Patent ID: 7417685
Filing Date: 2008-08-26
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A cradle apparatus for a digital camera, comprising: a first connecting device onto which said digital camera is detachably connected said first connecting device including a connection detecting terminal for detecting whether said digital camera is connected to said first connecting device; a second connecting device onto which an information processing apparatus for transferring information signals between said information processing apparatus and said digital camera, and a video signal outputting apparatus configured to output video signals from said digital camera, are selectively connected, said second connecting device including at least one connection detecting terminal for detecting whether said information processing apparatus or said video signal outputting apparatus is connected to said second connecting device; a voltage detecting device for detecting a voltage level of a battery in the digital camera as a power supplying source in said digital camera; a battery charging device configured to charge the battery when the voltage detecting device detects that the battery in said digital camera is not in a fully charged state while the digital camera is connected to the first connecting device, said battery charging device further configured to charge the battery via an AC input terminal and the second connecting device, the battery charging device further configured to charge the battery via only the AC input terminal when both the AC input terminal and second connecting device receive power; an activating device configured to begin the process of said video signal outputting apparatus in response to operation of a user; a notifying device configured to notify when the process of said video signal outputting apparatus is begun by said activating device; and a version detecting device for detecting a first version and a second version newer than the first version of a control program preliminarily provided in said digital camera and said information processing apparatus, wherein when the battery charging device is notified by said notifying device when the process by said video signal outputting apparatus is begun, said battery charging device stops charging said battery when process of said video outputting apparatus is begun while said battery charging device is in the battery charging operation, and said version detecting device is configured to rewrite, upon actuation of a button, the first version of said control program via said information processing apparatus if the newer second version of said control program is detected in said information processing apparatus and rewrite said first version of said control program in said information processing apparatus via said digital camera if said newer second version of said control program is detected in said digital camera after said connection detecting terminal and said at least one connection detecting terminal detects that said digital camera and said information processing apparatus are connected to said first connecting device and said second connecting device, respectively.