IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE WITH PROTECTION FOR A LENS MODULE AND A DISPLAY SCREEN THEREOF

• US 20110019080A1
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Asia Optical International Limited (Asia Optical Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Asia Optical International Limited (Asia Optical Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: LIN, HSIN-YUN
• Application Number:
  US12/566,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20110019080A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/376
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

An image capturing device includes a first device body and a second device body. The first device body includes a first front surface, a first rear surface, and a lens module disposed at the first front surface. The second device body is disposed rotatably in front of the first device body, and includes a second front surface, a second rear surface, and a display screen disposed at the second rear surface. The second device body is rotatable relative to the first device body between a deactivated state and an activated state. The display screen and the lens module are covered by the first front surface and the second rear surface respectively when the second device body is in the deactivated state, and are uncovered by the first front surface and the second rear surface respectively when the second device body is in the activated state.

Claims

1. An image capturing device comprising:

a first device body including a first front surface, a first rear surface disposed opposite to said first front surface, and a lens module disposed at said first front surface; and

a second device body that is disposed rotatably in front of said first device body, and that includes a second front surface, a second rear surface disposed opposite to said second front surface, and a display screen disposed at said second rear surface, said second device body being rotatable relative to said first device body between a deactivated state and an activated state, said display screen and said lens module being covered by said first front surface and said second rear surface respectively when said second device body is in the deactivated state, and being uncovered by said first front surface and said second rear surface respectively when said second device body is in the activated state.

2. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an image sensor that is disposed in said first device body for receiving an image via said lens module, and a control unit electrically connected to said display screen and said image sensor, said control unit receiving and processing a signal from said image sensor and then outputting a processed signal to said display screen.

3. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a pivoting unit, said pivoting unit including

a hole portion that is provided in said first front surface,

an axle that is disposed on said second rear surface, and that extends rotatably into said hole portion, and

a connecting component that interconnects said first device body and said axle along a direction of extension of said axle.

4. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a limiting unit, said limiting unit including

a stop pin that extends from said first front surface toward said second device body, and

a surrounding wall that is disposed on said second device body and that defines a curved groove, said curved groove being formed in said second rear surface and allowing said stop pin to move therein, said surrounding wall having two stop faces adjacent to two opposite ends of said curved groove for blocking movement of said stop pin.

5. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said curved groove in said second device body allows said stop pin on said first device body to rotate relative to said second device body within a 180-degree range.

6. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an operating key set that is electrically connected to said control unit and that includes a record button disposed on said first rear surface.

7. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said operating key set further includes zoom-in and zoom-out keys that are disposed on said first rear surface.