Patent Publication Number: US-2020304615-A1

Title: Extension Lens Module

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an extension lens module, and more particularly to an extension lens module applied to an electronic device. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a lens of an electronic device (e.g. smart phone and tablet) has limited camera function because of specification of hardware. Therefore, an electronic device may be used along with an extension lens to obtain extra camera functions (e.g. macro, telephoto or wide-angle camera function). 
     However, the manufacturers need to produce different protective cases to match different types of electronic devices so that the manufacturing cost is increased. Furthermore, since the protective case would affect the appearance of the electronic device, some consumers are not willing to use an electronic device with a protective case attached thereto. Also, although various protective cases are commercially available, there is no guarantee that they can satisfy each of the consumers. 
     The extension lens can be mounted on the electronic device by the clamping member. During the assembly, a little adjustment is required so that the extension lens can be directed at the lens of the electronic device. the clamping member might shield part of display of the electronic device. Also, the user has to remove the extension lens from the electronic device in order to use another extension lens having different camera function. Furthermore, if the electronic device has a protective case mounted thereon, the accuracy of positioning the extension lens (mounted on the electronic device through the clamping member) with respect to the electronic device cannot be controlled well. In brief, the commercially available extension lenses have some limitations in use. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides an extension lens module including a seat body and a switching device. No matter if the electronic device has a protective case mounted thereon, the switching device can be disposed on the electronic device through the seat body, with the extension lens of the switching device directed at the lens of the electronic device. 
     The extension lens module for an electronic device having a lens in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a seat body and a switching device. The seat body is configured to be detachably disposed on the electronic device and includes a positioning pillar. The switching device includes a rotating disc and a plurality of extension lenses, wherein the rotating disc is rotatable with respect to the seat body in an extending direction which is perpendicular to the seat body, and the extension lenses are disposed on the rotating disc at intervals. 
     In another embodiment, the rotating disc includes a hole, the positioning pillar is penetrated through the hole, so that the rotating disc is movable with respect to the seat body in the extending direction. 
     In yet another embodiment, the rotating disc includes a plurality of positioning rings, and positions in which the extension lenses are disposed on the rotating disc correspond to positions of the positioning rings on the rotating disc. When one of the positioning rings is directed at the lens of the electronic device and is in contact with the electronic device, the extension lens corresponding to the positioning ring is aligned with the lens of the electronic device. 
     In another embodiment, a first supporting arm is extended from a first end of the seat body along a first axis, a second supporting arm is extended from a second end of the seat body that is opposite to the first end along the first axis, and one of the first supporting arm and the second supporting arm is provided with an elastic element so that the electronic device is held between the first supporting arm and the second supporting arm. 
     In yet another embodiment, the other one of the first supporting arm and the second supporting arm is provided with a first adjusting knob configured to move the switching device along the first axis. 
     In another embodiment, a third supporting arm is extended from a third end of the seat body along a second axis, the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis, and the third supporting arm is provided with a second adjusting knob configured to move the switching device along the second axis. 
     In yet another embodiment, the rotating disc further includes a hole, an elastic element is disposed between the positioning pillar of the seat body and an inner surface of the hole of the rotating disc, the seat body further includes at least one opening hole, the opening hole is configured to allow an optical axis of one of the extension lenses to pass through, a height of the opening hole is smaller than a height of each of the positioning rings, the opening hole is configured to accommodate one of the positioning rings, and a diameter of the opening hole equals an outer diameter of each of the positioning rings so that each of the positioning rings can be tightly fitted in the opening hole, each of the positioning rings has a height, and the height equals a rear focal length of the extension lens corresponding to the positioning ring. 
     In another embodiment, each of the positioning rings has a height, and the height equals a rear focal length of the extension lens corresponding to the positioning ring. 
     In yet another embodiment, the seat body further includes at least one opening hole, a height of the opening hole is smaller than a height of each of the positioning rings, the opening hole is configured to accommodate one of the positioning rings, and a diameter of the opening hole equals an outer diameter of each of the positioning rings so that each of the positioning rings can be tightly fitted in the opening hole. 
