KR20030073515A - Pc camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A PC camera is provided to prevent a lens from detaching in focusing the lens by remodeling assembly structure. CONSTITUTION: A lens knob(8) faces a front. A lens cap(5) is inserted into the lens knob. A body tube(6) is combined with the lens cap, including a lens(12) inside and a groove(6a) at a rear end of an outer peripheral surface. A housing(7) contains the outer peripheral surface of the body tube and has an inner peripheral surface opposite to the groove of the body tube. An elastic ring(11) is combined with the groove of the body tube and the inner peripheral surface of the housing for preventing the lens from protruding. A USB(Universal Serial Bus) connector and a cable are installed for interfacing with a PC. A main body case includes an image sensor on an image plane installed adjacent to the housing to be connected with the PC by the cable. A stand supports the camera.

Description

PC camera {PC camera}

The present invention relates to a lens unit of a PC camera, and more particularly, to improve the assembly structure of the PC camera lens unit.

In general, the use of PC cameras is increasing rapidly in recent years. The reason for this is that the general public has become more aware of the necessity due to the development of computer-based communication methods and the construction of infrastructure for them.

In general, a PC camera or a digital camera can be largely divided into a CCD method and a CMOS method, which can be explained as follows.

Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) are optical systems that are typically based on analog circuitry. The system stores the charge for each cell when light coming from the lens is shot at various cells, and knows the intensity of the intensity as the magnitude of the charge, and sends it to an analog / digital converter to express color. That's the way.

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors are a system-on-chip concept that integrates analog-signalized digital signal processing circuitry in one place on a semiconductor die, exactly like CMOS semiconductor processes.

CMOS image sensor has some disadvantages such as CCD's fine expression or subtle color division, and the image quality is deteriorated overall.However, because CMOS image sensor is manufactured by general CMOS process, production process is complicated and production cost is low compared to CCD with low yield. As a result, it is expected to replace CCD in most applications in the near future, and CCD is expected to be used in areas requiring high resolution images.

The general configuration of the PC camera as described above is as follows. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional general PC camera. It will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A conventional general PC camera is connected to a PC by a USB connector 101 and a cable 102, and the main body case 103 connected to the cable includes an image plane on which an image sensor is mounted. The main body case 103 includes a lens unit 104 on the front side and a housing coupled to the lens unit 104.

In addition, the body case 103 is supported by a stand 120 located below.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens unit 104 and a housing 107 coupled thereto in a conventional PC camera. As shown in FIG. 2, the lens unit 104 may include a lens 112 having a lens 112 therein. 106 and a lens cap 105 coupled to the barrel 106 and a knob 108 surrounding the barrel 106.

The lens unit 104 used in the PC camera for video communication is used in combination with the housing 107. At this time, the subject passing through the lens 112 of the lens unit is an image located at the end of the housing 107. It is sent to the image sensor 110 on the plane 109, which converts the analog signal into a digital signal and eventually makes the image visible.

At this time, the focus of the lens is adjusted to make the image look accurate. This process is called focusing the lens or adjusting the resolution.

In general, lens focusing in a PC camera focuses by setting a standard distance of 40 Cm to 70 Cm, where a standard distance is a distance between a PC camera and a user when a user performs video communication.

However, when near-field photography is required, such as when a PC camera is used for color code or scanning, the distance should be 10 cm or less, so that the lens is readjusted to the outside of the housing to adjust the resolution.

However, when the lens is adjusted outward in this process, the lens may come off. Such a lens dropping phenomenon may eventually lead to breakage, making the camera unusable.

The present invention aims to prevent breakage and thereby improve reliability by improving the assembly structure of the lens unit in order to prevent the lens detachment phenomenon generated during lens focusing in the PC camera lens unit, which is a problem of the prior art as described above.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional general PC camera.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a lens unit and a housing coupled thereto according to the prior art.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a lens unit and a housing coupled thereto according to the present invention.

