# US 8,786,773 B2 · Imaging apparatus

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- Number: US 8,786,773 B2
- Document ID: US8786773B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/790,427
- Filed: 2013-03-08
- Published: 2013-08-08
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-26
- Assignees: Panasonic Corporation
- Applicants: Panasonic Corporation
- Inventors: Makoto Iyoda; Yasuo Yokota; Miyoko Irikiin; Tomonori Mizutani; Yasuhiro Miyamoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786773B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/51: Housings
- G03B 17/02: Bodies
- G03B 17/17: with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
- G03B 17/55: with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
- G03B 35/08: by simultaneous recording
- H04N 13/239: using two two-dimensional [2D] image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance (H04N13/243 takes precedence)
- H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
- H04N 2213/001: Constructional or mechanical details
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- 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)

## Abstract

An imaging apparatus comprises a first imaging unit, a second imaging unit whose use frequency is lower than that of the first imaging unit, an exterior case for housing the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit, and a brace mounting section mounted to the exterior case so as to be partially exposed to an outside. The first imaging unit, the second imaging unit and the brace mounting section are arranged so that a distance from the first imaging unit to the brace mounting section is longer than a distance from the second imaging unit to the brace mounting section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging apparatus, comprising:
a first imaging unit;
a second imaging unit whose use frequency is lower than that of the first imaging unit;
an exterior case for housing the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit; and
a brace mounting section mounted to the exterior case so as to be partially exposed to an outside;
wherein the first imaging unit, the second imaging unit and the brace mounting section are arranged so that a distance from the first imaging unit to the brace mounting section is longer than a distance from the second imaging unit to the brace mounting section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit are used at a time of photographing a stereoscopic image, and only the first imaging unit is used at a time of photographing a non-stereoscopic image.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a mode using only the first imaging unit and a mode using the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit are provided as a non-stereoscopic image photographing mode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a power-supply block housed in the exterior case,
wherein the brace mounting section is arranged between the power-supply block and the second imaging unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brace mounting section is arranged between the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a power-supply block housed in the exterior case,
wherein the power-supply block is arranged between the brace mounting section and the second imaging unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the first imaging unit includes a first image sensor,
wherein the second imaging unit includes a second image sensor,
wherein the brace mounting section is mounted to a side of the exterior case, and
wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are arranged near the side of the exterior case to which the brace mounting section is mounted.