Television – Camera – system and detail – Optics
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-22
2004-08-31
Christensen, Andrew (Department: 2615)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Optics
C359S705000, C359S706000, C359S825000, C396S082000, C396S133000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06784937
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera, especially to a lens assembly of the digital camera, which has a non-step focusing function.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the progress of semiconductor technology, many electronic devices of analogous circuit are replaced by the digital ones. Digital camera is one of the widely spread electronic devices. FIG.
1
A and
FIG. 1B
illustrate the front view and back view of a conventional digital camera. As shown in FIG.
1
A and
FIG. 1B
, conventional digital camera
100
includes a unique-focus lens assembly
102
, a display monitor
110
on the back of the digital camera
100
, and viewfinder
114
for selecting the object to be captured.
FIG. 2
shows a functional diagram of the conventional digital camera. As illustrated in
FIG. 2
, the digital camera
100
includes a unique-focus lens assembly
102
, image capture apparatus (i.e. CCD, CMOS Sensor)
104
, A/D converter
106
, processing module
108
, display monitor
110
, and storage module
112
. The unique-focus lens assembly
102
is utilized for allowing the reflected light of objects to pass through. The reflected light is then transformed into electric signals by the image capture apparatus
104
. Thereafter, the electric signals are further transformed into digital signals by the A/D converter
106
. The digital signals are then calculated and managed by the processing module
108
. The display monitor
110
coupled with the processing module
108
is for displaying the image, which is taken by the image capture apparatus
104
. The storage module
112
is applied for saving the digital signals from the processing module
108
.
FIG. 3
portraits a unique-focus lens assembly of the conventional digital camera. As shown in
FIG. 3
, the unique-focus lens assembly
102
includes a lens
202
, enclosure
204
, aluminum plate
206
, image capture apparatus (i.e. CCD, CMOS Sensor)
208
, insulation plate
210
, and focus adjustment means
212
. The lens
202
allows the reflected light of any objects to pass through. The enclosure
204
has a first hole in its upper end and a second hole in its lower end. The first hole supports the lens
202
, and the second hole is used for receiving the image capture apparatus
208
. The focus adjustment means
212
is mounted near the side wall of enclosure
204
. By revolving the focus adjustment means
212
, the screw
212
A would be driven upward or downward along the direction, which is perpendicular to the lens
202
, thereby adjusting the focus of the lens
202
. After the calibration of screw
212
A achieved, the screw
212
A is welded in the lens assembly
102
, thereby fixing the focus of lens
202
. The image capture apparatus
208
coupled with the second hole of enclosure
208
transforms the light reflected from the lens
202
into electric signals. Aluminum plate
206
is connected with the image capture apparatus
208
and enclosure
204
. Insulation plate
210
, which is coupled with the aluminum plate
206
, is used for isolating the aluminum plate
206
from electrically connecting with the circuit of insulation plate
210
.
The location of lens
202
is adjusted by rotating the screw
212
A of the focus adjustment means
212
. The lens
202
would be driven upward or downward along the perpendicular orientation to itself, so as to locate the focus of the lens
202
. During the procedure of focus calibration, since there is a force perpendicular to the axial direction of screw
212
A, it would probably horizontally offset the position of lens
202
. Typically, for avoiding the offset, the lens assembly needs to be fixed rigidly. Furthermore, when the adjustment of the screw
212
A finished, the screw
212
A could be fixed by welding. Therefore, the lens assembly
102
of conventional digital camera could only have a unique-focus, and it would be unavailable to take the scenes out of the focus range or take them ambiguously.
Since that, how to improve the above problems of the conventional digital might be an important issue to the people skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a digital camera with a non-step focusing function so as to take scenes in different distances into pictures.
The present invention discloses a digital camera with a non-step focusing function, which comprises a non-step focusing lens assembly, image capture sensor (i.e. CCD, CMOS Sensor), A/D converter, processing module, display monitor, and storage module. The light reflected from any objects is passed through the non-step focusing lens, and transformed into electric signals by the image capture means. The electric signals are then transformed into digital signals. It is noticeable that the above functions, such as focusing and information transforming, are controlled and managed by the processing module.
The lens assembly comprises an enclosure, annular rotating means, gear assembly, spring, leaf spring, cap, and lens. The enclosure has a housing and haft. The housing has a lower hole for supporting the image capture apparatus, and an upper hole, which is consisted of three slope sets. Each slope set has a sub-slope and a main slope, the main slopes of the slope sets having a same gradient and being in a same height at highest points or lowest points of the main slopes. The annular rotating means having three extrusive portions is connected to the slope sets of enclosure. The gear assembly, which is supported by the haft of enclosure and connected with the annular rotating means, is applied for driving the annular rotating means. The spring is mounted on the first inner rim of the upper surface of the annular rotating means. The leaf spring is placed on the second inner rim of the upper surface of the annular rotating means. The cap having a hollow part is connected with the enclosure, and the lens connected with the cap allows the light to project on the image capture apparatus.
The annular rotating means could revolve on any slope sets to make sure that the lens assembly would move in the direction perpendicular to the slope sets, thereby adjusting the focus of lens assembly. As for the location of the focus, it is determined by the height of the main slopes.
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Christensen Andrew
Genco Brian C
Hoffman Wasson & Gitler, P.C.
Nu-Cam Corporation
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