Kinematic mount for split camera

• US 10,015,378 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Powell, Karlton David
• Primary Examiner(s): Haliyur, Padma
• Application Number:
  US15/266,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20180077326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/003 Alignment of optical elements G02B7/001, G02B7/002 take precedence; for mirrors G02B7/1822
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

An electronic device comprising a split camera in front and back portions, and a retaining member. The front portion of the camera includes a set of front mounting features and a light-collecting unit configured to collect light from a subject. The back portion of the camera is reversibly separable from the front portion; it includes a set of back mounting features and an imaging unit configured to image the light. The set of back mounting features is configured to contact the set of front mounting features as the front and back portions are drawn together, forming, cooperatively, a kinematic mount to hold the light-collecting and imaging units in a state of alignment. The retaining member is configured to couple the front portion to the back portion when the front and back portions are drawn together and also when the front and back portions are separated.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a front portion including a set of front mounting features and a light-collecting unit configured to collect light from a subject; and

a back portion reversibly separable from the front portion, the back portion including a set of back mounting features and an imaging unit configured to image the light, the set of back mounting features being configured to contact the set of front mounting features at exactly six contact points as the front and back portions are drawn together, the exactly six contact points forming, cooperatively, a kinematic mount to hold the light-collecting and imaging units in a state of alignment while discouraging movement into alternative states of alignment.

2. The camera of claim 1 wherein the set of front mounting features includes one or more protruding features, and wherein the set of back mounting features includes one or more receiving features configured to receive the one or more protruding features.

3. The camera of claim 2 further comprising a resilient member configured to retract one or more of the protruding features when the front and back portions are separated.

4. The camera of claim 3 further comprising:

a first optical flat arranged substantially flush with the receiving features; and

a second optical flat arranged substantially flush with the protruding features when the protruding features are retracted.

5. The camera of claim 2 wherein the one or more protruding features includes one or more of a pin and a ball.

6. The camera of claim 2 wherein the one or more receiving features includes one or more of a conic depression, a groove, and a flat stop.

7. The camera of claim 1 further comprising a magnet configured to draw the front and back portions together and urge the front mounting features against the back mounting features.

8. The camera of claim 1 wherein receipt of each front mounting feature against an associated back mounting feature restricts exactly one degree of freedom of relative movement of the light-collecting and imaging units.

9. The camera of claim 8 wherein the at least one degree of freedom is a translational or rotational degree of freedom.

10. The camera of claim 1 further comprising a floating coupling connecting the light-collecting unit to the front portion and a fixed coupling connecting the imaging unit to the back portion.

11. The camera of claim 10 wherein the set of front mounting features includes one or more protruding features, wherein the set of back mounting features includes one or more receiving features configured to receive the one or more protruding features, and wherein the floating coupling is a resilient member configured to retract one or more of the protruding features when the front and back portions are separated.

12. The camera of claim 10 wherein the floating coupling includes a diaphragm or gasket.

13. The camera of claim 1 further comprising a fixed coupling connecting the light-collecting unit to the front portion and a floating coupling connecting the imaging unit to the back portion.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a front portion including a set of front mounting features and a light-collecting unit configured to collect light from a subject;

a back portion reversibly separable from the front portion, the back portion including a set of back mounting features and an imaging unit configured to image the light, the set of back mounting features being configured to contact the set of front mounting features as the front and back portions are drawn together, forming, cooperatively, a kinematic mount to hold the light-collecting and imaging units in a state of alignment, wherein receipt of each front mounting feature against an associated back mounting feature restricts exactly one degree of freedom of relative movement of the light-collecting and imaging units; and

a retaining member configured to couple the front portion to the back portion when the front and back portions are drawn together and when the front and back portions are drawn apart.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the retaining member is a hinge.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the retaining member is a slide.

17. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the retaining member includes a resilient member configured to draw the front and back portions together and urge the front mounting features into the back mounting features.

18. A camera comprising:

a front portion including a light-collecting unit configured to collect light from a subject, a front optical flat arranged over the light-collecting unit, and a set of front mounting features arranged at an exterior of the front optical flat;

a back portion reversibly separable from the front portion, the back portion including an imaging unit configured to image the light, a back optical flat arranged over the imaging unit, and a set of back mounting features arranged at an exterior of the back optical flat, the set of back mounting features being configured to contact the set of front mounting features at exactly three contact points as the front and back portions are drawn together with the front and back optical flats in contact, the sets of front and back mounting features and optical flats forming, cooperatively, a kinematic mount to hold the light-collecting and imaging units in a state of alignment while discouraging movement into alternative states of alignment; and

a magnet configured to draw the front and back portions together, to hold the front and back optical flats together and to urge the front mounting features against the back mounting features.

19. The camera of claim 18 wherein the set of back mounting features is configured to form, on receiving the set of front mounting features, a two-point contact at one edge of the back optical flat and a one-point contact at an adjacent edge of the back optical flat.