SHUTTER ARRANGMENT FOR COVERING A CAMERA LENS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shutter arrangement for at least partly covering a camera lens. The shutter arrangement is preferably arranged on a mobile phone comprising a camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile phones are generally equipped with at least one camera comprising a camera lens and a shutter arrangement which cover the camera lens. A shutter arrangement is intended to protect the camera lens from disruptive forces which might harm the camera lens. A shutter arrangement is also constructed to protect the camera lens from dust, dirt, and other pollutants which may degenerate the quality of a picture taken or harm the camera lens by e.g. impart scratches to the surface of the camera lens.

The trend of an increasing use of e.g. mobile phones with camera has also led to an increasing demand on the shutter arrangements which can be exposed to a flexible life style, in the sense that the shutter arrangement should be both durable against external forces and preferably less likely to be exposed for external forces in the first place.

Hence there is a constant need for improved shutter arrangements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least some of the above problems, and others, are at least partly solved by the present invention. More specifically are they solved by a shutter arrangement for at least partly covering a camera lens. The shutter arrangement comprises a camera lens cover which is movable in a plane P along a first direction A between a first closed position, in which the camera lens cover substantially covers the camera lens, and a second opened position, in which the camera lens is substantially uncovered from the camera lens cover. The shutter arrangement further comprises a second movable cover which is movable between a first position, in which the second movable cover substantially intersects the plane and the first direction A, to a second position, in which the second movable cover is substantially displaced from the plane and the first direction A. The present invention provides for a

shutter arrangement which significantly reduces the risk of items, e.g. clothes, getting caught in the shutter arrangement which could cause harm to the shutter arrangement or the camera lens. It also provides for a shutter arrangement which will make a housing discrete and slim, since no parts from the shutter arrangements will protrude out from the plane of the shutter arrangement.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the shutter arrangement is connected with a bias mechanism to bias the second movable cover towards the first position of the second movable cover. A bias mechanism will easy the handling of the shutter arrangement, while at the same time, relatively securely temporarily hold the camera lens cover in the second position during use of the camera. A bias mechanism according to the present invention may comprise spring means, such as a helical spring, a bias rod, such as a flexible rod, or a compressible foam material, such as polymeric foam, or the like. Of course combinations of the above mentioned bias mechanism are also possible.

Optionally, the shutter arrangement may further comprise a lock mechanism to lock said second movable cover in its first position. A release mechanism may further be arranged to the lock mechanism, so that when the camera lens cover is moved towards its second position, the lock mechanism, which is arranged in working cooperation with the second movable cover, is disabled. The release mechanism may comprise a trigger rod which at least partly intersects the first direction A. The just mentioned solution unlocks the lock mechanism only when the camera lens cover is moved to its second position.

The shutter arrangement may also comprise a cover chamber into which said second movable cover is moved when displaced from the plane P and the first direction A. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second movable cover is displaced along a second direction B, preferably, the second direction B is in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction A. This permits a simple and practical construction of the cover chamber. In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the second movable cover may further comprise an outer surface and the camera lens cover comprise an outer surface, when the second movable cover and the camera lens cover are in their first positions, the outer surfaces of the second movable cover and the camera lens cover are substantially aligned.

The present invention also includes an electronic device comprising a shutter arrangement according to the present invention. Such an electronic device may be a portable electronic device, e.g. a portable communication device such as a mobile phone.

The shutter arrangement may be an integrated part of such electronic device or as an electronic device, e.g. a camera, connectable to a second electronic device such as a computer, a mobile phone, a sound device or the like. Such connection may be in the form of cords, wire less connection such as a short range protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, alternatively internet or the like.

Such an electronic device preferably comprises a housing with an outer surface. When the second movable cover and the camera lens cover are in their first positions, the outer surfaces of the second movable cover and the camera lens cover are substantially aligned with the outer surface of the mentioned housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Different embodiments of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying figures in which;

Figure 1 shows a cross section of a mobile phone comprising a shutter arrangement, according to the present invention, when the camera lens cover is in the first position.

Figure 2 shows the embodiment from figure 1 , when the camera lens cover is in the second position.

Figure 3-4 shows the release mechanism and the bias mechanism comprising a lock mechanism in greater detail. Figure 5-6 shows the support frame in greater detail.

Figure 7 shows an alternative release, lock and bias mechanism according to the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a shutter arrangement in perspective.

Figure 9-18 shows different views of the embodiment shown in figure 1-6 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning to figure 1 , figure 1 shows a cross section of a part of a camera housing 10 comprising a camera lens opening 11. Inside the camera housing 10 is at least a part of a camera arranged (not shown) so that the lens of the camera is arranged at the camera lens opening 11. The camera housing 10 may be arranged in an electronic device, preferably in a portable electronic device such as a communication device e.g. a telephone, preferably a mobile phone, a sound device such as a music-player, e.g. an MP3-player, CD-player or DVD-player. It may further be a separate camera which may be attachable to e.g. a communication device such as a telephone, e.g. directly, via cords or via a short range communication protocol such as Bluetooth. It may further be arranged on a computer or on a computer accessory or the like. Preferably the camera housing is arranged in a communication device, preferably a mobile phone.

The camera housing 10 is, in the shown embodiment of the present invention, arranged in a mobile phone 12 comprising a phone housing 13. The phone housing 13 comprises an outer surface 14 and an inner surface 15. The phone housing 13 extends along a plane P.

A shutter arrangement 20 is arranged to at least partly cover the camera lens opening 1 1. The shutter arrangement comprises a camera lens cover 21 comprising an inner and an outer side 22, 23 while exhibiting a longitudinal extension 24 and a transverse extension 25. The camera lens cover 21 can be moved in the plane P between a first and a second position. As shown in figure 1 , when the camera lens cover 21 is positioned to cover the camera lens opening 11 , the camera lens cover 21 is in the first position. The camera lens cover 21 is further aligned with the plane P of the phone housing 13, so that the outer surface 23 of the camera lens cover 21 is substantially aligned, preferably aligned, with the outer surface 14 of the phone housing 13, preferably they coincide. The present invention provides for e.g. a phone housing 13 which do not have a shutter arrangement with a protruding lens cover which might get caught in clothes or similar, further, the shutter arrangement is much less likely to be accidentally opened or to be subjected to external disruptive forces which could damage the shutter arrangement or the camera lens.

As mentioned, the camera lens cover 21 can be moved to the second position, in which the camera lens cover 21 substantially does not cover the camera lens opening 11. When the camera lens cover 21 is in the second position, the camera is ready for use, i.e. to take pictures. The camera lens cover 21 is moved along the plane P and the first direction A, between the first and the second position. In the shown embodiment, the first direction A is substantially parallel with the longitudinal extension 24 of the camera lens cover 21 , in other embodiments of the present invention, the first direction A may be substantially parallel with the transverse extension 25 of the camera lens cover 21. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first direction A is substantially parallel with a direction between the longitudinal and transverse extension 24, 25 of the camera lens cover 21 , such as a diagonal direction.

The shutter arrangement 20 further comprises a second movable cover 30 arranged substantially aligned, preferably aligned, with the plane P of the phone housing 13 and arranged to intersect the first direction A. The second movable cover 30 comprises an inner and an outer surface 31 , 32, a longitudinal extension and a transverse extension 33, 34 and is substantially displaced from the camera lens opening 1 1. The second movable cover 30 is arranged substantially above a cover chamber 35. The purpose of the cover chamber 35 is to provide for a temporarily storage compartment to the second movable cover 30, when the camera lens cover 21 is in its second position. This provides for a phone housing 13 from which no protruding parts of the shutter arrangement 20 extends out beyond the outer surface 14 of the phone housing 13. When the second movable cover 30 is moved to from its first position, in which the second movable cover 30 is substantially aligned with the plane P of the phone housing 13 and intersecting with the first direction A, to the second position, the second movable cover 30 is displaced from the first direction A, so as to permit the camera lens cover 21 to run along the first direction A. The second movable cover 30 is moved down into the cover chamber 35 along a second direction B when displaced from the first direction A. By displacing the second movable cover 30 down into the cover chamber 31 (as shown in figure 2), the shutter arrangement 20 is kept from protruding out from the plane P and the outer surface 14 of the phone housing 13.

Hence, while the camera lens cover 21 is arranged to be moved along the plane P and the first direction A, the second movable cover 30 is arranged to be moved between a first and a second position along a second direction B. The second direction B is substantially

perpendicular, preferably perpendicular, to the first direction A. Although, as will be clear when reading the following description of the present invention, the second direction B does not need to be perpendicular, but can alternatively be in a direction with an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction A.

The second movable cover 30 is connected to a biasing mechanism 40. The purpose of the biasing mechanism 40 is to bias the second movable cover 30 towards the first position of the second movable cover 30. In the shown embodiment of the present invention, a part of the biasing mechanism 40 is also arranged to prevent the second movable cover 30 from movement in the second direction B, until the camera lens cover 21 is moved along the first direction A. In that sense, the biasing mechanism can also function as lock mechanism. This mechanism will be described in greater detail with reference to figure 3 and 4.

Further in figure 1 , the second movable cover 30 may be equipped with an angled flange 16 extending from the edge 17 arranged adjacent the camera lens cover 21. The angled flange 16 extends from the outer surface 32 of the second movable cover 30 down towards the inner surface 31 of the second movable cover 30, so that the camera lens cover 21 will automatically force down the second movable cover 30, when moved along the first direction A. Although in this embodiment the second movable cover 20 is arranged with an angled surface, the camera lens cover 21 might be equipped with an angled surface appropriate for the same purpose.

Turning to figure 2, figure 2 shows the same embodiment as in figure 1. However, the camera lens cover 21 is moved to the second position, i.e. so that the lens opening 1 1 of the camera housing 10 is exposed and the camera device (not shown) is ready for photographing. The second movable cover 30 is also in the second position, inside the cover chamber 35, i.e. it has been displaced by means of the camera lens cover 21. While the second movable cover 30 is in the second position, as shown in figure 2, the camera lens cover 21 is still aligned with the plane P. More specifically, the outer surface 14 of the phone housing 13 is still aligned with the outer surface 23 of the second movable cover 30. The biasing mechanism 40 bias the second movable cover 30 towards its first position. The biasing force imparts a force to the camera lens cover 21 and thereby helps the camera lens cover 21 to remain in its second position until the user retracts the camera lens cover 21 to its first position, so as to cover the lens opening 1 1 of the camera

housing 10. When the camera lens cover 21 is retracted, the second movable cover 30 is automatically returned to its first position by means of the bias mechanis.

As mentioned, the second movable cover 30 may be displaced by means of the camera lens cover 21 , as will be described with reference to figure 3 and 4. However, in an embodiment of the present invention, the second movable cover 30 can only be moved to the second position by means of imparting a force in the direction of the second direction B to the outer surface of the second movable cover 30. In this embodiment, the second movable cover 30 functions as a locking mechanism in the sense that the camera lens cover 21 can not be moved along the first direction A until the second movable cover 30 is moved along the second direction B and at least partly into the cover chamber 35. This embodiment is preferably not provided with an angled flange 16 as described earlier.

In figure 3 the bias mechanism 40 of the embodiment shown in figure 1 and 2 will be described in greater detail. Figure 3 shows a part of the camera lens cover 21 and the second movable cover 30, both being in their first position. A part of the camera housing 10 and the lens opening 1 1 is also visible. As can be seen, the second movable cover 30 comprises a supporting ridge 36 extending along the longitudinal extension 33, and in this embodiment of the present invention, along at least one of the longitudinal edges 37 of the second movable cover 30. The ridge 36 extends in the second direction B, substantially perpendicular to the plane P out from the inner surface 31 of the second movable cover 30. The ridge 36 of the second movable cover 30 comprises a first and a second attachment point 41 , 42 at which the bias mechanism 40 is attached to the ridge 36 and the second movable cover 30. The first and second attachment points 41 , 42 each comprises a pivot axis which extends through the ridge 36 as will be described in greater detail with reference to figure 5 and 6.

The bias mechanism 40 comprises a first and a second rod 43, 44 respectively extending from the first and the second attachment point 41 , 42 along the second direction B. The first and the second rod 43, 44 each comprise a first and a second end 43a, 43b, 44a, 44b. Each first end 43a, 44a of the first and second rod 43, 44 is attached to the first and the second attachment point 41 , 42. A horizontal connecting rod 45 pivotally connects the second ends 43b, 44b of the first and second rod 43, 44 at a third and a fourth attachment point 46, 47. From the third and the fourth attachment points 46, 47 are a third and a fourth rod 48, 49 pivotally attached, which extend along the second direction B. The third

and the fourth rod 48, 49 each comprise a first and a second end 48a, 48b, 49a, 49b. The first ends 48a, 49a of the third and the fourth rods 48, 49 are attached to the third and the fourth attachment points 46, 47. The second ends 48b, 49b are pivotally fixed to a support frame 50 at a fifth and a sixth attachment point 51 , 52. The support frame 50 could 5 comprise a part of the phone housing 13 or any other fixed part which would be suitable for the purpose of fixing the bias mechanism 40. Preferably at least two such supports frames are present so as to provide stability to the second movable cover 30. By the term "pivotally fixed" is meant that the third and fourth rod 48, 49 can pivot around these points but the fifth and the sixth attachment points 51 , 52 can not move e.g. along the first 10 direction A or the second direction B.

