Abstract:
An image-pickup system includes an image-pickup apparatus having a first connection member and a camera grip having a second connection member capable of being attached to and removed from the first connection member. The first connection member includes a first screw member having a male screw and a first engagement member disposed inside the first screw member having a first concavo-convex shape. The second connection member includes a second screw member having a female screw part capable of engaging with the male screw part of the image-pickup apparatus and a second engagement member disposed inside the second screw member and having a second concavo-concave shape capable of engaging with the first concavo-concave shape of the image-pickup apparatus. The male screw part screws into the female screw part in a state where the first engagement member and the second engagement member engage with each other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image-pickup apparatus, a camera grip, and an image-pickup system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Making the image-pickup apparatus enable take a picture in a small space and enable miniaturize an equipment so as to fix the image-pickup apparatus. Therefore, it is desirable that an image-pickup system can remove a camera grip which is unnecessary in taking a picture with the image-pickup apparatus using a tripod from the image-pickup apparatus. 
     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-181718 proposes a camera grip having a grip part which can be rotated to a camera body held by a photographer when taking a picture. 
     However, since Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-181718 has a contact point for telecommunication in a fixed part of the camera grip, contact on the contact point does not become stable by the impact to the contact point if the fixed part of the camera grip has an external impact when attachment position is changed by rotating the camera grip. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an image-pickup system which can send for telecommunications in stable contact even if a camera grip has an external impact when attachment position is changed by rotating a camera grip. 
     An image-pickup apparatus as one aspect of the present invention is an image-pickup apparatus capable of attaching and removing a camera grip, the image-pickup apparatus includes a screw member having a male screw part capable of screwing into a female screw part formed on the camera grip, an engagement member disposed inside the male screw part, the engagement member having a concavo-convex shape capable of engaging with a concavo-convex part formed on the camera grip, and a pin jack disposed inside the engagement member, the pin jack being capable of connecting a pin plug of the camera grip. 
     A camera grip as another aspect of the present invention is a camera grip capable of being attached to and removed from an image-pickup apparatus, the camera grip includes a screw member having a female screw part capable of screwing with a male screw part formed on the image-pickup apparatus, an engagement member disposed inside the female screw part, the engagement member having a concavo-convex shape capable of engaging with a concavo-convex part formed on the image-pickup apparatus, and a pin plug disposed inside the engagement member, the pin plug being capable of connecting a pin jack of the image-pickup apparatus. 
     An image-pickup system as another aspect of the present invention is an image-pickup system includes an image-pickup apparatus having a first connection member, and a camera grip having a second connection member capable of being attached to and removed from the first connection member. The first connection member includes a first screw member having a male screw, a first engagement member disposed inside the first screw member having a first concavo-convex shape, and a pin jack disposed inside the first engagement member. The second connection member includes a second screw member having a female screw part capable of engaging with the male screw part of the image-pickup apparatus, a second engagement member disposed inside the second screw member and having a second concavo-concave shape capable of engaging with the first concavo-concave shape of the image-pickup apparatus, and a pin plug disposed inside the second engagement member and capable of connecting the pin jack of the image-pickup apparatus. And the male screw part screws into the female screw part in a state where the first engagement member and the second engagement member engage with each other. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of an image-pickup apparatus and a camera grip of embodiment applied to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C are side views showing a state in which the camera grip is attached to an image-pickup apparatus of the embodiment by rotating. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are exploded perspective views with a part of an image-pickup apparatus of the embodiment and an image-pickup apparatus side connection member. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are exploded perspective views of a camera grip of the embodiment and a camera grip side connection member. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the connection member when a camera grip of the embodiment is fixed to an image-pickup apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of an image-pickup apparatus  110  and a camera grip  210  of embodiment applied to the present invention. When the camera grip  210  is rotatably attached to the image-pickup apparatus  110 , the camera grip  210  and the image-pickup apparatus  110  are used as an image-pickup system of which the photographer can take a picture while holding. 
       FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C are side views showing a state in which the camera grip  210  is attached to the image-pickup apparatus  110  of the embodiment by rotating. 
