CN111120811A

CN111120811A - Tiltable imaging system and electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN111120811A
Application number: CN201911390345.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 余林涛; 张志伟
Original assignee: Ruien Photoelectric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ruien Photoelectric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-30
Filing date: 2019-12-30
Publication date: 2020-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-30
Also published as: CN111120811B

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a tiltable imaging system, comprising: the camera module is fixedly connected with the supporting part and used for supporting the camera module; the first telescopic part is connected with the supporting part; and a second expansion part connected with the support part, the first expansion part and the second expansion part enabling the support part to rotate, thereby driving the camera module to rotate, the first expansion part providing a first rotation force enabling the camera module to keep or return to the initial optical axis direction of the lens, the second expansion part providing a second rotation force enabling the camera module to deviate from the initial optical axis direction for inclination, when the first rotation force provided by the first expansion part is greater than the second rotation force provided by the second expansion part, the optical axis direction of the lens is in the initial optical axis direction, and when the first rotation force provided by the first expansion part is less than the second rotation force provided by the second expansion part, the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module deviates from the initial optical axis direction. The present disclosure also provides an electronic device.

Description

Tiltable imaging system and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a tiltable imaging system and an electronic apparatus.

Background

Along with the requirement of the function of the intelligent equipment, more and more intelligent equipment are provided with the cameras, and the requirements on the cameras are different according to the requirement of the intelligent equipment.

For some intelligent devices, the camera is required to be capable of inclining, for example, the camera such as a video conference needs to be adjusted in angle.

Therefore, it is an urgent technical problem to be solved by those skilled in the art to provide a control device capable of effectively controlling the angle of a camera. Moreover, after the liftable camera is adopted, how to lift and incline more effectively and prevent the damage of the camera is also a problem to be solved urgently.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve at least one of the above technical problems, the present disclosure provides an image capturing system and an electronic apparatus.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a tiltable imaging system includes:

a camera module including a lens and for taking an image;

the supporting part is fixedly connected with the camera module and is used for supporting the camera module;

a first telescopic part connected with the support part; and

a second expansion part connected with the support part,

the first telescopic part and the second telescopic part enable the supporting part to rotate around a rotating center of the supporting part so as to drive the camera module to rotate, the first telescopic part provides first rotating force enabling the camera module to keep or return to an initial optical axis direction of the lens, the second telescopic part provides second rotating force enabling the camera module to deviate from the initial optical axis direction to incline, when the first rotating force provided by the first telescopic part is larger than the second rotating force provided by the second telescopic part, the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module is in the initial optical axis direction, and when the first rotating force provided by the first telescopic part is smaller than the second rotating force provided by the second telescopic part, the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module deviates from the initial optical axis direction.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first expansion part is a spring with a constant stiffness coefficient and the second expansion part is an SMA spring; or

The first telescopic part is an SMA spring and the second telescopic part is an SMA spring.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, in a case where the first expansion part is a spring having a constant stiffness coefficient and the second expansion part is an SMA spring, the stiffness of the SMA spring is adjusted by controlling a current supplied to the SMA spring to control a rotational force supplied to the support part by the SMA spring.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, in a case where the first expansion part is an SMA spring and the second expansion part is an SMA spring, the rigidity of the SMA spring is adjusted by controlling the current supplied to the first expansion part and the second expansion part, thereby controlling the rotational force supplied to the support part by the first expansion part and the second expansion part.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, further comprising a first blocking member and a second blocking member, the first blocking member and the second blocking member defining a rotation range of the support portion,

the first blocking piece limits the rotation angle of the supporting portion so as to limit the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module to the initial optical axis direction, and the second blocking piece limits the rotation angle of the supporting portion so as to limit the maximum deviation angle of the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module and the initial optical axis direction.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first blocking member and the second blocking member are in the form of fixed stoppers.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the camera module further includes a first position detecting portion and a second position detecting portion, the first position detecting portion and the second position detecting portion detect a rotation angle of the supporting portion, wherein the first position detecting portion is configured to detect a state where an optical axis direction of a lens of the camera module is in the initial optical axis direction, and the second position detecting portion is configured to detect a state where the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module is at a maximum deviation angle of the initial optical axis direction.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the current of the SMA spring is controlled according to the detection signal of the first position detecting part and/or the second position detecting part.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first position detection part and the second position detection part are hall sensors or limit switches.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the camera module further comprises a lifting device, wherein the lifting device is used for moving the camera module up and down so as to extend or retract the camera module.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the lifting device includes:

