Abstract:
The shutter device includes a base, a post, a coil, a shutter, a first magnetic member, and a second magnetic member. The base defines a first aperture. The post is fixedly mounted on the base. The coil is connected to the post and rotatable around the post. The shutter blade is coupled to the post and jointly rotatable with the coil. The first and second magnetic members are mounted on the base arranged on two sides of the coil. The first and second magnetic members are configured for driving the coil to rotate, thereby moving the shutter blade to selectively expose or cover the the first aperture.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to imaging technologies, particularly, to a shutter device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Shutter devices are widely used in image capturing devices, such as cameras or mobile phones having an image capturing function, to allow light to pass through for a determined duration, for the purpose of exposing photographic film or an image sensor to light, thereby capturing an image of a scene. 
         [0005]    Generally, the shutter device includes a motor, such as a step motor, and a shutter blade. The motor drives the shutter blade to move to make the shutter device open or close. However, the step motor occupies too much space, thus adding substantially to the size of the shutter device. 
         [0006]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a shutter device, which can overcome or at least alleviate the above-mentioned problems. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the present shutter device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present shutter device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic, isometric view of a shutter device, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of the shutter device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic, isometric view of a cover of the shutter device of  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another aspect. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a planar view of the shutter device of  FIG. 1 , showing the shutter device in an open state. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the shutter device in a closed state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a shutter device  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment, includes a support  10 , a rotating member  20 , a shutter blade  30 , a coil  40 , a first magnetic member  50 , a second magnetic member  60 , and a cover  70 . The cover  70  covers the support  10 . The rotating member  20 , the shutter blade  30 , the coil  40 , the first magnetic member  50 , and the second magnetic member  60  are positioned between the support  10  and the cover  70 . 
         [0014]    The support  10  includes a base  12 , three protrusions  14 , a blocking portion  16 , a buffer  18 , and an engaging portion  19 . 
         [0015]    The base  12  is substantially square-shaped. The base  12  includes a supporting surface  120 , a first side  121 , a second side  123 , a third side  125  parallel to the first side  121 , and a fourth side  127  parallel to the second side  123 . The base  12  defines a recess  122 , a first aperture  124 , a slot  126 , and a first engaging hole  128 . The recess  122  is located adjacent to the first side  121 . A bottom surface  129  in the recess  122  is recessed relative to the supporting surface  120 . The first aperture  124  is defined in a center of the base  12 . The slot  126  is defined between the recess  122  and the first aperture  124 . The slot  126  communicates with the recess  122  and the first aperture  124 . The first engaging hole  128  is positioned adjacent to the first aperture  124 . 
         [0016]    The three protrusions  14  respectively extend from the supporting surface  120  at three of four corners of the base  12 . 
         [0017]    The blocking portion  16  extends from the supporting surface  120  on the third side  125  of the base  12 . 
         [0018]    The buffer  18  is comprised of an elastic material and includes a first end  182  and a second end  184 . The first end  182  and the second end  184  are at opposite sides of the buffer  18 . The first end  182  is fixed on the bottom surface  129 , and the second end  184  is suspended in the slot  126 . 
         [0019]    The engaging portion  19  extends from the supporting surface  120  adjacent to the slot  126 . A second engaging hole  192  is defined in the engaging portion  19 . 
         [0020]    The rotating member  20  is positioned at the remaining corner of the base  12 . The rotating member  20  includes a post  22 , a ring-shaped pad  24 , and a Z-shaped tab  26 . The post  22  is fixed on the supporting surface  120 . The pad  24  is rotatably mounted on the post  22 . The tab  26  is fixedly connected to the pad  24  and spaced apart from the supporting surface  120 . That is, the tab  26  does not contact the supporting surface  120 . The tab  26  includes a connecting portion  262  and a supporting portion  264 . The connecting portion  262  and the supporting portion  264  cooperatively form a Z-shape. The connecting portion  262  is fixed to the pad  24 . The connecting portion  262  hangs the supporting portion  264  from the pad  24 . The supporting portion  264  is spaced from the supporting surface  120 . 
