The design of the foldable USB camera module needs to combine mechanical structure innovation and circuit optimization, with a focus on solving the problems of folding stability, signal transmission reliability and software adaptation. The following are the key design points:
Folding Structure and Mechanical Design
Flexible connectors: Flexible circuit boards (FPC) or ultra-flexible flat cables are used to connect the camera body to the main board, ensuring that signal transmission is not affected during the folding process. Flexible connectors need to have sufficient bending life (such as hundreds of thousands of bends) and fatigue resistance.
Fixing and positioning mechanism: Design a locking structure (such as snap fasteners, magnetic attraction or gear positioning) to keep the camera stable when unfolded or folded. The folding Angle and direction need to be determined according to the application scenario. For example, supporting 180-degree folding can achieve front/rear switching.
Modular design: The camera body, flexible connectors and fixed structure are treated as independent modules, facilitating integration into different devices (such as laptops, monitors or mobile terminals).
Optical and Image sensors
Lens selection: Choose a lens with an appropriate focal length based on the viewing Angle requirements after folding. Wide-angle lenses are suitable for large-scale monitoring, while telephoto lenses are suitable for long-distance shooting. The lens needs to have an anti-reflective coating to reduce the possible light interference introduced during the folding process.
Image sensor: It adopts a highly sensitive and low-noise CMOS sensor, supporting high resolution (such as 1080P or 4K) and high frame rate (such as 30fps or 60fps). The sensor needs to have automatic exposure, white balance and color correction functions to adapt to different lighting conditions.
Circuit and Signal Transmission
High-speed data interface: Use USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 interface to ensure the real-time transmission of high-resolution video streams. During the folding process, the physical stability and electrical continuity of the interface need to be maintained.
Anti-interference design: Add a shielding layer on the flexible circuit board to reduce the impact of electromagnetic interference (EMI) on signal transmission. The routing of the folded part needs to be optimized to avoid signal attenuation or crosstalk.
Power management: Integrated with a low-power chip, it supports the standby mode of the camera when folded, extending battery life. The power line needs to be separated from the signal line to reduce mutual interference.
Software and driver adaptation
UVC protocol support: Ensure that the camera module complies with the USB Video Class (UVC) standard to achieve plug-and-play functionality. The driver needs to be adapted to different operating systems (such as Windows, Linux or Android).
Folding state detection: The folding state of the camera is detected through hardware sensors (such as Hall sensors) or software algorithms, and the working mode is automatically switched (such as front/rear camera switching).
Image processing algorithm: Integrating distortion removal, dynamic range compression and noise suppression algorithms to enhance the imaging quality of folding cameras from different viewing angles.
Application scenarios and scalability:
Multi-device compatibility: Design a universal interface to enable the camera module to be compatible with various devices such as laptops, tablets, and smart displays.
Function expansion: Integrated microphone, infrared LED or fill light, supporting functions such as audio and video synchronous recording, night vision or face recognition.
Durability testing: Conduct rigorous folding life tests (such as 100,000 folds), high and low temperature tests, and vibration tests to ensure the reliability of the module in harsh environments.