External lens device and portable eletronic device using same

• US 8,760,569 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industrial Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industrial Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yang, Gang
• Primary Examiner(s): Moe, Aung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSU, AMY R
• Application Number:
  US13/566,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20130107109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

An external lens device mounted in front of an internal camera of a portable electronic device includes an external lens and a positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism includes a fixing element defining an opening and a sliding element fixing the external lens. The fixing element is slidably mounted on the portable electronic device to enable the opening to align with the internal camera. The sliding element is slidably mounted on the fixing element to enable the external lens to align with the opening and the internal camera. A portable electronic device using the external lens device is also described.

Claims

1. An external lens device used for a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device including an internal camera located therein, the external lens device comprising:

an external lens; and

a positioning mechanism, the positioning mechanism comprising;

a fixing element defining an opening, the fixing element slidably mounted on the portable electronic device to enable the opening aligned with the internal camera; and

a sliding element fastening the external lens, the sliding element slidably mounted on the fixing element to enable the external lens aligned with the opening and the internal camera;

wherein the fixing element includes a connection portion, a fixing portion, and a securing portion;

the fixing portion and the securing portion extend from two opposite ends of the connection portion along the same direction and face to each other, thereby the fixing portion, the securing portion, and the connection portion cooperatively defining a first sliding groove to slidably receive an edge portion of the portable electronic device;

the securing portion includes a bottom board, two side walls oppositely protruding from the bottom board;

the bottom board and the two side walls cooperatively define a sliding space;

each side wall extends perpendicularly from the bottom board and then bends towards the sliding space to form a second sliding groove between the bottom board and the side walls;

the second sliding grooves slidably receives two opposite ends of the sliding element.

2. The external lens device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element defines a threaded hole through the sliding element and corresponding to the opening;

the external lens is screwed into the threaded hole;

the sliding element slides relative to the fixing element to enable the external lens to be coaxial with the internal camera through the opening.

3. The external lens device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism further includes a first fastening assembly, the first fastening assembly includes a first screw;

the fixing portion defines a first screw hole through the fixing portion;

the first screw is screwed into the first screw hole to fasten the fixing element on the portable electronic device.

4. The external lens device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first fastening assembly further includes a first rubber washer, the first screw abuts the fixing portion through the first rubber washer.

5. The external lens device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing portion further includes an end wall connecting the two side walls;

the end wall seals an end of each second sliding groove to limit a sliding route of the sliding element in the sliding space.

6. The external lens device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element has two protruding strips each protruding from a position close to one of the ends of the sliding element;

when the sliding element is mounted on the fixing element, the two protruding strips abuts the two side walls.

7. The external lens device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element further defines a second screw hole;

the positioning mechanism further includes a second fastening assembly, the second fastening assembly includes a second screw;

the second screw is screwed into the second screw hole to fasten the sliding element on the fixing element.

8. The external lens device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second fastening assembly further includes a second rubber washer, the second screw abuts the securing portion through the second rubber washer.

9. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a main body;

an internal camera located in the main body; and

an external lens device comprising;

an external lens; and

a positioning mechanism, the positioning mechanism comprising;

a fixing element defining an opening, the fixing element slidably mounted on the main body to enable the opening aligned with the internal camera; and

a sliding element fixing the external lens, the sliding element slidably mounted on the fixing element to enable the external lens aligned with the opening and the internal camera;

wherein the fixing element includes a connection portion, a fixing portion, and a securing portion;

the fixing portion and the securing portion extend from two opposite ends of the connection portion along the same direction and face each other, thereby the fixing portion, the securing portion, and the connection portion cooperatively defining a first sliding groove to slidably receive an edge portion of the main body;

the securing portion includes a bottom board, two side walls oppositely protruding from the bottom board;

the bottom board and the two side walls cooperatively define a sliding space;

each side wall extends perpendicularly from the bottom board and then bends towards the sliding space to form a second sliding groove between the bottom board and the side walls;

the second sliding grooves slidably receives two opposite ends of the sliding element.

10. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sliding element defines a threaded hole through the sliding element and corresponding to the opening;

the external lens is screwed into the threaded hole;

the sliding element slides relative to the fixing element to enable the external lens to be coaxial with the opening.

11. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the positioning mechanism further includes a first fastening assembly, the first fastening assembly includes a first screw;

the fixing portion defines a first screw hole through the fixing portion;

the first screw is screwed into the first screw hole to fasten the fixing element on the main body.

12. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first fastening assembly further includes a first rubber washer, the first screw abuts the fixing portion through the first rubber washer.

13. The external lens device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sliding element further defines a second screw hole;

the positioning mechanism further includes a second fastening assembly, the second fastening assembly includes a second screw;

the second screw is screwed into the second screw hole to fasten the sliding element on the fixing element.

14. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the main body includes a rear housing and a front housing opposite to the rear housing;

the front housing has a display window and buttons;

the internal camera is secured in the rear housing.