# US 8,390,721 B2 · Portable electronic device and camera module therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,390,721 B2 - Document ID: US8390721B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/165,986 - Filed: 2008-07-01 - Published: 2009-01-08 - Granted: 2013-03-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-02 - Assignees: High Tech Computer, Corp. - Applicants: Hsien Hsun Liu; Wei Hua Lee - Inventors: Hsien Hsun Liu; Wei Hua Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8390721B2 ## CPC - G02B 13/0055: {employing a special optical element} - G03B 15/08: Trick photography - G03B 17/17: with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices - H04N 23/58: Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors - G02B 27/14: operating by reflection only - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The present invention provides a camera module for a portable electronic device. A beam splitter has a first light input end for receiving a first light beam, a second light input end for receiving a second light beam and a light output end for outputting the first or second light beams that enter from the first and second light input ends respectively. A reflector is positioned at the upstream of the first light input end of the beam splitter to redirect the first light beam to the first light input end of the beam splitter. An image sensor is positioned at the downstream of the light output end of the beam splitter to convert the first or second light beams outputted from the light output end into a corresponding signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera module for a portable electronic device, comprising: a beam splitter having a first light input end for receiving a first light beam, a second light input end for receiving a second light beam from a second direction and a light output end for outputting the first or second light beam; a reflector positioned at the upstream of the first light input end of the beam splitter for receiving the first light beam from a first direction and redirecting the first light beam to the first light input end of the beam splitter, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction; and an image sensor positioned at the downstream of the light output end of the beam splitter for converting the first or second light beam outputted from the light output end into a corresponding signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first lens unit positioned at the upstream of the reflector for receiving the first light beam and then guiding the first light beam to the reflector; and a second lens unit positioned at the upstream of the second light input end of the beam splitter for receiving the second light beam and then guiding the second light beam to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The camera module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first convex lens positioned between the reflector and the first light input end of the beam splitter for guiding the first light beam redirected by the reflector to the first light input end of the beam splitter; a concave lens positioned at the upstream of the reflector; a second convex lens positioned at the upstream of the concave lens, wherein the second convex lens and the concave lens are adapted to receive the first light beam in sequence and then guide the first light beam to the reflector; and a lens unit positioned at the upstream of the second light input end of the beam splitter for receiving the second light beam and then guiding the second light beam to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The camera module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first lens unit comprises: a first convex lens; a second convex lens; and a concave lens positioned between the first and second convex lenses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The camera module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second lens unit is a convex lens and attached to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The camera module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second lens unit comprises: a first convex lens; a second convex lens; and a concave lens positioned between the first and second convex lenses. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The camera module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lens unit is a convex lens and attached to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The camera module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lens unit comprises: a first convex lens; a second convex lens; and a concave lens positioned between the first and second convex lenses. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The camera module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first convex lens is attached to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 10 A portable electronic device, comprising: a housing having a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, a first opening positioned on the first side for receiving a first light beam and a second opening positioned on the second side for receiving a second light beam; and a camera module positioned within the housing, comprising: a beam splitter having a first light input end for receiving the first light beam, a second light input end for receiving the second light beam from a second direction and a light output end for outputting the first or second light beam; a reflector positioned at the upstream of the first light input end of the beam splitter for receiving the first light beam from a first direction and redirecting the first light beam to the first light input end of the beam splitter, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction; and an image sensor positioned at the downstream of the light output end of the beam splitter for converting the first or second light beam outputted from the light output end into a corresponding signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: a display unit disposed on the housing for showing images according to the corresponding signal converted by the image sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the camera module further comprises: a first lens unit positioned at the upstream of the reflector for receiving the first light beam and then guiding the first light beam to the reflector; and a second lens unit positioned at the upstream of the second light input end of the beam splitter for receiving the second light beam and then guiding the second light beam to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the camera module further comprises: a first convex lens positioned between the reflector and the first light input end of the beam splitter for guiding the first light beam redirected by the reflector to the first light input end of the beam splitter; a concave lens positioned at the upstream of the reflector; a second convex lens positioned at the upstream of the concave lens, wherein the second convex lens and the concave lens are adapted to receive the first light beam in sequence and then guide the first light beam to the reflector; and a lens unit positioned at the upstream of the second light input end of the beam splitter for receiving the second light beam and then guiding the second light beam to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the camera module further comprises: a first convex lens positioned between the light output end of the beam splitter and the image sensor; a first concave lens positioned between the reflector and the first light input end of the beam splitter for guiding the first light beam redirected by the reflector to the first light input end of the beam splitter; and a second convex lens positioned at the upstream of the reflector for receiving the first light beam and then guiding the first light beam to the reflector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first lens unit comprises: a first convex lens; a second convex lens; and a concave lens positioned between the first and second convex lenses. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second lens unit is a convex lens and attached to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second lens unit comprises: a first convex lens; a second convex lens; and a concave lens positioned between the first and second convex lenses. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lens unit is a convex lens and attached to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lens unit comprises: a first convex lens; a second convex lens; and a concave lens positioned between the first and second convex lenses. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the camera module further comprises: a second concave lens positioned at the upstream of the second light input end of the beam splitter; and a third convex lens positioned at the upstream of the second concave lens, wherein the third convex lens and second concave lens are adapted to receive the second light beam in sequence and then guide the second light beam to the second light input end of the beam splitter. ### Claim 21 A camera module for a portable electronic device, comprising: a beam splitter having a first light input end for receiving a first light beam, a second light input end for receiving a second light beam from a second direction and a light output end for outputting the first or second light beam; a reflector positioned at the upstream of the first light input end of the beam splitter for receiving the first light beam from a first direction and redirecting the first light beam to the first light input end of the beam splitter, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction; an image sensor positioned at the downstream of the light output end of the beam splitter for converting the first or second light beam outputted from the light output end into a corresponding signal; a first convex lens positioned between the light output end of the beam splitter and the image sensor; a first concave lens positioned between the reflector and the first light input end of the beam splitter for guiding the first light beam redirected by the reflector to the first light input end of the beam splitter; and a second convex lens positioned at the upstream of the reflector for receiving the first light beam and then guiding the first light beam to the reflector. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The camera module as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: a second concave lens positioned at the upstream of the second light input end of the beam splitter; and a third convex lens positioned at the upstream of the second concave lens, wherein the third convex lens and second concave lens are adapted to receive the second light beam in sequence and then guide the second light beam to the second light input end of the beam splitter.