Camera lens shuttering mechanism

• US 20060146177A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cutler, Ross G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,812,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/362
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A camera lens shuttering mechanism includes an image conducting unit disposed within a shutter housing when the camera is in a closed position so that the camera cannot record images. When moved to an open position, the shutter housing does not block the image conducting unit from imaging objects. The image conducting unit may be one or more lenses or one or more mirrors that reflect images to one or more lenses. When in the closed position, it is apparent to users that the camera is unable to transmit images.

Claims

1. A camera, comprising:

an image conducting unit configured to receive light waves reflected off an object and to conduct the light waves on one or more image forming sensors;

a shutter housing; and

means for positioning the image conducting unit from an open position in which the image conducting unit is not occluded by the shutter housing from receiving light waves to a closed position in which the shutter housing occludes the image conducting unit from receiving light waves.

2. The camera as recited in claim 1, wherein the image conducting unit further comprises one or more lenses.

3. The camera as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more lenses are configured to image an area of at least 180 degrees.

4. The camera as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more lenses are configured to image an area of 360 degrees.

5. The camera as recited in claim 1, wherein the image conducting unit further comprises a mirror assembly configured to reflect light waves from an object to one or more lenses.

6. The camera as recited in claim 1, wherein the image conducting unit is disposed inside the shutter housing in the closed position and outside the shutter housing in the open position.

7. The camera as recited in claim 1, wherein the positioning means further comprises one of the following:

a screw drive;

a hydraulic lifting device;

a pneumatic lifting device;

a magnetic lifting device.

8. The camera as recited in claim 1, wherein the positioning means is further configured to reposition the shutter housing.

9. A camera, comprising:

a shutter housing;

an image transferring assembly configured to transfer an image of an object onto one or more sensors when disposed in a first position, and being positionable to a second position in which the shutter housing blocks the image from the image transferring assembly; and

positioning means for moving the image transferring assembly between the first position and the second position.

10. The camera as recited in claim 9, wherein the image transferring assembly further comprises one or more lenses.

11. The camera as recited in claim 9, wherein the image transferring assembly further comprises one or more mirrors.

12. The camera as recited in claim 9, wherein the shutter housing surrounds the image transferring assembly when the image transferring assembly is disposed in the second position.

13. The camera as recited in claim 12, wherein the image transferring assembly is disposed apart from the shutter housing when the image transferring assembly is disposed in the first position.

14. A camera, comprising:

a shutter housing;

an image conducting unit configured to transmit an object image to an image sensor when the camera is disposed in a first position, the image conducting unit being blocked from transmitting the object image when the camera is disposed in a second position;

positioning means for disposing the camera between the first position and the second position; and

wherein the image conducting unit is contained within the shutter housing when the camera is disposed in the second position but is positioned outside of the shutter housing when the camera is disposed in the first position.

15. The camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the image conducting unit further comprises one or more camera lenses.

16. The camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the image conducting unit further comprises one or more mirrors.

17. The camera as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the shutter housing is situated in a fixed position; and

the image conducting unit is repositionable relative to the shutter housing to effect the first position and the second position.

18. The camera as recited in claim 17, wherein the image conducting unit is disposed above the shutter housing in the first position.

19. The camera as recited in claim 17, wherein:

the image conducting unit is situated in a fixed position; and

the shutter housing is repositionable relative to the image conducting unit to effect the first position and the second position.

20. The camera as recited in claim 19, wherein the shutter housing is further configured to drop down in relation to the image conducting unit when transitioning from second position to the first position.