A camera privacy protection device, a camera and an electronic device

Abstract

The application relates to a camera privacy protection device, a camera and electronic equipment, and belongs to the technical field of camera privacy protection. The device comprises a shell, a locking mechanism, a shielding mechanism and a gear driving mechanism. The shell is provided with a light channel and a limiting structure. The locking mechanism comprises a lock ring, an elastic member and a gear transmission member. The lock ring is provided with a locking protrusion and a transmission tooth. The transmission tooth has a locking state of being engaged with the gear transmission member and an unlocking state of being disengaged. The gear driving mechanism is used for driving the shielding mechanism to switch between a closed state of shielding a lens hole and an opened state of opening the lens hole, and is engaged with the gear transmission member. When the locking protrusion is matched with the limiting structure, the transmission tooth is in the locking state or the unlocking state. The scheme can realize shielding of the camera through the linkage design of the integrated locking mechanism and the gear driving mechanism, and can also be self-locked, so that the stability and operation efficiency of physical protection are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of camera privacy protection technology, and in particular to a camera privacy protection device, camera, and electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Cameras are commonly used in video conferencing for remote video conferencing. In some special meeting scenarios, in order to prevent privacy leaks, it is necessary to physically disable the camera's recording function. This is usually done by using an opaque camera privacy cover to block the camera from view.

[0003] In existing technologies, camera products can be categorized into three main types regarding privacy protection: physical blocking, electronic detection, and software encryption. Physical blocking primarily uses manual flip-top covers (such as laptop webcam covers) or stickers, but requires manual opening and closing, making it prone to privacy leaks due to forgetfulness. Electronic detection controls the cover using light, sound, or motion sensors, but is susceptible to accidental opening or closing due to environmental interference. Software encryption relies on access control or data encryption, but cannot completely eliminate the risk of physical privacy leaks. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To overcome the problems existing in related technologies, this application provides a camera privacy protection device that can block the camera while also self-locking through a linkage design of an integrated locking mechanism and a gear drive mechanism, thereby ensuring the stability and operational efficiency of physical protection.

[0005] The first aspect of this application provides a camera privacy protection device, including a housing, an optical channel, and a limiting structure surrounding the optical channel;

[0006] The locking mechanism includes an axially rotatable locking ring, an elastic element, and a gear transmission element. The locking ring has a lens hole coaxial with the optical channel. The locking ring is embedded in the optical channel, and one end of the locking ring extending into the housing has a guide portion that slides with the limiting structure. The guide portion has a locking protrusion and transmission teeth. The end of the locking ring protruding outside the housing forms a knob. The elastic element simultaneously abuts against the limiting structure and the locking ring.

[0007] The transmission teeth have a locked state of engaging with the gear transmission component and an unlocked state of disengaging.

[0008] The blocking mechanism has a closed state that blocks the lens aperture and an open state that opens the lens aperture;

[0009] The gear drive mechanism meshes with the gear transmission component and drives the blocking mechanism to switch between the closed and open states.

[0010] When the locking protrusion engages with the limiting structure, the transmission tooth is in a locked or unlocked state.

[0011] In some embodiments, the limiting structure includes an annular stop and a positioning boss assembly. The annular stop is disposed on the inner peripheral wall of the optical channel and has an inwardly recessed arc-shaped slide. The positioning boss assembly is disposed on one end face of the arc-shaped slide facing the inside of the housing. The positioning boss assembly has at least two locking positions. When the locking protrusion is located in one of the locking positions, the transmission gear is in a locked or unlocked state.

[0012] In some embodiments, the positioning boss assembly includes a proximal locking block and a distal locking block, the proximal locking block and the distal locking block forming a first locking groove, and the distal locking block forming a second locking groove on an arc-shaped slide.

[0013] In some embodiments, when the locking protrusion engages with the first locking groove and the transmission tooth is in the unlocked state, the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion and the top surface of the transmission tooth is less than or equal to the depth of the first locking groove, the elastic element disengages the transmission tooth from the gear transmission element, and the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion and the top surface of the transmission tooth is greater than the depth of the second locking groove.

