JP2004172767A - Mobile phone with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile phone with a camera the digital camera functions of which can be used even at a place where the use of a communication function is inhibited and all the digital camera functions of which can be updated. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile phone 2 with a camera is configured by hinging, by means of a hinge pin 9, a receiver main body 5 having the digital camera functions installed comprising an image display monitor 15, a photographing lens and a solid-state imaging element, with a transmitter main body 8 provided with an operation panel 30 including dial buttons. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile phone incorporating a digital camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the widespread use of mobile phones, various functions have been added to mobile phones in addition to communication functions such as telephone calls. In particular, a camera-equipped mobile phone having a digital camera function can capture an image of a caller and the surrounding situation and transmit the data, which is highly convenient.
[0003]
Some camera-equipped mobile phones are equipped with a detachable camera unit equipped with a photographic lens and a solid-state image sensor, etc., on the mobile phone body with a communication function. Some are displayed on an image display monitor. (For example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2)
[0004]
In some cases, when the performance of the solid-state imaging device is improved, the function of the solid-state imaging device can be updated by replacing the camera unit. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
[0005]
In addition, by removing the battery from the mobile phone body, attaching a camera unit including a photographic lens, a solid-state image sensor, operation buttons, etc. to the part from which the battery is removed, and attaching the battery to the battery mounting part of the camera unit, Some of them are used as mobile phones. (For example, see Patent Document 3)
[0006]
Some digital camera functions can be used in a state where the camera unit is detached from the mobile phone body by removing the camera unit from the mobile phone body and attaching it to a camera case having a shutter button or the like. (For example, see Patent Document 2)
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-245034 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-077771 [Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-164989
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The digital camera function of the camera-equipped mobile phone described above cannot be used only with the camera unit, and even when the use of the communication function is prohibited, the use of the digital camera function of the camera-equipped mobile phone is also prohibited. Is done.
[0009]
Use the digital camera function even in places where the use of the communication function is prohibited by removing the camera unit from the mobile phone body as described in Patent Document 2 and attaching it to a camera case equipped with a shutter button, viewfinder, etc. However, there is a problem that the user has trouble carrying around the camera case.
[0010]
In recent years, digital camera functions of camera-equipped mobile phones have rapidly improved, and there are many functions that cannot be updated by replacing the camera unit, such as improving the resolution of an image display monitor, as well as improving the functions of a solid-state imaging device.
[0011]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera-equipped mobile phone that can use the digital camera function even in a place where the use of the communication function is prohibited, and that can update any digital camera function.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a portable telephone with a camera according to the present invention by using a hinge pin between a receiver body having an image display monitor and a receiver speaker, and a transmitter body having a dial button and a microphone. By connecting, the transmitter body and the receiver body are separable.
[0013]
Used for digital camera functions such as a camera lens, solid-state image sensor, battery pack, etc. in the receiver body so that the camera-equipped mobile phone can be used with the transmitter body and receiver body separated. Incorporate the necessary circuitry.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a camera-equipped mobile phone 2 embodying the present invention is opened. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where the camera-equipped mobile phone 2 is folded. The camera-equipped mobile phone 2 has a structure in which a receiver main body 5 provided with a reception speaker 4 and a transmitter main body 8 provided with a transmission microphone 7 are foldably connected by a hinge pin 9. The hinge pin 9 is provided with a minus-shaped pin hole, and the hinge pin 9 can be tightened or loosened by inserting a minus driver or the like into the pin hole and rotating the hinge pin 9.
[0015]
The concave / convex portion 5a at the end of the receiver body 5 and the concave / convex portion 8a at the end of the transmitter main body 8 are attached so as to be engaged with each other, and a hinge pin 9 having a male screw portion 9a (see FIG. 4) at the tip is hinged. The hinge pin 9 is tightened by a female screw portion (not shown) and a male screw portion 9a provided inside the hinge hole 10 by being rotated by a minus driver through the screw 10. As a result, the receiver body 5 and the transmitter body 8 are configured to be rotatable via the hinge portion 12 including the concave and convex portions 5 a and 8 a, the hinge pin 9, and the hinge hole 10.
