CN106331437B

CN106331437B - Image pickup apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN106331437B
Application number: CN201510340859.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张晏铭; 王世斌
Original assignee: Ability Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ability Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-06-18
Filing date: 2015-06-18
Publication date: 2019-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-18
Also published as: CN106331437A

Abstract

The invention provides a camera device, which comprises a body, a camera module and a connecting rod. The camera module comprises a lens and an image capturing unit, the body comprises a display module, the camera module is electrically connected to the body, and the connecting rod is telescopically arranged between the camera module and the body.

Description

image pickup apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a camera device, and more particularly, to a camera device having a connecting rod between a body and a camera module.

background

The camera device comprises a lens mechanism and an image sensor. The lens mechanism can focus the image on the image sensor, and then the image sensor converts the optical image signal into an electronic signal. The conventional camera device is used by a user directly holding the body with a hand to capture an image, or by directly mounting the camera device on a stand.

However, when the user holds the device with a hand, the length of the arm of the user is limited, so that the image capturing range of the camera device is limited; in the case of a tripod, the imaging device is fixed to the tripod during imaging. However, the foot stand can only be fixed on the ground, and the user needs to go to the camera again for adjustment no matter how far or far the camera is adjusted, and the user needs to store the foot stand after the camera is finished, which is very inconvenient.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a new image capturing device that increases the application flexibility of the image capturing module.

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, the present invention provides an image capturing apparatus with high application flexibility.

The invention provides an image pickup apparatus. The camera device comprises a body, a camera module and a connecting rod. The camera module is electrically connected to the body. The connecting rod is telescopically arranged between the camera module and the body.

the invention also provides a camera device. The camera device comprises a body, a camera module and a connecting rod. The camera module comprises a lens and an image capturing unit. The body comprises a display module. The connecting rod is arranged between the camera module and the body.

The invention also provides a camera device. The camera device comprises a camera module, a body, a camera module and a connecting rod. The camera module comprises a lens and an image capturing unit, the body comprises a display module, the camera module is electrically connected to the body, and the connecting rod is telescopically arranged between the camera module and the body.

In order to better appreciate the above and other aspects of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image capturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the camera device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a partial cross-sectional view of the camera device of FIG. 1 in the direction 3-3';

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the camera along direction 3-3';

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the first fixing portion and the second pivot portion of FIG. 2 being separated from each other;

FIG. 6A is a schematic view of the connection rod and the camera module;

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram showing the link rod separated from the camera module;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the main body of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a main body according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a partially enlarged view of the camera module, the link and the body of the camera device.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image capturing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The camera device 100 includes a camera module 110, a connecting rod 120 and a body 130. The camera module 110 is electrically connected to the body 130, the connecting rod 120 is disposed between the camera module 110 and the body 130, and the body 130 and the camera module 110 can adjust a distance therebetween by the connecting rod 120.

As shown in fig. 1, the camera module 110 may include a lens 111 and an image capturing unit 112. The image capturing unit 112 can capture an image through the lens 111. The image capturing unit 112 may be a Charge-coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS), but not limited thereto; in another embodiment, the camera module 110 further includes a light emitting unit 118, which can provide a brightness for enhancing brightness when capturing images.

On the other hand, the main body 130 may include an operation unit 134 and/or a display module 132. In an embodiment, the operation unit 134 may further include a control module 133, and the control module 133 may serve as a control center of the image capturing device, and further cause the operation module 134 to process the image from the image capturing unit 112; in another embodiment, the operation unit 134 can be used as a control center of the camera device and can process the image from the image capturing unit 112, i.e., the functions of the control module 133 can be integrated into the operation unit 134.

As shown in fig. 1, in another embodiment, the camera module 110 further includes an angle detection module 125. The angle detection module 125 can detect the angle and/or the variation of the relative angle between the camera module 110 and the link 120. Further, the control module 133 and/or the operation unit 134 can determine the relative position between at least one of the horizontal direction, the plumb direction, and the gravity direction of the captured image and the horizontal direction and/or the plumb direction of the display screen (not shown) of the display module 132 according to the variation of the angle and/or the relative angle output by the angle detection module 125. Then, the captured image can be displayed on the display module 132 according to the determination result. The angle detection module 125 may have an element for detecting an orientation, including but not limited to an acceleration detector, a gyroscope …, and the like.

