Flextronics Ap, LLC

Other

Xerox Corporation

Motorola Corporation

Digital Optics Corporation

Palo Alto Design Group

Lensvector Inc.

Hello Direct, Inc.

Photonics Corporation

Acme Frame Products, Inc.

Simtek Corporation

Flextronics Design

John W Toor

James E Sacherman

Ellen B Cargill

Elaine B Bogue

Kraig S Clark

Robin Chu

Bahram Afshari

Jim Sacherman

Lothar R Westerweck

John E Gatti

John N Piccone

Samuel B Ho

Richard C Allen

Klaus G Raschke

Brian S Stewart

Thomas M Shoda

Alexander Raschke

Robert J Carstens

Peter P Clark

Naufel Chafic Naufel

Ellis Betensky

Livius Dimitrie Chebeleu

Wolfram Grziwa

Peter R Urwyler

Albert John Y Chua

Robert B Curtis

David Cucuzella

Dennis R Berube

Ko (Kevin) Kin-Wing

Charles L Cranshaw

Andrea Koerselman

Charles L Crawshaw

A novel micro camera module that is manually adjustable between a close-up mode and an infinite mode includes a lens assembly adjustably mounted within a sleeve that is adjustably mounted into a housing. In a particular embodiment the sleeve includes a channel (cam groove) that is engaged by a plurality of pins fixed to the housing. Further, a biasing member is disposed between the sleeve and the housing such that an upward force will enable the pins to firmly engage the lower portion of the channel. In a more particular embodiment, the channel defines two detents that secure the sleeve into predetermined positions with respect to the housing. In an even more particular embodiment, the channel is sloped such that upon rotation of the sleeve, the distance between the lens assembly and an image capture device is changed. In another particular embodiment, the camera module includes an electrical mode detecting switch that is indicative of the position of the camera module.

Micro camera module having a housing with a graduated lens assembly receiver portion

A wafer level camera module can be easily connected to a host device via mounting surface contacts. The module includes an electrically controllable active optical element and a flexible printed circuit that provides electrical connection between the optical element and surface conductors on a mounting surface of the module. The surface conductors can be a group of solder balls, and the module can have another group of solder balls that make connection to another electrical component of the module, such as an image sensor. All of the solder balls can be coplanar in a predetermined grid pattern, and all of the components of the device can be surrounded by a housing such that the camera module is an easily mounted ball grid array type package.

Wafer level camera module with active optical element

An electrically controllable optical lens apparatus makes use of fixed lenses and an active optical element together in a lens enclosure. The enclosure may be a barrel structure that is easily mounted to a camera device having an image sensor. The active optical element, such as a tunable liquid crystal lens, receives an electrical signal from the camera device via electrical conductors integral with the lens enclosure that provide electrical pathways between the active element on the interior of the enclosure and surface contacts on the camera device. The enclosure may be a two-piece structure, and the electrical conductors may be attached to either piece of the structure. The lens enclosure may also be threaded for attachment to the camera device. The electrical conductors may also use spring loaded contact portions or molded interconnect devices.

Optical lens having fixed lenses and embedded active optics

A novel micro camera module includes a lens assembly adjustably mounted within a graduated receiver portion of a housing. The lens assembly slidably contacts the graduated receiver portion when the lens assembly is moved a distance along an axis perpendicular to the sensor array of an image capture device of the camera module. Further, a resilient ring-shaped member can be coupled between the lens assembly and the housing.

A tele wide module includes a first optics group, a fixed position for the first optics group, a second optics group, a set of predetermined positions for the second optics group, a selector for selecting a first position from the set of predetermined positions, and an image sensor. The first optics group is configured to provide a focus to the image sensor. The focus is based on the selected first position. A method of adjusting a lens configuration selects a first position from a set of positions. Based on the selected position, the method deposes a second lens group in relation to a first lens group. Typically, the position of the first lens group is fixed. Through the first and second lens groups, the method provides an image to an image sensor. The method of some embodiments provides a focused image to the image sensor by using a hyper focal setting.

Configurable tele wide module

Micro camera module with discrete manual focal positions

A novel digital camera module includes an image capture device, a lens unit including a body, a housing including an opening for receiving the lens unit and positioning the lens unit with respect to the image capture device, and a contaminant trap formed by an isolated annular space between the lens unit and the opening of the housing. In a particular embodiment, the opening of the housing includes surfaces having at least two different perimeters, the smaller of which slidably engages the outer surface of the lens unit. The contaminant trap collects and contains any contaminants before they reach vulnerable components such as the image capture device and/or other optical components within the camera module.

Camera module with contamination reduction feature

An optical module includes a first optics group, a second optics group, and an image sensor, wherein the first optics group and second optics group are configured to provide an image having a focus and a magnification to the image sensor. In some embodiments of the present invention, a first optics assembly includes a first optics group coupled to a threaded portion of a first lead screw so that translation of the first lead screw results in translation of the first optics group along an axis of the first lead screw, a first actuator for rotating the first lead screw; and a first sensing target configured to permit detection of rotation of the first lead screw. In some embodiments of the present invention a second optics assembly includes a second optics group coupled to a threaded portion of a second lead screw so that translation of the second lead screw results in translation of the second optics group along an axis of the second lead screw, a second actuator for rotating the second lead screw, and second means for sensing configured to detect rotation of the second lead screw.

