Patent ID: 8891003

Claim:
An imaging apparatus including a hot shoe to which one of a plurality of peripheral devices including an external strobe is selectively attachable, the imaging apparatus comprising: a USB controller which is operable as a USB host; a flash controller configured to output a flash control signal for controlling the external strobe; and a video signal controller configured to output a video signal, wherein an apparatus-side connector to be electrically connected to a peripheral-side connector provided in a corresponding one of the peripheral devices upon attachment of the corresponding one of the peripheral devices to the hot shoe is provided in an inner region of the hot shoe, the apparatus-side connector includes a USB terminal connected to the USB controller and receiving a signal from the USB controller, a flash terminal connected to the flash controller and receiving a flash control signal from the flash controller, and a video terminal connected to the video signal controller and receiving a video signal from the video signal controller, each of the peripheral devices is configured so as to be attached to the hot shoe by sliding from one side to other side in a predetermined direction, and to be detached from the hot shoe by sliding back to the one side in the predetermined direction, the apparatus-side connector includes a cylindrical case formed with an opening facing the one side in the predetermined direction, and the apparatus-side connector is configured so as to be electrically connected to the peripheral-side connector in such a manner that the peripheral-side connector slides, upon the attachment of the corresponding one of the peripheral devices to the hot shoe, toward the other side in the predetermined direction to be inserted into the case through the opening thereof, and be electrically disconnected from the peripheral-side connector in such a manner that the peripheral-side connector slides, upon detachment of the corresponding one of the peripheral devices from the hot shoe, back toward the one side in the predetermined direction to be removed from the case.