Two part device with camera and mechanical flap
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorMarko Eromäki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a first camera element having an optical axis, and the second body section comprises a second camera element and a mechanical flap adapted to expose and conceal the second camera element. The first body section is in a movable connection with the second body section, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the first and the second body sections are brought together, and the mechanical flap is adapted to expose the second camera element. In the second mode, the first and the second body sections are positioned such that the first and the second camera elements are positioned away from each other, and the mechanical flap is adapted to conceal the second camera element.
Claims20
A device comprising:
- a first body section comprising a first camera element and at least one magnetic element,
- a second body section comprising a second camera element, at least one magnetic element, a mechanical flap, and a retention mechanism attached to the mechanical flap,
- wherein:
- the first body section is in a movable connection with the second body section, and
- the device is operable in at least two modes:
- in the first mode the first and the second body sections are brought together, the mechanical flap is adapted to expose the second camera element, and the mechanical flap is locked in a position exposing the second camera element due to magnetic interaction between the at least one magnetic element in the second body section and the at least one magnetic element in the first body section, and
- in the second mode the first and the second body sections are positioned such that the first and the second camera elements are positioned away from each other, the mechanical flap is adapted to conceal the second camera element, and the retention mechanism is adapted to position the mechanical flap such that the second camera element is concealed.
A system comprising:
- a first module comprising a first camera element and at least one magnetic element,
- a second module comprising a second camera element, a retention mechanism, a mechanical flap attached to the retention mechanism, and at least one magnetic element, wherein:
- the first module is in a movable connection with the second module, and
- the system is operable in at least two modes:
- in the first mode the first and the second modules are brought together, and the mechanical flap is locked in a position exposing the second camera element due to magnetic interaction between the at least one magnetic element in the second module and the at least one magnetic element in the first module;
- and
- in the second mode the first and the second modules are positioned away from each other, and the retention mechanism is adapted to position the mechanical flap such that the second camera element is concealed.
A foldable electronic device, comprising:
- a first body section comprising at least one magnetic element, and a camera having an optical axis,
- a second body section comprising at least one magnetic element, and at least one additional optical element,
- a hinge connecting the first body section to the second body section, and
- a mechanical flap adapted to conceal the at least one additional optical element;
- wherein the device is operable in at least two modes:
- in the first mode the device is folded by bringing the first body section and the second body section together, the mechanical flap is open exposing the optical element due to magnetic interaction between the at least one magnetic element in the second body section and the at least one magnetic element in the first body section, the optical element is aligned with the optical axis of the camera, and the camera is operable through the optical element;
- and
- in the second mode the device is unfolded by separating the first body section and the second body section from each other about the hinge, the mechanical flap is closed concealing the optical element, and the optical element is positioned away from the optical axis of the camera.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.