Abstract:
A device with a viewfinder and a method using the same are disclosed. The device includes a body, a viewfinder and a linking mechanism. The viewfinder is rotatably connected to the body of the device. The viewfinder rotates between a retracted position and an extended position. The linking mechanism is connected to and rotates the viewfinder.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a device, and more particularly, to a device with a retractable viewfinder.  
         [0002]     A device such as a digital camera shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a body  11  and a conventional viewfinder  12 . The viewfinder  12  comprises a plurality of lenses fixed on the body  11 . Digital cameras normally comprise an LCD display more frequently used than the conventional viewfinder, which is normally only used when battery power is low, such that space occupied by the viewfinder is wasted most of the time.  
         [0003]     It is therefore desirable to provide a retractable viewfinder to further reduce occupied space in the device.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     Accordingly, a device is disclosed comprising a body, a viewfinder, and a linking mechanism. The viewfinder is rotatably connected to the body. The viewfinder may rotate between a retracted position and an extended position. The linking mechanism is connected to and rotates the viewfinder.  
         [0005]     Embodiments of the invention further comprise a driving mechanism connected to and driving the linking mechanism. The driving mechanism may be a pushrod or button. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the examples and references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a conventional camera;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of a device of a first embodiment of the invention, with the retractable viewfinder in a retracted position;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2C  is another schematic diagram of the device of the first embodiment, with the retractable viewfinder in an extended position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2D  is a side view of  FIG. 2C ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic diagram of a device of a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3C  is another schematic diagram of the device of the second embodiment;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3D  is a side view of  FIG. 3C ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram of a device of a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4B  is another schematic diagram of the device of the third embodiment;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a skeleton diagram of a device of a fourth embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a skeleton diagram of a device of a fifth embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     First Embodiment  
       [0020]      FIGS. 2A  to  2 D show a first embodiment of a device of the invention. The device  2  comprises a body  21 , a viewfinder  22 , a linking mechanism  23 , and a driving mechanism. In this embodiment, the driving mechanism is a pushrod  24 . The linking mechanism  23  connects the viewfinder  22  and the body  21 , and the pushrod  24  connects and drives the linking mechanism  23 , such that the viewfinder  22  rotates between a retracted position and an extended position. In this embodiment, device  2  may be a camera, and the viewfinder  22  may comprise one, two, or several lenses.  
         [0021]     The linking mechanism  23  comprises a first rack  231 , a first gear  232 , and a rotating shaft  233 . The first rack  231  connects to the pushrod  24 , the first gear  232  engages the first rack  231 , and the rotating shaft  233  connects the viewfinder  22  and the first gear  232 . Thus, when the pushrod  24  is operated, the first rack  231  moves therewith, and the first gear  232 , the rotating shaft  233 , and the viewfinder  22  are rotated, sequentially.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2A  shows the device  2  before the pushrod  24  is engaged, with the viewfinder  22  in retracted position.  FIG. 2C  shows the device  2  after the pushrod  24  has been engaged, with the viewfinder  22  in extended position.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0023]      FIGS. 3A  to  3 D show a second embodiment of a device of the invention. The device  3  comprises a body  31 , a viewfinder  32 , a linking mechanism  33 , and a driving mechanism. In this embodiment, the driving mechanism is a button  34 . The linking mechanism  33  connects the viewfinder  32  and the body  31 , and the button  34  connects and drives the linking mechanism  33 , such that the viewfinder  32  rotates between a retracted position and an extended position. In this embodiment, device  3  may be a camera, and the viewfinder  32  may comprise one, two, or several lenses.  
         [0024]     The linking mechanism  33  comprises a first worm shaft  331 , a first worm gear  332 , and a rotating shaft  333 . The first worm shaft  331  connects to the button  34 , the first worm gear  332  engages the first worm shaft  331 , and the rotating shaft  333  connects the viewfinder  32  and the first worm gear  332 . Thus, when the button  34  is rotated, the first worm shaft  331 , the first worm gear  332 , the rotating shaft  333 , and the viewfinder  32  are rotated, sequentially.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3A  shows the device  3  before rotation of the button  34 , with the viewfinder  32  in retracted position.  FIG. 3C  shows the device  3  after the button  34  is rotated, with the viewfinder  32  in extended position.  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0026]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a third embodiment of a device of the invention. The device  4  comprises a body  41 , a viewfinder  42 , a linking mechanism, a driving mechanism, and a switch. In this embodiment, the device may be a camera, and the switch is a lens cover  45  for a lens of the camera. Move the lens cover  45  can drive the whole mechanism, and thus the viewfinder  42  rotates between a retracted position and an extended position.  FIG. 4A  shows the lens cover  45  covering the lens and the viewfinder  42  in the retracted position.  FIG. 4B  shows the lens cover  45  open and the viewfinder  42  in the extended position. The linking mechanism is not shown in this embodiment, being identical to that in the first and second embodiments.  
