Camera system and power supply for optical recording devices

• US 20070058075A1
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anton/Bauer Inc. (Vitec Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Anton/Bauer Inc. (Vitec Group PLC)
• Inventors: DeSorbo, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,724,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/007 Details of energy supply or management
• 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 1/00493 Particular location of the interface or console
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00519 Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. housings, covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00559 Mounting or support of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00562 Supporting the apparatus as a whole, e.g. stands
• 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 1/00907 Details of supply connection, e.g. arrangement of power cables H04N1/00901 and H04N1/00904 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

Abstract

A camera system includes a video camera having a first mating mechanism defined on a bottom, planar surface of the video camera. A battery assembly contains an energy cell and a first surface of the battery assembly is releasably engageable with the mounting mechanism such that the battery assembly is suspended beneath the video camera, with the bottom, planar surface of the video camera in substantial contact with the first surface. A support apparatus having a second mating mechanism is also provided, the second mating mechanism releasably engaging a second surface of the battery assembly.

Claims

1. A camera system, comprising:

a video camera having a first mating means defined on a bottom, planar surface thereof;

a battery assembly containing an energy cell therein, wherein a first surface of said battery assembly is releasably engageable with said mounting means such that said battery assembly is suspended beneath said video camera, with said bottom, planar surface of said video camera in substantial contact with said first surface; and

a support apparatus having a second mating means defined thereon, said second mating means releasably engaging a second surface of said battery assembly.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein:

said first mating means includes a first threaded bore and said second mating means includes a first threaded post.

3. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting plate that is releasably secured within a recess formed in said first surface of said battery assembly; and

said mounting plate includes a second threaded post protruding outwardly therefrom, wherein said second threaded post selectively and threadedly engages with said first threaded bore when said battery assembly is secured to said video camera.

4. The camera system according to claim 3, wherein:

said mounting plate includes a locating pin protruding outwardly therefrom, wherein said locating pin is accommodated within a matching locating bore formed in said bottom, planar surface of said video camera.

5. The camera system according to claim 3, wherein:

said battery assembly includes a latching means in operative communication with said recess, wherein manual operation of said latching means releasably secures said mounting plate within said recess.

6. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

said battery assembly includes a visual indicator for communicating a predetermined characteristic of said energy cell.

7. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting plate that is releasably secured within a recess formed in said first surface of said battery assembly; and

wherein said mounting plate includes an electrical communication means for communicating the electrical power of said energy cell from said battery assembly, through said mounting plate and to said video camera.

8. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

said support apparatus is a tripod.

9. A video camera system, comprising:

a video camera having a threaded bore defined on a bottom, planar surface thereof; and

a battery assembly containing an energy cell, wherein a first surface of said battery assembly is releasably engageable with said threaded bore such that said battery assembly is suspended beneath said video camera, with said bottom, planar surface of said video camera in substantial contact with said first surface.

10. The video camera system of claim 9, further comprising:

a mounting plate that is releasably secured within a recess formed in said first surface of said battery assembly; and

said mounting plate includes a threaded post protruding outwardly therefrom, wherein said threaded post selectively and threadedly engages with said threaded bore when said battery assembly is secured to said video camera.

11. The camera system according to claim 10, wherein:

said mounting plate includes a locating pin protruding outwardly therefrom, wherein said locating pin is accommodated within a matching locating bore formed in said bottom, planar surface of said video camera.

12. The camera system according to claim 10, wherein:

said battery assembly includes a latching means in operative communication with said recess, wherein manual operation of said latching means releasably secures said mounting plate within said recess.

13. The camera system according to claim 9, wherein:

said battery assembly includes a visual indicator for communicating a predetermined characteristic of said energy cell.

14. The camera system of claim 9, further comprising:

a mounting plate that is releasably secured within a recess formed in said first surface of said battery assembly; and

wherein said mounting plate includes an electrical communication means for communicating the electrical power of said energy cell from said battery assembly, through said mounting plate and to said video camera.

15. An image recording system, comprising:

an image recording device having a threaded bore defined on a bottom, planar surface thereof;

a battery assembly containing an energy cell;

an adapter plate releasably matable with said bottom planar surface and said battery assembly; and

wherein a first surface of said adapter plate is selectively engageable with said threaded bore and a second surface of said adapter plate is releasably engageable with said battery assembly such that said battery assembly is suspended beneath said image recording device.

16. The image recording system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a threaded post formed on said first surface, said threaded post selectively mating with said threaded bore when said adapter plate is fastened to said bottom, planar surface.

17. The image recording system according to claim 15, wherein:

said image recording device is a video camera; and

said energy cell is one of a rechargeable battery and a fuel cell.

18. The image recording system according to claim 15, wherein:

said battery assembly includes a latching means for selectively capturing said adapter plate within a recess formed in said battery assembly; and

wherein manual operation of said latching means disengages said battery assembly from said adapter plate while leaving said adapter plate attached to said bottom, planar surface.

19. The image recording system according to claim 15, further comprising:

an electrical communication means formed in said adapter plate, said electrical communication means facilitating electrical communication between said energy cell and said image recording device when said adapter plate is connected between said image recording device and said battery assembly.