     Reference numeral  100  denotes an image-pickup apparatus side connection member (a first connection member), and reference numeral 
     Reference numeral  200  denotes a camera grip side connection member (a second connection member). The image-pickup apparatus  110  and the camera grip  210  are detachable according to the image-pickup apparatus side connection member  100  and the camera grip side connection member  200 . Moreover, as shown in  FIGS. 2B and 2C , attachment inclining the camera grip  210  to the image-pickup apparatus  110  centering on center of rotation O (center part of rotation) is possible by the image-pickup apparatus side connection member  100  and the camera grip side connection member  200 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows the state that the camera grip  210  is attached to the image-pickup apparatus  110  at normal position. Reference numeral  114  denotes a bottom part of the image-pickup apparatus  110 , and reference numeral 
     Reference numeral  219  denotes a bottom part of the camera grip  210 .  FIG. 2B  shows the state that the camera grip  210  is rotated 30 degrees clockwise from the normal position in  FIG. 2A  at the center of rotation O and attached to the image-pickup apparatus  110 .  FIG. 2C  shows the state that the camera grip  210  is rotated 15 degrees counterclockwise from the normal position in  FIG. 2A  at the center of rotation O and attached to the image-pickup apparatus  110 . In any case, the bottom part  219  of the camera grip  210  is equal to the bottom part  114  of the image-pickup apparatus  110  in height, and they land at the same time when they are put on the plane. The bottom part  219  of the camera grip  210  and the bottom part  114  of the image-pickup apparatus  110  can land at the same time by changing a part of an outline of the camera grip  210  to arc at the center of rotation even if the camera grip  210  is rotated so as to attach to the image-pickup apparatus  110 . As a result, the present invention can control fall of the image-pickup apparatus  110 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are exploded perspective views with a part of the image-pickup apparatus  110  of the embodiment and an image-pickup apparatus side connection member.  FIG. 3A  is an exploded perspective view seen from the same direction as  FIG. 1A , and  FIG. 3B  is an exploded perspective view seen from the same direction as  FIG. 1B . 
     Reference numeral  111  denotes a pin jack for telecommunication with the camera grip  210 . 
     Reference numeral  120  denotes an image-pickup apparatus side fixed member (a first screw member), and the image-pickup apparatus side fixed member  120  can be screwed with a camera grip side fixed member described below. Reference numeral  121  denotes a male screw part, and reference numeral  125  denotes a contact surface with the camera grip side fixed member. The larger the diameter of the male screw part  121  is, the more desirable since fastening power of the camera grip  210  to the image-pickup apparatus  110  rises in proportion to the size of the screw diameter. Further, the pin jack for telecommunication  111  is provided in the space of the image-pickup apparatus side connection member  100  that arises by enlarging the screw diameter. 
     Reference numeral  140  is an image-pickup apparatus side engagement member (a first engagement part and a concavo-convex part of the image-pickup apparatus) which is disposed inside of the image-pickup apparatus side fixed member  120 . Reference numeral  143  is a concavo-convex shape (a first concavo-convex shape) which has a plurality of gear mountain parts (convex parts) and a plurality of gear valley parts (concave parts) alternately at equal intervals and is formed on the outline of the image-pickup apparatus side engagement member  140 . Reference numeral  147  denotes an opening of the image-pickup apparatus side engagement member  140 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are exploded perspective views of the camera grip  210  of the embodiment and the camera grip side connection member  200 .  FIG. 4A  is an exploded perspective view seen from the same direction as  FIG. 1A , and  FIG. 4B  is an exploded perspective view seen from the same direction as  FIG. 1B . 
     Reference numeral  211  denotes a pin plug for telecommunication that can be connected to the pin jack  111  for telecommunication. Reference numeral  212  denotes an extensible cable that can store in the camera grip having the pin plug for telecommunication  211  at a tip. Reference numeral  217  denotes a bush, and reference numeral  218  denotes an electric connection connector. The electric connection connector  218  is provided at a tip opposite the pin plug for telecommunication  211  of the cable  212 . The bush  217  is disposed between the pin plug for telecommunication  211  and the electric connection connector  218 . It is possible to adjust the amount of pullout of the cable  212  from the camera grip  210  by moving the position of the bush  217 . 
