CN115396568B

CN115396568B - Image pickup apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN115396568B
Application number: CN202110573570.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 温峻宏; 陈俊贤; 孙惠平; 阙延洲
Original assignee: Acer Inc
Current assignee: Acer Inc
Priority date: 2021-05-25
Filing date: 2021-05-25
Publication date: 2023-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2041-05-25
Also published as: CN115396568A

Abstract

The invention provides an image pickup device which comprises a shell, an image pickup module arranged in the shell, a positioning piece arranged in the shell in a sliding way, a memory alloy spring arranged in the shell, a reset spring arranged in the shell, a shielding piece corresponding to the image pickup module and arranged in the shell in a sliding way and a switch button arranged on the shell in a sliding way and connected with the shielding piece. The two ends of the memory alloy are respectively connected with the positioning piece and the shell. The two ends of the return spring are respectively connected with the positioning piece and the shell, and the memory alloy spring and the return spring are respectively positioned at two opposite sides of the positioning piece. The shielding piece is connected with the positioning piece and used for blocking the light path of the camera module or removing the blocking of the light path of the camera module.

Description

Image pickup apparatus

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to imaging devices, and particularly to an imaging device with privacy protection.

Background

Most of the conventional portable electronic devices (such as smartphones, tablet computers or notebook computers) have a camera function, and in a normal state, the camera module is in a closed state, but a person with a heart (such as a hacker) can still invade the portable electronic device through a network and control the camera module to remotely obtain a private image of a user, so that personal privacy is leaked.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to an image pickup device, which can prevent personal privacy from leaking.

According to an embodiment of the invention, an image pickup apparatus includes a housing, an image pickup module disposed in the housing, a positioning member slidably disposed in the housing, a memory alloy spring disposed in the housing, a return spring disposed in the housing, a shielding member slidably disposed in the housing corresponding to the image pickup module, and a switch button slidably disposed on the housing and connected to the shielding member. The two ends of the memory alloy are respectively connected with the positioning piece and the shell. The two ends of the return spring are respectively connected with the positioning piece and the shell, and the memory alloy spring and the return spring are respectively positioned at two opposite sides of the positioning piece. The shielding member is connected with the positioning member. The shielding piece releases the shielding of the light path of the camera module in the opening state, and the memory alloy spring has a first length. In the closed state, the shutter blocks the light path of the camera module, and the memory alloy spring has a second length greater than the first length.

Based on the above, in the image capturing device of the present invention, the shielding member can intercept the light path of the image capturing module, so that the image capturing module cannot receive the external light. When the light path of the image capturing module is blocked by the shutter, even if a person (for example, a hacker) enters the image capturing device through the network and controls the image capturing module, the private image of the user cannot be obtained remotely, so that the privacy of the person can be prevented from escaping.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a partially enlarged schematic illustration of an image capturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in an open state;

fig. 1B is a partially enlarged schematic illustration of an image capturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed state;

fig. 2A is a partially omitted schematic view of the image pickup apparatus of fig. 1A;

fig. 2B is a partially omitted schematic view of the image pickup apparatus of fig. 1B;

fig. 3A is a front schematic view of the internal structure of the image pickup apparatus of fig. 2A;

fig. 3B is a front schematic view of the internal structure of the image pickup apparatus of fig. 2B;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial view of the positioning member and positioning rod of FIG. 3A at other viewing angles;

fig. 4B is an enlarged view of a portion of the positioning member and the positioning rod of fig. 3B at other viewing angles.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Fig. 1A is a partially enlarged schematic view of an image capturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in an on state. Fig. 1B is a partially enlarged schematic view of an image capturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed state. Fig. 2A is a partially omitted schematic view of the image pickup apparatus of fig. 1A. Fig. 2B is a partially omitted schematic view of the image pickup apparatus of fig. 1B. Referring to fig. 1A and 1B, in the present embodiment, the image capturing device 100 may be a part of a portable electronic device, and the portable electronic device may be a smart phone, a tablet computer or a notebook computer.

