Patent Description:
With the development of technologies, screen-to-body ratios of electronic devices such as mobile phones are increasingly greater. To achieve a higher screen-to-body ratio and a better appearance, an elevation-type camera has become a development trend as a feasible solution. Movement of the camera is driven by a driving mechanism, and a position of the camera can be flexibly adjusted according to user demands. However, other components of the electronic device are still disposed in fixed positions and cannot be flexibly adjusted according to use conditions of a user. In addition, the fixed components occupy outer surface space of the electronic device, which is not conducive to increase of a screen-to-body ratio.

<CIT> describes a mobile telephone having a first body and a second body which are foldably coupled via a hinge mechanism <NUM>, a wide-angle lens for obtaining a wide-angle image, a telephoto lens for obtaining an enlarged image, and an image pickup element installed in an image focusing place. The mobile telephone includes a slide mechanism for not only causing the enlarged image to be input to the image pickup element provided in the second body through the telephoto lens provided in the first body with the mobile telephone folded but also sliding the image pickup element in the second body in response to the pivotal action of the hinge mechanism when the first body and the second body are unfolded so as to cause the wide-angle image to be input to the image pickup element through the wide-angle lens provided in the second body.

Additional prior art is represented by <CIT> that describes a mobile communication device having a sliding camera module.

Embodiments of this application provide a transmission structure and an electronic device, so that a problem that a low screen-to-body ratio is caused by a functional component of an existing electronic device can be resolved.

In an embodiment of this application, the camera module and the functional module are connected through the transmission assembly, so that when the camera module driven by the driving member moves along the second direction, the camera module can drive the transmission assembly to move, further driving the functional module to move along the first direction, so as to achieve link movement of the functional module and the camera module. This way, movement of the functional module is driven by movement of the camera module, so that a fixed position for an existing functional module can be changed, to meet a user's demand for changing a position of the functional module.

The terms "first", "second", and the like in this specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish between similar objects instead of describing a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way is interchangeable in appropriate circumstances so that the embodiments of this application can be implemented in other orders than the order illustrated or described herein. In addition, "and/or" in the specification and claims represents at least one of connected objects. Symbol "/" in the specification generally represents an "or" relationship between associated objects.

As shown in <FIG>, this application provides an electronic device, including a housing <NUM> and a transmission structure, and the housing is provided with an opening (not shown) and a light transmission hole (not shown).

The transmission structure includes a driving member (not shown), a transmission assembly <NUM>, a camera module <NUM>, and a functional module. The driving member is connected to the camera module <NUM>, and the camera module <NUM> is also connected to the functional module through the transmission assembly <NUM>.

The camera module <NUM> includes at least one camera, and the functional module includes a first functional component <NUM> and a second functional component <NUM> arranged along a first direction. In a case that the driving member drives the camera module <NUM> to move along a second direction, the transmission assembly <NUM> drives the functional module to move along the first direction, and an angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than <NUM>°.

Under the action of the driving member, the camera module <NUM> can move between a first position and a second position, and the transmission assembly <NUM> drives the functional module to move between a third position and a fourth position.

In a case that the camera module <NUM> is located at the first position, the functional module is located at the third position, the camera module <NUM> at least partially passes through the opening and is located outside the housing <NUM>, and the first functional component <NUM> is opposite to the light transmission hole. In a case that the camera module <NUM> is located at the second position, the functional module is located at the fourth position, the camera module <NUM> is hidden in the housing <NUM>, and the second functional component <NUM> is opposite to the light transmission hole.

In this implementation manner, the camera module <NUM> and the functional module are connected through the transmission assembly <NUM>, so that when the camera module <NUM> driven by the driving member moves along the second direction, the camera module can drive the transmission assembly <NUM> to move, further driving the functional module to move along the first direction, so as to achieve link movement of the functional module and the camera module <NUM>. This way, movement of the functional module is driven by movement of the camera module <NUM>, so that a fixed position for an existing functional module can be changed, to meet a user's demand for changing a position of the functional module.

By disposing the angle between the first direction and the second direction to be greater than <NUM>°, the camera module <NUM> and the functional module can move along different directions, so as to meet the user's demand for position change of the functional module.

