Back panel for a portable electronic device with different camera lens options

• US 8,638,369 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tsai, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ustaris, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): NAWAZ, TALHA M
• Application Number:
  US12/964,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20120147193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 348 61-164
• US Class Current: 348/164
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a digital imaging subsystem with a lens having an optical axis. A case encloses and supports the digital imaging subsystem in a first defined positional relationship to the case. A removable panel is coupled to the case and held in a second defined positional relationship to the case that covers the digital imaging subsystem without the removable panel being directly connected to the digital imaging subsystem. An optical component is supported by the removable panel such that the optical component is aligned with the optical axis and alters optical characteristics of the digital imaging subsystem. The device may include a power supply and an electronic control system coupled to the digital imaging subsystem and the power supply enclosed in and supported by the case. Electrical connectors may couple the power supply and the electronic control system to an electrical component on the removable panel.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a digital imaging subsystem that includes a lens having an optical axis;

a case that encloses and supports the digital imaging subsystem in a defined positional relationship to the case;

a removable panel coupled to the case, the removable panel covering the digital imaging subsystem without the removable panel being directly connected to the digital imaging subsystem, the removable panel being removable and rotatable to be held by the case in one of a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the case; and

an optical component supported by the removable panel such that the optical component is aligned with the optical axis and alters optical characteristics of the digital imaging subsystem when the removable panel is held in the first orientation, and the optical component is removed from the optical axis and does not alter optical characteristics of the digital imaging subsystem when the removable panel is held in the second orientation.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein an optical component is supported by the removable panel such that the optical component is aligned with the optical axis when the removable panel is held by the case in one of the first orientation and the second orientation relative to the case.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the optical component is a close up lens that reduces the minimum focal distance of the digital imaging subsystem.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the optical component is a lens baffle that reduces the transmission of light that is outside a field of view of the digital imaging subsystem.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 2, further comprising:

a power supply;

an electronic control system coupled to the digital imaging subsystem and the power supply;

a first electrical connector coupled to the power supply and the electronic control system;

wherein the power supply, the electronic control system, and the electrical connector are enclosed in and supported by the case; and

wherein the removable panel includes

a second electrical connector that is coupled to the first electrical connector when the removable panel is coupled to the case, and

an electrical component that is coupled to the second electrical connector.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the optical component is an optical image stabilizer and the electrical component is an interface that couples the optical image stabilizer to control signals from a motion sensor and the electronic control system, and power from the power supply.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the optical component is an optical zoom assembly that adjusts the focal length of the digital imaging subsystem and the electrical component is an interface that couples the optical zoom assembly to control signals from the electronic control system and power from the power supply.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the optical component is a mechanical shutter that controls admission of light to the digital imaging subsystem and the electrical component is an interface that couples the mechanical shutter to control signals from the electronic control system and power from the power supply.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 5, further comprising a stroboscopic flash supported by the removable panel, wherein the electrical component is an interface that couples the stroboscopic flash to control signals from the electronic control system and power from the power supply.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the digital imaging subsystem does not include an infrared cut filter and the optical component supported by the removable panel comprises an infrared cut filter supported by the removable panel, the infrared cut filter preventing infrared light from reaching the digital imaging subsystem only when the infrared cut filter is aligned with the optical axis.

11. A portable electronic device comprising:

a first means for acquiring a digital image that includes a lens having an optical axis;

a second means for enclosing and supporting the first means in a defined position;

a third means for removably covering the first means, the third means being removable and rotatable to be held in one of a first orientation and a second orientation by the second means without the third means being directly connected to the first means; and

a fourth means for altering optical characteristics of the first means, the fourth means supported by the third means such that the fourth means is aligned with the optical axis in the first orientation and not in the second orientation.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the fourth means is supported by the third means such that the fourth means is aligned with the optical axis when the third means is held in only one of the first orientation and the second orientation.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the fourth means is for reducing the minimum focal distance of the digital imaging subsystem.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the fourth means is for reducing the transmission of light that is outside a field of view of the digital imaging subsystem.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

a fifth means for supplying power;

a sixth means for providing electronic control signals to the first means;

a seventh means for coupling the fifth means and the sixth means to the third means.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the fourth means is for optically stabilizing an image formed in the first means, the fourth means coupled to the seventh means to receive control signals from a ninth means for sensing motion and the sixth means, and power from the fifth means.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the fourth means is for adjusting the focal length of the first means, the fourth means coupled to the seventh means to receive control signals from the sixth means and power from the fifth means.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the fourth means is for controlling admission of light to the first means, the fourth means coupled to the seventh means to receive control signals from the sixth means and power from the fifth means.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 15, further comprising an eighth means for momentarily illuminating a subject, the eighth means supported by the third means, the eighth means coupled to the seventh means to receive control signals from the sixth means and power from the fifth means.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first means does not include a means for reducing the transmission of infrared (IR) light to the first means and the fourth means comprises means for reducing the transmission of infrared (IR) light to the first means only when the fourth means is aligned with the optical axis.

20. A method of assembling a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

providing a case;

assembling a digital imaging subsystem to the case in a defined positional relationship to the case, the digital imaging subsystem including a lens having an optical axis; and

removing, rotating, and coupling a removable panel to the case to cover the digital imaging subsystem without the removable panel being directly connected to the digital imaging subsystem, the removable panel being coupled to the case in one of a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the case, the removable panel including an optical component supported by the removable panel such that the optical component is aligned with the optical axis and alters optical characteristics of the digital imaging subsystem when the removable panel is in the first orientation, and the optical component is removed from the optical axis when the removable panel is in the second orientation.

21. The method of assembling a portable electronic device of claim 20, the method further comprising:

assembling a power supply to the case;

assembling an electronic control system to the case;

coupling the electronic control system to the digital imaging subsystem and the power supply;

assembling a first electrical connector to the case;

coupling the first electrical connector to the power supply and the electronic control system;

assembling a second electrical connector to the removable panel;

assembling an electrical component to the removable panel;

coupling the second electrical connector to the first electrical connector by coupling the removable panel to the case.