Abstract:
A portable computer is disclosed, which includes a host, a display, an image capturing module and a biaxial rotating structure. The host is used for processing digital data. The display is used for displaying the result of processing digital data. The image capturing module is pivoted on a frame of the display by the biaxial rotating structure, such that the image capturing module may rotate horizontally or vertically relative to the display, thus increasing the viewing angle of the image capturing module.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 95143698, filed on Nov. 27, 2006. All disclosure of the Taiwan application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a portable computer apparatus and, more particularly, to a portable computer apparatus having an image capturing module which can rotate horizontally or vertically. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    With the development of the science and technology, portable computer apparatuses such as notebooks have gradually replaced the desktop computers. Nowadays, some of medium or high level portable computer apparatuses are often equipped with an image capturing module (or called web camera) to enable users to interact with remote users or to record personal images by the image capturing module. 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a conventional notebook having an image capturing module. Refer to  FIG. 1 . A notebook  100  includes a host  110  and a display  120  pivotally connected to one side of the host  110 . Generally speaking, an image capturing module  130  is provided on the display  120  of the notebook  100  to capture images of users in a video conference. The image capturing module  130  includes an image capturing apparatus  132  and a pivotal mechanism  134 . The image capturing apparatus  132  is pivotally provided on the display  120  by the pivotal mechanism  134 , and the image capturing apparatus  132  can rotate vertically along the rotating axis A relatively to the notebook  100  via the pivotal mechanism  134 . 
         [0007]    However, during a video conference, if a group of people discuss around the front of the notebook  100 , since the view angle of the image capturing apparatus  132  is narrow, the image capturing apparatus  132  only can capture the image of users in front of it. When images of users in other positions should be captured, the position of the notebook  100  should be moved to capture the images. Moreover, when the image capturing apparatus  132  is turned 180 degrees to capture the images of users facing the LCD housing of the notebook  100 , the image captured by the image capturing apparatus  132  will be reversed. Therefore, a switch device is needed to process the reversed image. 
         [0008]    In addition, the space of the notebook  100  is limited. To reduce the size of the parts in the notebook  100 , the size of the image capturing module  130  will not be much large, which will make the image capturing module  130  rotate unfluently in operation. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    One objective of the invention is to provide a portable computer apparatus to solve the problem in the conventional technology. 
         [0010]    To obtain the above objective, the invention provides a portable computer apparatus including a host, a display, an image capturing module and a biaxial rotating structure. The host is used to process digital data. The display is used to show the processing result of the digital data, wherein one side of the display is pivotally connected to one side of the host to enable the display to open or close relatively to the host. The image capturing module is provided on the display and includes a housing and an image capturing apparatus provided in the housing. The biaxial rotating structure includes a first pivot group and at least one second pivot group. The first pivot group includes a first pivoting part and a second pivoting part. The first pivoting part is provided on the housing of the image capturing module, and the second pivoting part is fixed on the display. The first pivoting part is able to drive the image capturing module to rotate along a first rotating axial relatively to the second pivoting part. The second pivot group includes a third pivoting part and a fourth pivoting part. The third pivoting part is fixed on the first pivoting part, and the fourth pivoting part is fixed on the housing of the image capturing module. The fourth pivoting part is able to drive the image capturing module to rotate along a second rotating axial relatively to the third pivoting part. 
         [0011]    To obtain the above objective, the invention provides another portable computer apparatus including a host, a display, an image capturing module, and a biaxial rotating structure. The host is used to process digital data. The display is used to show the processing result of the digital data. One side of the display is pivotally connected to one side of the host to enable the display to open or close relatively to the host. The image capturing module is provided on the display and includes a housing and an image capturing apparatus provided in the housing. The biaxial rotating structure includes a first pivot group and at least one second pivot group. The first pivot group is assembled between the housing of the image capturing module and the display to enable the image capturing module to rotate along a first rotating axial relatively to the display. The at least one second pivot group is assembled on the first pivot group and the housing of the image capturing module to enable the image capturing module to rotate along a second rotating axial. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment of the invention, the fourth pivoting part is fixed on the housing of the image capturing module by locking or sticking. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment of the invention, the number of the second pivot group can be two, and the second pivot groups can be provided on the two sides of the first pivot group. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment of the invention, the third pivoting part of each of the second pivot groups includes an L shape block and a pivoting portion. The L shape block has a first end and a corresponding second end. The first end is fixed on the first pivoting part, and the pivoting portion is assembled on the second end. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment of the invention, the first pivoting part and the second pivoting part are formed by the combination of a shaft and a bush. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment of the invention, the third pivoting part and the fourth pivoting part are formed by the combination of a shaft and a bush. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment of the invention, the portable computer apparatus can be a notebook, a tablet personal computer (tablet PC), a palmtop computer or an ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC). 
