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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera module (100) with a manual focusing function includes:
a base (10), a barrel (40) and at least one rod (50). The barrel
is received in the base and is connected with the base. The rod
is connected with the barrel and the base so that when the barrel
is rotated relative to the base, the barrel is caused to slide axially
relative to the base. The manual focusing operation of the digital
camera module is simple. In addition, the digital camera module
has a compact structure and power-efficient.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera module, comprising: a base, a barrel movably
received in the base; and at least one rod, the rod being connected
with the barrel and the base so that when the barrel is rotated
relative to the base, the barrel is caused to slide axially relative
to the base.
2. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion
of the base is recessed to form a cavity therein, the cavity is
defined by an inner periphery sidewall and a bottom wall, the barrel
is received in the cavity.
3. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 2, wherein an
elastic element is disposed at the inner periphery sidewall, an
outer wall of the barrel has more than one aperture, the elastic
element engages into one of these apertures.
4. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
base includes a base seat, and a sleeve mounted to the base seat,
the barrel is received in the sleeve.
5. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 4, further comprising
a positioning element, the positioning element is disposed in the
sleeve, an outer wall of the barrel has more than one aperture,
and the elastic element engages into one of the apertures.
6. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 4, wherein engaging
surfaces of the sleeve and the barrel are frictional surfaces.
7. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
rod has two bent ends extending in a same direction.
8. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
barrel has a first pin hole defined in a top of the barrel, the
base has a second pin hole defined, and the two connecting ends
of each rod connect with the first pin hole and the second pin hole,
respectively.
9. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
barrel has a flange and a barrel body formed together, the flange
has a through hole defined in a middle thereof, the barrel body
is a hollow cylinder, and the through hole communicates with the
barrel body.
10. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
flange has a second pin hole defined on a periphery wall thereof.
11. The digital camera module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
base seat is a rectangle, and includes two opposite symmetrical
end walls and two opposite symmetrical sidewalls, each sidewall
has a first pin hole defined in a middle thereof.
12. A digital camera, comprising: a base, a barrel received in
the base; at least one rod, each rod connecting with the barrel
and the base respectively, and an image sensor fixed with the base,
wherein when the barrel is rotated relative to the base, the barrel
is caused to slide axially relative to the base.
13. The digital camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein a portion
of the base is recessed to form a cavity therein, the cavity is
defined by an inner periphery sidewall and a bottom wall, the barrel
is received in the cavity.
14. The digital camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein an elastic
element is disposed at the inner periphery sidewall, an outer wall
of the barrel has more than one aperture, the elastic element engages
into one of these apertures.
15. The digital camera as claimed in claim 12, wherein the base
includes a base seat, and a sleeve mounted to the base seat, the
barrel is received in the sleeve.
16. The digital camera as claimed in claim 15, further comprising
a positioning element, the positioning element is disposed in the
sleeve, an outer wall of the barrel has more than one aperture,
and the elastic element engages into one of the apertures.
17. A camera module comprising: a base having a cavity defined
therein; an image sensor disposed in cavity; a barrel rotatably
and axially slidably received in the cavity, the barrel including
at least one lens fixed therein, the lens aligning with the image
sensor; a connecting member having a first connecting end and a
second connecting end, wherein the first connecting end is connected
with the barrel, and the second connecting end is fixed relative
to the base, so that when the barrel is rotated relative to the
base, the barrel is caused to slide axially relative to the base
by the connecting member.
18. The camera module of claim 17, wherein an outer surface of
the barrel and a base wall in the cavity are frictional surfaces,
so that when force is applied, the barrel is able to rotate relative
to the base, and when the force is stopped, the barrel is able to
be kept in position owing to the friction between the frictional
surfaces.
19. The camera module of claim 17, wherein the base has an inner
base wall in the cavity, the barrel has an outside barrel wall facing
the inner base wall, a plurality of apertures is defined in one
of the inner base wall and the outer barrel wall, and an elastic
element is formed on the other of the inner base wall and the outer
barrel wall, the elastic element selectively engaging in the apertures
for circumferentially positioning the barrel with respect to the
base.
20. The camera module of claim 17, wherein the connecting element
is located at outside peripheries of the barrel and the base.
Digital Camera Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a camera module
with a manual focusing function, and more particularly, to a small-sized
digital camera module with a manual focusing function and to a portable
electronic device, such as a mobile phone or a Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA), having such a camera module mounted therein.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002] With the development of wireless communication technologies,
there are many cases where digital cameras are now mounted in mobile
phones or PDAs.
[0003] Generally, digital cameras are image recording media capable
of photographing a plurality of still images without using film.