[0016]
On the front surface of the receiver body 5, there are a reception speaker 4, an image display monitor 15, a shutter button 16 for inputting an image capture instruction when the camera is picked up, a camera power button 17, and camera operations. A button 18 is provided. On the side surface, a memory slot 21 for inserting the memory card 20 and an earphone connection terminal 22 are provided, and a hole of the terminal 22 is covered with a protective cover 23. On the back side, an imaging lens 24, a battery pack 25, and an image display monitor 26 for displaying time and the like are provided. A communication antenna 27 is provided on the back end side of the receiver body 5.
[0017]
On the front face of the transmitter main body 8, a transmission microphone 7 and an operation panel 30 for operating a communication function and the like are provided.
[0018]
A circuit connection pattern 31 (see FIG. 3) is provided near the hinge portion 12 of the receiver body 5, and a brush 32 (see FIG. 3) connected to the pattern 31 is provided near the hinge portion 12 of the transmitter body 8. Yes. A spring is built inside the brush 32, and the brush 32 and the pattern 31 are always connected by the force of the spring. Since the pattern 31 and the brush 32 are connected, the electrical connection between the receiver body 5 and the transmitter body 8 is performed, and the electrical connection is maintained even if the receiver body 5 or the transmitter body 8 is movable. can do.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the camera-equipped mobile phone 2. The power of the camera-equipped mobile phone 2 is supplied from the battery pack 25. The electrical connection from the handset body 5 to the handset body 8 or from the handset body 8 to the handset body 5 includes the system control unit 33 on the handset body 5 side, the pattern 31, the brush 32, and the handset body. This is performed via the system control unit 34 on the eighth side.
[0020]
When the power button 17 is pressed to activate the digital camera function, the system control unit 33 sends a signal for instructing the driver 36 to drive the image sensor 37. After the image sensor 37 is driven, the subject light captured through the photographing lens 4 is converted into an image signal by the image sensor 37. The imaging signal is amplified to an appropriate level by the amplifier 38, then digitally converted by the A / D converter 39, and input to the image signal processing circuit 42 as image data. The image signal processing circuit 42 sends the image data to the memory control unit 43 via the system control unit 33 and temporarily stores the image data in the built-in memory 45.
[0021]
The image data temporarily stored in the built-in memory 45 is read to the memory control unit 43, sent to the image signal processing circuit 42 via the system control unit 33, and converted into a video signal. The video signal is sent to the liquid crystal control circuit 48 and displayed as a subject image on the image display monitor 15 and the image display monitor 26. The operating button 18 is operated to determine shooting conditions such as zooming, and the shutter button 16 is pressed to perform shooting. By pressing the shutter button 16, the image data of the subject image displayed on the image display monitor 15 is recorded in the built-in memory 45 or the memory card 20.
[0022]
The system control unit 33 sends an electrical signal to the memory control unit 43 so as to read the image data recorded in the built-in memory 45 or the memory card 20. The memory control unit 43 sends the image data read from the built-in memory 45 or the memory card 20 to the image signal processing circuit 42 via the system control unit 33, converts the image data into a video signal, and sends it to the liquid crystal control circuit 48. . The liquid crystal control circuit 48 displays an image based on the image data on the image display monitor 15 based on the video signal from the image signal processing circuit 42.
[0023]
In addition, the camera-equipped cellular phone of the present invention has a communication function for transmitting / receiving image data and calling with another camera-equipped cellular phone. When the operation panel is operated to transmit image data to another mobile phone, the operation information is sent to the system control unit 33 on the receiver body 5 side and transmitted to the memory control unit 43. The memory control unit 43 reads the image data recorded in the built-in memory 45 or the memory card 20 and sends it to the antenna 27 via the system control unit 33 and the transmission / reception circuit 55 to transmit the image data to another mobile phone. The mobile phone that receives the transmitted image data receives the image data through the antenna 27 and the transmission / reception circuit 55. The received image data is sent to the memory control unit 43 via the system control unit 33 and recorded in the built-in memory 45 or the memory card 20.
