Camera assembly, electronic apparatus, and mobile terminal

• US 10,698,454 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2018
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corporation Limited
• Inventors: Zeng, Zanjian, Gao, Kai, Zeng, Wuchun, Zhang, Xiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam, Hung G
• Application Number:
  US16/190,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20190163242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/188 Mounting of power supply units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A camera assembly may include a fixed holder; a support means; a guiding rack, arranged on the fixed holder; a guiding gear rotatably arranged on the support means and movably engaged with the guiding rack; a camera module arranged on the support means and configured to move between a first position at which the camera module extends out of the fixed holder and a second position at which the camera module retracts into the fixed holder with movement of the support means; a chain device rotatable relative to the fixed holder; and a power device comprising an output end coupled to the chain device and configured to drive the chain device to rotate, such that the camera module moves between the first position and the second position. An electronic apparatus and a method for controlling a camera assembly of an electronic apparatus are further provided.

Claims

1. A camera assembly, comprising:

a fixed holder;

a support means, configured to move relative to the fixed holder wherein the support means comprises;

a main body, defining a first receiving groove configured to receive the camera module, and

an engaging portion, arranged on the main body and connected to the chain device, such that the engaging portion is driven to move during the rotation of the chain device;

a camera module, arranged on the support means and configured to move between a first position at which the camera module extends out of the fixed holder and a second position at which the camera module retracts into the fixed holder with movement of the support means;

a chain device, coupled to the fixed holder and the support means, and rotatable relative to the fixed holder;

a power device, comprising an output end coupled to the chain device and configured to drive the chain device to rotate, such that the camera module moves between the first position and the second position; and

a guiding gear, rotatably coupled to the engaging portion.

2. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the chain device comprises:

a driving gear, coupled to the output end of the power device;

a follower gear, rotatably connected to the fixed holder; and

a chain, engaged with both the driving gear and the following gear, and connected to the engaging portion.

3. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein the chain extends through the engaging portion along a moving direction of the support means, and the support means is capable of moving along with the rotation of the chain.

4. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein the support means further comprises a connection body received in the engaging portion and connected with the chain, such that the connection body is capable of driving the engaging portion together with the main body to move.

5. The camera assembly of claim 4, wherein a protrusion protrudes from a surface of the connection body that faces towards the chain, and the chain comprises a resisting hole matching with the protrusion;

the protrusion inserts into the resisting hole.

6. The camera assembly of claim 4, wherein the chain extends through the connection body along the moving direction of the support means.

7. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein a second receiving groove or a through hole configured to receive the connection body is defined in the engaging portion.

8. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the fixed holder comprises:

a base plate, substantially parallel to a moving direction of the support means; and

a pair of guiding plates, extending from two opposite sides of the base plate;

wherein the pair of guiding plates are substantially parallel to the moving direction of the support means and substantially perpendicular to the base plate.

9. The camera assembly of claim 8, wherein the base plate or at least one of the pair of the guiding plates is provided with a guiding rack;

the guiding gear is movably engaged with the guiding rack, the guiding gear is rotatably arranged on the support means.

10. The camera assembly of claim 8, wherein a quantity of the engaging portions is two, the engaging portions are arranged opposite to each other and along a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the of the support means;

one of the engaging portions is provided with the guiding gear, and the guiding rack is arranged on one of the pair of the guiding plates that is adjacent to the guiding gear.

11. The camera assembly of claim 10, wherein

the other of the engaging portions is provided with a guiding rail, and a guiding rail is arranged on the other of the pair of the guiding plates that is adjacent to the guiding rail;

the sliding block is slidable along the guiding rail;

or

the other of the engaging portions is provided with a roller, and a guiding slot is defined in the other of the pair of the guiding plates that is adjacent to the roller;

the roller is slidable along the guiding slot and rotatably connected to the other of the engaging portions;

or

a guiding rod extends through the other of the engaging portions and fixedly connected to the fixed holder;

the support means is slidable along the guiding rod.

12. The camera assembly of claim 8, wherein the fixed holder further comprises a first stopping plate and a second stopping plate extending from two opposite sides of the base plate and connected between the pair of guiding plates;

wherein the first stopping plate and the second stopping plate are separately arranged substantially perpendicularly to the moving direction of the support means;

a first opening is defined in the first stopping plate, and the camera module extends out of or retracts into the fixed holder through the first opening;

when the camera module is at the first position, the engaging portion abuts against the first stopping plate.

13. The camera assembly of claim 12, wherein a second opening communicating with the first opening is further defined in the base plate;

the support means protrudes out of the base plate through the second opening.

14. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a housing assembly, comprising a housing;

a screen, embedded in the housing; and

a camera assembly, arranged in the housing and comprising;

a fixed holder;

a support means, configured to move relative to the fixed holder;

a camera module, arranged on the support means and configured to move between a first position at which the camera module extends out of the fixed holder and a second position at which the camera module retracts into the fixed holder with movement of the support means;

a chain device, coupled to the fixed holder and the support means, and rotatable relative to the fixed holder; and

a power device, comprising an output end coupled to the chain device and configured to drive the chain device to rotate, such that the camera module moves between the first position and the second position;

wherein the fixed holder comprises;

a base plate, substantially parallel to a moving direction of the support means; and

a pair of guiding plates, extending from two opposite sides of the base plate;

wherein the pair of guiding plates are substantially parallel to the moving direction of the support means and substantially perpendicular to the base plate.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 14, wherein the housing defines an opening through which the camera module extends out or retract into the housing;

the housing assembly further comprises a dustproof plate connected to the housing and configured to cover the opening when the camera module is at the second position;

the dustproof plate is connected to the housing by a rebound hinge;

when the camera module is at the first position, the dustproof plate is pushed by the support means, when the camera module is at the second position, the dustproof plate is bounced back to cover the opening.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 14, wherein the support means comprises:

a main body, defining a first receiving groove configured to receive the camera module; and

an engaging portion, arranged on the main body and connected to the chain device, such that the engaging portion is driven to move during the rotation of the chain device; and

wherein a guiding gear is rotatably coupled to the engaging portion.

17. The electronic apparatus of claim 16, the support means further comprises a connection body received in the engaging portion and connected with the chain, such that the connection body is capable of driving the engaging portion together with the main body to move;

a protrusion protrudes from a surface of the connection body that faces towards the chain, the chain comprises a resisting hole matching with the protrusion, and the protrusion inserts into the resisting hole;

or the chain extends through the connection body along a moving direction of the support means.

18. The electronic apparatus of claim 16, wherein

a quantity of the engaging portions is two, the engaging portions are arranged opposite to each other and along a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the of the support means;

one of the engaging portions is provided with the guiding gear, and the guiding rack is arranged on one of the pair of the guiding plates that is adjacent to the guiding gear; and

the other of the engaging portions is provided with a guiding rail, and a guiding rail is arranged on the other of the pair of the guiding plates that is adjacent to the guiding rail;

the sliding block is slidable along the guiding rail;

or

the other of the engaging portions is provided with a roller, and a guiding slot is defined in the other of the pair of the guiding plates that is adjacent to the roller;

the roller is slidable along the guiding slot and rotatably connected to the other of the engaging portions;

or

a guiding rod extends through the other of the engaging portions and fixedly connected to the fixed holder;

the support means is slidable along the guiding rod.

19. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a front shell;

a back shell, connected to the front shell;

a screen, embedded in the front shell and covering the back shell;

a fixed holder, fixed on the back shell;

a support means, configured to move relative to the fixed holder and comprising;

a main body, defining a first receiving groove configured to receive the camera module; and

an engaging portion, arranged on the main body;

a camera module, arranged on the support means and configured to move between a first position at which the camera module extends out of the fixed holder and a second position at which the camera module retracts into the fixed holder with movement of the support means;

a chain device, coupled to the fixed holder and the support means, and rotatable relative to the fixed holder;

the chain device comprising a chain the chain extends through the engaging portion along a moving direction of the support means, such that the engaging portion is driven to move during the rotation of the chain;

a power device, comprising an output end coupled to the chain device and configured to drive the chain device to rotate, such that the camera module moves between the first position and the second position; and

a guiding gear, rotatably coupled to the engaging portion.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the fixed holder comprises:

a base plate, substantially parallel to a moving direction of the support means; and

a pair of guiding plates, extending from two opposite sides of the base plate;

wherein the pair of guiding plates are substantially parallel to the moving direction of the support means and substantially perpendicular to the base plate;

a quantity of the engaging portions is two, the engaging portions are arranged opposite to each other and along a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the of the support means;

one of the engaging portions is provided with the guiding gear, and the guiding rack is arranged on one of the pair of the guiding plates that is adjacent to the guiding gear; and

the other of the engaging portions is provided with a guiding rail, and a guiding rail is arranged on the other of the pair of the guiding plates that is adjacent to the guiding rail;

the sliding block is slidable along the guiding rail;

or

the other of the engaging portions is provided with a roller, and a guiding slot is defined in the other of the pair of the guiding plates that is adjacent to the roller;

the roller is slidable along the guiding slot and rotatably connected to the other of the engaging portions;

or

a guiding rod extends through the other of the engaging portions and fixedly connected to the fixed holder;

the support means is slidable along the guiding rod.