Self-aligning multi-part camera system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10469721-B2
Application number	US-201816188918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2018
Priority date	Jul 28, 2016
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

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 having a mode with at least two overlapped device parts, comprising:
a first camera part mounted within an opening in a first device part, the first camera part comprising a first resilient mount sized to fit around the first camera part to seal a space between the first camera part and a periphery of the opening in the first device part; and
a second camera part mounted within an opening a second device part, the second camera part comprising a second resilient mount sized to fit around the second camera part to seal a space between the second camera part and a periphery of the opening in the second device part,
wherein 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 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 respective optical axes.

2. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second camera parts are positioned at rest 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 first and second camera parts to withdraw inwardly relative to its protruded position.

3. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first resilient mount is configured for adhesive mounting to an inner surface of the first device part.

4. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second resilient mount is configured for adhesive mounting to an inner surface of the second device part.

5. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first resilient mount is configured to allow for at least two-dimensional freedom of motion of the first camera part relative to at least two mutually perpendicular axes.

6. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second resilient mount is configured to allow for at least two-dimensional freedom of motion of the second camera part relative to at least two mutually perpendicular axes.

7. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first resilient mount comprises a fold of material configured to allow for translation of the first camera part in at least lateral directions relative to a periphery of the opening in the first device part.

8. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second resilient mount comprises a fold of material configured to allow for translation of the second camera part in at least lateral directions relative to a periphery of the opening in the second device part.

9. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first resilient mount and the second resilient mount comprises a fold of material having a portion with a V-shaped profile configured to expand and contract with movement relative to a respective one of the first and second device parts.

10. The multi-part electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pair of first and second magnetic members, wherein the first magnetic member is positioned on the first device part and the second magnetic member is positioned on the second device part, the first and second device parts being positionable relative to each other such that a magnetic force is generated between the first and second magnetic members to move at least one of the first and second camera parts laterally and into alignment with the other of the first and second camera parts.

11. The multi-part electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first magnetic member is stationary and the second magnetic member is movable, and wherein the magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member when the first and second device parts are overlapped is sufficient to move the second magnetic member and second camera part relative to the first magnetic member and the first camera part.

12. The multi-part electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first magnetic member is movable and the second magnetic member is stationary, and wherein the magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member when the first and second device parts are overlapped is sufficient to move the first magnetic member and first camera part relative to the second magnetic member and the second camera part.

13. A camera part for an electronic device, comprising:
a body for positioning within a part of a multi-part electronic device, the body having an outer end positionable to extend through an opening in the part and protrude relative to a surrounding outer surface; and
a flexible mount surrounding the body and extending laterally away from the body to movably couple the body to the part of the multi-part electronic device, the flexible mount having at least one magnetic member and being attachable to an inner surface of the part of the multi-part electronic device adjacent the opening, wherein the flexible mount is configured to flex and move in response to a magnetic force on the at least one magnetic member to allow at least two-dimensional movement of the body and the flexible mount relative to the part of the multi-part electronic device and the opening.

14. The camera part of claim 13 , wherein the flexible mount comprises a resilient sheet-like material.

15. The camera part of claim 13 , wherein the flexible mount comprises a fold of resilient material sized to allow the flexible mount to flex and move relative to the part of the multi-part electronic device.

16. The camera part of claim 15 , wherein the fold of resilient material has a V-shaped profile.

17. The camera part of claim 13 , further comprising at least one optical element and at least one image sensor housed in the body and an electrical connection by which the camera part can be connected to an electrical circuit to receive electrical power and control signals to operate the camera part in camera operations.

18. The camera part of claim 13 , wherein the flexible mount is configured to seal around the opening in the multi-part camera device.

19. The camera part of claim 13 , wherein the flexible mount is configured to be adhered to the inner surface of the multi-part camera device.

20. The camera part of claim 13 , wherein the magnetic force is generated between the at least one magnetic member in the flexible mount and at least one other magnetic member in the device.

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

• H04M1/0264

  for a camera module assembly · CPC title

• G06F1/1609

  to support filters or lenses · 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

• H04M1/0206

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