[0014] In some embodiments, when the locking protrusion engages with the second locking groove and the transmission tooth is in the unlocked state, the transmission tooth is provided with a clearance notch equal to the meshing arc length of the gear transmission component, and the clearance notch corresponds to the projected arc length of the distal locking block on the rotation plane of the transmission tooth.

[0015] In some embodiments, the gear transmission component includes a first gear and a second gear rotatably connected to the housing. The first gear and the second gear each have a bevel gear and a spur gear arranged coaxially. The spur gear of the first gear engages with a gear drive mechanism, and the bevel gear of the first gear engages with the bevel gear of the second gear. When the locking protrusion cooperates with the limiting structure, the transmission teeth engage or disengage with the spur gear of the second gear.

[0016] In some embodiments, the gear drive mechanism includes a motor, a drive gear, a first transmission gear and a second transmission gear that rotate coaxially, and a linkage gear. The output shaft of the motor is connected to the drive gear. The drive gear meshes with the first transmission gear and the linkage gear. The second transmission gear meshes with the linkage gear. The gear transmission component meshes with the linkage gear.

[0017] The blocking mechanism includes a first baffle and a second baffle, the first baffle being connected to a first transmission gear and the second baffle being connected to a second transmission gear.

[0018] In some embodiments, the annular retaining edge is further provided with an inwardly recessed arc-shaped groove, the locking ring is provided with an arc-shaped retaining ring adapted to the arc-shaped groove, and the outer periphery of the end of the arc-shaped retaining ring is provided with an anti-disengagement hook.

[0019] A second aspect of this application provides a camera that includes the aforementioned camera privacy protection device.

[0020] A third aspect of this application provides an electronic device, including a microphone, an audio speaker, and the aforementioned camera.

[0021] The technical solution provided in this application has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] The camera privacy protection device provided in this application can achieve an automated mode of blocking the lens hole through the cooperation of a gear drive mechanism and a blocking mechanism. In case of malfunction, a manual emergency mode of blocking the lens hole can be achieved through the linkage of a locking mechanism, a gear drive mechanism, and a blocking mechanism, ensuring absolute privacy. In addition, through the cooperation of a limiting structure and a locking ring, the locking ring and the gear transmission component can be engaged and locked, thereby completing the mechanical self-locking of the blocking mechanism. This can prevent accidental unlocking caused by external impact or software tampering, improving the reliability of the protection. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the more detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals generally represent the same components in the exemplary embodiments thereof.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the electronic device shown in the embodiments of this application;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device after the housing has been disassembled, as shown in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0027] Figure 4 This is an exploded schematic diagram of a camera privacy protection device shown in an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the camera privacy protection device after the housing has been removed, as shown in the embodiments of this application;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the housing shown in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 7 This is another partially enlarged schematic diagram of the housing shown in the embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the lock ring structure shown in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing that when the locking protrusion is located in the first locking groove, the lock ring and the gear transmission component are in an unlocked state, as illustrated in the embodiments of this application.

[0033] Figure 10 This is another structural schematic diagram of the lock ring shown in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing that when the locking protrusion is located in the second locking groove, the lock ring and the gear transmission component are in an unlocked state, as illustrated in the embodiments of this application.

[0035] Figure label:

[0036] 1. Housing; 10. Optical channel; 11. Limiting structure; 110. Annular flange; 110a. Arc-shaped slide rail; 111. Positioning boss assembly; 111a. Proximal locking block; 111b. Distal locking block; 111c. First locking groove; 111d. Second locking groove; 111e. Arc-shaped groove;

[0037] 2. Locking mechanism; 20. Locking ring; 200. Lens hole; 201. Guide part; 202. Locking protrusion; 203. Transmission gear; 204. Knob; 205. Clearance notch; 206. Arc-shaped retaining ring; 207. Anti-detachment hook; 21. Elastic element; 22. Gear transmission element; 220. First gear; 221. Second gear;

[0038] 3. Shielding mechanism; 30. First baffle; 31. Second baffle;

[0039] 4. Gear drive mechanism; 40. Motor; 41. Drive gear; 42. First transmission gear; 43. Second transmission gear; 44. Linkage gear. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Preferred embodiments of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While preferred embodiments of the present application are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present application may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present application more thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the present application to those skilled in the art.

