Removable Camera Grip Attachment With Protected Electrical Contacts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic apparatuses with removable grips face challenges in securely attaching and maintaining stable electrical connections, as conventional methods often result in loose fixations and exposure of electrical contacts, leading to unreliable connections and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a body-side attachment mechanism with a disc-like shape, featuring a screw and contact pins, and a grip-side attachment member with a concentric contact pattern, which securely engages and protects electrical contacts, ensuring firm fixation and reliable electrical connection between the apparatus body and grip, even when rotated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bayonet fixing is used to attach grip to image capture apparatus body, then attachment speed is improved, but fixation firmness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is divided into two independent parts: a bayonet engagement part for rapid attachment and a screw fixing part for firm fixation. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two different fixing methods (bayonet engagement and screw fixation) into a single integrated attachment mechanism, allowing the grip to be both rapidly attached and firmly fixed through the same attachment interface.
2Ease of operation
If electrical contacts are exposed outside when grip is not attached, then ease of connection is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to film formation and unintended contact
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contacts are preliminarily protected by the attachment member structure before attachment occurs. The engagement part and screw fixing part are designed to automatically expose the contacts only when properly attached, preventing premature exposure and film formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment member acts as an intermediary that controls the exposure state of electrical contacts. It mediates between the need for protected contacts and the need for connection, exposing contacts only through the controlled mechanism of proper attachment.
3Reliability
If cable is used for power supply and communication between image capture apparatus and grip, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable from the attachment mechanism, eliminating the need for cable routing and associated space. Electrical contacts are integrated directly into the attachment member, removing the cable as a separate component.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connection function is merged with the mechanical attachment function. The same attachment member that provides mechanical connection also provides electrical connection, eliminating the need for separate cable routing and reducing overall device size.
4Ease of operation
If grip is made rotatable with respect to image capture apparatus body, then ease of operation is improved, but cable routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is extracted from the rotatable attachment mechanism, allowing the grip to rotate freely without cable constraints. Electrical contacts are integrated into the attachment member, eliminating cable routing concerns entirely.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An electronic apparatus (1000) to which an accessory (1400) is removably attached. One of a grip (1400) and an image capture apparatus body (1000) includes a first attachment part (1200) formed by a first screw (1211), a first electrical connection part (1212) disposed outside the first screw, and a first engagement part (1213) formed outside the first electrical connection part. The other of them includes a second attachment part formed by a second screw (1411, 1411a) and screwed with the first screw, a second electrical connection part (1415) disposed outside the second screw, and electrically connected to the first electrical connection part, and a second engagement part (1410) formed outside the second electrical connection part, and engaged with the first engagement part. When the first and second screws are screwed, the first and second engagement parts are engaged, and the first and second electrical connection parts are electrically connected.