IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20170111568A1
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Hsieh, Sheng-Shien, Lin, Hsiao-Chang, Lin, Tzu-Yao
• Granted Patent: US 9,948,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces

Abstract

An imaging device adapted to be detachably disposed on an electronic device is provided. The imaging device includes a shell, an imaging module, a communication module and a touch element. The shell has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The imaging module having a lens is disposed inside of the shell, and the lens is exposed on the first surface of the shell. The communication module is disposed in the shell and an end of the communication module is signally connected to the imaging module. The touch element is connected to the shell and movably contacts a sensing unit of the electronic device. Moreover, an imaging system and a control method thereof are also provided.

Claims

1. An imaging device, adapted to be detachably disposed on an electronic device, the imaging device comprising:

a shell, having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other;

an imaging module, disposed in the shell and having a lens, wherein the lens is exposed on the first surface of the shell;

a communication module, disposed on the shell, and an end of the communication module being signally connected to the imaging module; and

a touch element, connected to the shell, wherein the touch element movably contacts a sensing unit of the electronic device.

2. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch element is disposed on the first surface, and the electronic device determines whether the touch element contacts the sensing unit, so as to selectively activate one of the front lens and the back lens.

3. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch element is disposed on the second surface, and the electronic device determines whether the touch element contacts the sensing unit, so as to selectively activate one of the front lens and the back lens.

4. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein another end of the communication module is signally connected to the electronic device.

5. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a fixing member, connected to the shell of the imaging device, and detachably inserted in the electronic device.

6. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a clamping structure, connected to the shell, and detachably clamping on the electronic device, wherein the clamping structure comprises the touch element and a fixing member, and the touch element and the fixing member are commonly connected to the shell.

7. The imaging device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the touch element is a light-shielding element, the sensing unit of the electronic device is a proximity sensor, and the light-shielding element is configured to shield or reflect a light entering the proximity sensor.

8. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a rotation member, disposed between the shell and the communication module, wherein the rotation member is adapted to drive the shell to rotate relative to the communication module.

9. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch element comprises:

an adjusting portion, connected to the shell; and

a touch portion, wherein the touch portion movably contacts the electronic device through adjustment of the adjusting portion.

10. The imaging device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the adjusting portion is composed of a flexible material or a soft material.

11. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch element comprises:

a fixed portion, a pivot portion and a pivot axis,

wherein the fixed portion is connected to the shell, and the pivot portion is pivoted to the fixed portion through the pivot axis.

12. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication module has a wired communication module, and the wired communication module comprises a micro universal serial bus or a universal serial bus, and the communication module is detachably connected to the electronic device.

13. The imaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication module is a wireless communication module, and the wireless communication module comprises a WiFi communication module or a bluetooth communication module.

14. An imaging system, comprising:

an electronic device, comprising;

a device body, having a sensing surface;

a sensing unit, disposed on the sensing surface;

a front lens, disposed at a same side of the electronic device with the sensing surface; and

a back lens, disposed at another side of the electronic device opposite to the sensing surface; and

an imaging device, detachably disposed on the electronic device, and the imaging device comprising;

a shell, having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other;

an imaging module, disposed in the shell and having a lens, wherein the lens is exposed on the first surface of the shell;

a communication module, disposed on the shell, and signally connected to the imaging module and the electronic device; and

a touch element, connected to the shell, and movably contacting the sensing unit,

wherein the electronic device determines whether the touch element contacts the sensing unit, and selectively activates one of the front lens and the back lens, and captures an image through the activated one of the front lens and the back lens and the lens of the imaging module.

15. The imaging system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the electronic device is a smart phone or a tablet personal computer.

16. A method for controlling an imaging device, adapted to an electronic device, wherein the electronic device has a sensing unit, a front lens and a back lens, the imaging device has an imaging module and a touch element, and the imaging module has a lens, the method for controlling the imaging device comprising:

determining whether the imaging device is connected to the electronic device;

determining whether the touch element contacts the sensing unit after the imaging device is connected to the electronic device, so as to selectively activate one of the front lens and the back lens; and

capturing an image through the activated one of the front lens and the back lens and the lens of the imaging module.

17. The method for controlling the imaging device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sensing unit is a touch panel, the touch element is disposed on the imaging device at a side opposite to the lens of the imaging module, and the step of determining whether the touch element contacts the touch panel to selectively activate one of the front lens and the back lens comprises:

activating the back lens when the touch element contacts the touch panel; and

activating the front lens when the touch element does not contact the touch panel.

18. The method for controlling the imaging device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether a time for the touch element contacting the sensing unit is greater than a predetermined time set by the electronic device.

19. The method for controlling the imaging device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sensing unit is a proximity sensor, the touch element is a light-shielding element, the touch element is disposed on the imaging device at a side opposite to the lens of the imaging module, and the step of determining whether the touch element contacts the proximity sensor to selectively activate one of the front lens and the back lens comprises:

activating the back lens when the light-shielding element shields the proximity sensor; and

activating the front lens when the light-shielding element does not shield the proximity sensor.

20. The method for controlling the imaging device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sensing unit is the front lens or the back lens of the electronic device, and the method further comprises:

activating the back lens when the touch element shields the front lens of the electronic device; and

activating the front lens when the touch element shields the back lens of the electronic device.