Such a digital camera typically uses an image pickup device, which
is a kind of semiconductor device, such as a Charge Coupled Device
(CCD) or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS). In the
digital camera, an object image formed on the image pickup device
through a lens is converted into an electrical signal by the image
pickup device, and the electrical signal is stored as a digital
signal, for example, either in the camera unit or in a mobile phone
or PDA in which the digital camera is mounted.
[0004] Since the digital camera is to be mounted in a small mobile
phone or PDA, a fixed focus lens module is usually used to facilitate
mounting thereof. However, images photographed by a digital camera
module with a fixed focus lens module tend to be of poor quality.
This is partly due to the fixed focus lens, which is incapable of
adjusting distance between the lens and the image pickup device
to make a clearer image when photographing objects at different
distances from the camera.
[0005] A typical focusing structure has a focusing adjusting apparatus
using a step motor. This structure is relatively large and makes
the camera structure very complicated. Furthermore, the step motor
consumes a substantial amount of power, especially considering the
limit amount of power that can be stored in the typical battery
system of a mobile phone or PDA. As such, step motors are not suitable
for use in mobile phones or PDAs, which need to be small and power
saving, and this structure is not suitable for a portable electronic
device.
[0006] Therefore, a digital camera with a manual focusing function
is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] In one embodiment thereof, a digital camera module with
a manual focusing function includes: a base, a barrel and at least
one rod. The barrel is movably received in the base. The rod is
connected with the barrel and the base so that when the barrel is
rotated relative to the base, the barrel is caused to slide axially
relative to the base. The manual focusing operation of the digital
camera module is simple. In addition, the digital camera module
has a compact structure and is power-efficient.
[0008] Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent
from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] Many aspects of the digital camera module with the manual
focusing function can be better understood with reference to the
following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily
to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating
the principles of the digital camera module with the manual focusing
function. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate
corresponding parts throughout the several views.
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of
a digital camera module with a manual focusing function; and
[0011] FIG. 2 is an assembled, partially cut-away, isometric view
of the digital camera with the manual focusing function as shown
in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a digital camera
module 100 with a manual focusing function, according to a preferred
embodiment. The digital camera module 100 is adapted for use in
a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone or a Personal
Digital Assistant (PDA), but the compact nature thereof could prove
useful in compact digital camera units, digital camcorders or regular
film cameras as well. The digital camera module 100 includes a base
10, a barrel 40 and two rods 50.
[0013] The base 10 has a cavity defined therein, which can rotatably
and slidably receive the barrel 40. The cavity can be formed in
several different ways. In this embodiment, the base 10 includes
a base seat 111 and a sleeve 20 mounted on or in the base seat 11.
The sleeve 20 forms the cavity of the base 10. The sleeve 20 has
an elastic element 30 therein. The base seat (i.e., holder) 11 is
substantially rectangular in shape, and includes two opposite end
walls 112 and two opposite sidewalls 124. Each sidewall 124 has
a first pin hole 12 defined in a middle thereof. An image sensor
14 is fixed on or in the base seat 11. The image sensor 14 can be
a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
(CMOS). The image sensor 14 may transform light signals to electronic
signals.
[0014] The sleeve 20 is substantially a hollow cylinder with two
open ends so that light beams can be transmitted therethrough. One
open end of the sleeve 20 is mounted (i.e., fixed) on or in the
base seat 10, and surrounds the image sensor 14. The other open
end of the sleeve 20 receives the barrel 40. An axis of the sleeve
20 aligns with a center of the image sensor 14 such that the sleeve
20 is capable of routing the input light beams. The sleeve 20 has
an inner periphery wall 22 thereof.
[0015] An elastic positioning element 30 is bent into a hook (i.e.,
clasp, catch), and is mounted in or on the inner wall 22 of the
sleeve 20. The positioning element 30 is preferably made from an
elastic material, such as a metal or a plastic which displays elastic
qualities.
[0016] The barrel 40 includes a flange 42 and a barrel body 44
formed together. The flange 42 is formed at a top end of the barrel
body 44. The flange 42 has a through hole 43 defined in a middle
thereof. The barrel body 34 is a hollow cylinder, and the through
hole 43 communicates with the barrel body 44 so that light beams
can be transmitted therethrough. An outer diameter of the barrel
body 44 is smaller than an inner diameter of the sleeve 20 so that
the barrel 40 may be received in the sleeve 20 and slide relative
to the sleeve 20 axially. Several lens elements (not shown) are
disposed in the barrel 40, and receives light rays that enter from
the outside. An outside circumferential wall of the flange 42 has
two diametrical second pin holes 46 defined therein. The barrel
body 44 has several evenly arranged apertures (i.e. slots, openings)
48 defined in an outside wall thereof. Along an axial direction
of the camera module 100, a length of the aperture 48 is longer
than that of the positioning element 30. The apertures 48 are designed
with parallel and equal distribution. Alternatively, the apertures
48 can also be designed with a parallel stepped distribution. The
number of apertures 48 is generally more than one. The position
of the elastic element 30 corresponds to that of the apertures 48,
and may slide into a given aperture 48 and lock into the given aperture
48.
