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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera module is conveniently packaged within an electronic
device for sliding motion between a stored position and an operational
position. The camera module is nested within the electronic device
in the closed position to provide a streamlined external contour.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. An electronic device comprising: a body having a top and a bottom
containing the components of the electronic device; a panel mounted
for sliding movement on the body from a closed position to an open
position, said panel having upper and lower surfaces; a digital
camera module contained in the panel and connected to the electronic
device for operation when the panel is in the open position.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a lens in operative cooperation with the camera module, said lens
extending outward from the panel; and a recess constructed in the
body to receive the lens when the panel is in the closed position.
3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the panel
is mounted on the bottom of the electronic device.
4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding
motion of the panel is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the electronic
device.
5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding
motion of the panel is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the
electronic device.
6. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the lens
is a zoom lens.
7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the camera
is energized by extension of the panel.
8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein movement
of the panel is spring biased in the open position and is locked
against said spring force in the closed position by an actuating
mechanism, wherein operation of the actuating mechanism serves to
release the spring force and extend the panel.
9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least
one of the components in the body is a microprocessor and the camera
module is operatively associated with the microprocessor to enable
said microprocessor to receive image data from the camera module
and process said image data for use.
10. The electronic device according to claim 2 wherein the lens
extends outward from the upper surface of the panel.
11. A digital camera module for use in an electronic device, said
electronic device having a body with a top and a bottom and a microprocessor
comprising: a panel mounted for sliding movement on the body from
a closed position to an open position, said panel having upper and
lower surfaces; a digital camera module contained in the panel and
connected to the electronic device for operation when the panel
is in the open position; and wherein said panel is nested within
the body in the closed position to provide a streamlined body contour.
12. The camera module according to claim 11 further comprising:
a lens in operative cooperation with the camera module, said lens
extending outward from the panel; and a recess constructed in the
body to receive the lens when the panel is in the closed position.
13. The camera module according to f claim 11, wherein the panel
is mounted on the bottom of the electronic device.
14. The camera module according to claim 11, wherein the sliding
motion of the panel is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the electronic
device.
15. The camera module according to claim 11, wherein the sliding
motion of the panel is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the
electronic device.
16. The camera module according to claim 12, wherein the lens is
a zoom lens.
17. The camera module according to claim 11, wherein the camera
is energized by extension of the panel.
18. The camera module according to claim 11, wherein movement of
the panel is spring biased in the open position and is locked against
said spring force in the closed position by an actuating mechanism,
wherein operation of the actuating mechanism serves to release the
spring force and extend the panel.
19. The camera module according to claim 11, wherein at least one
of the components in the body is a microprocessor and the camera
module is operatively associated with the microprocessor to enable
said microprocessor to receive image data from the camera module
and process said image data for use.
20. The camera module according to claim 12, wherein the lens extends
outward from the upper surface of the panel.
Digital Camera Patent Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application for Patent No. 60/668,693, filed Apr. 6, 2005.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The subject matter of this application relates to an arrangement
of components that combines the functions of a multi-use electronic
device with a digital camera. More specifically, this application
describes a digital camera module that is conveniently packaged
within an electronic device for sliding motion between a stored
position and an operational position.
[0004] 2. Brief Description of Related Developments
[0005] Mobile telephones and similar communication devices now
provide a multitude of services, such as, Internet access, personal
information management, facsimile, text messaging, picture, video,
radio, in addition to telephone communication. It would be advantageous
to provide a digital camera module for use with such multifunction
electronic devices.
SUMMARY
[0006] A digital camera module is arranged on a flat panel and
includes the basic components of a functional camera. A lens is
mounted for scanning a field of view in a direction generally transverse
to the plane of the panel. An image sensor is contained within the
panel for receiving light signals captured by the lens and converting
such signals to digital image data. The digital image data is processed
by a microprocessor controller within the host device for display
on a display screen of the host device, transmission over a cellular
network, or other purpose. The host device is constructed with means
to receive the camera module for sliding motion on the device, the
means including a recess, shaped to accommodate a camera lens, in
particular a zoom lens.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Aspects of the embodiments of the invention are explained
in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing,
in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device with
an embodiment of the camera module extended in the operational position;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic device of
FIG. 1 with the camera module in the stored position;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic device in which
the camera module of this invention may be used;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with
cover of the electronic device open; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a digital camera according
to an embodiment of this application.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] A multifunctional device 10, for example, a combination
PDA cellular telephone incorporating features of the disclosed embodiments,
is illustrated in the figures. Although aspects of the invention
will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the
drawings, it should be understood that the embodiments may have
many alternate forms. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type
of elements or materials could be used.
