JP2006222810A - Portable telephone with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To photograph objects separated by distance, such as persons, sceneries or the like using an equipped camera, and to photograph fingerprints, by depressing and contacting fingers on the transparent covers of the camera. <P>SOLUTION: As shown in Figure 3, the portable telephone with a camera comprises a camera, which includes the transparent cover 111; an imaging device 112, a fixed lens 113, a light source 114 irradiating a surface of the transparent cover with the light from the backside of the transparent cover; a movable lens 115 with a focus for photographing the surface of the transparent cover combined with the fixed lens; and a movable lens moving mechanism 116 for setting the movable lens either to a first position which is not in the optical path of photographing light of the fixed lens, or to a second position where an optical axis of the movable lens is overlapped with an optical axis of the fixed lens. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera-equipped mobile phone that can shoot a remote object such as a person / landscape with a mounted camera and can also shoot a fingerprint by pressing a finger against a transparent cover of the camera.

  In recent years, portable telephones have become multifunctional while being reduced in size, and a function as an electronic notebook and a function for connecting to the Internet have come to be installed as standard. In addition, mobile phones with cameras (hereinafter also referred to as “normal cameras”) for taking pictures of landscapes and people are becoming common.

  In addition, mobile phones are also provided with a function for substituting valuable cards such as credit cards and bank cards. For example, a product equipped with a function capable of purchasing goods at a convenience store is provided. Many portable telephones of this type are equipped with a fingerprint reading device for performing personal authentication.

By the way, when both a normal camera and a fingerprint reading device are mounted on a mobile phone, these mounting areas must be secured separately, which limits the miniaturization of the mobile phone.
The present invention has been proposed in order to solve such a problem, and a camera-equipped mobile phone that can be miniaturized by using an ordinary camera and a fingerprint reader together with the mobile phone. The purpose is to provide.

  A mobile phone with a camera according to the present invention includes: (1) a transparent cover; (2) an imaging device; and (3) a fixed lens that is disposed between the transparent cover and the imaging device and has a focal point for photographing far away. And (4) a light source that injects light into the inside of the transparent cover from the thickness portion of the end of the transparent cover, or a light source that irradiates light on the surface of the transparent cover from the back side of the transparent cover, 5) a movable lens that is disposed between the transparent cover and the fixed lens or between the fixed lens and the imaging device and has a focal point that images the surface of the transparent cover in combination with the fixed lens; (6) The movable lens is set at one of the first positions where the fixed lens does not enter the photographing optical path of the fixed lens, and the movable lens is set at any one of the second positions where the optical axis of the movable lens overlaps the optical axis of the fixed lens. Camera having a movable lens moving mechanism that, characterized by comprising a.

  The camera-equipped mobile phone further includes a movable lens movement mechanism control device that controls the movable lens movement mechanism, and the imaging mode changeover switch that selects either a normal photographing mode or a fingerprint reading mode as an imaging mode. The movable lens moving mechanism control device is configured to (a) move the movable lens moving mechanism so that the movable lens is set at the first position when the normal photographing mode is selected by the imaging mode changeover switch. And (b) controlling the movable lens moving mechanism so that the movable lens is set at the second position when the fingerprint reading mode is selected by the imaging mode changeover switch. Can do.

  In the camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention, the light source is disposed on the lower surface side of the transparent cover or on the side edge thick portion of the transparent cover, and the emitted light can be totally reflected on the surface of the transparent cover.

The camera-equipped mobile phone of the present invention includes a registered fingerprint storage unit that stores a fingerprint captured in the fingerprint reading mode as a registered fingerprint;
A fingerprint comparing means for comparing a fingerprint imaged in the fingerprint reading mode with a fingerprint registered in the registered fingerprint storage unit after a fingerprint is registered in the registered fingerprint storage unit;
When the fingerprint comparison unit determines that the fingerprint imaged in the fingerprint reading mode and the fingerprint registered in the registered fingerprint storage unit are not the same, a predetermined restriction is imposed on the function of the mobile phone in the fingerprint reading mode. Add
When the fingerprint comparison unit determines that the fingerprint photographed in the fingerprint reading mode and the fingerprint registered in the registered fingerprint storage unit are the same, the function of the mobile phone in the fingerprint reading mode is Do not add restrictions,
Function restriction means;
It can comprise so that it may have.