a motor including a motor shaft;

the transmission mechanism is combined with the motor shaft;

a rotating mechanism coupled with the transmission mechanism such that rotation of the motor shaft is transmitted to the rotating mechanism, causing the rotating mechanism to rotate;

and the supporting mechanism is connected with the rotating mechanism and converts the rotation of the rotating mechanism into up-and-down movement, so that the camera module is lifted.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transmission mechanism includes a first gear fixed concentrically with the motor shaft and a second gear fixed concentrically with the rotation mechanism, and transmits the rotation of the motor shaft to the rotation mechanism by meshing of the first gear and the second gear.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotation mechanism includes a rotation lever at least a part of which is provided with a threaded portion, and a nut portion that moves up and down with respect to the threaded portion when the rotation lever is rotated.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the support mechanism is in contact with at least an upper side of the nut portion so as to move up and down following the nut portion.

According to at least one embodiment of this disclosure, still include the axial region, the supporting mechanism cover is established in order to follow on the axial region removes.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic apparatus includes the camera system as described above.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a tiltable camera system according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a tiltable camera system according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a tiltable camera system according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a tiltable camera system, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Description of the reference numerals

10 image pickup system

100 camera module

101 camera module

102 support part

103 first expansion part

104 second expansion part

105 shell

106 first barrier

107 second barrier

200 lifting device

201 electric machine

202 transmission mechanism

203 rotating mechanism

204 support mechanism

205 shaft portion

300 casing

400 flexible circuit board

1011 lens

1012 accommodating part

2011 Motor shaft

2021 first gear

2022 second gear

2031 threaded part

2032 nut part

2041 first projection

2042 second projection

2043 supporting part

O center of rotation.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. It should be further noted that, for the convenience of description, only the portions relevant to the present disclosure are shown in the drawings.

It should be noted that the embodiments and features of the embodiments in the present disclosure may be combined with each other without conflict. Technical solutions of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in conjunction with embodiments.

Unless otherwise indicated, the illustrated exemplary embodiments/examples are to be understood as providing exemplary features of various details of some ways in which the technical concepts of the present disclosure may be practiced. Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, features of the various embodiments may be additionally combined, separated, interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from the technical concept of the present disclosure.

The use of cross-hatching and/or shading in the drawings is generally used to clarify the boundaries between adjacent components. As such, unless otherwise noted, the presence or absence of cross-hatching or shading does not convey or indicate any preference or requirement for a particular material, material property, size, proportion, commonality between the illustrated components and/or any other characteristic, attribute, property, etc., of a component. Further, in the drawings, the size and relative sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity and/or descriptive purposes. While example embodiments may be practiced differently, the specific process sequence may be performed in a different order than that described. For example, two processes described consecutively may be performed substantially simultaneously or in reverse order to that described. In addition, like reference numerals denote like parts.

When an element is referred to as being "on" or "on," "connected to" or "coupled to" another element, it can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. However, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element, there are no intervening elements present. For purposes of this disclosure, the term "connected" may refer to physically, electrically, etc., and may or may not have intermediate components.

For descriptive purposes, the present disclosure may use spatially relative terms such as "below … …," below … …, "" below … …, "" below, "" above … …, "" above, "" … …, "" higher, "and" side (e.g., as in "side wall") to describe one component's relationship to another (other) component as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use, operation, and/or manufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below … …" can encompass both an orientation of "above" and "below". Further, the devices may be otherwise positioned (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, when the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" and variations thereof are used in this specification, the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof are stated but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. It is also noted that, as used herein, the terms "substantially," "about," and other similar terms are used as approximate terms and not as degree terms, and as such, are used to interpret inherent deviations in measured values, calculated values, and/or provided values that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a camera system is provided. A schematic cross-sectional view of the camera system 10 is shown in fig. 1 and 2.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the camera system 10 may include a camera module 100, a lifting device 200, and a housing 300.

