Patent Description:
<CIT> describes an electronic microscope including a handle with an outer body enclosing an image sensor and a lens. <CIT> discloses an automatic camera lens module retracting/extracting apparatus for mobile communication terminals.

It would be noted that the description and figures are merely example of the present subject matter and are not meant to represent the subject matter itself.

Imaging devices, such as cameras, provided in electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets, and display monitors, may be accessed by users for capturing images and videos. Apart from a user accessing an imaging device, applications installed on an electronic device may also access the imaging device to provide functionalities associated with the applications. For example, a video conferencing application that is installed in an electronic device for providing video conferencing functionality may access the imaging device for a user to share a video with other participants during the video conference. Different users may have different heights and may keep the electronic devices at varying heights while using the imaging device. The imaging devices are usually fixed at a top edge of the body of the electronic device, above the display screen, to allow the imaging device to capture images at wider angle and cover the maximum possible portion of the user. However, a field of view of the imaging device, i.e., an area within which the imaging device may capture an image, may vary due to various factors including user's height (height from ground up to eye level of the user during use of the electronic device), device height (distance from ground up to a base of the electronic device), and/or imaging device height (height of the display screen). Thus, the user may have to adjust at least one of the above listed factors to be able to effectively use the imaging device. As the imaging device is in-built, the user may have to adjust either the user height or the height of the display screen. Thus, the user may try to increase a height of the electronic device by placing the electronic device over raised platforms or objects kept over a table. Thus, the positioning of the electronic device may have to be adjusted each time a user, different from a previous user, wishes to use the imaging device.

In one approach, a spring-based mechanism is used to move the imaging device between a first position (corresponding to a de-compressed state of the spring) and a default position of the imaging device within the body of the electronic device (corresponding to a compressed state of the spring). Thus, in said approach, the imaging device may be positioned at the above two positions. However, if either of the two positions is not in accordance to the height of the user, the user may still have to adjust the above factors, such as their sitting positions or height of the electronic device.

The present subj ect matter discloses example implementations of an image capturing assembly for an electronic device. The image capturing assembly includes an in-built imaging device and a device control assembly coupled to the imaging device to control a movement of the imaging device along a central axis of the image capturing assembly. In one example, the device control assembly includes a first guide member, a second guide member rotatably disposed within the first guide member, and an inner body movably disposed within the second guide member. The concentric arrangement of the first guide member, the second guide member, and the inner body is provided such that, in response to a rotational motion of the second guide member with respect to the first guide member, the inner body is to move in an axial direction with respect to the second guide member to move the imaging device along the central axis of the image capturing assembly. As the imaging device is mounted on the inner body, the imaging device is moved along the central axis of the image capturing assembly, in response to an axial movement of the inner body. Thus, the axial movement of the inner body is governed using the rotational motion of the second guide member to allow the imaging device to be positioned at multiple positions along the central axis of the image capturing assembly.

In one example implementation of the present subject matter, the image capturing assembly may be mounted on a body of the electronic device, such that the imaging device is housed within the body as an in-built imaging device. Further, the device control assembly may be mounted such that a second base end of the second guide member is accessible to the user, to rotate the second guide member. Further, the imaging device is mounted on a third top end of the inner body. The first guide member includes a first top end, a first base end, and an inner wall having a helical guiding track extending from the first base end to the first top end. The second guide member may include second top end, a second base end, and a wall having a guiding slot. The inner body may include a third top end for mounting the imaging device and a lug protruding from a third base end of the inner body In one example, the lug is to extend through the guiding slot of the second guide member to engage with the helical guiding track to glide therein such that, in response to a rotational motion of the second guide member with respect to the first guide member, the lug glides along the helical guiding track to move the inner body in an axial direction along the guiding slot with respect to the second guide member.

In operation, to move the imaging device to a desirable height, the user may rotate the second base end of the second guide member accessible from a back side of the body of the electronic device. As the user starts rotating the second end, the second guide member may start rotating around its central axis, with respect to the first guide member. As the second guide member starts rotating, guiding slot may align with the helical guiding track owing to which the lug may enter the helical guiding track and start gliding along the helical guiding track, rotating the inner body along its central axis. However, the glide of the lug may be limited due to a wall of the guiding slot and the lug may move vertically up along the guiding slot, thereby moving the inner body in the axial direction along the guiding slot. Such a simultaneous movement of the lug along the helical guiding track and the guiding slot may impart the axial movement to the inner body and the imaging device. Further, once the imaging device reaches the desirable height, the user may stop rotating the second base end. When the user again has to adjust the height of the imaging device or move the imaging device back to its default position within the electronic device, the user may rotate the second base end to move the imaging device.