[0041] The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0042] It should be understood that although the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., may be used in this application to describe various information, this information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0043] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a camera privacy protection device that integrates a locking mechanism and a gear drive mechanism. This dual-drive mechanism enables the device to block the camera while simultaneously locking itself, ensuring the stability and operational efficiency of the physical protection.

[0044] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] See Figures 1 to 8 This application provides a camera privacy protection device, including a housing 1, an optical channel 10, and a limiting structure 11 surrounding the optical channel 10;

[0046] The locking mechanism 2 includes an axially rotatable locking ring 20, an elastic element 21, and a gear transmission element 22. The locking ring 20 has a lens hole 200 coaxial with the optical channel 10. The locking ring 20 is embedded in the optical channel 10, and one end of the locking ring 20 extending into the housing 1 has a guide portion 201 that slides with the limiting structure 11. The guide portion 201 has a locking protrusion 202 and a transmission tooth 203. The end of the locking ring 20 protruding outside the housing 1 forms a knob 204. The elastic element 21 simultaneously abuts against the limiting structure 11 and the locking ring 20.

[0047] The transmission tooth 203 has a locked state that engages with the gear transmission component 22 and an unlocked state that disengages.

[0048] The blocking mechanism 3 has a closed state that blocks the lens hole 200 and an open state that opens the lens hole 200;

[0049] The gear drive mechanism 4 meshes with the gear transmission component 22 and drives the blocking mechanism 3 to switch between the closed and open states.

[0050] When the locking protrusion 202 engages with the limiting structure 11, the transmission tooth 203 is in a locked or unlocked state.

[0051] Specifically, the housing 1 contains a suitable bracket for mounting and fixing the locking mechanism 2, the blocking mechanism 3, the gear drive mechanism 4, the camera module, and other functional components. The housing 1 can be made of metal or plastic. The camera module is located on the axis of the light channel 10, with the camera end of the camera module facing the exit of the light channel 10 for video acquisition. The inner diameter of the light channel 10 forms a clearance fit with the outer diameter of the guide portion 201 of the locking ring 20. A limiting structure 11 is provided around the light channel 10. The limiting structure 11 is used to cooperate with the locking mechanism 2. The limiting structure 11 can be a ring groove or a raised track to limit the rotation path of the locking ring 20, so as to form a mechanical self-locking of the blocking mechanism 3 or switch the driving mode of the blocking mechanism 3. The driving mode is divided into a mechanical driving mode or a manual driving mode. The mechanical driving mode is realized by the gear drive mechanism 4, and the manual driving mode is realized by manually rotating the locking ring 20.

[0052] The locking mechanism 2 is used to achieve mechanical self-locking of the blocking mechanism 3 and to switch the driving mode of the blocking mechanism 3 to manual driving mode. The locking ring 20 of the locking mechanism 2 passes through the guide part 201 and is embedded in the limiting structure 11 in the optical channel 10. The lens hole 200 of the locking ring 20 matches the lens of the camera module. The guide part 201 can be set as an arc-shaped flange, and its outer peripheral wall is provided with locking protrusions 202 and transmission teeth 203. By rotating the locking ring 20, the relative position of the locking protrusions 202 is changed, thereby changing the meshing state between the transmission teeth 203 and the gear transmission component 22, thereby achieving self-locking of the blocking mechanism 3 or switching to manual driving of the blocking mechanism 3. The elastic element 21 is located between the locking ring 20 and the limiting structure 11 and is used to provide axial clamping force. The elastic element 21 can be a bolt spring, a spring sheet, or an elastic foam that can be axially compressed and stretched. Its shape can be set as a ring structure adapted to the limiting structure 11 and the guide part. When the transmission gear 203 and the gear transmission component 22 are engaged, rotating the locking ring 20 can drive the shielding mechanism 3 to switch between open and closed states via the gear drive mechanism 4. This ensures that the electronic device can still achieve physical shielding even if the software is tampered with or the automatic mode malfunctions, thus guaranteeing privacy and security. The shielding mechanism 3 adopts a rotary structure and rotates under the drive of the gear drive mechanism 4, thereby shielding or opening the lens hole 200.