[0014] Electronic device 10, may be designed to provide a wide
variety of functions including, personal digital assistant, Internet
access, cellular telephone, clock, radio, and others. For convenience,
the subject invention is discussed herein in the context of a mobile
telephone. However, embodiments of the camera module are intended
to be packaged with a wide variety of electronic devices.
[0015] Mobile communications device 10 may be constructed having
a body 1 with upper and lower surfaces 2 and 3 respectively. Body
1 is constructed to provide an enclosure to house the main components
of the device. Such components that are used by a typical multi-function
electronic device, including a PDA module 22, are shown in FIG.
3, and may be used in conjunction with the cameral module 4 of this
invention. PDA module 22 is operated in conjunction with software
that may be resident in memory 24 and executed by control processor
20. Display 6 provides images for viewing by the user in operative
association with display driver 23. Similarly a mobile communication
function is provided by mobile telephone module 8 in operative association
with controller 20 and the other components of device 10.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 4, a cover 5 is mounted on the body 1 for
sliding motion, as shown by arrow 15, or pivotal movement to expose
a function deck 16 on upper surface 2. Function deck 16 contains
display 6 and keypad 7 for use with cellular phone module 8 and
such other devices that may relate to the application features offered
to the user. Keys 9 for operating the camera module 4 may also be
provided as part of the keypad 7.
[0017] Digital camera module 4 is constructed as a flat panel 11
which contains the basic components of a functional digital camera.
A lens 12, preferably a zoom lens, is mounted for scanning a field
of view in a direction generally transverse to the plane of the
panel 11, as shown by arrow 13 in FIG. 1 and 4. As shown in FIG.
5, an image sensor 30 is contained within the panel and receives
light signals captured by the lens 12. A processor 31 converts such
signals to digital image data. The digital image data is sent to
microprocessor controller 20, as shown in FIG. 3, within the host
device 10. The image data may be processed for display on display
screen 6 through display driver 23, for storage in memory 24, or
for transmission over a cellular network via mobile telephone 8.
[0018] Flat panel 11 is mounted on the lower surface 3 of body
1 for sliding motion, as shown by arrow 14, in FIGS. 1 and 4. Although
the sliding motion is shown as parallel with the longitudinal axis
of the device, it may be advantageous in an alternate embodiment
to attach the panel 11 for sliding motion transverse to the longitudinal
axis. The attachment of flat panel 11 may be accomplished by any
suitable interface, such as a slot and rail configuration, that
would be molded into the mating surfaces of panel 11 and lower surface
3. In order to accommodate the protrusion of cameral lens 12 from
the panel 11, a recess 17 is constructed in the lower surface 3
to accommodate the lens 12. This is especially important where the
camera lens 12 includes a zoom function. In such cases the lens
12 will necessarily extend significantly outward from the plane
of flat panel 11. In the closed position, camera panel 11 is therefore
nested conveniently on the lower surface 3 of the host device 10
with the lens 12 received in recess 17, as shown in FIG. 1. In this
manner, the thickness of the host device may be streamlined with
a minimum thickness in spite of the camera module and the overall
contour of the electronic device is not significantly altered by
incorporation of the digital camera panel.
[0019] The components of the camera module 4 are electrically connected
to the power source and other components of the host device 10 through
a mounting interface between panel 11 and lower surface 3 or by
other means such as a flexible cable. Control buttons 9 may include
camera on/off and zoom functions. In addition, a switch may be used
that is sensitive to the position of the panel 12 to automatically
provide power to the camera when panel 12 is extended.
[0020] The panel 11 may be spring biased in the extended direction
and positioned within the body 1 against the spring bias force.
An actuating mechanism connected to the cover 5 may trigger the
release of the panel 11 in response to the opening of the cover
5.
[0021] It should be understood that the above description is only
illustrative of aspects of the invention. Various alternatives and
modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art with out
departing from these aspects. Accordingly, the above description
is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and
variances which fall with the scope of the appended claims.
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