BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a document camera with a detachable module according to one embodiment as described herein;
FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an image-shooting module of the document camera and a detachable module according to one embodiment as described herein;
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an image-shooting module of the document camera and another detachable module according to one embodiment as described herein; and
FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a document camera with a detachable module according to another embodiment as described herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a document camera with a detachable module according to one embodiment as described herein. The document camera 100 includes a base portion 110, a rotatable arm 120 and an image-shooting module 130. The rotatable arm 120 is pivotally connected with the base portion 110 by a joint 122 at one end, and pivotally connected with the image-shooting module 130 by a joint 124 at the other end. Therefore, the image-shooting module can be adjusted in position relative to the base portion 110 by means of the rotatable arm 120, the joint 122 and the joint 124.
The document camera 100 further includes a detachable module 160, which can be taken apart from the image-shooting module 130 by users at will. The detachable module 160 can be a module, which emits light beams to define an image-shooting boundary of the image-shooting module 130. The detachable module 160 can also be an illumination module, which provides desired light source for the image-shooting module 130.
FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an image-shooting module of the document camera and a detachable module according to one embodiment as described herein. The detachable module 160 is installed under the image-shooting module 130, and has a hollow space 162. The image-shooting module 130 is capable of shooting an image of a desired target 103 under the detachable module 160 through the hollow space 162. In an alternate embodiment, the detachable module 160 may not have the hollow space 162, and may be installed on the side of the image-shooting module 130. Therefore, The image-shooting module 130 can shoot an image of a desired target 103 under the detachable module 160 directly without through the detachable module 160. A metal flux ring 168, which is encircled by a magnetic flux circuit 166, is installed to encircle the hollow space 162. When an electrical current is applied to the magnetic flux circuit 166, the metal flux ring 168 produces a magnetic force to attract a metallic housing 132, a metallic member or a magnet member of the image-shooting module 130. The metallic housing 132 or the metallic member can be made from Fe, Co, Ni or any combination thereof. The image-shooting module 130 has an objective lens set 136, which fits into the hollow space 162 of the detachable module 160 when the detachable module 160 is attached to the image-shooting module 130. Besides, the detachable module 160 further includes a power connection pin 164, and the image-shooting module 130 further includes a power connection hole 134. When the detachable module 160 is attached to the image-shooting module 130, the power connection pin 164 is inserted into the power connection hole 134 for obtaining power to apply to the magnetic flux circuit 166. An ON/OFF switch (not illustrated in drawings) may be installed to turn on or turn off the magnetic flux circuit 166.
In an alternate embodiment, the metal flux ring 168 and the magnetic flux circuit 166 may be installed on the image-shooting module 130, and the detachable module 160 has a metallic member or housing. Thus, the detachable module 160 can also be attached to the image-shooting module 130 by a magnetic attraction.
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an image-shooting module of the document camera and another detachable module according to one embodiment as described herein. The detachable module 160 is installed under the image-shooting module 130, and has a hollow space 162. The image-shooting module 130 is capable of shooting an image of a desired target 103 under the detachable module 160 through the hollow space 162. In an alternate embodiment, the detachable module 160 may not have the hollow space 162, and may be installed on the side of the image-shooting module 130. Therefore, The image-shooting module 130 can shoot an image of a desired target 103 under the detachable module 160 directly without through the detachable module 160. A magnet ring 169 is installed to encircle the hollow space 162. A magnetic force of the magnet ring 169 attracts a metallic housing 132, a metallic member or another magnet member of the image-shooting module 130. The metallic housing 132 or the metallic member can be made from Fe, Co, Ni or any combination thereof. The image-shooting module 130 has an objective lens set 136, which fits into the hollow space 162 of the detachable module 160 when the detachable module 160 is attached to the image-shooting module 130. Besides, the detachable module 160 further includes a power connection pin 164, and the image-shooting module 130 further includes a power connection hole 134. When the detachable module 160 is attached to the image-shooting module 130, the power connection pin 164 is inserted into the power connection hole 134 for obtaining power.
In an alternate embodiment, the magnet ring 169 may be installed on the image-shooting module 130, and the detachable module 160 has a metallic member or housing. Thus, the detachable module 160 can also be attached to the image-shooting module 130 by a magnetic attraction.
FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a document camera with a detachable module according to another embodiment as described herein. The document camera 100 includes a base portion 110, a rotatable arm 120 and an image-shooting module 130. The rotatable arm 120 is pivotally connected with the base portion 110 by a joint 122 at one end, and pivotally connected with the image-shooting module 130 by a joint 124 at the other end. Therefore, the image-shooting module can be adjusted in position relative to the base portion 110 by means of the rotatable arm 120, the joint 122 and the joint 124.
The document camera 100 further includes a detachable control panel 150 to control thereof. The detachable control panel 150 can be a remote controller or accommodated in a concave portion 152 to directly control the document camera 100. The detachable control panel 150 includes a metallic housing 151 or a metallic member at its bottom side. The detachable control panel 150 can be taken apart from the base portion 110 or accommodated in a concave portion 152 of the base portion 110. A magnet 154 is installed under the concave portion 152 to magnetically attract the a metallic housing 151 or the metallic member of the detachable control panel 150 such that the detachable control panel 150 is attached to the base portion 110. This embodiment can be combined with the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1.
According to embodiments discussed above, a document camera has a detachable module, which is attached to an image-shooting module thereof by a magnetic attraction. Users can conveniently take apart the detachable module from the image-shooting module when the detachable module is idle.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Patent Application
20080062298