A first and a second bias rod 53, 54, respectively, extends between the first attachment points 41 , 42 and the first ends 43a, 44a of the first and the second rod 43, 44, to the fifth and the sixth attachment points 51 , 52 and the second ends 48b, 49b of the third and the

15 fourth rods 48, 49. The first and the second bias rod 53, 54 can be made of spring steel, or other flexible material such as a polymeric composition, e.g. a termo plastic material. Hence, the first bias rod 51 bias the first attachment point 41 away from the fifth attachment point 51 , and the second bias rod 52 bias the second attachment point 42 away from the sixth attachment point 52. By making the first and the second bias rod 51 ,

20 52 slightly longer than the distance between the first and the fifth attachment points 41 , 51 and the second and the sixth attachment points 42, 52, a bias force is imparted to the second movable cover 30. The just mentioned bias force will bias the second movable cover 30 towards alignment with the plane P and the phone housing 13.

25 The arrangement will, when the second movable cover 30 is in its first position, substantially prevent the second movable cover 30 from displacement along the direction B, when the second movable cover 30 is subjected to a force along the second direction B on the outer surface 32 of the second movable cover 30. A force imparted on the outer surface 32 of the second movable cover 30 will only impart a counterforce running along

30 the first, second, third and fourth rod 43, 44, 48, 49 from the fifth and the sixth attachment points 51 , 52, for as long as the first, second, third and fourth rod 43, 44, 48, 49 are kept substantially aligned. As soon as a minor force is imparted to the horizontal connection rod 45, an angle will be created between the first and the third rod 43, 48 and the second and the fourth rod 44, 49. Any force imparted to the second moveable cover 30 will at this

stage no longer be met by a counterforce as described above, hence the second movable cover 30 can easily be moved down into the cover chamber 35.

In the embodiment of the present invention, means to impart a force on the horizontal connection rod 45 comprises a release mechanism 60. The release mechanism 60 may comprise two pivotally joined rods, an extension rod 61 and a trigger rod 62. The extension rod 61 extends out from the centre of the horizontal connecting rod 45, i.e. between the third and fourth attachment points 46, 47 which, in the shown embodiment of the present invention, are arranged at the ends of the horizontal connecting rod 45. From this point, the extension rod 61 extend in a direction up towards the second movable cover 30, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the horizontal connecting rod 45, to thereafter turn in a substantially right-angled direction, to a direction substantially parallel with the horizontal connecting rod 45. The extension rod 61 thereafter extends a short distance past the horizontal connecting rod 45 to thereafter divert from the substantially parallel direction, away from the second movable cover 30, down to be aligned with the plane of the fifth and sixth attachment point 51 , 52, at which the trigger rod 62 is joined to the extension rod 61 in an extension and trigger rod attachment point 63.

The trigger rod 62 is a straight rod, comprising a first and a second end 62a, 62b. The extension and trigger rod attachment point 63 is arranged in the near proximity of the second end 62b of the trigger rod 62. The trigger rod 62 is pivotally attached to the support frame 50 at a leverage point 64, which is arranged closer to the first end 62a than the second end 62b of the trigger rod 62. The first end 62a forms a protruding section 65 and protrudes up to intersect the camera lens cover 21 and the first direction A.

The cooperative function of the bias mechanism 40 and the release mechanism 60 will hereby be described with references to figure 4. As the camera lens cover 21 is moved along the first direction A, the protruding section 65 of the trigger rod 62 is displaced by the edge of the camera lens cover 21. As the protruding section 65 of the trigger rod 62 is displaced, the leverage point 64 (not shown in figure 4) provides leverage to the extension rod 61 via the extension and trigger rod attachment point 63, moving the horizontal connecting rod 45 substantially in a direction along the first direction A but towards the camera housing 10, so that the aligned first, second, third and fourth rod 43, 44, 48, 49 are imparted with a force, just enough to tilt the first and the third rod 43, 48 and the second and the fourth rod 44, 49 with respect to each other. The second movable cover

30 is then forced down into the cover chamber 35 by means of the camera lens cover 21 as the camera lens cover 21 is moved along the first direction A.

In figure 5, the support frame 50 is shown in greater detail but without the partly shown phone housing 13. As can be seen, the camera lens cover 21 and the second movable cover 30 are in their first position, as shown in figure 1. The support frame 50 comprises a first and a second transverse end 55, 56 and a first and a second longitudinal end 57, 58. The support frame 50 may be attached to the inside of the phone housing 13 e.g. along the second longitudinal end 58, or any other place were appropriate attachment can be achieved. As mentioned before, the support frame 50 may exhibit other forms than the one described in this embodiment of the present invention.

