DE20015926U1 - Video device, personal electrical device and electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

TERMEER STEINMEISTER & PARTNER GbR PATENTANWÄLTE - EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS

Dr. Nicolaus ter Meer, Dipl.-Chem. Peter Urner, Dipl.-Phys. Gebhard Merkle, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Bernhard P. Wagner, Dipl.-Phys. Mauerkircherstrasse 45 D-81679 MUNICH

Helmut Steinmeister, Dipl.-Ing. Manfred Wiebusch

Artur-Ladebeck-Strasse 51 D-33617BIELEFELD

Case:PAT 99019 DE

Ur/Js/bt 14 September 2000

NOKIA MOBILE PHONES LIMITED

Keilalahdentie 4

02150 Espoo

Finland

VIDEO DEVICE, PERSONAL ELECTRICAL DEVICE AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

Priority: Great Britain, 16 Sept. 1999, No. 9921961.0

Description

The invention relates to a video device, a personal electrical device and an electrical connector for use in an electronic device for electronically connecting two electrical elements, parts or devices of the electronic device, such as

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for electronically coupling an electronic peripheral device to the electronic device. More specifically, the invention relates to an electrical connector that enables movement of one part of the device with respect to another part of the device or, in the case of a peripheral device, enables movement thereof with respect to the device.

The use of computers, particularly laptops, and of personal communication devices, particularly mobile phones, is constantly increasing. In line with this increase, there has been an urgent need to develop further improvements in the capabilities of laptops/mobile phones. In particular, it has been proposed to provide laptops/mobile phones with additional functions such as video image capture, scanning and printing, which functions are provided by video cameras, scanners and printers, respectively, on or connectable to the motherboard. It has been envisaged that these devices will either be connected to laptops and mobile phones as integral parts thereof, so that they are part of the electronic device as a whole, or that they will operate as connectable peripheral devices provided in the form of detachable, connectable, modular tools.

Along with this proposal to provide additional functions, there was a need for electrical connectors capable of electrically connecting the additional device to the main electronic device.

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In the case of scanners and cameras in particular, it was pointed out that rather than, for example, locating the camera in a fixed relationship to the main device (e.g. laptop/mobile phone), it would be desirable if the camera could assume a range of positions in relation to the main device. This means that it would greatly increase the usefulness of the camera unit, and hence of the device as a whole, if the camera unit could be moved independently while electronically connected to the laptop/mobile phone. Accordingly, there was a need for some degree of relative movement between the camera and the main device.

The inventors are aware of a previously available product in which a video camera unit is combined with a laptop computer. In this laptop computer, the video camera is mounted so that it can be rotated with respect to the main body of the laptop, i.e. it is pivotally mounted. Thus, the video camera can be rotated about the pivot axis while the laptop itself remains relatively static in order to record a number of video frames. Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the connecting line and the pivot arrangement as used in the video camera module of this particular product. As shown, the camera module has a video camera 2 arranged centrally in a housing 4, a pivot mechanism 6' provided at one end of the camera housing 4 and a collection of lines 8 extending from the other end of the housing. The pivot mechanism 6 is

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a relatively large and sturdy mechanism which effectively supports the camera module in a cantilevered manner with respect to the main body of the laptop. The mechanism consists of a small frame (to the left in the figure) attached to the main body of the laptop and a central axis extending from this and terminating in a flat, pressed sheet metal section which is screwed into the bottom of the camera module. In terms of electrical connections, the arrangement used in this particular device is to connect the video camera to the laptop by a number of separate wire connections between the video camera unit and a PCB (printed circuit board) present in the laptop. As can be seen, there are a number of separate wire connections which are arranged in series with one another and are joined together. The wire connections are loose and have sufficient slack to allow the video camera unit to pivot about the axes of the wires. Each wire connection is soldered at each end to contact points on the video camera unit and the PCB. While this arrangement of separate wire connections works functionally in that it provides a pivoting electrical connection between the video camera unit and the laptop, it suffers from a number of problems. The wires move in a twisting torsional manner about their respective axes, making them susceptible to a stretching process that can result in

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Failures also occur. Fraying of the wires occurs as they tend to rub against each other during movement of the video camera unit. There is also a serious risk of the wires being pulled out of their soldered end connections by constant panning of the camera.