In yet another embodiment, at least one of the camera module 110 and the body 130 may further include a storage unit (not shown). Also, the relative position of at least one of the horizontal direction, the plumb direction, and the gravitational direction of the captured image and the horizontal direction and/or the plumb direction of the display screen (not labeled) of the display module 132 may be stored in the storage unit.

In one embodiment, the connecting rod 120 includes a plurality of sub-connecting rods 1211-121 n connected to each other, wherein the connected sub-connecting rods 1211-121 n have gradually increasing or decreasing outer diameters. For example, as the linkage 120 is stretched to elongate, the sub-linkages farther from the body 130 may adopt smaller outer diameters. For example, the outer diameter of the sub-link 121n connected to the camera module 110 is the smallest, and the outer diameter of the sub-link 1211 connected to the body 130 is the largest. However, in another embodiment, the sub-link 121n farther from the body 130 may have an increasing outer diameter.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the image pickup apparatus 100 of fig. 1. Fig. 3 depicts a partial cross-sectional view of the camera device 100 of fig. 1 along direction 3-3'. FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the image capture device 100 taken along the direction 3-3' according to another embodiment.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the connecting rod 120 includes a first pivot portion 122 and two first fixing portions 123. The first pivot portion 122 has a first end surface 122e1 and a second end surface 122e2, wherein the first end surface 122e1 and the second end surface 122e2 can be disposed oppositely, and the two first fixing portions 123 are respectively disposed on the first end surface 122e1 and the second end surface 122e 2. The surface of the first fixing portion 123 may be a plane, an arc surface or an inclined surface, as shown in fig. 3, the surface of the first fixing portion 123 is a plane; as shown in fig. 4, the first fixing portion 123 is a slant surface.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the image capturing apparatus 100 further includes a housing 113, the housing 113 includes a second pivot portion 113a, and the image capturing module 110 is accommodated in the housing 113. Specifically, the second pivot portion 113a has a first side surface 113s2 and a second side surface 113s3, and the first side surface 113s2 and the second side surface 113s3 are disposed opposite to each other. The housing 113 may be made of a flexible, tough and/or elastic material, including but not limited to plastic, rubber, metal, or a material doped with at least one of plastic, rubber and metal.

In an embodiment, the connecting rod 120 and the camera module 110 can be connected to the second pivot portion 113a through the first pivot portion 122, and the two first fixing portions 123 can be connected to or buckled with the first side surface 113s2 and the second side surface 113s3 of the second pivot portion 113a, respectively. In another embodiment, the inner diameter of the second pivoting portion 113a is larger than the inner diameter of the first pivoting portion 122, for example, the third inner diameter D3 of the first side 113s2 of the second pivoting portion 113a is larger than the inner diameter D4 of the first pivoting portion 122. In addition, the second pivoting portion 113a further includes an accommodating space 113S, and the first pivoting portion 122 can be disposed in the accommodating space 113S of the second pivoting portion 113a and can rotate relative to the second pivoting portion 113a in the accommodating space 113S.

as shown in fig. 3 to 4, the housing 113 further includes two second fixing portions 114, and the two second fixing portions 114 can be disposed outside the housing 113 or disposed on the second pivot portion 113 a. In an embodiment, the second fixing portions 114 are respectively disposed outside the housing 113 corresponding to the first side surface 113s2 and the second side surface 113s3 of the second pivot portion 113a, and the positions of the second fixing portions 114 are further fixed to the first fixing portions 123 of the first pivot portion 122 in the second pivot portion 113 a. In one embodiment, the first fixing portion 123 and the second fixing portion 114 can be attracted to each other by a magnetic attraction force, so that the first fixing portion 123 and the second fixing portion 114 can be fixed to each other even though the housing 113 is interposed between the first fixing portion 123 and the second fixing portion 114. In one embodiment, one of the first fixing portion 123 and the second fixing portion 114 can be made of a material capable of generating a magnetic field, such as ferromagnetic material, including but not limited to magnet, while the other can be paramagnetic, such as metal, so as to attract each other; alternatively, the first fixing portion 123 and the second fixing portion 114 are both made of a material capable of generating a magnetic field.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the second pivot portion 113a includes a first opening 113a1 and a first inclined surface 113s1, the first inclined surface 113s1 is disposed between the first side surface 113s2 and the first opening 113a1, and the first opening 113a1 has a first inner diameter D1 smaller than a first distance H1 between the two first fixing portions 123. The housing 113 further includes a recess 113b engaged with the second pivot portion 113a, the recess 113b having a second opening 113b1 and a second inner diameter D2; the second inner diameter D2 is a gradually changing inner diameter in the embodiment, for example, the inner diameter of the recess 113b gradually changes from the second opening 113b1 to the first opening 113a1 of the second pivot portion 113a, specifically, the second inner diameter D2 is substantially greater than or equal to the first inner diameter D1.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, in an embodiment, during the process of assembling the first pivoting portion 122 and the second pivoting portion 113a, the first pivoting portion 122 can be inserted into the second pivoting portion 113a from the second opening 113b1 and pass through the first opening 113a1 through the second inner diameter D2. Further, although the first inner diameter D1 is smaller than the first distance H1 between the two first fixing portions 123, since the housing 113 has flexibility, toughness and/or elasticity, when the first pivoting portion 122 enters the first opening 113a1, the housing 113 can be spread open, so that the first pivoting portion 122 can be assembled with the second pivoting portion 113 a. Therefore, the first pivot portion 122 located in the second pivot portion 113a is not easily detached because the first inner diameter D1 is smaller than the first distance H1 between the two first fixing portions 123.