The camera module 100 can move up and down to protrude out of the housing 300 (see fig. 2) or retract into the housing 300 (see fig. 1). For example, when used, the camera module 100 protrudes outside the housing 300 (see fig. 2), and when not used, the camera module 100 may be housed inside the housing 300 (see fig. 1).

The lifting device 200 may include a motor 201, a transmission mechanism 202, a rotation mechanism 203, and a support mechanism 204.

The motor 201 may include a motor shaft 2011. When the motor 201 is energized, the motor shaft 2011 rotates.

The transmission mechanism 202 may include a form of gear, wherein the gear may include a first gear 2021 and a second gear 2022, wherein the first gear 2021 may be fixed concentrically with the motor shaft 2011, that is, the first gear 2021 may be fixed to the motor shaft 2011.

The rotating mechanism 203 is combined with the transmission mechanism 202. Wherein the rotating mechanism includes a rotating lever, both ends of which can be fixed to the housing 300 and can rotate with respect to the housing 300.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the second gear 2022 may be fixedly disposed on the rotating rod, so that when the motor shaft 2011 rotates, the rotation of the motor shaft 2011 is converted into the rotation of the rotating mechanism 203 through the transmission of the first gear 2021 and the second gear 2022.

The rotating mechanism 203 may include a threaded portion 2031 and a nut portion 2032. The threaded portion 2031 occupies at least a part of the rotating lever, and the nut portion 2032 is fitted on the threaded portion 2031, and when the rotating mechanism 203 rotates, the nut portion 2032 moves up and down relative to the threaded portion 2031 by meshing.

The support mechanism 204 is for supporting the camera module 100, and it can move up and down with the up and down movement of the nut portion 2032.

The support mechanism 204 is in contact with at least the upper side of the nut portion 2032, and thus moves up and down following the nut portion 2032. For example, the support mechanism 204 has a first protruding portion 2041, and the lower surface of the first protruding portion 2041 abuts against the upper surface of the nut portion 2032, so that the support mechanism 204 can be supported by the nut portion 2032.

The support mechanism 204 may further include a second protrusion 2042, and a space accommodating the nut portion 2032 is formed between the second protrusion 2042 and the first protrusion 2041 so as to be located between the second protrusion 2042 and the first protrusion 2041.

The support mechanism 204 may further include a support part 2043, the support part 2043 being located at a lower side of the camera module 100 for supporting the camera module 100.

In addition, a shaft portion 205 may be further included, and both ends of the shaft portion 205 are fixedly connected to both sides of the housing 300, respectively. The shaft portion 205 provides a guide for the support mechanism 204 so as to stably move up and down the support mechanism 204. Accordingly, a hollow portion is provided inside the support mechanism 204 so as to accommodate the shaft portion 205.

With the above-described lifting device 200, when it is necessary to extend or retract the camera module 100 into or from the housing 300, the motor 201 is used to stably drive the camera module.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the tiltable camera system may further include a flexible circuit board 400 (FPC). The flexible circuit board 400 is connected to the camera module 100 and an external circuit, respectively, so as to transmit control signals and supply power.

Fig. 3(a) shows a front sectional view of the camera module 100, and fig. 3(b) shows a side sectional view of the camera module 100.

The camera module 100 may include a camera module 101 having a lens 1011 and a receptacle 1012. The lens 1011 is used for shooting, and the accommodating part 1012 may be used for accommodating the camera.

The camera module 100 may further include a support portion 102. The supporting portion 102 is fixedly connected to the camera module 101 and is used for supporting the camera module 101.

The camera module 100 may further include a first telescopic part 103 and a second telescopic part 104. The first telescopic part 103 is connected to the support part 102, and the second telescopic part 104 is connected to the support part 102.