     In another embodiment, the rotating disc further includes a hole, an elastic element is disposed between the positioning pillar of the seat body and an inner surface of the hole of the rotating disc, the opening hole is configured to allow an optical axis of one of the extension lenses to pass through. 
     In yet another embodiment, the seat body further includes at least one opening hole, a height of the opening hole is smaller than a height of each of the positioning rings, the opening hole is configured to accommodate one of the positioning rings, and a diameter of the opening hole equals an outer diameter of each of the positioning rings so that each of the positioning rings can be tightly fitted in the opening hole. 
     In another embodiment, a first supporting arm is extended from a first end of the seat body along a first axis, a second supporting arm is extended from a second end of the seat body that is opposite to the first end along the first axis, and one of the first supporting arm and the second supporting arm is provided with an elastic element so that the electronic device is held between the first supporting arm and the second supporting arm. 
     In yet another embodiment, the other one of the first supporting arm and the second supporting arm is provided with a first adjusting knob configured to move the switching device along the first axis. 
     In another embodiment, a third supporting arm is extended from a third end of the seat body along a second axis, the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis, and the third supporting arm is provided with a second adjusting knob configured to move the switching device along the second axis. 
     In yet another embodiment, the rotating disc includes a plurality of positioning rings, each of the positioning rings has a height, and the height equals a rear focal length of the extension lens corresponding to the positioning ring. 
     In another embodiment, the rotating disc includes a plurality of positioning rings, the seat body further includes at least one opening hole, a height of the opening hole is smaller than a height of each of the positioning rings, the opening hole is configured to accommodate one of the positioning rings, and a diameter of the opening hole equals an outer diameter of each of the positioning rings so that each of the positioning rings can be tightly fitted in the opening hole. 
     A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing that an extension lens module in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is applied to an electronic device; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the extension lens module of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another schematic view of the extension lens module of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the extension lens module of  FIG. 2 , where a third supporting arm and related structure thereof are omitted; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the extension lens module of  FIG. 1  along line A-A; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the extension lens module of  FIG. 1  along line B-B; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an extension lens module in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an extension lens module  300  in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention includes a supporting frame  20  and a switching device  40 , wherein the switching device  40  is disposed on an electronic device  100  through the supporting frame  20  for providing multiple camera functions (e.g. macro, telephoto or wide-angle camera function) for the electronic device  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the supporting frame  20  includes a seat body  21 , a first supporting arm  23 , a second supporting arm  25  and a third supporting arm  27 . The seat body  21  is configured to be detachably disposed on the electronic device  100 , and the first supporting arm  23 , the second supporting arm  25  and the third supporting arm  27  are movably disposed on the seat body  21 . The switching device  40  is rotably disposed on the seat body  21  and includes a rotating disc  401  and a plurality of extension lenses  403   a - 403   c  having different camera function, and the extension lenses  403   a - 403   c  are disposed on the rotating disc  401  at intervals. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the rotating disc  401  further includes a plurality of positioning rings  431 , and the positioning rings  431  are extended from the extension lenses  403   a - 403   c  towards a side of the electronic device  100 . That is to say, the positions in which the extension lenses  403   a - 403   c  are disposed on the rotating disc  401  respectively correspond to those of the positioning rings  431  on the rotating disc  401 . In the first embodiment, the positioning rings  431  and the extension lenses  403   a - 403   c  are integrally formed as a continuous-unity piece. However, it is understood that the positioning rings  431  and the extension lenses  403   a - 403   c  can be formed as two groups of separated pieces that could be assembled. It is also understood that the positioning rings  431  can be extended from the rotating disc  401  towards the side of the electronic device  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 ,  FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the extension lens module of  FIG. 2 , wherein a third supporting arm and related structure thereof are omitted, and FIGS.  5 - 6  respectively depict the sectional view of the extension lens module  300  of  FIG. 1  along the line A-A and the line B-B. The seat body  21  includes a lens positioning portion  211 , a guiding groove  213  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), a first thread hole  215  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and