A webcam built in an electronic device includes a housing, a video camera, and a latching mechanism. The video camera is movable between a first location in the housing and a second location outside the housing. The latching mechanism maintains the video camera at the first location and the second location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electronic device with a built-in webcam, and in particular relates to a built-in webcam which includes a video camera with more than one degree of rotation for easy adjustment of filming angles and capable of being received in the electronic device when not in use to avoid contamination.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, external and internal webcams are available.

An external webcam is disposed outside a computer or other information technology (IT) products, and thus has less space limitations in use. Furthermore, an external webcam has a simpler structure and more flexible adjustment of the orientation and elevation than an internal webcam.

An internal webcam is generally mounted in a portable computer, and can only be rotated about a single axis for changing the elevation angle. Thus, users usually need to adjust their position to be filmed by the webcam. Such an operation is not convenient. Furthermore, the lens of an internal webcam is exposed to the atmosphere without any means of protection and is thus easily contaminated by dust and fingerprints.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a built-in webcam for an electronic device. The webcam includes a video camera with more than one degree of rotation for easy adjustment of filming angles and capable of being received in the electronic device when not in use to avoid contamination.

The webcam of the invention includes a housing, a video camera, a latching mechanism, and a support stand. The video camera is movable between a first location in the housing and a second location outside the housing. The housing protects the video camera at the first location from contaminants. The latching mechanism maintains the video camera at the first location and the second location.

The support stand is movably disposed in the housing. The video camera is rotatably mounted on the support stand.

The support stand includes a first neck part. The video camera includes a first cover, a second cover, a third cover, and a fourth cover. The first cover and the second cover respectively include first indentations which constitute a first hole, allowing the first neck part to pass through. The third cover and the fourth cover respectively include second neck parts. The first cover and the second cover further include second indentations which constitute a second hole, allowing the second neck parts to pass through. Thus, the third cover and the fourth cover are rotatable with respect to the first cover and the second cover.

From the above descriptions, the first and second covers of the video camera are rotatable with respect to the support stand. Also, the third and fourth covers are rotatable with respect to the first and second covers. It is understood that the video camera has more than one degree of rotation for easy adjustment of the filming angles in operation to meet user requirements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A portable computer is used for introducing a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is understood, however, that the invention is applicable to other electronic devices.

Referring toFIG. 1A, a portable computer1has a monitor70and a built-in webcam disposed at the top of the monitor70. To use a video camera30of the webcam, the user presses a latching mechanism10as shown inFIG. 1B, to eject the video camera30from the monitor70. The video camera30can be rotated about a Y-axis and a Z-axis as shown inFIG. 1C, for adjusting the filming angles of the video camera30.

In a retraction operation, the video camera30is returned to the position as shown inFIG. 1B. Then, the latching mechanism10is pressed, the video camera30is pressed into the monitor70, and the latching mechanism10is released to maintain the video camera30in the monitor70. The detailed structure of the webcam is introduced in the following.

Referring toFIG. 2, the webcam of the invention includes a latching mechanism10, a housing20, a video camera30, a support stand40, at least one spring50, and a bottom cover60.

The housing20is substantially rectangular, with through holes23provided on the longer sides and through holes21and21′ provided on the shorter sides. Furthermore, a plurality of parallel grooves22and25are provided on inner walls of the housing20.

The bottom cover60is fixed in the monitor70of the portable computer1and has hooks61and62on its edges. The housing20is fixed to the bottom cover60via engagement of the hooks61with the through holes23. The latching mechanism10is fixed to the bottom cover60via engagement of the hooks62with the bottom of the latching mechanism10. Furthermore, an opening64is provided on the bottom cover60for a power and signal cable (not shown) to pass through.

The support stand40supports the video camera30and has a plurality of bumps41and42on its bottom. The bumps41and42are disposed in the grooves25and22of the housing20. When the support stand40slides in the housing20, the bumps41and42on the support stand40slide in the grooves25and22.

An end of the spring50abuts the support stand40, while the other end abuts the bottom cover60. When the video camera30stays in the housing20, the spring50is compressed. The restoring force of the spring50is used for ejecting the video camera30from the housing20.

The latching mechanism10is used for maintaining the video camera30at a first location in the housing20and at a second location outside the housing20. In the following, the detailed structure of the latching mechanism10, the actions of all of the elements of the latching mechanism10, and the: process of positioning the video camera30by the latching mechanism10are described in order.

FIG. 3is an exploded perspective diagram of the latching mechanism. The latching mechanism10includes a button11, a frame body15, two latches12and12′, a connecting link13, and a spring14. The latches12and12′ are disposed in the frame body15. The latches12and12′ have end parts122and122′ protruding from the frame body15through the openings153and153′, and resilient parts121and121′ abutting the inner wall of the frame body15. The connecting link13passes through an opening157of the frame body15, through holes123′ and123of the latches12′ and12, and an opening155of the frame body15. A hook131of the connecting link13engages a hook111of the button11. The spring14abuts the connecting link13and the inner wall of the frame15, wherein a pin133of the connecting link13extends downward and a pin151of the frame body15extends upward to position the spring14.

Referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B, the connecting link13includes first inclined surfaces135and135′. The latches12and12′ include through holes123and123′ and second inclined surfaces124and124′ in the through holes123and123′. When the button11is pressed at a distance ΔZ from a reference line L1, the connecting link13is moved downward along with the button11. Meanwhile, the first inclined surfaces135and135′ of the connecting link13push the second inclined surfaces124and124′ in the through holes123and123′ of the latches12and12′, so that the latches12and12′ are moved to the left inFIG. 4Bat a distance ΔY from a reference line L2. Thus, the resilient parts121and121′ against the inner wall of the frame body15are compressed, and the end parts122and122′ protruding through the openings153and153′ are retracted within the frame body15. When the button11is released, the latches12and12′ return to the reference line L2via the restoring forces of the resilient parts121and121′.

The support stand40is fastened by the lower latch12′ when the video camera30stays in the housing20, where the end part122′ of the lower latch12′ contacts the bump41of the support stand40to resist the restoring force of the spring50. When the button11of the latching mechanism10is pressed, the end parts122and122′ of the latches12and12′ are simultaneously retracted within the frame body15to release the support stand40. Then, the video camera30is ejected from the housing20by the spring50, as shown inFIG. 1B. The button11is then released to project the latches12and12′ through the openings153and153′ of the frame body15. Thus, the bump41of the support stand40is supported by the end part122of the upper latch12to position the video camera30.

In the operation of retracting the video camera30, the button11is pressed to retract the latches12and12′ within the frame body15thus removing the support of the end part122to the bump41. Then, the video camera30is pressed into the housing20. Then, the button11is released to project the latches12and12′ from the frame body15. Thus, the latch12′ positions the support stand40, with the end part122′ contacting the bump41, and resists the storing force of the spring50.

Referring toFIG. 5, the video camera30includes a first cover36, a second cover37, a third cover38, a fourth cover39, a printed circuit board32, a lens31, and a power and signal cable33. The printed circuit board32is disposed between the third cover38and the fourth cover39. The lens31is mounted on the printed circuit board32. The fourth cover39defines an opening393to expose the lens31. Further referring toFIG. 6, the first cover36and the second cover37respectively include semi-circular first indentations361,373and second indentations362,375. The first indentations361and373constitute a first hole for a first neck part46of the support stand40to pass through. This arrangement allows the video camera30to rotate about the Z axis. Furthermore, the second indentations362and375constitute a second hole for second neck parts383and397of the third and fourth covers38and39to pass through. This arrangement allows the video camera30to rotate about the Y-axis.

It is noted that the first cover36includes a threaded hole363and the second cover37includes a threaded post377corresponding to the threaded hole363. The first, second, third, and fourth covers36,37,38, and39are assembled via a single screw (not shown) which is passed through the threaded hole363into the threaded post377.

The support stand40includes a flange43preventing separation of the video camera30therefrom. Also, the third and fourth covers38and39have flanges381and391preventing separation of the first and second covers36and37therefrom.

The power and signal cable33extends from the printed circuit board32, through the chamber formed by the first and second covers36and37, the hollow support stand40and the opening64of the bottom cover60, to a printed circuit board (not shown) of the portable computer1. For clarity,FIG. 5only shows a part of the power and signal cable33.

When the video camera30is rotated about the Y-axis and the Z-axis, the power and signal cable33is rotated together with the video camera30. The rotational angle of the video camera30must be limited to avoid damage to the power and signal cable33arising from excessive torsion.FIG. 5shows a first protrusion44provided on the flange43of the support stand40.FIG. 6shows an L-shaped second protrusion371provided on the second cover37.FIGS. 7A and 7Bshow the relationship of the first protrusion44and the second protrusion371in the assembled video camera30, observed in a direction—Z. When the video camera30is rotated about the, Z-axis, the second protrusion371is rotated together with the video camera30. Rotation of the video camera30continues until the second protrusion371contacts the first protrusion44. Thus, the rotational angle of the video camera30about the Z-axis is limited for avoiding damage to the power and signal cable33arising from excessive torsion. Furthermore, a third protrusion395is provided on the flange391of the fourth cover39.FIGS. 8A and 8Bshow the relationship of the third protrusion395and the second protrusion371in the assembled video camera30, observed in a direction Y. When the video camera30is rotated about the Y-axis, the third protrusion395is rotated together with the video camera30. Rotation of the video camera30continues until the third protrusion395contacts the second protrusion371. Thus, the rotational angle of the video camera30about the Y-axis is limited for avoiding damage to the power and signal cable33arising from excessive torsion.

From the above descriptions, it is understood that the invention provides a built-in webcam which has a video camera with more than one degree of rotation for easy adjustment of filming angles and capable of being received in the electronic device when not in use to avoid contamination.