The first telescopic part 103 and the second telescopic part 104 enable the supporting part 102 to rotate around the rotation center O of the supporting part, so as to drive the camera module 101 to rotate, the first telescopic part 103 provides a first rotating force for keeping or returning the camera module 101 to the initial optical axis direction of the lens, and the second telescopic part 104 provides a second rotating force for making the camera module 101 deviate from the initial optical axis direction to tilt, wherein when the first rotating force provided by the first telescopic part 103 is greater than the second rotating force provided by the second telescopic part 104, the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module 101 is in the initial optical axis direction, and when the first rotating force provided by the first telescopic part 103 is less than the second rotating force provided by the second telescopic part, the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module 101 deviates from the initial optical axis direction.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a housing 105 is further included, wherein a portion of the support portion 102 and the first and second

telescopic portions

103 and 104 are disposed in the housing 105, and an upper side of the housing 105 leaves a space for the support portion 102 to rotate.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first telescopic part 103 and the second telescopic part 104 may be in the form of controllable compression rods, and one end of the compression rod is connected to the supporting part 102, and the other end is connected to the housing 105, and the tilt rotation of the camera module 101 is realized by controlling the difference of the forces provided by the two compression rods.

In an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and

second bellows

103, 104 are in the form of springs, which will be described in detail below, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the implementation principle is the same when a compression rod is used.

First, in the case of the spring type, the first expansion part 103 may be a spring having a constant stiffness coefficient, and the second expansion part 104 may be an SMA spring.

One end of the spring of the first telescopic part 103 may be fixed to the lower end of the support part 102, and the first telescopic part 103 may be fixed to the housing 105. One end of the spring of the second telescopic part 104 may be fixed to the lower end of the support part 102, and the second telescopic part 104 may be fixed to the housing 105.

As can be seen from fig. 3(b), the arrangement directions of the first and second

telescopic parts

103 and 104 are opposite, so that a right or left pulling force in fig. 3(b) can be provided. When the force provided by the first telescopic part 103 is greater than the force provided by the second telescopic part 104, the support part 102 tilts to the left, and when the force provided by the first telescopic part 103 is less than the force provided by the second telescopic part 104, the support part 102 tilts to the right.

In a specific control process, the rigidity of the SMA spring may be changed by changing the value of the current supplied to the SMA spring through the FPC400, and when the current is large, the rigidity of the SMA spring is large, and when the current is small, the rigidity of the SMA spring is small.

According to another alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the first telescopic part 103 may be an SMA spring and the second telescopic part 104 may be an SMA spring.

telescopic parts

In a particular control process, the value of current provided to the two SMA springs by FPC400 may be varied to vary the stiffness of the two SMA springs.

According to a further embodiment, as shown in fig. 3(b), the camera module 101 may further include a first stopper 106 and a second stopper 107, and the first stopper 106 and the second stopper 107 define a rotation range of the support portion 102, thereby defining a rotation range of the lens.

The first stopper 106 defines a rotation angle of the support portion 102 to define an optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module 101 to an initial optical axis direction (a horizontal direction as shown in the figure), and the second stopper 107 defines a rotation angle of the support portion 102 to define a maximum deviation angle of the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module 101 from the initial optical axis direction.

The first blocking member 106 and the second blocking member 107 may be in the form of fixed stops, for example two stops may be fixedly arranged on the housing 105.

According to an optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the first stopper 106 and the second stopper 107 may be replaced with a first position detection part and a second position detection part, which detect the rotation angle of the support part 102, wherein the first position detection part is configured to detect a state that the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module 101 is in the initial optical axis direction, and the second position detection part is configured to detect a state that the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module 101 is in the maximum deviation angle of the initial optical axis direction.

In a specific application, the first position detection part and the second position detection part are Hall sensors or limit switches. The current of the SMA spring is controlled based on the detection signal of the first position detector and/or the second position detector (both of the two SMA springs and the one SMA spring can be controlled).