When the transmission structure is applied to the electronic device, position change of the camera module <NUM> causes position change of the functional module, so that a position of the functional component included in the functional module can be adjusted according to a use scenario. For example, in a case that the camera module <NUM> is located at the first position, the camera module <NUM> at least partially passes through the opening and is located outside the housing <NUM>, the functional module is located at the third position, and the first functional component <NUM> of the functional module is opposite to the light transmission hole, to achieve a relevant function of the first functional component <NUM>. In a case that the camera module <NUM> is located at the second position, the functional module is located at the fourth position in the housing <NUM> in which the camera module <NUM> is hidden, and the second functional component <NUM> of the functional module is opposite to the light transmission hole, to achieve a relevant function of the second functional component <NUM>. With such arrangement, the first functional component <NUM> and the second functional component <NUM> share one light transmission hole, so that the number of light transmission holes opened on the housing <NUM> can be effectively reduced, and then a problem of a screen-to-body ratio of the electronic device is small caused by excessively many light transmission holes can be reduced, and then the screen-to-body ratio of the electronic device can be increased.

The first functional component <NUM> may be a flashlight, the second functional component <NUM> may be an optical sensor, and the second functional component <NUM> may also be another functional component, such as a receiver.

For example, the first functional component <NUM> is the flashlight, and the second functional component <NUM> is the optical sensor for description as follows.

When the camera module <NUM> is located at the first position, the camera module <NUM> at least partially passes through the opening and is located outside the housing <NUM>, the functional module is located at the third position, and the flashlight is opposite to the light transmission hole, so that a light filling function of the flashlight can be achieved, shooting requirements of the camera module <NUM> can be satisfied, and the optical sensor can be controlled to be in a non-working state, to reduce power consumption of the electronic device.

Correspondingly, in a case that the camera module <NUM> is at the second position, the functional module is located at the fourth position in the housing <NUM> in which the camera module <NUM> is hidden, and the optical sensor is opposite to the light transmission hole, so as to achieve a relevant function of the optical sensor. For example, when the optical sensor is an infrared sensor, an infrared detection function of the electronic device can be achieved, and the flashlight can be controlled to be turned off, that is, in a non-working state, so as to reduce the power consumption of the electronic device.

The camera module <NUM> includes a camera assembly and a lifting assembly, the lifting assembly is connected to the camera assembly, the lifting assembly is also connected to the driving member, and the camera assembly is further connected to the transmission assembly <NUM>. Under the action of the driving member, the lifting assembly drives the camera assembly to move, the camera assembly drives the transmission assembly <NUM> to move, and the transmission assembly <NUM> drives the functional module to move.

The driving member is configured to drive the camera module <NUM> to move between the first position and the second position, that is, to drive the camera module <NUM> to switch between a protruding state and a retracting state.

Optionally, the driving member may be a driving motor configured to drive the lifting assembly to move; and the lifting assembly may be a screw drive assembly configured to drive the camera assembly to move.

The light transmission hole may be a light transmission channel disposed at the housing <NUM> or an opening for light transmission. In this application, the light transmission hole is configured to achieve light interaction between the flashlight or the optical sensor and the outside, that is, the flashlight can emit light through the light transmission hole, and the optical sensor can emit light to the outside or receive light from the outside through the light transmission hole.

Optionally, the functional module further includes a support <NUM>. The first functional component <NUM> and the second functional component <NUM> are disposed on the support <NUM>. The transmission assembly <NUM> is connected to the support <NUM> and can drive the support <NUM> to move along the first direction.

In this implementation manner, the first functional component <NUM> and the second functional component <NUM> are disposed on the support <NUM> and move together with the support <NUM>. Especially, in a case that the first functional component <NUM> is the flashlight, there is no need to reserve an installation position for the flashlight on the camera module <NUM>, so that an overall volume of the camera module <NUM> can be reduced effectively, and then installation space required for the camera module <NUM> can be reduced. In addition, the first functional component <NUM> and the second functional component <NUM> share one light transmission hole, so that the number of light transmission holes opened at the housing <NUM> can be reduced, and a screen-to-body ratio of the electronic device can be increased to some extent.

In a case that the first functional component <NUM> is the flashlight and the second functional component <NUM> is the optical sensor, when the functional module is at the third position, that is, the flashlight is opposite to the light transmission hole and the optical sensor is hidden in the housing <NUM>, a working state of the flashlight is controlled, to meet shooting requirements of a user, and the optical sensor is controlled to be in a non-working state, to reduce the power consumption of the electronic device. When the functional module is at the fourth position, that is, the optical sensor is opposite to the light transmission hole and the flashlight is hidden in the housing <NUM>, the light sensor is controlled to be in a working state, to achieve infrared detection and other functions of the electronic device, and the flashlight is controlled to be off, that is, in a non-working state, to reduce the power consumption of the electronic device.

