Cradle for digital camera

• US 20020196360A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Miyadera, Shunichi
• Application Number:
  US10/157,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196360A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00901 Using different supplies or connection to an external supply H04N1/00893, H04N1/00896 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0044 Connecting to a plurality of different apparatus; Using a plurality of different connectors connection via a network H04N2201/0039
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera

Abstract

A cradle for a digital camera comprises a connector to which a plurality different kinds of digital cameras can be selectively and detachably connected. The camera body of the digital camera is provided with a magnet located at a position which is changed in accordance with the kind of the digital camera, or provided with a magnet having a magnetic force the value of which corresponds to the kind of digital camera. The cradle has a magnetic sensor and a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit determines the kind of digital camera connected to the connector, by sensing the magnet. The magnet and the magnetic sensor may be replaced with a reflecting member and an optical sensor.

Claims

1. A cradle for a digital camera, comprising:

a connector to which a plurality of different kinds of digital cameras can be selectively and detachably connected; and

a camera determining processor that has one of a magnetic sensor and an optical sensor, which senses the kind of digital camera connected to said connector.

2. A cradle according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera is provided with a magnet located at a position which changes in accordance with the kind of said digital camera, said camera determining processor determining the kind of said digital camera by sensing said magnet.

3. A cradle according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera is provided with a magnet having a magnetic force the value of which corresponds to the kind of said digital camera, said camera determining processor determining the kind of said digital camera by sensing said magnetic force.

4. A cradle according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera is provided with a reflecting member located at a position which is changed in accordance with the kind of said digital camera, said camera determining processor determining the kind of said digital camera by sensing the reflected light generated by light radiated onto said digital camera.

5. A cradle according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera is provided with a reflecting member having a reflectance the value of which corresponds to the kind of said digital camera, said camera determining processor determining the kind of said digital camera by sensing the amount of reflected light generated by light radiated onto said digital camera.

6. A cradle according to claim 1, further comprising a power source that supplies an electric power of a predetermined voltage to said digital camera in accordance with the result determined by said camera determining processor.

7. A cradle according to claim 6, further comprising a power-source-supply prohibiting processor that prohibits the supply of said electric power by said power source when said camera determining processor senses that said digital camera is not connected to said connector.

8. A cradle according to claim 1, further comprising an interface switch that electrically connects a predetermined communication connector to said digital camera in accordance with the determination result of said camera determining processor.

9. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera that is provided with a magnet located at a position which corresponds to the kind of said digital camera; and

a cradle that has a connector to which a plurality of different kinds of digital cameras can be selectively and detachably connected, and a camera determining processor that determines the kind of digital camera connected to said connector by sensing said position of said magnet.

10. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera that is provided with a magnet having a magnetic force the value of which corresponds to the kind of said digital camera; and

a cradle that has a connector to which a plurality of different kinds of digital cameras can be selectively and detachably connected, and a camera determining processor that determines the kind of digital camera connected to said connector by sensing said magnetic force.

11. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera that is provided with a reflecting member located at a position which corresponds to the kind of said digital camera; and

a cradle that has a connector to which a plurality of different kinds of digital cameras can be selectively and detachably connected, and a camera determining processor that determines the kind of digital camera connected to said connector by sensing the reflected light generated by light radiated onto said reflecting member.

12. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera that is provided with a reflecting member having a reflectance value which corresponds to the kind of said digital camera; and

a cradle that has a connector to which a plurality different kinds of digital cameras can be selectively and detachably connected, and a camera determining processor that determines the kind of digital camera connected to said connector by sensing the reflected light generated by light radiated onto said reflecting member.