Patent Publication Number: US-2023139965-A1

Title: Device cradle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 20-2021-0003287, filed on Oct. 28, 2021, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     One or more example embodiments relate to a device cradle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Mobile phones generally manufactured for the purpose of long-distance communication are added with camera function in addition to the traditional communication function following technological development, and thus taking pictures or videos has become possible. In particular, as remote communication of pictures and videos has become possible with the spread of smart phones, generating and sharing image information with mobile phones instead of existing portable cameras are becoming more frequent. 
     However, a mobile phone with a camera function may take photos unclearly due to shaking and taking a video for a long time while holding a mobile phone is inconvenient. 
     In order to resolve such an inconvenience, users recently take pictures using a selfie stick and a tripod. However, in the case of video recording, there was an inconvenience of having to move according to and together with the movement of the object, and in this case, recording a clear video was difficult because stable video recording was difficult. 
     Thus, there is a need for a device cradle that rotates the device so that a moving object is included in the screen of the user device when the object moves. 
     The above description is information the inventor(s) acquired during the course of conceiving the present disclosure, or already possessed at the time, and is not necessarily art publicly known before the present application was filed. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect provides a device cradle capable of holding a device. 
     Another aspect provides a device cradle capable of vertical and/or horizontal rotation. 
     Another aspect provides a device cradle that may be used regardless of the type or size of a device. 
     According to an aspect, there is provided a device cradle including a fixer configured to fix a device, a body portion including a main body and a penetrating groove which is formed to penetrate the main body from a top surface of the main body and accommodates at least a portion of the fixer, and a first driving portion configured to rotate the fixer by a specified angle around a horizontal axis with respect to the body portion, wherein the penetrating groove has a spherical shape, and wherein at least part of the fixer is formed in a spherical shape. 
     The first driving portion may include a motor configured to generate a torque and at least one gear configured to transmit the torque. 
     The first driving unit may include a first gear, a first motor which is fixed to the main body and configured to rotate the first gear around the horizontal axis, and a connector which is disposed between the first gear and fixer and configured to transmit the torque which is transmitted from the first gear to the fixer. 
     The connection member may have a tooth formed on one side of the connection member configured to connect to the first gear and may be formed to be flat on the other side to connect to the fixer. 
     The main body includes a first body and a second body which is disposed on the upper part of the first body, and may include a second driving portion configured to rotate the second body by a specified angle around a vertical axis with respect to the first body. 
     The second driving portion may include a motor configured to generate torque and at least one gear configured to transmit the torque. 
     The second driving portion may include a first rotating portion which is fixed to the first body, a second rotating portion which is fixed to the second body and includes a tooth formed on an inner circumferential surface, a worm, a second motor which is fixed to the first rotating portion and configured to rotate the worm around the horizontal axis, a worm wheel which is connected to the worm by a worm gear method and configured to rotate around the vertical axis, and at least one second gear which rotates around the vertical axis, disposed between the worm wheel and the tooth formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second rotating portion, and transmits the torque transmitted from the worm wheel to the second rotating portion. 
     The fixer may include a fixing frame, a fixing groove which is formed to be recessed from one side of the fixing frame, a gripping portion which is disposed inside the fixing groove and configured to grip the device, and a distance-adjusting portion configured to adjust a fixed distance, which is the distance between one side of the fixing groove and the gripping portion. 
     The distance-adjusting portion connects to the gripping portion, penetrates the fixing frame, connects to the fixing frame via thread-connection, and adjusts the fixed distance as the distance-adjusting portion rotates around a rotation axis. 
     According to example embodiments, a device cradle capable of easily adjusting a location of a device may be provided. 
     The effects of the device cradle are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects may be clearly understood from the above description by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a state of use of a device cradle according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a device cradle according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded perspective view of a device cradle according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a first driving portion according to an example embodiment. 
         FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are views illustrating operations of a first driving portion according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view of a device cradle according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded perspective view of a second driving portion according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    is a plan view of a second driving portion viewed from above according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  9    is a plan view of a second driving portion viewed from side according to an example embodiment. 
         FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  are views illustrating operations of a fixer according to an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred example embodiments of the present disclosure, and are provided together with the detailed description for better understanding of the technical idea of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the example embodiments set forth in the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, examples will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, various alterations and modifications may be made to the examples. Thus, the examples are not construed as limited to the example embodiment set forth herein. The examples should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and the technical scope of the disclosure. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not to be limiting of the example embodiments. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises/comprising” and/or “includes/including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which examples belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly- used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     When describing the examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like constituent elements and a repeated description related thereto will be omitted. In the description of the examples, a detailed description of well-known related structures or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present disclosure. 
     Also, in the description of the components, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the like may be used herein when describing components of the present disclosure. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one constituent element from another constituent element, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the constituent elements are not limited by the terms. When one constituent element is described as being “connected,” “coupled,” or “attached” to another constituent element, it should be understood that one constituent element may be connected or attached directly to another constituent element, and an intervening constituent element may also be “connected,” “coupled,” or “attached” to the constituent elements. 
     The same name may be used to describe an element included in the examples described above and an element having a common function. Unless otherwise mentioned, the descriptions of the examples may be applicable to the following examples and thus, duplicated descriptions will be omitted for conciseness. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a state of use of a device cradle according to an example embodiment, and  FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a device cradle according to an example embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , a device cradle  1  may rotate a device (e.g., a terminal) T horizontally and/or vertically while the device T is mounted thereto. In an example embodiment, the device cradle  1  may include a fixer  11  and a body portion  12 . 
     The fixer  11  may fix the device T. The device T may include, for example, a portable device, a smartphone, a tablet, a language-learning device, an e-book, and the like, but is not limited thereto. In an example embodiment, the fixer  11  may rotate around a horizontal axis (e.g., y axis) with respect to the body portion  12  by a first driving portion  13 . The body portion  12  and the first driving portion  13  will be described later. As the fixer  11  rotates, the device T may also rotate around the horizontal axis (e.g., y-axis). Accordingly, the device T may be tilted in a vertical direction so that a moving object is included in a screen of the device T. In an example embodiment, at least a portion of the fixer  11  may be formed in a spherical shape. For example, the fixer  12  may have a portion that is exposed to the outside of the body portion  12 , at least a portion of which may be formed in a spherical shape. 
     The body portion  12  may include a main body  121  and a penetrating groove  122 . 
     In an example embodiment, the main body  121  may support the fixer  11  from the ground and accommodate various components including electronic components. For example, the main body  121  may be formed in a cylindrical shape, which is provided merely as an example. The shape of the main body  121  is not limited to the foregoing example. For example, the main body  121  may be formed in various ways according to an environment in which the device T is mounted. 
     In an example embodiment, the penetrating groove  122  may be formed to penetrate through an upper surface of the main body  121  to accommodate at least a portion of the fixer  11 . In an example embodiment, the penetrating groove  122  may be formed in a shape corresponding to a cross-section (e.g., a cross-section perpendicular to a z axis) of the fixer  11 , thereby minimizing a gap between the main body  121  and the fixer  11  and preventing an inflow of foreign substances while improving an outer appearance in view. For example, the penetrating groove  122  may be formed in a circular shape. Accordingly, when the penetrating groove  122  is formed in the circular shape, the fixer  11  having at least a portion formed in a spherical shape may rotate without interference with the main body  121  while being accommodated in the penetrating groove  122 . In an example embodiment, the main body  121  may include a first body  1211  and a second body  1212 . 