Zoom module using actuator and lead screw with translating operation

A quick release hold-down mechanism for releasably securing protective covers and expansion cards within a personal computer comprises a press plate for exerting a force upon the flange of a protective cover or the flange of an expansion card. A tension arm is operatively coupled to the press plate for holding the press plate in place. The tension arm is releasable to and securable within a fixed position such that the press plate maintains the force upon a surface of the expansion card or protective cover to maintain the expansion card or protective cover in its desired location. The tension arm is rotatably moved which causes the press plate to pivot through an arc, around a pivot means. By this rotatable motion of the tension arm, the press plate engages the surface of the installed protective cover or expansion card. More than one protective cover and expansion card can be installed and any number of either or both can be thus secured. The tension arm is secured by means of a locking indent that engages the computer chassis.

Quick release hold-down for PCI/AGP cards

An improved apparatus for and method of attaching a peripheral electronic component to an electronic system uses spring-urged protrusions to attach the peripheral electronic component to the electronic system without screws or other traditional hardware fasteners. Preferably, the spring-urged protrusions are configured to allow quick and easy installation and removal without the need for tools. Further, the apparatus is preferably configured to use standard mounting holes included in most peripheral electronic components. Therefore, the apparatus does not require costly custom modification for use with a variety of peripheral electronic components. More particularly, the apparatus is preferably electrically conductive to ground the chassis of the peripheral electronic component to the electronic system. In addition, the apparatus uses the spring-urged protrusions to reduce or eliminate the transmission of vibration between the peripheral electronic component and the electronic system. The apparatus preferably includes a manually operable mechanism for releasing the spring-urged protrusions to allow quick removal of the peripheral electronic component from the electronic system without the use of tools.

Screwless technique for attaching a peripheral electronic component to

A method and apparatus for mounting a motherboard to a chassis of a personal computer using only a single screw. A number of standoffs snap into the base of the chassis, electrically contacting the chassis. Each standoff includes a projection. The motherboard includes apertures for accepting the projections such that when an ramp and shelf of each projection is aligned with the motherboard, the motherboard is positioned a fixed distance from the chassis. A mounting bracket also includes a number of projections. Apertures provided in the motherboard correspond to the projections of the mounting bracket. The surface of each side of the motherboard surrounding each aperture is plated with an electrically conductive material to form a conductive path between the motherboard and the standoffs and the bracket. The projections of the bracket are inserted into the corresponding apertures in the motherboard. A screw is inserted through a wall of the chassis and into a threaded hole in the bracket. As the screw is tightened, the bracket is drawn toward the wall of the chassis. This firmly engages the motherboard to the stand-offs and to the bracket, firmly maintaining the motherboard in a fixed position relative to the chassis and forming a solid electrical ground connection between the motherboard and the chassis. Also, as the screw is tightened, input and output connectors, which are coupled to the motherboard, are drawn toward the wall of the chassis making firm contact with a plate or gasket.

Method and apparatus for attaching circuit board to chassis and forming

A personal computer chassis having increased reliability, versatility and decreased manufacturing costs. In a first embodiment, a disk drive is installed in the chassis in a first orientation for resting the computer on a desk top or in a second orientation, rotated 90 degrees from the first orientation, for resting the computer on a floor. The chassis is configured to allow interchangeable trim plates. When the trim plate is used as a base plate it has a larger periphery than when used as a side trim plate. In a second embodiment, a disk drive may be installed in the chassis without screws. Spring urged clips allow the disk drive to be easily inserted into the computer chassis, yet provide secure attachment. In a third embodiment, electrical contact is ensured for input/output port covers attached to the rear of the computer chassis. Each cover is made to bend slightly over protrusions on the computer chassis, forcing the cover into firm contact with the protrusions. In a fourth embodiment, a cooling fan housing is attached to the computer chassis without screws. Protrusions on the fan housing engage apertures in the computer chassis such that the fan housing easily snaps into place and is securely held. In a fifth embodiment, standoffs are inserted into the computer chassis through rectangular holes. Each rectangular hole has bumps in its interior which secure the standoff against rotating when tightening or loosening a screw. In a sixth embodiment, a security loop allows for attachment of a locking device to secure the computer against theft. In a first position, the security loop is extended. In a second position, the security loop is rotated flat against the computer chassis.

Personal computer and chassis having interchangeable trim plates for

A cable connector or jumper for providing alternating current between adjacent electrical modules comprises a first head member having a set of recessed prongs, a second head member having a set of recessed mating apertures, and a semi-rigid, tubular connecting member. The connecting member incorporates a ferrule of magnetic material for reducing RF emissions. The connecting member is sufficiently rigid to permit same to be manually grasped for insertion and removal of the head members into corresponding connectors on adjacent electrical modules, while the connecting member is sufficiently flexible to permit the head members to be moved relative to one another in order to facilitate their insertion into and removal from the module connectors.

Inter-module semi-rigid cable connector and configuration of modules

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

John W Toor