Compact holder for memory storage device and digital image processing apparatus having the same

A memory card holder in which different types of memory cards are compatible, and a digital image processing apparatus using the memory card slot. The memory card holder and digital image processing apparatus each includes: a plurality of memory card accommodating units that are formed at a predetermined angle from each other and share a predetermined space to accommodate memory cards of different standards; and connecting ports that are formed on one side of each of the plurality of memory card accommodating units. The digital image processing apparatus has a storage medium, such as a removable memory card of a predetermined standard, in which is stored an image of a subject that is photographed and converted into digital signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0106161, filed on Dec. 15, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a memory card module, and a digital image processing apparatus having the same, and more particularly, to a holder for a memory card that can recognize a plurality of memory cards, and a digital image processing apparatus having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an exemplary conventional digital image processing apparatus10, andFIG. 2is a side view of the digital image processing apparatus10shown inFIG. 1with a side cover18open.

Referring toFIG. 1, the digital image processing apparatus includes a main body17, a barrel11on the front of the main body17, and a flash12.

A shutter button14, a power switch15, and a flash state displaying light16are installed on the main body17so that a user may manipulate the digital image processing apparatus10. The barrel11includes a plurality of lenses, and receives light reflected from a subject to form an image on an image sensor module (not shown) included in the barrel11.

The flash12is placed on the front of the main body17so that it can flash when photographing in a dark place.

Referring toFIG. 2, a battery module75and a memory card slot70are installed in the digital image processing apparatus10. The battery module75includes a battery slot21that accommodates a battery (not shown) needed to drive the digital image processing apparatus10, and a battery lock lever22. The memory card slot70includes memory card accommodating units19and20to accommodate memory cards for storing digital information of photographed images.

Memory cards for digital image processing apparatuses are available in a variety of different types such as a security digital (SD) card, a compact flash (CF) card, a micro drive (MD) card, a multi media card (MMC), a memory stick (MS), an xD-Picture Card, a smart media card (SMC), etc. Consequently, digital image processing apparatuses include a memory connecting module that can accommodate various types of memory cards.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the digital image processing apparatus10includes two memory card accommodating units19and20to recognize memory cards of two different size standards. However, this will not accommodate all of the various memory cards described above because each one is a different size. In the conventional art, a digital processing apparatus that accommodates different sized memory cards must have a different memory card slot for each of the different sized memory cards. This increases the size of the digital apparatus and is against the current trend to miniaturize and make light-weight digital apparatuses such as digital cameras. As a result, there is a need for a memory card slot that is of a small size and can use a plurality of memory cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a small-sized memory card holder that can recognize different types of memory cards. One of the benefits of this invention is that it allows a more compact design of a digital image processing apparatus having the memory card holder.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a memory card holder including: a plurality of memory card accommodating units to accommodate memory cards of different sizes, wherein the accommodating units are formed at a predetermined angle from each other and share a predetermined space; and connecting ports formed on one side of each of the plurality of memory card accommodating units.

Here, the memory card holder further includes a cover that covers a top of the plurality of memory card accommodating units.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital image processing apparatus including a storage medium in which is stored an image of a subject that is photographed and converted into digital signals. The digital image processing apparatus includes: a plurality of memory card accommodating units that are formed at a predetermined angle from each other, share a predetermined space, and accommodate memory cards of different sizes; and connecting ports that are formed on one side of each of the plurality of memory card accommodating units. The storage medium is a memory card of a predetermined standard that is removably connected to the digital image processing apparatus.

Here, the respective memory card accommodating units are shaped like corresponding memory cards, and have a portion that is recessed from the surrounding rear surface of a digital image processing apparatus.

At here, the digital image processing apparatus further includes a cover that covers a top of the memory card accommodating units.

Also, the memory card accommodating units are shaped in slots on one side of the digital image processing apparatus. In this case, two of the memory card accommodating units may be formed to cross each other at a right angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A digital image processing device according to the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the digital image processing device are shown. Elements of the digital image processing device that are the same as those of the conventional digital image processing apparatus show inFIGS. 1 and 2are denoted with the same reference numerals.

The digital image processing device includes a storage medium that can store digital information of a photographed or recorded subject. The storage medium is a general memory card. The digital image processing apparatus includes a memory card slot to accommodate the memory card.

FIGS. 3 and 4are views of a digital image processing apparatus100according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the digital image processing apparatus100includes a memory card slot170on one side thereof, to accommodate memory cards40aand40b.