       Fourth Embodiment  
       [0027]      FIG. 5  shows inner structures of a fourth embodiment of a device of the invention. The device comprises a body (not shown), a viewfinder  52 , a linking mechanism  53 , a driving mechanism  54 , and a switch  55 . The linking mechanism  53  connects the viewfinder  52  and the body. The driving mechanism  54  is disposed inside the body, connecting the linking mechanism  53  and the switch  55 . Thus, the viewfinder  52  rotates between a retracted position and an extended position by the switch  55  acting with the driving mechanism  54  and the linking mechanism  53 .  
         [0028]     The linking mechanism  53  in this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, and is thus omitted.  
         [0029]     In this embodiment, the driving mechanism  54  comprises a second rack  542 , a second gear  543 , a second worm gear  544 , a second worm shaft  545 , a third gear  546 , and a fourth gear  547 . The second rack  542  is disposed on the switch  55 . The second gear  543  engages the second rack  542 , the fourth gear  547  engages the second gear  543 , the second worm gear  544  and the fourth gear  547  are coaxial, the second worm shaft  545  engages the second worm gear  544 , and the third gear  546  is disposed at an end of the second worm shaft  545  and engages the first rack  531  of the linking mechanism  53 .  
         [0030]     When the switch  55  is operated, the second rack  542  thereon rotates the second gear  543 , and the fourth gear  547  rotates therewith. Since the second worm gear  544  and the fourth gear  547  are coaxial, the second worm gear  544  rotates together with the fourth gear  547 . The second worm gear  544  rotates the second worm shaft  545 , and the third gear  546 , connected to the second worm shaft  545 , rotates therewith, such that the third gear  546  drives the linking mechanism  53 .  
         [0031]     When operated, the switch  55  drives the driving mechanism  54  and linking mechanism  53  sequentially, such that the viewfinder  52  rotates between the retracted position and the extended position.  
       Fifth Embodiment  
       [0032]      FIG. 6  shows inner structures of a fifth embodiment of a device of the invention. The device comprises a body (not shown), a viewfinder  62 , a linking mechanism  63 , a driving mechanism  64 , and a switch  65 . The linking mechanism  63  connects the viewfinder  62  and the body. The driving mechanism  64  is disposed inside the body, connecting the linking mechanism  63  and the switch  65 . Thus, the viewfinder  62  rotates between a retracted position and an extended position by the switch  65  acting with the driving mechanism  64  and the linking mechanism  63 .  
         [0033]     The linking mechanism  63  in this embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, and is thus omitted.  
         [0034]     In this embodiment, the driving mechanism  64  comprises a second rack  642 , a second gear  643 , a second worm gear  644 , a second worm shaft  645 , a third worm gear  648 , and a fifth gear  649 . The second rack  642  is disposed on the switch  65 . The second gear  643  engages the second rack  642 , and since the fifth gear  649  and the second gear  643  are coaxial, the second worm gear  644  engages the fifth gear  649 , the second worm shaft  645  engages the second worm gear  644 , and the third worm gear  648 , disposed at an end of the second worm shaft  645 , engages the first worm shaft  631  of the linking mechanism  63 .  
         [0035]     When the switch  65  is operated, the second rack  642  thereon rotates the second gear  643 . Since the fifth gear  649  and the second gear  643  are coaxial, the fifth gear  649  rotates with the second gear  643 . The fifth gear  649  rotates the second worm gear  644 , and the second worm gear  644  rotates the second worm shaft  645 , and the third worm gear  648 , connected to the second worm shaft  645 , rotates therewith, such that the third worm gear  648  drives the linking mechanism  63 . In this embodiment, the fifth gear  649  is helical.  
         [0036]     Operating the switch  65  can turn on or off the device. When operated, the switch  65  drives the driving mechanism  64  and linking mechanism  63  sequentially, such that the viewfinder  62  rotates between the retracted position and the extended position.  
         [0037]     The linking mechanism and the driving mechanism mentioned can vary according to different requirements. The combination of the linking and the driving mechanisms can alternatively be applied in a device with a retractable viewfinder.  
         [0038]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.