[0053] In this embodiment, the physical obstruction of the camera is achieved through a mechanical linkage structure. When the locking ring 20 rotates, causing the locking protrusion 202 to engage with the limiting structure 11, the transmission gear 203 and the gear transmission component 22 can be in either a locked or unlocked state. That is, when the locking ring 20 rotates to the locked position, the transmission gear 203 engages with the gear transmission component 22, and the locking ring 20 can drive the gear drive mechanism 4 to drive the obstruction mechanism 3, realizing the switching between the open and closed states of the obstruction mechanism 3, which is the manual drive mode. When the locking ring 20 rotates to the unlocked position, the transmission gear 203 and the gear transmission component 22 disengage, and the gear drive mechanism 4 drives the obstruction mechanism 3 itself, which is the automatic drive mode.

[0054] Furthermore, this application also proposes a limiting structure 11 including an annular stop 110 and a positioning boss assembly 111. The annular stop 110 is disposed on the inner peripheral wall of the optical channel 10. The annular stop 110 has an inwardly recessed arc-shaped slide 110a. The positioning boss assembly 111 is disposed on one end face of the arc-shaped slide 110a facing the inside of the housing 1. The positioning boss assembly 111 has at least two locking positions. When the locking protrusion 202 is located in one of the locking positions, the transmission gear 203 is in a locked state or an unlocked state.

[0055] The annular retaining edge 110 provides a rotational guide path for the locking ring 20 through the arc-shaped slide rail 110a on its inner circumferential wall. The positioning boss assembly 111 is disposed on the end face of the arc-shaped slide rail 110a, forming a mechanical limiting structure. In a preferred embodiment, the housing 1 is made of plastic material, and the annular retaining edge 110 and the positioning boss assembly 111 are integrally formed with the housing 1. The locking positions of the positioning boss assembly 111 are circumferentially distributed on the end face of the arc-shaped slide rail 110a. The number of locking positions can be set to two or three according to actual needs, for example, a transition position can be added between the locked and unlocked states. When the locking protrusion 202 is located in one of the locking positions, the meshing relationship between the transmission gear 203 and the gear transmission component 22 can be either engaged or disengaged.

[0056] The following provides a detailed explanation of the engagement relationship between the transmission gear 203 and the gear transmission component 22 when the locking protrusion 202 is located in one of the locking positions, which can be either engaged or disengaged.

[0057] For ease of understanding, since the two locking positions are related to the gear transmission component 22 in terms of distance, the two locking positions can be defined as the first locking position and the second locking position, respectively. The first locking position is closer to the gear transmission component 22, and the second locking position is farther away from the gear transmission component 22.

[0058] When the locking protrusion 202 is in the first locking position and the meshing relationship between the transmission tooth 203 and the gear transmission component 22 is in the unlocked state, the depths of the first and second locking positions are adjusted to ensure that the depth of the first locking position is greater than or equal to the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion 202 and the top surface of the transmission tooth 203, while the depth of the second locking position is less than the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion 202 and the top surface of the transmission tooth 203. This achieves the purpose of releasing the meshing between the transmission tooth 203 and the gear transmission component 22. At the same time, the elastic element 21 provides axial preload, so that when the locking protrusion 202 is in the first locking position, under the action of the axial force of the elastic element 21, the locking protrusion 202 is tightly pressed against the bottom of the first locking position.

[0059] When the locking protrusion 202 is in the second locking position and the meshing relationship between the transmission tooth 203 and the gear transmission member 22 is unlocked, the transmission tooth 203 is provided with a clearance structure, which releases the meshing between the transmission tooth 203 and the gear transmission member 22. At the same time, when the locking protrusion 202 is in the first locking position, the transmission tooth 203 with the clearance structure meshes with the gear transmission member 22.

[0060] Furthermore, this application also proposes a positioning boss assembly 111 including a proximal locking block 111a and a distal locking block 111b, wherein the proximal locking block 111a and the distal locking block 111b enclose a first locking groove 111c, and the distal locking block 111b forms a second locking groove 111d on the arc-shaped slide 110a.