In addition, in an embodiment, a first included angle a1 is formed between the first inclined surface 113s1 and the first lateral surface 113s2, wherein an angle of the first included angle a1 may be greater than or substantially equal to 90 degrees. For example, in fig. 3, the first angle a1 is greater than 90 degrees; in fig. 4, the first angle a1 is substantially equal to 90 degrees.

In an embodiment, when the first pivoting portion 122 is accommodated in the second pivoting portion 113a, since the first inclined surface 113s1 and the first side surface 113s2 form a first included angle a1, the first pivoting portion 122 and the second pivoting portion 113a are not naturally separated; when the first pivoting portion 122 and the second pivoting portion 113a are to be separated, the first pivoting portion 122 can be separated from the second pivoting portion 113a by the guiding of the first inclined surface 113s 1.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the link 120 includes at least one first engaging member 124, the housing 113 includes at least one second engaging member 115, the first pivot portion 122 has a top surface 122e3, and the second pivot portion 113a has a bottom surface 113s 4. The top surface 122e3 is disposed between the first end surface 122e1 and the second end surface 122e2 corresponding to the first end surface 122e1, and the first engaging member 124 is disposed on the top surface 122e 3; the bottom surface 113s4 corresponds to the first opening 113a1 and is disposed between the first side surface 113s2 and the second side surface 113s3, and the second engaging member 115 is disposed on the bottom surface 113s 4. When the second engaging members 115 are respectively engaged with the corresponding first engaging members 124, the top surface 122e3 of the first pivoting portion 122 is opposite to the bottom surface 113s4 of the second pivoting portion 113 a. In one embodiment, the first engaging member 124 is a concave portion and the second engaging member 115 is a convex portion; in another embodiment, the first engaging member 124 may be a convex portion, and the second engaging member 115 may be a corresponding concave portion. In addition, the convex portion and the concave portion may have any shape such as a long strip shape and a dot shape, and the shape of the concave portion may correspond to the convex portion. The number of the first engaging member 124 and the second engaging member 115 can be one and/or more.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, if a plurality of first engaging members 124 and a plurality of second engaging members 115 are adopted, the first engaging members 124 and the second engaging members 115 can be arranged around a central axis S of the first pivot portion 122. When the first pivot portion 122 and the second pivot portion 113a rotate relatively, a second included angle a2 is formed between the housing 110 and the body 130, so that the housing 110 and the link 120 fix the angle of the second included angle a2 between the link 120 and the camera module 110 by the mutual engagement of the first engaging member 124 and the second engaging member 115. Since the first engaging members 124 and the second engaging members 115 are disposed on the first pivot portion 122 and the second pivot portion 113a, the second included angle a2 between the link 120 and the housing 110 can be formed in multiple stages by engaging the first engaging members 124 and the second engaging members 115. Further, the first engaging members 124 can be equidistantly arranged around the first pivoting portion 122, and the second engaging members 115 can be equidistantly arranged around the second pivoting portion 113 a.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the first fixing portion 123 and the second pivoting portion 113a of fig. 2 being separated from each other; FIG. 6A is a schematic view of the connection rod 120 engaged with the camera module 110; fig. 6B is a schematic diagram illustrating the link 120 separated from the camera module 110.

