Abstract:
A multiaxial embedded camera module is described. The embedded camera module includes an exterior container, an interior container, and an image sensing module. The exterior container is embedded in a bezel of an electrical apparatus, e.g. a notebook computer, and is rotatable on the bezel. The interior container disposed the inside of the exterior container is rotatable therein. The rotations of the exterior container and the interior container construct a desired included angle, preferably a right angle. The image sensing module is fixed in the interior container so as to be rotatable on the bezel and the exterior container. The image sensing module further utilizes a flexible printed circuit board directly to connect an image sensing unit for transmitting image signals.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
   The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 94208671, filed May 26, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
   The present invention generally relates to an embedded camera module. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multiaxial embedded camera module. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   Because of the fast development of digital image processing technology, digital cameras have become important in consumer electronic products. A digital camera has many advantages. For example, no film is needed in a digital camera, a large amount of image data can be stored in the digital camera, and the captured image can be instantly displayed after taking a picture. A digital camera has image processing functions, such as brightness adjustment and color adjustment. The image data can be stored digitally and be transferred through the Internet. The image data can also be recorded in an optical disk permanently. 
   Moreover, due to rapid developments in electrical technologies and portable computer applications, notebook computers are gradually becoming smaller and lighter with each passing day. Notebooks have a portable size and weight that enable an enormous increase in productivity, thereby making notebook computers a popular electrical product. 
   Since notebook computers possess convenient portability and powerful calculation ability, notebook computers have become required equipment for most businessmen. In addition, for conveniently providing multimedia functions and further providing network video conferencing for businessmen, some notebook computers have embedded digital cameras. The digital camera of the conventional notebook computer is normally installed on the bezel of the liquid crystal display for capturing images. However, most of the conventional embedded digital cameras can only provide the user of the notebook computer to talk face-to-face with others in the network. Therefore, the utilization of the digital camera of the notebook computer is limited. 
   Some notebook computer designers design a digital camera to be able to vertically rotate on the bezel of the notebook computer to extend the utilization and function of the notebook computers with the digital camera. The digital camera can vertically rotate from being aimed toward a user around to the exterior of the computer shell, such that the digital camera can capture images in the direction that the user is looking. However, this is still not sufficient to fulfill the requirements of some professional notebook utilizations. Specifically, when an object is not positioned in front or behind the notebook computer, the conventional embedded digital camera of the notebook computer cannot conveniently capture images of the object without influencing the user&#39;s notebook computer operation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   It is an objective of the present invention to provide an embedded camera module with multiple adjustable axes for capturing images in various directions. 
   It is another objective of the present invention to provide an embedded camera module embedded in a bezel of a notebook computer with multiple adjustable axes for capturing images in various directions without influencing a user&#39;s operation of the notebook computer. 
   To accomplish the above objectives, the present invention provides a multiaxial embedded camera module. The multiaxial embedded camera module is embedded on a bezel of an electronic equipment, for example, a notebook computer, to capture images in various directions and transmit the captured image signals to the electronic equipment. The multiaxial embedded camera module includes an exterior container, an interior container, and an image sensing module. The exterior container is embedded in the bezel of the electronic equipment and capable of rotating thereon. The interior container is disposed inside the exterior container and capable of rotating in the exterior container. In addition, an exterior rotation direction of the exterior container and an interior rotation of the interior container constitute a predetermined included angle therebetween, preferably a right angle. The image sensing module is disposed inside the interior container and is capable of rotating on the electronic equipment and the exterior container. 
   The exterior container further includes a first shaft, a second shaft, an exterior container front cover, and an exterior container rear cover. The first shaft and the second shaft are fixed on two sides of the exterior container and are aligned to each other so that the exterior container is capable of rotating on the electronic equipment. The exterior container front cover and the exterior container rear cover form a first chamber to dispose the interior container therein. 
   The interior container further includes an interior container front cover, an interior container rear cover, and an interior container shaft. The interior container front cover and the interior container rear cover form a second chamber and the image sensing module is disposed inside the second chamber. The interior container shaft is coupled to the first chamber of the exterior container so that the interior container is capable of rotating in the exterior container. The image sensing module further includes an image sensing unit, a flexible printed circuit board, and a connector. The image sensing unit is fixed in the second chamber of the interior container. The flexible printed circuit board for transmitting image signals is directly coupled to the image sensing unit and is extended out of the second chamber and the first chamber. In addition, the flexible printed circuit board utilizes the connector coupled thereon to couple to a corresponding connector of the electronic equipment, for example, a corresponding connector on a motherboard of a notebook computer. The flexible printed circuit board further includes an elastic device disposed on the backside of the connector for stably coupling the connector to the corresponding connector of the electronic equipment. After the multiaxial embedded camera module is embedded in the electronic equipment, a spring piece effectively couples the multiaxial embedded camera module to the electronic equipment. The spring piece has an arc member and a spring foot. The arc member is coupled to the second shaft to provide a predetermined torque when rotating the exterior container, and the spring foot is coupled to the elastic device and pressed on the elastic device for further stably coupling the connector to the corresponding connector of the electronic equipment. 