Referring to fig. 1A and fig. 2A, the image capturing apparatus 100 includes a housing 110, an image capturing module 120, and a shielding member 130, wherein the image capturing module 120 and the shielding member 130 are disposed in the housing 110, and the shielding member 130 is capable of sliding relative to the housing 110 and the image capturing module 120. The shutter 130 is disposed corresponding to the image pickup module 120, and the image pickup module 120 is located at one side, for example, the rear side, of the sliding path of the shutter 130. In the open state shown in fig. 2A, the shielding member 130 releases the shielding of the light path of the image capturing module 120, or that is, the light path of the image capturing module 120 is not blocked by the shielding member 130, so that the image capturing module 120 can receive external light.

In the process of switching from the open state shown in fig. 2A to the closed state shown in fig. 2B, the shielding member 130 slides in the first direction D1 relative to the housing 110 and the image capturing module 120, and blocks the optical path of the image capturing module 120, so that the image capturing module 120 cannot receive external light. As shown in fig. 2B, when the light path of the image capturing module 120 is blocked by the shutter 130, even if a person (for example, a hacker) enters the image capturing apparatus 100 through the network and controls the image capturing module 120, the private image of the user cannot be obtained remotely, so that the privacy of the person can be prevented from escaping.

Fig. 3A is a front schematic view of the internal structure of the image pickup apparatus of fig. 2A. Fig. 3B is a front schematic view of the internal structure of the image pickup apparatus of fig. 2B. For clarity of presentation of the internal structural arrangement, the shield 130 in fig. 3A and 3B is shown as a dashed line. Referring to fig. 2A and fig. 3A, in the present embodiment, the image capturing apparatus 100 further includes a positioning member 140, a memory alloy spring 150, a return spring 160, and a switch knob 170, wherein the positioning member 140, the memory alloy spring 150, and the return spring 160 are disposed in the housing 110, and the positioning member 140 can slide relative to the housing 110. In addition, the switch knob 170 is slidably disposed on the housing 110, wherein the sidewall of the housing 110 has a chute 111 penetrating the inside and the outside, and the switch knob 170 is slidably disposed in the chute 111 for being operated by a user.

Referring to fig. 3A and 3B, the positioning member 140 and the switch knob 170 are respectively connected to two ends of the shielding member 130, and the shielding member 130, the positioning member 140 and the switch knob 170 can slide synchronously with respect to the housing 110. On the other hand, the memory alloy spring 150 and the return spring 160 are respectively located at two opposite sides of the positioning member 140, wherein two ends of the memory alloy spring 150 are respectively connected with the positioning member 140 and the housing 110, and two ends of the return spring 160 are respectively connected with the positioning member 140 and the housing 110.

In this embodiment, the memory alloy spring 150 can be electrically stretched, and when the memory alloy spring 150 is stretched from the first length L1 to the second length L2, the memory alloy spring 150 pushes the positioning member 140 to slide in the first direction D1. Meanwhile, the positioning element 140 drives the shielding element 130 to slide in the first direction D1, and the shielding element 130 drives the switch knob 170 to slide in the first direction D1. Finally, the shielding member 130 blocks the light path of the image capturing module 120, as shown in fig. 2B and 3B. In the closed state shown in fig. 3B, the positioning member 140 is locked and temporarily unable to slide relative to the housing 110, and similarly, the shielding member 130 is temporarily unable to slide relative to the housing 110.

On the other hand, the return spring 160 may be a compression spring, and during the sliding process of the positioning member 140 in the first direction D1, the return spring 160 is pressed by the positioning member 140 to generate elastic deformation, as shown in fig. 3A and 3B. Further, the memory alloy spring 150, which is electrically extended, can apply an elastic force to the positioning member 140 in the first direction D1 to simultaneously drive the positioning member 140, the shielding member 130 and the switch knob 170 to slide. Meanwhile, the restoring spring 160 deformed by pressing may apply an elastic force to the positioning member 140 in the second direction D2, and the second direction D2 is opposite to the first direction D1.

