The present invention relates to a multi-purpose digital camera for home care which can be easily connected to a personal computer through a USB port, for allowing the user to magnify and observe the skin or inside of the ears or the back or neck which is difficult to observe with the naked eye through a computer monitor, without using a high-priced equipment, and perform general image communication.

BACKGROUND ART Fig. 1 is a schematic structure diagram illustrating an image system

for professionals, including a digital camera 101 for magnifying and photographing an image of a human body, and transforming the image into an electric signal, and an image processing device 105 for receiving the electric image signal through a cable, and displaying the signal on a monitor 103. Referring to Fig. 2, the digital camera 101 for the image system is comprised of a cylindrical body unit 121, and a lens cap 151 removably connected to the front side of the body unit 121. The body unit 121 includes an image magnification lens system 125 for magnifying the image, and a CCD sensor 123 for transforming the magnified image into an electric signal. A linear cylinder unit 127 having a magnification conversion lens system 129 for converting a magnification of the pickup image is rotatably installed between the lens cap 151 and the body unit 121.

Accordingly, light reflected by an examination object is all reflected by a total reflection mirror 153 of the lens cap 151, magnified through the magnification conversion lens system 127 and the image magnification lens system 125, and transformed into an electric image signal in the CCD sensor 123. The electric image signal is inputted to a camera control unit through the cable, and displayed on the monitor 103 of the image processing device 105.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate another example of the digital camera,

including a tip unit 230, a connector unit 240 and a hand piece unit 250. A reflection mirror 239 is installed at the end of the tip unit 230. The connector unit 240 includes a connector 247 for connecting the tip unit 230 to the hand piece unit 250, and focus control units 245 and 249 for controlling a focus. Here, a space for a gyrator 245 for controlling the focus is formed in the connector 247, and a ball receiving hole 248 for a ball (not shown) which is a part of the focus control unit is formed at the outer block of the connector 247. Here, a thread is formed at the outer block of the gyrator 245 to correspond to a thread formed in the focus control unit 249. The ball positioned in the ball receiving unit 248 is inserted between a groove of the thread of the gyrator 245 and a groove of the thread of the focus control unit 249. When the focus control unit 249 is rotated in the right/left direction, the ball moves in the ball receiving hole 248 in the forward/backward direction, and the gyrator 245 moves in the connector 247 in the forward/backward direction, to adjust the focus.

The image system for observing the human body is produced for professionals, incorporating the digital camera, the image processing device and the monitor. Therefore, the image system is very expensive, and thus is not suitable for houses, small factories and school laboratories.

Especially, when the user has a wound in his/her mouth, ears, noise, scalp

or skin which is difficult to observe with the naked eye, or on his/her back or neck which is difficult to observe for himself/herself, the user is not able to easily confirm the wound at home. The general digital camera separately includes the magnification conversion lens system and the image magnification lens system. However, an appropriate magnification of lens cap must be connected to the digital camera in order to adjust the magnification of the examination object. Accordingly, the general home user cannot easily use the digital camera.

On the other hand, personal computers have been publicly used at home, so that the home users can perform image communication through the digital camera and internet. The present inventor has suggested a multi-purpose digital camera connected to a USB port of the personal computer. By using the multi-purpose digital camera, the user can perform the image communication as well as magnify and photograph the part which is difficult to observe with the naked eye, and display the image on the monitor of the personal computer.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose digital camera which can be easily connected to a personal computer

through a USB port without using an image processing device and a monitor, for magnifying and photographing a specific part of a human body, displaying the image on a monitor of the personal computer, and performing general image communication.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose digital camera which can be easily used at home, by providing various magnifications for multi-purposes, and allowing the user to easily select a magnification and adjust a focus.

In order to achieve the above-described objects of the invention, there is provided a multi-purpose digital camera for home care, including: a handle unit including a cylindrical main body having a suitable size for a user's hand, a CMOS sensor installed in the vertical direction to the front side of the cylindrical main body, and a main board being installed in the horizontal direction at the inside of the cylindrical main body, and having an image memory, tact switches and a USB port, a circuit for electrically connecting the image memory, the tact switches and the USB port being formed on the main board ; a lens control unit including an inner casing fixed to the end of the cylindrical main body, an outer casing rotatably coupled to the end of the cylindrical main body, for surrounding the inner casing, a lens system inserted into the inner casing and moved in the

forward/backward direction, spiral grooves formed on the inside circumference surface of the outer casing, so that the ends of protruding rods formed on the outer circumference surface of the lens system can be inserted into the grooves, and two guide grooves formed in the inner casing in the length direction, so that the protruding rods can pass through the grooves ; and a lens cap unit including a lens cap coupled to the end of the inner casing and bent at a certain angle, a total reflection lens inclined in the lens cap, light emitting diodes for emitting light due to power supplied through the USB port, and a protecting cap coupled to the end of the bent lens cap.