4 shows an elastic ring according to the invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

101: USB connector 102: USB cable

103: body case 4, 104: lens unit

5, 105: lens cap 6, 106: barrel

6a: slot 7, 7,107 housing

8, 108: knob 9, 109: image plane

10, 110: image sensor 11: elastic ring

12, 112: lens 120: stand

The present invention includes a lens knob facing the front surface, a lens cap inserted into the lens knob, and a lens coupled to the lens cap, the front end of which is fastened to the lens cap by a thread of the outer circumferential surface, and the rear end of the outer circumferential surface. The housing includes a barrel having a groove, a housing having an outer circumferential surface of the barrel and having an inner circumferential surface facing the groove of the barrel, and an elastic ring coupled to the groove of the barrel circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the barrel to prevent front projection of the lens. A lens unit including; A USB connector and cable installed for interfacing with a PC; A main body case including an image sensor on an image plane installed adjacent to the housing to operate in connection with a PC by the cable; And a stand serving as a support under the main body case.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic ring is characterized in that the C ring in the "C" shape, the material of the C ring is characterized in that the spring steel (SWP) in order to have a more elastic. In addition, the C ring is a preferred feature of the present invention that the angle between both ends is 90 °.

On the other hand, the rear end of the barrel outer peripheral surface is characterized in that the tapered processing so that the detachable of the C ring can be smooth.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The PC camera according to the present invention uses a USB connector and a cable to interface with a PC like a conventional PC camera, and is installed adjacent to the lens unit and the housing to be connected to the PC and operated by the cable. It is provided with a main body case including an image sensor on the image plane, and includes a stand that serves as a support at the bottom of the case as in the prior art.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing an image sensor on a lens plane and an image plane of a PC camera according to the present invention. As shown, a screw thread is provided at the front end of the lens unit 4 and the housing 7 coupled thereto. .

The barrel 6 coupled to the housing 7 is provided with a screw thread on its outer circumferential surface so that the front end is fastened to the lens cap 5 and the rear end is fastened to the housing 7.

However, a groove 6a is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rear end of the barrel 6 so as to prevent the lens in the barrel from protruding forward during focusing, and the groove is formed with an elastic ring 11. For the elastic ring is characterized in that the "C" shaped C ring.

4 is a view showing the shape of the C ring, the C ring is made of spring steel (SWP) to have a sufficient elasticity. In addition, the C ring allows the angle between both ends to be opened by approximately 90 ° so that it can be easily fitted to the barrel. In addition, the rear end of the barrel outer circumferential surface is characterized in that the tapered process so that the detachable detachment of the C ring.

Meanwhile, the knob 8 is provided with a space therein so that the assembly of the lens cap 5 and the barrel 6 can be coupled.

Therefore, the elastic ring 11 of the lens portion consisting of the knob 8, the lens cap 5, the barrel 6, and the housing 7 is formed by the lens 12 in the barrel 6 when focusing. It will serve to prevent anterior protrusion.

Next, the assembly procedure for assembling the lens unit according to the present invention will be briefly described.

First, the assembly of the lens cap (5) and the barrel (6) is assembled by combining with the knob (8), and then bonded by bonding to the inner groove (not shown) of the knob to complete the subassembly. Next, the sub-assembly is assembled to the housing 7 by a screw thread, in which a grease is applied to the screw thread and then screwed onto the screw thread.

Finally, opening the "C" shaped elastic ring 11 into the groove 6a of the barrel 6, the elastic ring is contracted by the elastic force and the lens between the barrel 6 and the housing 7 It is to prevent the protrusion of.

While the invention has been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it is well known in the art that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the claims. Anyone who owns it can easily find out.

By improving the assembly structure of the PC camera lens through the embodiment according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the lens missing phenomenon occurs when the lens focusing, it is possible to prevent the damage to the lens unit and thereby improve the reliability of the product have.

Claims (5)

The present invention includes a lens knob facing the front surface, a lens cap inserted into the lens knob, and a lens coupled to the lens cap, the front end of which is fastened to the lens cap by a thread of the outer circumferential surface, and the rear end of the outer circumferential surface. The housing includes a barrel having a groove, a housing having an outer circumferential surface of the barrel and having an inner circumferential surface facing the groove of the barrel, and an elastic ring coupled to the groove of the barrel circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the barrel to prevent front projection of the lens. A lens unit including; A USB connector and cable installed for interfacing with a PC; A main body case including an image sensor on an image plane installed adjacent to the housing to operate in connection with a PC by the cable; And A stand serving as a support under the main body case; PC camera comprising a. The PC camera of claim 1, wherein the elastic ring is a C ring having a "C" shape. The PC camera according to claim 2, wherein the C ring is made of spring steel (SWP) in order to have elasticity. The PC camera of claim 2, wherein the C ring has an angle of 90 ° between both ends. The PC camera according to claim 1, wherein the rear end of the barrel is tapered.