In the open state shown in fig. 3A, the positioning member 140 is locked and temporarily unable to slide relative to the housing 110, and similarly, the shielding member 130 is temporarily unable to slide relative to the housing 110. Further, since the memory alloy spring 150 is not energized and the elastic force of the return spring 160 acting on the positioning member 140 is greater than the elastic force of the memory alloy spring 150 acting on the positioning member 140, the memory alloy spring 150 cannot push the positioning member 140 to slide in the first direction D1.

When the memory alloy spring 150 is energized, the elastic force of the memory alloy spring 150 acting on the positioning member 140 is greater than the elastic force of the return spring 160 acting on the positioning member 140, so as to unlock the positioning member 140 and drive the positioning member 140, the shielding member 130 and the switch knob 170 to slide in the first direction D1, so that the shielding member 130 blocks the optical path of the camera module 120, as shown in fig. 3B. In another aspect, the memory alloy spring 150 is electrically extended to unlock the positioning member 140, i.e. the memory alloy spring 150 can overcome the elastic force of the return spring 160 acting on the positioning member 140 to drive the positioning member 140 to slide in the first direction D1. Meanwhile, the positioning element 140 drives the shielding element 130 to slide in the first direction D1, so as to intercept the light path of the camera module 120.

In the closed state shown in fig. 3B, the positioning member 140 is locked and temporarily unable to slide relative to the housing 110, and similarly, the shielding member 130 is temporarily unable to slide relative to the housing 110. In the process of switching from the closed state shown in fig. 3B to the open state shown in fig. 3A, the memory alloy spring 150 is momentarily energized to unlock the positioning member 140 so that the positioning member 140 can slide with respect to the housing 110. After the positioning member 140 is unlocked, the memory alloy spring 150 stops energizing, and since the elastic force of the return spring 160 acting on the positioning member 140 is greater than the elastic force of the memory alloy spring 150 acting on the positioning member 140, the return spring 160 pushes the positioning member 140 to slide in the second direction D2, and the positioning member 140 drives the shielding member 130 to slide in the second direction D2, so as to release the interruption of the optical path of the camera module 120. Meanwhile, the memory alloy spring 150 is shortened from the second length L2 to the first length L1.

Referring to fig. 2A and 3A, in the present embodiment, the shielding member 130 includes a light-transmitting portion 131, a light-shielding portion 132 adjacent to the light-transmitting portion 131, and a positioning portion 133 opposite to the light-shielding portion 132, wherein the switch knob 170 is connected to the light-shielding portion 132, and the positioning member 140 is connected to the positioning portion 133. For example, the light-transmitting portion 131 may be a through hole or a structure allowing light to pass through, and in the open state, the light-transmitting portion 131 is aligned with the camera module 120, so that external light can pass through the light-transmitting portion 131 and be received by the camera module 120. As shown in fig. 2B and 3B, in the closed state, the light shielding portion 132 shields the image capturing module 120. That is, the path of the external light incident on the image pickup module 120 is blocked by the light blocking portion 132.

Referring to fig. 2A to 3B, the image pickup apparatus 100 can be switched between an on state and an off state by controlling the power on and off of the memory alloy spring 150, so that it has excellent operation convenience.

Referring to fig. 2A to 3B, in the present embodiment, the positioning member 140, the shielding member 130 and the switch knob 170 can slide synchronously, when the user toggles the switch knob 170, the switch knob 170 drives the positioning member 140 to slide, and the positioning member 140 drives the shielding member 130 to slide, so that the shielding member 130 blocks the light path of the camera module 120 or releases the light path of the camera module 120.

