Digital Camera Patent AbstractA lens holder (20) used in a digital camera includes a first housing
(21) and a second housing (22) complementary thereto. Each housing
includes a joining edge (203,204) and a plurality of screw threads
(201,202) on an outside surface of the housings. A plurality of
mounting holes (211) and a plurality of mounting pins (221) are
formed on the joining edges of the housings. A plurality of partition
platforms (213,223) is formed inside each housing to define a plurality
of rooms for accommodating and securing a plurality of lenses. Each
partition platform has a semi-circular opening (214,224) therethrough.
In assembly, a plurality of lenses is inserted into the rooms and
secured therein. Then, the second housing is assembled with the
first housing with the locking pins inserting into the mounting
holes of the joining edges. A lens holder used in a digital camera
is thus formed.
Digital Camera Patent ClaimsI claim:
1. A lens assembly for use in a camera, comprising: a lens holder
comprising at least two joined partitions, each partition comprising
at least one joining edge where the partition joins at least one
adjacent partition, the at least two joined partitions cooperatively
defining a cylindrical body of the lens holder, with a plurality
of screw threads being provided on an outside surface of the body;
and a plurality of lenses received in the lens holder; wherein at
least one partition comprises one or more locking protrusions at
the joining edge thereof, an adjacent partition correspondingly
comprises one or more locking receptacles at the joining edge thereof,
the locking protrusions are engagingly received in the locking receptacles
to join the two partitions together, a plurality of partition platforms
are formed inside at least one partition to define at least one
room for accommodating and securing the plurality of lenses, and
an opening is formed through each partition platform.
2. A lens holder for use in a camera, comprising: a first housing
half having a first plurality of partition platforms and a semi-cylindrical
wall, a plurality of lacking pins protruding from the first housing
half, a plurality of screw threads being formed on an outside surface
of the wall of the first housing half; and a second housing half
being complementary to the first housing half, the second housing
half having a second plurality of partition platforms and a semi-cylindrical
wall, a plurality of locking holes being defined in the second housing
half for engagingly receiving the locking pins, a plurality of screw
threads being formed on an outside surface of the wall of the second
housing half; wherein when the first housing half is assembled with
the second housing half to form a complete housing, the partition
platforms of the first housing half and the partition platforms
of the second housing half together define a plurality of rooms
inside said complete housing for receiving a plurality of lenses
and together define openings for passage of light.
3. The lens holder of claim 2, wherein each of the first housing
half and the second housing half comprises a top portion and a bottom
portion, the wall of each of the first housing half and the second
housing half extends between the top and bottom portions, with the
walls of the first housing half and the second housing half defining
a joining edge where the first housing half adjoins the second housing
half.
4. The lens holder of claim 3, wherein the top portion of each
of the first housing half and the second housing half has a semi-circular
opening therethrough, and the bottom portion of each of the first
housing half and the second housing half has a semi-circular opening
therethrough.
5. The lens holder of claim 4, wherein the semi-circular openings
of the top portions of the first housing half and the second housing
half cooperatively form a funnel-shaped opening through a top portion
of said complete housing, and the semi-circular openings of the
bottom portions of the first housing half and the second housing
half cooperatively form a circular opening through a bottom portion
of said complete housing.
6. The lens holder of claim 4, wherein each partition platform
of each of the first housing half and the second housing half has
a semi-circular opening which is aligned with the semi-circular
openings through the top portion and the bottom portion.
7. A lens assembly comprising: a lens holder defining a through
hole along an axial direction thereof; and a plurality of lenses
axially spatially received in said lens holder to guide light passing
through said through hole; said lens holder including at least first
and second parts assembled to each other, said first part defining
at least one partition and defining at least one lateral opening
exposed to an exterior before said second part is assembled to said
first part, a plurality of screw threads being formed on an outside
surface of each of said at least first and second parts to cooperatively
form a set of screw threads of the lens holder; wherein at least
one lens is inserted into a corresponding cavity derived from said
at least one partition from the exterior through said lateral opening
before said second part is assembled to said first part, and successively
said lateral opening and said lens are hidden from the exterior
after said second part is assembled to said first part.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said first part and said second
part are assembled in a lateral direction perpendicular to said
axial direction.
9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said first part and said second
part are dimensioned and configured similar to each other.
