Camera latch

• US 7,126,816 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Krah, Christoph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US10/800,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20050201047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-687, 361724-727, 348/14.01, 348/14.08, 348/14.1, 709/204, 713/320, 248/14.05
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera

Abstract

A portable computer is disclosed. The portable computer includes a base. The portable computer also includes a lid that pivots relative to the base. The portable computer further includes a latch including a data capture device such as a camera that is configured to secure the lid to the base.

Claims

1. A portable computer, comprising:

abase;

a lid that pivots relative to the base; and

a latch configured to secure the lid to the base, the latch including a data capture device, the latch being configured to move relative to the lid, the movement including a pivot and at least one of a swivel and a translation.

2. The portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the latch is detachable from the lid.

3. The portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the lid pivots between an open position, placing the lid away from the base, and a closed position placing the lid next to the base, and wherein the base includes a latch receiving area that is cooperatively positioned with the latch so that when the lid is closed the latch and latch receiving area engage one another thus securing the lid to the base.

4. The portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the latch includes one or more indicators.

5. The portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the data capture device is a camera, the camera including a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complimentary oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.

6. The portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the data capture device is a microphone.

7. The portable computer as recited in claim 1 further including a second data capture device, the first data capture device corresponding to a camera, the second data capture device corresponding to a microphone.

8. The portable computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the movement includes a pivot, a swivel and a translation.

9. The portable computer as recited in claim 3 wherein the latch and latch receiving area include locking features that lockably engage with one another when the latch is positioned adjacent the larch receiving area, and wherein the latch or latch receiving area includes an actuator for disengaging the locking features.

10. The portable computer as recited in claim 9 wherein the latch receiving area includes a plunger and wherein the latch includes a latch homing, the latch housing having a slit that is cooperatively positioned with the plunger and is configured to receive the plunger therethrough, the latch housing containing a spring element, hook and slider switch, the spring element being cooperatively positioned with the plunger and providing a spring resistance to the plunger when the plunger is inserted into the slit the hook lockably receiving the plunger when the plunger is inserted into the slit the hook being configured to rotate between a plunger receiving position for capturing the plunger and a plunger releasing position for releasing the plunger, the hook being spring biased in the plunger receiving position, the slider switch being slidably coupled to the latch housing and configured to free the book from the plunger when the slider switch is from a first position to a second position, the slider switch being spring biased in the first position.

11. The laptop computer as recited in claim 10 wherein a first end of the belt is attached to the axle of the first hinge mechanism, and a second end of the belt is attached to a tension spring mounted to the lid, and wherein the belt is draped around the axle of the second hinge mechanism, the rotating axle of the first binge mechanism causing the axle of the second binge mechanism to rotate via the belt.

12. A laptop computer, comprising:

a base containing a processor;

a lid pivotally coupled to the base, the lid containing a display operatively coupled the processor;

a latch pivotally coupled to the lid, the latch containing an electronic feature operatively coupled to the processor and a locking feature for lockably engaging the base, the latch being automatically positioned in a home position when the lid is positioned in an open position, and wherein the latch is automatically positioned in a lock position when the lid is positioned in a closed position, the latch being capable of rotating to various positions when placed in the home position.

13. The laptop computer as recited in claim 12 wherein the latch includes a slider switch for disengaging the locking feature from the base.

14. The laptop computer as recited in claim 12 wherein the lid includes an LCD that is surrounded at its periphery by a bezel, and wherein the latch is attached to the bezel.

15. The laptop computer as recited in claim 12 wherein the latch is configured to mate with a cut-out in the base in order to secure the lid to the base.

16. The laptop computer as recited in claim 15 wherein the locking feature is a hook that is configured to capture a plunger attached to the base and located in the cut-out.

17. A laptop computer, comprising:

a base containing a processor;

a lid pivotally coupled to the base, the lid containing a display operatively coupled the processor;

a latch pivotally coupled to the lid, the latch containing an electronic feature in the form of an input or an output device that is operatively coupled to the processor and a locking feature for lockably engaging the base; and

a positioning device for controlling the rotation of the latch about its axis.

18. The laptop computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the positioning device includes a latch tilting mechanism configured to convert the rotation of to lid about its axis to rotation of the latch about its axis.

