Camera housing with integrated expansion module

• US 8,325,270 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2012
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Woodman, Nicholas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nazrul, Shahbaz
• Application Number:
  US13/469,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20120224078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 207 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/375
• 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 body, comprising a top side, a bottom side, a left side, a right side, a front side, and a back side, the front side comprising a camera lens and the back side comprising a first communicative interface, the first communicative interface comprising an opening into the back side; and

a detachable camera expansion module, comprising a top side, a bottom side, a left side, a ride side, a front side, and a back side, the front side of the detachable camera expansion module comprising a second communicative interface, the second communicative interface comprising a protrusion structured for insertion into a reciprocal opening of the camera body;

wherein the detachable camera expansion module is structured to detachably couple to the camera body such that each of the respective top sides, the bottom sides, the right sides, and the left sides of the camera body and the detachable camera expansion module are substantially flush when the camera body and the detachable camera expansion module are coupled, and such that the second communicative interface is inserted into the first communicative interface when the camera body and the detachable camera expansion module are coupled.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the detachable camera expansion module comprises a display module configured to display images or video captured by the camera system.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the detachable camera expansion module comprises a wireless module configured to wirelessly transmit captured images or video to a receiving device.

4. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the detachable camera expansion module comprises a wireless module configured to receive signals for controlling operation of the camera system with a wireless remote controller communicatively coupled to the wireless module.

5. The camera system of claim 4, wherein the wireless remote controller comprises at least one control button.

6. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the detachable camera expansion module comprises an image processing module configured to perform image processing functions on captured images or video.

7. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera body further comprises a shutter button on the top side of the camera body.

8. A camera system comprising:

a camera body, including a first communicative interface positioned near a first edge of the camera body and a first portion of a hinge structure positioned near a second edge of the camera body opposite the first edge of the camera body; and

an expansion module detachably coupled to the camera body for interfacing with the camera system to perform a camera function, the expansion module including a second communicative interface positioned near a first edge of the expansion module and a second portion of the hinge structure positioned near a second edge of the expansion module opposite the first 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; and

wherein the first communicative interface is coupled to the second communicative interface when the hinge is in a closed position and is decoupled from the second communicative interface when the hinge is in an open position.

9. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the expansion module comprises a display module including:

a display screen integrated with an externally viewable face of the expansion module; and

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

10. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the expansion module comprises:

an expansion button for controlling a function of the expansion module.

11. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the second communicative interface of the expansion module comprises a male connector, and wherein the first communicative interface of the camera body comprises a female connector for coupling to the male connector.

12. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the camera body further comprises a shutter button on the top side of the camera body.

13. A camera system comprising:

a camera body, comprising;

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,

a detachable camera expansion module, comprising;

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 enabling at least one camera function additional to functions enabled by the camera body, and

coupling means for physically coupling the detachable camera expansion module to the camera body.

14. The camera system of claim 13, wherein the detachable camera expansion module comprises a display module, and wherein the user interface is presented via the display module.

15. The camera system of claim 14, wherein the user interface further comprises an image processing interface configured to allow a user of the camera system to control the detachable expansion module to perform image processing functions on captured images displayed on the display.

16. The camera system of claim 13, wherein the detachable camera expansion module comprises a wireless module, and wherein the user interface comprises a communication interface enabling a user to control wireless transmission of captured images to a receiving device.

17. The camera system of claim 13, wherein the detachable camera expansion module comprises a wireless module configured to receive signals for controlling operation of the camera system with a wireless remote controller communicatively coupled to the wireless module.

18. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the wireless remote controller comprises at least one control button.

19. The camera system of claim 17, wherein the wireless remote controller comprises a display screen.

20. The camera system of claim 13, wherein the camera body further comprises a shutter button on the top side of the camera body.