IP Library Granted Patent US 12687767
Granted Patent B2
US 12687767 · App. 18/639,175 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Camera assembly and electronic device

Inventors: Hui Tong (Guangdong, CN); Yuyang Shen (Guangdong, CN); Zuokun Yang (Guangdong, CN)
Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.
G03B17/561F16M13/022
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687767
App. No.
18/639,175
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This application discloses a camera assembly and an electronic device. The camera assembly includes a bracket body, a spherical part, a first driving mechanism, and a camera. The bracket body is provided with an accommodation space. The spherical part is at least partially located in the accommodation space. The camera is disposed on the spherical part. The first driving mechanism is provided in plurality, the plurality of first driving mechanisms being spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the spherical part. The first driving mechanism includes a rolling element and a driving source. The driving source is disposed on the bracket body. The driving source is connected to the rolling element, and the driving source drives the rolling element to rotate. The rolling element is in contact with a spherical surface of the spherical part and rolls relative to the spherical surface.

Claims (28)

1 . A camera assembly, comprising a bracket body, a spherical part, a first driving mechanism, and a camera, wherein

the bracket body is provided with an accommodation space, the spherical part is at least partially located in the accommodation space, and the camera is disposed on the spherical part;

the first driving mechanism is provided in plurality, the plurality of first driving mechanisms being spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the spherical part, and the first driving mechanism comprises a rolling element and a driving source, wherein the driving source is disposed on the bracket body, the driving source is connected to the rolling element, the driving source drives the rolling element to rotate, and the rolling element is in contact with a spherical surface of the spherical part and rolls relative to the spherical surface; and

the rolling elements of the first driving mechanisms disposed opposite each other rotate in opposite directions, the first driving mechanisms disposed opposite each other drive the spherical part to rotate, and the spherical part drives the camera to rotate;

wherein at least four first driving mechanisms are provided, wherein two of the first driving mechanisms disposed opposite each other drive the spherical part to rotate around a first axis, and the other two of the first driving mechanisms disposed opposite each other drive the spherical part to rotate around a second axis, wherein the first axis intersects the second axis, and both the first axis and the second axis intersect an optical axis of the camera;

wherein the camera assembly further comprises a second driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism is connected to the bracket body, and the second driving mechanism drives the bracket body to rotate around the optical axis.

2 . The camera assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket body comprises a supporting part and a plurality of arc-shaped extension parts, the plurality of arc-shaped extension parts are spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the supporting part, the plurality of arc-shaped extension parts and the supporting part enclose the accommodation space, and the driving source is disposed on the arc-shaped extension part.

3 . The camera assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the arc-shaped extension part is provided with an accommodation groove on a side facing the spherical part, an extension direction of the accommodation groove is the same as an extension direction of the arc-shaped extension part, the driving source is disposed in the accommodation groove, and the rolling element is partially located in the accommodation groove.

4 . The camera assembly according to claim 3 , wherein first mounting holes are provided on two opposite side walls of the accommodation groove, a rotating shaft is disposed on two opposite sides of the rolling element, a central axis of the rotating shaft coincides with a rotation axis of the rolling element, and the rotating shaft is threaded into the first mounting holes;

a second mounting hole is provided on a side wall of the accommodation groove, and a driving shaft of the driving source is threaded into the second mounting hole; and

the first driving mechanism further comprises a transmission belt, the transmission belt sleeves the driving shaft and the rotating shaft, the driving shaft drives rotation of the rotating shaft via the transmission belt, and the rotating shaft drives the rolling element to rotate.

5 . The camera assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the spherical part has a first side and a second side provided back to back, the camera is disposed on the first side, the spherical surface is provided with an arc-shaped guide groove extending from the first side to the second side, the arc-shaped guide groove is provided in plurality, the plurality of arc-shaped guide grooves are symmetrically distributed along an optical axis of the camera, and the rolling element is partially located in the arc-shaped guide groove and is in contact with a groove wall of the arc-shaped guide groove.

