; a wireless transmission device in the main housing for transmitting images captured by the camera to a remote receiver; one or more memory unit housings in the main housing for receiving one or more memory units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Yongzhong Tian
  • Publication number: 20100086296
    Abstract: In a camera, air orifices for linking the space inside a cell compartment with the outside of a casing are disposed in a position other than the grip portion which is held by a user, in the vicinity of the center of the front surface of the casing, that is, in the vicinity of a lens-barrel. A concave-convex portion serving as an air orifice guard is formed at the side opposite to that where the lens-barrel is disposed with respect to the air orifices. As a result, even when the user takes a picture of an object by holding the camera with his/her own hand, the air orifices are prevented from being closed by the user's hand. Oxygen (air) can be constantly supplied to the fuel cell accommodated inside the cell compartment, and the fuel cell can continuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akio Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 7693414
    Abstract: An adapter in an interposed position between a hand-held camera and a battery for operating the camera in facing relation to each other in the clearance therebetween the camera-attached adapter positions an eyepiece of the camera so the camera user makes eye contact against the eyepiece despite the physical obstacle of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Paul Nigro
  • Patent number: 7672584
    Abstract: A digital device which can accommodate a large display yet still have a small overall size is provided. The digital device includes a first body with a lens and a display, and a second body with at least one operation button. The first and second body slide with respect to each other between a first position and a second position. The lens of the first body and the at least one operation button of the second body are exposed as the first body and the second body are slid into the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyoung-jin Ahn
  • Patent number: 7665913
    Abstract: Disclosed is a portable terminal with a camera lens provided on the housing of the terminal. The portable terminal includes a first guide member installed on the housing of the terminal at a position adjacent to the camera lens; a cover member having one or more guide rods, which are slidably joined with the first guide member, whereby the cover member slides on the housing so as to open or close the camera lens; one or more first stoppers formed on the first guide member; and second stoppers formed at the opposite ends of the cover member. When the cover member completely opens or closes the camera lens, the second stoppers formed on one of the opposite ends of the cover member are engaged with the first stoppers, thereby restricting the movement of the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kyung-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 7653301
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to enable reliable supply of oxygen which is necessary for a fuel cell to generate electric power, to the fuel cell. In a camera, air orifices for linking the space inside a cell compartment with the outside of a casing are disposed in a position other than the portion (grip portion) which is held by a user, in the vicinity of the center of the front surface of the casing, that is, in the vicinity of a lens-barrel, and a concave-convex portion serving as an air orifice guard is formed at the side opposite to that where the lens-barrel is disposed with respect to the air orifices. As a result, even when the user takes a picture of an object by holding the camera with his/her own hand, the air orifices are prevented from being closed by the user's hand, oxygen (air) can be constantly supplied to the fuel cell accommodated inside the cell compartment, and the fuel cell can continuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 7592082
    Abstract: A fuel cell is disclosed, which can use space in an apparatus body effectively. The fuel cell comprises a plurality of cells laminated, and a cell box housing the plurality of cells. The plurality of cells include a cell whose size in a first direction orthogonal to a lamination direction is different from that of another cell. The cell box has a shape corresponding to the size of each cell. Furthermore, an electronic apparatus is disclosed, which comprises an apparatus body including a grip portion having a protruding shape; and a fuel cell that is housed in the grip portion and comprises a cell section in which a plurality of cells are laminated in a protrusion direction of the grip portion or a direction orthogonal to the protrusion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kikuchi, Yuki Totori, Toshifumi Urakami, Go Tokura
  • Publication number: 20090116831
    Abstract: A battery pack for mounting to a camera and camera stand is described. The battery pack has attachment means on opposite sides. The attachment means are of complementary design so that the battery pack can be mounted between the camera and the stand. Each attachment means permits linear adjustment of the camera. The two means provide parallel linear adjustment of the camera with respect to the battery pack and of the battery pack with respect to the stand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Richard Arthur Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7515826
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus has a display unit which is movably coupled with an apparatus main body 1 through coupling portion 5. The display unit has fastening members 21 and 22 for fixing exterior members 3 and 4 of a casing 2 of the display unit. The apparatus main body 1 has a concave portion 8 into which predetermined portions of the exterior members 3 and 4 can be loosely inserted. A movable range of the display unit is widened by the concave portion 8, thereby enabling the fastening members 21 and 22 to be operated. Thus, the image pickup apparatus and an electronic apparatus in which handling performance including a disassembling work and the like of the display unit can be improved are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Shibayama
  • Patent number: 7510796
