CAMERA SYSTEM AND POWER SUPPLY FOR OPTICAL RECORDING DEVICES

• US 20090002524A1
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• 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 P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,864,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.990
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums

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 battery for use with an image recording device, said battery comprising:

a housing having an upper surface and a lower surface;

an energy cell within said housing;

an attachment means on said upper surface for selectively securing said housing to said image recording device; and

wherein said lower surface of said housing includes a contoured portion that is shaped to receive a user'"'"'s shoulder facilitating the use of said image recording device without the need for a separate shoulder mount.

4. The battery according to claim 1 wherein said contoured portion includes padding.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

5. An accessory module for selective attachment to an image recording device, said module comprising:

a housing having an upper planar surface and a lower planar surface;

an attachment means for attaching said housing to said image recording device;

a means for supplying electrical power to said module; and

wherein said housing includes at least one electrical outlet for supplying electrical power to an accessory.

6. The accessory module according to claim 5, wherein said attachment means is a threaded post on said upper surface of said housing which is removably received by a threaded bore on a bottom planar surface of said image recording device.

7. The accessory module according to claim 5, wherein said means for powering said module is a battery that is removably secured to said lower surface of said module.

8. The accessory module according to claim 5, further comprising:

a threaded bore defined on a bottom planar surface of said image recording device.

9. The accessory module according to claim 8, wherein said attachment means is a mounting plate releasably secured within a recess formed in said upper planar surface of said housing, said mounting plate including a threaded post that is selectively engagable with said threaded bore to secure said module to said image recording device when said mounting plate is within said recess.

10. The accessory module according to claim 9, further comprising:

a threaded bore on said lower planar surface of said module, said threaded bore facilitating the attachment of a battery to said lower planar surface of said module.

11. The accessory module according to claim 10, wherein said means for supplying electrical power is comprised of:

a first electrical contact formed on said lower planar surface of said module;

a second electrical contact means formed on said mounting plate; and

wherein said first electrical contact allows for the transfer or power and data between said battery and said module, and said second electrical contact facilitates the transfer of power and data between said module and said image recording device.

12. An image recording device, said device comprising:

an image gathering means;

a recording means;

a housing having a bottom planar surface; and

wherein said bottom planar surface includes a removable mounting plate that may be releasably secured within a recess formed in said bottom planar surface, said mounting plate having an attachment means facilitating the attachment of an accessory to said plate.

13. The image recording device according to claim 12, further comprising

a latching means for releasably securing said removable mounting plate within said recess and facilitating the quick release of said mounting plate and an accessory attached to said plate.

14. The image recording device according to claim 12, wherein said attachment means is a threaded post allowing said mounting plate to be secured to an accessory featuring a corresponding threaded bore.

15. The image recording system according to claim 12, wherein said accessory is a battery.

16. The image recording system according to claim 15, wherein said mounting plate includes an electrical contact for the transfer of electrical power of said battery from said battery through said mounting plate and into said image recording device.

17. The image recording system of claim 12 wherein said accessory is tripod.

18. A video camera, comprising:

an image gathering device having a bottom planar surface;

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

a removable mounting plate that may be releasably secured within a recess formed in said bottom planar surface;

an attachment means on said mounting plate facilitating the attachment of an accessory to said plate;

a latching means in operative communication with said recess, wherein manual operation of said latching means releasably secures said removable mounting plate within said recess and facilitates the quick release of said mounting plate and an accessory attached to said plate.

19. The video camera according to claim 18, wherein said attachment means is a threaded post allowing said mounting plate to be secured to an accessory featuring a corresponding threaded bore.

20. The video camera according to claim 18, wherein said accessory is a battery and said mounting plate includes an electrical contact for the transfer of electrical power of said battery from said battery through said mounting plate and into said video camera.

21. A battery for removable attachment to an image recording device;

said battery comprising;

a housing having a lower surface and an upper surface;

an energy cell disposed within said housing;

a throughbore in said housing extending from said lower surface to said upper surface;

wherein said throughbore allows a threaded fastener to pass completely through said housing and into a corresponding threaded bore in a bottom surface of an image recording device thereby removably securing said battery to said device.