The invention is based on the object of providing a video device, a personal electrical device and an electrical connector which are suitable for a permanent, rotatable connection to an electrical device.

This object is solved with respect to the video device by the teaching of the appended claim 1, with respect to the personal electronic device by the teaching of the appended claim 8 and with respect to the electrical connectors by the teaching of the appended independent claim 2.

The invention provides a robust electrical pivot connection between one electrical unit and another. It is found that the design according to the invention is inexpensive, has high flexibility, high durability and high reliability compared to the prior art. The invention is easier to manufacture than the hard-wired arrangement according to the prior art, which is clumsy in nature. In the prior art, the video camera requires several electrical input and output connections, perhaps as many as ten. These many, in a pivot device

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The existing connections with a series of simple wires is bulky and prone to wear. The invention, on the other hand, is clever, compact and robust. Also, the arrangement according to the invention allows an unlimited number of rotational movements of electrical devices with respect to each other in any direction. This is a clear advantage over the prior art in which the combined wires only allow a finite, relatively low number of revolutions before the wires are taut and prevent any further rotation. Thus, the invention combines the need for a hinge movement and the need for an electrical connection in a single unit in an effective and elegant manner.

It is preferred if a first electrical

Device is detachably connectable to a second electrical device by means of the electrical connector. Accordingly, the arrangement is such that the electrical devices can be separated from each other, which makes it possible to use different units

to link together.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an extension line is provided for electrical connection between the first electrical unit and the second electrical unit. Accordingly, the mobility of the first electrical unit can be increased.

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Cleverly, the diameter of the axle can be changed. Increasing the diameter increases the stability of the connector.

The connection between the two electrical devices may be secured by a locking device arranged to cooperate with a groove formed in the axis of the electrical connector. Additionally or alternatively, the locking device may be provided with a spring loading system.

There may be a separate extension cord removably connected to the first and second devices to enable the first electrical device to be operated at a distance separate from the second electrical device.

The invention relates to a personal electronic device with a built-in image capture device incorporating an electrical connector as defined above.

The invention further extends to an electrical socket adapted to receive an electrical connector, the socket being provided in at least a portion of its wall with a rotatable bearing means facilitating rotational movement of the electrical connector relative thereto.

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The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings.

Fig.l is a representation of a known

electrical swivel connection;

Fig.2 is a perspective view of a

preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig.3 is a schematic perspective view of two electrical devices connected by an electrical connector according to the invention, showing an open position;

Fig.4 shows the devices of Fig.3 in a closed position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the two electrical devices of Figs. 3 and 4 spaced apart from each other.

Referring first to Fig. 2, there is shown an electrical connector 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. This electrical connector 10 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical plug with a relatively long connector axis 12. As shown, one end of the axis is connected to and extends from an electrical device 14 such as a video camera module. The other end of the plug is the free end

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the same, which ends in a conical nose portion 16.

A series of transverse electrical contact rings 18 are mounted at axially spaced locations along the length of the axis 12. The number of contact rings is determined by the particular electrical connections required for the video camera module. Six electrical contacts are shown in the figure, but there may be more or fewer than six. Within the axis 12, the contact rings 18 are led out from a series of concentric shells which are insulated from one another and extend in the longitudinal direction of the axis between the rings 18 and the device 14. Accordingly, the number of electrical contact rings 18 is increased as the number of electrical connections required is increased, and then the diameter of the axis 12 is also increased.

Inwardly with respect to the free end of the axis there is a radially recessed groove 20, i.e. the diameter of the connector axis is constricted at this point. This is designed to cooperate with a spring-loaded locking mechanism provided in the base module to hold the electrical device, e.g. a video camera, in place once it is inserted. The groove may also serve to activate an ON/OFF switch which indicates when a video camera module is inserted into the main device.