6 . The camera assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the camera assembly further comprises a module housing, the module housing is provided with an inner cavity and a through hole communicating with the inner cavity, the bracket body, the spherical part, and the second driving mechanism are all located in the inner cavity, the second driving mechanism is disposed on the module housing, and the camera is disposed opposite the through hole.

7 . The camera assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the module housing comprises a base and a top cover that are detachably connected, the base and the top cover enclose the inner cavity, the through hole is provided in the top cover, the base is provided with a third mounting hole, and the second driving mechanism is partially located in the third mounting hole.

8 . An electronic device, comprising a camera assembly, wherein the camera assembly comprises a bracket body, a spherical part, a first driving mechanism, and a camera, wherein

the bracket body is provided with an accommodation space, the spherical part is at least partially located in the accommodation space, and the camera is disposed on the spherical part;

the first driving mechanism is provided in plurality, the plurality of first driving mechanisms being spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the spherical part, and the first driving mechanism comprises a rolling element and a driving source, wherein the driving source is disposed on the bracket body, the driving source is connected to the rolling element, the driving source drives the rolling element to rotate, and the rolling element is in contact with a spherical surface of the spherical part and rolls relative to the spherical surface; and

the rolling elements of the first driving mechanisms disposed opposite each other rotate in opposite directions, the first driving mechanisms disposed opposite each other drive the spherical part to rotate, and the spherical part drives the camera to rotate;

wherein at least four first driving mechanisms are provided, wherein two of the first driving mechanisms disposed opposite each other drive the spherical part to rotate around a first axis, and the other two of the first driving mechanisms disposed opposite each other drive the spherical part to rotate around a second axis, wherein the first axis intersects the second axis, and both the first axis and the second axis intersect an optical axis of the camera;

wherein the camera assembly further comprises a second driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism is connected to the bracket body, and the second driving mechanism drives the bracket body to rotate around the optical axis.

9 . The electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the bracket body comprises a supporting part and a plurality of arc-shaped extension parts, the plurality of arc-shaped extension parts are spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the supporting part, the plurality of arc-shaped extension parts and the supporting part enclose the accommodation space, and the driving source is disposed on the arc-shaped extension part.

10 . The electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein the arc-shaped extension part is provided with an accommodation groove on a side facing the spherical part, an extension direction of the accommodation groove is the same as an extension direction of the arc-shaped extension part, the driving source is disposed in the accommodation groove, and the rolling element is partially located in the accommodation groove.

11 . The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein first mounting holes are provided on two opposite side walls of the accommodation groove, a rotating shaft is disposed on two opposite sides of the rolling element, a central axis of the rotating shaft coincides with a rotation axis of the rolling element, and the rotating shaft is threaded into the first mounting holes;

a second mounting hole is provided on a side wall of the accommodation groove, and a driving shaft of the driving source is threaded into the second mounting hole; and

the first driving mechanism further comprises a transmission belt, the transmission belt sleeves the driving shaft and the rotating shaft, the driving shaft drives rotation of the rotating shaft via the transmission belt, and the rotating shaft drives the rolling element to rotate.

12 . The electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the spherical part has a first side and a second side provided back to back, the camera is disposed on the first side, the spherical surface is provided with an arc-shaped guide groove extending from the first side to the second side, the arc-shaped guide groove is provided in plurality, the plurality of arc-shaped guide grooves are symmetrically distributed along an optical axis of the camera, and the rolling element is partially located in the arc-shaped guide groove and is in contact with a groove wall of the arc-shaped guide groove.

13 . The electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the camera assembly further comprises a module housing, the module housing is provided with an inner cavity and a through hole communicating with the inner cavity, the bracket body, the spherical part, and the second driving mechanism are all located in the inner cavity, the second driving mechanism is disposed on the module housing, and the camera is disposed opposite the through hole.

14 . The electronic device according to claim 13 , wherein the module housing comprises a base and a top cover that are detachably connected, the base and the top cover enclose the inner cavity, the through hole is provided in the top cover, the base is provided with a third mounting hole, and the second driving mechanism is partially located in the third mounting hole.