Camera assembly for electronic devices

Abstract

An electronic device is provided that comprises a housing, a processor and memory provided within the housing, a keyboard on the housing and a display. A camera assembly includes a camera and a camera support member having first and second ends. The camera is provided on the camera support member proximate the first end. The second end movably connected to the housing such that the camera support member may be moved from a closed state to an open state.

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a processor and memory provided within the housing;   a display; and   a camera assembly including a camera and a camera support member having first and second ends, the camera provided on the camera support member proximate the first end, the second end movably coupled to the housing such that the camera support member may be moved from a closed state to an open state.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera support member includes inner and outer arms coupled to one another in a telescoping manner such that the inner arm contracts into the outer arm when in the closed state and the inner arm at least partially extends from the outer arm when in the open state. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the outer arm includes an interior elongated cavity extending along a length of the outer arm, the cavity including a retention element engaging the inner arm and maintaining the inner and outer arms at one or more predetermined positions relative to one another when extended. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera support member includes a hinge element provided at the second end, the hinge element rotatably coupling the camera support member to the upper face of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper face of the housing includes a recessed pocket shaped and dimensioned to receive the camera support member and camera when in the closed state. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is pivotally connected at the first end to the camera support member such that the camera rotates about a longitudinal axis of the camera support member when in the open state. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera includes a lens optically coupled to a digital camera circuit, the lens provided at an outer end of the camera support member, the digital camera circuit held within the camera support member. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera support member includes a communications interface mounted thereon, the communications interface detachably coupling to a corresponding communications port on the electronic device such that the camera support member is physically and electrically attachable and detachable from the electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a keyboard which includes multiple keys and the camera assembly is at least partially housed within one of the keys, the camera assembly including a lens provided in a face of the corresponding key, the corresponding key rocking between opened and closed states to expose and cover the lens. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a keyboard which includes a barrel assembly located along at least a portion of a row of keys on the keyboard, the barrel assembly including the camera assembly, the barrel assembly including at least one key thereon that is exposed when the barrel assembly is rotated to a first position, the camera assembly being positioned in the open state when the barrel assembly is rotated to a second position. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 providing an electronic device with a camera assembly including a camera and a camera support member having first and second ends, the camera provided on the camera support member proximate to the first end, the second end movably connected to the housing such that the camera support member may be moved from a closed state to an open state.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing comprises providing a camera support member including inner and outer arms that at least partially extend relative to one another in a telescoping manner to the open state. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising maintaining the inner and outer arms at one or more predetermined positions relative to one another when extended. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising rotatably coupling the camera support member to an upper face of a housing of the electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising positioning the camera assembly within a recessed pocket in an upper face of a housing of the electronic device when in the closed state. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising pivotally connecting the camera to the first end to the camera support member such that the camera rotates about a longitudinal axis of the camera support member when in the open state. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising processing video data captured by the camera assembly to at least partially remove a spidering effect. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing comprises providing a keyboard which includes multiple keys and locating the camera assembly within one of the keys, the method further comprising rotatably mounting the one of the keys to the keyboard such that the corresponding key is movable between opened and closed states. 
     
     
         19 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a processor and memory provided within the housing; and   a camera assembly including a camera and a camera support member having first and second ends, the camera provided on the camera support member proximate the first end, the second end movably coupled to the housing such that the camera support member may be moved from a closed state to an open state.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the camera support member includes inner and outer arms coupled to one another in a telescoping manner such that the inner arm contracts into the outer arm when in the closed state and the inner arm at least partially extends from the outer arm when in the open state.