by 
The Curious Bag
-
<h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: The Dock and You
Connecting to a personal computer with a compatible charging dock might be the only way to connect the camera and download photographs. Furthermore, the charging dock may be the only way to charge the battery in the camera, which means that you won't be able to take pictures unless you use the charging dock.
On the Other: Alterative Connection Methods
Many cameras connect directly to a computer via a universal serial bus (USB) cable and charge from it as well. Those that cannot connect to a USB cable also can have their batteries removed and subsequently charged on a separate charger, eliminating the need for a compatible charging dock.
Bottom Line
The way to charge a camera ultimately depends on the hardware itself. Typically, if a camera doesn't come with a charging dock and its manual doesn't say that it's required, you can use one of the alternative connections to charge your camera. Otherwise, you need to use a compatible charging dock.
Source:
Internet FAQ Archives' Patentdocs: Patent application title: Digital Camera Dock
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC