Camera housing with expansion module
A camera expansion device includes a housing and a power supply within the housing. The power supply is configured to power an imaging device. The camera expansion device includes a securing structure extending from the housing for securing the housing to a separate mounting device and an interface configured to facilitate power transfer between the camera expansion device and the imaging device.
1. A camera expansion device, comprising:
a housing;
a power supply within the housing, the power supply configured to power an imaging device;
a securing structure extending from the housing for securing the housing to a separate mounting device; and
an interface configured to facilitate power transfer between the camera expansion device and the imaging device;
wherein the securing structure includes adjacent protrusions, each of which has an aperture, and
wherein the adjacent protrusions extend perpendicularly away from the housing, and
wherein the apertures in the adjacent protrusions are aligned.
2. The camera expansion device of claim 1 , wherein the interface configured to facilitate power transfer is replaceable with an interface configured to facilitate data communications between the camera expansion device and the imaging device when the interface is removably coupled to a corresponding interface of the imaging device.
3. The camera expansion device of claim 1 , wherein the interface is an electrical connector.
4. The camera expansion device of claim 1 , wherein the interface is replaceable to provide one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a mini USB, a micro USB, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a Firewire interface, an Ethernet interface, a wireless interface, a cable, or a Bluetooth interface.
5. The camera expansion device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply includes at least one of a battery, a solar charger, an inductive charging element, or a capacitive charging element.
6. The camera expansion device of claim 1 , wherein the camera expansion device is replaceable with at least one of a display module, a shot positioning module, a wireless module, a storage module, an audio capture module, a data acquisition module, an image processing module, a night vision module, an expansion input/output (I/O) module, or any combination thereof.
7. The camera expansion device of claim 6 , wherein the camera expansion device includes the data acquisition module, and wherein the data acquisition module includes at least one of an accelerometer, an altimeter, a clock, a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a barometers, a heart rate meter, a light sensor, or any combination thereof.
8. The camera expansion device of claim 7 , wherein the data acquisition module captures information associated with captured media and stores the information within the captured media.
9. The camera expansion device of claim 8 , wherein the data acquisition module captures GPS data to automatically insert a position stamp on the captured media, the position stamp indicating a location associated with the captured media.
10. The camera expansion device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an expansion function button located on the camera expansion device.
11. A camera system, comprising:
an imaging device configured to capture images and video; and
an expansion module configured to removably couple to the imaging device, the expansion module comprising:
a housing;
a cavity within the housing, the cavity configured to receive a portion of the imaging device;
an audio capture module disposed on the housing, the audio capture module configured to capture audio;
a communication interface within the cavity that is configured to extend outward from the cavity to facilitate audio transfer between the expansion module and the imaging device;
a hinge that rotatably couples the expansion module to the imaging device so that the expansion module is movable relative to the imaging device and the communication interface moves with the expansion module and
a storage module enclosed with the audio capture module within a single housing of the expansion module.
12. The camera system of claim 11 , wherein the audio capture module captures or stores audio concurrently with the imaging device capturing video.
13. The camera system of claim 11 , wherein the storage module is configured to provide additional storage space for storing captured images, video, and audio.
14. The camera system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a securing structure configured to secure the imaging device and the expansion module to a separate mounting device.
15. A camera system, comprising:
an imaging device including a lens, an image sensor that detects light passing through the lens, a processor that receives image information from the image sensor, and a hinge connector;
a camera expansion device coupled to the hinge connector of the imaging device to enable additional camera functionality, wherein the camera expansion device is rotatable about the hinge connector, the camera expansion device comprising:
a housing; and
a night vision module that is coupled to the housing via a communication interface of the imaging device to add night vision capabilities to the imaging device, wherein the communication interface maintains a connection between the camera expansion device and the imaging device as the camera expansion device moves about the hinge connector;
wherein the communication interface includes at least one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a mini USB, a micro USB, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a Firewire interface, an Ethernet interface, a wireless interface, or a Bluetooth interface.
16. The camera system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a night vision module is that is removable and an expansion input/output module that is connectable and includes a communication interface, wherein the communication interface includes at least one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a mini USB, a micro USB, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a Firewire interface, an Ethernet interface, a wireless interface, or a Bluetooth interface.
17. The camera system of claim 15 , wherein the night vision module includes at least one of infrared technology or thermal technology.
18. The camera system of claim 15 , wherein the night vision module includes infrared night vision or thermal night vision.
19. The camera system of claim 15 , wherein the communication interface extends out of a cavity of the imaging device to connect the imaging device with the night vision module.
20. The camera system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a door on the housing;
wherein the communication interface in communication with the door so that when the door is opened, the night vision module is couplable to the imaging device by the communication interface.