Portable expansion apparatus for digital camera

• US 20020101533A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inventec Multimedia & Telecom Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Multimedia & Telecom Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US09/893,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101533A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/375
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A portable expansion apparatus for digital camera includes a body which has a wireless communication means located therein, a screw mounted on an outer surface of the camera and a connection cable which has one end electrically connected with the wireless communication means. When the apparatus is assembled to the digital camera, the screw is engaged with a screw bore located in the digital camera, the connection cable has another end plugged in a signal jack located in the digital camera for linking to a memory unit of the digital camera so that images stored in the memory unit may be transmitted through the connection cable to other wireless communication enabled devices. Hence the digital camera which originally does not have wireless communication function may equip wireless transmission capability through this invention.

Claims

1. A portable expansion apparatus for a digital camera, comprising:

a body having a wireless communication means located therein;

a screw mounted on the outer surface of the body for engaging with a screw bore located at the bottom side of the digital camera; and

a signal connection cable having one end electrically connecting to the wireless communication means;

wherein the apparatus is assembled to the digital camera through engaging the screw with the screw bore of the camera and plugging another end of the signal connection cable to a signal jack located in the digital camera that links to a memory unit of the digital camera such that images stored in the memory unit is capable of being transmitted through the signal connection cable to the wireless communication means and from the wireless communication means to other wireless communication enabled devices.

2. The portable expansion apparatus of claim 1 further having a power supply cable and the body having a housing chamber formed inside thereof and a lid, the chamber having at least a pair of electric contacts located at two ends thereof for electrically connecting with the power supply cable, the lid being located at one side of the body and having one edge pivotally engaged with the body for opening the chamber such that the chamber is capable of housing a battery therein to connect electrically with the electric contacts to provide the digital camera electric power supply needed when the power supply cable is plugged to a power jack located in the digital camera.

3. The portable expansion apparatus of claim 2, wherein the body further has a notch for engaging with a mating bulged lug located on the lid.

4. The portable expansion apparatus of claim 2, wherein the chamber has a space for housing a selected number of a selected type battery.

5. The portable expansion apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal connection cable is Universal Serial Bus (USB).

6. The portable expansion apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal connection cable is Recommended Standard-232 (RS-232).