   The flexible printed circuit board further includes an N-shaped bend providing a first slack for the flexible printed circuit board as the image sensing unit and the interior container rotates in the exterior container, and a concentric arc bend providing a second slack for the flexible printed circuit board as the exterior container rotates on the electronic equipment. 
   Hence, the multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention can adjustably capture images in various directions without influencing the user who is operating the electronic equipment, especially a notebook computer. In addition, the multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention can be disposed at any position of the electronic equipment so that the multiaxial embedded camera module can conveniently capture images from any position of the electronic equipment, thereby effectively extending the utilization thereof. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention are more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention installed on a notebook computer; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an image sensing module of the multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic partially enlarged top view of the multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
   The following description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by referencing the appended claims. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention is installed on a notebook computer. In one exemplary embodiment, the notebook computer  100  includes a display panel  110 , a bezel  120 , and a base  130 . The multiaxial embedded camera module  150  is installed on the bezel  120 . Because the embedded camera module  150  can be rotated by more than one degree of freedom, the embedded camera module  150  can rotate in the bezel  120  up, down, left and right. 
   Referring to the enlarged view of the embedded camera module  150  on the right portion of  FIG. 1 , the embedded camera module  150  further includes an image sensing module  152 , an interior container  156 , an exterior container  158 , and a protection lid  154 . The protection lid  154  has an opening in front of the image sensing module  152  to protect the image sensing module  152  and prevent scattered light in the environment from entering the image sensing module  152 . The interior container  156  provides one rotational ability, for example, horizontal rotational ability, for the image sensing module  152 . The exterior container  158  provides another rotational ability, preferably a rotational ability perpendicular to that of the interior container  156 , for the image sensing module  152 . 
   Since the embedded camera module  150  has at least two rotational abilities, the embedded camera module  150  can not only aim at the notebook computer user to proceed a network meeting with the embedded camera module  150  but also aim in front of the notebook computer; that is, rotating the exterior container  158  of the embedded camera module  150  to the front cover shell  140  to capture the images in the same view as the user of the notebook computer. In addition, the embedded camera module  150  can take surrounding images by horizontally rotating the interior container  156  without influence on the user who is operating the notebook computer. 
   Furthermore, the embedded camera module  150  provides at least two rotational abilities so that the embedded camera module  150  can be disposed at any position, not only to a central position of an upper beam of the bezel  120 . The embedded camera module  150  can be installed on any position of the bezel  120  and rotated to aim at the user to proceed the network meeting. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention to particularly describe the components of the multiaxial embedded camera module. The embedded camera module includes a protection lid  240 , an interior container  260 , an exterior container  280 , and an image sensing module  220 . The interior container  260  further includes an interior container front cover  262 , an interior container rear cover  264 , and an interior container shaft  266 . The exterior container  280  further includes an exterior container front cover  281 , an exterior container rear cover  282 , a first shaft  283 , and a second shaft  284 . The image sensing module  220  further includes an image sensing unit  222 , a flexible printed circuit board  224 , and a connector  228 . 
   The image sensing unit  222  is installed in a second chamber  268 , composed of the interior container front cover  262  and the interior container rear cover  264 , and transmits the image signals to the motherboard of the notebook computer via the flexible printed circuit board  224  and the connector  228 . 
   The interior container  260  utilizes the interior container shaft  266  to install in a first chamber  270  composed of the exterior container front cover  281  and the exterior container rear cover  282 , and therefore the interior container  260  can rotate in the exterior container  280 . The exterior container  280  can utilize the first shaft  283  and the second shaft  284  to rotate on the bezel of the notebook computer. The rotational directions of the interior container  260  and the exterior container  280  can constitute various angles, preferably a right angle. 
   When the multiaxial embedded camera module is capturing images, users only need to rotate the exterior container  280  and the interior container  260  to change the viewing angle and the imaging sensing unit  222  can focus on the object. That is to say, if the user desires to take pictures in front of the user, the user only needs to rotate the exterior container  280  to the front cover shell. While cooperating with the rotation of the interior container  260 , the multiaxial embedded camera module can easily take images from various directions. The user only needs to rotate the multiaxial embedded camera module without rotating the body of the notebook computer. Accordingly, taking pictures with the multiaxial embedded camera module has no influence on the computer operation by the user. 
   When the user desires to proceed a network meeting with others, the user only needs to rotate the multiaxial embedded camera module to aim the image sensing unit  222  at the user&#39;s face. In combination with the rotations of the interior container  260  and the exterior container  280 , the multiaxial embedded camera module can easily focus on any other object surrounding the user without influence on the notebook computer operation. 
