US5815205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
External communication interface for a digital camera
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-02-21
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Granted: 1998-09-29
•
Expires: 2016-02-21
Abstract
Abstract An electronic camera which detachably connects to a communication interface which allows the camera to communicate with an electronic device such as a personal computer. The communication interface includes circuitry which converts signals utilized by a microprocessor within the camera which are usually within a range of 0 to +5 volts to a level which is utilized to communicate with the computer. When an RS-232 connection is used to communicate between the camera and the computer, the circuitry within the communication interface converts the signals utilized by the camera to a level between -15 and -5 volts for a low signal and +5 and +15 volts for a high signal. The communication interface includes a mechanical connector having two latching mechanisms which connect to receiving members of the camera. The latching mechanisms pivot and are both moved by a single pushing member. The latching mechanisms are constructed as three level elements where the first level includes the latching member, the second level aligns with a level of a frame for supporting the latching mechanism, and the third level includes a surface against which the pushing member pushes.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsuya Hashimoto
- 👤 Hiroki Fukuoka
- 👤 Takashi Ohkuma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/002; G06F3/005; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/21; H04N1/2104; H04N1/2112; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32106; H04N1/32112; H04N2101/00; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0008; H04N2201/0034; H04N2201/0036; H04N2201/0037; H04N2201/0041; H04N2201/0046; H04N2201/0048; H04N2201/0049; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0084; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3261; H04N2201/3264; H04N2201/3274; H04N2201/3277
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A communication interface for use between an electronic camera and an electronic device, the electronic device being separate from the electronic camera, comprising: a housing; a mechanical connector, attached to the housing, which detachably connects the housing to the electronic camera; a plurality of electrical connectors which communicate electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic camera; an electrical interface which communicates electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic device; and circuitry, connected between the plurality of electrical connectors and the electrical interface, which changes a level of signals communicating between the electronic camera and the electronic device, wherein; the electronic camera includes a microprocessor which operates using signals having a low level of approximately zero volts and a high level greater than zero volts and less than or equal to approximately five volts; and the circuitry which changes the level of signals converts signals having the low level from the electronic camera to a signal between approximately -15 volts and -5 volts, and converts signals from the electronic camera having the high level to a signal between approximately +5 and +15 volts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A communication interface for use between an electronic camera and an electronic device, the electronic device being separate from the electronic camera, comprising: a housing; a mechanical connector, attached to the housing, which detachably connects the housing to the electronic camera; a plurality of electrical connectors which communicate electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic camera; an electrical interface which communicates electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic device; and circuitry, connected between the plurality of electrical connectors and the electrical interface, which changes a level of signals communicating between the electronic camera and the electronic device, wherein; the electronic camera includes a microprocessor which operates using signals having a low level of approximately zero volts and a high level greater than zero volts and less than or equal to approximately five volts; and the circuitry which changes the level of signals converts signals having the low level from the electronic camera to a signal between approximately -15 volts and -5 volts, and converts signals from the electronic camera having the high level to a signal between approximately +5 and +15 volts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A communication interface according to claim 1, wherein: the circuitry which changes the level of signals outputs bipolar signals to the electronic device having a level which are usable with an RS-232 interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communication interface according to claim 1, wherein: the communication circuitry is placed in a low power consumption mode when no communication occurs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A communication interface according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connector includes: two pivoting latch mechanisms, each having a latching member which latches with a corresponding receiving member of the electronic camera.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A communication interface according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connector includes: two pivoting latch mechanisms, each having a latching member which latches with a corresponding receiving member of the electronic camera.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A communication interface according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical connector further includes: a pushing member which simultaneously presses on pushing surfaces of each of the pivoting latch mechanisms when the two pivoting latch mechanisms are pivoted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A communication interface according to claim 6, wherein: the mechanical connector includes a frame for supporting each of the pivoting latch mechanisms; and each of the pivoting latch mechanisms has a structure including three levels arranged in the following order: a first level including the latching member; a second level which aligns with a level of the frame; and a third level against which the pushing member pushes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A communication interface according to claim 7, further comprising: a circuit board mounted within the electronic camera, the printed circuit board having mounted thereto the frame and the mechanical interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A communication interface according to claim 8, wherein: said circuitry, is mounted to the circuit board and electrically connected between the plurality of electrical connectors and the electrical interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A communication interface according to claim 5, wherein: the two pivoting latch mechanisms connect the communication interface to a ground connection of the electronic camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A communication interface according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of electrical connectors include a plurality of pins for contacting electrical contacts of a ribbon cable of the camera.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
228 words
