Electronic camera system

• US 6,873,367 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirata, Ryuji, Oinoue, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/583,011
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 348/308, 348/302, 348/207.99, 348/231.99, 348/231.1, 348/231.3, 348/231.7, 348/231.8, 348/372, 348/373, 348/375, 250/370.01, 250/370.08, 250/370.9
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00899 Detection of supply level or supply failure
• 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 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

In an electronic camera system, a camera body includes a card slot for receiving a memory card M, a card slot for receiving an HDD pack H, and a battery chamber for receiving a battery B. An expansion unit includes a grip portion for receiving a battery back having a power supply capacity larger than that of the battery B, a detection switch for detecting the attached state of the expansion unit to the electronic camera, and an LCD panel for displaying a predetermined alarm message when the HDD pack H is inserted into the card slot, and the detection switch detects that the expansion unit is not attached to the electronic camera.

Claims

1. An electronic camera system comprising:

imaging means;

image data generation means for generating image data to be recorded in a recording medium by processing image information which is subject to photoelectric conversion by the imaging means;

a first recording medium receiving portion provided in an electronic camera to receive a first recording medium for recording image data generated by the image data generation means;

a second recording medium receiving portion for receiving a second recording medium which has a recording capacity larger than that of the first recording medium and which records the image data generated by the data generation means, in which the first recording medium and the second recording medium are independently detachable;

a first power supply provided in the electronic camera to supply power in writing the image data on at least the first recording medium;

a second power supply having a power supply capacity larger than that of said first power supply; and

an electronic camera expansion unit for receiving said second power supply, said electronic camera expansion unit being detachable from the electronic camera,

wherein said second power supply supplies power to write data on the second recording medium when said electronic camera expansion unit is attached to the electronic camera.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

determination means for determining whether said electronic camera expansion unit is attached to the electronic camera, and

notification means for, when the second recording medium is inserted into said second recording medium receiving portion, and said determination means determines that said electronic camera expansion unit is not attached to the electronic camera, notifying a user that said electronic camera expansion unit is not attached to the electronic camera.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

determination means for determining whether said electronic camera expansion unit is attached to the electronic camera, and

means for, when said determination means determines that said electronic camera expansion unit is not attached to the electronic camera, inhibiting drive of the second recording medium and a write/read of image data.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic camera expansion unit comprises:

a grip portion incorporating said second power supply, and

a substantially plate like flat portion having an end face integrated with said grip portion, and attached to a bottom surface of the electronic camera.

5. A system according to claim 1,

wherein the electronic camera further comprises:

a first power supply receiving portion for receiving said first power supply,

said electronic camera expansion unit further comprises;

a unit main body,

a second power supply receiving portion for receiving said second power supply,

an attaching mechanism for detachably attaching said unit main body to the electronic camera, and

data connection means, electrically connected to the electronic camera, for transmitting/receiving the image data, and

said second recording medium receiving portion is provided in said unit main body.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said unit main body comprises:

a grip portion incorporating said second power supply receiving portion and arranged on an end portion side in a horizontal direction of the electronic camera, and

a substantially plate like flat portion integrated with an end portion of said grip portion and attached to a bottom surface of the electronic camera, and incorporating said second recording medium receiving portion and having said data connection means formed at an abutment portion against the bottom surface of the electronic camera.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein:

said second recording medium has a rotating member, and

said second recording medium receiving portion is arranged on a side of said grip portion of said flat portion.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said flat portion has, at a position separated from said grip portion via said second recording medium receiving portion, a circuit section for executing the write/read of the image data on/from the second recording medium and transmission/reception of the image data through said connection means by power supplied from said second power supply.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein:

the electronic camera has a cover for protecting an insertion port of the first recording medium into said first recording medium receiving portion, and

said grip portion has a recessed portion configured so as not to impede opening/closing said cover.

10. A system according to claim 6, wherein said grip portion has, at an upper portion, a release switch for instructing a release operation in the electronic camera.

11. A system according to claim 5, wherein:

the second recording medium can be freely removed from said second recording medium receiving portion, and

said second recording medium receiving portion is arranged at a portion where the second recording medium can be removed even while said unit main body is being attached to the electronic camera.

12. A system according to claim 5, wherein:

said attaching mechanism has a screw threadably engaging with a tripod screw hole of the electronic camera, and

said connection means has a plurality of contacts disposed on a circumference centered on said screw.

13. A system according to claim 6, wherein said flat portion has, at positions corresponding to the plurality of contacts forming said connection means, a circuit section for executing the write/read of the image data on/from the second recording medium and transmission/reception of the image data through said connection means by power supplied from said second power supply.

14. A system according to claim 5, wherein said unit main body further comprises a switch for inhibiting the write/read of the image data on/from the second recording medium.

15. A system according to claim 5, wherein said unit main body further comprises an input terminal for supplying external DC power to said electronic camera.

16. A system according to claim 6, wherein said grip portion has a pair of members sandwiching the electronic camera from a front side and rear side, each of said pair of members having said second power supply receiving portion.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein:

the electronic camera has, on a rear surface side, a first image quality selection switch for switching an image quality, and

one of said pair of members, which is located on the rear surface side of the electronic camera, covers said first image quality selection switch, and has a second image quality selection switch having an image quality selection position for simultaneously instructing priority recording on the second recording medium.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic camera comprises:

detection means for detecting an attached state of said electronic camera expansion unit to the electronic camera, and

a first power supply receiving portion for receiving said first power supply, and

said electronic camera expansion unit comprises;

the second recording medium receiving portion,

a second power supply receiving portion for receiving said second power supply,

an attaching mechanism for attaching a unit main body of said electronic camera expansion unit to the electronic camera, and

connection means, electrically connected to the electronic camera, for transmitting/receiving the image data.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein:

said attaching mechanism has, on an abut surface against the electronic camera, a projecting portion for positioning the electronic camera, and

said detection means is arranged at a position corresponding to the projecting portion to detect that the projecting portion abuts.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first recording medium comprises a memory card, and the second recording medium comprises a hard disk.