Protective cover, camera module, and electronic device employing the same

An electronic device includes a housing, a circuit board, and a camera module. The camera module includes a camera unit, a flash device, and a protective cover. The camera unit records and stores images, and the protective cover protects the camera unit and the flash device. The protective cover includes an opening, a light hole, and a separation portion located between the opening and the light hole. The light from the flash device is diffused and passes through the light hole. The camera unit and the flash device are separated by the separation portion to prevent the light of the flash device from entering camera unit through the opening.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to cover structures, and more particularly to a protective cover, and a camera module and an electronic device employing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Built-in camera modules are widely used in different electronic devices, such as mobile phones. To get a better result, corresponding flash modules are used in the electronic devices to match the camera modules.

Referring toFIG. 6, a conventional camera module200generally includes a camera220and a flash unit240, which are adjacently located on and is electrically connected to a motherboard300. The camera220includes a camera lens222, and the flash unit240includes a flash bulb242used as an auxiliary light source to increase light for the camera lens222. However, the flash bulb242may emit hard light because the camera lens222and the flash bulb242are located close to each other, causing overexposure of the camera lens222, which may decrease the operating life of the camera lens222.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows an exploded view of one embodiment of an electronic device100including a protective over50. The electronic device100can be a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant. The mobile phone is taken here as an example to illustrate the disclosure.

The electronic device100further includes a housing10, a circuit board20, a window plate30, and a camera module40. In one embodiment, the housing10can be a partial cover of the electronic device100. The circuit board20can be a motherboard of the electronic device100and is received within the housing10. The circuit board20is capable of holding many electronic components of the electronic device100, while providing supports and connections for the electronic components.

The camera module40includes a camera unit42, a flash device44, and a light intensity sensor46. The camera unit42is located on and is electrically connected to the circuit board20, and is capable of recording and storing images, which may be moving images or still photographs such as videos or pictures. The camera unit42includes a camera lens422. The camera lens422is capable of making images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.

The flash device44is located at and is electrically connected to the circuit board20, and includes a flash unit442. The flash unit442is used in photography to produce a flash of artificial light to illuminate a dark scene and capture quickly moving objects or change the quality of light.

The light intensity sensor46is located between the camera unit42and the flash device44and is capable of sensing light intensity of ambient light. In one embodiment, when the light intensity sensor46detects and finds that the light intensity of ambient light is less than a predetermined light intensity of the electronic device100, the flash unit442is automatically activated and enabled to provide and adjust light for the camera unit42and illuminate a dark scene.

Also referring toFIGS. 2 and 5, the protective cover50can be made from rubber. The protective cover50includes an opening52and a light hole54defined at two opposite ends. The protective cover50further includes a separation portion56located between the opening52and the light hole54. The opening52allows light to enter. The camera lens422is positioned in the opening52to gather the incoming light.

The light hole54includes a receiving space542and a through hole544formed at the bottom of the receiving space542. The receiving space542receives the flash device44. The through hole544communicates with the receiving space542and is substantially a hollow trumpet-shaped hole with its opening facing toward the window plate30. The through hole544is capable of transferring and diffusing the light from the flash unit442.

The separation portion56separates the opening52and the light hole54to prevent excessive light from the flash device44entering the opening52, thereby further preventing the camera lens422from overexposure. The protective cover50further defines a positioning hole58passing through the separation portion56. The light intensity sensor46is aligned with the positioning hole58and is partially exposed from the positioning hole58.

Referring toFIGS. 2,4, and5, in assembly, the camera unit42, the light intensity sensor46and the flash device44are detachably assembled to the circuit board20and are electrically connected to the circuit board20to form the camera module40. The camera unit42, the light intensity sensor46, and the flash device44are aligned with and are received within the opening52, the positioning hole58, and the receiving space542respectively. Thus, the flash unit442and the camera lens422are separated by the light intensity sensor46. The housing10covers the circuit board20, the protective cover50, and the camera module40. The window plate30resists against the protective cover50. Hence, the camera module40is assembled to the circuit board20, and the protective cover50is secured and is held between the circuit board20and the window plate30.

In summary, the light intensity sensor46can automatically detect light intensity of ambient light to determine whether to activate the flash device44or not. When the flash device44is activated, the flash unit442provides and adjusts to the ambient light, and the light is diffused through the through hole544of the light hole54to illuminate a dark scene. Moreover, the flash unit442and the camera lens422is insulated by the separation portion56, so the light from the flash unit442cannot directly irradiate the camera lens422, thereby preventing the camera lens from overexposure.

In the present specification and claims the word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. Further, the word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed.