Patent ID: 12192633

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.

Please refer toFIGS.1to3.FIG.1is a partially enlarged perspective view of an image capturing assembly10according to one embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.2is a partially enlarged exploded view of the image capturing assembly10inFIG.1.FIG.3is a partially enlarged front view of the image capturing assembly10inFIG.1.

The image capturing assembly10is, for example, a PTZ (pam-tilt-zoom) camera. In this embodiment, the image capturing assembly10includes a mounting base100, a driving component150, a first gear200, a second gear250, a lens assembly300, a third gear350and a resistance component400.

In this embodiment, the driving component150is, for example, a motor and includes a main body151and an output shaft152. The main body151is disposed on the mounting base. The output shaft152is rotatably disposed on the main body151and protrudes from the main body151. The first gear200is fixed and sleeved on an end of the output shaft152that is located farthest away from the main body151, and is configured to be driven by the driving component150.

The second gear250is pivotally connected to the mounting base100. The second gear250is connected to the first gear200. Specifically, in this embodiment, the image capturing assembly10further includes a transmission gear assembly450. The transmission gear assembly450includes a fourth gear451, a fifth gear452and a pivot453. The pivot453is pivotally connected to the mounting base100. The fourth gear451and the fifth gear452are fixed and sleeved on the pivot453. The fourth gear451is engaged with the first gear200. The fifth gear452is engaged with the second gear250. An addendum circle diameter D1of the fifth gear452is smaller than an addendum circle diameter D2of the fourth gear451. In this embodiment, the driving component150drives the second gear250via the first gear200and the transmission gear assembly450, and the transmission gear assembly450changes the gear ratio of the first gear200and the second gear250. Note that in other embodiments, if the gear ratio of the first gear and the second gear is not required to be changed, the image capturing assembly may not include the transmission gear assembly450, and the first gear may be engaged with the second gear.

The lens assembly300is fixed to the second gear250and configured to capture images. In this embodiment, the second gear250and the lens assembly300are located on two opposite sides of the mounting base100, respectively. In this embodiment, the image capturing assembly10further includes a rotatable component500, and the mounting base100has a through hole101. The rotatable component500is, for example, a sleeve, and rotatably disposed in the through hole101. The lens assembly300is fixed to the second gear250via the rotatable component500. Note that in other embodiments, the second gear and the lens assembly may be located on the same side of the mounting base.

The third gear350is pivotally connected to the mounting base100and engaged with the second gear250. In this embodiment, an addendum circle diameter D3of the third gear350is smaller than an addendum circle diameter D4of the second gear250, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the addendum circle diameter of the third gear may be larger than or equal to the addendum circle diameter of the second gear.

In this embodiment, the resistance component400is, for example, a compression spring. In this embodiment, the image capturing assembly10further includes a pivot550, a first washer600, a second washer650and a clip700. The pivot550is fixed on the mounting base100. The pivot550is disposed through the third gear350so as to allow the third gear350to be pivotally connected to the mounting base100. The resistance component400is sleeved on the pivot550. The first washer600and the second washer650are sleeved on the pivot550. The first washer600is located between the third gear350and the resistance component400. Also, in this embodiment, the first washer600is located on a side of the third gear350that is located farthest away from the mounting base100. The second washer650is located on a side of the resistance component400that is located farthest away from the first washer600. The pivot550has a recess551. The recess551is radially recessed from an outer circumferential surface552of the pivot550. The clip700is, for example, a E-clip. The clip700is engaged in the recess551, and the second washer650is located between the clip700and the resistance component400. With the above configuration, the first washer600, the second washer650and the clip700are configured to prevent the resistance component400from being detached from the pivot550.

In other embodiments, the first washer may be located on a side of the third gear that is located closest to the mounting base. In other embodiments, the image capturing assembly may not include the clip700, and in such embodiments, a protrusion protruding from the pivot may be located on a side of the second washer that is located farthest away from the resistance component for positioning the second washer. In still other embodiments, the image capturing assembly may not include the first washer600, the second washer650and the clip700, and a protrusion protruding from the pivot may be located on a side of the resistance component for positioning the resistance component.

In addition, since the resistance component400according to this embodiment is a compression spring, the space used to mount the resistance component400on the mounting base100is reduced, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the resistance component may be an elastic sheet or plate.

The resistance component400presses against the third gear350, such that the third gear350applies a resistance R to the second gear250during the rotation of the second gear250. Specifically, in a case that the driving component150drives the second gear250to rotate along a first direction F1 via the first gear200and the transmission gear assembly450, when the driving component150stop driving the second gear250, one or more cables (not shown) connected to the lens assembly300and bent due to the rotation of the lens assembly300applies a restoring force and thus a restoring torque B to the second gear250via the lens assembly300and the rotatable component500along a second direction F2 opposite to the first direction F1. Also, there is usually a backlash between the first gear200and the fourth gear451and a backlash between the fifth gear452and the second gear250. Thus, such restoring torque B tends to rotate the second gear250along the second direction F2. However, the resistance component400pressing against the third gear350applies a normal force to the third gear350, such that the friction generated by the normal force can prevent the third gear350from being rotated. Note that the magnitude of the friction may be obtained from an elastic constant, a compressed length and an outer diameter of the resistance component400(e.g., the compression spring). Such friction force is converted into a resistance R against the second gear250, and thus the second gear250is prevented from being rotated by the restoring torque B along the second direction F2. Note that, in this embodiment, the resistance R is greater than or equal to the restoring torque B to completely prevent the second gear250from being rotated back. In addition, for example, the resistance R is smaller than the transmission torque of the second gear250to prevent the third gear350from stopping the rotation of the second gear250.

Note that in this embodiment, only the third gear350engaged with the second gear250is disposed to prevent the second gear250from being rotated back, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, a gear engaged with the fourth gear or the fifth gear may be additionally disposed to prevent the second gear250from being restored.

According to the image capturing assembly disclosed by above embodiments, the resistance component presses against the third gear to allow the third gear to transmit a resistance against the second gear during the rotation of the second gear. Thus, when the driving component stops driving the lens assembly via the first gear and the second gear, the resistance at least partially overcomes the restoring torque applied by one or more cables that are connected to the lens assembly and bent due to the rotation of the lens assembly. As a result, the second gear is prevented from being rotated back by the restoring torque applied by the cables due to the backlash between the gears, thereby preventing the lens assembly from shaking. Thus, the image capturing assembly is prevented from capturing images at an undesired angle, thereby enhancing the user experiences of the image capturing assembly and images captured thereby.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present disclosure. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary embodiments only, with a scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.