10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein a plurality of mounting pins
is formed on one of said at least first and second parts, and another
of said at least first and second parts defines a plurality of mounting
holes engagingly receiving the mounting pins. Digital Camera Patent DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to digital cameras, and
more particularly to a lens holder used in a digital camera.
2. Prior Art
Multifunctional portable personal communication devices, such as
mobile phones with cameras, are very popular in current days, since
they provide users not only with voice communications but also image
communications, or can at least provide the users with picture-taking
functions.
Existing mobile phones with digital cameras are classified into
two types, according to the way the camera is assembled with the
mobile phone. One type is a mobile phone with a build-in camera;
the other is a mobile phone with an externally pluggable camera.
Referring to FIG. 5, a lens holder 10 used in a digital camera built
into a mobile phone (not shown) comprises a housing 11, a plurality
of rubber cushions 13, and a top cover 14. The housing 11 is cylindrical
in shape and is used to receive the plurality of rubber cushions
13 and a plurality of lenseses 12. Each rubber cushion 13 has an
annular shape. In assembly, the plurality of rubber cushions 13
and the plurality of lenseses 12 are arranged in the housing 11
in an alternating fashion. Each two of the plurality of rubber cushions
13 defines a space therebetween for receiving one of the plurality
of lenseses 12, and each rubber cushion 13 has a thickness that
defines a desired distance between the lenses 12 to each of its
sides. Finally, the top cover 14 is assembled with the housing 11
to secure the plurality of lenseses 12 therebetween.
However, during assembly, the plurality of lenses 12 and the plurality
of rubber cushions 13 are alternately tightly fit in turn into the
housing 11 through an opening thereof, which makes the assembly
inconvenient. More seriously, the lenses 12 are prone to be tilt
due to improper manipulation or due to the flexibility of the rubber
cushions 13. As a result, the optical axes of the plurality of lenses
12 may become misaligned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
lens holder for use in a camera, in which the lens holder ensures
that a plurality of lenses received therein will be optically aligned
with each other with more accuracy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lens holder
for use in a camera, in which the lens holder is easier to assemble
and has a lower manufacturing cost.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a lens holder used in a
digital camera comprises a first housing half and a second housing
half complementary thereto. Each housing half comprises a top portion,
a bottom portion, and a semi-cylindrical wall extending therebetween.
Each housing half further comprises a joining edge and a plurality
of screw threads on an outside surface of the wall. A plurality
of mounting holes is defined in the joining edge of the first housing
half, and a plurality of mounting pins protrudes from the joining
edge of the second housing half. A plurality of partition platforms
is formed inside each housing half to define a plurality of rooms
for accommodating and securing a plurality of lenses. Each partition
platform has a semi-circular opening therethrough. In assembly,
the plurality of lenses is inserted into the rooms and secured therein.
Then, the second housing half is assembled with the first housing
half with the locking pins inserting into the mounting holes. A
lens holder for use in a digital camera is thus formed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a lens holder used in
a camera in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention viewed from a first angle;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first housing half of the lens
holder of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second housing half of the lens
holder of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled lens holder of FIG.
1 and a housing of the camera for engaging with the assembled lens
holder; and
FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of a lens holder and a
plurality of lenses of the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a lens holder 20 according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention comprises a first housing half
21 and a second housing half 22. Each of the first housing half
21 and the second housing half 22 has a semi-cylindrical shape.
The first housing half 21 and the second housing half 22 are symmetrical
and complementary to each other. The first housing half 21 engages
with the second housing half 22 to form the lens holder 20, as shown
in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 2, the first housing half 21 comprises a top
portion 205, a bottom portion 207, and a semi-cylindrical wall 216
extending therebetween. Both the top portion 205 and the bottom
portion 207 are semi-circular. The top portion 205 has a semi-circular
opening 212 defined therethrough. The opening 212 and the top portion
205 have the same radial center. The bottom portion 207 also has
a semi-circular opening 214 which is aligned with the opening 212
of the top portion 205. The semi-cylindrical wall 216 has a plurality
of screw threads 201 formed on an outward surface thereof.
The first housing half 21 further comprises a joining edge 203.
A plurality of mounting holes 211 is defined in the joining edge
203. A plurality of partition platforms 213 is formed inside the
first housing half 21 to define a plurality of rooms (not labeled)
for accommodating and securing a plurality of lenses (not shown).