The present subject matter may thus facilitate in easily adjusting a height of the imaging device as per a user's desire, without use of external components and a complex mechanism. The user may easily rotate the second base end of the device control assembly using hands and without any external components or tools to adjust the height of the imaging device. Thus, the electronic device may be kept on a platform and used by various users without moving the electronic device or adjusting a seating arrangement of the user, irrespective of height of the user. Further, having the present mechanism of the concentric guide members and the inner body allows the imaging device to be adjusted to multiple positions.

The present application is further described with reference to <FIG>. It would be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate principles of the present application. Various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, encompass the principles of the present application. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and examples of the present application, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an electronic device <NUM>, according to an example implementation of the present subject matter. Examples of the electronic device <NUM> include, but are not limited to, laptops, tablets, and display monitors. In accordance to an example implementation of the present subject matter, the electronic device <NUM> includes a body <NUM> and an image capturing assembly <NUM> mounted on the body <NUM>. The body <NUM> may be a housing or an enclosure of the electronic device <NUM>, housing various components of the electronic device <NUM>. The image capturing assembly <NUM> may be a webcam assembly having an in-built imaging device <NUM> and a device control assembly <NUM> coupled to the imaging device <NUM> to control a movement of the imaging device <NUM>. The imaging device <NUM> may be, for example, a camera or a phototransistor used to capture images and videos for photography, videography, video calls, video conferencing, etc..

In one example implementation of the present subject matter, the device control assembly <NUM> may be used to control a movement of the imaging device <NUM> along a central axis of the image capturing assembly <NUM>. In one example, the device control assembly <NUM> includes a first guide member <NUM> and a second guide member <NUM> rotatably disposed within the first guide member <NUM>. Further, an inner body <NUM> may be movably disposed within the second guide member <NUM> such that, in response to a rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM> with respect to the first guide member <NUM>, the inner body <NUM> is to move in an axial direction with respect to the second guide member <NUM> to move the imaging device <NUM> along the central axis of the image capturing assembly <NUM>. The device control assembly <NUM> is to thus allow the imaging device <NUM> to be positioned at multiple positions along the central axis of the image capturing assembly <NUM> based on the rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the image capturing assembly <NUM>, according to an example of the present subject matter. In one example, the image capturing assembly <NUM> may be provided within an electronic device to capture images and videos for photography, videography, video calls, video conferencing, etc. In another example, the image capturing assembly <NUM> may be mounted on an electronic device to capture the images and videos. Examples of the electronic device <NUM> include, but are not limited to, laptops, tablets, and display monitors.

In accordance to an example implementation of the present subject matter, the image capturing assembly <NUM> includes the imaging device <NUM> and the device control assembly <NUM>. The imaging device <NUM> may be, for example, a camera or a phototransistor. The device control assembly <NUM> may be coupled to the imaging device <NUM> to control the movement of the imaging device <NUM> along a central axis of the image capturing assembly <NUM>. In one example, the device control assembly <NUM> may include the first guide member <NUM>, the second guide member <NUM> rotatably disposed within the first guide member <NUM>, and the inner body <NUM> movably disposed within the second guide member <NUM>. The first guide member <NUM> may include an inner wall <NUM>, a first top end <NUM>, and a first base end <NUM>. In one example, the first guide member <NUM> may further include a helical guiding track <NUM> on the inner wall <NUM>, extending from the first base end <NUM> to the first top end <NUM>. As the helical guiding track <NUM> is on the inner wall <NUM> and may thus not be visible from the outside, dotted lines have been used to symbolically illustrate the helical guiding track <NUM>. Further, walls of the first guide member <NUM> and the second guide member <NUM> have been shown as transparent to allow the second guide member <NUM> and the inner body <NUM>, respectively, to be visible.

The second guide member <NUM> may include a guiding slot <NUM> in a wall <NUM> thereof. The inner body <NUM> may include a third top end <NUM> for mounting the imaging device <NUM>. The inner body <NUM> may further include a lug <NUM> protruding from a third base end <NUM> of the inner body <NUM>. In one example, the lug <NUM> is to extend through the guiding slot <NUM> of the second guide member <NUM> to engage with the helical guiding track <NUM> to glide therein. For instance, in response to a rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM> with respect to the first guide member <NUM>, the lug <NUM> glides along the helical guiding track <NUM>. In one example, the lug <NUM> may glide along the helical guiding track <NUM> to move the inner body <NUM> in an axial direction along the guiding slot <NUM> with respect to the second guide member <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the electronic device <NUM>, according to an example of the present subject matter. Examples of the electronic device <NUM> include, but are not limited to, laptops, tablets, and display monitors. In one example, the electronic device <NUM> may include the body <NUM> and the image capturing assembly <NUM>. As previously described, the body <NUM> may be a housing or an enclosure of the electronic device <NUM>, for holding various components of the electronic device <NUM>.

