Adapter for digital camera

• US 20030011702A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Ohmura, Akira, Tanaka, Masahide
• Application Number:
  US10/065,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011702A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• 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 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• 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 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 : the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 : using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 : the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8233 : the additional signal being a character code signal

Abstract

An adapter for different models of digital cameras includes a universal base for supplying a battery of the digital camera with electric power and for taking out digital images from a memory of the digital camera and an exchangeable holder mounted on the universal base. The exchangeable holder is shaped to be fitted for a specific one of the different models of digital cameras and also standardized for mounting on the universal base.

Claims

1. An adapter for different models of digital cameras each having a battery and a memory, the battery being charged through the adapter, and digital images in the memory being taken out also through the adapter, comprising:

a universal base for supplying the battery with electric power and for taking out the digital images from the memory; and

an exchangeable holder mounted on the universal base, the exchangeable holder being shaped to be fit for a specific one of the different models of digital cameras and also standardized for the mount on the universal base.

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the exchangeable holder is a tray having an upper portion shaped to be fit for the lower portion of the specific model of digital camera.

3. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein the exchangeable holder has a standardized coupler with the universal base.

4. The adapter according to claim 3, further comprising a first electric connector to supply the battery with electric power and a second electric connector to take out the digital images from the memory, the first and the second connectors being designed to come into contact with the digital camera when the digital camera is laid on the tray.

5. The adapter according to claim 4, wherein the first and second connectors are located at the tray, and wherein the universal base includes a third standardized electric connector to supply the battery with electric power through the first connector and a fourth standardized electric connector to take out the digital images from the memory through the second electric connector.

6. The adapter according to claim 3, further comprising a first standardized electric connector to supply the battery with electric power and a second standardized electric connector to take out the digital images from the memory, the first and second standardized connectors are located at the universal base for a standardized coupling with the exchangeable holder.

7. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the universal base leads to a power line.

8. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the universal base leads to a signal line.

9. An adapter system for a first and a second models of digital cameras each having a battery and a memory, the battery being charged through an adapter, and digital images in the memory being taken out also through the adapter, comprising:

a universal base for supplying the battery with electric power and for taking out the digital images from the memory;

a first exchangeable holder mounted on the universal base, the first exchangeable holder being shaped to be fit for the first model of digital camera and also standardized for mounting on the universal base; and

a second exchangeable holder capable of being mounted on the universal base in place of the first exchangeable holder, the second exchangeable holder being shaped to be fit for the second model of digital camera and also standardized for mounting on the universal base.

10. The adapter system according to claim 9, wherein the universal base has a capacity for the coupling with any one of the first and second exchangeable holder.

11. The adapter system according to claim 10, wherein the universal base includes a room for containing any one of the first and second exchangeable holder, one of the first and second exchangeable holder being coupled with the universal base at the bottom of the room.

12. A set of a digital camera and a holder thereof, the holder being to be coupled with a universal base to form an adapter for the digital camera, comprising:

a digital camera of a specific shape at its lower portion having a battery and a memory, the battery being charged through the adapter, and digital images in the memory being taken out also through the adapter; and

a holder having an upper portion shaped to be fitted for the lower portion of the digital camera, wherein the holder has a standardized coupler with the universal base.

13. A holder for a digital camera of a specific shape at its lower portion having a battery and a memory, the holder being to be coupled with a universal base to form an adapter through which the battery is charged and digital images in the memory are taken out, comprising:

an upper portion shaped to be fitted for the lower portion of the digital camera; and

a standardized coupler with the universal base.

14. A holder system for a first and a second models of digital cameras each having a memory, comprising:

a first folder on which the first model digital camera is to be laid down for the purpose of taking out digital images in the memory;

a second folder on which the second model digital camera is to be laid down for a the purpose of taking out digital images in the memory;

a digital image storage for communicating with the first and the second folders, wherein the digital image storage includes a storage medium that stores the taken out digital images, and a function unit having a program for taking out the digital images, the program being used in common when taking out the digital images in the first and the second models of digital cameras.