The memory card slot170includes two memory card accommodating units119and120, and two connecting ports119aand120a. The memory card accommodating units119and120are formed at a predetermined angle with respect to each other and share a predetermined space A, to accommodate the memory cards40aand40bof different standards. That is, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the memory card accommodating units119and120are formed as slots having two memory card entrances50and60formed at one corner of the digital image processing apparatus100, each formed on different sides with respect to the corner, and the memory card accommodating units119and120over-lap each other inside the digital image processing apparatus100in the space designated as A. The connecting ports119aand120aare respectively installed within the memory card accommodating units119and120. The memory cards40aand40bhave connecting ports that connect with connecting ports119aand120a.

Memory cards of various standards such as a security digital (SD) card, a compact flash (CF) card, a micro drive (MD) card, a multi media card (MMC), a memory stick (MS), an xD-Picture Card, and a smart media card (SMC) can be used as the memory cards40aand40b. The shape and thickness of the memory card accommodating units119and120and the location and configuration of the connecting ports119aand120amay differ depending on the types of memory cards that are used.

A liquid crystal display (LCD)25and operating buttons including a zoom button13may be further formed on the rear of the digital image processing apparatus100. InFIG. 4, however, some operating buttons are simplified or omitted to better explain the location of the memory card slot170.

In the memory card slot170, the memory card accommodating units119and120are the right sizes for the memory cards40aand40band thus the two different types of memory cards40aand40bcan be respectively inserted. Thus, both memory cards40aand40bare compatible in the digital image processing apparatus10.

As a result, although the memory card slot170includes a plurality of memory card accommodating units119and120, space for the memory card slot and the overall size of the digital image processing apparatus100remains approximately the same because the memory card accommodating units119and120share the predetermined space A. As compared to a conventional digital image processing apparatus in which separate memory card accommodating units are installed, this invention greatly reduces the space required for multiple memory card accommodating units. Of course, various types of memory cards can be used in the digital image processing apparatus100.

FIGS. 5 and 6are views of a digital image processing apparatus200according to a second embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5is a rear view of the digital image processing apparatus200, andFIG. 6is a view illustrating a structure underneath a cover280of the digital image processing apparatus200.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, the digital image processing apparatus200includes a cover280installed on the rear surface thereof, and a memory card slot270having two memory card accommodating units219and220installed under the cover280.

An operating button290and a zoom button13may be formed on the top surface of the cover280. The cover280acts to prevent memory cards (not shown) from being detached when in the memory card slot270.

To accommodate two different types of memory cards compatibly, the memory card accommodating units219and220are formed at a predetermined angle from each other and share a predetermined space A. Unlike the memory card accommodating units119and120in the previous embodiment, the memory cards are inserted into or removed from the memory card accommodating units219and220from the back of the digital image processing apparatus200. That is, when a single memory card is placed to match the shape and be parallel to one of the memory card accommodating units219and220, the memory card moves in the direction towards the front or back of the digital image processing apparatus200to be inserted into or removed from the one of the memory card accommodating units219and220, whereas the memory card in the previous embodiment moves in directions indicated by arrows illustrated inFIG. 4to be inserted in and out from the memory card accommodating units119and120.

Connecting ports219aand220a, which come in contact with corresponding connecting ports of the memory cards, are installed on one end of the memory card accommodating units219and220.

FIG. 7is a view of a digital image processing apparatus300according to a third embodiment of the present invention. A cover280is opened to illustrate the internal structure of memory card accommodating units219,220, and320.

The digital image processing apparatus300includes the cover280installed on the rear surface thereof, and the three memory card accommodating units219,220, and320under the cover280. The memory card accommodating units219,220, and320are formed at predetermined angles with respect to one another and share a predetermined space, to accommodate three memory cards of different standards. That is, the respective memory card accommodating units219,220, and320are shaped like corresponding memory cards, and have a portion that is recessed from the rear surface of the digital image processing apparatus300.

As in the previous second embodiment, the memory cards are inserted into or removed from the memory card accommodating units219,220, and320in a direction towards the front or rear of the digital image processing apparatus300. Connecting ports219a,220a, and320a, which come in contact with corresponding connecting ports of the memory cards, are respectively installed on one end of the memory card accommodating units219,220, and320. The memory cards may be some of the examples listed above.

The second embodiment illustrates an example in which two memory card accommodating units219and220are formed, and the present third embodiment illustrates an example in which three memory card accommodating units219,220, and320are formed. However, the present invention is not limited to these numbers of memory card accommodators, and more than three memory card accommodating units may be disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to one another.

As described above, there is presented a digital image processing apparatus in which different types of memory cards can be used.

In addition, since a plurality of memory card accommodating units are compactly installed to share a predetermined space, the size of a memory slot can be reduced, thereby allowing the digital image processing apparatus including the memory card accommodating units to have a small size.