[0061] Specifically, both the proximal locking block 111a and the distal locking block 111b are protruding structures provided on the annular retaining edge 110, forming a height difference between them at the end face of the arc-shaped slide rail 110a. The first locking groove 111c is formed by the proximal locking block 111a and the distal locking block 111b together, which is the first locking position mentioned above. The second locking groove 111d is formed solely by the distal locking block 111b. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the locking block can be trapezoidal or rectangular to enhance the stability of the fit with the locking protrusion 202.

[0062] Based on the above specific implementation methods, please refer to Figure 8 and Figure 9 This application also proposes that when the locking protrusion 202 is engaged in the first locking groove 111c and the transmission tooth 203 is in the unlocked state, the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion 202 and the top surface of the transmission tooth 203 is less than or equal to the depth of the first locking groove 111c, the elastic member 21 disengages the transmission tooth 203 from the gear transmission member 22, and the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion 202 and the top surface of the transmission tooth 203 is greater than the depth of the second locking groove 111d.

[0063] Specifically, the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion 202 and the top surface of the transmission tooth 203 is less than or equal to the depth of the first locking groove 111c. After the locking ring 20 is rotated so that the locking protrusion 202 is engaged in the first locking groove 111c, since the guide part 201 and the arc-shaped slide 110a are in a clearance fit, the locking protrusion 202 provided on the guide part 201 can limit the guide part 201. When the elastic member 21 pushes the locking ring 20 to move axially under its own axial action, the locking protrusion 202 presses against the end face of the arc-shaped slide 110a. When the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion 202 and the top surface of the transmission tooth 203 is less than the depth of the first locking groove 111c, the horizontal plane where the top surface of the transmission tooth 203 is located is located at the horizontal plane where the bottom surface of the gear transmission member 22 is located, thus causing the transmission tooth 203 to be unable to mesh with the gear transmission member 22. When the user presses and rotates the locking ring 20, the locking protrusion 202 slides from the first locking groove 111c into the second locking groove 111d, thereby enabling the transmission teeth 203 to engage the gear transmission component 22. In some embodiments, the elastic element 21 may be annular foam.

[0064] In this embodiment, by precisely controlling the mating dimensions of the locking protrusion 202 and the first locking groove 111c, combined with the elastic force of the elastic element 21, reliable separation of the transmission tooth 203 and the gear transmission element 22 is achieved. When the locking protrusion 202 engages in the first locking groove 111c, the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion 202 and the top surface of the transmission tooth 203 ensures the axial displacement of the transmission tooth 203, allowing the gear transmission system to completely disengage in the unlocked state, avoiding accidental engagement due to misoperation or vibration. Compared with the prior art, the solution provided in this application can solve the problem of shielding failure caused by structural loosening of the manual shielding device, and improves the reliability of the privacy protection device by combining mechanical limiting and elastic reset.

[0065] Further, please refer to Figure 10 and Figure 11 This application also proposes that when the locking protrusion 202 is engaged in the second locking groove 111d and the transmission tooth 203 is in the unlocked state, the transmission tooth 203 is provided with a clearance notch 205 that is equal to the meshing arc length of the gear transmission component 22, and the clearance notch 205 corresponds to the projection arc length of the distal locking block 111b on the rotation plane of the transmission tooth 203.

[0066] Specifically, the clearance notch 205 is a groove structure circumferentially formed on the transmission tooth 203, and its arc length is calculated and determined based on the tooth pitch and meshing angle of the gear transmission component 22. The rotational arc of the locking ring 20 is determined by the arc length of the guide portion 201 and the arc length of the arc-shaped slide 110a, that is, the arc length of the arc-shaped slide 110a minus the arc length of the guide portion 201 is the rotational arc of the locking ring 20. At the same time, the rotational arc of the locking ring 20 is equal to the arc length of the clearance notch 205. With this setting, it can be ensured that when the locking protrusion 202 is located in the second locking groove 111d, it can be automatically limited by the guide portion 201 and the arc-shaped slide 110a, thereby avoiding the problem of abnormal meshing caused by rotational misalignment.

[0067] When the locking protrusion 202 is located in the first locking groove 111c, the transmission tooth 203 meshes with the gear transmission component 22. When the locking protrusion 202 is located in the second locking groove 111d, the transmission tooth 203 disengages from the gear transmission component 22.