       Beneficial Effect: 
       [0018]    The portable computer of the invention enables the image capturing module to rotate horizontally or vertically relatively to the display by a biaxial rotating structure. Thus, during a video conference, if an image of a user in other position should be captured, the image capturing module can be rotated horizontally or vertically to aim at the user who is speaking, so that the view angle can be enlarged. 
         [0019]    In addition, since the image capturing module can rotate horizontally, when the image capturing module rotates 180 degrees to capture the image of a user facing the LCD housing of the portable computer, the captured image is a normal image instead of a reversed image. Thus, a switch device is not needed to process the reversed image. 
         [0020]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a conventional notebook having an image capturing module. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a portable computer apparatus of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing the image capturing module and the biaxial rotating structure provided at the lower part thereof shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing the biaxial rotating structure shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing an image capturing module and a biaxial rotating structure of another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]      FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a portable computer apparatus of one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing the image capturing module and the biaxial rotating structure provided at the lower part thereof shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing the biaxial rotating structure shown in  FIG. 3 . To simplify the  FIG. 3 , the  FIG. 3  only shows the image capturing module and the biaxial rotating structure. Refer to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  simultaneously. The portable computer apparatus  200  includes a host  210 , a display  220 , an image capturing module  230 , and a biaxial rotating structure  240 . 
         [0027]    In this embodiment, the portable computer apparatus  200  is a notebook. In other embodiments, the portable computer apparatus  200  may be a tablet personal computer (tablet PC), a palmtop computer, or an ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), and there is no limitation thereon. Moreover, in this embodiment, the image capturing module  230  is a web camera to capture the image of users in a video conference. 
         [0028]    The host  210  is a main part for processing digital data in the whole portable computer apparatus  200 . For example, when users process a file or make an engineering drawing by some graphics software, the application program executed by the users or the operation of all digital data in function options is processed by the host  210 . A keyboard  212  is provided on the host  210  to enable users to input needed data or to execute some specific functions. The display  220  such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) shows the processing result of the digital data operated by the host  210  to make users know the result of the executed application program or function options. As shown in  FIG. 2 , one side of the display  220  is pivotally connected to one side of the host  210  to enable the display  220  to open or close relatively to the host  210 . 
         [0029]    The image capturing module  230  is installed on the display  220  and can rotate horizontally or vertically relatively to the display  220  by the biaxial rotating structure  240 . Thus, during a video conference, users can rotate the image capturing module  230  horizontally or vertically to capture the needed image. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the image capturing module  230  includes a housing  232  and an image capturing apparatus  234  provided in the housing  232 . The image capturing apparatus  234  includes an optical sensor, such as a CMOS sensor, a lens, and so on, to capture images and process signals. 
         [0031]    The biaxial rotating structure  240  is assembled in the housing  232  of the image capturing module  230  which includes a first pivot group  242  and at least a second pivot group  244 . Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . The first pivot group  242  is assembled between the housing  232  of the image capturing module  230  and the display  220 , so that the image capturing module  230  can rotate along a first rotating axial R 1  relatively to the display  220 . The at least one second pivot group  244  is fixed on the first pivot group  242  and the housing  232  of the image capturing module  230 , so that the image capturing module  230  can rotate along a second rotating axial R 2 . In this embodiment, the second pivot groups  244  are fixed at the two sides of the first pivot group  242 , respectively. However, if the biaxial rotating structure  240  only includes a set of second pivot group  244 , the function of rotating vertically of the image capturing module  230  also can be obtained. The following describes the detailed structure of the first pivot group  242  and the at least one pivot group  244  and the connecting relationship thereof further. 