    Abstract: An electronic equipment, comprising: a battery receiving chamber for receiving a battery, a battery lid arranged to be rotatable to open and close an opening portion of the battery receiving chamber, a locking member arranged to engage with the battery receiving chamber to lock the battery lid so that the opening portion of the battery receiving chamber is closed, a contact terminal connectable to a terminal of the battery received in the battery receiving chamber, the contact terminal being arranged to be build in the battery lid movably in a thickness direction of the battery lid, wherein the contact terminal is arranged to protrude into the inside of the battery lid in accordance with the locking member engaging with the battery receiving chamber with the battery lid is closed and the contact terminal is retracted into the battery lid in accordance with the locking member being released from engagement with the battery receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaneyoshi Tokano
  • Patent number: 7507041
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging device including a battery compartment having an opening for insertion and ejection of a battery, a battery release lever for allowing the insertion of the battery into the battery compartment through the opening and the ejection of the battery from the battery compartment through the opening, and a battery lid for openably closing the opening of the battery compartment. The battery release lever is located adjacent to the battery lid so as not to be substantially covered with the battery lid in its closed condition. Accordingly, the position of the battery release lever can be visually recognized even in the closed condition of the battery lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Ueda, Takayoshi Yamasaki, Tetsuya Okuchi, Kouta Nagano, Tomonori Watanabe, Shin Miyashita, Atsuko Koyama
  • Patent number: 7499645
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided. A component part containing chamber provided in the inside of a case constituting an armor of an electronic apparatus is so configured that a rectangular plate-like battery can be mounted and dismounted via a rectangular first opening opened in the lower surface of the case. One side wall in the vicinity of the first opening is provided with a second opening, and a component part containing space communicated with the second opening is provided in the inside of the case. A holder is provided which includes a first plate portion detachably attached to the second opening to shut off the second opening, and a second plate portion projecting from the first plate portion and extending in the component part containing space in the condition where the first plate portion shuts off the second opening, and a separable body is contained in the component containing space together with the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kubotera, Hirokuni Miyai
  • Patent number: 7466912
    Abstract: A storage compartment for loading and unloading batteries of varying sizes efficiently. The storage compartment is internally equipped with a position regulating plate part on a ceiling part, an ejection urging part, a thickness judging part, and a contact point part on an end surface at the back side. The position regulating plate part is equipped with rotatable position regulating plates urged to protrude vertically into the storage compartment. When a battery is inserted, the position regulating plates guide the battery and cause it to be pressed to a bottom surface part of the storage compartment. Any one of the position regulating plates that does not abut the battery opposes the battery in a perpendicular direction and prohibits movement of the battery in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kazuo Ishikawa, Masao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7465516
    Abstract: A lid of a battery case is supported on a shaft fixed on a battery box. The lid comprises a cover portion and a support arm for attaching the cover portion to the shaft. A hook formed on the cover portion engages with a hook receiver provided on the battery box, so as to retain the lid in a closed position. The hook is disengaged by sliding the lid from the closed position along the axial direction of the shaft, and the lid is subsequently rotated about the shaft to an open position. During rotation of the lid, a stopper abuts a side surface of the support arm to prevent sliding movement of the lid. When the lid is being rotated to be closed, the abutting stopper prevents jamming of the hook on top of the hook receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Masato Nagura
  • Patent number: 7449863
    Abstract: A battery pack that includes a data storage unit capable of storing data processed with an electronic device and a data control unit for controlling reading, writing, deleting, and duplicating of data in the data storing unit. A data communication unit for transmitting and receiving data controlled by the data control unit. A charger includes a data communication unit for transmitting and receiving data with the battery pack via a communication terminal and a data operating unit for sending control signals instructing data reading, writing, deleting, and duplicating of data in the data storage unit of the battery pack via the data communication unit. A data reproducing unit for reproducing the data obtained via the data communication unit. This provides a simple battery pack which can record data handled by an electronic device to which the battery pack is mounted, and a charger enabling easy operating of the recorded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kei Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7435017
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a digital single lens reflex camera which includes a motor on a side of a mirror box above a battery storage unit for a detachable battery, such that the motor's output shaft can be substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, which facilitates reduction of the size of the entire camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiri Tsukatani
  • Publication number: 20080219659
    Abstract: A battery pack for a camera includes a main housing for containing one or more batteries. An adaptor electrically connected to the one or more batteries protrudes from the main housing and is configured for electrical engagement with a camera supported on the main housing. The battery pack optionally includes one or more of the following: a display screen on the main housing for displaying system functions or images and videos captured by the camera; a wireless transmission device in the main housing for transmitting images captured by the camera to a remote receiver; one or more memory unit housings in the main housing for receiving one or more memory units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Yongzhong Tian