         [0021]    The shutter blade  30  includes a connecting end  32  and a free end  34 . The connecting end  32  and the free end  34  are at opposite sides of the shutter blade  30 . A through hole  322  is defined in the connecting end  32 . The post  22  and the connecting portion  262  extend through the through hole  322 . The connecting end  32  is bonded to the pad  24  by adhesive. The area of the free end  34  is greater than that of the first aperture  124 . 
         [0022]    The coil  40  is mounted on the supporting portion  264 . The direction and intensity of electric current of the coil  40  is controlled by a driving circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the coil  40 . In other embodiments, the coil  40  may be mounted on the shutter blade  30 . 
         [0023]    The first magnetic member  50  is mounted on the second side  123 . The first magnetic member  50  is a permanent magnet. A magnetic field generated by the first magnetic member  50  has a North (N)-to-South (S) direction perpendicular to the supporting surface  120 . In this embodiment, the N pole faces the supporting surface  120 , and the S pole faces away from the supporting surface  120 . 
         [0024]    The second magnetic member  60  is mounted on the third side  125  between the blocking portion  16  and a protrusion  14 . The second magnetic member  60  is also a permanent magnet. A magnetic field generated by the second magnetic member  60  has a N-to-S direction perpendicular to the supporting surface  120 . In this embodiment, the S pole faces the supporting surface  120 , and the N pole faces away from the supporting surface  120 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3  together with  FIG. 2 , the cover  70  includes a plate  72 , a first engaging post  74 , and a second engaging post  76 . The plate  72  includes a plane surface  722  opposite to the supporting surface  120 . The plate  72  defines a second aperture  724  aligned with the first aperture  124  and a positioning hole  726  corresponding to the post  22 . The first engaging post  74  extends from the plane surface  722  corresponding to the first engaging hole  128 . The second engaging post  76  extends from the plane surface  722  corresponding to the second engaging hole  192 . 
         [0026]    When the cover  70  is mounted on the support  10 , the post  22  passes through the positioning hole  726 . The first engaging post  74  engages with the first engaging hole  128 . The second engaging post  76  engages with the second engaging hole  192 . The plane surface  722  is supported by the three protrusions  14 . 
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS.  2  and  4 - 5 , the shutter blade  30  opens the first aperture  124  in a natural state. When the shutter device  100  is activated, an electric current is applied to the coil  40 . Direction of the electric current of the coil  40  is counterclockwise, as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 2 , when the shutter device  100  is viewed from above. The first and second magnetic members  50 ,  60  produce magnetic fields. According to Ampere&#39;s rule, the coil  40  suffers an Ampere&#39;s force pointing from the second magnetic member  60  to the first magnetic member  50 . The coil  40  is pulled from the second magnetic member  60  to the first magnetic member  50 . The pad  24 , the tab  26 , and the shutter blade  30  rotate about the post  22  counterclockwise under the Ampere&#39;s force until the buffer  18  blocks the shutter blade  30 . Therefore, the shutter blade  30  covers the first aperture  124  in a closed state. 
         [0028]    At a next time, when an exposing state is needed, direction of the electric current of the coil  40  is clockwise (not shown). According to the same principle as detailed above, the coil  40  is pulled from the first magnetic member  50  to the second magnetic member  60 . The pad  24 , the tab  26 , and the shutter blade  30  rotate about the post  22  clockwise under the Ampere&#39;s force until the blocking portion  16  blocks the shutter blade  30 . Therefore, the shutter blade  30  exposes the first aperture  124 . The shutter device  100  is in an open state. 
         [0029]    With the above configuration, the shutter device  100  avoids using step motors, and the shutter blade  30  can be moved by the cooperation of the coil  40 , the first magnetic member  50 , and the second magnetic member  60 . Accordingly, the size of the shutter device  100  substantially decreases. In addition, the buffer  18  and the blocking portion  16  block the shutter blade  30  avoid over movement and excessive vibration of the shutter blade  30  and reduce shutter activation noise. 
         [0030]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.