Abstract:
A locator comprises a first clamping element, a second clamping element opposite to the first clamping element, a guide bar extending through the first clamping element and the second clamping element, and a transmitting element rotatably disposed between the first clamping element and the second clamping element and abutting the first and second clamping elements. When the transmitting element rotates, the first clamping element and the second clamping element move along the guide bar to approach or move away each other, thereby clamping or releasing an object.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a locator, and more particularly to a locator positioning an object by clamping. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventional digital cameras often comprise an anti-vibration function. When the anti-vibration function is initiated, a moving seat bearing an image detection unit moves to compensate vibration. When the anti-vibration function is temporarily halted, the moving seat must be fixed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A locator for temporarily fixing a moving seat of a digital camera is provided. 
         [0006]    An exemplary embodiment of a locator comprises a first clamping element, a second clamping element opposite the first clamping element, a guide bar extending through the first clamping element and the second clamping element, a transmitting element rotatably disposed between the first clamping element and the second clamping element abutting the first and second clamping elements. When the transmitting element rotates, the first clamping element and the second clamping element move along the guide bar to approach or move away each other, thereby clamping or releasing an object. 
         [0007]    The transmitting element comprises a central hole formed at the center of the transmitting element, a first surface on which a first groove is formed, a second surface on which a second groove is formed. The first clamping element abuts the bottom of the first groove, the second clamping element abuts the bottom of the second groove. When the transmitting element rotates about the central hole, the first clamping element and the second clamping element move along the guide bar to approach or move away each other. 
         [0008]    The first groove is annular and centered at the central hole and comprises a first position where the bottom of the first groove is highest and a second position adjacent to the first position, where the bottom of the first groove is lowest. The second groove is annular and centered at the central hole and comprises a third position where the bottom of the second groove is highest and a fourth position adjacent to the third position, where the bottom of the second groove is lowest. The first position corresponds to the third position and the second position corresponds to the fourth position. The bottom height of the first groove decreases from the first position to the second position, and the bottom height of the second groove decreases from the third position to the fourth position. The first clamping element comprises a first protrusion abutting the bottom of the first groove, and the second clamping element comprises a second protrusion abutting the bottom of the second groove. 
         [0009]    The locator further comprises a base and an upper cover joined to the base. The guide bar connects the upper cover and the base, and the first clamping element and the second clamping element are disposed between the upper cover and the base. 
         [0010]    The locator further comprises a first spring disposed between the upper cover and the first clamping element and biasing the first clamping element, and a second spring disposed between the second clamping element and the base and biasing the second clamping element. 
         [0011]    A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an image detection device of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an image detection device of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of a transmitting element of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   b  is another perspective view of a transmitting element of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   c  is a top view of  FIG. 3   a;    
           [0018]      FIG. 3   d  is a cross section along line A-A; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  depicts the stretched first and second grooves; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of the locator clamping the moving seat; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5   b  is a cross section of  FIG. 5   a;    
           [0022]      FIG. 6   a  is a perspective view of the locator releasing the moving seat; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 6   b  a cross section of  FIG. 6   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an image detection device  1000  comprises a fixed seat  100 , a moving seat  200 , an image detection unit  300  and a locator  400 . The image detection unit  300  is disposed on the moving seat  200  which is moved on the fixed seat  100  along a direction x and a direction y by a magnet  240  and a coil  260 . The moving seat  200  comprises a holding portion  220 , which is a plate extending from the moving seat  200 . The locator  400  comprises a first clamping element  420  and a second clamping element  440 . The moving seat  200  is fixed by the first clamping element  420  and the second clamping element  440  clamping the holding portion  220 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the locator  400  comprises a motor  410 , a first clamping element  420 , two guide bars  430 , a second clamping element  440 , a transmitting element  450 , an upper cover  460 , two first springs  470 , a base  480  and two second springs  490 . The base  480  comprises a main body  481  and two walls  482  projecting from the main body  481 . Each wall  482  comprises a wedge  483 . The upper cover  460  comprises a main body  461  and four flanges  462  projecting from the main body  461 . Each flange  462  comprises a hole  463  corresponding to the wedge  483 . The wedge  483  engages the hole  463 , whereby the upper cover  460  is joined to the base  480 . The main body  481  of the base  480  comprises two through holes  484 , and the main body  461  of the upper cover  460  also comprises two through holes  464 . The guide bars  430  extend through the through holes  464  and  484  to connect the upper cover  460  and the base  480 . 