         [0032]    In this embodiment, the first pivot group  242  includes a first pivoting part  242   a  and a second pivoting part  242   b . The first pivoting part  242   a  is partly provided in the housing  232  of the image capturing module  230 , and the second pivoting part  242   b  is fixed on the display  220  (Please refer to  FIG. 2  simultaneously.). The first pivoting part  242   a  is suitable to drive the whole image capturing module  230  to rotate along the first rotating axial R 1  relatively to the second pivoting part  242   b . In one embodiment of the invention, the first pivoting part  242   a  and the second pivoting part  242   b  are formed by the combination of a shaft and a bush to enable the first pivoting part  242   a  to rotate relatively to the second pivoting part  242   b.    
         [0033]    The second pivot group  244  includes a third pivoting part  244   a  and a fourth pivoting part  244   b . The third pivoting part  244   a  is fixed on the first pivoting part  242   a , and the fourth pivoting part  244   b  is fixed on the housing  232  of the image capturing module  230 . In other embodiment, the third pivoting part  244   a  also can be an extending portion of the first pivoting part  242   a . That is, the third pivoting part  244   a  and the first pivoting part  242   a  can be integrally formed. 
         [0034]    The fourth pivoting part  244   b  is suitable to drive the whole image capturing module  230  to rotate along the second rotating axial R 2  relatively to the third pivoting part  244   a . The first rotating axial R 1  is perpendicular to the second rotating axial R 2  substantially. Similarly, the third pivoting part  244   a  and the fourth pivoting part  244   b  can be formed by the combination of a shaft and a bush, so that the fourth pivoting part  244   b  can rotate relatively to the third pivoting part  244   a . In this embodiment, the fourth pivoting part  244   b  is fixed on the housing  232  by locking or sticking. Thus, when the fourth pivoting part  244   b  rotates, it will drive the whole housing  232  to rotate. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing an image capturing module and a biaxial rotating structure of another embodiment of the invention. To simplify the  FIG. 5 , the  FIG. 5  only shows the image capturing module and the biaxial rotating structure provided at the lower part thereof. Please refer to  FIG. 5 . The biaxial rotating structure  240 ′ is roughly similar to the biaxial rotating structure  240  shown in  FIG. 4 . However, second pivot group  246  of the biaxial rotating structure  240 ′ shown in  FIG. 5  is slightly different from that of the above embodiment, wherein the second pivot group  246  includes a third pivoting part  2462  and a fourth pivoting part  2464 . 
         [0036]    The third pivoting part  2462  includes an L shape block  2462   a  and a pivoting portion  2462   b . The L shape block  2462   a  has a first end e 1  and a corresponding end e 2 . The first end e 1  is fixed on the first pivoting part  242   a , and the second end e 2  is formed by the extending portion of the first end e 1 . The second end e 2  is perpendicular to the first end e 1 . The pivoting portion  2462   b  is assembled on the second end e 2  by riveting or sticking. 
         [0037]    The fourth pivoting part  2464  of the second pivot group  246  is also fixed on the housing  232  of the image capturing module  230  by locking or sticking. The fourth pivoting part  2464  is pivotally connected to the third pivoting part  2462 , so that the whole housing  232  of the image capturing module  230  can rotate relatively to the pivoting portion  2462   b  of the third pivoting part  2462  to enable the image capturing module  230  to rotate along the second rotating axial R 2 . 
         [0038]    To sum up, the portable computer apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the invention can enable the image capturing module installed in the display to rotate horizontally or vertically relatively to the display by the biaxial rotating structure. Thus, during a video conference, if an image of a user in other position should be captured, the image capturing module can be rotated horizontally or vertically to face the user who is speaking to enlarge the angle of view. 
         [0039]    In addition, since the image capturing module can rotate horizontally, when the image capturing module rotates backward 180 degrees to capture the image of a user facing the outer housing of the portable computer apparatus, the captured image is a normal image instead of a reversed image. Thus, a switch apparatus is not needed to process the reversed image. 
         [0040]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not for limiting the scope of the invention. Persons having ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments described above.