Push-pull type camera module for portable wireless terminal

• US 7,424,214 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Hwan, Kim, Han-Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): KOVAL, MELISSA J
• Application Number:
  US11/295,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20060124746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 396/72, 396/429, 396/534, 359/611, 359/612, 348/335, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 455/556.1, 455/575.3, 455/569.1
• US Class Current: 396/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02

Abstract

A push-pull type camera module for a portable wireless terminal in which a hollow outer lens barrel is installed in the portable wireless terminal, a push-pull switch is installed in the outer barrel, an inner barrel is installed in the outer barrel, the inner barrel extending from or retracting to the outer barrel by the push-pull switch, a lens assembly is exposed at an outer surface of the inner barrel, the lens assembly taking a picture when the inner barrel is extended, a first switching module detects the extension and retraction of the inner barrel, and a second switching module detects rotation of the extended inner barrel.

Claims

1. A push-pull type camera module for a portable wireless terminal, comprising:

a hollow outer lens barrel installed at a predetermined portion of the portable wireless terminal;

a push-pull switch installed in the outer barrel;

an inner barrel installed in the outer barrel, the inner barrel being capable of extending and retracting from and to the outer barrel by a predetermined length by means of the push-pull switch;

a lens assembly installed to be exposed at an outer surface of the inner barrel, the lens assembly being capable of taking a picture when the inner barrel is extended;

a first switching module installed at a predetermined position to detect the extension and retraction of the inner barrel; and

a second switching module installed at a predetermined position to detect rotation of the extended inner barrel.

2. The push-pull type camera module of claim 1, further comprising a controller for automatically turning on a camera mode in response to a detection operation by the first switching module and automatically vertically flipping a preview picture in response to a detection operation by the second switching module in the camera mode.

3. The push-pull type camera module of claim 2, wherein the first and second switching modules are mechanical switches that are mounted on a mainboard of a main body of the portable wireless terminal, the first and second switching modules being inserted through the outer barrel to abut on outer surfaces of the inner barrel.

4. The push-pull type camera module of claim 3, wherein the first and second switching modules respectively include a first actuator and a second actuator that are inserted through the outer barrel to abut on the surfaces of the inner barrel and perform switching operations in response to the movement of the inner barrel.

5. The push-pull type camera module of claim 4, wherein the first switching module is mounted on the predetermined position of the mainboard such that when the inner barrel is retracted the first actuator is abutted on the outer surface of the inner barrel to keep an on-state of the first switching module and when the inner barrel is extended the first actuator is not abutted on the outer surface of the inner barrel to keep an off-state of the first switching module.

6. The push-pull type camera module of claim 5, wherein the inner barrel defines a recess at an outer surface in a circumferential direction with a predetermined length and a predetermined width, and the second switching module is mounted on the predetermined position of the mainboard such that the second actuator is selectively accommodated in the recess only when the extended inner barrel is rotated.

7. The push-pull type camera module of claim 6, wherein the second switching module changes to an on state or an off state when the second actuator is accommodated in the recess.

8. The push-pull type camera module of claim 7, wherein the recess mates with the second actuator when the extended inner barrel is rotated to a position at which the camera module has to flip the preview picture vertically.

9. The push-pull type camera module of claim 5, wherein the inner barrel includes a projection at an outer surface in a circumferential direction with a predetermined length and a predetermined width, and the second switching module is mounted on the predetermined position of the mainboard such that the second actuator selectively comes into contact with the projection only when the extended inner barrel is rotated.

10. The push-pull type camera module of claim 9, wherein the second switching module changes to an on state or an off state when the second actuator comes into contact with the projection.

11. The push-pull type camera module of claim 10, wherein the projection mates with the second actuator when the extended inner barrel is rotated to a position at which the camera module has to flip the preview picture vertically.

12. The push-pull type camera module of claim 3, wherein the first and second switching modules are SMD (Surface Mount Device) type tact switches mounted on the mainboard of the main body of the portable wireless terminal.

13. The push-pull type camera module of claim 4, wherein the first and second switching modules are SMD (Surface Mount Device) type tact switches mounted on the mainboard of the main body of the portable wireless terminal.

14. The push-pull type camera module of claim 5, wherein the first and second switching modules are SMD (Surface Mount Device) type tact switches mounted on the mainboard of the main body of the portable wireless terminal.

15. The push-pull type camera module of claim 6, wherein the first and second switching modules are SMD (Surface Mount Device) type tact switches mounted on the mainboard of the main body of the portable wireless terminal.

16. The push-pull type camera module of claim 7, wherein the first and second switching modules are SMD (Surface Mount Device) type tact switches mounted on the mainboard of the main body of the portable wireless terminal.

17. The push-pull type camera module of claim 13, wherein ends of the first and second actuators are rounded for smooth contact with the outer surface of the inner barrel.

18. The push-pull type camera module of claim 14, wherein ends of the first and second actuators are rounded for smooth contact with the outer surface of the inner barrel.

19. The push-pull type camera module of claim 15, wherein ends of the first and second actuators are rounded for smooth contact with the outer surface of the inner barrel.

20. The push-pull type camera module of claim 16, wherein ends of the first and second actuators are rounded for smooth contact with the outer surface of the inner barrel.