The inner casing includes: a flange unit in which a plurality of fastening holes and a mounting groove on which the CMOS sensor is mounted are formed ; and a linear unit in which two guide grooves for guiding the protruding rods of the lens system in the length direction, and an installation groove in which a power line for supplying power to the light emitting diodes is installed are formed.

The outer casing includes: a flared tube unit having its diameter gradually increased to surround the flange unit of the inner casing and be rotatably coupled to the end of the cylindrical main body ; and a linear unit positioned on the outer circumference surface of the linear unit of the inner

casing, wherein spiral grooves are formed on the inner circumference surface of the linear unit at a certain depth so that the ends of the protruding rods of the lens system can be inserted into the grooves.

The lens system includes: a cylindrical lens main body for fixing at least one lens; a plurality of spacers formed on the inner circumference surface of the lens main body, for separating the plurality of lenses by a certain distance ; and two protruding rods protruded from both sides of the outer circumference surface of the lens main body.

A plurality of ribs in which fastening holes are formed to fix the flange unit of the inner casing are formed at the front side of the cylindrical main body, a plurality of supporting ribs for supporting the main board are incorporated on the inner circumference surface of the cylindrical main body, and a hooking protrusion for rotatably coupling the outer casing is incorporated at the end of the outer circumference surface of the cylindrical main body.

A ring-shaped coupling ring in which a hooking groove coupled to the hooking protrusion of the inner casing and an inserting protrusion inserted into the ends of the guide grooves are incorporated is installed at the end of the inner casing.

A plurality of inclined groove units are formed in the guide grooves

of the inner casing for minute adjustment.

The USB port is installed on the main board, and connected to a personal computer through a USB cable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic structure diagram illustrating a conventional image system for observing a human body ; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a digital camera for the conventional image system for observing the human body; Fig. 3 is a perspective diagram illustrating another example of the digital camera ; Fig. 4 is a perspective diagram illustrating disassembly of the digital camera of Fig. 3 ; Fig. 5 is a perspective diagram illustrating a multi-purpose digital camera for home care in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective diagram illustrating disassembly of the multi-purpose digital camera of Fig. 5 ; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the inside structure of the multi-purpose digital camera of Fig. 5 ; Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the image magnification

principle of the multi-purpose digital camera in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 9 is a perspective diagram illustrating an inner casing of the multi-purpose digital camera in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating an outer casing of the multi-purpose digital camera in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a cylindrical main body of the multi-purpose digital camera in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 12 is a perspective diagram illustrating an inner casing of the multi-purpose digital camera in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 13 is a perspective diagram illustrating another example of the inner casing in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating one example of a lens system in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 15 is a perspective diagram illustrating a lens cap in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 16 is a perspective diagram illustrating a stand for fixing the multi-purpose digital camera in accordance with the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A multi-purpose digital camera for home care in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 5 is a perspective diagram illustrating the multi-purpose digital camera for home care (hereinafter, referred to as 'multi-purpose digital camera'), Fig. 6 is a perspective diagram illustrating disassembly of the multi-purpose digital camera, and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating assembly of the multi-purpose digital camera.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 7, the multi-purpose digital camera 10 includes a handle unit 30, a lens control unit 50 and a lens cap unit 70. The handle unit 30 includes a cylindrical main body 31 having a suitable size for a user's hand, a CMOS sensor board 42 being installed in the vertical direction to the front side of the cylindrical main body 31, and having a CMOS sensor 43 (or CCD sensor), a main board 45 installed in the horizontal direction at the inside of the cylindrical main body 31, and two switches 35 and 36 installed on the outer circumference surface of the cylindrical main body 31.

Here, the CMOS sensor 43 transforms an image magnified through the lens cap unit 70 and the lens control unit 50 into an electric signal. An

image memory 47 for storing the electric image signal, tact switches 44 and 46 for turning on/off the multi-purpose digital camera or light emitting diodes (LED), and a USB port 49 electrically connected to a personal computer are mounted on the main board 45. A circuit for electrically connecting the image memory 47, the tact switches 44 and 46 and the USB port 49 is also formed on the main board 45. Here, the switches 35 and 36 are installed in the cylindrical main body 31 to contact with the tact switches 44 and 46 of the main board 45. LEDs 34 for externally displaying an operation state of the digital camera are installed on the main board 45.

