Protective cover assembly for electronic device including digital camera

A protective cover assembly (40) for digital camera is used for an electronic device (100). The electronic device includes a main body (20) which has a recess portion (210) defined therein. A flash (70) is located in the recess portion. The protective cover assembly includes a cover (49) received in the recess portion. The cover includes a base (46) and a lighttight layer (48) formed on the base. A through hole (462) is defined in the cover, configured for allowing light emitted from the flash to pass the cover.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to protective cover assemblies for camera modules, particularly, to a protective cover assembly for camera modules used in an electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, electronic devices with a camera module mounted thereon are widely used. In order to provide enough light for the photograph, a flash is generally positioned adjacent the digital camera. A transparent cover is customarily disposed on the electronic device so as to prevent the camera module and the flash from being contaminated. The flash emits light and the light mainly passes through the transparent cover. However, some of the light is repeatedly reflected within the transparent cover, which may effect the image quality.

Therefore, a protective cover assembly for camera module using in an electronic device is desired in order to overcome the above-described problems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, an exemplary electronic device100, such as a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), includes a main body20, a protective cover assembly40, a flash70and a camera module80, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The main body20has a recess portion210defined in a surface thereof. The recess portion210may be approximately square-shaped and is configured for receiving the protective cover assembly40. The recess portion210has a bottom surface212. The flash70and the camera module80are positioned at the bottom surface212of the recess portion210. The flash70is configured for emitting light to illuminate the scene to be photographed.

The protective cover assembly40includes a supporting board42, a lens44and a cover49. The lens44is a revolving cylinder, and has a flange portion442and an extending portion444. The extending portion444is coaxial with the flange portion442. A diameter of the extending portion444is smaller than that of the flange portion442. The lens44has a high light transparency rate so as to allow most of the light emitted from the flash to pass therethough.

Cover49has a through hole462defined therein and includes a transparent base46and a lighttight layer48coated on the base46. The through hole462is configured for engaging with the extending portion444of the lens44. The lighttight layer48may be an oil ink layer. This oil ink layer includes light absorbing material and is coated on one outer surface of the base46. A light hole482is defined in the lighttight layer48so that the camera module80can receive light of outside via the transparent base46.

The supporting board42includes a bottom wall422and a peripheral sidewall424, which cooperatively defines a cavity426. The cavity426is configured for engaging with the cover49. A stepped hole428and an aperture429are defined in the bottom wall422. The stepped hole428includes a fixing hole4282and a receiving hole4284. The fixing hole4282is coaxial with the receiving hole4284, and a diameter of the fixing hole4282is larger than that of the receiving hole4284. The fixing hole4282is configured for engaging with the flange portion442of the lens44. The receiving hole4284and the aperture429are respectively configured for receiving the flash70and the camera module80.

Also referring toFIG. 3, in assembly of the protective cover assembly40to the main body20, first, the supporting board42is attached to the recess portion210of the main body20by adhesive, with the camera module80and the flash70respectively received in the receiving hole4284and the aperture429of the bottom wall422. The flange portion442of the lens44is then fixed in the fixing hole4282of the supporting board42so that the lens44is received in the supporting board42. At last, the cover49is received in the cavity426of the supporting board42and is attached to the supporting board42by means of adhesive. The extending portion444of the lens44extends from the through hole462of the cover49. Since the lens44is transparent, light emitted from the flash70passes through the lens44and illuminates the scenes to be photographed. The position of the light hole482of the lighttight layer48corresponds to that of the aperture429of the supporting board42, so that the camera module80in the aperture429can receive light from outside.

In use, the flash70emits light and the light mainly passes through the lens44to illuminate scenes. A portion of the light emitted from the flash70is repeatly reflected in the cover49and is gradually absorbed by the lighttight layer48. Therefore, the light trapped in the cover49should not effect the image quality.

In an alternative embodiment according to the present invention, the supporting board42is integrally formed with the main body20. The number of the lighttight layer48may be two. Referring toFIG. 4, two lighttight layers48are respectively formed on two opposite surfaces of the base46so as to increase efficiency of absorbing the remaining light in the cover49.

In another alterative embodiment, the lens44may be omitted. A diameter of the fixing hole4282of the supporting board42may be equal to that of the receiving hole4284which is configured for receiving the flash70. The through hole462of the cover49may be defined in the lighttight layer48and the base46is transparent. The position of the through hole462corresponds to that of the stepped hole428. Thus, the light emitted from the flash70can pass the cover49and illuminate scenes.