| Digital camera dock -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Digital camera dockThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070252911. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-126571 filed on Apr. 28, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention relates to a digital camera dock, and more particularly, to a dock which is electrically connected to a digital camera to thus provide the digital camera with various functions, such as a recharging function, a printing function, and the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]A digital camera dock (hereinafter simply referred to as a "dock") which is connected to a digital camera and provides the digital camera with a recharging function and a printing function has hitherto been developed. For instance, the recharging dock supplies recharging power to the digital camera through use of an a.c. power source. A recharged state of a built-in battery of the digital camera is displayed on an indicator of the digital camera or an indicator of the dock. The user can recharge the digital camera by means of simply attaching the digital camera to the recharging dock. The recharging dock may also have a file transfer function of reading image data stored in memory of the digital camera and transferring the image data to the memory of a personal computer. The printer dock receives the image data stored in the memory of the digital camera and outputs the image data while the data are printed on a sheet of photographic paper. By means of simply attaching the digital camera to a printer dock, desired image data can be printed without involvement of a computer. The printer dock may also have the function of recharging a digital camera. [0004]When the digital camera is attached to the dock, there are many cases where a custom insert previously prepared for each digital camera is attached to a dock in order to guide the digital camera during attachment or to protect the connection with a connector after attachment of the digital camera. [0005]FIG. 20 shows that the digital camera 10 is attached to a dock 12. The dock 12 is a printer dock having a print sheet tray 14. A custom insert 16 prepared for each digital camera 10 is attached to an upper surface of the dock 12; i.e., an attachment surface of the digital camera 10. The digital camera 10 is attached to the dock 12 while the custom insert is taken as a guide. More specifically, the custom insert 16 is attached to the attachment section of the dock 12, and the digital camera 10 is attached to the custom insert 16. [0006]FIG. 21 shows the configuration of the custom insert 16 and that of the dock 12. The custom insert 16 has a guide wall 16a complying with the outer shape of the digital camera 10; an opening section 16b formed in the guide wall 16a; and a protuberance section 16c loosely fitting into a tripod threaded hole of the digital camera 10. The opening section 16b is formed at a position which opposes a connector 12a of the dock 12 when the custom insert 16 is attached to the dock 12. The connector 12a of the dock 12 is inserted into the opening section 16b and becomes exposed outside, to thus enable connection with a connector of the digital camera 10. Hooks 16d are provided at the four corners of the bottom face of the custom insert 16 and fit into holes 12b formed in the dock 12, thereby fastening the custom insert 16 to the dock 12. Specifically, when the custom insert 16 is attached to the dock 12, the custom insert 16 is positioned in the attachment section of the dock 12, thereby fitting the hooks 16d into the holes 12b. The hooks 16d are formed from resin; and are inserted and locked into the holes 12b as a result of being deformed during the course of fitting. [0007]Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-45278 describes a configuration for connecting connectors together. One of the connectors is provided with a guide pin and a spring-tensioned movable pin. The other connector is provided with a plane contact and a guide hole. [0008]However, in the configuration where a custom insert is provided for each digital camera, a guide to be provided on the dock, including the guide section of the custom insert, must be provided so as to protrude higher than the connector of the dock, in order to exhibit a function of guiding a connection with the connector. Imposing restrictions on the dock greatly affect the internal configuration of the digital camera, which in turn hinders miniaturization of the digital camera. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009]The present invention has been conceived in view of the above drawbacks in the related art, and provides a dock which can obviate a necessity for a custom insert. [0010]The present invention provides a digital camera dock to which a digital camera is to be attached and which has a function of printing an image captured by the digital camera or recharging an internal battery of the digital camera, the dock comprising: [0011]an attachment surface to which the digital camera is to be attached being supported so as to become vertically movable; [0012]a first holding unit for fixedly holding the attachment surface in a first, upper position; [0013]a second holding unit for fixedly holding the attachment surface in a second, lower position; and [0014]a control unit for releasing the first holding unit to thus enable vertical movement of the attachment surface, which in a stable state is fixedly held in the first position by means of the first holding unit, when the digital camera is attached onto the attachment surface, and for actuating the second holding unit to thus fixedly hold the attachment surface in the second position when the attachment surface has lowered to thus establish an electrical connection with the digital camera via a connector. [0015]The present invention also provides a digital camera dock to which a digital camera is to be attached and which has a function of printing an image captured by the digital camera or recharging an internal battery of the digital camera, the dock comprising: [0016]a connector for establishing an electrical connection with the digital camera; [0017]movable pins which are formed in the vicinity of the connector and supported in an impelled manner so as to be vertically movable; and [0018]an attachment surface to which the digital camera is to be attached and which has the connector and the movable pins, wherein [0019]the movable pins project and are impelled upwardly in a stable state, fit to hole sections formed in a bottom of the digital camera during attachment of the digital camera, and move downwardly along with the digital camera to thus act as guides for regulating a relative position between the digital camera and the connector. [0020]The present invention obviates a necessity for use of a custom insert, and lessens restrictions on a digital camera. Continue reading... Full patent description for Digital camera dock Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Digital camera dock patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Digital camera dock or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Image recording system Next Patent Application: System and methods for the simultaneous display of multiple video signals in high definition format Industry Class: Television ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Digital camera dock patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.21014 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , |
||
