Apparatus for automatically adjusting angle of image device for information processing equipment

• US 7,286,181 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cha, Soon Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Application Number:
  US11/349,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20060128429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 348/207.1, 348/14.1, 348/14.01, 348/14.04
• US Class Current: 348/373
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera

Abstract

An apparatus is provided that adjusts an angle of image device used with information processing equipment such as a portable computer, a computer for a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor, and a Personal Digital Assistance (PDA). As a display device is rotated relative to a main body, a supporting member adjusts a position of the image device according to rotation of the display device to maintain a desired angle of the image device. The information processing equipment can include a main body with a plurality of key buttons and a display body including a display unit which is rotationally coupled to one side of the main body. An image device unit is installed on one side of the display body for holding the image device. A connecting link rotates the image device unit in accordance with the rotation angle of the display body against the main body. Therefore, the angle of image device such as a camera can be automatically controlled according to the movement of the display body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for adjusting an angle of image unit for information processing equipment, the apparatus comprising:

a rotatable supporting part configured to maintain a position of an imaging device relative to a main body of the information processing equipment; and

a rotation device configured to rotate the imaging device in accordance with a rotation angle of the main body,wherein the rotation device comprises a connecting link configured to connect the main body to the imaging device, wherein a first end of the connecting link is configured to be connected to a side of the main body data position which is spaced apart a certain distance from a center of rotation of the supporting part, and a second end of the connecting link is configured to be connected to the imaging device data position which is spaced apart a certain distance from a center of rotation of the imaging device, wherein the rotatable supporting part comprises;

a rotation shaft rotatably supported by the main body;

a supporting plate which extends to both sides of the rotation shaft, wherein the supporting plate is configured to receive the imaging device on an upper surface thereof; and

link connecting portions which extend from front and rear sides of the supporting plate direction substantially parallel to the rotation shaft, wherein each of the link connecting portions are configured to be connected to the rotation device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is positioned at one of an upper central part of the main body, on a left edge on an upper end of the main body, on a right edge on the upper end of the main body, or on side portions of the main body, and wherein a sliding door is included in the main body so as to open/close the imaging device in the main body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises a camera, a projector, or a monitor.

4. Information processing equipment comprising the apparatus of claim 1.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the link connecting portions comprise a first connecting portion which extends from a front portion of a first side of the supporting plate, and a second connecting portion which extends from a rear portion of a second side of the supporting plate opposite the first side.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the connecting link comprises a first link which extends between the first connection portion and the main body, and a second link which extends between the second connecting portion and the main body.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the corresponding first ends of the first and second links are each offset an equal but opposite distance from the rotation shaft, and corresponding second ends of the first and second links are each offset an equal but opposite distance from a center of rotation of the main body.

8. An apparatus for adjusting an angle of image unit for information processing equipment, the apparatus comprising:

a rotatable supporting part configured to maintain a position of an imaging device relative to a main body of the information processing equipment; and

a rotation device configured to rotate the imaging device in accordance with a rotation angle of the main body, wherein the rotation device comprises a connecting link configured to connect the main body to the imaging device, wherein a first end of the connecting link is configured to be connected to a side of the main body at a position which is spaced apart a certain distance from a center of rotation of the supporting part, and a second end of the connecting link is configured to be connected to the imaging device at a position which is spaced apart a certain distance from a center of rotation of the imaging device, wherein the rotatable supporting part comprises;

a supporting plate configured to receive the imaging device thereon;

a rotation shaft configured to rotatably support the supporting plate; and

a link connecting portion which protrudes from the supporting plate and which is configured to be coupled to the connecting link, wherein the link connecting portion extends from the rotation shaft at a prescribed angle relative to the supporting plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an imaging device connector provided on an upper surface of the supporting plate and configured to electrically couple the imaging device and the information processing equipment.