  In the camera-equipped mobile phone of the present invention, when reading a fingerprint, the movable lens moving mechanism sets the movable lens at a position where the optical axis of the movable lens overlaps the optical axis of the fixed lens. Thereby, the components such as the fixed lens and the imaging device can be shared by the normal camera and the fingerprint reader, and therefore, the camera-equipped mobile phone having the fingerprint reading function can be downsized.

  FIG. 1A is a view showing a state in which a flip-type camera-equipped mobile phone 1 is opened, and FIG. 1B is a view showing a state in which the mobile phone 1 is folded.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 1 includes a display mounting portion 1A and an operation device mounting portion 1B. A camera 11 and a mode switching slider are provided on the outer surface side (the side on which the display D is not mounted) of the display mounting portion 1A. S and shutter button B are provided, and operating device 13 (key or button) is provided on the inner surface side of operating device mounting portion 1B. The shutter button B is used for photographing a fingerprint and for photographing when the camera 11 is normally used. When the shutter button B is used exclusively for fingerprint photography, the shutter button when the camera 11 is used as a normal camera is provided separately or assigned to an appropriate key on the operation device mounting unit 1B.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone 1. In FIG. 2, the mobile phone 1 includes a camera 11, a control device 12, and an operation device 13.

  3A, 3B, and 3C are enlarged explanatory views showing a first example of the camera, where FIG. 3A is an external view of the lens portion, and FIG. 3B is a state of the camera 11 in the normal shooting mode. FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating a state of the camera 11 in the fingerprint photographing mode.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the camera 11 includes a transparent cover 111, an imaging device 112, a fixed lens 113, a light source 114, a movable lens 115, and a movable lens moving mechanism 116. ing.

The transparent cover 111 is attached to the housing K of the display mounting portion 1A, and is made of circular plastic or glass as shown in FIG.
The imaging device 112 is a semiconductor imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS. The imaging device 112 performs an imaging operation by pressing the shutter button B.

The fixed lens 113 is disposed between the transparent cover 111 and the imaging device 112.
The light source 114 is an LED that emits light from the back surface side of the transparent cover 111 toward the surface of the transparent cover 111. In the present embodiment, a plurality of light sources 114 are provided on the lower surface of the transparent cover 111 (two in the present embodiment). Yes. In the present embodiment, the light source 114 is turned on / off in synchronization with the photographing operation. That is, the shutter button B is turned on at the same time as the shutter button B is pressed, and is turned off after an instant.

  The movable lens 115 can also be disposed between the transparent cover 111 and the fixed lens 113. The movable lens 115 is combined with the fixed lens 113 and has a focal point for photographing the surface of the transparent cover 111.

  4A, 4 </ b> B, and 4 </ b> C are views showing the movable lens moving mechanism 116, where FIG. 4A is a plan view, FIG. 4B is a front view, and FIG. 4C is a side view. Xx sectional drawing). As shown, a guide 1161, a lens holding part 1162, and a slide pin 1163 are provided. The slide pin 1163 is connected to the mode switching slider S shown in FIG. 1B. By operating the mode switching slider S, the movable lens 115 does not enter the photographing optical path of the fixed lens 113. The position P1 or the movable lens 115 can be set at either the second position P2 where the optical axis L2 overlaps the optical axis L1 of the fixed lens 113. Note that the movable lens moving mechanism 116 can also be operated by a spring or the like in FIGS. 3B and 3C.

  The control device 12 shown in FIG. 2 controls the entire camera-equipped mobile phone 1 and also functions as the movable lens moving mechanism control device of the present invention. The control unit 12 includes a CPU 121, a ROM 122, a RAM 123, a call device 124, and a network connection device 125. It should be noted that the description of components that are irrelevant to the present invention is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the ROM 122 is a rewritable memory such as a CMOS. A predetermined area of the ROM 122 functions as a registered fingerprint storage unit. The ROM 122 is a fingerprint comparison program for comparing a fingerprint photographed in the fingerprint reading mode with a fingerprint registered in the predetermined storage area (registered fingerprint storage section) after the fingerprint is registered in the predetermined storage area (registered fingerprint storage section). Stored. The fingerprint comparison program and the CPU 121 that executes the program constitute a fingerprint comparison unit.

