Camera Housing With Integrated Expansion Module
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
20 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification