Cradle apparatus for digital camera

• US 20030063215A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Tsuji, Shigekazu
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/375
• 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 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• 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 1/00899 Detection of supply level or supply failure
• 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 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply

Abstract

By an interposition of cradle apparatus output of video signal from a digital camera to TV and sending and receiving of information signal between the digital camera and PC are performed as well as battery charging for a battery in the digital camera is performed.

A connection of the cradle apparatus to TV or PC is performed with an interposition of a second connector as one connector. Also a re-writing of control program is made possible by sending and receiving of the information signal.

A battery charging unit detects a voltage level of the battery through a “Batte

Claims

1. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera including a communicating means in which information signal is sent and received between an information processing apparatus and the communicating means, and an outputting means by which video signal is output, comprising:

connecting means onto which said digital camera is detachably connected;

charging detecting means to detect a voltage level of battery in said digital camera; and

battery charging means for charging the battery when the battery in said digital camera which is connected to said connecting means is detected that the battery is not in a full charged state by said charging detecting means.

2. The cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a connection detecting means to detect if said digital camera is connected to said connecting means, wherein said battery charging means begins to charge said battery when a connection of said digital camera is detected by said connection detecting means.

3. The cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said battery charging means begins to charge said battery after a power switch of said digital camera is turned off when connection of said digital camera is detected by said connection detecting means while said digital camera is in operating state and when said battery is detected that said battery is not in a state with full charged by said charging detecting means.

4. A cradle apparatus used for a digital camera including a communicating means in which information signal is sent and received between an information processing apparatus and the communicating means, and an outputting means by which video signal is output, comprising:

first connecting means onto which said digital camera is detachably connected;

second connecting means onto which a television monitor is connected; and

video signal output means which is arranged between said first connecting means and said second connecting means to output said video signal from said digital camera to said television monitor.

5. The cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 4, further comprising a connection detecting means to detect a connection of said digital camera with said first connecting means, wherein an output process of said video signal is begun by said video signal output means when a connection of said digital camera is detected by said connection detecting means.

6. The cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 4, further comprising:

activating means to begin the process of said video signal output means by manual operation by a user; and

notifying means to notify the process is performed when the process of said video signal output means is begun by said activating means.

7. The cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the output process of said video signal by said video signal output means is begun by a remote control unit to remotely control said digital camera.

8. The cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 4, further comprising:

charging detecting means to detect a voltage level of battery in said digital camera; and

battery charging means for charging said battery from a power supply when the battery in said digital camera which is connected to said first connecting means is detected that the battery is not in a state with full charged by said charging detecting means, wherein said battery charging means stops charging said battery when process of said video output means is begun while said battery charging means is in the battery charging operation.

9. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera including a communicating means in which information signal is sent and received between an information processing apparatus and the communicating means, and an outputting means by which video signal is output, comprising:

first connecting means onto which said digital camera is detachably connected;

third connecting means onto which a television monitor or said information processing apparatus is selectively connected;

video signal output means which is arranged between said first connecting means and said third connecting means to output said video signal from said digital camera to said television monitor; and

information signal sending and receiving means which is arranged between said first connecting means and said third connecting means to send and receive said information signal between said digital camera and said information processing apparatus.

10. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 9, further comprising connection detecting means to detect a connection of said digital camera with said first connecting means, wherein an output process of said video signal is started by said video signal output means, or a sending and receiving process of said information signal is started by said information signal sending and receiving means when a connection of said digital camera is detected by said connection detecting means.

11. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 9, further comprising a determining means to detect if a connection of said television monitor or said information processing apparatus with said third connecting means is performed, wherein an output process of said video signal is begun by said video signal output means, or a sending and receiving process of said information signal is begun by said information signal sending and receiving means in compliance with a result of the detection by said determining means.

12. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 9, further comprising:

activating means to begin the process of said video signal output means or the process of said information sending and receiving means by manual operation by a user; and

notifying means to notify the process is performed when the process of said video signal output means or the process of said information sending and receiving means is begun by said activating means.

13. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 9, wherein the output process of said video signal by said video signal output means or the process of said information sending and receiving means is started by a remote control unit to remotely control said digital camera.

14. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 9, further comprising:

charging detecting means to detect a voltage level of battery in said digital camera; and

battery charging means for charging said battery from said information processing apparatus which is connected to said third connecting means when the battery in said digital camera which is connected to said first connecting means is detected that the battery is not in a state with full charged by said charging detecting means.

15. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 14, wherein the battery charging means receives the electric power from said information processing apparatus by means of USB power supplying line at USB (8QLYHUVDO6HULDO %XV) to send and receive the information signal.

16. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 9, further comprising:

charging detecting means to detect a voltage level of battery in said digital camera;

battery charging means for charging said battery from a power supply when the battery in said digital camera which is connected to said first connecting means is detected that the battery is not in a state with full charged by said charging detecting means; and

switching means by which a switching of the power supplying source between said information processing apparatus which is connected to said third connecting means and the commercial electric power source when the battery charging is performed by said battery charging means.

17. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 9, further comprising:

charging detecting means to detect a voltage level of battery in said digital camera; and

battery charging means for charging said battery from a power supply when the battery in said digital camera which is connected to said first connecting means is detected that the battery is not in a state with full charged by said charging detecting means, wherein said battery charging means stops charging said battery when the process of said video signal output means or of said information sending and receiving means is begun while said battery charging means is in the battery charging operation.

18. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera according to claim 9, wherein a control program for said digital camera is sent and received as said information signal between said digital camera and said information processing apparatus by said information sending and receiving means to re-write said control program.