Electronic device having image capturing device capable of adjusting view angles

An electronic device includes a shell, an image capturing device, a sliding key, and a driving element. The shell defines a receiving space and a through hole communicating the receiving space. The image capturing device is received in the receiving space and includes a supporting frame having a pair of rotation shafts rotatably connected with the shell and a matching block. The matching block defines a rectangular matching hole. The sliding key includes an operation portion outside receiving space and a connection portion extending from the operation portion into the receiving space. The connection portion is received and slidable in the through hole. The driving element includes a main portion connected with the connection portion and a driving arm extending from the main portion. The driving arm includes a driving portion slidable in the matching hole for driving the supporting frame to rotate.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device having an image capturing device capable of adjusting view angles.

2. Description of Related Art

Electronic devices such as video telephones are equipped with an image capturing device for imaging functions. However, the image capturing device is usually fixedly mounted on a shell of the video telephone and the shell is fixedly mounted on a wall. View angles can not be adjusted for a user except when the user moves the video telephone, which is inconvenient.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an electronic device having an image capturing device, which can overcome the limitations described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3show an electronic device100in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The electronic device100can be an all-in-one computer, a surveillance device, or a video telephone. In the embodiment, the electronic device100is a video telephone. The electronic device100includes a shell10, a sliding key20, a driving element30, an imaging capturing device40, and a cover50.

The shell10includes a first part12(i.e., an upper part as shown inFIGS. 1-2) and a second part14(i.e., a lower part as shown inFIGS. 1-2). The first part12is substantially rectangular and includes a first outer surface121, a first inner surface122opposite to the first outer surface121, a pair of parallel first long sides123, and a pair of parallel first short sides124perpendicularly connecting the first long sides123. The first part12defines a substantially rectangular sliding groove1211in the first outer surface121and a substantially rectangular through hole1212in a bottom surface of the sliding groove1211and through the first inner surface122. The sliding groove1211is positioned in a center of the first outer surface121. Long sides of the sliding groove1211are parallel to the first short sides124. The through hole1212is positioned in a center of the sliding hole1211. Long sides of the through hole1212are parallel to the long sides of the sliding groove1211.

The first part12also includes an upper sidewall1221, four assembling portions1222, a pair of parallel first rail plates1223, and a pair of parallel second rail plates1224. The upper sidewall1221is discontinuous and extends up from the first long sides123and the first short sides124of the first inner surface122. The upper sidewall1221defines an opening (not labeled) in a middle of one of the first long sides123. An arched upper lug1231perpendicularly extends from the upper sidewall1221around the opening of the upper sidewall1221. The four assembling portions1222are distributed at four corners of the first inner surface122, respectively. Each assembling portion1222is a hollow cylinder.

The first rail plates1223extend from the first inner surface122adjacent to the upper lug1231and symmetrically distributed at two sides of the through holes1212. The first rail plates1223are parallel to the long sides of the through hole1212. A length of each first rail plate1223along a direction parallel to the long sides of the through hole1212is greater than a length of each long side of the through hole1212. The second rail plates1224also extend from the first inner surface122adjacent to the upper lug1231and symmetrically distributed at two sides of the through holes1212. The second rail plates1224are positioned between the first rail plate and parallel to the long sides of the through hole1212. A length of each second rail plate1224along the direction parallel to the long sides of the through hole1212is greater than the length of each long side of the through hole1212. A height of each second rail plate1224perpendicular to the first inner surface122is less than a height of each first rail plate1223.

The second part14is substantially rectangular and includes a second outer surface141, a second inner surface142opposite to the second outer surface141, a pair of parallel second long sides143, and a pair of parallel second short side144perpendicularly connecting the second long sides143. The second part14also includes a lower sidewall1421and four engaging portions1442. The lower sidewall1421is discontinuous and extends up from the second long sides143and the second short sides144The lower sidewall1421defines an opening (not labeled) in a middle of one of the second long sides143. An arched lower lug1431perpendicularly extends from the lower sidewall1421around the opening of the lower sidewall1421. A shape of the lower lug1431corresponds to a shape of the upper lug1231. A pair of ear portions1432inwardly extend from a periphery of the lower lug1431. Each ear portion1432defines a shaft hole1433. The four engaging portions1422are uniformly distributed at four corners of the second inner surface142. Each engaging portion1422is a cylinder and used to be clamped in a corresponding assembling portion1222.

The sliding key20includes a rectangular plate-liked operation portion21and a connection portion22. The operation portion21includes a top surface211and a bottom surface212opposite to the top surface211. A length of each long side of the operation portion21is less a length of each long side of the sliding groove1211. A width and a thickness of the operation portion21correspond to a width and a depth of the sliding hole1211, respectively. The connection portion22is substantially cylindrical and perpendicularly extends from the middle of the bottom surface212. A diameter of the connection portion22is less than or corresponds to a width of the through hole1212. The connection portion22defines a screw hole221in an end surface facing away the bottom surface221.