     Reference numeral  220  denotes a camera grip side fixed member. Reference numeral  224  denotes a contact surface with the image-pickup apparatus side fixed member  120 . Reference numeral  225  denotes a contact surface with a fastener member  230  described below. 
     Reference numeral  230  denotes a fastener member (a second screw member). Reference numeral  231  denotes a male screw part, reference numeral  232  is a finger lying part and reference numeral  235  is a contact surface with the contact surface with the image-pickup apparatus side fixed member  120 . Further, the fastener material  230  is biased in the rotational axis direction of the center of rotation O by compression spring (a biasing member) as not shown in the figure provided the camera grip  210  side of the fastener material  230 . Thus, the male screw part  121  is screwed with the female screw part  231  by adding only the rotational power without pressing the fastener material  230  against the image-pickup apparatus  110  side. 
     As with the image-pickup apparatus side connection part  100 , the larger the diameter of the female screw part  231  is, the more desirable since fastening power of the camera grip  210  to the image-pickup apparatus  110  rises in proportion to the size of the screw diameter. Further, the pin plug for telecommunication  211  is provided in the space of the camera grip side connection member  200  that arises by enlarging the screw diameter. 
     Reference numeral  240  denotes a camera grip side engagement member (a second engagement part and a concavo-convex part of the camera grip) which is disposed inside of the camera grip side fixed member  220 . Reference numeral  243  denotes a concavo-convex shape (a second concavo-convex shape) which has alternately a plurality of gear mountain parts (convex parts) and a plurality of gear valley parts (concave parts) at equal intervals and is formed on the outline of the camera grip side engagement member  240 . Further, an inner peripheral wall is formed in the inner circumference of the concavo-convex shape  243 . 
     Reference numeral  300  denotes a front cover of the camera grip  210 , reference numeral  310  denotes a back cover of the camera grip  210 , reference numeral  320  denotes a top cover of the camera grip  210 , and reference numeral  330  denotes a connection member fixed cover. Further, the camera grip  210  has a grip belt not shown in the figure. 
     Reference numeral  301  denotes an elastic member, reference numeral  302  denotes a belt hole, reference numeral  303  denotes an elastic member lying groove for retaining the elastic member  301 , and reference numeral  304  denotes a grip belt hanging hook having the belt hole  302  and the elastic member lying groove  303 . They are attached to the front cover  300 . The elastic member  301  is O character type, and is inserted by the cable. In addition, the elastic member lying groove  303  is provided on a place separated from an insertion opening  331  of the cable  212  described below so as to easily adjust tension of the elastic member  301  and the amount of pullout of the cable  212 . Further, a part for only retaining the elastic member  301  is not necessary by forming the elastic member lying groove  303  in the grip belt hanging hook  304 . 
     Reference numeral  321  denotes s START/STOP switch that can instruct beginning and end for taking a picture, reference numeral  322  denotes a stop adjustment dial that can adjust stop of a lens (not shown). Further, a display expansion switch that can enlarge cut part of a display area positioned in the back cover  310  side and an arrow key that can move a cursor in a menu displayed in a display positioned in the back side cover  310  are disposed in the top cover  320 . 
     Reference numeral  325  denotes a substrate, reference numeral  326  denotes an electric connection housing, reference numeral  327  denotes a belt hall and reference numeral  328  denotes a grip belt hanging hook having the belt hall  327 . 
     An electric signal of a control switch is gathered in the substrate  325 , and is connected to the image-pickup apparatus  110  through the electric connection housing  326 , the electric connection connector  218 , the pin plug for telecommunication  211  and the pin jack for telecommunication  111 . 
     Reference numeral  331  denotes an insertion opening into which the electric connection connector  218  and the bush  217  of the cable  212  can insert and the pin plug for telecommunication  211  cannot insert. Further, the insertion opening  331  is horseshoe that can engage with the bush  217  of the cable  212 . Reference numeral  332  denotes a horseshoe that can engage with the bush  217  of the cable  212 . Both the insertion opening  331  and the horseshoe  332  are provided at the connection member fixed cover  330 . The situation that the pin plug for telecommunication  211  drops in the camera grip  210  and the user does not extract the pin plug for telecommunication  211  is avoided since the insertion opening  331  is an open mouth like the above-mentioned. 