19. The laptop computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the positioning device includes a motor for rotating the latch about the axis, the motor being controlled by an input mechanism associated with the laptop computer.

20. The laptop computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the electronic feature is selected from a data capture device, light source, or LCD.

21. The laptop computer as recited in claim 17 wherein multiple electronic features are contained by the latch, the multiple electronic features corresponding to at least one input device and at least one output device.

22. The laptop computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the positioning device causes the latch to pivot simultaneously with a pivoting action of the lid.

23. The laptop computer as recited in claim 18 wherein the lid is pivotally coupled to the base via a first hinge mechanism and the latch is pivotally coupled to the lid via a second hinge mechanism, and wherein the latch tilting mechanism includes a belt that rotatably couples an axle of the first binge mechanism to an axle of a second hinge mechanism.

24. The laptop computer as recited in claim 23 wherein the lid is positionable between an open position and a closed position, the latch is positionable between a home position and a locked position, and wherein the latch tilting mechanism is configured to automatically place the latch in the locked position when the lid is placed in the closed position, and to automatically place the latch in the home position when the lid is placed in the open position.

25. The laptop computer as recited in claim 23 wherein the axles include teeth that engage corresponding teeth on the belt.

26. A laptop computer, comprising:

a base containing a processor;

a lid pivotally coupled to the base the lid containing a display operatively coupled the processor;

a latch pivotally coupled to the lid, the latch containing a camera that is operatively coupled to the processor and a locking feature for lockably engaging the base, the latch being automatically positioned in a home position when the lid is positioned in an open position, and wherein the latch is automatically positioned in a lock position when the lid is positioned in a closed position, the camera including a CMOS image sensor chip and a lens assembly.

27. A laptop computer, comprising:

a base containing a processor,

a lid pivotally coupled to the base, the lid containing a display operatively coupled the processor;

a latch pivotally coupled to the lid, the latch containing a symbol illumination system that is operatively coupled to the processor and a locking feature for lockably engaging the base, the symbol illumination system including a light source for illuminating a symbol on an illuminable portion of the latch.

28. The laptop computer as recited in claim 27 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

29. A laptop computer, comprising:

a base containing a processor;

a lid pivotally coupled to the base, the lid containing a display operatively coupled the processor;

a latch pivotally coupled to the lid, the latch containing a electronic feature operatively coupled to the processor and a locking feature for lockably engaging the base, the latch being automatically positioned in a home position when the lid is positioned in an open position, and wherein the latch is automatically positioned in a lock position when the lid is positioned in a close position, the electronic feature corresponding to a camera and a symbol illumination system.

30. A computing device, comprising:

abase;

a lid that pivots relative to the base;

control electronics disposed in the lid or base;

an external latch configured to secure the lid to the base, the latch including a latch housing and a support member that is movably retained to the lid so that the latch housing moves relative to the lid, the support member extending from the latch housing to an internal portion of the lid, the support member including an opening therethrough that provides a passage between the latch housing and the internal portion of the lid, the latch housing containing one or more electronic components that are electrically coupled to the control electronics through wires that extend through the opening in the support member such that they are hidden from view.

31. The computing device as recited in claim 30 wherein the latch housing is retained within a recess in the lid and the support member is an axle that is supported by bushings placed on opposing sides of the recess within the lid such that the latch pivots relative to the lid.

32. The computing device as recited in claim 30 wherein the wires are part of a flex circuit.

33. The computing device as recited in claim 30 wherein the electronic components include a camera module.

34. The computing device as recited in claim 30 wherein the electronic components include a symbol illumination system.

35. The computing device as recited in claim 30 further comprising a locking system including a base side locking feature and a latch side locking feature tat are cooperatively positioned so that when the latch is positioned next to a latch receiving area of the base the locking features lockably engage with one another thus securing the latch to the base, and a latch release mechanism for releasing the locking features from their locking engagement.

36. The computing device as recited in claim 35 wherein the base side locking feature is a plunger that protrudes from the latch receiving area, the latch side locking feature is a spring biased hook that is disposed within the latch housing behind a slot in the latch housing, and the latch release mechanism is a slider disposed on the latch, the plunger engaging the spring biased hook to secure the latch to base, the slider disengaging the spring biased hook from the plunger when actuated.