BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are three-dimensional schematic diagrams showing the handheld electronic device of the invention from different angles.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the image capturing module in the handheld electronic device.
FIG. 4 is the three-dimensional schematic diagram showing the filter unit in the image capturing module.
FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a handheld electronic device according to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
In order to achieve the convenience, when a user engages in outdoor activities, he can get both functions of taking pictures and night surveillance through one handheld electronic device, the invention is provided to dispose a filter unit in front of the lens of the image capturing module in a handheld electronic device and by the switching between two filters for filtering light with different wavelength the handheld electronic device can have the both functions of taking pictures and night surveillance.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are three-dimensional schematic diagrams showing the handheld electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention from different angles. In the embodiment, the handheld electronic device 100 takes a global positioning system (GPS) for example for illustrate purpose. However, the handheld electronic device 100 also may be other handheld electronic device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a cell phone, etc., and the invention does not limit it. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 simultaneously, the handheld electronic device 100 includes a body 110, a GPS (not shown in the figure), a display 120, a function key 130, an antenna 140 and an image capturing module 150. The GPS gets the real-time forecast of the geographic position through the transmission of satellite signal. The display 120 is disposed on one side of the body 110 to display a map and other information. In the embodiment, the display 120 may be an LCD touch panel, and a user can directly touch the display 120 or the function key 130 below to execute the corresponding function. The antenna 140 is disposed inside the body 110 to receive and send satellite signal.
The image capturing module 150 is an element for capturing the image information in the handheld electronic device 100. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the image capturing module in the handheld electronic device. FIG. 4 is the three-dimensional schematic diagram showing the filter unit in the image capturing module. Please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the image capturing module 150 includes a lens 152 and a filter unit 154. The lens 152 is exposed from the opening 112 on the body 110, and the image information captured by the lens 152 can be displayed on the display 120. In the embodiment, the lens 152 may be a charge couple device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor device, which is not limited in the invention. The filter unit 154 mainly includes a first filter 154a, a second filter 154b, and a switch 154c. The first filter 154a and the second filter 154b are suitable for transmitting the light with different wavelength respectively. In the embodiment, the first filter 154a is used to transmit infrared light, and filters out the light with other wavelength, while the second filter 154b is used to transmit visible light, and filters the light with other wavelength. The switch 154c is connected to the first filter 154a and the second filter 154b to switch the first filter 154a and the second filter 154b, so that the first filter or the second filter is on the light receiving path of the lens. Therefore, when a user takes pictures with the handheld electronic device 100 in the daytime, he can switch to the second filter 154b using the second filter 154b to filter other light except visible light to prevent producing noise. On the contrary, when a user engages in outdoor activities at night, he may switch to the first filter 154a to transmit infrared light, and filter the light with other wavelength to provide the function of night vision. Therefore, it will be favorable for the user to see the vision before him clearly through the display 120, when the light is dim with no additional light source available.
Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 simultaneously, the filter unit 154 further includes a frame 154d, two fixed press bars 154e, and two guide rails 154f. The first filter 154a and the second filter 154b are fixed on the frame 154d by the fixed press bars 154e on the two ends of the filters. Two guide rails 154f are respectively provided on two ends of the frame 154d, and move relatively to the body 110. The switch 154c is used to switch the first filter 154a and the second filter 154b, so that the first filter 154a or the second filter 154b is on the light receiving path of the lens 152. Furthermore, a protection cover 154g can be disposed on the opening 112 of the body 110 to prevent foreign particles from entering the body 110.
Please refer to FIG. 2, in the embodiment, the handheld electronic device 100 further includes an auxiliary lighting module 160. Therefore, when the intensity of environmental light is insufficient, the auxiliary lighting module 160 can provide an auxiliary light source being needed when the image capturing module 150 captures an image. In the embodiment, the auxiliary lighting module 160 includes several LEDs 162 near to the image capturing module 150. That is to say, the above LEDs 162 may be infrared LEDs. When the image capturing module 150 uses the first filter 154a to capture an infrared image, the infrared LEDs can provide auxiliary infrared light source, to make the user to see the vision before them clearly at night by the display 120. However, persons having ordinary skill in the art can use a different number or kind of the LED, and the invention has no limitation on it.
FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing the handheld electronic device according to another embodiment of the invention. Please refer to FIG. 5. In order to achieve the convenience, a user can use the GPS of the handheld electronic device 100 and meanwhile he can get the light for lighting when he is outside, a lighting module 170 is disposed additionally on the front end of the body 110 of the handheld electronic device 100 to improve convenience of use.
A control circuit board (not shown in the figure) is disposed inside the body 110 of the handheld electronic device 100, and the lighting module 170 is electrically connected to the control circuit board, and whose open and close operations are controlled by a switch element 172. The lighting module 170 mainly includes at least a LED 174 to provide lighting source needed. The LED 174 is disposed in the recess 114 on the front end of the body 110, to prevent projecting from the body 110, to keep the surface of the body 110 smooth. Furthermore, a reflex housing (not shown in the figure) may be disposed in the recess 114 to reflex the light from the LED 174 and to gather light to improve the directivity and the brightness. In the embodiment, the lighting module 170 only includes a LED 174, while the invention has no limitation on the number of the LED 174. With the lighting module 170, the user can see maps with the display 120, and the device may provide the function of lighting through the lighting module 170 simultaneously, so that the user can observe surroundings clearly to avoid getting lost and the danger caused by poor eyesight.
In summary, the invention provides a filter unit disposed in front of the image capturing module of a handheld electronic device. The filter unit includes a switch and two filters suitable for filtering the light with different wavelength. One of the filters is suitable for transmitting infrared light and filters out the light with other wavelength, while the other filter is suitable for transmitting visible light and filters the light with other wavelength. Therefore, when a user uses the function of taking pictures in the daytime, he may use the filter transmitting visible light to filter other light except visible light to prevent producing noise. On the contrary, when a user engages in outdoor activities at night, he may switch to the filter transmitting infrared light, to provide the function of night vision, so that it will be favorable for the users to observe wild animals without disturbing them.
Furthermore, a lighting module is disposed additionally on the front end of the handheld electronic device, so that the user can use the GPS out of door at night and use the lighting function simultaneously.
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not for limiting the scope of the invention. Persons having ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments described above.
Patent Application
20080055417
