JP2002223275A - Video camera integrated multifunctional portable telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video camera integrated multifunctional portable telephone by which the user can perform the shot and communication of an image lightly even if he does not carry a mobile phone and a portable telephone jointly with him, and which is excellent in portability, and by which self play back of a videotape or telephonic communication operation accompanied with an image becomes possible and further the user can easily perform the remote operation of a specified video camera or the check of working situation. SOLUTION: This telephone has a communication function for communicating an image and sound by radio, and is equipped with a video camera 4 for image shot, an image display 1 which displays the image taken by the video camera 4, and an action mode selection means which selectively controls at least two or more action modes among a telephonic communication mode, a camera shot mode, a play back mode, and a remote mode for controlling other apparatuses at the same time, and the video camera 4 can rotate against the main body, and the angle of rotation of the video camera 4 and the above action mode can be controlled in linkage.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera-equipped mobile phone, and more particularly to a video camera-integrated multi-function mobile phone provided with a communication means with a specific other video camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to transmit and receive images (moving images, still images) and sounds on the go, a mobile device with a so-called video camera may be used, but it is premised that the mobile device is connected to a telephone line. .

[0003] In addition, some mobile phones have an Internet function and a camera function and can perform image and voice communication.

[0004]

However, the transmission and reception of images using a mobile device and a portable telephone have a great inconvenience in connection with both devices and in carrying two devices together. .

[0005] A mobile phone with a video camera also has problems such as a lack of shooting functions and poor operability as compared with a conventional video camera, making it inconvenient to use as a mobile phone with a video camera, and traveling. In addition to carrying a video camera in addition to a mobile phone or mobile device, it often records images, but if you can enjoy various operations by communicating with the video camera you carry at this time, there are issues such as There is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and can easily perform image capturing and communication without carrying a mobile device and a mobile phone together, is excellent in portability, and has self-recording and reproduction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video camera-integrated multi-function mobile phone that enables a telephone communication operation with images and images, and further facilitates remote operation of a specific other video camera and confirmation of an operation state.

[0007]

The present invention can solve the above-mentioned problems by providing the following constitution.

(1) A communication function for wirelessly communicating images and sounds, a video camera unit for photographing an image, an image display unit for displaying an image photographed by the video camera unit, a telephone communication mode and a camera photographing mode And operation mode selection means for selectively controlling at least two or more operation modes of a remote mode for controlling another apparatus and a playback mode, and the video camera unit is rotatable with respect to the main body,
A video camera-integrated multifunction mobile phone, wherein a rotation angle of the video camera unit and the operation mode can be controlled in conjunction with each other.

(2) The video camera section controls the rotation angle in accordance with the operation mode, and can be automatically rotated and positioned at a predetermined face-to-face shooting position in the telephone communication mode and when the power is turned off. The video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone according to the above item (1), wherein in the mode, the video camera automatically rotates in a direction opposite to a predetermined position.

(3) The main body is provided with a detachable communication card, and when the communication card is inserted, it can communicate with a specific other video camera, and serves as a viewfinder of the specific other video camera. Can be displayed by using the operation keys of the main body, and the operation of the specific other video camera can be performed. Further, the captured image of the video camera unit and the image received from the specific other video camera can be respectively displayed on the image display unit. The video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone according to (1), wherein the mobile phone can be switched and viewed.

(4) The video camera-integrated multifunctional portable telephone according to the above (1), further comprising a function of recording images and sounds taken by the video camera unit of the main body or received images and sounds. .

(5) an operation unit for operating each operation mode;
A member surrounding the operation unit is constituted by a liquid crystal or a function display unit having a display member in place of the liquid crystal, and when switching to each operation mode such as a telephone communication mode, a remote mode and a camera shooting mode, The video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone according to any one of the above (1) to (4), wherein the function display section is also automatically switched.

(6) A video camera unit for photographing an image, a main body having an image display unit for displaying an image signal, a rotating unit for changing the orientation of the video camera unit, and a drive for driving the rotating unit And a vibration generating unit for notifying the incoming call in the manner mode by vibration with an electric rotating driving force, and the driving unit of the rotating unit of the video camera unit and the driving unit of the vibration generating unit are shared. Features Multifunctional mobile phone with integrated video camera.

That is, an image display unit which has a function of wirelessly transmitting and receiving images and voices, and which displays an image transmitted and received with the video camera unit and operation status, etc., is used for communication with another specific video camera. Card slots and images,
The main body with a memory card slot for recording audio, the video camera section can be rotated manually or electrically,
It has a function that can automatically rotate and position the video camera unit according to the selected operation mode, in the face-to-face shooting direction when shooting yourself during telephone communication operation, or in other external shooting directions, and shoot at any angle It can be performed.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone according to an embodiment, (a) is a perspective view as viewed from a diagonally upper right, and (b) is a perspective as viewed from a diagonally upper left. FIG. 2
Is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone according to an embodiment, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation mechanism of a mode switch of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows a basic operation mode of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flow chart, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of the layout of the video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone of the embodiment, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, and FIG. 6 is a button function display panel section. It is a front view showing other examples.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) and FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show typical embodiments of the present invention.