In the open state shown in fig. 3A, the positioning member 140 is locked and temporarily unable to slide relative to the housing 110, and similarly, the shielding member 130 is temporarily unable to slide relative to the housing 110. The user can toggle the switch knob 170 to slide in the first direction D1 to unlock the positioning element 140, and at the same time, the switch knob 170 drives the positioning element 140 and the shielding element 130 to slide in the first direction D1, so that the shielding element 130 blocks the light path of the camera module 120, as shown in fig. 2B and fig. 3B. In the process of switching from the open state shown in fig. 3A to the closed state shown in fig. 3B, the return spring 160 is pressed by the positioning member 140 to be elastically deformed.

In the closed state shown in fig. 3B, the positioning member 140 is locked and cannot slide relative to the housing 110 temporarily, so the return spring 160 cannot push the positioning member 140 to slide in the second direction D2. Similarly, the shutter 130 is temporarily unable to slide relative to the housing 110. The user can toggle the switch knob 170 to slide in the first direction D1 to unlock the positioning member 140. Then, the switch knob 170 is released. Then, the return spring 160 pushes the positioning member 140 to slide in the second direction D2, and the positioning member 140 drives the shielding member 130 to slide in the second direction D2, so as to release the interruption of the optical path of the image capturing module 120, as shown in fig. 2A and 3A.

Referring to fig. 2A to 3B, the camera device 100 can be switched between an on state and an off state by toggling the switch knob 170 or toggling and releasing the switch knob 170 in sequence, so that the operation is convenient.

Further, the opening (i.e. the blocking of the light path of the image capturing module 120 by the shielding member 130 is released) and closing (i.e. the blocking of the light path of the image capturing module 120 by the shielding member 130) of the image capturing device 100 can be performed by several operation modes, so that the operation convenience and the elasticity are excellent. Further, the first operation mode is an automatic switching mode, and the camera device 100 is switched on and off by controlling the power on and off of the memory alloy spring 150 and with the assistance of the return spring 160. The second operation mode is a manual switch mode, and the camera device 100 is turned on and off by toggling the switch knob 170 or toggling and releasing the switch knob 170 successively and with the aid of the return spring 160. The third operation mode is a manual closing and automatic opening mode, in which the camera device 100 is turned off by toggling the switch knob 170, and in addition, the camera device 100 is turned on by controlling the power on and off of the memory alloy spring 150 and with the assistance of the reset spring 160. The fourth operation mode is an automatic closing and manual opening mode, in which the camera device 100 is turned off by controlling the power on and off of the memory alloy spring 150, and the camera device 100 is turned on by sequentially toggling and releasing the switch knob 170 and being assisted by the reset spring 160.

Fig. 4A is an enlarged view of a portion of the positioning member and the positioning rod of fig. 3A at other viewing angles. Fig. 4B is an enlarged view of a portion of the positioning member and the positioning rod of fig. 3B at other viewing angles. Referring to fig. 3A and fig. 4A, in the present embodiment, the image capturing apparatus 100 further includes a positioning rod 180 disposed in the housing 110, and has a first end 181 and a second end 182 opposite to each other. Specifically, the first end 181 of the positioning rod 180 is pivotally connected to the housing 110, and the second end 182 is slidably connected to the positioning member 140. The second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 slides along a predetermined circular path on the positioning member 140 to limit the reciprocal sliding of the positioning member 140 within a predetermined stroke.

The positioning member 140 has an annular positioning track 141, and the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 is slidably connected to the positioning track 141. In the present embodiment, the positioning rail 141 includes a first rail 142, a second rail 143 connected to the first rail 142, and a third rail 144 connected to the first rail 142 and the second rail 143, wherein the first rail 142 has a first positioning point 142a, and the second rail 143 has a second positioning point 143a. On the other hand, the first positioning point 142a and the second positioning point 143a are respectively located at two opposite sides of the third track 144, wherein the first positioning point 142a is adjacent to the junction of the first track 142 and the third track 144, and the second positioning point 143a is adjacent to the junction of the second track 143 and the third track 144.

