Quick-change accessory mount for a portable media encoder

Abstract

A quick-change accessory mount for a portable media encoder includes a substantially rigid frame having an upper surface and a lower surface. The frame is adapted for releaseable connection to a portable media encoder housing. A circuitry holder supports circuitry thereupon, the circuitry holder being affixed to the frame and having an upper portion extending above the upper surface of the frame and a lower portion extending below the lower surface of the frame. A substantially non-rigid cover is attached around the periphery of the frame and forms an enclosure for holding accessory devices mounted on the upper surface of the frame. A plurality of upper connectors operably interconnect via the circuitry to a plurality of lower connectors. The upper connectors are disposed on the upper portion of the circuitry holder and are operably accessible from within the enclosure. The lower connectors are disposed on the lower portion of the circuitry holder and are operably connectable to a video input port, audio input port, and digital output port on the portable media encoder housing when the portable media encoder housing is connected to the frame. Accessories mounted within the enclosure are operably connectable to the portable media encoder when the frame is connected to the encoder housing.

1 . A quick-change accessory mount for a portable media encoder having a housing, a video input port disposed on the housing to receive video signals, an audio input port disposed on the housing to receive audio signals, a digital output port disposed on the housing for transmitting, in a streamable format, digital information corresponding to received video and audio signals, an encoding processor enclosed within the housing for converting the received video and audio signals into a streamable digital format for transmitting through the digital output port, the accessory mount comprising: 
 a substantially rigid frame having an upper surface and a lower surface, the frame adapted for releaseable connection to a portable media encoder housing;    a circuitry holder supporting circuitry thereupon, the circuitry holder being affixed to the frame and having an upper portion extending above the upper surface of the frame and a lower portion extending below the lower surface of the frame;    a substantially non-rigid cover attached around the periphery of the frame and forming an enclosure above the upper surface of the frame for enclosing accessory devices mounted on the upper surface of the frame; and    a plurality of upper connectors operably interconnected via the circuitry to a plurality of lower connectors, the upper connectors disposed on the upper portion of the circuitry holder and operably accessible from within the enclosure, the lower connectors disposed on the lower portion of the circuitry holder and operably connectable to a video input port, audio input port, and digital output port on the portable media encoder housing when the portable media encoder housing is connected to the frame;    whereby accessory devices mounted within the enclosure may be removably operably connected via the upper connectors, circuitry and lower connectors to the portable media encoder when the frame is connected to the encoder housing.    
   
   
       2 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment structure disposed on the frame that facilitates releaseable connection of the frame to a portable media encoder housing.  
   
   
       3 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the attachment structure comprises longitudinally oriented rails formed along the lateral sides of the frame and adapted to slidingly interfit with longitudinally oriented grooves formed along the lateral sides of the portable media encoder housing.  
   
   
       4 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a latching structure that is selectively engageable to restrict movement of the accessory mount relative to a portable media encoder housing after connection therebetween.  
   
   
       5 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the latching structure comprises a thumbscrew disposed through one of the frame and the circuitry holder and selectively threadedly engageable with a threaded nut disposed on the portable media encoder housing.  
   
   
       6 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid cover further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion joined by a zipper.  
   
   
       7 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the upper portion of the cover is formed of first non-rigid material, and the lower portion of the cover is formed of a second non-rigid material.  
   
   
       8 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the material of the lower portion of the cover is configured to form pleats that conceal slitted openings through the sidewall of the cover.  
   
   
       9 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the material of the frame is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, magnesium, carbon fiber/epoxy composite, and fiberglass/epoxy composite.  
   
   
       10 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the material of the frame is anodized aluminum.  
   
   
       11 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the material of the cover is selected from the group consisting of woven nylon fabric, woven cotton fabric, woven polyester fabric, vinyl, leather, suede and artificial suede.  
   