The image capturing assembly <NUM> may include the imaging device <NUM> and the device control assembly <NUM> coupled to the imaging device <NUM> to control a movement of the imaging device <NUM> along a central axis of the image capturing assembly <NUM>. Further, the device control assembly <NUM> includes the first guide member <NUM> having the inner wall <NUM>, the first top end <NUM>, the first base end <NUM>, and helical guiding tracks <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> on the inner wall <NUM>. The helical guiding tracks <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may extend from the first base end <NUM> to the first top end <NUM> and are hereinafter collectively referred to as helical guiding tracks <NUM> and individually as helical guiding track <NUM>.

The device control assembly <NUM> further includes the second guide member <NUM> rotatably disposed within the first guide member <NUM>. In one example, the second guide member <NUM> includes guiding slots <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in the wall <NUM> of the second guide member <NUM>. The guiding slots <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are hereinafter collectively referred to as guiding slots <NUM> and individually as guiding slot <NUM>.

The device control assembly <NUM> further includes the inner body <NUM> movably disposed within the second guide member <NUM>. The inner body <NUM> may include the third top end <NUM> for mounting the imaging device <NUM>. The inner body <NUM> may further include a plurality of lugs <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> protruding from the third base end <NUM> of the inner body <NUM>. The lugs <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are hereinafter collectively referred to as lugs <NUM> and individually as lug <NUM>. In one example, each of the plurality of lugs <NUM> is to extend through a corresponding guiding slot <NUM> of the second guide member <NUM> to engage with the corresponding helical guiding track <NUM> to glide therein. In one example, the lug <NUM> may simultaneously glide within the helical guiding track <NUM> and the guiding slot <NUM> to move the inner body <NUM> in an axial direction with respect to the second guide member <NUM>, in response to a rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM> with respect to the first guide member <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an exploded view of the device control assembly <NUM> of the image capturing assembly <NUM>, according to an example of the present subject matter. As previously described, the device control assembly <NUM> may include the first guide member <NUM>, the second guide member <NUM>, and the inner body <NUM>. In one example, the first guide member <NUM> may be a hollow cylindrical cam having the inner wall <NUM> and an outer wall <NUM>. Further, the helical guiding tracks <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, extending from the first top end <NUM> to the first base end <NUM>, are provided on the inner wall <NUM>.

The second guide member <NUM> may be a hollow cylindrical cam having the wall <NUM>, a second top end <NUM>, a second base end <NUM>, and the plurality of guiding slots <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In one example, the guiding slots <NUM> are the wall such that guiding slots <NUM> extend through the wall <NUM>, from an inner surface <NUM> of the wall <NUM> to an outer surface <NUM> of the wall <NUM>. The guiding slots <NUM> may extend from the second base end <NUM> up to a predetermined length across the wall <NUM>. In one example, the predetermined length may be equal to the height up to which the imaging device <NUM> may be moved up from the body <NUM> of the electronic device. Further, each of the guiding slots <NUM> may include lateral extensions, such as a top lateral extension <NUM> and a bottom lateral extension <NUM> at a top end and a base end, respectively of the guiding slot <NUM>. For instance, a first guiding slot <NUM>-<NUM> may have a first top lateral extension <NUM>-<NUM> and a first bottom lateral extension <NUM>-<NUM>.

The inner body <NUM> may be an axial shaft having the third top end <NUM>, the third base end <NUM>, and the plurality of lugs <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> protruding from the third base end <NUM>. In one example, the length of the lugs <NUM> may be substantially equal to a sum of the thickness of the wall <NUM> and a depth of the helical guiding tracks <NUM> in the inner wall <NUM> such that in an assembled state, the lug <NUM> may extend through the guiding slot <NUM> and extend into the helical guiding track <NUM>.

