Camera latch

• US 7,570,485 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Krah, Christoph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Hung V
• Application Number:
  US11/498,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20060268505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.1, 348/14.09, 348/373, 345/157, 709/204, 713/320, 361679-687, 361724-727
• US Class Current: 361/679.23
• 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 computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a data capture device such as a camera. In one aspect, the data capture device may integrated with the housing of the computing device and further detachable therefrom. In another aspect, the data capture device may swivel and/or a translate relative to the housing of the computing device. In another aspect, the computing device may include a positioning device for controlling the movement of the data capture device relative to the housing. IN yet another aspect, the computing device may include a latch that is automatically positioned in a home position when a housing component of the computing device is positioned in first position, and is automatically positioned in a lock position when the housing component of the computing device is positioned in a closed position.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a housing of a computing device including a base and a lid;

a first locking mechanism arranged to secure the lid to the base when the lid is placed in a closed position;

a detachable data capture module that is integrated with the first locking mechanism thereby preserving the space taken up by the computing device, the detachable data capture module including a data capture device, wherein the data capture device includes a data capture device memory module, a data capture device battery and associated electronics, the data capture device capturing data when the detachable data capture module is coupled to the housing of the computing device and when the detachable data capture module is separated from the housing of the computing device, the data capture device is fully operable and the data capture device stores captured data in the data capture device memory module.

2. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the data capture device is a camera.

3. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the data capture device is a microphone.

4. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a docking station for receiving the data capture module.

5. The computing device as recited in claim 4 further comprising a second locking mechanism between the docking station and the data capture module, the second locking mechanism enabling the lock and release of the data capture module relative to the housing.

6. The computing device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a display, a computing device memory module, a computing device battery or a transceivers, wherein when the separate data capture device is subsequently reunited with the computing device, the stored data is automatically sent from the data capture device memory module to the computing device memory module.

7. The computing device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a display, a memory module, a battery or a transceiver.

8. A portable computer, comprising:

a base containing a processor;

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

a detachable data capture module movably coupled to the lid including a data capture device, the data capture device capturing data when the detachable data capture module is coupled to the housing of the portable computer and when the detachable data capture module is decoupled from the housing of the portable computer; and

a positioning device for controlling the movement of the detachable data capture module relative to the lid, wherein the positioning device converts the rotation of the lid about its axis to movement of the detachable data capture module relative to the lid.

9. The portable computer as recited in claim 8 wherein the positioning device causes the detachable data capture module to move simultaneously with a pivoting action of the lid.

10. The portable computer as recited in claim 8 wherein the data capture device is a camera.

11. The portable computer as recited in claim 8 wherein the data capture device is a microphone.

12. The portable computer as recited in claim 8 wherein the housing includes a docking station for receiving the detachable data capture module.

13. The portable computer as recited in claim 12 further comprising a second locking mechanism between the docking station and the detachable data capture module, the second locking mechanism enabling the lock and release of the detachable data capture module relative to the housing.

14. The portable computer as recited in claim 8 wherein the detachable data capture module is pivotally coupled to the lid, and wherein the positioning device converts the rotation of the lid about its axis to rotation of the detachable data capture module relative to the lid.

15. A computing device comprising:

a base;

a lid that pivots relative to the base, the lid moving between a closed position and an open position;

a first wireless transceiver;

a locking mechanism arranged to secure the lid to the base when the lid is placed in a closed position;

a detachable data capture module that is integrated with the locking mechanism, the detachable data capture module including

a second wireless transceiver, and

a data capture device, the data capture device capturing data when the detachable data capture module is coupled to the housing of the computing device and when the detachable data capture module is decoupled from the housing of the computing device, wherein the wireless transceivers provide communication between the detachable data capture module and the computing device; and

a positioning device for controlling the movement of the detachable data capture module relative to the lid, wherein the positioning device converts the rotation of the lid about its axis to movement of the detachable data capture module relative to the lid when the detachable data capture module is coupled to the housing of the computing device.

16. The computing device as recited in claim 15 wherein the data capture device is a camera.

17. The computing device as recited in claim 15 wherein the data capture device is a microphone.

18. The computing device as recited in claim 15 wherein the housing includes a docking station for receiving the data capture module.

19. The computing device as recited in claim 18 further comprising a second locking mechanism between the docking station and the detachable data capture module, the second locking mechanism enabling the lock and release of the data capture module relative to the housing.

20. The computing device as recited in claim 15 further comprising a display, a memory module, a battery or a transceiver.

21. In a computing device having at least a processor and a housing, the housing including at least a base, a lid that pivots relative to the base, the lid moving between a closed position and an open position, a first wireless transceiver, a locking mechanism arranged to secure the lid to the base when the lid is placed in a closed position, a data capture module that is integrated with the locking mechanism, the data capture module including a second wireless transceiver, and a data capture device, a method comprising:

capturing data by the data capture module when the data capture module is coupled to the housing of the computing device and when the data capture module is decoupled from the housing of the computing device, wherein the wireless transceivers provide communication between the data capture module and the computing device; and

controlling the movement of the data capture module relative to the lid by a positioning device by converting the rotation of the lid about its axis to movement of the data capture module relative to the lid when the data capture module is coupled to the housing of the computing device.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein the data capture device is a camera.

23. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein the data capture device is a microphone.

24. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein the housing includes a docking station for receiving the data capture module.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 further comprising a second locking mechanism between the docking station and the data capture module, the second locking mechanism enabling the lock and release of the data capture module relative to the housing.

26. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising a display, a memory module, a battery or a transceiver.