[0068] In this embodiment, by setting a specific size clearance notch 205, the transmission tooth 203 can completely avoid the meshing area of ​​the gear transmission component 22 in the unlocked state. When the locking protrusion 202 is engaged in the second locking groove 111d, the rotation plane of the transmission tooth 203 is physically isolated from the gear transmission component 22, and the locking ring 20 is further limited and fixed by the elastic element 21. This not only solves the problem of false triggering caused by the accumulation of mechanical tolerances in the prior art, but also eliminates the risk of interference between the transmission tooth 203 and the gear transmission component 22 through geometric size matching.

[0069] Furthermore, this application also proposes a gear transmission component 22 including a first gear 220 and a second gear 221 rotatably connected to the housing 1. The first gear 220 and the second gear 221 both have a bevel gear and a spur gear arranged coaxially. The spur gear of the first gear 220 meshes with the gear drive mechanism 4, and the bevel gear of the first gear 220 meshes with the bevel gear of the second gear 221. When the locking protrusion 202 cooperates with the limiting structure 11, the transmission teeth 203 mesh with or disengage from the spur gear of the second gear 221.

[0070] The spur gear of the first gear 220 receives power input from the gear drive mechanism 4 and transmits the power to the second gear 221 via bevel gear transmission. The spur gear of the second gear 221 engages or disengages with the transmission teeth 203 of the locking ring 20, thereby achieving a locked or unlocked state. The bevel gear transmission design of the first gear 220 and the second gear 221 can change the direction of power transmission to adapt to the internal spatial layout of the housing 1, thus reducing the size of the housing 1. This application achieves the conversion of the power transmission direction through a dual-gear transmission structure and controls the locking state by utilizing the meshing relationship between the spur gear of the second gear 221 and the transmission teeth 203. The bevel gear transmission solves the power transmission problem under space-constrained conditions, while the separable meshing design of the spur gear and the transmission teeth 203 achieves a mechanical self-locking function.

[0071] Furthermore, this application also proposes a gear drive mechanism 4 including a motor 40, a drive gear 41, a first transmission gear 42 and a second transmission gear 43 rotating coaxially, and a linkage gear 44. The output shaft of the motor 40 is connected to the drive gear 41. The drive gear 41 meshes with the first transmission gear 42 and the linkage gear 44. The second transmission gear 43 meshes with the linkage gear 44. The gear transmission component 22 meshes with the linkage gear 44. The blocking mechanism 3 includes a first baffle 30 and a second baffle 31. The first baffle 30 is connected to the first transmission gear 42, and the second baffle 31 is connected to the second transmission gear 43.

[0072] Specifically, the motor 40 serves as the power source, driving the drive gear 41 to rotate via its output shaft. The drive gear 41 meshes with both the first transmission gear 42 and the linkage gear 44, achieving power splitting. The linkage gear 44, as an intermediate transmission component, meshes with the drive gear 41 to obtain power and with the second transmission gear 43 to transmit power, enabling the first transmission gear 42 and the second transmission gear 43 to rotate in opposite directions; for example, the first transmission gear 42 rotates clockwise, and the second transmission gear 43 rotates counterclockwise. The meshing relationship between the gear transmission component 22 and the linkage gear 44 allows the movement state of the blocking mechanism 3 to be controlled via the gear transmission component 22. The first baffle 30 and the second baffle 31 are respectively connected to the first transmission gear 42 and the second transmission gear 43, opening and closing synchronously with the gear rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the blocking mechanism 3 matches the camera module, for example, it is hemispherical. The first baffle 30 and the second baffle 31 can be made of opaque material to ensure no light leakage when completely blocked. The start, stop, and direction of the motor 40 can be achieved through external control signals, such as using a micro stepper motor 40 in conjunction with a control circuit to achieve precise angle control.