[0024]
Further, the telephone number recorded in the built-in memory 57 can be read by the memory control unit 56 or the operation panel 18 can be pressed and dialed to make a call and to make a call. The voice captured from the microphone 7 is converted into an electrical signal by the voice processing unit 58 of the transmitter body 8, and the electrical signal is sent to the system control unit 33 of the receiver body 5, and the antenna 27 is connected via the transmission / reception circuit 55. Send electrical signals from one to another phone. When an electrical signal from another telephone is received from the antenna 27, the electrical signal is converted into sound by the voice processing unit 59 of the receiver body 5, and the sound is transmitted from the earphone connected to the receiver speaker 4 or the earphone connection terminal 22. I can hear you.
[0025]
The camera-equipped mobile phone of the present invention configured as described above can activate the digital camera function with the communication function activated, but can also activate the digital camera function without activating the communication function. it can.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where the hinge pin 9 is removed from the camera-equipped mobile phone 2 and the receiver body 5 and the transmitter body 8 are separated. By rotating the hinge pin 9 with a flathead screwdriver and pulling it out of the hinge hole 10, the engagement of the hinge portion 12 can be released, and the camera-equipped mobile phone 2 is separated into the receiver body 5 and the transmitter body 8. Can do.
[0027]
When the power button 17 is pressed, power is supplied to the circuit for starting the digital camera function without supplying power to the transmitter body 5, the voice processing unit 59, and the transmission / reception circuit 55 for starting the communication function. Is done. Therefore, the digital camera function can be activated without activating the communication function, and the digital camera function can be used even in a place where the use of the communication function is prohibited.
[0028]
Since the camera-equipped mobile phone of the present invention has all the circuits necessary for using the digital camera function in the receiver body 5, all digital camera functions can be updated by replacing the receiver body 5. Can do. By attaching the new receiver body 5 to the transmitter body 8, a camera-equipped mobile phone in which the digital camera function has been updated, such as the improvement of the resolution of the image display monitor 15, is obtained.
[0029]
In the above embodiment, the handset body 5 and the handset body 8 are electrically connected by connecting the pattern 31 and the brush 32. However, even if the handset body 5 or the handset body 8 is movable. Any connector that can maintain electrical connection and is detachable may be used. In the above embodiment, the camera-equipped mobile phone 2 is separated into the receiver body 5 and the transmitter body 8 so that the digital camera function can be used without activating the communication function. You may enable it to use a digital camera function, without starting a communication function in the state which connected the transmitter main body 8. FIG.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the camera-equipped mobile phone of the present invention can use the digital camera function without activating the communication function, the digital camera function can be used even in a place where the use of the communication function is prohibited. it can.
[0031]
In addition, since the handset body can be detached from the handset body and replaced, all digital camera functions of the camera-equipped mobile phone can be updated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a camera-equipped mobile phone embodying the present invention is opened.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a camera-equipped mobile phone is folded.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a camera-equipped mobile phone embodying the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the hinge pin is removed from the camera-equipped mobile phone and the receiver body and transmitter body are separated.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Mobile phone with camera 5 Handset body 8 Handset body 15 Image display monitor 31 Pattern 32 Brush

Claims (2)

In a camera-equipped mobile phone comprising a receiver body with a speaker and an image display monitor and a transmitter body with a microphone and a dial button, a digital camera is incorporated in the receiver body,
The receiver main body is separable from the transmitter main body, and the power receiver battery is built in the receiver main body and the operation unit of the digital camera is provided so that the receiver main body can be used as a digital camera. Mobile phone. 2. The receiver main body and the transmitter main body are foldably connected with a hinge pin as an axis, and the receiver main body and the transmitter main body are separated by extracting the hinge pin in the axial direction. The mobile phone described.

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