[0017] Each rod (i.e., pole) 50 is a long cylinder and is made
from an elastic material, such as a metal or plastic. The rod 50
has a pair of connecting ends 52 bent at two free end portions thereof.
The connecting end 52 is respectively inserted into the first hole
12 and the second hole 46 so that the barrel 40 is supported above
the sleeve 20. The rods 50 cause the barrel 40 to move so that the
distance between the barrel 40 and the base 10 is changed.
[0018] In assembly, referring now to FIG. 2, the sleeve 20 is fixed
in the base seat 11 by means of adhesion and/or welding, with the
image sensor 14 aligning with the open ends of the sleeve 20. Then,
the elastic element 30 is mounted in the inner wall 22 of the sleeve
20 by means of screws and/or welding. Several lens elements are
received in the barrel body 43 of the barrel 40. After that, the
barrel 40 is inserted into the sleeve 20, with the flange 42 located
outside the sleeve 20. At the same time, the elastic element 30
in the sleeve 20 engages into one of apertures 48 of the barrel
40. Finally, the connecting ends 52 of each rod 50 respectively
are inserted into the first pin hole 12 and the second pin hole
46 so as to connect the rod 50 with the barrel 40 and the base seat
11 together.
[0019] In use, the digital camera module 100 is fitted within a
portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, and the image
sensor is electrically connected with a circuit board of the mobile
phone for receiving power. When taking pictures, the light rays
reflected from an image object (not shown) pass through the lens
elements. The lens elements focuses the light rays, after which,
the light rays arrive at the image sensor 14. The image sensor 14
will transform the light signal to an electronic signal, permitting
the storage of the image information in a memory of the digital
camera. As such, the photographic process is finished. If the image
should prove not to be clear enough (i.e. out of focus), the user
may rotate the flange 42 of the barrel 40 by hand. The barrel 40
rotates relative to the sleeve 20, and, the elastic element 30 of
the sleeve 20 breaks out from one of the apertures 48 of the barrel
40 so as to slide the next aperture 48. At the same time, the flange
42 of the barrel 40 causes the rods 50 to rotate. The rods 50 incline
so that the rods 50 make the barrel 40 slide axially relative to
the sleeve 20. Accordingly, distance between the barrel 40 and the
image sensor 14 is changed, thereby resulting in the stable telescopic
movement of the barrel 40. The image distance is changed so that
a distant object can be imaged in the image sensor. When the image
becomes clear, the barrel 40 stops rotating. The barrel 40 is kept
in the focusing position because of the limiting influence of the
elastic element 30. Thus, the focusing purpose is achieved by changing
the distance between the image sensor 14 and the barrel 40.
[0020] A main advantage of the digital camera module 100 with a
manual focusing function is that the rods 50 drive the telescopic
movement of the barrel 40. The elastic element 30 limits reverse
rotation when the manual focusing is finished. The manual focusing
operation of the digital camera module 100 is simple. In addition,
the digital camera module 100 has a compact structure and power-efficient.
[0021] In alternative embodiments, the engaging surfaces of the
barrel body 44 of the barrel 40 and the sleeve 20 are frictional
surfaces having some coefficient of friction. When force is applied,
the barrel 40 will rotate and slide along an axis of the sleeve
20 under the rods 50. When the force is stopped, the barrel 40 is
kept in the focusing position owing to the friction. In that case,
the elastic element 30 and the apertures 48 may be omitted.
[0022] In a still further alternative embodiment, the base seat
11 may be a cylinder. The sleeve 20 and the base seat 10 may be
molded together as a whole during manufacture.
[0023] In a still further alternative embodiment, the sleeve 20
may be omitted, and a middle portion of the base 10 can be recessed
to form the cavity therein. The barrel 40 is directly received in
the cavity and can rotatably and slidably engages with the inner
periphery wall of the base 10.
[0024] As described above, the preferred embodiment provides a
digital camera module 100 with a manual focusing function for devices
such as mobile phones, which has both simplicity and ease of use.
It is, however, to be understood that the digital camera module
100 could potentially be useful in other applications in which it
may be desirable to allow incoming light to be adjusted so as to
attain clear image.
[0025] It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages
will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be
apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of
its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely
being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention. |