In one example implementation, the inner body <NUM> may have a single lug <NUM>, the second guide member <NUM> may have a single guiding slot <NUM>, and the first guide member <NUM> may have a single helical guiding track <NUM>. In another example implementation, the inner body <NUM> may have a plurality lugs <NUM>, the second guide member <NUM> may have a plurality of guiding slots <NUM>, and the first guide member <NUM> may have a plurality of helical guiding tracks <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the device control assembly <NUM> in an assembled state, according to an example of the present subject matter. As illustrated, in the assembled state, inner body <NUM> is disposed inside the second guide member <NUM> and the first guide member <NUM> is mounted over second guide member <NUM> such that the inner body <NUM>, the second guide member <NUM>, and the first guide member <NUM> are concentric. In one example, the third base end <NUM> is movably disposed within the second base end <NUM> in a default position of the imaging device <NUM>, such that each of the plurality of lugs <NUM> is housed within the corresponding guiding slots <NUM>. The default position of the imaging device <NUM> may correspond to a position at which the imaging device <NUM> is housed within the body <NUM> by manufacture and may correspond to a lowest position of the imaging device <NUM> along the central axis of the device control assembly <NUM>. Further, the first base end <NUM> of the first guide member <NUM> is superposed over the second base end <NUM> of the second guide member <NUM>. In one example, the first top end <NUM> of the first guide member <NUM> aligns with the second top end <NUM> of the second guide member <NUM>. The third top end <NUM> of the inner body <NUM> may protrude out of the first top end <NUM> of the first guide member <NUM> and the second top end <NUM> of the second guide member <NUM>.

Further, in the default position of the imaging device <NUM>, each of the plurality of lugs <NUM> is housed within the corresponding bottom lateral extension <NUM> of the guiding slots <NUM>. For instance, a first lug <NUM>-<NUM>, protruding from the third base end <NUM> may extend through the first bottom lateral extension <NUM>-<NUM> of a first guiding slot <NUM>-<NUM> to engage with a first helical guiding track <NUM>-<NUM> of the first guide member <NUM>. Further, a second lug <NUM>-<NUM> protruding from the third base end <NUM> may extend through a second bottom lateral extension of the second guiding slot <NUM>-<NUM> to engage with a second helical guiding track <NUM>-<NUM>.

In one example implementation, the third top end <NUM> of the inner body <NUM> may be coupled to a first mounting bracket <NUM> for coupling the device control assembly <NUM> with the imaging device <NUM>. In one example, the first mounting bracket <NUM> may include an orifice <NUM> to receive the third top end <NUM> of the inner body <NUM>. In one example, a diameter of the third top end <NUM> may be lesser than an internal diameter of the orifice <NUM> to allow the third top end <NUM> to freely rotate within the first mounting bracket <NUM> in response to the rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM>. The device control assembly <NUM> may further include an inner body top cover <NUM> to clamp the first mounting bracket <NUM> with the third top end <NUM>. As illustrated, the inner body top cover <NUM> may be mounted over the first mounting bracket <NUM> to clamp the first mounting bracket <NUM> with the third top end <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the device control assembly <NUM> at various stages of operation, according to an example of the present subject matter. Initially, the first guide member <NUM>, the second guide member <NUM>, and the inner body <NUM> are assembled in a default state, as illustrated in the <FIG> and view <NUM>. In the default state of the device control assembly <NUM>, the imaging device <NUM> is at the default position. As illustrated, in the default state of the device control assembly <NUM>, the third base end <NUM> is disposed within the second base end <NUM> and the lugs <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are housed within the corresponding bottom lateral extensions <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> of the guiding slots <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively. Further, the lugs <NUM> extend into the corresponding helical guiding tracks <NUM> through the corresponding guiding slots <NUM>.

To adjust a height of the imaging device <NUM>, a user of the electronic device <NUM> may rotate the second base end <NUM> in a predetermined direction, for instance a clockwise direction. As the user rotates the second base end <NUM> with respect to the first base end <NUM>, the second guide member <NUM> rotates with respect to the first guide member <NUM>. As the second guide member <NUM> rotates, a reaction force is applied on the lugs <NUM> along the direction of rotation. However, as the lugs <NUM> are engaged within the guiding slots <NUM> and the helical guiding tracks <NUM>, the movement of the lugs <NUM> is restrained within the parameters of the helical guiding tracks <NUM>. Thus, the movement of the lugs <NUM> gets confined within a parallelogram shaped intersection area <NUM> of the guiding slots <NUM> and the helical guiding tracks <NUM>. As the second guide member <NUM> rotates, the reaction force applied on the lugs <NUM> causes the lugs <NUM> to move axially upwards within the intersection area <NUM>, in an axial direction with respect to the second guide member <NUM>. Thus, the lugs <NUM> simultaneously glide within the helical guiding track <NUM> and the guiding slot <NUM> to move the inner body <NUM> in an axial direction with respect to the second guide member <NUM>, as illustrated in the view <NUM>.

