Multi-functional image fetching module

• US 7,046,297 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Chou, Kuan-Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Quiett, Carramah J.
• Application Number:
  US09/983,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348373-376, 348/552, D14/315, D14/317, D14/202, D14/211, D14/212
• US Class Current: 348/375
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A multi-functional image fetching module inserted in a slot of an electronic device comprises a body having a recess, a first housing and a second housing both slidingly received in the recess, the first housing having a hinge for coupling to the second housing so that the first housing is capable of pivoting about the second housing for fetching an image through an image fetching module installed therein, and a switching knob for moving a latched member from the second housing to let the first housing spring out of the recess.

Claims

1. A multi-function image fetching module comprising:

a body having a recess on one end and an image processing circuit board on the other end having a connector thereon;

a first housing and a second housing both slidingly received in the recess, the first housing having a hinge for coupling to the second housing so that the first housing is capable of pivoting about the second housing, and the first housing further including an image fetching lens coupled to the image processing circuit board;

a latch arranged to extend into a hole in the second housing for securing said first housing and second housing in said recess of the body when said first housing and said second housing are pushed into said recess;

a switching knob for releasing said latch;

a first elastic member for causing said first and second housings to extend out of said recess when said switching knob is manipulated to release said latch; and

a second elastic member for causing said latch to return to a latching position upon release of said switching knob,

wherein the image fetching module is secured in an expansion slot of a first electronic device, and

wherein the image fetching module further comprises a connector coupled to connector means in the expansion slot so that the first electronic device is operative to perform an image processing through the image fetching module.

2. The image fetching module of claim 1, further comprising a support device having a socket with the image fetching module secured therein, wherein the connector of the image fetching module is coupled to connector means in the socket, and the support device further comprises a wire extended to electrically couple to a second electronic device so that an image fetching is effected by the image fetching module.

3. The image fetching module of claim 1, further comprising a rail on either side of the recess, a groove on a front portion of each rail, and a slide member and a tab on front and rear portions of either side of the second housing respectively so that the tabs are slidable along the rails, the slide members are slidable along the grooves, and the second housing is positioned after sliding into place.

4. The image fetching module of claim 3, further comprising a stop on a front end of each groove and wherein the first elastic member has one end affixed to each stop and the other end affixed to each tab so that the first and the second housings together are capable of sliding in the recess by compression and expansion of the first elastic member.

5. The image fetching module of claim 1, further comprising a blue-tooth module mounted on the image processing circuit board such that the image fetching module is capable of communicating video information with external devices by wireless.