IP Library Granted Patent US 7,988,372
Granted Patent B2
US 7,988,372 · App. 12/649,436 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Camera having detachable lens module

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,988,372
App. No.
12/649,436
Granted
Aug 2, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A camera having a detachable lens is provided. More particularly, the camera includes a main body and a lens module configured so that it can be mounted to or detached from the main body according to a rotating state of the lens module with respect to the main body. The camera also includes a first coupling structure that is configured to provide the lens module with coupling when the lens module is set to a mounting position. The camera also includes a secondary coupling structure that is configured to provide the lens module with temporary coupling when the lens module is set to a detaching position. As a result of this structure, an unwanted dropping of the lens module due to an instant loss of supporting force when the lens module is detached from the main body may be prevented.

Claims (39)

1. A camera comprising:

a main body;

a lens module configured so that it can be mounted to or detached from the main body according to a rotating state of the lens module with respect to the main body;

a first coupling structure that is configured to provide the lens module with coupling when the lens module is set to a mounting position; and

a secondary coupling structure that is configured to provide the lens module with temporary coupling when the lens module is set to a detaching position.

2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling structure is configured to be in a coupled state when the lens module is set to the mounting position, and is configured to be in a released state when the lens module is set to the detaching position.

3. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the secondary coupling structure is configured to be in a released state when the lens module is set to the mounting position, and is configured to be in a coupled state when the lens module is set to the detaching position.

4. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling structure comprises:

flange portions configured to rotate integrally with the lens module; and

coupling pieces configured so as to form a gap with the main body so that the flange portions are insertable into the gap according to the rotating state of the lens module.

5. The camera of claim 4 , wherein the flange portions are configured to be inserted between the coupling pieces and a rotating guide portion which are configured so as to be separated from each other on the camera body according to the rotating state of the lens module with respect to the main body.

6. The camera of claim 4 ,

wherein the flange portions are configured to be restricted by the coupling piece when the lens module is set to the mounting position, and

wherein the flange portions are configured to be released from the coupling piece when the lens module is set to the detaching position.

7. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the secondary coupling structure comprises:

a protruding piece that is formed on the lens module; and

an anti-escape protrusion that is formed on the main body and configured to be coupled to the protruding piece.

8. The camera of claim 7 ,

wherein the main body includes a groove that extends in a circumferential direction and is configured so as to receive a rotating range of the protruding piece, which is configured to rotate with the lens module, and

wherein the anti-escape protrusion is formed in the groove.

9. The camera of claim 8 , wherein the anti-escape protrusion is elastically biased so as to protrude into the groove.

10. The camera of claim 8 ,

wherein the protruding piece is configured to move between a first end and a second end of the groove according to a rotating variation between the mounting position and the detaching position of the lens module, and

wherein the anti-escape protrusion is biased toward the second end of the groove.

11. The camera of claim 7 , wherein the protruding piece includes a mounting recess having a shape matching the anti-escape protrusion.

12. The camera of claim 7 , wherein a front edge of the anti-escape protrusion is rounded.

13. The camera of claim 7 ,

wherein the lens module and the main body respectively have contact areas that support each other along the circumferential direction, and

wherein the protruding piece and the anti-escape protrusion are formed adjacent to a shutter switch within the contact areas.

14. The camera of claim 7 , wherein two or more protruding pieces and two or more anti-escape protrusions are formed on the lens module and the main body, respectively, at corresponding portions to each other.

15. A camera comprising:

a main body; and

a lens module configured so that it can be mounted to or detached from the main body according to a rotating state of the lens module with respect to the main body,

wherein the main body includes a first coupling piece that is configured to provide the lens module with coupling when the lens module is set to a mounting position, and a second coupling piece that is disposed on a circumferential line with the first coupling piece and that is configured to provide the lens module with temporary coupling when the lens module is set to a detaching position, and

wherein the lens module includes flange portions that are configured to correspond to the first and second coupling pieces and that are disposed on a circumferential line, and which are configured to be inserted into the first and second coupling pieces.

16. The camera of claim 15 , wherein the first coupling piece is configured to be coupled to the flange portion at the mounting position, and is configured to be released from the flange portion at the detaching position.

17. The camera of claim 15 , wherein the second coupling piece is configured to be coupled to the flange portion at the mounting position and the detaching position.

18. The camera of claim 15 , wherein the first and second coupling pieces extend in an arc shape, and the second coupling piece is longer than the first coupling piece.

19. The camera of claim 15 , wherein the second coupling piece is configured to be closer to a shutter switch than the first coupling piece.

Assignments (10)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 4, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069113/0420 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 18, 2019
From: TIVO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 049795/0068 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: TIVO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048112/0053 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 14, 2011
From: SAMSUNG DIGITAL IMAGING CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 026128/0759 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2010
From: LEE, CHANG-BAE; KIM, SEUNG-YONG
To: SAMSUNG DIGITAL IMAGING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 023997/0397 →