GB2441637A

GB2441637A - Video camera battery interface system

Info

Publication number: GB2441637A
Application number: GB0717027A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Hawkins; Brian Woodford
Original assignee: HAWK WOODS Ltd
Current assignee: HAWK WOODS Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-06
Filing date: 2007-09-03
Publication date: 2008-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-03
Also published as: GB2441637B; GB0617399D0; GB0717027D0

Abstract

A battery interface system 22 comprises a battery unit 23 to which is demountable engaged an auxiliary camera component connector (ACCC) 24. The battery unit is engageable with camera 10 through camera connection interface 25. The battery unit is engageable with the ACCC through an ACCC interface (34, figure 3). The ACCC comprises a series of male connectors, corresponding to female connectors on the ACCC interface, a first power outlet 30 for powering an auxiliary device, e.g. a lamp 20, and a second power outlet in the form of a DC jack 31 for providing power to a second auxiliary device, e.g. a radio receiver 32 for a wireless microphone. The battery interface system may also comprise a cradle 33, attached to the ACCC, for supporting an auxiliary device.

Description

1 2441637 BATTERY INTERFACiNG SYSTEM The present invention relates to a

battery interfacing system, in particular to a system for simultaneously and directly powering video cameras and associated auxiliary equipment from a single battery unit.

Conventional video camera batteries supply power to the camera only. They are unable to power auxiliary equipment used in conjunction with the camera, such as lamps to enhance lighting levels, wireless radio microphones for transmitting sound directly to a professional sound engineer, and video transmitters which allow a director to view and direct what is being recorded by the camera operator. Each item of auxiliary equipment therefore requires its own power source and will, typically, require a different voltage or current from a different iteni of equipment. This issue may be overcome through the use of additional batteries, specific to each piece of equipment. Such batteries may be stored and carried in a battery belt worn by the camera operator, and to which the auxiliary equipment may be connected. It is common practice for the camera operator to tape the additional batteries to the video camera unit.

Additionally, different batteries generally require a specific charger due to the voltage, shape and size differences. This means that a caniera operator will have to transport and carry large amounts of additional equipnient when filming on location.

Furthermore, with miniaturisation of video cameras, there are very few suitable places for mounting auxiliary equipment and additional batteries for powering them on the caniera unit.

Generally, only a single mounting point for lamps is provided, in the form of a hot-shoe.

Even when additional space can be found and utilised, attachment of these items tends to be difficult, unbalances the camera and makes it difficult and uncomfortable to use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a battery system capable of powering a video camera and associated auxiliary equipment from a single battery pack. A further object of the present invention is to provide a robust mechanical fixture for auxiliary battery and camera equipment, whilst maintaining good camera balance and usability.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a video camera battery interface systeni comprising: i) at least one auxiliary camera component connector (ACCC); and ii) a battery unit comprising a caniera connection interface and an ACCC interface; wherein the at least one ACCC and the ACCC interface of the battery unit each comprise complementary electrical contact and mechanical engagement means, and wherein the ACCC further comprises a outlet means ibr providing an electrical supply to an at least one auxiliary canîera component.

Suitably, the ACCC further comprises a DC-DC converter. Preferably, the DC-DC converter is adjustable for output voltage.

Preferably, the complementary mechanical engagement means further coniprises a locking means. Preferably, the locking nieans comprises a disengagement means for disengaging the locking means.

Optionally, the ACCC further comprises a second outlet means for powering an auxiliary camera component.

Optionally, the ACCC further comprises a cradle attachment for housing an auxiliary camera component.

Suitably, the auxiliary camera component is a lamp; a wireless radio microphone; a video sender: a hard drive recorder or a secondary battery unit.

The camera battery interface system of the present invention avoids the need for multiple batteries to be used. The high power available from current lithium-ion cells can power an average video camera including a I OWatt LED lamp and wireless radio microphone for in excess of 2 hours. Having said this, the battery interface system can be used to connect a suitably adapted secondary battery unit to provide power longevity or in instances where it is necessary or preferable to use several auxiliary components concurrently.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of a video camera fitted with an embodiment of a battery interface system according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the battery interlace system of the camera of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a battery unit in accordance with the battery interface system of the present invention showing a female connector; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a male connector of an embodiment of the battery interface system of the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a pair of battery units and a back-to-back adapter with a DC output socket of an embodiment of a battery interface system in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the components of Figure 5 in an assembled con figuration.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a conventional broadcast standard video caniera 10 viewed from the rear and comprising a camera body 11 having a forwardly extending lens unit 12, a carrying handle 13 mounted on an upper surface of the camera body 11, and an adjustable viewfinder 14 located towards the rear of the camera body. In the illustrated embodiment, the camera body 11 further comprises a hot-shoe 15 towards its front end for mounting a lighting means in the form of a lamp 20, and a microphone 21. The camera 10 further comprises a battery interface system 22 (more clearly illustrated in Figure 2) which is engageable into and securable to a battery mount, towards the rear end of the camera 10.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, particularly Figure 2, the battery interlace system 22 comprises a battery unit 23 to which is demountably engaged an auxiliary camera component connector (ACCC) 24 and cradle 33. The battery unit 23 is engageable with camera 10 in a conventional manner through camera connection interlace 25 which provides a suitable interface for the proprietary battery mount for the model of camera in question. The battery unit is engageable with ACCC 24 through an ACCC interface (34, Figure 3). ACCC 24 comprises a series of male' connectors, complementary to and demountably engageable with a series of female' connectors of the ACCC interface 34 of battery unit 23, a first power outlet 30 for powering an auxiliary device, such as a lamp 20, and a second power outlet in the form of a DC-jack 31, for providing power to a second auxiliary device, such as a radio receiver 32 for a wireless microphone 21. Additionally, the illustrated battery interface system 22 also comprises a cradle 33, fixedly attached to ACCC 24, within which an auxiliary device, such as a radio receiver 32, can sit.

