Compact digital camera system

A camera body having a tongue and groove configuration comprising:

• a front cover having a first front edge and a second front edge, each of the first front edge and the second front edge having a lip;
• a rear cover having a first rear edge and a second rear edge, each of the first rear edge and the second rear edge having a lip;
• a first rail having a groove adapted to receive the lip of the first front edge and the lip of the first rear edge;
• and
• a second rail having a groove adapted to receive the lip of the second front edge and the lip of the second rear edge,
• wherein the front cover and the rear cover are held in substantial parallel alignment when the front edge lip and the rear edge lip are received in the groove of the first rail and the second rail, respectively.

A rechargeable camera power source comprising:

• a printed circuit board having a first side, a second side and a pair of conductive pads disposed on the second side, the board defining a pair of apertures, each of the apertures configured to provide a passage between the first side and the second side;
• and
• a rechargeable battery comprising:
• a planar battery body disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to the first side of the printed circuit board;
• and
• a pair of conformable battery terminals, each of the terminals passing through a respective board aperture and bonded to a respective one of the conductive pads.

A retractable and extendable lens holder comprising:

• a lens mount adapted to hold a lens assembly;
• a camera body surface;
• and
• a biasing component disposed between the lens mount and the camera body surface, the biasing component configured to move the lens assembly from a stored position to an operating position.

A retractable and extendable lens holder comprising:

• a lens mount adapted to hold a lens assembly;
• a camera body surface;
• and
• a pivoting linkage coupled to the camera body surface and the lens mount, the pivoting linkage adapted to move the lens mount between a first position adjacent to an imager chip and a second position in front of the imager chip,
• wherein an axis of the lens assembly is substantially normal to and centered on an imaging surface of the imager chip when the lens mount is in the second position.

A retractable and extendable lens holder comprising:

• a lens holder;
• a camera body surface;
• a ramp arm having a pivot axis parallel to the camera body surface;
• a retraction device coupled to the ramp arm;
• and
• an angular bias component having a first bias arm, a second bias arm and a bias axis, the bias axis being parallel to pivot axis;
• wherein the retraction device is disposed relative to the ramp arm such that the retraction device moves the ramp arm to a first position when the lens holder is in an operating position and the retraction device moves the ramp arm to a second position when the lens holder is in a stored position.

A digital camera comprising:

• a camera body having a thickness;
• a lens holder mounted to the camera body;
• a viewfinder objective lens disposed in the lens holder;
• a viewfinder eyepiece mounted to the camera body,
• wherein the a working length of the viewfinder objective lens and the viewfinder eyepiece is greater than the thickness of the camera body.

A digital camera comprising:

• a camera body having a thickness;
• a lens holder mounted to the camera body;
• a viewfinder eyepiece disposed in the lens holder;
• a viewfinder objective lens mounted to the camera body,
• wherein the a working length of the viewfinder objective lens and the viewfinder eyepiece is greater than the thickness of the camera body.

A digital camera comprising:

• a means for controlling operation;
• a means for acquiring an image;
• a means for managing power in communication with the acquiring means, the power-management means comprising;
• a means for controlling power
• a means for charging a battery in communication with the power-control means;
• a means for arbitrating power in communication with the power-control means and the battery-charging means.