Positioning accessory for camera-equipped wireless terminals

• US 20050122424A1
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Overstreet, Frank R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/16 Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2057 for tilting and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

A stand for a camera-equipped wireless communications device comprises a base, an adjustable terminal support movably mounted to the base, and an auxiliary system connector mounted to the base. The adjustable terminal support includes a system plug that connects to a system interface on the camera-equipped wireless communications device. The auxiliary system connector connects a peripheral device associated with the camera-equipped wireless communications device to the base. The system plug and the auxiliary system connector are interconnected by a system bus that extends through the base.

Claims

1. A stand for a camera-equipped wireless communications device comprising:

a base to support the camera-equipped wireless communications device;

an adjustable terminal support movably mounted to the base, and including a system plug that connects to a system interface on the camera-equipped wireless communications device;

an auxiliary system connector mounted to the base to connect a peripheral device associated with the camera-equipped wireless communications device to the base; and

a system bus extending through the interior of the base that interconnects the system plug and the auxiliary system connector.

2. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a power bus to provide power to the system plug.

3. The stand of claim 2 wherein the power bus further provides power to the auxiliary system connector.

4. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a threaded mounting point disposed on the underside of the base to mount the base to a tripod.

5. The stand of claim 1 wherein the adjustable terminal support comprises a shaft.

6. The stand of claim 5 wherein the shaft comprises a telescoping shaft.

7. The stand of claim 1 wherein the adjustable terminal support provides one or more degrees of freedom to the camera-equipped wireless communications device.

8. The stand of claim 7 wherein the adjustable terminal support includes a ball member at one end that is movably retained by the base.

9. The stand of claim 1 wherein the adjustable terminal support further comprises cradle that clamps the housing of the camera-equipped wireless communications device.

10. The stand of claim 9 wherein the cradle comprises a pair of arms, and wherein at least one of said pair of arms is movable.

11. The stand of claim 10 further comprising a retractable locking mechanism slidably connected to a housing.

12. The stand of claim 11 further comprising a locking lever to move the retractable locking mechanism into and out of engagement with the moveable arm.

13. The stand of claim 12 wherein the locking lever moves between a locked position and an unlocked position.

14. The stand of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary system connector comprises a shaft that connects the auxiliary system connector to a ball member movably retained by the base.

15. The stand of claim 14 wherein the shaft that connects the auxiliary system connector to a ball member movably retained by the base comprises a telescoping shaft.

16. The stand of claim 14 wherein the auxiliary system connector provides the peripheral device with one or more degrees of freedom.

17. The stand of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device associated with the camera-equipped wireless communications device is a flash accessory.

18. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device associated with the camera-equipped wireless communications device is a camera.

19. The stand of claim 1 wherein the system bus electrically connects the system plug to the auxiliary system connector.

20. The stand of claim 1 wherein the base is a charger for the camera-equipped wireless communications device.

21. The stand of claim 1 wherein the camera-equipped wireless communications device includes an integrated camera.

22. The stand of claim 1 wherein the camera-equipped wireless device connects to a separate camera accessory via the system bus.

23. A stand for a camera-equipped wireless communications device comprising:

a terminal support having a shaft; and

a system plug disposed at one end of the shaft to connect to a system interface on the camera-equipped wireless communications device.

24. The stand of claim 23 further comprising a threaded receptacle disposed in the shaft to mount the terminal support to a tripod.

25. The stand of claim 23 wherein the shaft comprises a telescoping shaft.

26. The stand of claim 23 wherein the adjustable terminal support further comprises a pair of arms to clamp the camera-equipped wireless communications device.

27. The stand of claim 26 wherein at least one of said pair of arms is movable.

28. The stand of claim 27 further comprising a retractable locking mechanism sliadably connected to a housing.

29. The stand of claim 28 further comprising a locking lever to move the retractable locking mechanism into and out of engagement with the moveable arm.

30. The stand of claim 29 wherein the locking lever moves between a locked position and an unlocked position.

31. A method of positioning a camera-equipped wireless communications device along multiple axes using a stand associated with the camera-equipped wireless communications device comprising:

connecting a system interface on the camera-equipped wireless communications device to a system plug on an adjustable terminal support movably mounted to a base;

connecting an interface of a peripheral device associated with the camera-equipped wireless communications device to an auxiliary system connector mounted to the base; and

interconnecting the system plug and the auxiliary system connector with a system bus that extends through the interior of the base.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising charging a battery in the camera-equipped wireless communications device via a power bus that extends through the interior of the base to the system plug.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising charging an auxiliary battery in the peripheral device via the system bus.

34. The method of claim 31 further comprising positioning the camera-equipped wireless communications device by pivoting the adjustable terminal support.

35. The method of claim 31 further comprising adjusting the height of the camera-equipped wireless communications device attached to the adjustable terminal support by extending a telescoping shaft on the adjustable terminal support.

36. The method of claim 31 further comprising positioning the peripheral device by pivoting the auxiliary system connector.

37. The method of claim 31 further comprising mounting the base onto a tripod by threading a bolt on the tripod into a threaded receptacle disposed on the underside of the base.

38. A stand for a camera-equipped wireless communications device comprising:

a base;

a terminal support having a system plug and mounted to the base;

an auxiliary system connector mounted to the base;

a power line to provide power to the system plug and the auxiliary system connector; and

a system bus interconnecting the system plug and the auxiliary system connector.

39. The stand of claim 38 wherein the power line connects to the base.

40. The stand of claim 38 wherein the power line extends through the interior of the base and connects to the system plug.

41. The stand of claim 38 wherein the system bus electrically connects the power line to the auxiliary system connector.

42. The stand of claim 41 wherein the terminal support provides one or more degrees of freedom to the camera-equipped wireless communications device.

43. The stand of claim 42 wherein the terminal support includes a ball member at one end that is movably retained by the base.

44. The stand of claim 38 wherein the system plug connects to a system interface on the camera-equipped wireless communications device.

45. The stand of claim 44 wherein the auxiliary system connector connects to a peripheral device associated with the camera-equipped wireless communications device.

46. The stand of claim 45 wherein the camera-equipped wireless communications device communicates with the peripheral device via system bus.