A video camera 10, for example of the Mini DV type, will typically require between 6-9 Volts to operate, whereas a lamp 20 requires a higher voltage, typically around 12 V. Accordingly, in order to provide the correct power output to the auxiliary equipment, ACCC 24 further comprises an internal step-up DC-DC voltage converter.

Figure 3 shows the rear portion of a battery unit 23 with its ACCC interface 34 highlighted.

As shown, ACCC interface 34 comprises locking means 35, in the form of a pair of opposed recessed toothed sections, for dernountable engagement with complementary locking means of auxiliary equipment of the battery interface system 22. In addition, ACCC interface 34 further comprises a lock 41, and electrical connection means in the form of a pair of conductable plates 40.

Figure 4 illustrates the complementary locking means of a male ACCC interface 42 which forms part of any auxiliary equipment for use with the battery interface system 22. In use, the male ACCC interface 42 enables the auxiliary equipment to be deniountably and electrically engaged with the battery unit 23 and any additional auxiliary equipment of the battery interface system 22. Male ACCC interface 42 comprises locking means 35, in the form of a pair of opposed protruding toothed sections lbr demountable engagement with complementary locking means of a battery unit 23. Male ACCC interface 42 further comprises electrical connection means in the form of conductable pins 43 for abutment against and establishing an electrical connection with conductable plates 40; locking tab 44; and a locking tab release 45. In the embodiment shown electrical pins are sprung, but the skilled person will recognise that any suitable means of establishing an electrical connection can be used.

in use, the male and female connectors of respective auxiliary equipment are brought together such that their opposed protruding toothed sections (male) and corresponding complementary (female) sections are engaged. In this arrangement the two components are slightly offset such that their respective edges are not fully aligned. In this way the male and female components are aligned so that the components can be pushed together and their complementary portions can be engaged and then perpendicularly slid until locking tab 44 engages with lock 41 to snaplit the components together. This arrangement concurrently establishes a mechanical and electrical connection to securely engage components of the battery interface system 22 together. The components can be demounted from each other by depressing locking tab release 45 to cause the locking tab 44 to be at least partially withdrawn into body of the auxiliary equipment comprising the male connector interface, resulting in the disengagenient of the snap-fit connection. The two components can then be disengaged by the reverse of the slide and engagement process, described above.

This process is more clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 which show the engagement of a pair of battety units 23, connected together by an ACCC in the form of a back-to-back battery fitting unit 50. The ACCC back-to-back unit 50 comprises a pair of male ACCC interfaces 42' which enable a pair of batteries to be connected in series or parallel. This has the effect of doubling the total available power for powering camera and associated auxiliary equipment.

The ACCC back-to-back unit further coniprises a first power outlet 30', provided with an internal step-down DC-DC converter for use with a camera lamp (not shown). it will be recognised by the skilled person that appropriate step-up and step-down DC-DC converters will be provided according to the specific power requirements of the particular piece of auxiliary equipment. In alternative embodiments, not shown, an adjustable converter which can be manually adjusted to suit a variety of differently powered equipment is provided.

The battery interface system of the present invention allows a user to mechanically and electrically connect and power several pieces of auxiliary equipment to an existing video camera in a safe and convenient manner, and in which no modifications to the camera itself are required. By providing connection interfaces with appropriate locking power outlet adaptors the system can be used in conjunction with a variety of auxiliary equipment. As described, these connectors can be supplied with a robust fixing point /cradle to enable video recording components such as radio microphones, video senders and hard disk recorders to be securely attached to a video camera. Thus, the described battery interface system offers a very flexible and convenient aid to camera operators, particularly those involved in outside broadcasting.

Claims

CLAiMS: 1. A video camera battery interface system comprising: i) at

least one auxiliary camera component connector (ACCC); and ii) a battery unit comprising a camera connection interface and an ACCC-interface; wherein the at least one ACCC and the ACCC-interface of the battery unit each comprise complementary electrical contact and mechanical engagement means, and wherein the ACCC further comprises an outlet means for providing an electrical supply to an at least one auxiliary camera component.
2. A video camera battery interface system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ACCC further comprises a DC-DC converter.
3. A video camera battery interface system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the DC-DC converter is adjustable for output voltage.
4. A video camera battery interface system as claimed in any one of claims I to 3, wherein the complementary mechanical engagement means further comprises a locking means.
5. A video camera battery interface system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking means comprises a disengagement means for disengaging the locking means.
6. A video camera battery interface systeni as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ACCC further comprises a second outlet means for powering an auxiliary camera component.
7. A video camera battery interface system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ACCC further comprises a cradle attachment tbr housing an auxiliary camera component.
8. A video camera battery interface system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary camera component is a lamp; a wireless radio microphone; a video sender; a hard drive recorder or a secondary battery unit.
9. A video camera comprising a video camera battery interface system as claimed in any one olthe preceding claims.
10. A video camera battery interlace system substantially as herein described and with refrence to the accompanying drawings.
11. A video camera coniprising a video camera battery interlace system substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.