Camera system and power supply for optical recording devices

• US 7,724,303 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anton/Bauer Inc. (Vitec Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Anton/Bauer Inc. (Vitec Group PLC)
• Inventors: DeSorbo, Alexander P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bemben; Richard M
• Application Number:
  US11/410,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20070058075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 348/372, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 348/E5.025, 348/374, 396419-428, 396/539, 396/277, 396/278, 396/279, D16/214, D16/242, D16/243, D16/244, D16/245
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/007 Details of energy supply or management
• 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 1/00493 Particular location of the interface or console
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00519 Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. housings, covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00559 Mounting or support of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00562 Supporting the apparatus as a whole, e.g. stands
• 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 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

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 camera system, comprising:

a video camera having a first threaded bore defined on a bottom, planar surface thereof;

a battery assembly containing an energy cell therein, said battery assembly having a first attachment means for releasably engaging with said first threaded bore such that said battery assembly is releasably suspended beneath said video camera during an active image capturing operation of said video camera;

said battery assembly further includes a second threaded bore defined thereon, said second threaded bore selectively supporting an accessory device; and

said battery assembly further including a plurality of electrical terminals for direct electrical communication of said energy cell with said video camera;

wherein

said first attachment means is formed on a mounting plate, said mounting plate releasably residing in a recess formed in said battery assembly; and

said electrical contacts are formed on said mounting plate.

2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

said battery assembly includes a latching means in operative communication with said recess, wherein manual operation of said latching means releasably secures said mounting plate within said recess.

3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

said battery assembly includes a visual indicator for communicating a predetermined characteristic of said energy cell.

4. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

said accessory device is a tripod.

5. An image recording system, comprising:

an image recording device having a first threaded bore defined on a bottom, planar surface thereof;

a battery assembly containing an energy cell;

said battery assembly further includes a second threaded bore defined thereon, said second threaded bore selectively supporting an accessory device;

an adapter plate releasably matable with said threaded bore and said battery assembly;

wherein a first attachment means of said adapter plate is selectively engageable with said threaded bore and a second attachment means of said adapter plate is releasably engageable with said battery assembly such that said battery assembly is releasably suspended beneath said image recording device; and

wherein said adapter plate has a plurality of first electrical terminals for direct communication with a plurality of matching, second electrical terminals on said battery assembly for facilitating electrical communication between said energy cell and said image recording device when said adapter plate is connected between said image recording device and said battery assembly.