Abstract:
An exemplary clamping apparatus ( 9 ) for optical members ( 40 ) includes a holder ( 10 ) and a protecting member ( 20 ). The holder has a plurality of receiving members ( 12 ) therein for receiving the optical members. The protecting member covers the optical members and carries a static electrical charge.

Description:
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to clamping apparatuses and, more particularly, to a clamping apparatus configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for receiving optical members such as optical lenses, optical filters, or such like.  
       2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     With the ongoing development of micro-circuitry and multimedia technologies, digital cameras have become a highly popular way of taking pictures. High-end portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), are being developed to include increasing numbers of special features. Many of these portable electronic devices are now equipped with a digital camera module, these electronic devices enable consumers to enjoy capturing digital pictures anytime and anywhere, the smallest and most eye-catching cameras being the most popular.  
         [0003]     In camera modules, optical lenses are very important to the quality of the pictures captured by the camera modules. Many optical lenses are made of plastic. In the manufacturing process after injection molding the optical lenses, they are received in a clamping apparatus before plating a film thereon. However, optical elements are easily become charged with static electricity. The optical elements are prone to attract dust from the air due to the static electricity. As a result, a surface of each optical element may easily become polluted.  
         [0004]     Therefore, a new clamping apparatus is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In one embodiment thereof, a clamping apparatus for optical members includes a holder and a protecting member. The holder has a plurality of receiving members therein for receiving the optical members. The protecting member covers the optical members and carries a static electrical charge.  
         [0006]     Other advantages and novel features of the embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Many aspects of the present clamping apparatus can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the clamping apparatus and its potential applications. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a holder with optical members of a clamping apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an assembled, isometric view of the clamping apparatus with optical members; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cut-away view of the clamping apparatus with optical members along line III-III in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     Referring now to the drawings in detail,  FIGS. 2-3  show a clamping apparatus with optical members  40  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The clamping apparatus includes two holders  10 , two protecting members  20 , a plurality of spacers  30 , and two electrostatic sources  50 . The spacers  30  are placed between the holder  10  and the protecting member  20 . The electrostatic source  50  is electrically connected with the holder  10  and the protecting member  20 . The clamping apparatus is capable of receiving a plurality of optical members  40  at a time.  
         [0012]     Also referring to  FIG. 1 , the optical members  40  may be optical lenses, optical filters, or such like. In this embodiment, each optical member  40  has a positioning portion  402  and an optical portion  400 . The optical portion  400  is provided in a center of the positioning portion  402 . The optical portion  400  is configured for allowing light to pass through. The positioning portion  402  is configured for mounting the optical member  40  to the clamping apparatus.  
         [0013]     Each holder  10  is a substantially square board in shape and is preferably made of metal. A plurality of receiving members  12  is arrayed in the holder  10  for receiving the optical members  40 . The receiving member  12  includes a light-passing hole  120  and a positioning hole  122 . The light-passing hole  120  is defined in one surface of the holder  10 . The positioning hole  122  is defined in the other opposing surface of the holder  10 . The light-passing hole  120  and the positioning hole  122  communicate with each other and are coaxially arranged. A diameter of the light-passing hole  120  is smaller than a diameter of the positioning hole  122 . The diameter of the positioning hole  122  is engaged with a diameter of the positioning portion  402  of the optical member  40  thereby allowing the positioning hole  122  to receive the positioning portion  402 . The diameter of the light-passing hole  120  is matched with a diameter of the optical portion  400  of the optical member  40  in a manner such that all light from the light-passing hole  120  can completely pass through the optical portion  400 .  
         [0014]     Further referring to  FIG. 3 , each protecting member  20  is a film or a thin board. The protecting member  20  is preferably made of polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene. Each spacer  30  is made of electrically insulating material such as plastic, wood and such like.  
         [0015]     In use, a plurality of optical members  40  are disposed in the receiving members  12  of one holder  10 . One part of the positioning portion  402  of each optical member  40  is received in the positioning hole  122  of the receiving member  12 . The optical portion  400  of each optical member  40  is exposed out from the light-passing hole  120  of the receiving member  12 . The other holder  10  is placed on the holder  10  with optical members  40 . The other part of the positioning portion  402  is received in the positioning hole  122  of the other holder  10 . Thus the optical members  40  are held by the two holders  10 . The plurality of spacers  30  is placed on a periphery of each surface having the light-passing hole  120  of the holders  10 . The protecting member  20  is placed on the spacers  30  thereby covering each surface having the light-passing hole  120  of the holders  10 . An anode of each electrostatic source  50  is electrically connected to one protecting member  20 . A cathode of each electrostatic source  50  is electrically connected to one holder  10 . Thus each protecting member  20  is electrified with negative electrical charge thereby attracting dust from the air.  
         [0016]     It is to be understood that the light-passing hole  120  may be conical in shape. One holder  10  may be omitted. That is to say there is only one holder  10  to receive the optical members  40 . The protecting member  20  may be electrified with tribo-electricity by friction. The spacers  30  may be omitted and the protecting members  20  can be directly provided on the holders  10 .  
         [0017]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.