  • Patent number: 7409148
    Abstract: A waterproof type electronic device is composed of a disc lid 13 capable of opening and closing an opening portion (17) of a camera apparatus body (2), a buckle (12) capable of detachably fastening the disc lid (13) to the camera apparatus body (2) and a sealing member (24) provided on at least one of the buckle (12) and the camera apparatus body (2) to hermetically seal the buckle 12 and the camera apparatus body (2). When the disc lid (13) is fastened to the camera apparatus body (2) by the buckle (12), the camera apparatus body (2) is hermetically sealed at least at its part of the portion covered with the buckle (12). In this kind of related-art waterproof type electronic device, operation buttons are not formed so as to have waterproof structures and water and water component can therefore enter this waterproof type electronic device relatively easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobutatsu Takahashi, Seiya Amatatsu
  • Patent number: 7379667
    Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes an image-taking system for obtaining an image of a subject, the image-taking system including a lens and an image pickup device, a battery loading part, into which a battery is loaded, the battery loading part being arranged in a place not to overlap said image-taking system in a direction of a thickness of said image-taking apparatus, a first substrate having a digital circuit, and a second substrate having an analog circuit, wherein the first and second substrates are arranged at both sides of the battery loading part in said direction of a thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Nabetani
  • Patent number: 7343092
    Abstract: In the present invention, in a battery adapter to be engaged with a camera body, a tripod screw provided at an upper surface portion is engaged with a tripod screw of the camera body, and a positioning pin is fitted in a positioning hole provided in the camera body. Furthermore, a contact piece support including electrode contact portions is inserted into a battery chamber of the camera body in order to effect electrical connection with battery contact pieces provided in the battery chamber. A waterproofing seal for waterproofing the gap between the contact piece support and the battery chamber is provided around a lower portion of the contact piece support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Iwasa
  • Publication number: 20070274707
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device with an elastic shifting mechanism, which comprises: a body and a movable element, wherein the body has a first snap-fit element, and the movable element has a second snap-fit element, and the movable element is installed to the body; the body/the movable element has a transmission element, and the movable element/the body has a drive element, and the drive element engages with the transmission element; two ends of an elastic element are respectively fixed to the transmission element and the body/the movable element; when said movable is being moved to enable the second snap-fit element to snap-fit the first snap-fit element, the drive element drives the transmission element to wind up the elastic element; when the second snap-fit element is disengaged from the first snap-fit element, the elastic element releases elastic force to move the movable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Chin Hsin Ho
  • Patent number: 7133277
    Abstract: A miniaturized electronic device including a battery storing container having an opening for placing a battery in and out, a recording medium storing part for storing a recording medium detachably, and a plurality of circuit boards constituting predetermined circuits, wherein the recording medium storing part and the plurality of circuit boards are placed so as to surround the outside of the battery storing container except at its opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ikari, Atsushi Hoshi, Takuya Hara
  • Patent number: 7110039
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an electronic-flash charging capacitor and first and second battery storage areas separately disposed from each other so as to have the electronic-flash charging capacitor sandwiched therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 7058295
    Abstract: Electronic equipment is disclosed with which, even when a main body receives an external force, the deformation of the main body can be restrained. The electronic equipment comprises: a main body, having a housing chamber for housing accessories; a base member, rotating with respect to an opening of the abovementioned housing chamber; and a lid member, opening and closing the abovementioned opening along with the abovementioned base member, mounted in a manner enabling sliding with respect to the abovementioned base member, and engaged and disengaged with respect to the main body by sliding movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenya Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 6989758
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a battery chamber; first through fifth contacts, positioned in the battery chamber; two detection switches which are turned ON only when two battery packs are accommodated in the battery chamber in the correct direction; a voltage detector capable of detecting first through sixth voltages between the first/second contacts, second/third contacts, third/fourth contacts, fourth/fifth contacts, first/third contacts, and third/fifth contacts, respectively; and a controller which allows either four cylindrical cells or the two battery packs to be used as the power source only if the two detection switches are ON when the fifth and sixth voltages are substantially the same, or if the two detection switches are OFF when the first, second, third and fourth voltages is greater than zero volts and that the first, second, third and fourth voltages are substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 6806681
