Abstract:
A multifunction camera assembly for a computer is provided, which includes a computer video camera and a computer peripheral. The computer peripheral is pivotally connected to the computer video camera, which may be rotated to change its angle and position relative to the computer video camera. Thus the computer video camera and the computer peripheral change their arrangement relationship according to the requirement of a user, to achieve a desirable operation mode.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a computer video camera, and more particularly, to a computer video camera to which a computer peripheral is connected, to provide additional functions. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    A computer video camera is a computer peripheral which is essential for carrying out video communication between peers connected by the Internet. The computer video camera is used for capturing the image of a user in front of a computer, and transmitting it to another computer via the Internet or a communication network. Recently, improvements to the computer video camera are mostly directed to the clamping structure or supporting structure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,954 provides a clamping structure of a computer video camera for clamping the computer video camera on a flat-panel display, or supporting it on a plane. 
         [0005]    Generally, the computer video camera is used for capturing images, and if the user wants to have a dialogue with a remote user via the Internet or the communication, a speaker and a microphone should be equipped to the computer, for inputting and outputting voice. 
         [0006]    Besides capturing audio-video, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub, a card reader, and a fingerprint identification device are also required by a computer user, such that a number of wires should be connected to the computer for equipping those peripherals, and so many wire may wrap with each other, which causes inconvenience for the user. Also, various peripherals, including video cameras, speakers, microphones, USB hubs, card readers, fingerprint identification devices, and the like, have different relative positions or directions to cater to the habits of the user. If these peripherals are simply integrated into a single device, inconveniences for user will occur. Therefore, it has become an important technical issue to integrate different functions together, while meeting the operation habits or requirements of the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a video camera with additional computer peripherals, capable of expanding its function and changing angles through the relative pivotal rotation of the elements, such that the expanded functions are more convenient for use. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a multifunction video camera assembly for a computer, which includes a computer video camera and a computer peripheral, wherein the computer peripheral is pivotally connected to the computer video camera, such that the relative position and angle can be changed; therefore, the computer peripheral can change its relative position or direction properly according to the requirements of the user, for facilitating the use thereof. 
         [0008]    The advantages of the present invention lies in that, the computer video camera is integrated with various types of computer peripheral, such that its functions can be expanded, and the number of peripherals externally connected to the computer can be reduced. Meanwhile, the computer video camera and the computer peripheral can change the angle and relative position respectively through rotating relatively and pivotally, such that the computer video camera and the computer peripheral are provided for facilitating the use at the same time. 
         [0009]    The features and practices of the present invention will be described in detail below through preferred embodiments with reference to accompanying drawings. 
         [0010]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only for, and which thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the computer video camera and the computer peripherals in the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the first embodiment pf the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  are perspective view of the first embodiment with different implementing aspects; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The multifunction video camera assembly of the present invention can be connected to a computer, such as, a desktop computer or a notebook, to output image signals, and equipped with additional peripheral interfaces to provide the additional functions of various computer peripherals. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 , a multifunction video camera assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention is provided. The multifunction video camera assembly includes a computer video camera  100  and two computer peripherals  200 , wherein the computer video camera  100  and the computer peripherals  200  are column shaped. However, the shape is not limited to this, and other various shapes also can be used. Also, in the present embodiment, each of the computer peripherals  200  is a speaker, and it is also may be a microphone, a wireless receiver, a USB hub, a fingerprint identification device, a card reader, a ion generator, and the like. 
         [0024]    The computer video camera  100  includes an inner frame  110 , two housings  121  and  122 , and a video camera unit  300 , wherein the inner frame  110  is provided with a first bevel surface  111  respectively on both ends of the computer video camera  100 , and the first bevel surface  111  forms an inclined angle with the central axis of the computer video camera  100 . A shaft hole  112  is formed on the first bevel surface  111 , and an annular groove  112   a  is provided on the inner wall of the shaft hole  112 . The inner frame  110  is formed with a pivot base  113 , to which the video camera unit  300  is pivotally connected, so that the video camera unit  300  is pivotally disposed in the computer video camera  100 , and a camera lens  310  of the video camera unit  300  is exposed to the outside through an opening  121   a  of the housing  121 . 
         [0025]    Also, several expansion interfaces are disposed in the computer video camera  100  for expanding the function of the computer video camera  100 . A circuit board  114  is disposed in the computer video camera  100 , and the expansion interfaces are disposed on the circuit board  114 . The expansion interface are exposed to the outside via through holes  122   a  of the image camera  100 , wherein the through holes  122   a  has many configurations to match with various forms of expansion interfaces. The expansion interfaces can be an earphone socket  1141 , a microphone socket  1142 , and a USB Port  1143 , which can be exposed to the outside via the through holes  122   a  for inserting an earphone, a microphone, or a USB wire. The USB Port  1143  is used to connect to the computer, for plugging in other computer peripherals, so that the present invention is provided with the function as a USB hub. 