In other words, the plurality of rooms is formed between the top
portion 205, the partition platform 213, and the bottom portion
207. Each partition platform 213 has a semi-circular opening (not
labeled) which is aligned and in communication with the opening
212 of the top portion 205 and the opening 214 of the bottom portion
207. The partition platforms 213 are integrally formed within the
first housing half 21.
Referring to FIG. 3, the second housing half 22 comprises a top
portion 206, a bottom portion 208, and a semi-cylindrical wall 226
extending therebetween. Both the top portion 206 and the bottom
portion 208 are semi-circular. The top portion 206 has a semi-circular
opening 222 defined therethrough. The opening 222 and the top portion
206 have the same radial center. The bottom portion 208 also has
a semi-circular opening 224 which is aligned with the opening 222
of the top portion 206. The semi-cylindrical wall 226 has a plurality
of screw threads 202 formed on an outside surface thereof.
The second housing half 22 further comprises a joining edge 204.
A plurality of mounting pins 221 is formed on the joining edge 204.
A plurality of partition platforms 223 is formed inside the second
housing half 22 to define a plurality of rooms (not labeled) for
accommodating and securing the plurality of lenses (not shown).
In other words, the plurality of rooms is formed between the top
portion 206, the partition platform 223, and the bottom portion
208. Each partition platform 223 has a semi-circular opening (not
labeled) which is aligned and in communication with the opening
222 of the top portion 206 and the opening 224 of the bottom portion
208. The partition platform 223 are integrally formed within the
second housing half 22.
Referring to FIG. 4, in assembly, a plurality of lenses (not shown)
is inserted into the plurality of rooms defined by the plurality
of the partition platforms 213, the top portion 205, and the bottom
portion 207 of the first housing half 21. Then, the second housing
half 22 is assembled with the first housing half 21, with the mounting
pins 221 aligning with the mounting holes 211 in the joining edge
203 of the first housing half. When the mounting pins 221 are inserted
into the mounting holes 211, the lens holder 20 with the lens mounted
therein is thus completely assembled. As a result, a funnel-shaped
opening 209 for passage of incident light, is formed by the opening
212 of the first housing half 21 in cooperation with the opening
222 of the second housing half 22. Likewise, a plurality of circular
openings (not shown) inside the lens holder 20, including an opening
(not shown) through the bottom of the lens holder 20 is formed,
allowing passage of light signals therethrough, when the first housing
half 21 is assembled with the second housing half 22.
Each semi-circular partition platform 213 combines with a corresponding
semi-circular partition platform 223 to form a complete annular
platform (not shown) with a circular opening (not shown) therethrough,
when the first housing half 21 is assembled with the second housing
half 22. The plurality of the annular platforms defines a plurality
of cylindrically-shaped spaces for receiving and securing the plurality
of lenses. The top portions 205 and 206 are assembled with each
other to secure a lens in the lens holder 20. At this time, the
screw threads 201 on the outside surface of the first housing half
21 join with the screw threads 202 on the outside surface of the
second housing half 22 to form a complete set of screw threads 200.
The screw threads 200 are used to mate with inner screw threads
300 formed in a fixture 30 in a mobile phone. The lens holder 20
is thus mounted within the fixture 30.
Compared with other lens holders in the prior art, mounting the
plurality of lenses into the lens holder 20 is easier, since the
lenses can be easily inserted into individual rooms defined by the
plurality of partition platforms 213, the top portion 205, and the
bottom portion 207 of the first housing half 21, and then the second
housing half 22 can be assembled with the first housing half 21.
In addition, the optical axes of the plurality of lenses are reliably
aligned to a greater accuracy than the prior art, since the partition
walls 213, together with the top portion 205, the bottom portion
207 take the place of the conventional rubber cushions to determine
the spacing between each of the plurality of lenses. Moreover, the
top portions 205 and 206 take the place of the top cover 14 in the
prior art, so manufacturing cost is reduced.
Obvious variations of the above preferred embodiment includes,
for example, the lens holder being comprised of three or more sectional
housings, with the partition platforms each being formed inside
one sectional housing.
It is believed that the present invention and its advantages will
be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent
that various changes may be made thereto without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its
material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely
being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention. |