The movement of the inner body <NUM> in the axial direction with respect to the second guide member <NUM> moves the imaging device <NUM> along a central axis of the image capturing assembly <NUM>. In one example, a clockwise rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM> may result in an upward movement of the inner body <NUM> and the imaging device <NUM>, thus allowing the user to increase the height of the imaging device <NUM>. In said example, a counterclockwise rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM> may result in a downward movement of the inner body <NUM> and the imaging device <NUM>, thus allowing the user to decrease the height of the imaging device <NUM>. In another example, a counterclockwise rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM> may result in an upward movement of the inner body <NUM> and the imaging device <NUM>, thus allowing the user to increase the height of the imaging device <NUM>. In said example, a clockwise rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM> may result in a downward movement of the inner body <NUM> and the imaging device <NUM>, thus allowing the user to decrease the height of the imaging device <NUM>.

Further, as the axial movement of the imaging device <NUM> is in accordance to the rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM>, the user may control the rotational motion of the second guide member <NUM> to control the axial movement of the imaging device <NUM>. For instance, to adjust the height of the imaging device <NUM> to be inline of user's face, the user may continue to rotate the second base end <NUM> till the imaging device <NUM> reaches a target position, to be in line with the user's face. As the imaging device <NUM> reaches the target position, the user may stop rotating the second base end <NUM>, in turn making the imaging device <NUM> to stop at the target position. To retract the imaging device <NUM>, the user may rotate the second base end <NUM> in a direction opposite to the direction in which the user rotated the second base end <NUM> to extend the imaging device <NUM> from the default position of the imaging device.

<FIG> illustrates the image capturing assembly <NUM>, according to another example of the present subject matter. In one example, the <FIG> illustrates the image capturing assembly <NUM> in an assembled state, for being mounted on a body of an electronic device. In one example, the image capturing assembly <NUM> may include the first mounting bracket <NUM> for mounting the imaging device <NUM> at the third top end <NUM>. The image capturing assembly <NUM> may further include a second mounting bracket <NUM> for mounting the image capturing assembly on the body of the electronic device. In one example, the second mounting bracket <NUM> may include a bottom plate (not shown in the figures) and a top plate <NUM>. To assemble the image capturing assembly <NUM>, the device control assembly <NUM> may be initially rested on the bottom plate and the top plate <NUM> may be then mounted over the bottom plate, enclosing the device control assembly <NUM> within a mounting bracket orifice <NUM>, as illustrated in the <FIG>.

Further, the third top end <NUM> may be inserted within the orifice of the first mounting bracket <NUM> and the inner body top cover <NUM> may be placed at the third top end <NUM> to clamp the first mounting bracket <NUM>. The first mounting bracket <NUM> may then be attached to the imaging device <NUM> using fastening elements, such as screws, clamps, and pins. The image capturing assembly <NUM>, thus obtained, may be mounted on the body of electronic device using the second mounting bracket <NUM>. In one example, the second mounting bracket <NUM> may be attached to body using the fastening elements, such as screws, clamps, and pins.

Claim 1:
An electronic device comprising:
a body; and
an image capturing assembly (<NUM>) mounted on the body, the image capturing assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
an imaging device (<NUM>) comprising a camera or a phototransistor; and
a device control assembly (<NUM>) coupled to the imaging device (<NUM>) to control a movement of the imaging device (<NUM>) along a central axis of the image capturing assembly (<NUM>), wherein the device control assembly (<NUM>) is to allow the imaging device (<NUM>) to be positioned at multiple positions along the central axis of the image capturing assembly (<NUM>), and wherein the device control assembly (<NUM>) includes:
a first guide member (<NUM>);
a second guide member (<NUM>) rotatably disposed within the first guide member (<NUM>); and
an inner body (<NUM>) movably disposed within the second guide member (<NUM>), wherein, in response to a rotational motion of the second guide member (<NUM>) with respect to the first guide member (<NUM>), the inner body (<NUM>) is to move in an axial direction with respect to the second guide member (<NUM>) to adjust the position of the imaging device (<NUM>) along the central axis of the image capturing assembly and wherein the device control assembly is mounted such that a base of the second guide member is accessible to the user to rotate the second guide member (<NUM>) with respect to the first guide member (<NUM>).