[0073] In addition, to improve the automation effect of the device, the housing 1 is also equipped with a sensor for detecting the rotational position of the locking ring 20, such as a Hall sensor and a magnet. The magnet can be installed on the end face of the locking ring 20 or on the end face of the locking protrusion 202. The Hall sensor is set opposite to the magnet through a bracket. When the Hall sensor detects the magnetic field information of the magnet, it sends the information to the controller of the electronic device. The controller reads the signal and determines the meshing relationship between the current transmission gear 203 and the gear transmission component 22. If it is in a locked state, the automatic mode is stopped. If it is in an unlocked state, the automatic mode of the gear drive mechanism 4 is restored.

[0074] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the annular retaining edge 110 is provided with an inwardly recessed arc-shaped groove 111e, and the locking ring 20 is provided with an arc-shaped retaining ring 206 adapted to the arc-shaped groove 111e. The outer periphery of the end of the arc-shaped retaining ring 206 is provided with an anti-disengagement hook 207. The arc-shaped retaining ring 206 and the arc-shaped slide 110a are arranged opposite to each other to jointly achieve axial positioning of the locking ring 20. The anti-disengagement hook 207 and the locking protrusion 202 can prevent the locking ring 20 from axially shifting or falling off during rotation.

[0075] This application also provides a camera, including a camera privacy protection device. The camera privacy protection device includes a housing 1, a locking mechanism 2, a blocking mechanism 3, and a gear drive mechanism 4. The housing 1 has a light channel 10 and a limiting structure 11 surrounding the light channel 10. The locking mechanism 2 includes an axially rotatable locking ring 20, an elastic element 21, and a gear drive element 22. The locking ring 20 has a lens hole 200 coaxial with the light channel 10. The locking ring 20 is embedded in the light channel 10, and one end of the locking ring 20 extending into the housing 1 has a guide portion 201 that slides with the limiting structure 11. The guide portion 201 has a locking protrusion 202 and a transmission tooth 203. The end of the locking ring 20 protruding outside the housing 1 forms a knob 204. The elastic element 21 simultaneously abuts against the limiting structure 11 and the locking ring 20. The transmission tooth 203 has a locked state engaged with the gear drive element 22 and an unlocked state disengaged. The blocking mechanism 3 has a closed state that blocks the lens hole 200 and an open state that opens the lens hole 200. The gear drive mechanism 4 meshes with the gear transmission component 22 and drives the blocking mechanism 3 to switch between the closed and open states. When the locking protrusion 202 engages with the limiting structure 11, the transmission gear 203 is in a locked or unlocked state.

[0076] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the camera provided in this application, by integrating the aforementioned camera privacy protection device, can achieve a physical blocking function, effectively preventing privacy leakage. Specifically, the locking mechanism 2, through the cooperation of the locking ring 20 and the limiting structure 11, enables the transmission gear 203 to engage or disengage with the gear transmission component 22, thereby achieving manual control of the opening and closing of the blocking mechanism 3. The gear drive mechanism 4, through the motor 40, drives the gear transmission component 22, thereby driving the blocking mechanism 3 to move, achieving the blocking or opening of the lens hole 200 in automatic mode. The solution provided in this application can solve the problems of inconvenient manual switching, susceptibility to interference with electronic detection, and the inability of software encryption to completely eliminate physical privacy leakage in the prior art.

[0077] This application also provides an electronic device, including a microphone, an audio speaker, and a camera, wherein the camera employs the aforementioned camera privacy protection device.

[0078] The various embodiments of this application have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or improvement of the technology in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A camera privacy protection device, characterized in that, include: The housing (1) is provided with an optical channel (10) and a limiting structure (11) surrounding the optical channel (10); The locking mechanism (2) includes an axially rotatable locking ring (20), an elastic element (21), and a gear transmission element (22). The locking ring (20) has a lens hole (200) coaxial with the optical channel (10). The locking ring (20) is embedded in the optical channel (10), and one end of the locking ring (20) extending into the housing (1) has a guide part (201) that slides with the limiting structure (11). The guide part (201) has a locking protrusion (202) and a transmission tooth (203). One end of the locking ring (20) protruding outside the housing (1) forms a knob (204). The elastic element (21) simultaneously abuts against the limiting structure (11) and the locking ring (20). The transmission tooth (203) has a locked state that engages with the gear transmission component (22) and an unlocked state that disengages from the engagement. The blocking mechanism (3) has a closed state that blocks the lens hole (200) and an open state that opens the lens hole (200); The gear drive mechanism (4) meshes with the gear transmission component (22) and drives the blocking mechanism (3) to switch between the closed state and the open state; When the locking protrusion (202) engages with the limiting structure (11), the transmission tooth (203) is in a locked or unlocked state. When the locking ring (20) rotates to the locked position, the transmission tooth (203) meshes with the gear transmission component (22), and the locking ring (20) can drive the gear drive mechanism (4) to drive the blocking mechanism (3) to move, realizing the switching of the blocking mechanism (3) between the open and closed states, which is a manual drive mode. When the locking ring (20) rotates to the unlocked position, the transmission tooth (203) disengages from the gear transmission component (22), and at this time the blocking mechanism (3) is driven by the gear drive mechanism (4) itself, which is an automatic drive mode.