TERMS

The surfaces marked 22 and 24 in Fig.2 are bearing surfaces designed to facilitate rotation of the plug relative to a complementary socket in the base module. This bearing surface is designed to have a good mechanical fit with the socket in the base module and to reliably withstand a predetermined number of revolutions of the axle. The bearing surface is made of any suitable bearing material, e.g. PTFE, or it may consist of a metal bushing or, for larger dimensions, have a roller/needle bearing. The surface of the axle marked 22 adjacent to the fixed end of the electrical connector may be enlarged to form a shoulder section, i.e. in this section the diameter of the axle may be larger than at other points along its extension. This has been found to improve the bearing characteristics of the axle of the connector.

Inwardly of the fixed end of the electrical connector axis there is an annular channel 26 within the axis which allows additional locking of a camera module with respect to the base module by means of a locking mechanism within the base module.

Fig.3 shows a camera module which is plugged into a base device by an electrical connector according to the invention. The camera module is shown in an open position and it can be seen from the figure that the configuration is such that

TERMS

that there is no restriction on the rotation of the camera module.

Fig.4 shows the camera module in a closed position relative to the base module, and in this position the camera module may be physically locked, e.g. using the locking channel and locking mechanism in the base module.

Fig. 5 shows the camera module spaced from the base module and illustrates the connection between the plug and the socket. In this embodiment, an extension cable 28 is provided which allows the camera to be operated remotely from the base module. The extension cable 28 can be flexible so that the camera module can assume any selected configuration. The end of the extension cable adjacent the connector axis has electrical contacts which correspond to and are designed to receive the electrical contacts on the axis of the connector. The distal end of the extension cable 28, i.e. the one which is inserted into the base module, has a connector axis at the end which is the same as on the plug according to the invention.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential points. An electrical connector is shown attached to a camera module. However, it could also be provided on the base module while a socket is provided on the camera module, such an arrangement of

TERMS

This could be advantageous if users wish to carry the camera module in a carry-on bag. In addition, the arrangement could be such that the socket into which an electrical connector is to be inserted is designed to provide a rotatable mounting means. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims and general statements in the description rather than to the specific embodiments when determining the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, any feature disclosed in this description, the claims and/or the drawings may be separately present in a device according to the invention, independent of other features so disclosed. Accordingly, the invention includes any novel features or combinations of features as explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein, or any generalization thereof, regardless of whether these features relate to the claimed invention or alleviate all or only a portion of the problems addressed herein.

The invention discloses a swivel electrical connector, e.g. in the form of a plug. This plug has a number of electrical connections along its length as well as rotary bearing surfaces along its length. Accordingly, this combination provides an electrical connector that effectively provides electrical connection between electrical devices while allowing rotary movement therebetween.

Claims (8)

1. A video device adapted for rotary movement with respect to an electrical base to provide a plurality of video output connections, the video device being electrically connected to the electrical base by means of an electrical connector plug ( 10 ) and a complementary socket arrangement, the connector plug having a cylindrical axis ( 12 ) with a series of electrical connection points ( 18 ) electrically engageable with corresponding contact points in the socket, the video device being mounted for rotation with respect to the electrical base by rotary bearing means ( 24 , 22 ), such means being present between the cylindrical axis of the electrical connector plug and the complementary socket. 2. An electrical connector ( 10 ) for electrically coupling a first and a second electrical device, comprising a cylindrical axis ( 12 ) and a series of spaced-apart electrical contact points ( 18 ) arranged along said axis, wherein at least a portion of the length of said axis is a rotary bearing device ( 22 , 24 ), and wherein the connector is configured to facilitate rotary movement between the first and second electrical devices. 3. Electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that it extends from the first electrical device ( 14 ) and terminates in a free end ( 16 ) designed to be inserted into the second electrical device. 4. Electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that an annular groove ( 20 ) is present adjacent to the free end ( 16 ) of the connector axis ( 12 ). 5. An electrical connector according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the rotational bearing means comprises a raised shoulder provided adjacent the end of the axle ( 12 ) extending from the first device ( 14 ). 6. Electrical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary bearing device has a load-bearing bearing surface ( 22 , 24 ). 7. Electrical connector according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that an extension cable ( 28 ) is provided for the connection between the electrical connector and the second device. 8. A personal electrical device having an image pickup device pivotably mounted thereon, characterized in that the pivotable mounting device comprises an electrical connector according to one of claims 2 to 7.