     In an example embodiment, the first body  1211  may form a lower portion of the main body  121 , and the second body  1212  may form an upper portion of the main body  121 . The second body  1212  may be disposed on the first body  1211 . In an example embodiment, the second body  1212  may rotate around a vertical axis (e.g., the z axis) with respect to the first body  1211  by a second driving portion  14  to be described later. As a second rotating portion  142  rotates, the device T may also rotate around the vertical axis (e.g., the z axis). When the device T rotates together with the second body  1212 , a moving object (e.g., an object) may be continuously captured through a camera. 
       FIG.  3    is an exploded perspective view of the device cradle  1  according to an example embodiment,  FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the first driving portion  13  according to an example embodiment, and  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are views illustrating operations of the first driving portion  13  according to an example embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  to  5 B , the first driving portion  13  may be accommodated in an inner space of the body portion  12  and the fixer  11 , and may rotate the fixer  11  by a specified angle around the horizontal axis (e.g., they axis) with respect to the body portion  12 . Rotating the fixer  11  by the angle around the horizontal axis (e.g., the y axis) with respect to the body portion  12  may be tilting the fixer  11  with respect to the body portion  12 . 
     In an example embodiment, the first driving portion  13  may include a motor, gear, and connection member  133 . 
     The motor may generate a torque for driving the first driving portion  13 . In an example embodiment, the motor may rotate the gear connected to the motor by a specified angle around a rotation axis. For example, the angle may be formed by the device T connected to the device cradle  1  through a short-range wireless communication. For example, the first driving portion  13  may include a first motor  131  that rotates a first gear  132  to be described later in a clockwise and/or counterclockwise direction by a specified angle around the horizontal axis (e.g., they axis). In an example embodiment, the first motor  131  may be fixed to the main body  121 . For example, the first motor  131  may be fixed to a first motor case C 1 , and the first motor case C 1  may be fixed to at least a portion of the main body  121 . However, examples are not limited thereto, and how the first motor  131  is fixed to the main body  121  is not limited to the foregoing example. For example, the first motor  131  may be fixed in such a way that the first motor  131  is directly attached to the main body  121 . 
     The gear may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a tooth formed on an outer surface thereof. In an example embodiment, the gear may transmit the torque generated from the motor, and at least one gear may be provided. In an example embodiment, the first driving portion  13  may include the first gear  132 . The first gear  132  may be formed as a spur gear and be fixed to the first motor  131 , and may rotate around the horizontal axis (e.g., the y axis) by the first motor  131 . The first gear  132  may thus receive the torque generated from the first motor  131 . 
     The connecting member  133  may be disposed between the first gear  132  and the fixer  11 , and may transmit the torque transmitted from the first gear  132  to the fixer  11 . In an example embodiment, the connecting member  133  may have a tooth Al formed on one side thereof to be connected to the first gear  132 . In an example embodiment, a tooth of the first gear  132  and the tooth Al of the connecting member  133  may engage with each other. Accordingly, as the first gear  132  rotates around the horizontal axis (e.g., the y axis), the connecting member  133  may also rotate around the horizontal axis (e.g., the y axis). For example, when the first gear  132  rotates clockwise around the horizontal axis (e.g., they axis), the connecting member  133  may rotate counterclockwise around the horizontal axis (e.g., the y axis). In other words, the first gear  132  may transmit, to the connecting member  133 , the torque received from the first motor  131 . 
     In an example embodiment, the other side of the connecting member  133  may be formed flat (e.g., A 2 ) to be connected to the fixer  11 . For example, a cross-section (e.g., a cross-section perpendicular to the y axis) of the connecting member  133  may include a semispherical cross-section. In an example embodiment, the other side of the connecting member  133  which is formed as a flat surface A 2  may be connected to at least a portion of the fixer  11 . For example, the other side of the connection member  133  may be in contact with a flat surface A 3  of the fixer  11 . Accordingly, as the connecting member  133  rotates around the horizontal axis (e.g., the y axis), the fixer  11  may also rotate around the horizontal axis (e.g., the y axis). For example, when the connecting member  133  rotates counterclockwise around the horizontal axis (e.g., they axis), the connecting member  133  may also rotate counterclockwise around the horizontal axis (e.g., the y axis). In other words, the connecting member  133  may transmit, to the fixer  11 , the torque received from the first gear  132 . 
       FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view of the device cradle  1  according to an example embodiment,  FIG.  7    is an exploded perspective view of the second driving portion  14  according to an example embodiment,  FIG.  8    is a plan view of the second driving portion  14  viewed from above according to an example embodiment, and  FIG.  9    is a plan view of the second driving portion  14  viewed from side according to an example embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  to  9   , the second driving portion  14  may be accommodated in an inner space of the body portion  12 , and may rotate the second body  1212  by a specified angle around the vertical axis (e.g., the z axis) with respect to the first body  1211 . In an example embodiment, the second driving portion  14  may include a first rotating portion  141 , the second rotating portion  142 , a motor, and a gear. For example, the angle may be determined by the device T connected with the device cradle  1  through short-range wireless communication. 
     The first rotating portion  141  may be fixed to the first body  1211 . For example, the first rotating portion  141  may be accommodated in an inner space of the first body  1211  and be fixed to at least a portion of the first body  1211 . In an example embodiment, the first rotating portion  141  may provide a space in which the motor, the gear, and the second rotating portion  142  may be disposed. For example, to the first rotating portion  141 , a second motor  143 , a rotation axis of a worm wheel  145 , and a rotation axis of a second gear  146  may be fixed, and the second rotating portion  142  may be connected. For example, a cross-section (e.g., a cross-section perpendicular to the z axis) of the first rotating portion  141  may be formed in a circular shape, but is not limited thereto. 
     The second rotating portion  142  may be connected to the first rotating portion  141  and fixed to the second body  1212 . In an example embodiment, the second rotating portion  142  may have a tooth A 4  formed on its inner circumferential surface. In an example embodiment, as the tooth A 4  formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second rotating portion  142  and the second gear  146  to be described later are engaged, the second rotating portion  142  may rotate around the vertical axis (e.g., the z axis) with respect to the first rotating portion  141 . For example, a cross-section (e.g., a cross-section perpendicular to the z axis) of the second rotating portion  142  may be formed in a circular shape, but is not limited thereto. 
     The motor may generate a torque for driving the second driving portion  14 . In an example embodiment, the motor may rotate the gear connected to the motor by a specified angle around a rotation axis. For example, the second driving portion  14  may include the second motor  143  that rotates a worm  144 , which will be described later, in a clockwise and/or counterclockwise direction by a specified angle around the horizontal axis (e.g., an x axis). In an example embodiment, the second motor  143  may be fixed to the first rotating portion  141 . For example, the second motor  143  may be fixed to a second motor case C 2  and the second motor case C 2  may be fixed to at least a portion of the first rotating portion  141 . However, examples are not limited to the foregoing example, and the second motor may be fixed in such a way that it is directly attached to the first rotating portion  141 . 
     The gear may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a tooth formed on an outer surface thereof. In an example embodiment, the gear may transmit the torque generated from the motor, and at least one gear may be provided. In an example embodiment, the first driving portion  13  may include the worm  144 , the worm wheel  145 , and the second gear  146 . 
     In an example embodiment, the worm  144  may be fixed to the first motor  131 , and may rotate by a specified angle around the horizontal axis (e.g., an x axis) by the first motor  131 . Accordingly, the worm  144  may receive the torque generated from the first motor  131 . 
     In an example embodiment, the worm wheel  145  may be connected to the first gear  132  in the worm gear  144  method. In an example embodiment, tooth of the worm  144  and tooth of the worm wheel  145  may engage with each other. Accordingly, as the worm  144  rotates around the horizontal axis (eg, the x axis), the worm wheel  145  may rotate around the vertical axis (eg, the z axis). In other words, the worm  144  may transmit the torque received from the first motor  131  to the worm wheel  145 . 
     In an example embodiment, the second gear  146  rotates around the vertical axis (eg, the z axis), is disposed between the tooth A 4  formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second rotating portion  142  and the worm wheel  145 , and may transmit the torque received from the worm wheel  145  to the second rotating portion  142 . In an example embodiment, at least one second gear  146  may be provided. For example, two second gears  146  may be provided, and the two second gears  146  may be disposed to engage with each other. In addition, one second gear  146  engages with the spur gear provided in the lower portion of the worm wheel  145 , and the other second gear  146  may engage with the tooth A 4  formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second rotating portion  142 . Accordingly, as the worm wheel  145  rotates clockwise, each of the two second gears  146  rotates counterclockwise and clockwise, and finally the second rotating portion  142  may rotate clockwise. In other words, torque generated from the second motor  143  may be transmitted to the second rotating portion  142 . 
     In an example embodiment, as the second motor  143  is driven in a state in which the first rotating portion  141  is fixed to the first body  1211  and the second rotating portion  142  is fixed to the second body  1212 , the second rotating portion  142  may rotate around the vertical axis (eg, the z axis) with respect to the first rotating portion  141 . Accordingly, the second body  1212  may rotate around the vertical axis (eg, the z axis) with respect to the first body  1211 . 
       FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  are operational views of the fixer  11  according to an example embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  10 A and  10 B , the fixer  11  according to an embodiment may fix the device T. In an example embodiment, the fixer  11  may include a fixing frame  111 , a fixing groove  112 , a gripping member  113 , and a distance-adjusting portion  114 . 
     The fixing frame  111  may form an outer surface of the fixer  11 . 
     The fixing groove  112  may be formed to be recessed from one side of the fixing frame  111 . For example, the fixing groove  112  may be recessed from the upper surface of the fixer  11  by a predetermined length. For example, cross-section (eg, a cross-section perpendicular to the x axis) of the fixing groove  112  may be formed in a semispherical shape. In an example embodiment, one side of the fixing groove  112  may be in contact with at least a portion of the device T. For example, in order to effectively grip the device T, one side of the fixing groove  112  is formed to be flat, and may be made of a material with high friction. However, this is an example, and the shape and material of the fixing groove  112  are not limited to the foregoing embodiment. 
     The gripping member  113  is disposed inside the fixing groove  112  and may grip the device T. In an example embodiment, the holding member  113  may be formed in a shape corresponding to a cross-section (eg, a cross-section perpendicular to the x axis) of the fixing groove  112 . For example, a cross-section (eg, a cross-section perpendicular to the x axis) of the gripping member  113  may be formed in a semispherical shape. In an example embodiment, the holding member  113  may be in contact with at least a portion of the device T. For example, for effective gripping of the device T, the gripping member  113  is formed in a way that at least a part of it is flat, and may be provided with a material with high friction; the shape and material of the gripping member  113  are not limited to the foregoing embodiment. 
     Distance adjusting unit  114  may adjust a fixed distance D, which is a distance between one side of the fixing groove  112  and gripping member  113 . For example, distance adjusting unit  114  may be connected to the holding member  113  and disposed to pass through the fixed frame. In addition, distance adjusting unit  114  may be connected to the fixing frame  111  via thread-connection. Accordingly, as the distance adjusting unit  114  rotates around the rotation axis, the fixed distance D may be adjusted. For this reason, the user may adjust the fixed distance D by rotating the distance adjusting unit  114  around the rotation axis. In  FIG.  10 A , the user may insert the device T between one side of the fixing groove  112  and the gripping member  113  by adjusting the fixing distance to be longer than the thickness of the device T. In addition, in  FIG.  10 B , the user may adjust the fixing distance to correspond to the thickness of the device T so that one side of the fixing groove  112  and the gripping member  113  grip the device T. 
     While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made in these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner, and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. 
     Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the disclosure.