Camera Housing With Integrated Expansion Module

• US 20100060747A1
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Woodman Labs Inc (GoPro, Inc.)
• Inventors: Woodman, Nicholas D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,199,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/222.100
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2206/00 Systems for exchange of information between different pieces of apparatus, e.g. for exchanging trimming information, for photo finishing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A camera housing includes an integrated expansion module for providing expanded functionality to a camera (e.g., a display screen). Different embodiments of the housing include different expansion modules for adding a variety of features to the camera when the camera is placed in the housing. Thus, a user may modify features of a camera by swapping the housing. Furthermore, a user may add a feature to an existing camera without needing to purchase a new camera.

Claims

1. A camera system, comprising:

a first portion of a camera housing including a front face, a top face, a bottom face, a left side face, and a right side face, the faces structured to at least partially enclose a removable camera;

a second portion of a camera housing structured to enclose the camera within the camera housing, and structured to house an expansion module for interfacing with the camera to perform a camera function;

an inner hinge structure located on a bottom edge of the first portion of the housing;

an outer hinge structure located on a bottom edge of the second portion of the housing, the outer hinge structure for detachably coupling to the inner hinge structure of the first portion of the camera housing, wherein the outer hinge structure and the inner hinge structure form a hinge when coupled such that the second portion of the camera housing and the first portion of the camera housing are pivotally attached about the hinge;

a first fastening structure located on the top face of the first portion of the camera housing;

a second fastening structure located on a top edge of the second portion of the camera housing, the second fastening structure for detachably coupling to the first fastening structure such that the second portion of the camera housing is secured to the first portion of the camera housing in a closed position when the first fastening structure is coupled to the second fastening structure; and

an expansion interface cable communicatively coupled to the expansion module, the expansion interface cable for detachably coupling to a camera interface on the camera, the expansion interface cable facilitating communication of data between the expansion module and the camera to execute the camera function.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera housing comprises a substantially rigid enclosure.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the first fastening structure and the second fastening structure include one from a group consisting of a button assembly, a buckle assembly, a clip assembly, a hook and loop assembly, a hook and catch assembly, a magnet assembly, a ball and catch assembly, and an adhesive assembly.

4. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the front face of the camera housing includes a lens window structured so that a lens of the camera is substantially aligned with the lens windows when the camera is secured within the camera housing.

5. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the top face of the camera includes an outer shutter button structured so that a shutter button of the camera is substantially aligned with the outer shutter button when the camera is secured within the camera housing, wherein the shutter button of the camera is operationally coupled to the outer shutter button.

6. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the camera housing includes a sealing structure positioned on edges of the second portion of the camera housing, the sealing structure providing a watertight seal between the first portion of the camera housing and the second portion of the camera housing when the first securing structure on the top face of the first portion of the camera housing is coupled to the second securing structure on the top edge of the second portion of the camera housing.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated expansion module comprises an integrated display module including:

a display screen integrated with the second portion of the camera housing and externally viewable to a user; and

display control logic communicatively coupled to the expansion interface cable and to the display screen, the display control logic for controlling the display screen to display at least one of an image or video received from the camera.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated expansion module comprises an integrated output preview system including:

a communication interface communicatively coupled to a remote preview screen, the communication interface outputting a display of an image or video received from the camera to the remote preview screen.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated expansion module comprises an image processing module for processing image or video data received by the camera to convert image data between a 4:

3 aspect ratio and a 16;

9 aspect ratio.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated expansion module comprises a wireless module to wirelessly communicate image information captured by the camera to a remote wireless receiver.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated expansion module comprises a storage module to store images or video captured by the camera.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated expansion module comprises a power expansion module to supply power to the camera.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated expansion module comprises a data acquisition module.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a first housing portion comprising a front face with four sides structured to form a cavity, the cavity structured to receive an electronic device;

a second housing portion detachably coupled with the first housing portion opposite the front face of the first housing portion and structured to enclose the electronic device within the cavity, the second housing portion having electronics including a communications interface; and

an interface cable having a first coupling interface for communicatively coupling the communications interface of the second housing portion and a second coupling interface for communicatively coupling the electronic device, the interface cable facilitating communication between the electronic device and the electronics within the second housing portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electronic device comprises a camera.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the camera comprises a video camera.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first housing portion includes a first portion of a coupling mechanism.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second housing portion includes a second portion of a coupling mechanism, the first portion and the second portion of the coupling mechanism structure to detachably couple.

19. A camera system comprising:

a camera body housing a camera;

an expansion module detachably coupled to the camera body for interfacing with the camera to perform a camera function;

a first portion of a hinge structure positioned near an edge of the camera body;

a second portion of a hinge structure positioned near an edge of the expansion module, wherein the first portion of the hinge structure is detachably coupled to the second portion of the hinge structure and wherein the first portion and second portion of the hinge structure form a hinge when coupled such that the expansion module is rotatable about the hinge;

a first electrical connector positioned near an edge of the camera body opposite the first portion of the hinge structure;

a second electrical connector reciprocal to the first electrical connector positioned near an edge of the expansion module opposite the second portion of the hinge structure, wherein the first electrical connector detachably couples to the second electrical connector and wherein the first and second electrical connector electrically couple the camera and the expansion module when coupled to facilitate data communication between the camera and expansion module for executing the camera function.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the expansion module comprises a display module including:

a display screen integrated with the expansion module and externally viewable to a user; and

display control logic communicatively coupled to the expansion interface cable and to the display screen, the display control logic for controlling the display screen to display at least one of an image or video received from the camera.