An angle between the first direction and the second direction is <NUM>°, that is, the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular, and a movement direction of the camera module <NUM> is perpendicular to a movement direction of the functional module. For example, the movement direction of the camera module <NUM> is a length direction of the electronic device, and the movement direction of the functional module is a width direction of the electronic device.

The support <NUM> provided with the flashlight and the optical sensor is located in the housing <NUM> and can move in the housing <NUM>, such as left and right movement.

Moreover, movement of the support <NUM> can be implemented through an additional driving assembly, and the drive assembly can drive the transmission component <NUM> to move, further driving the support <NUM> to move, so that the support <NUM> can move to the third position or the fourth position, and a relevant function of the electronic device can be achieved. Alternatively, the camera module <NUM> and the support <NUM> can be connected by the transmission assembly <NUM>, so that the support <NUM> can move along with the camera module <NUM>. For example, when the camera module <NUM> moves to the first position, the support <NUM> moves to the third position, so that the electronic device can achieve a relevant function of the first functional component <NUM>. Correspondingly, when the camera module <NUM> moves to the second position, the support <NUM> moves to the fourth position, so that the electronic device can achieve a relevant function of the second functional component <NUM>.

The camera module <NUM> and the support <NUM> can be connected by the transmission assembly <NUM>, so that the support <NUM> can move along with the camera module <NUM>, setting of the driving assembly can be skipped, and then space can be reduced, and layout of a functional component of the electronic device can be optimized.

Optionally, the transmission assembly <NUM> includes a first transmission member and a second transmission member. The first transmission member is connected to the camera module <NUM>, the second transmission member is connected to the functional module, and the first transmission member is in transmission connection with the second transmission member.

In this implementation manner, the second transmission member is connected to the support <NUM> of the functional module, and since the camera module <NUM> can move between the first position and the second position, the support <NUM> can move between the third position and the fourth position correspondingly. When the camera module <NUM> is located at the first position, the support <NUM> is located at the third position, and the first functional component <NUM> is opposite to the light transmission hole. When the camera module <NUM> is located at the second position, the support <NUM> is located at the fourth position, and the second functional component <NUM> is opposite to the light transmission hole.

In a case that the first functional component <NUM> is the flashlight and the second functional device <NUM> is the optical sensor, the camera module <NUM> and the support <NUM> are connected through the transmission assembly <NUM>, so that the support <NUM> can move along with the camera module <NUM>. Therefore, synchronous movement of the flashlight and the camera module can be implemented, and then shooting experience of the electronic device can be improved. For example, when the camera module <NUM> is at the first position, that is, the camera module <NUM> is at least partially located outside the housing <NUM> through the opening, so that the shooting function of the camera module <NUM> can be achieved. Because the support <NUM> moves together with the camera module <NUM>, when the camera module <NUM> is located at the first position, the flashlight also moves to a position facing the light transmission hole, so that a light filling function of the camera module <NUM> can be achieved, and then shooting experience of the electronic device can be improved.

As shown in <FIG>, a camera module <NUM> is provided with a first spur rack <NUM>, a first transmission member is a first gear, and the first gear is meshed with the first spur rack <NUM>. Therefore, when the camera module <NUM> telescopically moves relative to the housing <NUM>, the first spur rack <NUM> can drive the first gear to rotate, so that the camera module <NUM> can drive a transmission assembly <NUM> to move.

A second transmission member is a second spur rack <NUM>, and the second spur rack <NUM> is meshed with the first gear, so that the second spur rack <NUM> can move laterally under the action of the first gear. The second spur rack <NUM> is also fixedly connected to a support <NUM>, so that the support <NUM> can move laterally together with the second spur rack <NUM>, and a flashlight and an optical sensor located on the support <NUM> can move relative to a position of a light transmission hole. In addition, when the support <NUM> moves to a fourth position, the optical sensor is disposed facing the light transmission hole, and the flashlight is hidden in a housing <NUM>. When the support <NUM> moves to a third position, the flashlight is disposed facing the light transmission hole, and the optical sensor is hidden in the housing <NUM>.

The support <NUM> and the second spur rack <NUM> can be an integral structure, that is, the spur rack can be disposed on the support <NUM> to form the second transmission member.

It should be noted that, to facilitate movement of the support <NUM> in the housing <NUM>, a sliding member slidably connected to the support <NUM> can also be disposed in the housing <NUM>, and the sliding member may be a sliding rail or a sliding groove disposed in the housing <NUM>.

When the sliding member is the sliding rail disposed in the housing <NUM>, a sliding groove matched with the sliding rail can be disposed on the support <NUM>. When the sliding member is the sliding groove disposed in the housing <NUM>, a sliding rail or a sliding block matched with the sliding groove can be disposed on the support <NUM>, so that movement of the support <NUM> in the housing <NUM> can be improved.