a second thread hole  217  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). The guiding groove  213  and the first thread hole  215  define a first axis (not shown), and the second thread hole  217  defines a second axis (not shown). The first axis is parallel to a horizontal direction, and the second axis is parallel to a vertical direction. In other words, the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lens positioning portion  211  includes a positioning pillar  219  and a plurality of opening holes  211 . The opening holes  211  are arranged along a circumferential direction of the positioning pillar  209 , are disposed on the positioning pillar  209  at intervals, correspond to the positioning rings  431  on the switching device  40  and are configured to accommodate the positioning rings  431  so as to allow optical axes of the extension lenses  403   a - 403   c  to pass through. In the first embodiment, the positioning pillar  219  and the seat body  21  are integrally formed as a continuous-unity piece. However, it is understood that the positioning pillar  219  and the seat body  21  can be two separated pieces to be assembled. The rotating disc  401  further includes a hole  421  through which the positioning pillar  219  is penetrated, so that the rotating disc  401  surrounds the positioning pillar  219 . Therefore, the rotating disc  401  can be moved in an extending direction (that is, a direction perpendicular to the electronic device  10 ) of the positioning pillar  219  and can be rotated with respect to the lens positioning portion  211 , so as to switch between the extension lenses  403   a - 403   c  having different camera function. The clamping member might shield part of display of the electronic device. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a first flange  423  and a second flange  425  are formed on an inner surface  427  of the hole  421 , wherein an inner diameter of the first flange  423  is smaller than an inner diameter of the second flange  425 . An elastic element  240  is disposed between the inner surface  427  of the hole  421  and a circumferential surface of the positioning pillar  219 . In other words, the elastic element  240  surrounds the positioning pillar  219 . An inner circumferential surface is provided with threads (not shown), and a fixing screw  241  is fixed to the positioning pillar  219  through the threads. In such arrangement, two ends of the elastic element  240  are placed against a nut portion  243  of the fixing screw  241  and the first flange  423  so that the elastic element  240  is slightly deformed and produces a resistant force. The switching device  40  is pushed to a predetermined position by the resistant force, so as to be positioned at the lens positioning portion  211 . When the switching device is pulled up by an external force that is greater than the resistant force, the elastic element  240  is further compressed until the nut portion  243  of the fixing screw  241  is placed against the second flange  425 . In the first embodiment, a diameter of the opening hole  221  substantially equals a outer diameter of the positioning ring  431 . When the switching device  40  is positioned at the lens positioning portion  211 , the positioning rings  431  of the switching device  40  are tightly fitted in the opening holes  221  of the lens positioning portion  211  so that the switching device  40  cannot be rotated with respect to the seat body  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , an elastic element  230  is disposed in the guiding groove  213 . The first supporting arm  23  has a sliding portion  231  and is connected to the seat body  21  by an insertion of the sliding portion  231  into the guiding groove  213 . In such arrangement, the first supporting arm  23  can be moved with respect to the seat body  21  by deforming the elastic element  230 . In other words, the first supporting arm  23  is extended from a first end of the seat body  21  along the first axis and is provided with the elastic element  230 . 
     Also as shown in  FIG. 5 , a first adjusting knob  51  has a first outer thread portion  511  and is penetrated out of the second supporting arm  25 . The second supporting arm  25  is disposed on the seat body  21  by screwing the first outer thread portion  511  of the first adjusting knob  51  to the first thread hole  215 . In other words, the second supporting arm  25  is extended from a second end of the seat body  21  along the first axis and is provided with the first adjusting knob  51 . It is worth noting that the second supporting arm  25  is moved with respect to the seat body  21  along the first axis, when the first adjusting knob  51  is rotated with respect to the first thread hole  215 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a second adjusting knob  71  has a second outer thread portion  711  and is penetrated out of the third supporting arm  27 . The third supporting arm  27  is disposed on the seat body  21  by screwing the second outer thread portion  711  of the second adjusting knob  71  to the second thread hole  217 . In other words, the third supporting arm  27  is extended from a third end of the seat body  21  along the second axis and is provided with the second adjusting knob  71 . It is worth noting that the third supporting arm  27  is moved with respect to the seat body  21  along the second axis when the second adjusting knob  71  is rotated with respect to the second thread hole  217 . If positions of the first supporting arm  23 , the second supporting arm  25  and the third supporting arm  27  are fixed, the seat body  21  can be moved with respect to the first supporting arm  23 , the second supporting arm  25  and the third supporting arm  27  by rotating the first adjusting knob  51  and the second adjusting knob  71 . 
