DIGITAL CAMERA MODULE FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/668,693, filed April 6, 2005.

Background

1. Field

[0002] The subject matter of this application relates to an arrangement of components that combines the functions of a multi-use electronic device with a digital camera. More specifically, this application describes a digital camera module that is conveniently packaged within an electronic device for sliding motion between a stored position and an operational position.

2. Brief Description of Related Developments

[0003] Mobile telephones and similar communication devices now provide a multitude of services, such as, Internet access, personal information management, facsimile, text messaging, picture, video, radio, in addition to telephone communication. It would be advantageous to provide a digital camera module for use with such multifunction electronic devices.

Summary

[0004] A digital camera module is arranged on a flat panel and includes the basic components of a functional camera. A lens is mounted for scanning a field of view in a direction generally transverse to the plane of the panel. An image sensor is contained within the panel for receiving light

signals captured by the lens and converting such signals to digital image data. The digital image data is processed by a microprocessor controller within the host device for display on a display screen of the host device, transmission over a cellular network, or other purpose. The host device is constructed with means to receive the camera module for sliding motion on the device, the means including a recess, shaped to accommodate a camera lens, in particular a zoom lens .

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] Aspects of the embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device with an embodiment of the camera module extended in the operational position;

[0007] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the electronic device of figure 1 with the camera module in the stored position;

[0008] Figure 3 is a block diagram of an electronic device in which the camera module of this invention may be used;

[0009] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device of figure 1 with cover of the electronic device open; and

[00010] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of this application.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[00011] A multifunctional device 10, for example, a combination PDA cellular telephone incorporating features of the disclosed

embodiments, is illustrated in the figures. Although aspects of the invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the embodiments may have many alternate forms . In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.

[00012] Electronic device 10, may be designed to provide a wide variety of functions including, personal digital assistant, Internet access, cellular telephone, clock, radio, and others. For convenience, the subject invention is discussed herein in the context of a mobile telephone. However, embodiments of the camera module are intended to be packaged with a wide variety of electronic devices .

[00013] Mobile communications device 10 may be constructed having a body 1 with upper and lower surfaces 2 and 3 respectively. Body 1 is constructed to provide an enclosure to house the main components of the device. Such components that are used by a typical multi-function electronic device, including a PDA module 22, are shown in figure 3, and may be used in conjunction with the cameral module 4 of this invention. PDA module 22 is operated in conjunction with software that may be resident in memory 24 and executed by control processor 20. Display 6 provides images for viewing by the user in operative association with display driver 23. Similarly a mobile communication function is provided by mobile telephone module 8 in operative association with controller 20 and the other components of device 10.

[00014] As shown in figure 4, a cover 5 is mounted on the body 1 for sliding motion, as shown by arrow 15, or pivotal movement to expose a function deck 16 on upper surface 2.

Function deck 16 contains display 6 and keypad 7 for use with cellular phone module 8 and such other devices that may relate to the application features offered to the user. Keys 9 for operating the camera module 4 may also be provided as part of the keypad 7.

[00015] Digital camera module 4 is constructed as a flat panel 11 which contains the basic components of a functional digital camera. A lens 12, preferably a zoom lens, is mounted for scanning a field of view in a direction generally transverse to the plane of the panel 11, as shown by arrow 13 in figure 1 and 4. As shown in figure 5, an image sensor 30 is contained within the panel and receives light signals captured by the lens 12. A processor 31 converts such signals to digital image data. The digital image data is sent to microprocessor controller 20, as shown in figure 3, within the host device 10. The image data may be processed for display on display screen 6 through display driver 23, for storage in memory 24, or for transmission over a cellular network via ,mobile telephone 8.

[00016] Flat panel 11 is mounted on the lower surface 3 of body 1 for sliding motion, as shown by arrow 14, in figures 1 and 4. Although the sliding motion is shown as parallel with the longitudinal axis of the device, it may be advantageous in an alternate embodiment to attach the panel 11 for sliding motion transverse to the longitudinal axis . The attachment of flat panel 11 may be accomplished by any suitable interface, such as a slot and rail configuration, that would be molded into the mating surfaces of panel 11 and lower surface 3. In order to accommodate the protrusion of cameral lens 12 from the panel 11, a recess 17 is constructed in the lower surface 3 to accommodate the lens 12. This is especially important where

the camera lens 12 includes a zoom function. In such cases the lens 12 will necessarily extend significantly outward from the plane of flat panel 11. In the closed position, camera panel 11 is therefore nested conveniently on the lower surface 3 of the host device 10 with the lens 12 received in recess 17, as shown in figure 1. In this manner, the thickness of the host device may be streamlined with a minimum thickness in spite of the camera module and the overall contour of the electronic device is not significantly altered by incorporation of the digital camera panel.

[00017] The components of the camera module 4 are electrically connected to the power source and other components of the host device 10 through a mounting interface between panel 11 and lower surface 3 or by other means such as a flexible cable. Control buttons 9 may include camera on/off and zoom functions. In addition, a switch may be used that is sensitive to the position of the panel 12 to automatically provide power to the camera when panel 12 is extended.

[00018] The panel 11 may be spring biased in the extended direction and positioned within the body 1 against the spring bias force. An actuating mechanism connected to the cover 5 may trigger the release of the panel 11 in response to the opening of the cover 5.

[00019] It should be understood that the above description is only illustrative of aspects of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art with out departing from these aspects. Accordingly, the above description is intended to embrace all

such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall with the scope of the appended claims .