20. A video camera, comprising:

an image gathering device;

a recording means for recording live motion images detected by said image gathering device;

a threaded bore defined in a bottom surface of said video camera; and

a power terminal defined on said bottom surface of said video camera, said power terminal communicating electrical power to said video camera when a power supply is in electrical communication with said power terminal.

21. The video camera system according to claim 20, further comprising:

a battery assembly containing an energy cell therein, said battery assembly being releasably coupled to said threaded bore and communicating power from said energy cell to said video camera via a battery contact that is in electrical communication with said power terminal when said battery assembly is connected to said video camera.

22. The video camera system according to claim 20, further comprising:

a data terminal defined in said bottom surface of said video camera; and

an electronic storage device releasably coupled to said threaded bore and communicating data between said energy cell and said video camera via a data contact that is in electrical communication with said data terminal when said electronic storage device is connected to said video camera.

23. The video camera system according to claim 22, wherein:

said electronic storage device is one of a DVD and a CD.

24. A video camera, comprising:

an image gathering device;

a recording means for recording images detected by said image gathering device;

an attachment means defined on a bottom surface of said video camera, said attachment means enabling said video camera to be mounted to a support structure; and

a power terminal defined on said bottom surface of said video camera, said power terminal providing electrical power to said video camera when a power supply is in electrical communication with said power terminal.

25. The video camera system according to claim 24, further comprising:

a battery assembly containing an energy cell therein, said battery assembly being releasably coupled to said attachment means and communicating power from said energy cell to said video camera via a battery contact that is in electrical communication with said power terminal when said battery assembly is connected to said video camera.

26. The video camera system according to claim 24, further comprising:

a data terminal defined in said bottom surface of said video camera; and

an electronic storage device releasably coupled to said attachment means and communicating data between said energy cell and said video camera via a data contact that is in electrical communication with said data terminal when said electronic storage device is connected to said video camera.

27. The video camera system according to claim 26, wherein:

said electronic storage device is one of a DVD and a CD.

28. An adapter plate for suspending an energy cell beneath an electrical apparatus, said adapter plate comprising:

an upper wall having a threaded post defined thereon;

a lower wall having a threaded bore defined therein;

a side wall extending between distal ends of said upper and lower walls, said upper wall, said lower wall and said side wall together defining a C-shaped docking bay; and

wherein said energy cell is releasably accommodated within said C-shaped docking bay.

29. The adapter plate for suspending an energy cell beneath an image recording apparatus according to claim 28, wherein:

one of said upper wall and said lower wall includes a resilient engagement mechanism for releasably securing said energy cell within said C-shaped docking bay.

30. The adapter plate for suspending an energy cell beneath an image recording apparatus according to claim 28, wherein:

said upper wall includes an upper electrical contact defined therein, wherein electrical energy from said energy cell is communication through said adapter plate via said upper electrical contact, and to said electrical device when said electrical device is secured to said threaded post.

31. The adapter plate for suspending an energy cell beneath an image recording apparatus according to claim 30, wherein:

said adapter plate further includes a lower electrical contact defined in said lower wall, so as to provide for electrical communication through said lower wall.

32. A battery assembly for providing a quick release between an image recording apparatus and a structural support apparatus, said battery assembly comprising:

a housing having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface and said second surface being on opposing sides of said housing;

a threaded bore defined on said second surface;

a depression formed in said first surface;

an energy cell disposed within said housing; and

a mounting plate releasably secured within said depression, said mounting plate including a threaded post formed thereon.

33. The battery assembly for providing a quick release between an image recording apparatus and a structural support apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising:

a latching means in operative communication with said depression, wherein manual operation of said latching means releasably secures said mounting plate within said depression.

34. The battery assembly for providing a quick release between an image recording apparatus and a structural support apparatus according to claim 33, wherein:

operation of said latching means causes a locking cam to selectively protrude into said depression and bear upon said mounting plate, thereby securing said mounting plate in said depression.

35. The battery assembly for providing a quick release between an image recording apparatus and a structural support apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

said battery assembly includes a visual indicator for communicating a predetermined characteristic of said energy cell.

36. The battery assembly for providing a quick release between an image recording apparatus and a structural support apparatus according to claim 32, wherein:

said mounting plate includes an electrical communication means for communicating electrical power of said energy cell through said mounting plate and to said image recording apparatus.

37. A mounting plate adapted for releasably mating with a threaded bore defined on a bottom surface of an optical recording device, said mounting plate comprising:

an upper surface and a lower surface;

an engagement means defined on said upper surface;

a sidewall extending between said upper surface and said lower surface; and

wherein said sidewall has a compound profile.

38. The mounting plate according to claim 37, wherein:

said contoured profile includes a pair of inwardly angled surfaces.

39. The mounting plate according to claim 37, further comprising:

a rear wall extending between said upper surface and said lower surface, said rear wall being back-beveled inwardly and downwardly from said upper surface.

40. The mounting plate according to claim 37, further comprising:

an electrical contact defined on said upper surface and said lower surface, wherein said electrical contacts provides electrical communication though said mounting plate.