         [0026]    Each of the two computer peripherals  200  has two inner housings  210  and two outer housings  220 , wherein an inner accommodation space is formed after the two inner housings  210  have been coupled with each other, and then the two inner housings  210  are wrapped by the two external housings  220  to change the appearance of the computer peripherals  200 . A second bevel surface  230  is formed on one end of the computer peripheral  200 , and a shaft  231  is protruded on the second bevel surface  230  perpendicularly, wherein a flange  231   a  is formed surrounding the circumference surface of the shaft  231 . Moreover, the other end of the computer peripheral  200  is formed as a planar surface; and the planar surface is composed of a cover board  240  with meshes  241 . A speaker unit  250  is disposed in the inner housing  210 , which directs to the cover board within the computer peripheral  200 , so as to produce sounds to the outside through the meshes  241 , such that the computer peripheral  200  is formed as a speaker. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6 , as for the assembling the multifunction video camera assembly the first embodiment of the of the invention, the shaft  231  of the computer peripheral  200  is first inserted into the shaft hole  112  of the computer video camera  100 , so that the second bevel surfaces  230  of the two computer peripherals  200  get into contact with the first bevel surfaces  111  of the computer video camera  100  respectively; and each of the second bevel surfaces  230  is pivotally connected to one of the first bevel surfaces  111  of the computer video camera  100 , such that the flange  231   a  on the shaft  231  can be embedded into the annular groove  112   a  of the shaft hole  112 , thus, the computer peripheral  200  is pivotally connected to the computer video camera  100 , and it can rotate relative to the computer video camera  100  without falling off. Through the relative rotation of the computer peripherals  200  and the computer video camera  100 , the relative angle there-between can be changed, and the angle between the central axis of the computer peripheral  200  and the central axis of the computer video camera  100  also can be changed, such that the direction of the planar surface of one end of the computer peripheral  200  can be changed by rotating the computer peripheral  200  without moving the computer video camera  100 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0028]    The computer video camera  100  and the computer peripheral  200  can relatively rotate along the first bevel surface  111  and the second bevel surface  230 , so that there is an inclined angle relatively between the computer video camera  100  and the computer peripheral  200 . This inclined angle is determined by the oblique angle of the first bevel surface  111  and the second bevel surface  230 , the inclined angle between the i computer video camera  100  and the computer peripheral  200  after both of them have relatively rotated 180 degrees can be changed by changing the oblique angles. Of course, the relative angle between the image camera  100  and the computer peripheral  200  also can be changed gradually, such that the user can determine the desirable angle, and the multifunction camera assembly can be provided with various use configurations. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , a second embodiment of the present invention is provided, wherein the function of the computer peripheral  200  is not limited to the speaker, and other forms of peripheral interface devices also can be used to cater to the demanding of the user. In the second embodiment, a speaker unit  250  is disposed in one of the two computer peripherals  200  to form a speaker; a card reader module  260  is disposed in the other computer peripheral  200 , then the computer peripheral  200  becomes a card reader. The card reader module  260  has a slot  261  for plugging in an electronic card  262 , such as a flash card or a financial chip card with various specifications, to read data and transmit the data to the computer through the transmission wire. Through rotating the computer peripheral  200  according to the requirement of the user, the direction of the opening of the slot  261  can be turned to the direction suitable for operation. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a third embodiment of the preset invention is provided. A speaker unit  250  is disposed in one of the two computer peripherals  200  to form a speaker; an audio receiver unit  270  is disposed in the other computer peripheral  200 , such that the computer peripheral  200  becomes a microphone. Therefore, the multifunction camera assembly is provided with the functions of image capturing, sound broadcasting, audio receiving, and the like. Meanwhile, since the computer peripheral  200  can rotate relative to the image camera  100 , the directions of the speaker unit  250  and the audio receiver unit  270  can be changed, such that both of them have preferred effects for receiving audio and broadcasting sounds. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a fourth embodiment of the present invention is provided. A speaker unit  250  is disposed in one of the two computer peripherals  200  to form a speaker; a fingerprint identification module  280  is disposed in the other computer peripheral  200 , such that the computer peripheral  200  becomes a fingerprint identification device through this fingerprint identification module  280 , thereby a user can carry out fingerprint identification, to protect the computer and to provide different authorization of different users for operating the computer. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a fifth embodiment of the present invention is provided. A speaker unit  250  is disposed in one of the two computer peripherals  200  to form a speaker; an ion generating module  290  is disposed in the other computer peripheral  200 , such that an ion generating effect can be achieved through this ion generating module  290 . Therefore, the computer peripheral becomes an ion generator for improving the quality of the environment when a user operates the computer. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , a sixth embodiment of the present invention is provided, which includes a computer video camera  400 , wherein one end of the computer video camera  400  has a first bevel surface  410 , and the other end has a second bevel surface  420 . Two computer peripherals  500 ,  600  with a third bevel surface  530  and a fourth bevel surface  640  respectively are provided, wherein the first bevel surface  410  is pivotally connected to the third bevel surface  530 ; the second bevel surface  420  is pivotally connected to the fourth bevel surface  640 , such that the two computer peripherals  500 ,  600  are pivotally connected to both ends of the computer video camera  400 . 
         [0034]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.