   Accordingly, the multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention can capture images in various directions so that the utilization and function of the notebook computer is effectively extended. 
   The first shaft  283  further includes a first front cover shaft  285  and a first rear cover shaft  287  respectively disposed on the exterior container front cover  281  and the exterior container rear cover  282 . The first front cover shaft  285  and the first rear cover shaft  287  are both partial structures of the first shaft  283  and constitute the complete first shaft  283  when combined together. The second shaft  284  similarly includes a second front cover shaft  286  and a second rear cover shaft  288  respectively disposed on the exterior container front cover  281  and the exterior container rear cover  282 . The second front cover shaft  286  and the second rear cover shaft  288  are also partial structures of the second shaft  284 . The second front cover shaft  286  and the second rear cover shaft  288  can constitute the complete second shaft  284  when combined together. Alternatively, the complete first shaft  283  and the complete second shaft  284  can be formed on the exterior container front cover  281  or the exterior container rear cover  282  directly. 
   An end portion of the second shaft  284  further includes a partial flange  289  for coupling to a switch of the notebook computer to indicate a working angle of the image sensing unit  222  for adjusting the direction of the output image. 
   A spring piece  210  couples the second shaft  284  of the exterior container  280  to the bezel of the notebook computer and is fixed on the notebook computer with the fixing holes  212  and fixing devices, such as screws. In the same manner, the first shaft  283  can also utilize a similar fixing structure to couple to the notebook computer. Alternatively, the first shaft  283  can rotatably couple to the notebook computer within a cavity. 
   An arc member  214  of the spring piece  210  presses on the second shaft  284  to provide a predetermined torque resistance on the exterior container  280  to avoid an unexpected rotation of the image sensing unit  222 , and particularly, while capturing images. The spring piece  210  further includes a spring foot  216  to press on the elastic device  226  of the image sensing module  220  to further stably connect the connector  228  of the image sensing module  220  to a corresponding connector of the notebook computer after the spring piece  210  is fixed on the notebook computer. Therefore, the connector  228  can stably connect to the corresponding connector of the notebook computer so as to prevent the connector  228  from loosening from the corresponding connector due to the movement of the flexible printed circuit board  224  during operations. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates schematic views of an image sensing module of the multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention. On the left upper portion of  FIG. 3 , a top view  310  thereof is shown. On the left bottom portion, a front view  330  is shown, and a side view  350  is shown on the right portion of  FIG. 3 . The image sensing module includes an image sensing unit  322 , a flexible printed circuit board  324 , and a connector  328 . The image sensing unit  322  is directly coupled to an N-shaped bend  332  of the flexible printed circuit board  324  and the connector  328  is coupled to a concentric arc bend  336  at another end of the flexible printed circuit board  324 . Therefore, the N-shaped bend  332  provides slack for the flexible printed circuit board  324 , for example, when the image sensing unit  322  is horizontally rotated. In addition, the concentric arc bend  336  provides another direction of slack for the flexible printed circuit board  324 , for example, when the image sensing unit  322  is vertically rotated. The flexible printed circuit board  324  encircles the second shaft  284  (referring to  FIG. 2 ) of the exterior container  280  through the concentric arc bend  336 , and the exterior container  280  can rotate along the second shaft  284  with no influence on the image signals transmitted by the flexible printed circuit board  324 . 
   On a backside of the connector  328 , an elastic device  326  of the flexible printed circuit board  324  can press on the connector  328  for improving the coupling stability when the connector  328  is coupled to the corresponding connector on a motherboard of a notebook computer. In one embodiment, the elastic device  326  is further pressed by the spring foot  216  of the spring piece  210  (referring to  FIG.2 ). 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic partially enlarged top view of the multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention. The exterior container  480  further includes exterior container positioning concaves  482  and the interior container  460  further includes an interior container protrusion  462  to couple to the exterior container positioning concaves  482 . When the interior container  460  is rotated, the interior container protrusion  462  can move step-by-step on the exterior container positioning concaves  482  and can be fixed in any one therein. Accordingly, the interior container  460  can be fixed on the exterior container  480  at every rotational step  410  within the rotational angle range  420  of the exterior container positioning concaves  482  so that users can conveniently and exactly rotate the image sensing module. 
   The multiaxial embedded camera module according to the present invention can effectively provide a multidirectional image capturing ability for a notebook computer or any other electronic equipment. The multiaxial embedded camera module can be rotated with no influence on a user operating the electronic equipment. Since the multiaxial embedded camera module can rotate up, down, right and left on the bezel of the notebook computer, the multiaxial embedded camera module can be fixed on any position of the bezel to align to the object by rotating the interior container and the exterior container. In addition, the positioning concaves and protrusions on the interior container and the exterior container can provide effective and convenient operations while positioning and rotating the image sensing unit. 
   As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended that various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.