The lens control unit 50 includes an inner casing 20 fixed to the end of the cylindrical main body 31 of the handle unit 30, an outer casing 60 rotatably coupled to the end of the cylindrical main body 31, for surrounding the inner casing 20, and a lens system 55 inserted into the inner casing 20 and moved in the forward/backward direction according to the rotation of the outer casing 60, for magnifying the pickup image at an appropriate magnification.

The lens cap unit 70 has a lens cap 71 fixed to the end of the inner casing 20 and bent at a right angle, a total reflection lens 73 inclined in the lens cap 71 at a certain angle, a chip type LED board 75 installed at the end of the lens cap 71, and a protecting cap 78 removably installed at the end of

the lens cap 71. In addition, a transparent auxiliary cap 79 sharpened to observe a narrow hole such as the inside of the ear or noise can be further installed at the end of the protecting cap 78.

Accordingly, the multi-purpose digital camera 10 picks up an image through the lens cap unit 70, magnifies the pickup image in the lens control unit 50 at an appropriate ratio, adjusts a focus, transforms the magnified image into an electric signal in the CMOS sensor 43, and transmits the electric signal to the personal computer through a USB cable connected to the USB port 49 of the main board 45. The personal computer drives software to display the image on its monitor. If necessary, the electric image signal is stored in the image memory 47 of the main board 45.

As described above, the multi-purpose digital camera 10 can magnify and photograph the skin or scalp of the human body, or closely photograph the inside of the nose or ears which is difficult to observe with the naked eye, and display the image on the monitor of the personal computer. Moreover, the multi-purpose digital camera 10 can also be used for general image communication. Therefore, the multi-purpose digital camera 10 allows the user to easily select various magnifications. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the multi-purpose digital camera 10 has various magnifications such as x140, x46.9 and x00 according to a ratio of

a distance between an examination object and the lens system 55 to a distance between the lens system 55 and the CMOS sensor 43 (or CCD sensor).

As illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the multi-purpose digital camera 10 includes a lens motion means comprised of the inner casing 20 and the outer casing 60, for moving the lens system 55 in the forward/backward direction. The lens motion means includes two protruding rods 56 protruded from the outside of the lens system 55, two guide grooves 23 formed in the inner casing 20 in the length direction so that the protruding rods 56 can be inserted and slid into the grooves, and spiral grooves 63 formed on the inner circumference surface of the outer casing 60 at a certain depth so that the ends of the protruding rods 56 can be inserted into the grooves 63. Accordingly, when the outer casing 60 surrounding the inner casing 20 is rotated, the spiral grooves 63 formed on the inner circumference surface are rotated to pressurize the inserted protruding rods 56 in the forward/backward direction. In addition, the guide grooves 23 formed in the inner casing 20 restrict a motion direction of the lens system 55, so that the lens system 55 moves merely in the forward/backward direction. The ratio of the distance between the examination object and the lens system to the distance between the lens

system and the CMOS sensor is changed due to the horizontal motion of the lens system 55, to select an appropriate magnification.

As described above, the magnification and focus of the multi-purpose digital camera 10 are determined by rotation of the outer casing 60. Therefore, the outer casing 60 needs to be minutely rotated in a specific position to precisely adjust the focus at a specific magnification.

For example, a number of the spiral grooves 63 formed on the outer casing 60 can be increased, or a plurality of inclined groove units 25 can be installed in the guide grooves 23 as shown in Fig. 13.

The structure of the multi-purpose digital camera 10 will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 11 is a perspective diagram illustrating disassembly of the cylindrical main body 31 of the handle unit 30. A plurality of ribs 37 in which fastening holes for fixing a flange unit 24 of the inner casing 20 and the CMOS sensor board 42 are formed are incorporated at the front side. A plurality of supporting ribs 38 for horizontally installing the main board 45 are formed in the cylindrical main body 31, and a plurality of fixing ribs 39 for preventing separation of the USB cable are incorporated at the rear side of the cylindrical main body 31. A certain length of hooking protrusion 69 is formed at the front side of the outer circumference surface of the

cylindrical main body 31.

Fig. 12 is a perspective diagram illustrating the inner casing 20. A linear unit 22 having two guide grooves 23 for guiding the lens system 55 and an installation groove 76 formed at a certain depth to install a power line 74, and a flange unit 24 having a plurality of fastening holes 28 coupled to the ribs 37 of the cylindrical main body 31 and a mounting groove 26 formed at a certain depth to mount the CMOS sensor 43 are incorporated to form a T shape. Here, the power line 74 supplies power to LEDs 72 formed at the end of the lens cap 71. A through hole 29 which the power line 74 passes through is formed at one side of the flange unit 24.