Referring to fig. 3A to fig. 4B, in the process that the positioning element 140 slides in the first direction D1 and then slides in the second direction D2, the sliding path of the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 in the positioning rail 141 is from the first positioning point 142a along the first rail 142 to the second rail 143, and then slides into the second rail 143 and locks to the second positioning point 143A. Then, the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 slides from the second positioning point 143a into the third rail 144, and then slides along the third rail 144 toward the first rail 142. Finally, the second end 182 of the detent lever 180 slides into the first track 142 and locks into the first detent 142a.

Referring to fig. 4A, there is a difference in height between the junction of the first track 142 and the third track 144, and the third track 144 is higher than the first track 142. Thus, the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 located within the first track 142 cannot slide from the first track 142 into the third track 144. Referring to fig. 4B, there is a difference in height between the junction of the first track 142 and the second track 143, and the first track 142 is higher than the second track 143. Thus, the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 located within the second track 143 cannot slide from the second track 143 into the first track 142. With continued reference to fig. 4B, there is a difference in height between the junction of the second track 143 and the third track 144, and the second track 143 is higher than the third track 144. Thus, once the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 slides into the third track 144, the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 cannot slide from the third track 144 into the second track 143.

In the open state shown in fig. 3A, the memory alloy spring 150 is not energized, wherein the spring force of the memory alloy spring 150 against the positioning member 140 is opposite to the spring force of the return spring 160 against the positioning member 140, and the spring force of the return spring 160 against the positioning member 140 is greater than the spring force of the memory alloy spring 150 against the positioning member 140. That is, the positioning member 140 has a tendency to slide in the second direction D2, however, due to the structural interference of the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 on the positioning member 140, the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 is locked to the first positioning point 142A of the first rail 142, so as to prevent the positioning member 140 from sliding, and ensure that the light path of the image capturing module 120 is not blocked by the shielding member 130, as shown in fig. 2A, 3A and 4A.

In the closed state shown in fig. 3B, the memory alloy spring 150 is not energized, wherein the spring force of the memory alloy spring 150 acting on the positioning member 140 is opposite to the spring force of the return spring 160 acting on the positioning member 140, and the spring force of the return spring 160 acting on the positioning member 140 is greater than the spring force of the memory alloy spring 150 acting on the positioning member 140. That is, the positioning member 140 has a tendency to slide in the second direction D2, however, due to the structural interference of the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 to the positioning member 140, the second end 182 of the positioning rod 180 is locked to the second positioning point 143a of the second track 143 to prevent the positioning member 140 from sliding, and ensure that the shielding member 130 blocks the optical path of the camera module 120, as shown in fig. 2B, 3B and 4B.

In summary, in the image capturing device of the present invention, the shielding member can intercept the light path of the image capturing module, so that the image capturing module cannot receive the external light. When the light path of the image capturing module is blocked by the shutter, even if a person (for example, a hacker) enters the image capturing device through the network and controls the image capturing module, the private image of the user cannot be obtained remotely, so that the privacy of the person can be prevented from escaping. Furthermore, the interruption of the light path of the camera module or the interruption of the light path of the camera module can be completed by an automatic switching mode, a manual closing and automatic switching mode or an automatic closing and manual switching mode, so that the camera module has excellent operation convenience and elasticity.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solution of the present invention, and not for limiting the same; although the invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical scheme described in the foregoing embodiments can be modified or some or all of the technical features thereof can be replaced by equivalents; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

the camera module is configured in the shell;

the positioning piece is arranged in the shell in a sliding way;

a memory alloy spring arranged in the casing, wherein two ends of the memory alloy are respectively connected with the positioning piece and the casing;

the reset spring is configured in the shell, two ends of the reset spring are respectively connected with the positioning piece and the shell, and the memory alloy spring and the reset spring are respectively positioned at two opposite sides of the positioning piece;

a shielding member corresponding to the camera module and slidingly disposed in the casing, wherein the shielding member is connected with the positioning member, in an open state, the shielding member releases the interruption of the optical path of the camera module, and the memory alloy spring has a first length, in a closed state, the shielding member interrupts the optical path of the camera module, and the memory alloy spring has a second length greater than the first length; and

the switch button is arranged on the shell in a sliding way and is connected with the shielding piece.

