Modular motion camera
View Patent ↗Modular digital camera systems are disclosed. The modular digital camera system can include a brain module configured to be releasably coupled to one or more of a port extender module, power module, display module, and handle module. The brain module and other accessory modules can be structured according to some embodiments to increase an ease of coupling and decoupling the modules.
1. A digital video camera comprising:
a camera body comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of third surfaces extending between the first surface and the second surface, the first surface comprising an opening through which light enters the camera body;
an image sensor positioned in the camera body and configured to generate image data corresponding to the light contacting the image sensor; and
a port expander releasably attachable to the second surface, the port expander comprising:
a plurality of electrical ports including a first electrical port and a second electrical port, the first electrical port being configured to releasably couple to a first electrical cable and communicate an input signal received from the first electrical cable, the second electrical port being configured to releasably couple to a second electrical cable and output a video signal to the second electrical cable,
a camera body-proximal surface and a camera body-distal surface defining a thickness of the port expander therebetween, the camera body-proximal surface configured to engage the second surface when the port expander is attached to the camera body,
a plurality of sidewalls extending between the camera-body proximal surface and the camera body-distal surface and including a first sidewall, and
a connector housing supporting the plurality of electrical ports and being immovable relative to the camera body-proximal surface, the connector housing extending from the first sidewall beyond a first plane defined by the camera body-proximal surface so that a portion of the connector housing extends along at least one of the plurality of third surfaces when the port expander is attached to the camera body, the first electrical port having an axial length that extends through the first plane.
2. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the connector housing extends beyond the first plane by a distance at least as great as the thickness of the port expander.
3. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the camera-body proximal surface comprises at least one electrical connector configured to mate with at least one corresponding electrical connector of the second surface.
4. The digital video camera of claim 3 , further comprising a processor positioned in the camera body and configured to output the video signal to the second electrical port via an electrical path comprising the at least one corresponding electrical connector of the second surface and the at least one electrical connector of the camera-body proximal surface.
5. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the camera-body proximal surface comprises at least one fastening element configured to engage with a corresponding fastening element provided on the second surface.
6. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical port is arranged to point away from the first surface when the port expander is attached to the camera body.
7. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the camera body-distal surface comprises an accessory interface configured for releasable attachment of an electronic device.
8. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the camera body-distal surface comprises an accessory interface configured for releasable attachment of a camera battery device, and the accessory interface comprises an electrical connector configured to receive electrical power from the camera battery device.
9. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the connector housing additionally extends from the first sidewall beyond a second plane defined by the camera-body distal surface.
10. The digital video camera of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of third surfaces comprise a top side, a bottom side, a left side, and a right side,
wherein the plurality of sidewalls comprise a top sidewall, a bottom sidewall, a left sidewall, and a right sidewall, and
wherein the connector housing extends along one of the left side or the right side.
11. The digital video camera of claim 1 ,
wherein the second surface is provided on a rear portion of the camera body, the rear portion comprising a cooling grill configured to exchange air between an inside of the camera body and an outside of the camera body, and
wherein the cooling grill is positioned on the rear portion such that the port expander attaches to the camera body without covering the cooling grill.
12. The digital video camera of claim 11 , wherein the second surface overhangs the cooling grill.
13. The digital video camera of claim 11 , wherein the cooling grill comprises a first part and a second part, the first part defining a first plane and the second part defining a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.
14. The digital video camera of claim 11 , wherein the cooling grill comprises an air exhaust grill.
15. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the camera body comprises a mounting interface configured to releasably attach a lens mount to the first surface.
16. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the input signal comprises an audio input signal.
17. The digital video camera of claim 1 , wherein the connector housing extends from the first sidewall beyond the first plane so that the portion of the connector housing extends along and is flush against the at least one of the plurality of third surfaces when the port expander is attached to the camera body.
18. An electronic device configured to releasably couple to a digital video camera, the electronic device comprising:
a plurality of electrical ports including a first electrical port and a second electrical port, the first electrical port being configured to releasably couple to a first electrical cable and communicate an input signal received from the first electrical cable, the second electrical port being configured to releasably couple to a second electrical cable and output a video signal to the second electrical cable; and
an attachment housing comprising:
a camera body-proximal surface and a camera body-distal surface defining a thickness of the attachment housing therebetween, the camera body-proximal surface being configured to releasably attach to a first surface of a camera body,
a plurality of sidewalls extending between the camera-body proximal surface and the camera body-distal surface and including a first sidewall, and
a connector housing supporting the plurality of electrical ports and being immovable relative to the camera body-proximal surface, the connector housing extending from the first sidewall beyond a plane defined by the camera body-proximal surface so that a portion of the connector housing extends along a second surface of the camera body different from the first surface when the attachment housing is attached to the first surface, the first electrical port having an axial length that extends through the plane.
19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the connector housing extends beyond the plane by a distance at least as great as the thickness of the attachment housing.
20. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the connector housing extends from the first sidewall beyond the plane so that the portion of the connector housing extends along and is flush against the second surface when the attachment housing is attached to the first surface.