DIGITAL CAMERA DOCK
Use of a custom insert is obviated when a digital camera is attached to a base (dock). Two movable pins are provided, in such a way that a connector is sandwiched between the movable pins, on a digital camera attachment surface of a base (dock) which provides a digital camera with a recharging function and a printing function. The movable pins fit to holes in a bottom of the digital camera to thus act as guides during the course of attachment of the digital camera. Alternatively, the attachment surface itself may be configured so as to be vertically movable, and the attachment surface may descend during attachment of the digital camera and the attachment surface may be latched in a lower position after attachment of the same.
1 . 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:
an attachment surface to which the digital camera is to be attached being supported so as to become vertically movable;
a first holding unit for fixedly holding the attachment surface in a first, upper position;
a second holding unit for fixedly holding the attachment surface in a second, lower position; and
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.
2 . The digital camera dock according to claim 1 , wherein
the attachment surface has guide pins inserted into hole sections formed in a bottom of the digital camera; and
the control unit releases the first holding unit to thus enable vertical movement of the attachment surface when the digital camera is attached to the attachment surface as a result of the hole section formed in the bottom of the digital camera having fitted to the guide pin.
3 . 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:
a connector for establishing an electrical connection with the digital camera;
movable pins which are formed in the vicinity of the connector and supported in an impelled manner so as to be vertically movable; and
an attachment surface to which the digital camera is to be attached and which has the connector and the movable pins, wherein
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.
4 . The digital camera dock according to claim 3 , wherein an extent of downward movement of the movable pins is set to an extent which corresponds to the thickness of an attachment adapter for each type of the digital camera and the depth of the attachment surface and which allows attachment of the adapter to the attachment surface, thereby enabling use of the attachment adapter.
5 . The digital camera dock according to claim 3 , wherein the attachment surface is rotatable within a plane parallel to the attachment surface or tiltable with respect to the plane.