Camera housing with integrated expansion module

• US 8,638,392 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Woodman, Nicholas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nazrul, Shahbaz
• Application Number:
  US13/665,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 348/81, 348/373, 348/375, 396/27, 396/25
• 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 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, the faces structured to at least partially enclose a removable camera;

a second portion of the camera housing comprising an integrated electronic display module for interfacing with the camera to display images or video captured by the camera;

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 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;

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; and

an interface communicatively coupling the second portion of the camera housing to the camera, the interface facilitating communication of data between the electronic display module and the camera.

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 system of claim 1, wherein the electronic display module comprises:

a display screen integrated with the second portion of the camera housing and externally viewable when the camera housing is in the closed position; and

display control logic communicatively coupled to the interface, the display control logic for controlling the display screen to display the images or video received from the camera.

8. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the camera housing is physically detachable from the first portion of the camera housing, the camera system further comprising a third portion of the camera housing that is configured to attach to the first portion of the camera housing in place of the second portion of the camera housing, the third portion of the camera housing comprising:

an electronic expansion module integrated with the third portion of the camera housing;

an outer hinge structure located on a bottom edge of the third portion of the housing, the outer hinge structure for 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 third portion of the camera housing and the first portion of the camera housing are pivotally attached about the hinge; and

a third fastening structure located on a top edge of the third portion of the camera housing, the third fastening structure for detachably coupling to the first fastening structure such that the third 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 third fastening structure.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic expansion module an integrated output preview system including:

a wireless interface communicatively coupled to a remote preview screen, the wireless interface outputting a display of an image or video received from the camera to the remote preview screen.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic expansion module comprises an image processing module for processing the images or video captured by the camera to convert image data between a 4:

3 aspect ratio and a 16;

9 aspect ratio.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic expansion module comprises a wireless module to wirelessly communicate the images or video captured by the camera to a remote wireless receiver.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic expansion module comprises a storage module to store the images or video captured by the camera.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic expansion module comprises a power expansion module to supply power to the camera.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic expansion module comprises a data acquisition module.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a first housing portion comprising a front face with four sides structured to form a cavity, the cavity structured to receive an electronic device;

a first removable door portion to detachably couple with the first removable door portion opposite the front face of the first housing portion, the first housing portion and the first removable door portion collectively structured to enclose the electronic device within the cavity when the first removable door portion is coupled to the first housing portion; and

a display screen integrated with the first removable door portion; and

a communications interface to communicate data between the display screen and the electronic device when the display screen is electronically coupled to the communication interface;

a second removable door portion to detachably couple with the first housing portion in place of the first removable door portion, the first housing portion and the second removable door portion collectively structured to enclose the electronic device within the cavity when the second removable door portion is coupled to the first housing portion; and

an electronic module integrated with the second removable door portion, the electronic module to process data from the electronic device when the electronic module is electronically coupled to the communication interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprises a camera.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first housing portion includes a first portion of a coupling mechanism.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first removable door portion includes a second portion of a coupling mechanism, the first portion and the second portion of the coupling mechanism structure to detachably couple.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein

the communication interface is configured to communicate images or videos captured by the camera to the display screen integrated with the first removable door portion.