     The way to mount the switching device  40  to the electronic device  100  through the supporting frame  20  is described herein: 
     First, the first supporting arm  23  is moved with respect to the seat body  21  along the first axis by an external force applied by a user, so that a distance between the first supporting arm  23  and the second supporting arm  25  is greater than a width of the electronic device  100 . Since the movement of the first supporting arm  25 , the elastic element  230  is deformed and produces a recovering force that is opposite to the external force. The extension lens module  300  is moved toward the electronic device  100  by the user, so that the second supporting arm  25  and the third supporting arm  27  are placed against a left side and an upper side of the electronic device  100 . Meanwhile, the first supporting arm  23  is outside a right side of the electronic device  100  (that is, the first supporting arm  23  is not placed against the electronic device  100 ) because of the external force. After the user releases the first supporting arm  23  (that is, after the external force is removed), the first supporting arm  23  is moved with respect to the seat body  21  along the first axis by the recovering force of the elastic element  230 , and the distance between the first supporting arm  23  and the second supporting arm  25  is shortened. Therefore, the electronic device  100  is tightly held between the first supporting arm  23  and the second supporting arm  25 . 
     Although the switching device  40  has been mounted on the electronic device  100  by means of the supporting frame  20 , an adjustment must be further executed for directing the extension lens  403   a  of the switching device  40  at a lens (not shown) of the electronic device  100 . In a condition that the electronic device  100  is held between the first supporting arm  23 , the second supporting arm  25  and the third supporting arm  27  (that is, the positions of the first supporting arm  23 , the second supporting arm  25  and the third supporting arm  27  are fixed), the user can move the seat body  21  with respect to the first supporting arm  23 , the second supporting arm  25  and the third supporting arm  27  by rotating the first adjusting knob  51  and the second adjusting knob  71  so as to direct the extension lens  403   a  of the switching device  40  at the lens of the electronic device  100 . 
     In the first embodiment, the user rotates the first adjusting knob  51  to move the seat body  21  (or the switching device  40 ) with respect to the second supporting arm  25  along the first axis, so that a center of the extension lens  403   a  and a center of the lens of the electronic device  100  are arranged along a vertical line. During the movement of the seat body  21 , the elastic element  230  is stretched or compressed to be deformed, so that the first supporting arm  23  is continuously forced against the right side of the electronic device  100 . The user then rotates the second adjusting knob  71  to move the seat body  21  (or the switching device  40 ) with respect to the third supporting arm  27  along the second axis, so that the center of the extension lens  403   a  and the center of the lens of the electronic device  100  are aligned with each other. 
     It is understood that an end surface of the electronic device  100  that contacts the first supporting arm  23 , the second supporting arm  25  or the third supporting arm  27  can be provided with a buffer element (not shown). The buffer element is configured to protect the electronic device  100  from damage because of scratching or clamping by the supporting frame  20 . In the first embodiment, the buffer element is soft glue or a sponge. 
     In the first embodiment, each of the positioning rings  431  has a height H (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), and the height H equals a rear focal length of the extension lens  403   a , the extension lens  403   b  or the extension lens  403   c . The rear focal length is defined as a distance from an end surface of the extension lens to a surface of the lens of the electronic device  100 . The extension lenses with different camera functions (e.g. macro, telephoto or wide-angle camera function) usually have different rear focal lengths. In the present embodiment, the rear focal length of the extension lens  403   a , the extension lens  403   b  or the extension lens  403   c  is determined by adjusting the height of the positioning ring  431 . That is, the height of the positioning ring  431  is determined by the rear focal length of the extension lens, so that the extension lens is provided with well quality of imaging. A height of the opening hole  221  is smaller than the height H of the positioning ring  431 . When the center of the extension lens  403   a  and the center of the lens of the electronic device  100  are in alignment, the positioning ring  431  corresponding to the extension lens  403   a  is directed at the lens of the electronic device  100  and is placed against the lens of the electronic device  100  for satisfying optical design of the rear focal length of the extension lens  403   a , so as to ensure quality of imaging. Furthermore, by the design of the positioning ring  431 , the center of the extension lens  403   a  and the center of the lens of the electronic device  100  can be rapidly and accurately positioned with respect to each other. 