    Abstract: An increased capacity battery holder, which allows a device to be used for a longer time duration than can be achieved from solely internally contained batteries, capable of providing additional energy to the device, beyond internal space and volume limitations of the device, having additional battery holding capacity external to the device, with the additional battery holding capacity self contained within the battery holder. The battery holder provides maximum energy output, a portion of the battery holder being matingly removably attachable and optionally removably lockable to the device. The battery holder is safe, of simple construction, easy to install and remove therefrom the device, acts as an additional means for holding and/or handling the device, and is capable of forming an integral assembly with the device. The battery holder has means for preventing inadvertent shorting and/or reversing polarity of the batteries, and optionally recharging means for recharging the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Zinc Matrix Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Cheiky, Robert B. Nimocks
  • Patent number: 6714248
    Abstract: An electronic image pickup apparatus converts a subject image formed by an image-taking optical system into an electrical signal. In order to realize miniaturization by efficiently arranging components in the apparatus, this apparatus includes a plurality of electrical boards which have respective component sides parallel to a principal plane of the apparatus body having a flat shape and which are arranged so as to be spaced apart at a predetermined interval from the principal plane of the body. A plurality of power supply batteries are arranged in the apparatus so that the axial direction of the plurality of power supply batteries are parallel to the component sides of these electrical boards in a space sandwiched by this plurality of electrical boards. A relay board is arranged in a space between a lens barrel which holds the image-taking optical system and the plurality of power supply batteries and connects the plurality of electrical boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6671462
    Abstract: A digital still camera has a power source circuit, CCD and the like which are supplied with power by a battery having positive and negative electrodes. A camera body has the power source circuit, CCD and the like incorporated therein. First and second electrode caps are secured to an outside of the camera body, and are fitted on the positive and negative electrodes. First and second terminal springs are incorporated in the first and second electrode caps, for connecting the power source circuit, CCD and the like electrically with the positive and negative electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Misawa
  • Patent number: 6661971
    Abstract: Provided is a camera capable of contributing reductions in the number of components and manufacturing costs. A holding member is mounted on a top portion of a camera body. A block portion for holding a device for range-finding, a finder and so on, a semicylindrical portion for holding a battery, and a plate portion for holding a gear train of the camera body are integrally combined to form the holding member. Therefore, the number of components of the camera can be reduced, thereby resulting in a reduction in the manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Opticsal Cp., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Manabe, Kenji Yamane, Yukihiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6650838
    Abstract: A cam groove is formed in a battery cover of a camera, while a slider is provided on a camera body side. A cam follower is formed on the slider. An entrance of the cam groove is smaller in width than the cam follower. As the slider is slid, the battery cover is pressed to be gradually displaced in the opening direction. When the cam follower passes the entrance, the battery cover is instantaneously forced out in the opening direction in a pop-up manner. Thus, the cover can be opened by one sliding operation. A rib is provided in the battery accommodation chamber in correspondence with the plus terminal of a battery. The rib is provided only in the optical axis direction to prevent the battery from falling out of the battery accommodation chamber when an impact is made on the camera in a direction parallel to the optical axis. The rib does not interfere with insertion or taking-out of the battery. The battery is thus prevented from falling out of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Tanaka, Katsuaki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6640058
    Abstract: A camera is provided which has a back cover for opening and closing an aperture, a spool chamber and a cassette chamber. A battery chamber for housing a battery is disposed on a supporting shaft side of the back cover, and the aforementioned battery chamber is present obliquely behind the cassette chamber inside the camera when the back cover is in a closed state. A part of the battery chamber protrudes from the back face of the back cover. Therefore, the exterior shape of the camera can be miniaturized and downsized without hindering loading of a film cassette. Further, since the battery chamber portion protruding from the back cover can be made to function as a grip portion of the camera, a camera superior in portability and favorable in holdability is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yokomae, Toshifumi Nakano
  • Patent number: 6628896
    Abstract: A single use camera which has a motor to advance film comprising a light-tight casing having an exposure aperture through which exposures are made, an unexposed film wound up around a pre-winding take-up spool disposed on one side of the exposure aperture, a removable film cartridge having a film take-up spool therein disposed on the opposite side of the exposure aperture from the pre-winding take-up spool, a motor to pre-wind the unexposed film around the pre-winding take-up spool beforehand and to wind exposed frames of the film back to the removable film cartridge. The motorized single use camera uses the built-in motor for all the film windings so that any special film loading device to roll up the unexposed film beforehand outside of the camera in a dark room is not required, and the same motor can be used for film winding after each exposure so that any manual film winding mechanism is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Arc Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeru Oshima