FLASH MODULE AND IMAGE-CAPTURING APPARATUS

• US 20120182465A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ability Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ability Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lin, Wei-Pong, Liao, Yi-Jie, Lin, Ting-Cheng
• Granted Patent: US 8,878,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/371
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0507 Pop-up mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6086 by scene illuminant, i.e. conditions at the time of picture capture, e.g. flash, optical filter used, evening, cloud, daylight, artificial lighting, white point measurement, colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

Embodiments of this invention provide a flash module and an image-capturing apparatus having the flash module. The flash module includes a flash, a base, a solenoid, a linkage bar, a hook, a first elastic member, and a second elastic member. When necessary, the elements of the flash module perform a process to automatically move the flash to an open position.

Claims

1. A flash module, comprising:

a flash comprising a notch and a first hinge, the flash being rotated from an open position to a close position by the first hinge;

a base comprising an accommodation space for placing the flash at the close position;

a driver comprising an armature with an aperture, wherein the driver attracts the armature in a first position if the flash is at the close position;

a linkage bar comprising a nick configured to fit the armature, and an upper end of the linkage bar contacts a lower end of the flash if the flash is at the close position;

a hook comprising a crook, a shaft, and a second hinge, wherein the crook is arranged at one end of the hook and is inserted into the notch if the flash is at the close position, the shaft is arranged at another end of the hook and passes through the aperture, and the second hinge is used for rotating the hook;

a first elastic member arranged between the base and the shaft; and

a second elastic member arranged between the base and the flash.

2. The flash module as recited in claim 1, when the driver releases the armature, the first elastic member drives the armature moving to a second position by the shaft, and the shaft drives the hook rotating by the second hinge, such that the crook is detached from the notch, and then the second elastic member drives the flash rotating to the open position.

3. The flash module as recited in claim 1, when the flash is rotated by the first hinge and the lower end contacts with the upper end of the linkage bar, the linkage bar drives the armature moving to the first position via the nick, and the aperture of the armature drives the shaft and the hook rotating by the second hinge, such that the crook is inserted into the notch and the flash is retracted in the close position.

4. The flash module as recited in claim 1, wherein the flash module further comprises a switch with a lever, and the flash further comprises a control rod, the control rod drives the lever levering if the flash is rotated between the open position and the close position.

5. The flash module as recited in claim 1, wherein the flash further comprises a stop bump, the stop bump is rotated with the flash until it reaches a sidewall of the base.

6. A flash module, comprising:

a flash for being rotated by a first hinge;

a base for placing and connecting to the flash via the first hinge;

a driver arranged on the base and comprising an armature with an aperture;

a linkage bar for driving or being driven by the driver; and

a hook comprising;

a first end for catching a retracted flash in the base;

a second end for engaging with the base and the armature; and

a second hinge for rotating the hook.

7. The flash module as recited in claim 6, further comprises two torsional members respectively arranged between the second end and the base and arranged between the base and the flash.

8. The flash module as recited in claim 7, further comprising an open position, when the driver releases the armature, the torsional member arranged between a shaft of the second end and the base moves the armature via the shaft, the shaft drives the hook rotating by the second hinge, and a crook of the first end is thus detached from a notch of the flash, so that the torsional member arranged between the base and the flash drives the flash rotating to the open position.

9. The flash module as recited in claim 8, further comprising a close position, when the flash is rotated to push a nick of the linkage bar and the armature, the armature binds to the driver and the aperture of the armature drives the shaft and the hook rotating by the second hinge, such that the crook is inserted into a notch of the flash and the flash is retracted in the close position.

10. The flash module as recited in claim 6, wherein the flash module further comprises a switch with a lever, and the flash further comprises a control rod, when the flash drives the control rod rotating, the control rod drives the lever levering, such that the position of the flash is detected.

11. The flash module as recited in claim 10, wherein the flash drives the control rod rotating between an open position and a close position.

12. The flash module as recited in claim 6, wherein the flash further comprises a stop bump, when the flash is rotated, the stop bump is rotated as well until it reaches a, sidewall of the base.

13. An image-capturing apparatus, comprising:

an image sensor for detecting a brightness;

a processor for issuing a flash order according to the brightness; and

a flash module, comprising;

a flash comprising a notch and a first hinge, the first hinge rotating the flash between an open position and a, close position;

a base for placing the flash in an accommodation space at the close position;

a solenoid comprising an armature with an aperture, when the flash is at the close position, the solenoid binds the armature;

a linkage bar comprising a nick configured to fit the armature, when the flash is at the close position, an upper end of the linkage bar contacts a lower end of the flash;

a hook comprising a first end, a second end, and a second hinge, wherein the first end for catching the flash when the flash is at the close position, the second end passes through the aperture, and the second hinge is used for rotating the hook;

a first elastic member arranged between the base and a shaft; and

a second elastic member arranged between the base and the flash.

14. The image-capturing apparatus as recited in claim 13, when the processor performing a zooming process, the processor determines whether open the flash module according to the brightness, if the flash module is determined to open, the flash is rotated to the open position.

15. The image-capturing apparatus as recited in claim 13, when the solenoid frees the armature, the first elastic member drives the armature moving via the shaft, and the shaft drives the hook rotating by the second hinge, such that a crook is detached from the notch, and the flash is rotated to the open position via the first hinge.

16. The image-capturing apparatus as recited in claim 15, when a force against to the second elastic member is exerted to the flash, the lower end of the flash contacts the linkage bar, the linkage bar then pushes the armature moving to bind the solenoid via the nick, and the aperture of the armature pushes the shaft and the hook rotating by the second hinge, such that the crook is inserted into the notch and the flash is retracted at the close position.

17. The image-capturing apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the flash module further comprises a switch that comprises a lever, and the flash further comprises a control rod, when the flash drives the control rod rotating, the control rod drives the lever levering, such that the switch feeds back a confirmed message to the processor.

18. The image-capturing apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the flash drives the control rod rotating between the open position and the close position, and the processor detects a position of the flash via the confirmed message.

19. The image-capturing apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the image sensor comprises a light-to-electrical conversion unit.

20. The image-capturing apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the flash further comprises a stop bump is rotated with the flash until the stop bump reaches a sidewall of the base.