         [0026]    The first clamping element  420  is substantially a plate comprises a first clamping portion  422 , two posts  425  and a first protrusion  426  (shown in  FIG. 5   b ). Each post  425  comprises a through hole  424 . The second clamping element  440  opposite to the first clamping element  420  comprises a second clamping portion  442 , two posts  445  and a second protrusion  446 . Each post  445  comprises a through hole  444 . The first clamping portion  422  faces the second clamping portion  442 . The guide bars  430  extend through the through holes  424  and  444 , whereby the first clamping portion  420  and second clamping portion  440  move along the guide bars  430  to clamp or release the holding portion  220 . 
         [0027]    The first spring  470  is positioned on the post  425 , disposed between the upper cover  460  and the first clamping element  420  and biases the first clamping element  420 . The second spring  490  is positioned on the post  485  of the base  480 , disposed between the second clamping element  440  and the base  480  and biases the second clamping element  440 . The transmitting element  450  is disposed between the two walls  482  and also between the first clamping element  420  and second clamping element  440 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c  and  3   d , the transmitting element  450  is substantially a cylinder and comprises a first surface  452 , a second surface  454  and a central shaft  456 . The central shaft  456  comprises a central hole  458  with which a shaft  412  of the motor  410  engages. The motor  410  powers the transmitting element  450  to rotate about the central hole  458 . An annular first groove  453  is formed on the first surface  452 , and an annular second groove  455  is formed on the second surface  455 . The first protrusion  426  abuts the bottom of the first groove  453 , and the second protrusion  446  abuts the bottom of the second groove  455 . 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 3   a , the first groove  453  comprises a first position  4531  and a second position  4532 . Referring to  FIG. 3   c , the first position  4531  is adjacent to the second position  4532 . The first groove  453  is formed by circling an inclined groove where the first position  4531  is a highest position and the second position  4532  is a lowest position of the inclined groove.  FIG. 4  depicts the stretched first groove  453  and second groove  455 . Similarly, the second groove  455  is also formed by circling an inclined surface, which comprises a third position  4551  which is the highest position thereof and a fourth position  4552  which is the lowest position thereof. The first position  4331  corresponds to the third position  4551 , and the second position  4332  corresponds to the fourth position  4552 . 
         [0030]    As the first protrusion  426  abuts the first groove  453  and the second protrusion  446  abuts the second groove  455 , when the transmitting element  450  is rotated and the first clamping element  420  moves from the first position  4531  to the third position  4551  and the second clamping element  440  moves from the third position  4551  to the fourth position  4552 , the first clamping element  420  and the second clamping element  440  moves along the guide bars  430  to approach each other, thereby clamping the holding position  220 , as shown in  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b . When the first clamping element  420  moves from the second position  4532  to the first position  4531  and the second clamping element  440  moves from the fourth position  4552  to the third position  4551 , the first clamping element  420  and the second clamping element  440  moves along the guide bars  430  to move away each other, thereby releasing the holding portion  220 , as shown in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b.    
         [0031]    The first spring  470  and the second spring  490  bias the first clamping element  420  and the second clamping element  440  respectively to ensure that the first protrusion  426  abuts the first groove  453  and the second protrusion  446  abuts the second groove  455 . 
         [0032]    The motor  410  can be a stepping motor. A sensing portion  500  is formed on the lateral side of the transmitting element  450  as shown in  FIG. 2 , and a position sensor  600  is disposed outside the locator  400  as shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  6   a . The position sensor  600  is connected to a control unit  700 . When the position sensor  600  detects the sensing portion  500 , it sends a signal to the control unit  700  to stop the motor  410 , whereby the transmitting element is positioned. 
         [0033]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.