2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

the positioning rod is arranged in the shell and is provided with a first end and a second end which are opposite, wherein the first end is pivoted with the shell, and the second end is slidingly connected with the positioning piece.

3. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the positioning member has a positioning rail, and the second end is slidingly received in the positioning rail, the positioning rail including a first rail, a second rail connecting the first rail, and a third rail connecting the first rail and the second rail, wherein the first rail has a first positioning point, and the second rail has a second positioning point, the first positioning point and the second positioning point being located on opposite sides of the third rail, respectively.

4. A camera device according to claim 3, wherein the sliding path of the second end of the positioning rod in the positioning rail is from the first positioning point along the first rail to the second rail, then to the second rail and locked to the second positioning point, then to the third rail from the second positioning point, then to the first rail along the third rail, and finally to the first rail and locked to the first positioning point.

5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an elastic force of the memory alloy spring acting on the positioning member is opposite to an elastic force of the return spring acting on the positioning member, and an elastic force of the return spring acting on the positioning member is larger than an elastic force of the memory alloy spring acting on the positioning member, so that the second end of the positioning lever is locked to the first positioning point, and the shielding member releases the interruption of the optical path of the image pickup module.

6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an elastic force of the memory alloy spring acting on the positioning member is opposite to an elastic force of the return spring acting on the positioning member, and an elastic force of the return spring acting on the positioning member is larger than an elastic force of the memory alloy spring acting on the positioning member, so that the second end of the positioning lever is locked to the second positioning point, and the shutter blocks the optical path of the image pickup module.

7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory alloy spring is extended from the first length to the second length to push the positioning member, and the positioning member drives the shielding member and presses the return spring, so that the shielding member blocks the optical path of the image pickup module.

8. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the return spring urges the positioning member, and the positioning member drives the shielding member to release the shielding member from blocking the optical path of the image capturing module, and to shorten the memory alloy spring from the second length to the first length.

9. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an elastic force of the memory alloy spring acting on the positioning member is opposite to an elastic force of the return spring acting on the positioning member, an elastic force of the memory alloy spring acting on the positioning member when energized is larger than an elastic force of the return spring acting on the positioning member, and an elastic force of the memory alloy spring acting on the positioning member when not energized is smaller than an elastic force of the return spring acting on the positioning member.

10. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the return spring includes a compression spring.

11. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shielding member releases the interruption of the optical path of the image capturing module, and the positioning member is locked, in an operation mode, the switch knob is pushed to slide in a first direction by a force to unlock the positioning member, and the shielding member and the positioning member are driven to slide in the first direction, so that the shielding member interrupts the optical path of the image capturing module, and in another operation mode, the memory alloy spring is energized to elongate to unlock the positioning member, and drive the positioning member and the shielding member to slide in the first direction, so that the shielding member interrupts the optical path of the image capturing module.

12. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shutter blocks the light path of the image capturing module, the positioning member is locked, and the return spring is pressed, in an operation mode, the switch knob is pushed to slide in a first direction to unlock the positioning member, then the return spring drives the positioning member and the shutter to slide in a second direction opposite to the first direction, so that the shutter releases the blocking of the light path of the image capturing module, in another operation mode, a memory alloy spring is energized to extend to unlock the positioning member, and then the return spring drives the positioning member and the shutter to slide in a second direction opposite to the first direction, so that the shutter releases the blocking of the light path of the image capturing module.

13. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shielding member includes a light transmitting portion, a light shielding portion adjacent to the light transmitting portion, and a positioning portion with respect to the light shielding portion, wherein the switch knob is connected to the light shielding portion, and the positioning member is connected to the positioning portion, the light transmitting portion being aligned with the image capturing module in an on state, and the light shielding portion shielding the image capturing module in an off state.