   
       12 . A quick-change accessory mount for a portable media encoder having a video input port, an audio input port, a digital output port for transmitting streamable format digital information corresponding to received video and audio signals, and an encoding processor for converting the received video and audio signals into a streamable digital format for transmitting through the digital output port, the accessory mount comprising: 
 a frame having an upper surface and a lower surface and adapted for releaseable attachment to a portable media encoder;    a flexible cover attached to the frame forming an enclosure above the upper surface of the frame;    circuitry operably connecting a plurality of upper connectors disposed within the enclosure and lower connectors disposed below the lower surface of the frame;    at least one accessory device mounted within the enclosure on the upper surface of the frame and releaseable operably connected to at least one of the upper connectors, the accessory device being selected from the group consisting of a quick-release battery mount, a wireless microphone receiver, and a wireless ethernet bridge;    wherein the lower connectors are adapted to operably connect with the video input port, audio input port, and digital output port of a portable media encoder when the frame is attached to the portable media encoder;    whereby the accessory device mounted in the enclosure is operably connectable to the portable media encoder when the frame is connected to the encoder housing.    
   
   
       13 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 an attachment structure disposed on the accessory mount that facilitates releaseable connection of the accessory mount to a portable media encoder; and    a latching structure disposed on the accessory mount that is selectively engageable to restrict movement of the accessory mount relative to the portable media encoder after connection therebetween.    
   
   
       14 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the cover further comprises a zipper dividing the cover into upper and lower portions, the zipper being operable to selectively form an opening into the enclosure.  
   
   
       15 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the material of the frame is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, magnesium, carbon fiber/epoxy composite, and fiberglass/epoxy composite.  
   
   
       16 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the material of the cover is selected from the group consisting of woven nylon fabric, woven cotton fabric, woven polyester fabric, vinyl, leather, suede and artificial suede.  
   
   
       17 . A quick-change accessory mount for a portable media encoder having a video input port, an audio input port, a digital output port for transmitting streamable format digital information corresponding to received video and audio signals, and an encoding processor for converting the received video and audio signals into a streamable format digital information, the accessory mount comprising: 
 a frame having a mounting portion and a circuitry housing portion; 
 the mounting portion having an upper surface, a lower surface, and attachment structures for releaseably engaging a portable media encoder;  
 the circuitry housing portion including a plurality of upper connectors disposed proximate to the upper surface of the mounting portion, a plurality of lower connectors disposed proximate to the lower surface of the frame, and circuitry operably connecting each of the upper connectors to one of the lower connectors;  
   a cover attached to the frame forming an enclosure above the upper surface of the frame and enclosing the upper connectors;    wherein the lower connectors are positioned on the circuitry housing portion so as to operably connect with the video input port, audio input port, and digital output port of a portable media encoder when the attachment structures engage the portable media encoder;    whereby accessory device(s) mounted on the mounting portion and operably connected to the upper connectors within the enclosure may be releaseably operably connected to the portable media encoder via the circuitry and lower connectors when the accessory mount is engaged to the portable media encoder.    
   
   
       18 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein at least a first portion of the upper connectors and at least a first portion of the lower connectors are DC power input connectors operably connected by circuitry to one another, whereby electrical power from DC batteries mounted on the mounting portion and operably connected to the DC power input connectors within the enclosure may be transmitted to a DC-to-DC converter in a portable media encoder via the circuitry and lower connectors when the accessory mount is engaged to the portable media encoder.  
   
   
       19 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein at least a second portion of the upper connectors and at least a second portion of the lower connectors are DC power output connectors operably connected by circuitry to one another, whereby electrical power from the DC-to-DC converter may be transmitted from the portable media encoder to the DC power output connectors within the enclosure for use by other accessory devices mounted within the enclosure.  
   
   
       20 . A quick-change accessory mount in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the attachment structures comprise longitudinally oriented rails formed along the lateral sides of the frame and adapted to slidingly interfit with longitudinally oriented grooves formed along the lateral sides of a portable media encoder.