In this implementation manner, a transmission mode for the gear and rack is characterized with a simple structure and small space, so that installation space required for the transmission assembly <NUM> can be reduced effectively.

In addition, a position of the support <NUM> can also be switched in another transmission mode, such as a cam transmission mode or a slider-crank mechanism.

As shown in <FIG>, a second transmission member may be an eccentric wheel <NUM>. One end of a support <NUM> may abut against an outer peripheral surface of the eccentric wheel <NUM>, and the other end of the support <NUM> can be connected to an inner side wall of a housing <NUM> through an elastic member <NUM>. The support <NUM> can move to a third position or a fourth position by using a characteristic of the eccentric wheel <NUM>.

The elastic member <NUM> may be a spring, or a silicone tape or the like with an elastic function.

The housing <NUM> is provided with a first sliding member (not shown), and the support <NUM> can be slidably connected to the first sliding member, so that the support <NUM> can move to a first position or a second position.

Specifically, the first sliding member may be a first sliding rail disposed in the housing <NUM>, and the support <NUM> is provided with a first sliding groove matched with the first sliding rail. Alternatively, the first sliding member may be a second sliding groove disposed on the housing <NUM>, and the support <NUM> is provided with a second sliding rail matched with the second sliding groove. Therefore, movement of the support <NUM> in the cam transmission mode can be implemented.

It should be noted that, in this implementation manner, the first transmission member may be a gear, and can be meshed with a rack on a camera module <NUM>. Therefore, the camera module <NUM> can drive the first transmission member to move. The first transmission member and the second transmission member can be coaxially disposed, so that the second transmission member can move along with the first transmission member, further driving the support <NUM> to move, and the support <NUM> can move to the third position or the fourth position, and a function corresponding to the flashlight or optical sensor of the electronic device can be achieved.

As shown in <FIG>, a second transmission member may be a rotary table <NUM>. The rotary table <NUM> is connected to a support <NUM> through a connecting rod <NUM>, and a housing <NUM> is provided with a second sliding member (not shown), and the support <NUM> can be slidably connected to the second sliding member. The connecting rod <NUM>, the support <NUM>, the rotary table <NUM>, and the second sliding member form a slider-crank mechanism, so that the support <NUM> can move to a third position or fourth position, and a corresponding function can be achieved.

Specifically, the second sliding member may be a third sliding rail disposed in the housing <NUM>, and the support <NUM> is provided with a third sliding groove matched with the third sliding rail. Alternatively, the second sliding member may be a fourth sliding groove disposed on the housing <NUM>, and the support <NUM> is provided with a fourth sliding rail matched with the fourth sliding groove. Therefore, movement of the support <NUM> in a crank-link mechanism mode can be implemented.

It should be noted that, in this implementation manner, the first transmission member may be a gear, and can be meshed with a rack on a camera module <NUM>, so that the camera module <NUM> can drive the first transmission member to move. The first transmission member and the second transmission member can be coaxially disposed, so that the second transmission member can move along with the first transmission member, further driving the support <NUM> to move, and the support <NUM> can move to a first position or a second position, and a function corresponding to the flashlight or optical sensor of the electronic device can be achieved.

It should be noted that the first transmission member and the second transmission member can be two transmission members disposed on a same shaft, so that the second transmission member can move along with the first transmission member.

Claim 1:
An electronic device, comprising a housing (<NUM>) and a transmission structure, wherein the transmission structure is located in the housing, and the housing is provided with an opening and a light transmission hole,
the transmission structure comprising: a driving member, a transmission assembly (<NUM>), a camera module (<NUM>), and a functional module, wherein the driving member is connected to the camera module, and the camera module is connected to the functional module through the transmission assembly,
wherein the camera module comprises at least one camera, and the functional module comprises a first functional component (<NUM>) and a second functional component (<NUM>) arranged along a first direction; and in a case that the driving member drives the camera module to move along a second direction, the transmission assembly drives the functional module to move along the first direction, and an angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than <NUM>°;
characterized in that the driving member can drive the camera module to move between a first position and a second position, and the transmission assembly drives the functional module to move between a third position and a fourth position,
wherein in a case that the camera module is located at the first position, the functional module is located at the third position, the camera module at least partially passes through the opening and is located outside the housing, and the first functional component is opposite to the light transmission hole; and in a case that the camera module is located at the second position, the functional module is located at the fourth position, the camera module is hidden in the housing, and the second functional component is opposite to the light transmission hole.