As shown in fig. 5 to 6B, since the second pivot portion 113a includes the accommodating space 113S, the first pivot portion 122 of the link 120 can move toward the first opening 113a1, i.e., the first direction P1, so as to release the fixed relationship between the first fixing portion 123 and the second fixing portion 114 (the second fixing portion 114 is shown in fig. 3); then, the link 120 and the camera module 110 can rotate relatively around the central axis S to adjust the angle of the second included angle a2 between the link 120 and the camera module 110. After the angle adjustment of the second included angle a2 is completed, the link 120 is pushed in the direction of the second pivot portion 113a, i.e. the second direction P2, so that each first engaging member 124 of the first pivot portion 122 engages with the corresponding second engaging member 115, so that the second included angle a2 between the link 120 and the camera module 110 is maintained at a fixed angle, and the link 120 and the camera module 110 can be firmly connected by the mutual engagement of the first fixing portion 123 and the second fixing portion 114.

in addition, as shown in fig. 5, the first side surface 113s2 is elongated, for example, oval, but may also be rectangular without limitation. On the other hand, the first fixing portion 123 is, for example, circular, but may be rectangular or square. The embodiment of the invention does not limit the shape of the first side surface 113S2 and/or the first fixing portion 123, as long as the first side surface 113S2 can provide the first pivot portion 122 to form the accommodating space 113S.

In addition, the structure of the second side surface 113s3 is similar to the structure of the first side surface 113s2, and the connection relationship between the second side surface 113s3 and the second fixing portion 114 is similar to the connection relationship between the first side surface 113s2 and the first fixing portion 123, which will not be described again.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the main body of the present invention. In this embodiment, the control module 133 and the display module 132 are further disposed on the body 130. The body 130 may be a handle, and may be a cylindrical structure. The display module 132 displays the image captured by the lens 111 of the camera module 110, and the captured image can be displayed by the display module 132. Before the display module 132 displays the image, the operation module 134 and/or the control module 132 may process the image. In addition, the main body 130 may further include a communication unit (not shown) that enables the camera device 100 to be electrically connected to other electronic devices and/or to transmit and receive information.

In an embodiment, the image capturing apparatus 100 further controls the display module 132 and/or the image capturing module 110 through the control module 133. The control module 133 can be disposed on the body 130 and electrically connected to the operation module 134 or the display module 132. The control module 133 includes at least one mechanical control key and/or at least one electronic control key, including but not limited to a shutter key, a function key, a setting key, a selection key …, etc., wherein the electronic control key is displayed through the display module 132, i.e., the display module 132 may include a touch panel, and the electronic control key receives a control command from the outside through the touch panel. The imaging device 100 may control the imaging module 110 by wire or wirelessly. If a wired connection is adopted, an electrical connection wire (not shown) may be disposed in the connecting rod 120, and the camera module 110 and the body 130 are connected through the connecting rod 120; if wireless, the body 130 may control the camera module 110 by using Bluetooth (Bluetooth) or WiFi technology, but not limited to the invention.

As shown in fig. 7, the main body 130 has a supporting surface 131u, and the display module 132 is disposed on the supporting surface 131u and is movable relative to the main body 130. Specifically, the body 130 may further include a third pivot portion 137 disposed on the supporting surface 131u and pivotally connecting the display module 132 to the body 130, so that the display module 132 and the body 130 can rotate, turn or move relatively. In one embodiment, the third pivot portion 137 has an axial direction (not shown) substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface 131u, so that the display module 132 can rotate on the supporting surface 131u, but the invention is not limited thereto, and the third pivot portion 137 may also have multiple rotating shafts, so that the display module 132 and the body 130 can rotate, turn or move relatively. The third pivot portion 137 may be a pivot or a hinge.

fig. 8 is a schematic view of a main body 130' according to another embodiment of the invention. The third pivot joint 137' is a ball joint, so that the display module 132 and the body 130 can rotate around X, Y and a Z-axis, wherein the Z-axis can be an extending axial direction of the connecting rod 120, and the Y-axis can be a normal direction of the bearing surface 131 u. The third pivot portion 137' includes a first connecting member 1371 and a second connecting member 1372 connected to each other, wherein the first connecting member 1371 is a columnar structure, the second connecting member 1372 is a sphere, and the second connecting member 1372 is disposed at one end of the first connecting member 1371. Specifically, the first connector 1371 may be pivotally connected to the display module 132, and the second connector 1372 may be pivotally connected to the body 130, such that the display module 132 may be movably engaged with the body 130 by the third pivot portion 137.