As depicted in Fig. 12, a coupling ring 80 for closing the guide grooves 23 opened in the forward direction, and coupling the lens cap 71 is installed at the end of the inner casing 20. The coupling ring 80 is formed in a ring shape. A hooking groove 87 coupled to the hooking protrusion 27 of the inner casing 20, an inserting protrusion 83 inserted into the ends of the guide grooves 23, and a plurality of fixing grooves 85 for fixing the lens cap 71 are incorporated in the coupling ring 80.

Fig. 13 is a perspective diagram illustrating another example of the inner casing 20 in accordance with the present invention. A plurality of inclined groove units 25 are formed in the two guide grooves 23 for guiding

the lens system 55. When the inclined groove units 25 are formed in a specific position for minute adjustment, even if the outer casing 60 is rotated at the same angle, the lens system 55 moves in the inclined direction along the inclined groove units 25. As a result, the horizontal motion distance of the lens system 55 decreases to achieve the minute adjustment.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating one example of the lens system 55 in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in Fig. 14, the lens system 55 includes four different shaped lenses 51,52, 53 and 54 and one IR filter 58. The lenses 51,52, 53 and 54 maintain a certain interval by a plurality of spacers 59 formed on the inner circumference surface of the cylindrical lens main body 57. In addition, protruding rods 56 are protruded from both sides of the outer circumference surface of the lens main body 57.

Still referring to Fig. 10, the outer casing 60 includes a flared tube unit 66 having its diameter gradually increased to be rotatably coupled to the end of the cylindrical main body 31, and a linear unit 68 positioned closely to the outer circumference of the inner casing 20. Spiral grooves 63 are formed on the inner circumference surface of the linear unit 68 at a certain depth so that the ends of the protruding rods 56 can be inserted into

the grooves 63. In addition, a ring-shaped hooking groove 67 rotatably coupled to the hooking protrusion 69 formed at the end of the outer circumference surface of the cylindrical main body 31 is formed at the end of the inner circumference surface of the flared tube unit 66. Accordingly, the outer casing 60 can be freely rotated when it is coupled to the end of the cylindrical main body 31.

Fig. 15 is a perspective diagram illustrating the lens cap 71 coupled to the end of the inner casing 20. The elliptical total reflection lens 73 is inclined at about 45° in the cylinder bent at the right angle. The ring-shaped board 75 on which the chip type LEDs 72 are mounted is installed in a short step unit formed at the end of the lens cap 71. The protecting cap 78 including a transparent window is installed at the outside of the board 75. The protecting cap 78 fixes the ring-shaped board 75 and prevents alien substances from being inputted to the lens cap 71. The power line 74 is connected to the ring-shaped board 75.

Accordingly, the examination object is closely photographed or a dark part such as the inside of the ear is photographed by using the light emitted from the LEDs 72. Here, the LEDs 72 of the board 75 are not regularly aligned but inclined toward one side, to improve resolution of the examination object. Therefore, the light emitted from the LEDs 72 is

reflected by the examination object, and the pickup image is totally reflected by the total reflection mirror 73 and transmitted to the lens system 55. Here, the user adjusts the magnification and focus by appropriately rotating the outer casing 60. The CMOS sensor 43 transforms the image into an electric signal, and transmits the electric signal to the personal computer through the USB cable connected to the USB port 49 of the main board 45. The personal computer drives software to display the photographed image on the monitor. The image (still image or motion picture) is stored in the computer or externally transmitted through the internet.

Fig. 16 is a perspective diagram illustrating a camera stand 90 for fixing the multi-purpose digital camera 10 in accordance with the present invention. The camera stand 90 is rotated or fixed to maintain the multi-purpose digital camera 10 at different angles. That is, the camera stand 90 includes a fixing base 93 and a rotating base 95. The rotating base 95 is rotatably connected to the fixing base 93. The multi-purpose digital camera 10 can be fixed at various angles by inserting the handle unit 30 of the multi-purpose digital camera 10 into a stationary unit 96 of the rotating base 95. For example, the multi-purpose digital camera 10 can be fixed in the vertical direction for image communication, and in the horizontal

direction to assemble and repair precise components or observe an experimental sample.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, in accordance with the present invention, the multi-purpose digital camera is easily connected to the personal computer through the USB port, for magnifying and photographing the scalp or skin, or easily observing the inside of the ear or noise, without requiring an expensive equipment.

In addition, the multi-purpose digital camera allows the user to select various magnifications. Thus, the user can magnify and photograph a precise component or experimental sample as well as perform general image communication.

The user can easily select various magnifications and precisely adjust the focus by rotating the outer casing in the right/left direction. That is, the multi-purpose digital camera is easily used by children or housewives.

Moreover, the multi-purpose digital camera is very simplified, low priced, and easily maintained and repaired. As a result, the multi-purpose digital camera can be widely used in houses, small hospitals, small factories producing precise components, or school experimental laboratories.