     After the above-described adjustment, the extension lens module  300  and the electronic device  100  are arranged as shown in  FIG. 1 . The user can operate the electronic device  100  to photograph as well as can apply the camera function of the extension lens  403   a  of the switching device  40 . If applying the camera function of the extension lens  403   b  or the extension lens  403   c  is desired, the user can simply operate the switching device  40 . The operation of the switching device  40  is described herein: 
     In operation, the rotating disc  401  of the switching device  40  is pulled up from the lens positioning portion  211  to leave the predetermined position in a direction that is perpendicular to the electronic device  100  (that is, in the extending direction of the positioning pillar  219 ), so that the elastic element  240  is further compressed and the positioning rings  431  leave the opening holes  221 . Meanwhile, the switching device  40  is released from being positioned and is rotatable with respect to the positioning pillar  219  of the lens positioning portion  211 . The rotating disc  401  is then rotated to move the extension lenses  403   a - 403   c  with respect to the positioning pillar  219  in a circumferential direction of the positioning pillar  219  until a center of the extension lens  403   b  or the extension lens  403   c  is aligned with the center of the lens of the electronic device  100 . Finally, the switching device  40  is released by the user, and the rotating disc  401  is pushed back by the resistant force of the elastic element  240 . Therefore, the positioning ring  431  on the extension lens  403   b  or the extension lens  403   c  is tightly fitted in the opening hole  221 , so that the switching device  40  is positioned at the lens positioning portion  211  again. In the present embodiment, the center of the opening hole  221  is overlapped with the center of the lens of the electronic device  100  by adjusting the supporting arms. Also, by the design of the positioning ring  431 , the position deviation of the center of the extension lens from the center of the lens of the electronic device  100  is well controlled. By way of positioning that is described in the present embodiment, the invention is provided with small tolerance and high accuracy. Furthermore, by the design of the elastic element  240 , it is ensured that the rotating disc  401  and the lens of the electronic device  100  are in contact with each other, so as to satisfying optical design of the extension lens. After the operation of the switching device  40  is finished, the user is able to apply the camera function of the extension lens  403   b  or the extension lens  403   c . For the user, the above-described operation to switch the camera function is simple and convenient. Also, the risk of losing the extension lens can be reduced. 
     Further, the user can apply the external force to the first supporting arm  23 , so as to increase the distance between the first supporting arm  23  and the second supporting arm  25  to be greater than the width of the electronic device  100 . In such arrangement, the extension lens module  300  can be easily detached. It is worth noting that if it is desired to mount the extension lens module  300  on the electronic device  100  again, the user can clamp the electronic device  100  with the first supporting arm  23 , the second supporting arm  25  and the third supporting arm  27  according to the above-described mounting way, so that the center of the extension lens  403   a , the extension lens  403   b  or the extension lens  403   c  is aligned with the center of the lens of the electronic device  100 . In other words, if the relative position between the switching device  40  and the electronic device  100  has been adjusted at first mounting, it is not required to adjust the extension lens module  300  again at second mounting when the electronic device  100  is of the same type. 
     It is understood that by the above-described mounting and adjusting way, the extension lens module  300  of the first embodiment of the invention can be applied to the electronic device  100  of any type, without limiting the electronic device  100  to be used along with a special protective case. Therefore, the cost can be reduced and the original design of the electronic device  100  can be reserved. It is worth noting that even if the user applies a protective case (not shown) to the electronic device  100 , the user can still align the center of the extension lens  403   a  of the extension lens module  300  with the center of the lens of the electronic device  100  according to the above-described mounting and adjusting way, so that both the accuracy of positioning and quality of imaging can be ensured. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , an extension lens module  300 ′ in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention includes a supporting frame  20 ′ and a switching device  40 ′. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the third supporting arm  27  and related structure thereof are omitted. The arrangement of other elements and operation of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment described above, and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted. 
     In the first embodiment (or the second embodiment), the seat body  21  is disposed on the electronic device  100  by clamping of the supporting arms. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the seat body  21  can be disposed on the electronic device  100  by means of sticking or in other mounting ways.