Flash module and image capturing system

A flash module including a main body, a fixing base, a rotating structure, a switch and a linking structure is disclosed. The rotating structure is movably connected between the main body and the fixing base. The switch has a moving part. The linking structure is connected between the rotating structure and the moving part. The linking structure moves the moving part to an open position from a close position and rotates the rotating structure, so that the main body is moved relative to the fixing base.

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 100127106, filed Jul. 29, 2011, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to a flash module, and more particularly to a flash module with automatic ejection function and an image capturing system.

2. Description of the Related Art

The camera normally uses a flash module to compensate the insufficient light when taking photos. Ordinary camera has an inbuilt small-sized flash module having a small volume and saving the trouble of carrying an extra flash module for the user.

The flash module is a light assistance device, and has been widely used in to provide an auxiliary light for the camera. In order to realize the function of high magnification zooming, the lens of new style cameras (such as an ordinary camera, a digital camera or a digital video camera with advanced system) is correspondingly increased. However, the performance of the inbuilt flash module is not satisfactory. As the optical viewfinder (OVF) has gradually been replaced by the electronic viewfinder (EVF), the design of camera is directed towards miniaturization, and the structural space of the camera is further reduced. Under such circumstances, a hidden flash module which is ejected when in use has become a prominent task for the industries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a flash module and an image capturing system. With the cooperation of a rotating structure, a linking structure and a switch, the main body of the flash module inside the camera is moved relative to the fixing base so that the flash light is activated.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a flash module including a main body, a fixing base, a rotating structure, a switch and a linking structure is disclosed. The rotating structure is movably connected between the main body and the fixing base. The switch has a moving part. The linking structure is connected between the rotating structure and the moving part. The linking structure moves the moving part to an open position from a close position to rotate the rotating structure, so that the main body is moved relative to the fixing base.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an image capturing system including a flash module, a detection unit and a control center is disclosed. The flash module includes a main body, a fixing base, a rotating structure, a switch and a linking structure. The detection unit receives an ambient light beam. The control center is electrically connected to the detection unit, and used to calculate an ambient brightness of the ambient light beam. When the ambient brightness is lower than a predetermined value, the control center emits a control signal for the linking structure moving the moving part to an open position from a close position to rotate the rotating structure.

According to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, an image capturing system including a flash module, a detection unit, a position sensor and a control center is disclosed. The flash module includes a main body, a fixing base, a rotating structure, a switch and a linking structure. The detection unit receives an ambient light beam. The position sensor detects a position of the main body and outputs a position signal. The control center, electrically connected to the detection unit and the position sensor, receives the position signal and calculates an ambient brightness of the ambient light beam. When the ambient brightness is lower than a predetermined value, the control center determines whether to emit a control signal according to the position signal, and the linking structure moves the moving part to an open position from a close position for rotating the rotating structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present embodiment discloses a flash module. With the cooperation of a rotating structure, a linking structure and a switch (such as an electromagnetic actuator), the main body of the image capturing system with image capturing function is moved relative to the fixing base to activate the flash light. The image capturing system, such as a camera, a video recorder, a mobile communication device and a portable data processor, is exemplified by a camera in the present embodiment. However, the invention is not restricted by such exemplification. The rotating structure includes a rotational arm, a fixing shaft and a rotational arm spring, and is movably connected between the main body and the fixing base. The switch has a moving part which is fastened inside the switch by a magnetism of the switch. When the camera receives a signal for activating a flash light, the switch is instantaneously electrified to generate an electromagnetic field which offsets the magnetism of the switch and makes the moving part no more attracted by magnetism and is accordingly detached from the switch. The linking structure is connected between the rotating structure and the moving part. When the moving part is no more restricted by the magnetism, the linking structure moves the moving part to an open position from a close position and rotates the rotating structure, so that the main body is moved relative to the fixing base.

A number of embodiments are disclosed below for elaborating the invention. However, the embodiments of the invention are for detailed descriptions only, not for limiting the scope of protection of the invention.

Referring toFIG. 1A˜1BandFIG. 2A˜2D.FIG. 1Ashows an appearance view of a camera.FIG. 1Bshows a main body inside a camera being ejected.FIGS. 2A˜2Drespective show the movements of a flash module according to an according of the invention.

As indicated inFIGS. 1A and 1B, when the user slightly presses the camera button20, the detection unit30and the control center40of the camera10detects an ambient brightness of an ambient light and determines whether to activate the flash light when taking photos. If it is determined that the ambient brightness is too low, then the flash module100, as indicated inFIG. 1B, performs a series of actions to eject the main body110and activate the flash light when the user really presses the camera button20. The detection unit30may be activated by an inbuilt firmware or by a manual man-machine interface (such as button or touch screen), and the invention is not limited thereto. The detection unit, such as an image sensor, receives an ambient light through the preview mode of the image sensor. The control center calculates the ambient brightness of the sensed ambient light and estimates whether the ambient brightness is too low. The image sensor, such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), forms a preview image after receiving the ambient light. The detection unit may also be realized by a photoelectric sensor disposed on the camera10.