The driving element30includes a plate-liked main portion31, a driving arm32, and an elastic arm33. The main portion31includes a contact surface311, a connection surface312opposite to the contact surface311, and a pair of side surfaces313perpendicularly connected between the contact surface311and the connection surface312. One end of the main portion31defines a receiving hole3111passing through the contact surface311and the connection surface312. The receiving hole3111is used to receive the connection portion22. A distance between the side surfaces313corresponds to a distance between the second rail plates1224. Two protrusions3131extend from each side surface313. One protrusion3131of one side surface313and a corresponding protrusion3131of the other side surface313consist a pair of protrusions3131. A distance between the pair of protrusions is slightly greater than the distance between the second rail plates1224.

The driving arm32extends from the other end of the main portion31away from the receiving hole3111. The driving arm32includes an intermediate portion321and a driving portion322. The intermediate portion321is connected to the connection surface312and forms an obtuse angle about 120 degrees with the connection surface312. The driving portion322perpendicularly extends from a distal end of the intermediate portion321and is parallel to the connection surface312.

The elastic arm33is arched and the middle of the elastic arm33is connected to the connection surface312away from the driving arm32. Two distal ends of the elastic arm33extend to the driving arm32and are symmetrically flange the side surfaces313. A distance between the two distal ends of the elastic arm33is slightly greater than a distance between the first rail plates1223.

Also referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the image capturing device40includes a circuit board41, an image sensor42mounted on the circuit board41, a lens module43mounted on the circuit board41, and a supporting frame44. The supporting frame44includes a mounting plate441, a pair of rotation shafts442, and a matching block443. The circuit board41is fixed on the mounted plate441. The rotation shafts442are cylindrical and coaxially extend from two sides of the mounted plate441. Each rotation shaft442corresponds to a shaft hole1433. The matching block443extends from a surface of the mounting plate441opposite to the circuit board41. The matching block443defines a substantially rectangular matching hole4431passing thereof. A width of the matching hole4431corresponds to a diameter of the driving portion322.

The cover50is a hollow cylinder and an inner diameter of the cover corresponds to outer diameters of the upper lug1231and the lower lug1431. The cover50receives a circular glass plate60at one end. The glass plate60can be an infrared filter or a transparent glass plate. In the embodiment, the glass plate60is a transparent glass plate.

When assembling, the operation portion21is received in the sliding groove1211, the connection portion22is passed through the through hole1212. The operation portion21is slidable in the sliding groove1211and, accordingly, the connection portion22is slidable in the through hole1212. The main portion31is limited between the second rail plates1224with two protrusions3131of each side surface313are attached on a respective second rail plate1224. The contact surface311contacts the first inner surface122. The elastic arm33is limited between the first rail plates1223with each distal end is attached a corresponding first rail plate1223. Then the connection portion22is received in the receiving hole3111from the contact surface311. A screw70is passed into the receiving hole3111from the connection surface312and engaged with the screw hole221such that the sliding key20is connected with the driving element30.

Each rotation shaft442is received in a respective shaft hole1433such that the image capturing device40is rotatably connected to the second part14. The driving portion322is received in the matching hole4331and is slidable in the matching hole4331. The long sides of the matching hole4331are perpendicular to a center axis of the rotation shafts442. Each assembling portion1222sleeves over a respective engaging portion1422. The upper sidewall1221and the lower sidewall1421are attached to each other. Therefore, the first part12and the second part14are assembled together and cooperatively form a receiving space101. The driving element30and the image capturing device40are received in the receiving space101. The through hole1212communicates with the receiving space101and the connection portion22extends into the receiving space101. The operation portion21is outside the receiving space101. The upper lug1231and the lower lug1431cooperatively form a hollow cylinder. Then the cover50sleeves over the upper lug1231and the lower lug1431.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, in use, when a user slides the sliding key20from one end to the other end in the sliding hole1212, the connection portion22is moved from one end to the other end in the through hole1212, and the sliding key20brings the driving element30to move along a direction perpendicular to the center axis of the rotation shafts442. The driving portion322slides from one end to the other end in the matching hole4431to push or pull the matching block443. Therefore, the supporting frame44is clockwise or counterclockwise rotated about the shaft portions442, and the image capturing device40is clockwise or counterclockwise rotated about the shaft portions442relative to the second part14, accordingly. Therefore, view angles of the image capturing device40can be adjusted.

The friction forces between the elastic arm33and the first rail plates1223can maintain the image capturing device40at a designed view angle when the user does not slide the sliding key20.

In alternative embodiments, the main portion31does not include the protrusions3131, each side surfaces313is attached on a second corresponding rail plate1224.

In alternative embodiments, the first part12does not include the first rail plates1223and the drive element30does not include the elastic arm33. The friction forces between the main portion31and the second rail plates1224maintain the image capturing device40at a designed view angle when the user does not slide the sliding key20.

In alternative embodiments, the first part12does not include the first rail plates1223and the second rail plates1224. The image capturing device40is maintained at a designed view angle when the user does not slide the sliding key20by other elements.

In alternative embodiments, the elastic arm33can be other shape, for one example, a pair of L-shaped elastic arms separate from each other.