Cradle apparatus for digital camera

• US 7,417,685 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Tsuji, Shigekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco; John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pasiewicz; Daniel M
• Application Number:
  US10/256,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/207.99, 348/211.2, 348/211.4, 348/211.99, 348/372, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 396/301, 455/556.1, 455/556.2
• US Class Current: 348/375
• 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 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• 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 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply

Abstract

A cradle apparatus for a digital camera with a control program preliminarily installed, including a communicating device in which an information signal is sent and received between an information processing apparatus and the digital camera, an output by which video signal is output, a connector onto which the digital camera is detachably connected, a charging detector to detect a voltage level of battery in the digital camera, and a version detector to detect the control program for the digital camera being sent and received as the information signal between the digital camera and the information processing apparatus by the communicating device to re-write the control program.

Claims

1. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera, comprising:

a first connecting device onto which said digital camera is detachably connected said first connecting device including a connection detecting terminal for detecting whether said digital camera is connected to said first connecting device;

a second connecting device onto which an information processing apparatus for transferring information signals between said information processing apparatus and said digital camera, and a video signal outputting apparatus configured to output video signals from said digital camera, are selectively connected, said second connecting device including at least one connection detecting terminal for detecting whether said information processing apparatus or said video signal outputting apparatus is connected to said second connecting device;

a voltage detecting device for detecting a voltage level of a battery in the digital camera as a power supplying source in said digital camera;

a battery charging device configured to charge the battery when the voltage detecting device detects that the battery in said digital camera is not in a fully charged state while the digital camera is connected to the first connecting device, said battery charging device further configured to charge the battery via an AC input terminal and the second connecting device, the battery charging device further configured to charge the battery via only the AC input terminal when both the AC input terminal and second connecting device receive power;

an activating device configured to begin the process of said video signal outputting apparatus in response to operation of a user;

a notifying device configured to notify when the process of said video signal outputting apparatus is begun by said activating device; and

a version detecting device for detecting a first version and a second version newer than the first version of a control program preliminarily provided in said digital camera and said information processing apparatus,

wherein when the battery charging device is notified by said notifying device when the process by said video signal outputting apparatus is begun, said battery charging device stops charging said battery when process of said video outputting apparatus is begun while said battery charging device is in the battery charging operation, and

said version detecting device is configured to rewrite, upon actuation of a button, the first version of said control program via said information processing apparatus if the newer second version of said control program is detected in said information processing apparatus and rewrite said first version of said control program in said information processing apparatus via said digital camera if said newer second version of said control program is detected in said digital camera after said connection detecting terminal and said at least one connection detecting terminal detects that said digital camera and said information processing apparatus are connected to said first connecting device and said second connecting device, respectively.

2. The cradle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said battery charging device begins to charge said battery after a power switch of said digital camera is turned off when said digital camera is detected to be connected to said cradle via said connection detecting terminal while said digital camera is in operating state and when said battery is detected not to be in the full-charge state by said voltage detecting device.

3. The cradle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said video signals are outputted to said video signal outputting de*4ee apparatus when said digital camera is detected to be connected through said second connecting device to said video signal outputting device by said at least one connection detecting terminal.

4. The cradle apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a remote control unit to remotely control output of said video signals to said video signal outputting apparatus from said digital camera or transmission of said information signals between said information processing apparatus and said digital camera.

5. The cradle apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a switching device for switching the power supplying source for said digital camera between said battery, said information processing apparatus which is connected to said cradle through said second connecting device, and a commercial electric power source.

6. The cradle apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching device for switching the power supplying source for said digital camera from said battery to the power supplying source from said information processing apparatus which is connected to said cradle through said second connecting device when said battery is not in the full charge state and is being charged by said battery charging device.

7. The cradle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second connecting device is a USB cable.