In addition, the third pivoting portion 137 can also be pivoted between any corner, any edge or any place of the supporting surface 131u and the body 130. Thus, the third pivot portion 137 can move the display module 132 to the outside of the supporting surface 131 u; on the other hand, the third pivot 137 may also be pivoted between one side of the display module 132 and the main body 130, so that the third pivot 137 rotates from the main body 130 in a direction substantially parallel to the Z axis and then moves to the outside of the carrying surface 131u in a direction substantially parallel to the Y axis (not shown); of course, the display module 132 may also be rotated in a direction substantially parallel to the Z-axis after moving away from the supporting surface 131u in a direction substantially parallel to the Y-axis.

the embodiment of the invention is not limited to the form of the third pivoting parts 137 and 137 ', as long as the third pivoting parts 137 and 137' can make the display module 132 have at least one degree of freedom relative to the body 130.

fig. 9 is a partially enlarged view of the camera module 110, the link 120 and the body 130 of the camera device 100 of fig. 1. In an embodiment, the body 130 and the camera module 110 may further include at least one contact and a power module, respectively. For example, the body 130 includes at least a first contact 135 and a first power module 136 electrically connected to each other, the camera module 110 includes at least a second contact 116 and a second power module 117, and the first contact 135 and the second contact 116 can be electrically connected. When the camera module 110 and the body 130 are in a folded state due to the storage of the connecting rod 120, the first contact 135 and the second contact 116 can be electrically contacted, and further, the first power module 136 and the second power module 117 can be charged through the first contact 135 and the second contact 116. The first power module 136 and the second power module 117 may be a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery, respectively.

In addition, the camera module 110 and/or the body 130 may further include a port (not shown). An external power source can charge the second power module 117 of the camera module 110 and/or the first power module 136 of the body 130 through the port.

In summary, the relative distance and/or included angle between the camera module 110 and the body 130 can be adjusted by the connecting rod 120, so as to improve the flexible usage of the camera device 100. On the other hand, since the camera module 110 is connected to the body 130 by the link 120, the camera module 110, the link 120 and the body 130 can be carried together, and the imaging apparatus 100 can be moved.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended that all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

A body;

A camera module electrically connected to the body;

the connecting rod is telescopically arranged between the camera module and the body and comprises a first pivot part and a plurality of first clamping pieces arranged on the first pivot part; and

The camera module is accommodated in the shell, the shell comprises a second pivot part and a plurality of second clamping pieces arranged on the second pivot part, the connecting rod and the shell are jointed with the second pivot part through the first pivot part, the first clamping pieces and the second clamping pieces extend in the parallel direction of a central shaft of the first pivot part and are arranged around the central shaft, and the first clamping pieces and the second clamping pieces can be clamped with each other.

2. The camera device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first engaging members engage with the second engaging members to form a second angle between the link and the camera module.

3. The image capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the linkage further comprises a first fixing portion, the housing comprises a second fixing portion, and at least one of the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is magnetic.

4. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least a first contact and a first power module, the camera module comprises at least a second contact and a second power module, and the first power module and the second power module are electrically connected to the second contact through the first contact.

5. the image capturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the link comprises a plurality of jointed sub-links, the sub-links having sequentially increasing outer diameters or the sub-links having sequentially decreasing outer diameters.

6. The camera device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has a first inclined surface and a first side surface, and a first included angle is formed between the first inclined surface and the first side surface.

7. the image capturing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control module having at least one mechanical control key and/or at least one electronic control key.

8. An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

A camera module including a lens and an image capturing unit;

A body including a display module;

the connecting rod is arranged between the camera module and the body and comprises a first pivoting part and a plurality of first clamping pieces arranged on the first pivoting part; and

9. The camera device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the body further includes a third pivot portion, and the display module is disposed on the body via the third pivot portion.

10. the camera device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first engaging members engage with the second engaging members to form a second angle between the link and the camera module.

11. The image capturing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the linkage further comprises a first fixing portion, the housing comprises a second fixing portion, and at least one of the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is magnetic.

12. The camera device of claim 8, wherein the body comprises at least a first contact and a first power module, the camera module comprises at least a second contact and a second power module, and the first power module and the second power module are electrically connected to the second contact through the first contact.

13. The image capturing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the link comprises a plurality of jointed sub-links, the sub-links having sequentially increasing outer diameters or the sub-links having sequentially decreasing outer diameters.

14. The camera device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the housing has a first inclined surface and a first side surface, and a first included angle is formed between the first inclined surface and the first side surface.

15. the image capturing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a control module having at least one mechanical control key and/or at least one electronic control key.