     The grip belt is held by the hanging hook  304  attached to the front cover  300  and the grip belt hanging hook  328  attached to the top cover  320 , and holds a shell application (not shown) so as to guard the back of one&#39;s hand when user holds the camera grip  210 . At this time, barrel polishing for removing burr is applied to the grip belt hanging hook  304 , 328  so that user is not injured with burr since user touches the grip belt hanging hook  304 , 328 . Additionally, the grip belt hanging hook  304  does not damage and break the elastic member  301 . As with the grip belt hanging hook  304 , 328 , it is necessary to apply barrel polishing to a part that user may touch, i.e. a formed part and a cutting part. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the connection member when the camera grip  210  of the embodiment is fixed to the image-pickup apparatus  110 . 
     First of all, the pin plug for telecommunication  211  is inserted into the pin jack for telecommunication  111  so as to fix the camera grip  210  to the image-pickup apparatus  110 . Next, the concavo-convex shape  143  of the image-pickup apparatus side engagement member  140  and the concavo-convex shape  243  of the camera grip side engagement member  240  are engaged at an arbitrary attachment position. The camera grip  210  is prevented from rotating from the attachment position to the image-pickup apparatus  110  by engaging both concavo-convex shapes. Further, as previously explained, it is possible to change a relative position relation between the image-pickup apparatus  110  and the camera grip  210  centering on the center of rotation O by changing the engagement relation. 
     After, the male screw part  121  is screwed with the female screw part  231 . Thus, a contact surface  125  with the camera grip side fixed member comes in contact the contact surface  224  with the image-pickup apparatus side fixed member  120 . In addition, the contact surface  225  with the fastener member  230  comes in contact the contact surface  235  with the camera grip side fixed member. The image-pickup apparatus  110  and the camera grip  210  are fixed by these contact surfaces. 
     The pin jack for telecommunication  111  and the pin plug for telecommunication  211  are used for pin type telecommunication point, and further are positioned at the center of rotation O. Thus, the pin plug for telecommunication  211  can be prevent from coming off by stress since the pin plug for telecommunication  211  easily moves according to rotation of the camera grip  210 . Further, the pin plug for telecommunication  211  can be prevented from coming off by unintended operation of the user since there is cable  212  in connected structure. 
     Telecommunication is done by using the pin plug and the pin jack in this embodiment. If the pin plug connects the pin jack, the rotation of the pin plug to the pin jack is allowed. Telecommunication may be done by a spring connector using the space inside the connection member instead of connection between the pin plug and the pin jack. Further, noncontact communication by an optical communication and an electric wave communication may be used. 
     The cable  212  is attached to the camera grip  210  as follows. The cable  212  is inserted into the electric connection connector  218 , the bush  217 , insertion opening  331  and the elastic member  301 , in order. The bush  217  is engaged with the horseshoe  332 , and finally the electric connection connector  218  is inserted into the electric connection housing  326  of the substrate  325 . 
     It is difficult to transmit to the pin plug for the telecommunication  211  provided on the edge of the cable  212  since the cable  212  is worked as a buffer if the exterior camera grip  210  has an impact. And, the pin plug  211  for telecommunication is prevented from coming off by the impact. 
     Further, power works at the direction where the cable  212  is stored in the camera grip  210  when the pin plug for telecommunication  211  is pulled out from the camera grip  210  by the elastic member  301 . Therefore, it is not necessary to tuck the cable  212  in the connected structure since the cable  212  is drawn in when the camera grip  210  is fixed to the image-pickup apparatus  110 . 
     At this time, it is desirable that the pull force of the elastic member  301  is less than the joint power between the pin jack for telecommunication  111  and the pin plug for telecommunication  211  so as to prevent the pin plug for telecommunication  211  from coming off by the pull force of the elastic member  301 . In addition, for the same reason, it is desirable that there is no pull force from the elastic member  301  when the camera grip is fixed. 
     And, since the bush  217  is engaged with the horse shape  332  hooks together to horseshoe  332 , bush  217  becomes a stopper when the cable  212  is pulled from the camera grip  210  too much. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2011-234976, filed on Oct. 26, 2011, and 2011-235099, filed on Oct. 26, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.