Camera housing with integrated expansion module

• US 8,199,251 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Woodman Labs Inc (GoPro, Inc.)
• Inventors: Woodman, Nicholas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nazrul, Shahbaz
• Application Number:
  US12/498,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20100060747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348/372, 348/373, 348/375, 348/231.7, 348/81
• US Class Current: 348/375
• 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 camera;

a removable display screen detachably coupled to the camera;

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;

a second portion of a camera housing including a back face;

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; and

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;

wherein the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing enclose the camera and the removable display screen when the first fastening structure is coupled to the second fastening structure.

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 camera system of claim 1, wherein the removeable display screen comprises:

display control logic communicatively coupled to an expansion interface cable of the camera, 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 camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises:

a front side comprising a camera lens,

a back side comprising a first communicative interface, the first communicative interface comprising an opening into the back side, and

a top side comprising one or more interface buttons,

and wherein the removable display screen comprises;

a front side comprising a second communicative interface, the second communicative interface comprising a protrusion structured for insertion into the opening of the first communicative interface, and

a back side comprising a user interface to provide expanded camera functionality to a user of the camera system, and

coupling means for coupling the removable display screen to the camera.

9. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the removeable display screen comprises a wireless module, configured to allow a user of the camera system to wirelessly control operation of the camera system with a remote controller.

10. The camera system of claim 9, wherein the remote controller comprises a preview screen and control buttons.

11. A camera system, comprising:

a camera;

a removable display screen detachably coupled to the camera;

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;

a second portion of a camera housing including a back face;

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 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 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; and

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;

wherein the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing enclose the camera and the removable display screen when the first fastening structure is coupled to the second fastening structure.

12. The camera system of claim 11, wherein the camera housing comprises a substantially rigid enclosure.

13. The camera system of claim 11, 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.

14. The camera system of claim 11, 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.

15. The camera system of claim 11, 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.

16. The camera system of claim 11, 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.

17. The camera system of claim 11, wherein the removeable display screen comprises:

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

18. The camera system of claim 11, wherein the camera comprises:

a front side comprising a camera lens,

a back side comprising a first communicative interface, the first communicative interface comprising an opening into the back side, and

a top side comprising one or more interface buttons,

and wherein the removable display screen comprises;

a front side comprising a second communicative interface, the second communicative interface comprising a protrusion structured for insertion into the opening of the first communicative interface, and

a back side comprising a user interface to provide expanded camera functionality to a user of the camera system, and

coupling means for coupling the removable display screen to the camera.

19. The camera system of claim 11, wherein the removeable display screen comprises a wireless module, configured to allow a user of the camera system to wirelessly control operation of the camera system with a remote controller.

20. The camera system of claim 19, wherein the remote controller comprises a preview screen and control buttons.