  The ROM 122 stores a function restriction program. The function restriction program and the CPU 121 that executes the program constitute a function restriction unit. The function restriction program (function restriction means) has determined that the fingerprint comparison program (fingerprint comparison means) does not match the fingerprint photographed in the fingerprint reading mode with the fingerprint registered in the predetermined storage area (registered fingerprint storage section). In some cases, a predetermined restriction is added to the function of the mobile phone in the fingerprint reading mode. Specifically, this restriction is to disable the operation of keys and buttons other than the power button and the touch switch (transparent cover 111).

  Further, the function restriction program (function restriction means) is that the fingerprint comparison program (fingerprint comparison means) has the same fingerprint imaged in the fingerprint reading mode and the fingerprint registered in the predetermined storage area (registered fingerprint storage section). When the determination is made, no predetermined restriction is imposed on the function of the mobile phone 1 in the fingerprint reading mode.

The RAM 123 stores a fingerprint taken in the fingerprint reading mode. Usually backed up.
The network connection device 125 can function as an Internet connection unit and a fingerprint information transfer unit of the present invention in cooperation with a communication program (including an application such as a web browser program) stored in the ROM 122. When the network connection device 125 functions as a fingerprint information transfer unit, the network connection device 125 can transfer a fingerprint image captured by the camera 11 or a code created from the fingerprint image to a predetermined transmission destination via the Internet.

  The operation device 13 includes a shutter button B provided on the display mounting portion 1A side, and a key / button group (see FIG. 1A) provided on the operation device mounting portion 1B side. The key / button group includes a numeric keypad, a seesaw key, a power button, a dialing button, a communication disconnect button, and the like.

Hereinafter, the operation of the mobile phone 1 equipped with the camera 1 will be described.
When the normal shooting mode is selected by the mode switching slider S (see FIG. 3B), the movable lens 113 is set at the first position P1. In the normal shooting mode, the light source 114 is turned off.

  On the other hand, when the fingerprint reading mode is selected by the mode switching slider S (see FIG. 3C), the movable lens 113 is set at the second position P2. At this time, when the shutter button B is pressed, the light source 114 is turned on and a fingerprint image is taken by the imaging device 112. As shown in FIG. 5, the light from the light source 114 is irregularly reflected (the diffusely reflected light is indicated by Q1) at the portion where the fingerprint (the fingerprint surface portion is indicated by the symbol F) is pressed, and the portion which is not pressed. Then, it totally reflects (the total reflected light is indicated by Q2). Therefore, the imaging device 112 detects the fingerprint as “black”.

6A, 6B, and 6C are enlarged explanatory views showing a second example of the camera. FIG. 6A is an external view of the lens portion, and FIG. 6B is a state of the camera 21 in the normal shooting mode. FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating a state of the camera 21 in the fingerprint photographing mode.
As shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the camera 11 includes a transparent cover 211, an imaging device 212, a fixed lens 213, a light source 214, a movable lens 215, and a movable lens moving mechanism 216. ing.

  The transparent cover 211 is the same as in the first example that it is attached to the housing K of the display mounting portion 2A, and is made of circular plastic or glass as shown in FIG. The specific configuration such as the thickness of the transparent cover 211 is different from that of the transparent cover 111 of the first example.

  The imaging device 212 is the same as the imaging device 112 described in the first example, and is a semiconductor imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS. The imaging device 112 performs an imaging operation by pressing the shutter button B.

The fixed lens 213 is disposed between the transparent cover 211 and the imaging device 212, like the fixed lens 113 of the first example.
The light source 214 is an LED that is disposed on the thick side portion of the transparent cover 211 and irradiates the surface of the transparent cover (light inside the thick wall). In the present embodiment, a plurality (two in this embodiment) are provided on the lower surface of the transparent cover 211. Similar to the first example, the light source 214 is turned on / off in synchronization with the photographing operation.