Further in figure 5, the leverage point 64 is attached to the support frame 50 in the proximity of the intersection between the first longitudinal end 57 and the second transverse end 56, with a through going axis. The fifth and the sixth attachment points 51 , 52 are attached along the second longitudinal end 58 of the support frame 50, respectively by means of a through going axis.

The support frame 50 further comprises guiding means 70 in the form of a first and a second guiding channel 71 , 72. Each first and second guiding channel 71 , 72 respectively comprise a first and a second end 71a, 71 b, 72a, 72b and extends longitudinally and parallel with the second direction B. The guiding means 70 guide the second movable cover 30 along the second direction B, or more specifically, prevents the second movable cover 30 from moving in any other direction than the second direction B. The first and the second attachment points 41 , 42 each comprises a through going axis which run in the first and second guiding channel 71 , 72 so as to permit the second movable cover 30 to be positioned between the first and the second position.

Turning to figure 6, as the second movable cover 30 is moved down into the cover chamber 35, the through going axis of the first and the second attachment points 41 , 42 runs in the guiding channels 71 , 72, as can be seen near the second ends 71 b, 72b of the first and the second guiding channels 71 , 72. Further in figure 6, the extension and trigger rod attachment point 63 can be seen protrude past the second transverse end 56 of the support frame 50, as the release mechanism 60 (as shown in figure 3) has disabled the

lock mechanism of the bias mechanism 40 so as to permit the second movable cover 30 to move down into the cover chamber 35.

As described above, the shutter arrangement 20 may comprise a bias mechanism to bias the second movable cover 30 towards the first position. The shutter arrangement 20 may also be provided with a release mechanism which deactivates a lock mechanism to the second moveable cover 30, the lock mechanism main purpose being to prevent the second moveable cover 30 from movement along a second direction B. An example of such a mechanism has been described above.

It is well within the boundaries of the present invention that the bias mechanism can be in the form of a spring device, e.g. at least one spring, preferably at least two springs, which bias the second movable cover 30 towards its first position. As alternative, the bias mechanism can be in the form of polymeric foam, such as open or closed cell polymeric foam, e.g. polyurethane foam. Polymeric foam with appropriate thickness would provide for the appropriate bias means.

For the sake of clarity when referring to figure 7, items that are substantially identical are referred to with the same reference numbers as to the earlier figures. In figure 7 is an alternative bias mechanism 100 shown in the form of closed cell polymeric foam 101. Polymeric foam according to the present invention should have a recovery property in the sense that it will recover its original dimensions after being subjected to pressure. These polymeric foams are conventional and will not be described in greater detail. The polymeric foam 101 comprises a first and a second transverse end 102, 103 each representing a surface with a cross section. The polymeric foam 101 further comprises a first and a second longitudinal side 104, 105. The first transverse end 102 is arranged to the inner surface 31 of the second movable cover 30, and the second transverse end 103 is attached to e.g. the inside of the phone housing (not shown), so as to bias the second movable cover 30 towards its first position.

Further in figure 7 is a release mechanism 110 arranged in working cooperation with the camera lens cover 21 as described earlier with the means of a protruding section 65 the release mechanism 110 comprises a trigger rod 1 11 and an alternative extension rod 1 12 connected to a locking rod 113 via a locking rod pivot axis 114. The trigger rod 11 1 is attached to a part of a support frame 120 via a leverage point 64, just as in earlier

embodiments, and connected to the alternative extension rod 1 12 via an extension and trigger rod attachment point 63.

The locking rod 1 13 is however in this embodiment of the present invention pivotally fixed to the support frame 120 at a locking rod attachment point 1 15. The locking rod attachment point 1 15 runs freely in a guiding channel 116 arranged in the ridge 36 of the second movable cover 30.

For all the above mentioned embodiments of the present invention, during use, a user can manually bias the camera lens cover with his/hers hand. The bias force imparted to a release mechanism will thereafter impart leverage to a locking mechanism which may, or may not form a part of a bias mechanism. When the locking mechanism is disabled, the second movable cover is free to move down into a cover chamber so that the camera lens cover may run uninterrupted along a first direction A, between its first (closed) position and its second (opened) position.

In figure 1-7 is a cross section shown, the shutter arrangement, according to the present invention, may however comprise a symmetrical second bias, release and lock mechanism as is illustrated in figure 9.

Figure 9 shows a camera lens cover 21 and a second movable cover 30 connected to a first and a second support cover 50. Each support cover 50 respectively comprise a release, lock and bias mechanisms as described in the text to figures 1-6.