Specifically, for example, a hall sensor is provided on the housing 105, a permanent magnet is provided on the support portion 102, the current of the SMA spring is controlled when returning to the initial optical axis direction is required, and the SMA spring is controlled to be stabilized in the initial optical axis direction when the hall element of the first position detection portion detects that the support portion is in place. When the maximum inclination angle is required to be reached, the current of the SMA spring is controlled, and when the Hall element of the second position detection part detects that the supporting part is in place, the SMA spring is controlled to be stabilized to the maximum inclination angle.

Fig. 4 shows the rotation of SMA springs after energization (only one SMA spring is used as an example), fig. 4(a) is in the initial optical axis direction, and fig. 4b is at the maximum tilt angle. For example, the maximum inclination angle may be set according to actual conditions, for example, 40 °.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, for example in the case of a teleconference, the positions of the participants of the conference may be automatically detected, and the first and second telescopic mechanisms may be controlled according to the detected positions, thereby achieving the tilting of the lens.

The present disclosure also provides an electronic device including the above-mentioned camera system.

In the description herein, reference to the description of the terms "one embodiment/mode," "some embodiments/modes," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment/mode or example is included in at least one embodiment/mode or example of the application. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above are not necessarily intended to be the same embodiment/mode or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments/modes or examples. Furthermore, the various embodiments/aspects or examples and features of the various embodiments/aspects or examples described in this specification can be combined and combined by one skilled in the art without conflicting therewith.

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present application, "plurality" means at least two, e.g., two, three, etc., unless specifically limited otherwise.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing embodiments are merely for clarity of illustration of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Other variations or modifications may occur to those skilled in the art, based on the foregoing disclosure, and are still within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A tiltable camera system, comprising:

a camera module including a lens and for taking an image;

a first telescopic part connected with the support part; and

a second expansion part connected with the support part,

the first and second extendable portions cause the support portion to rotate about a center of rotation of the support portion, thereby driving the camera module to rotate, the first telescopic part provides a first rotating force for keeping or returning the camera module to the initial optical axis direction of the lens, the second telescopic part provides a second rotating force for deviating the camera module from the initial optical axis direction to tilt, wherein when the first rotating force provided by the first telescopic part is larger than the second rotating force provided by the second telescopic part, the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module is in the initial optical axis direction, when the first rotating force provided by the first telescopic part is smaller than the second rotating force provided by the second telescopic part, the optical axis direction of the lens of the camera module deviates from the initial optical axis direction.

2. A tiltable camera system according to claim 1,

the first telescopic part is a spring with constant rigidity coefficient, and the second telescopic part is an SMA spring; or

3. A tiltable camera system according to claim 2,

when the first expansion part is a spring with a constant rigidity coefficient and the second expansion part is an SMA spring, the rigidity of the SMA spring is adjusted by controlling the current supplied to the SMA spring so as to control the rotating force supplied to the support part by the SMA spring.

4. A tiltable camera system according to claim 2,

when the first expansion part is an SMA spring and the second expansion part is an SMA spring, the rigidity of the SMA spring is adjusted by controlling the current supplied to the first expansion part and the second expansion part, thereby controlling the rotating force supplied to the support part by the first expansion part and the second expansion part.

5. The tiltable camera system of any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a first blocking member and a second blocking member, said first blocking member and second blocking member defining a range of rotation of said support portion,

6. A tiltable camera system according to claim 5, wherein the first and second stops are in the form of fixed stops.

7. The tiltable camera system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a first position detecting portion and a second position detecting portion, said first position detecting portion and said second position detecting portion detecting a rotation angle of said supporting portion, wherein said first position detecting portion is provided to detect a state where an optical axis direction of a lens of said camera module is in said initial optical axis direction, said second position detecting portion is provided to detect a state where the optical axis direction of the lens of said camera module is at a maximum deviation angle of said initial optical axis direction.

8. The tiltable camera system according to claim 7, wherein the current of the SMA spring is controlled according to the detection signal of said first position detecting portion and/or said second position detecting portion.

9. The tiltable camera system according to claim 8, wherein said first and second position detecting portions are hall sensors or limit switches.

10. A tiltable camera system as in claim 1, further comprising a lifting device for moving said camera module up and down to extend or retract said camera module.