Patent Publication Number: US-2007122145-A1

Title: Portable electronic device with camera module

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to portable electronic devices, and more particularly relates to a portable electronic device with a camera module.  
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
      With the development of wireless communication and information processing, portable electronic devices, such as mobile telephones and PDAs (personal digital assistants), are now in widespread use. These electronic devices enable consumers to enjoy the convenience of high technology services, anytime and anywhere. Camera modules have been important members of the portable electronic devices.  
      Camera modules generally have two types of zoom: digital zoom and optical zoom. Digital zoom simply crops an image to the centre—similar to the way a software image editor works. In other words, the pixels that would have been used to capture the original or “un-zoomed” image are simply magnified. To compensate for the loss of actual pixelation, camera modules then use a process of interpolation, which adds pixels to the zoomed image using a complicated algorithm. The resulting image, however, is still far less vivid and effective than if the actual pixels had been used. On the other hand, an optical zoom magnifies the image using a real multifocal-length lens system. This means that the lens system is actually magnifying the focal length and zooming in before the image is captured in pixels.  
      However, for optical zooming, camera modules generally employ complicated structures for driving lenses and thereby are heavier and more expensive and larger as a result. However, in portable electronic devices, such as mobile telephones and PDAs, space is limited. Even where optical zoom is achieved in portable electronic devices, the optical zoom ratio is limited.  
      What is needed, therefore, is a portable electronic device with camera module which has high optical performance and ease of use.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In a preferred embodiment, a portable electronic device with camera module includes a main body, a camera module received in the main body, and an attachable lens module. The camera module and the attachable lens module each includes a magnetic element, the camera module and the attachable lens module are connected by the magnetic elements.  
      Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Many aspects of the present portable electronic device with camera module can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present portable electronic device with camera module. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a portable electronic device with a camera module, in accordance with a first preferred embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a portable electronic device with a camera module before assembly, in accordance with a second preferred embodiment;  
       FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the portable electronic device of  FIG. 3   
      The exemplifications set out herein illustrate at least one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail below and with reference to the drawings.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a portable electronic device with a camera module such as a mobile phone  10  according to a first preferred embodiment is provided. The mobile phone  10  includes a main body  110  having a receiving cavity  111 , a camera module  120  received in the receiving cavity  111 , and an attachable lens module  130 . The camera module  120  includes an image pick-up lens unit  121 , an image sensor  122  and a first magnetic element  123 . The attachable lens module  130  includes a lens barrel  131 , a zoom lens unit  132  and a second magnetic element  133 . The camera module  120  and the attachable lens module  130  are connected by the first magnetic element  123  and the second magnetic element  133 .  
      The image pick-up lens unit  121  may employ a fix focus lens unit or a zoom lens unit. The image sensor  122  usually is a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device. At least one of the first magnetic element  123  and the second magnetic element  133  is made from permanently magnetic material, the other one can be made from permanently magnetic material or a magnetizable metal. The first magnetic element  123  and the second magnetic element  133  are fixed in the camera module  120  and the attachable lens module  130  respectively, and configured for connecting the camera module  120  and the attachable lens module  130  magnetically. For example, the first magnetic element  123  and the second magnetic element  133  are attached, using either adhesive or screw-thread, to the camera module  120  and the attachable lens module  130  respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the camera module  120  and the attachable lens module  130  each employs a magnetic circle pad as the first magnetic element  123  and the second magnetic element  133 . The magnetic circle pads are fixed at corresponding ends of the camera module  120  and the attachable lens module  130 , and the corresponding ends face towards each other.  
      It should be noted that, the zoom lens unit  131  employed in the attachable lens module  130  may also be replaced by other desired optical lens unit, such as fix focus lens unit, telescopic lens unit or tele-converter lens.  
      In operation, the camera module  120  and the attachable lens module  130  are connected by the first magnetic element  123  and the second magnetic element  133 . Therefore, the camera module  120  and the attachable lens module  130  can cooperate with each other in providing high optical performance. If image pick-up operation is completed, the attachable lens module  130  can be removed from the camera module  120 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , a portable electronic device with a camera module such as a mobile phone  20  according to a second preferred embodiment is provided. The mobile phone  20  includes a main body  210  defining a receiving cavity  211 , a camera module  220  received in the receiving cavity  211 , and an attachable lens module  230 . The attachable lens module  230  includes a lens barrel  231 , a zoom lens unit  232  and a second magnetic element  233 .  
      The mobile phone  20  is similar to the mobile phone  10  of the first embodiment. However, the mobile phone  20  further comprises a hanging portion  213  connecting the main body  210  and the attachable lens module  230 . Therefore, when the image pick-up operation is completed, the attachable lens module  230  can be taken off from the camera module  220  and hung like a pendant from the hanging portion  213 . In the preferred embodiment, the hanging portion  213  is a hanging thread.  
      As stated above, the portable electronic device with camera module in accordance with preferred embodiments employ attachable lens modules with camera modules during image pick-up operations and thereby providing high optical performance. Furthermore, if image pick-up operations are completed, the attachable lens modules can be taken off from the camera modules, and the attachable lens modules may employ any desired optical lens unit according to different requirements of users.  
      It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.