2. The camera privacy protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting structure (11) includes an annular stop (110) and a positioning boss assembly (111). The annular stop (110) is located on the inner peripheral wall of the optical channel (10). The annular stop (110) has an inwardly recessed arc-shaped slide (110a). The positioning boss assembly (111) is located on one end face of the arc-shaped slide (110a) facing the inside of the housing (1). The positioning boss assembly (111) has at least two locking positions. When the locking protrusion (202) is located in one of the locking positions, the transmission gear (203) is in a locked or unlocked state.

3. The camera privacy protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The positioning boss assembly (111) includes a proximal locking block (111a) and a distal locking block (111b). The proximal locking block (111a) and the distal locking block (111b) enclose a first locking groove (111c), and the distal locking block (111b) forms a second locking groove (111d) on the arc-shaped slide (110a).

4. The camera privacy protection device according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the locking protrusion (202) is engaged in the first locking groove (111c) and the transmission tooth (203) is in the unlocked state, the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion (202) and the top surface of the transmission tooth (203) is less than or equal to the depth of the first locking groove (111c), the elastic member (21) disengages the transmission tooth (203) from the gear transmission member (22), and the distance between the bottom surface of the locking protrusion (202) and the top surface of the transmission tooth (203) is greater than the depth of the second locking groove (111d).

5. The camera privacy protection device according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the locking protrusion (202) is engaged in the second locking groove (111d) and the transmission tooth (203) is in the unlocked state, the transmission tooth (203) is provided with a clearance notch (205) that is equal to the meshing arc length of the gear transmission component (22). The clearance notch (205) corresponds to the projection arc length of the distal locking block (111b) on the rotation plane of the transmission tooth (203).

6. The camera privacy protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gear transmission component (22) includes a first gear (220) and a second gear (221) rotatably connected to the housing (1). The first gear (220) and the second gear (221) both have a bevel gear and a spur gear arranged coaxially. The spur gear of the first gear (220) meshes with the gear drive mechanism (4), and the bevel gear of the first gear (220) meshes with the bevel gear of the second gear (221). When the locking protrusion (202) cooperates with the limiting structure (11), the transmission tooth (203) meshes with or disengages from the spur gear of the second gear (221).

7. The camera privacy protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gear drive mechanism (4) includes a motor (40), a drive gear (41), a first transmission gear (42) and a second transmission gear (43) that rotate coaxially, and a linkage gear (44). The output shaft of the motor (40) is connected to the drive gear (41). The drive gear (41) meshes with the first transmission gear (42) and the linkage gear (44). The second transmission gear (43) meshes with the linkage gear (44). The gear transmission component (22) meshes with the linkage gear (44). The blocking mechanism (3) includes a first baffle (30) and a second baffle (31), the first baffle (30) being connected to a first transmission gear (42) and the second baffle (31) being connected to a second transmission gear (43).

8. The camera privacy protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The annular retaining edge (110) is also provided with an inwardly recessed arc groove (111e), and the locking ring (20) is provided with an arc-shaped retaining ring (206) adapted to the arc groove (111e). The outer periphery of the end of the arc-shaped retaining ring (206) is provided with an anti-disengagement hook (207).

9. A camera, characterized in that, Includes the camera privacy protection device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that, Includes a microphone, a speaker, and a camera as described in claim 9.

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