  The movable lens 215 can also be disposed between the transparent cover 211 and the fixed lens 213 in the second example. Also in the second example, the movable lens 215 has a focal point for photographing the surface of the transparent cover 211 in combination with the fixed lens 213.

  The movable lens moving mechanism 216 can be configured in the same manner as described for the first example (see FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C). Also in the second example, as in the first example, by operating the mode switching slider S in FIG. 1, the movable lens 215 is moved to the first position P1 that does not enter the photographing optical path of the fixed lens 213, or the movable lens 215 is moved to the second lens. The optical axis L2 can be set to any one of the second positions P2 where the optical axis L1 of the fixed lens 213 overlaps.

Hereinafter, the operation of the mobile phone 1 equipped with the camera 2 will be described.
When the normal shooting mode is selected by the mode switching slider S, the movable lens 213 is set at the first position P1. In the normal photographing mode, the light source 214 is turned off (see FIG. 3B).
On the other hand, when the fingerprint reading mode is selected by the mode switching slider S, the movable lens 215 is set to the second position P2. When the shutter button B is pressed at this time, the light source 214 is turned on and a fingerprint image is taken by the imaging device 212. As shown in FIG. 6, the light from the light source 214 is irregularly reflected (the diffusely reflected light is indicated by Q1) at the portion where the fingerprint (the fingerprint surface portion is indicated by the symbol F) is pressed, and the portion which is not pressed. Then, it totally reflects (the total reflected light is indicated by Q2). In the camera 2, the total reflection light Q <b> 2 is not detected by the imaging device 222, so the imaging device 212 detects the fingerprint as “white”.

(A) is a diagram showing a state in which a mobile phone with a flip type camera is opened, and (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the mobile phone is folded. It is a functional block diagram of a portable telephone. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of a camera, (A) is an external view of a lens part, (B) is a figure which shows the state of the camera in normal imaging | photography mode, (C) is a figure which shows the state of the camera in fingerprint imaging | photography mode. It is. It is a figure which shows a movable lens moving mechanism, (A) is a top view, (B) is a front view, (C) is a side view (xx sectional drawing in (A)). It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the camera of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of a camera, (A) is an external view of a lens part, (B) is a figure which shows the state of the camera in normal imaging | photography mode, (C) is a figure which shows the state of the camera in fingerprint imaging | photography mode. It is. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the camera of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable telephone 1A Display mounting part 1B Operation apparatus mounting part 11 Camera 12 Control apparatus 13 Operation apparatus 111,211 Transparent cover 112,212 Imaging device 113,213 Fixed lens 114,214 Light source 115,215 Movable lens 116,216 Movable lens Moving mechanism 1161 Guide 1162 Lens holding part 1163 Slide pin P1 1st position P2 2nd position
B Shutter button
S Mode switching slider

Claims (3)

A transparent cover,
An imaging device;
A fixed lens disposed between the transparent cover and the imaging device and having a focal point for photographing far away;
A light source for injecting light into the inside of the transparent cover from the thickness portion of the end of the transparent cover, or a light source for irradiating light on the surface of the transparent cover from the back side of the transparent cover;
A movable lens disposed between the transparent cover and the fixed lens, or between the fixed lens and the imaging device, and having a focal point for photographing the surface of the transparent cover in combination with the fixed lens;
A movable lens moving mechanism that sets the movable lens to a first position that does not enter the photographing optical path of the fixed lens, and sets the movable lens to a second position where the optical axis of the movable lens overlaps the optical axis of the fixed lens. When,
Having a camera,
A mobile phone with a camera, comprising: A movable lens moving mechanism control device for controlling the movable lens moving mechanism; and
As the imaging mode, the imaging mode changeover switch for selecting either the normal imaging mode or the fingerprint reading mode,
Further comprising
The movable lens moving mechanism control device includes:
When the normal shooting mode is selected by the imaging mode switch, the movable lens moving mechanism is controlled so that the movable lens is set at the first position;
Controlling the movable lens moving mechanism so that the movable lens is set at the second position when the fingerprint reading mode is selected by the imaging mode changeover switch;
The camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 1. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed on a lower surface side of the transparent cover or on a thick side portion of the transparent cover, and totally reflects emitted light on a surface of the transparent cover. With mobile phone.

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