# US 10,768,511 B1 · Imaging device

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- Number: US 10,768,511 B1
- Document ID: US10768511B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/537,592
- Filed: 2019-08-11
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-11
- Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Tatsuya Sato; Hikaru Tsuchitani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768511B1

## CPC

- G03B 17/563: {Camera grips, handles (means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00)}
- G03B 17/566: {Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera (if integral part of camera body G03B17/02)}
- H04N 23/50: Constructional details
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An imaging device of the present disclosure is configured that when the accessory holding unit is mounted to the imaging device main-body, the first mounting/removing movable portion and the second mounting/removing movable portion are moved to the mounted positions, the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are engaged with each other, the second engaged portion and the second engaging portion are engaged with each other, the locking portion and the locked portion are locked to each other, and the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are electrically connected to each other, and when an accessory component is mounted only to the first engaged portion, the first mounting/removing movable portion is moved to the mounted position, and the second mounting/removing movable portion is held at the non-mounted position to protect the second engaged portion, the locked portion, and the first connection terminal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging device, comprising:
an imaging device main-body; and
an accessory holding unit mountable to and removable from the imaging device main-body, wherein
the imaging device main-body includes a main-body side mounting/removing portion for mounting and removing the accessory holding unit,
the main-body side mounting/removing portion includes a first engaged portion, a second engaged portion, a locked portion, and a first connection terminal having an electrical contact,
the accessory holding unit includes a first engaging portion, a second engaging portion, a locking portion, and a second connection terminal,
the main-body side mounting/removing portion includes a first mounting/removing movable portion which is disposed adjacent to the first engaged portion and is movable between a non-mounted position and a mounted position, and a second mounting/removing movable portion which is disposed adjacent to the second engaged portion, the locked portion, and the first connection terminal and is movable between a non-mounted position and a mounted position,
when the accessory holding unit is mounted to the imaging device main-body, by pressing by the accessory holding unit, the first mounting/removing movable portion and the second mounting/removing movable portion are moved to the mounted positions, the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are engaged with each other, the second engaged portion and the second engaging portion are engaged with each other, the locking portion and the locked portion are locked to each other, and the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are electrically connected to each other, and
when an accessory component is mounted only to the first engaged portion of the main-body side mounting/removing portion, by pressing by the accessory component, the first mounting/removing movable portion is moved to the mounted position to secure a mounting space for a mounting operation of the accessory component, and the second mounting/removing movable portion is held at the non-mounted position to protect the second engaged portion, the locked portion, and the first connection terminal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein
when the second mounting/removing movable portion is pressed by the accessory holding unit and is moved to the mounted position, the first mounting/removing movable portion is moved to the mounted position in conjunction therewith, and
when the first mounting/removing movable portion is pressed by the accessory component and is moved to the mounted position, the second mounting/removing movable portion is held at the non-mounted position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein when the accessory holding unit is mounted to the imaging device main-body, by a pressing operation of the accessory holding unit, the first mounting/removing movable portion and the second mounting/removing movable portion are moved to the mounted positions, and by a sliding operation after the pressing operation, the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are engaged with each other, the second engaged portion and the second engaging portion are engaged with each other, the locking portion and the locked portion are locked to each other, and the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are electrically connected to each other.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein, in the first mounting/removing movable portion and the second mounting/removing movable portion at the non-mounted positions, surfaces to which the accessory holding unit is mounted are substantially flush.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of grooves extending in a sliding direction of the sliding operation of the accessory holding unit are formed in a surface of the main-body side mounting/removing portion to which the accessory holding unit is mounted.