Self-aligning multi-part camera system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10142526-B2
Application number	US-201615222898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2016
Priority date	Jul 28, 2016
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

A multi-part electronic device has a mode with at least two overlapped device parts comprising a first camera part mounted on a first device part and a second camera part mounted on a second device part. At least one of the first and second camera parts is resiliently mounted such that contact between the first and second camera parts when the first device part and the second device part are overlapped with each other aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between the camera parts' respective optical axes. A camera part having a body and a flexible mount and a method of reducing tilt error are also described.

First claim

We claim:

1. A multi-part electronic device, comprising:
a first camera part mounted within a surrounding first resilient camera mount on a first device part; and
a second camera part mounted within a surrounding second resilient camera mount on a second device part, the first and second device parts being coupled together by a common hinged joint,
wherein in an open mode of the device, at least one of the first and second camera parts is positioned in a protruded position protruding relative to a surrounding surface, wherein in a closed mode of the device in which the first and second camera parts are rotated towards each other to overlap about the common hinged joint, at least one of the first camera part or the second camera part is adjustably mounted such that contact between the first camera part and the second camera part urges the at least one camera part in the protruded position to withdraw inwardly, aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between respective optical axes and reduces tilt between the first and second camera parts relative to their respective surrounding surfaces.

2. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein in the open mode of the device, the first and second camera parts are each positioned in respective protruded positions protruding relative to respective surrounding surfaces, and wherein contact between the first and second camera parts urges at least one of the camera parts to withdraw inwardly relative to its protruded position.

3. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first resilient camera mount and the second resilient camera mount are each configured to seal a space between the respective first and second camera part and an opening formed in the respective device part for the camera part.

4. The multi-part electronic device of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first resilient camera mount or the second resilient camera mount is configured for adhesive mounting to an inner surface of the respective device part.

5. The multi-part electronic device of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first resilient camera mount or the second resilient camera mount is configured to allow for translation of the respective camera part in lateral directions approximately perpendicular to an optical axis of the respective camera part.

6. The multi-part electronic device of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first resilient camera mount or the second resilient camera mount comprises a fold of material configured to extend or contract laterally to allow for translation of the respective camera part in lateral directions.

7. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second camera parts comprises a protection window, and wherein the contact between the first and second camera parts occurs between the respective protection windows.

8. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pair of first and second magnet members, wherein the first magnet member is positioned on the first device part and the second magnet member is positioned on the second device part, the first and second magnet members being configured to interact with each other to move the at least one of the first and second camera parts laterally and into alignment with the other of the first and second camera parts.

9. The multi-part electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the first magnet member is stationary and the second magnet member is movable, and wherein the magnetic force between the first magnet member and the second magnet member when the first and second device parts are overlapped is sufficient to cause the second magnet member to move relative to the first magnet member.

10. A method of reducing tilt error in a camera of a multi-part electronic device, comprising:
mounting a first camera part to a first device part such that the first camera part s movable in X, Y and Z directions relative to the first device part;
mounting a second camera part to a second device part such that the second camera part is movable in X, Y and Z directions relative to the second device part;
pivoting the first device part and the second device part towards each other about a hinge by which the first and second device parts are coupled together such that the first camera part and the second camera part contact each other; and
urging at least one of the first camera part or the second camera part to move and reduce tilt error based on the contact in a closed position between the first camera part and the second camera part.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein mounting the first camera part to the first device part comprises securing a resilient camera part mount to the first device part.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein mounting the second camera part to the second device part comprises securing a resilient camera part mount to the second device part.

13. A multi-part, electronic device, comprising:
a first camera part mounted on a first device part; and
a second camera part mounted on a second device part, the first and second device parts being coupled together by a common hinged joint, wherein in a closed mode of the device the first and second camera parts are rotated towards each other about the hinge joint to overlap; and
at least one pair of first and second magnet members, wherein the first magnet member is positioned on the first device part and the second magnet member is positioned on the second device part, wherein at least one of the first camera part and the second camera parts is movably mounted relative to the first device part and the second device part, respectively, in the closed mode and the first and second magnet members are configured to magnetically interact with each other in the closed mode to move the at least one movably mounted camera part laterally and into alignment with the other of the first and second camera parts.

14. The multi-part electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the first camera part and the second camera part are aligned within a selected angular deviation between respective optical axes.

15. The multi-part electronic device of claim 13 , wherein in an open mode of the device, at least one of the first and second camera parts is positioned in a protruded position protruding relative to a surrounding surface, and wherein contact between the first and second camera parts in a closed mode urges the at least one of the first and second camera parts to withdraw inwardly relative to its protruded position.

16. The multi-part electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the first camera part comprises a first resilient camera mount attached to the first device part and the second camera part comprises a second resilient camera mount attached to the second device part.

17. The multi-part electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the first resilient camera mount and the second resilient camera mount are each configured to seal a space between the respective first and second camera part and an opening formed in the respective device part for the camera part.

18. The mufti-part electronic device of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first resilient camera mount or the second resilient camera mount is configured for adhesive mounting to an inner surface of the respective device part.

19. The multi-part electronic device of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first resilient camera mount or the second resilient camera mount comprises a fold of material configured to extend or contract lat

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Eromäki Marko
• Konttori Urho
• Tuulos Eero

Classifications

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H04M1/0206

  Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings · CPC title

• H04M1/0264

  for a camera module assembly · CPC title

• G06F1/1615

  with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function (constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206) · CPC title

• G06F1/1609

  to support filters or lenses · CPC title