In the part of the image capturing system disclosed above, the detection unit30is electrically connected to the flash module100by the control center40inside the camera10. When the ambient brightness is lower than a predetermined value, the control center40emits a control signal, so that the main body110is moved to the open position. As indicated inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the flash module100includes a main body110, a fixing base120, a rotating structure130, a switch140and a linking structure150. The rotating structure130is movably connected between the main body110and the fixing base120. The rotating structure130includes a rotational arm132, a fixing shaft134and two rotational arm springs136. The fixing shaft134has two ends E1and E2. The rotational arm132is mounted on the two ends E1and E2of the fixing shaft134and rotates around the fixing shaft134. The rotational arm springs136are disposed on the two ends of the fixing shaft134, and provides a rotational force for the rotational arm132to drive the main body110to be moved relative to the fixing base120and ejected upward as indicated inFIG. 2B. The rotational arm spring136includes at least one torsion spring. The quantity of torsion spring is at least one and is not restricted in the invention.

The switch140, such as an electromagnetic actuator, has a moving part142, such as a metal piece or a magnetic/iron object. The linking structure150is connected between the rotating structure130and the moving part142. The linking structure150includes a first rotary clasp151, a second rotary clasp152, a first clasp spring153(denoted in dotted lines) and a second clasp spring154(denoted in dotted lines). The moving part142has an opening144. The first rotary clasp151has a hook155which buckles the moving part142through the opening144. The first clasp spring153and the second clasp spring154respectively include at least one torsion spring. The quantity of torsion spring is at least one and is not restricted in the invention.

Referring toFIG. 1AandFIG. 2A. The moving part142is attracted by the magnetism and becomes fastened inside the switch140. When the flash module100is still and received in the camera10, the second rotary clasp152disposed under the first rotary clasp151abuts the first rotary clasp151and is engaged with the main body110. Therefore, the main body110is restricted by the rotating structure130and cannot be ejected upward.

As indicated inFIG. 2B, when the switch140is instantaneously electrified to generate an electromagnetic field which offsets the original magnetism and makes the moving part142is no more attracted by the magnetism inside the switch140. The first clasp spring153extends outward and applies a releasing torque onto the first rotary clasp151to rotate the first rotary clasp151upward. The first rotary clasp151moves the moving part142to the open position (referring toFIG. 2B) from the close position (referring toFIG. 2A). In addition, the first rotary clasp151rotates the second rotary clasp152to be detached from the main body110and makes the main body110released accordingly. Thus, the main body110is ejected upward due to the operations of the rotational arm132and the rotational arm spring136of the rotating structure130.

To put it in greater details, the main body110and the fixing base120may slide to each other through the use of a groove112, so that the main body110, when ejected, can only move upward/downward but not forward/backward or left-ward/right-ward.

Referring toFIG. 1BandFIG. 2C. After the main body110is ejected, the torque of the first clasp spring153is completely released, and the second clasp spring154, whose torque is gradually increased due to the increase in the amount of compression, applies a restoring torque onto the second rotary clasp152. When the restoring torque is greater than the releasing torque, the second rotary clasp152rotates the first rotary clasp151in an inverse direction to restore the original position, and the first rotary clasp151moves the moving part142to the close position from the open position. Meanwhile, the electromagnetic field disappears because the switch140is no longer electrified. Therefore, the moving part142is attracted by the magnetism and becomes fastened in the switch140.

As indicated inFIG. 2D, when the user is not using the flash light, the user only needs to presses the main body110. When the main body110reaches the predetermined position, the main body110is engaged with the second rotary clasp152and cannot be activated. Meanwhile, the first clasp spring153being pressed downwardly by the rotational arm132returns to the original position to generate a predetermined torque to be used next time.

Referring toFIGS. 3A and 3B, schematic diagrams of a flash module according to an according of the invention are respectively shown. In the present embodiment, the flash module100further includes a position sensor160, which is adjacent to one side of the main body110and electrically connected to the control center40(referring toFIG. 1A). The position sensor160, including a lever162, senses the position of the main body110and emits a position signal to the control center40. When the detection unit30previews the image to receive an ambient light whose brightness is lower than a predetermined value, the control center40determines whether the main body110reaches the predetermined position according to the position signal. If the main body110has not yet reached the predetermined position, then the control center40emits a control signal, so that the linking structure150(referring toFIG. 2A) moves the moving part142to an open position from a close position and rotates the rotating structure130. The main body110has a flange114. When the main body110is moved upward by the rotating structure130, the flange114toggles and moves the lever162to the toggling position ofFIG. 3B. Thus, the control center40determines whether the main body110is moved to the predetermined position according to the position signal emitted by the position sensor160. The position sensor160may be realized by a trigger piece or an electronic trigger component apart from the lever162. Moreover, the main body110may also be manually controlled by the user, so that when the switch140is instantaneously electrified, the moving part142is released and the main body110is activated accordingly. The invention is not limited thereto.

The flash module and the image capturing system disclosed in above embodiments of the invention may be used in a camera or an electronic device with image capturing function. The main body may be moved upward and downward, so that when the main body is ejected, no external object will fall into the camera and no will the ejected main body interfere with the high magnification lens. Beside, the main body, when not used by the flash light, may be received in the camera to avoid collision and damage.