A system for capturing, storing, and transmitting images, comprising: a camera, including: a lens; a light sensor for receiving light which has passed through the lens; a memory for storing images corresponding to the light received by the light sensor; a plurality of electrical contacts for communicating electrical signals; and a receiving mechanism, a communication interface, including: a housing; a mechanical connector, attached to the housing, which detachably connects the housing to the electronic camera using the receiving mechanism; a plurality of electrical connectors which communicate electrical signals between the communication interface and the electrical contacts of the electronic camera; an electrical interface which communicates electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic device; and circuitry, connected between the plurality of electrical connectors and the electrical interface, which changes a level of signals communicating between the electronic camera and the electronic device, wherein; the electronic camera includes a microprocessor which operates using signals having a low level of approximately zero volts and a high level greater than zero volts and less than or equal to approximately five volts; and the circuitry which changes the level of signals converts signals having the low level from the electronic camera to a signal between approximately -15 volts and -5 volts, and converts signals from the electronic camera having the high level to a signal between approximately +5 and +15 volts.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
228 words
A system for capturing, storing, and transmitting images, comprising: a camera, including: a lens; a light sensor for receiving light which has passed through the lens; a memory for storing images corresponding to the light received by the light sensor; a plurality of electrical contacts for communicating electrical signals; and a receiving mechanism, a communication interface, including: a housing; a mechanical connector, attached to the housing, which detachably connects the housing to the electronic camera using the receiving mechanism; a plurality of electrical connectors which communicate electrical signals between the communication interface and the electrical contacts of the electronic camera; an electrical interface which communicates electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic device; and circuitry, connected between the plurality of electrical connectors and the electrical interface, which changes a level of signals communicating between the electronic camera and the electronic device, wherein; the electronic camera includes a microprocessor which operates using signals having a low level of approximately zero volts and a high level greater than zero volts and less than or equal to approximately five volts; and the circuitry which changes the level of signals converts signals having the low level from the electronic camera to a signal between approximately -15 volts and -5 volts, and converts signals from the electronic camera having the high level to a signal between approximately +5 and +15 volts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein: the receiving mechanism of the camera further comprises: two receiving members, and the mechanical connector of the communication interface further comprises: two pivoting latch mechanisms, each having a latching member which latches with a corresponding one of the receiving members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the mechanical connector further includes: a pushing member which simultaneously presses on pushing surfaces of each of the pivoting latch mechanisms when the two pivoting latch mechanisms are pivoted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein the camera further comprises: circuitry for converting signals to be output by the camera to the communication interface to a predetermined communication standard.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A communication interface according to claim 6, wherein the mechanical connector further includes: a pivot for each of the pivoting latch mechanisms, wherein for each of the pivoting latch mechanisms, the pushing surface is on a different surface connected to the pivot than a surface between the pivot and the latching member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A communication interface according to claim 5, wherein: each of the receiving members is mounted to a surface of the electronic camera, and the mechanical connector is mounted to the camera by moving the mechanical connector in a direction which is parallel to said surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communication interface according to claim 17, wherein: each of the receiving members comprises a U-shape arranged to be perpendicular to said surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A communication interface according to claim 12, wherein: the circuitry which changes the level of signals outputs bipolar signals to the electronic device having a level which are usable with an RS-232 interface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein the mechanical connector further includes: a pivot for each of the pivoting latch mechanisms, wherein for each of the pivoting latch mechanisms, the pushing surface is on a different surface connected to the pivot than a surface between the pivot and the latching member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein: each of the receiving members is mounted to a surface of the electronic camera, and the mechanical connector is mounted to the camera by moving the mechanical connector in a direction which is parallel to said surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein: each of the receiving members comprises a U-shape arranged to be perpendicular to said surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
190 words
A communication interface for use between an electronic camera and an electronic device, the electronic device being separate from the electronic camera, comprising: a housing means; a mechanical connection means, attached to the housing, for detachably connecting the housing to the electronic camera; an electrical connection means for communicating electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic camera; an electrical interface means for communicating electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic device; and circuitry means, connected between the electrical connection means and the electrical interface means for changing a level of signals communicating between the electronic camera and the electronic device, wherein; the electronic camera includes a microprocessor which operates using signals having a low level of approximately zero volts and a high level greater than zero volts and less than or equal to approximately five volts; and the circuitry means for changing the level of signals converts signals having the low level from the electronic camera to a signal between approximately -15 volts and -5 volts, and converts signals from the electronic camera having the high level to a signal between approximately +5 and +15 volts.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
190 words
A communication interface for use between an electronic camera and an electronic device, the electronic device being separate from the electronic camera, comprising: a housing means; a mechanical connection means, attached to the housing, for detachably connecting the housing to the electronic camera; an electrical connection means for communicating electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic camera; an electrical interface means for communicating electrical signals between the communication interface and the electronic device; and circuitry means, connected between the electrical connection means and the electrical interface means for changing a level of signals communicating between the electronic camera and the electronic device, wherein; the electronic camera includes a microprocessor which operates using signals having a low level of approximately zero volts and a high level greater than zero volts and less than or equal to approximately five volts; and the circuitry means for changing the level of signals converts signals having the low level from the electronic camera to a signal between approximately -15 volts and -5 volts, and converts signals from the electronic camera having the high level to a signal between approximately +5 and +15 volts.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
A communication interface according to claim 31, wherein: the circuitry means for changing the level of signals outputs bipolar signals to the electronic device having a level which are usable with an RS-232 interface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-28 | 2002-03-30 | 2002-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-28 | 2006-03-30 | 2006-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-28 | 2010-03-30 | 2010-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |