Patent Publication Number: US-2013242179-A1

Title: Video device and adjusting mechanism thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 101204759 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Mar. 15, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a video device and an adjusting mechanism thereof, and more particularly to a fixed video device and an adjusting mechanism thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     No matter at homes, enterprises, governments or public places, a surveillance camera plays important role on human security and asset protection. Typically, the surveillance camera comprises a video device for monitoring the condition of a certain monitored environment such that unexpected invasions and occurrences of special circumstances may be detected, and therefore user may be informed immediately so as to handle the events. The conventional surveillance camera has two types which are fixed surveillance camera and rotary surveillance camera. 
     In the conventional rotary surveillance camera, a video device may rotate automatically according to original design and setting, or according to the remote control by users. The video device may be driven to rotate to a desired field of view by a driving mechanism (such as a linear motor). 
     The other kind of surveillance camera is the fixed surveillance camera. As the name implies, the fixed surveillance camera shoots or monitors at a certain angle. Moreover, for being hidden and anti-explosion, the conventional fixed surveillance camera is designed to be a dome shape and is located on a ceiling. Furthermore, a dome-shape casing covers the video device in order to prevent the video device from exposure, which causes damage. 
     Generally speaking, when the shooting angle of the lens module of the fixed surveillance camera needs to be adjusted, the general approach is to loose a side screw so as to loose the video device, than the shooting angle of the lens module may be adjusted by hands. Another conventional approach is to directly adjust the shooting angle by hands. 
     However, in these approaches for adjusting the shooting angle of the lens module by hands, when the shooting angle of the video device is adjusted, a fixing component of the video device may cause the lens module to shake or lose focus because the fixing and clamping of the fixing component is weak. Moreover, the shooting angle of the lens module may easily be deviated by gravity as time goes by. When the video device is pressed by hands, the structure of the fixing component may be damaged by inappropriate force, such that the fixing component may lose the function of fixing the shooting angle of the video device, and the user may not adjust the desired shooting angle of the video device. Therefore, in the fixed surveillance camera, because the shooting angle of the video device is adjusted by hands, the fixing component may not fix the shooting angle of the video device, such that the fixed surveillance camera may not monitor the desired field of view and the maintenance cost is increased. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the disclosure provides an adjusting mechanism, applicable for a video device. The adjusting mechanism comprises a fixing bracket, an adjusting component, a linking component and a rotating bracket. The adjusting component is disposed on a side of the fixing bracket. The linking component is engaged with the adjusting component. The rotating bracket is connected to the linking component and is pivoted to the fixing bracket. When the adjusting component is rotated by an external force, the linking component drives the rotating bracket to pivot relative to the fixing bracket. 
     Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a video device comprising a lower casing, an adjusting mechanism, a video module and a top cover. The lower casing comprises a circuit board. The adjusting mechanism is disposed on the lower casing. The adjusting mechanism comprises a fixing bracket, an adjusting component, a linking component and a rotating bracket. The fixing bracket is disposed on the lower casing. The adjusting component is disposed on a side of the fixing bracket. The linking component is engaged with the adjusting component. The rotating bracket is connected to the linking component and is pivoted to the fixing bracket. When the adjusting component is rotated by an external force, the linking component drives the rotating bracket to pivot relative to the fixing bracket. The video module is disposed on the rotating bracket. The top cover is disposed on the lower casing. The top cover includes an opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus does not limit the disclosure, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a first side view of the adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a second side view of the adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a video device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing. 
     The disclosure provides an adjusting mechanism applicable for fixing a video module. By means of rotating the adjusting mechanism, the video module is driven to rotate (namely, spin) accordingly. 
     The following describes an adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 2  is a first side view of the adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     The adjusting mechanism  30  comprises a fixing bracket  31 , an adjusting component  32 , a linking component  33  and a rotating bracket  34 . The fixing bracket  31  is adapted for being fixed on a substrate (not shown). The fixing bracket  31  includes a cross plate  3113 , two side plates  312  and  313 , a side wall  314  and a side wall  315 . The cross plate  3113  is connected to the side plates  312  and  313 , respectively. That is to say, the side plates  312  and  313  are disposed on two opposite ends of the cross plate  3113 , respectively. The side wall  314  is disposed on the side plate  312 , and the side wall  315  is disposed on the side plate  313 . The side wall  314  faces the side wall  315 . Moreover, an accommodating room is formed between the side walls  314  and  315 , and the rotating bracket  34  is disposed therein. Typically, the side wall  314  includes a first through hole  316 , and the side wall  315  includes a first through hole  317 . The first through holes  316  and  317  correspond to each other. 
     Furthermore, an attaching portion  318  is disposed on the top of the side wall  314 . The side plate  312  includes a hollow hole  319 , and the attaching portion  318  and the hollow hole  319  correspond to each other. Therefore, the adjusting component  32  penetrates through and is limited by the attaching portion  318  and the hollow hole  319  of the fixing bracket  31 . Therefore, the adjusting component  32  only rotates (namely, spins) between the attaching portion  318  and the hollow hole  319 . Moreover, the adjusting component  32  includes a rotating portion  321  and a thread portion  322 . The rotating portion  321  is exposed from the attaching portion  318 . In this embodiment, the rotating portion  321  is a cross-recessed area for a cross-shaped screw driver (not shown) to rotate. But the above-mentioned shape of the rotating portion  321  is not limited to the disclosure. Moreover, in other embodiments, the shape of the rotating portion  321  is a straight-line-recessed shape or other shapes according to corresponding rotating tools. 
     The following describes the structure of the linking component  33  of the adjusting mechanism  30 . The linking component  33  includes a locking portion  331 , a tooth portion  332  and a threaded hole  333 . The locking portion  331  corresponds to the first through hole  316 , and the threaded hole  333  penetrates through the locking portion  331  and the tooth portion  332 . The tooth portion  332  is engaged with the thread portion  322  of the adjusting component  32 . When the adjusting component  32  receives an external force to rotate around the side plate  312 , the thread portion  322  drives the tooth portion  332  to rotate. 
     In this embodiment, the adjusting component  32  is a worm gear, and the linking component  33  is a spur gear, but such gears are not limited to the disclosure. 
     The following describes the structure of the rotating bracket  34  of the adjusting mechanism  30 . The rotating bracket  34  includes a main body  341 , two side walls  342  and  343  and two circular posts  347  and  348 . The side walls  342  and  343  are respectively located on two opposite ends of the main body  341 . The side wall  342  includes an indentation  344 , and the indentation  344  corresponds to the locking portion  331 . Moreover, the indentation  344  includes a second through hole  345 , and the second through hole  345  corresponds to both the first through hole  316  and the threaded hole  333 . In this embodiment, a first fixing component  50  is disposed in the threaded hole  333 . The locking portion  331  penetrates through the first through hole  316  and is embedded in the indentation  344 . The first fixing component  50  is locked in the threaded hole  333  and the second through hole  345 , such that the fixing bracket  31 , the linking component  33  and the rotating bracket  34  are connected with each other. When the adjusting component  32  receives an external force to rotate around the side plate  312 , the thread portion  322  drives the tooth portion  332  to rotate accordingly. Next, by the locking portion  331  of the linking component  33  being embedded and sitting in the indentation  344  of the rotating bracket  34 , when the linking component  33  rotates, the rotating bracket  34  rotates according at the same rotating angle. Moreover, since the fixing bracket  31  is securely disposed on the substrate, the fixing bracket  31  may not rotate according to the rotation of the rotating bracket  34 . The circular posts  347  and  348  are disposed on the main body  341 . 
     The side wall  314  of the fixing bracket  31  includes a limiting portion  311 . The limiting portion  311 , disposed in the vicinity of the first through hole  316  and the linking component  33 , corresponds to the tooth portion  332 . When the linking component  33  rotates, the limiting portion  311  is leaned against the tooth portion  332 , which limits the rotating angle of the linking component  33 . 
     In this embodiment, the side wall  343  of the rotating bracket  34  includes a second through hole  346  that is opposite to the first through hole  317  of the side wall  315 . Therefore, a second fixing component  51  is disposed for penetrating through the first through hole  317  and the second through hole  346 , such that the linking component  33  rotates relative to the first through hole  317 . 
     The following describes the disposition of the video module  40 . The video module  40  comprises a lens assembly  41 , a lens base  42  and a fixing plate  43 . The fixing plate  43  is securely locked on the circular posts  347  and  348  by a screw (not shown). The lens assembly  41  is disposed on the lens base  42 , and the lens base  42  is affixed to the fixing plate  43  by another screw (not shown). By the above-mentioned disposition of the video module  40 , because the video module  40  is affixed to the main body  341 , when the linking component  33  and the rotating bracket  34  rotate, the video module  40  rotates with the rotation of the linking component  33  and the rotating bracket  34  accordingly. 
     In this embodiment, the first fixing component  50  and the second fixing component  51  are screws, respectively, but are not limited thereto. 
     The following describes a method for adjusting a rotating angle according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the fixing bracket  31  is disposed on a lower casing  20 , and a circuit board  21  is disposed on the lower casing  20 . Thus, when the linking component  33  and the rotating bracket  34  rotate, the fixing bracket  31  may not rotate according to the linking component  33  and the rotating bracket  34 . In this embodiment, the circuit board  21  is electrically connected to the video module  40 . As it can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the tooth portion  332  of the threaded hole  333  is engaged with the thread portion  322  of the adjusting component  32 . When the video module  40  is located at a first position, a surface  3111  of the limiting portion  311  leans against a tooth surface  3321  of the tooth portion  332 . Therefore, the linking component  33  may not rotate clockwise (The direction shown in  FIG. 2 ) by the rotation and driving of the adjusting component  32 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 , which is a second side view of the adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Next, a tool, such as a cross-shaped screw driver, is applied to rotate to turn the rotating portion  321  of the adjusting component  32  around. Since the tooth portion  332  is engaged with the thread portion  322  including a plurality of guiding layers, when the adjusting component  32  rotates a revolution, the tooth portion  332  is elevated one guiding layer of the thread portion  322  counterclockwise. Next, the adjusting component  32  rotates continuously. When the linking component  33  rotates counterclockwise around the first fixing component, the rotating bracket  34  and the video module  40 , disposed on the rotating bracket  34 , are driven to rotate counterclockwise around the first fixing component  50  at the same time. Therefore, the shooting angle of the video module  40  is adjusted accordingly until the surface  3112  of the limiting portion  311  limits and blocks the tooth surface  3322  of the tooth portion  332 . At this time, the linking component  33  no longer rotates counterclockwise by the rotation of the adjusting component  32 , and the video module  40  is at a second position. It can be seen from the  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in this embodiment, by means of rotating the adjusting component  32 , the video module  40  may rotate from the first position to the second position. 
     Moreover, when the video module  40  needs to rotate from the second position to the first position, the rotating portion  321  of the adjusting component  32  spins counterclockwise, so the linking component  33 , the rotating bracket  34  and the video module  40  are driven to rotate, until the video module  40  rotates to the first position. Therefore, By means of rotating the adjusting component  32 , the video module  40  may rotate back and forth between the first position and the second position. 
     In this embodiment, rotating the adjusting component  32  by an external force comprises a method that a user holds a tool by hands, the tool is in contact with the adjusting component  32 . The user applies a force to the tool so as to drive the video module  40  to rotate. 
     According to a video device provided in an embodiment of the disclosure, the video device is a fixed type and dome-shape video device, which is generally embedded in a ceiling and which is adapted for monitoring and illuminating to an environment. In this disclosure, the fixed type indicates that the video device may not rotate by itself automatically, and the shooting angle of the video device is adjusted by an external force. 
     The following describes the structure of the video device. Please refer to  FIG. 4 , which is an exploded view of a video device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     The video device  10  in this embodiment comprises a lower casing  20 , a circuit board  21 , an adjusting mechanism  30 , a video module  40  and a top cover  60 . The lower casing  20  is embedded or securely disposed on a ceiling (not shown), but such a disposition of the video device  10  is not limited to the disclosure. The disposition of the video device  10  is adjusted and varied according to actual requirements. The circuit board  21  is securely disposed on the lower casing  20 . The circuit board  21  comprises a plurality of electronic components for recording, transmitting and compressing images. The adjusting mechanism  30  is disposed on the lower casing  20 , and the circuit board  21  is disposed between the adjusting mechanism  30  and the lower casing  20 . The video module  40  is securely disposed on the adjusting mechanism  30 , and the video module  40  is driven to rotate by the rotation of the adjusting mechanism  30 . Moreover, the video module  40  is electrically connected to the circuit board  21  by a cable (not shown). The video module  40  is adapted for capturing images outside, and the image data is converted into digital data that is transmitted to the circuit board  21  for further processing. The top cover  60  is securely disposed on the lower casing  20  and covers the lower casing  20 , the circuit board  21 , the adjusting mechanism  30  and the video module  40 . Furthermore, the top cover  60  includes an opening  61  which corresponds to the rotatable angle of the video module  40 . That is to say, the video module  40  is exposed to outside environment via the opening  61 , such that the video module  40  is adapted for capturing images. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the top cover  60  is dome-shape, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the shape of the top cover is square, oval or rectangular. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to dissemble the top cover  60 , and the user may adjust the exposed adjusting mechanism  30  by a tool (such as a screw driver) to adjust the shooting angle of the video module  40 . 
     According to the adjusting mechanism  30  in the embodiment of the disclosure, compared to the conventional clamping of the fixed lens, the adjusting component  32  is a worm gear, the linking component  33  is a spur gear, and the linking component  33  is embedded in the rotating bracket  34 . These structures may not damage the fixed angle mechanism of the adjusting mechanism  30  by adjusting the shooting angle of the video module  40 , such that the tilt and the loose of the video module  40  are avoided. Therefore, the adjusting mechanism  30  in the embodiment of the disclosure has strong and stable structure, which improves the durability of the video device. 
     According to the video device and the adjusting mechanism thereof, the adjusting component, the linking component and the rotating bracket are disposed therein, the adjusting component is engaged with the linking component, and the linking component is embedded and sits in the rotating bracket. When the adjusting component rotates, the linking component and the rotating bracket are driven to rotate accordingly. Therefore, in the video device and the adjusting mechanism thereof, the top cover is not necessary to be dissembled, and the shooting angle of the lens assembly can easily be adjusted by a tool, which aligns the field of view required. Consequently, the disclosure solves the problem that the shooting angle of the conventional video device has to be adjusted by hand, which easily breaks the fixing component down, such that the fixing component is easily broken and the desired shooting angle is not easily adjusted to be obtained. Therefore, in this disclosure, the maintenance cost is reduced, the shooting angle (namely, rotating angle) is easily adjusted and the durability is improved.