The overall system of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 shows main elements constituting a video camera-integrated multifunctional portable telephone main body (hereinafter referred to as a main body) according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a microcomputer which performs various controls such as a circuit for performing core telephone communication, a circuit for processing photographed images and sounds, and transmitted and received image and sound. The input-related information is transmitted from the antenna 26, the operation key input unit 28 (buttons 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 19, and 23 in FIG. 1), the microphone 13 for voice recording, and the video camera unit 4. An image can be input through the lens unit 18 and existing (recorded) voice and image data can be captured from the memory card 14. The memory card 14 can also record captured images and sounds, and received images and sounds.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a driving battery. A driving unit (hereinafter referred to as a motor) 29 functions as a vibrator in a manner mode of a telephone and also drives the video camera unit 4 to rotate. The rotation position of the video camera unit 4 is detected by a camera position sensor 32. The output unit outputs audio from the speaker 3 and the input / output jack 5 of FIG. 1, and the image is output to the image display unit 1.

The communication card 15 performs communication between the main body and a certain other video camera. A communication function with a specific other video camera is set in the communication card 15 in advance, and when the communication card 15 is inserted into the main body via the communication card slot 11, for example, the main body is connected to the specific other video camera. You can also become a finder or remotely control certain other camcorders by using the operation keys on the main unit.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the relationship between the switches, which are the basic operation modes of the embodiment, and the operation modes. FIG. 4 and FIGS. 1 (a), (b), FIGS. This will be described below with reference to FIGS.

After turning on the power switch 23, the camera position sensor 32 is activated in step S1 of FIG. Here, it is recognized which position the video camera unit 4 is facing. Next, proceeding to step S2, the mode selection switch 2 selects one of PHONE: telephone function, REMOTE: communication operation with a specific video camera, and CAMERA: video camera function built into the main body.

The video camera section 4 has a structure that can be rotated 180 degrees back and forth in the direction A in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). If the mode selection switch 2 is set to PHONE: telephone function, the position of the video camera unit 4 is automatically set in step S3 in FIG.
As shown in (2), the operator himself / herself is photographed, that is, the face-to-face photographing position (direction B). In step S4, functions similar to those of a conventional mobile phone can be used. Then, the telephone communication in this mode ends.

Thereafter, when the power switch 23 is turned off, the power of the video camera unit 4 is turned off in a state where the video camera unit 4 faces in the facing photographing direction. The rotation operation of the video camera unit 4 will be described later.

In the mode selection switch 2 in step S2, C
When the AMERA function is selected, shooting can be performed by the built-in video camera unit 4, and recording and reproduction of images and sounds can be performed.

When CAMERA is selected by the mode selection switch 2, the camera position sensor 32 for detecting the rotational position of the video camera unit 4 operates as shown in FIG. Then, it rotates in the direction of the external photographing position C. The rotational force at this time is performed using a motor 29 used for generating vibrations in a manner mode in the telephone function.

Next, an operation mechanism of a mode switch which is a rotation mechanism of the video camera unit will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, the power of the video camera unit 4 and the motor 29 is transmitted via a camera-side gear 41 fixed to the rotating shaft of the video camera unit 4 and a motor-side gear 40 fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor 29. It has been transmitted. The motor 29 is movable in the E and F directions,
And the camera-side gear 41
And the motor-side gear 40 are engaged. A friction mechanism is provided so that the operator can rotate the video camera unit 4 in addition to the drive from the motor 29. A friction plate 38 such as felt is attached to the rotating plate 37 fixed to the motor shaft. A motor-side gear 40 is provided on the axis of the motor 29, and friction or slip during rotation is reduced by the motor-side gear 40 and the friction plate 38.
And get up between. The motor-side gear 40 is urged in the direction F by a washer 36 as a pressure receiving member and a spring 33 on the housing 20 to generate a frictional force between the motor-side gear 40 and the friction plate 38. For example, even if the operator touches the video camera unit 4 during rotation of the video camera unit 4 by the motor 29, an excessive force is not applied to the internal mechanism due to the friction mechanism.

When a signal is received in the manner of the telephone communication in the manner mode, the vibration is transmitted to the operator by the rotation of the motor 29 itself without rotating the video camera unit 4 because the suction is performed in the F direction by the solenoid 35.

It is also possible for the operator to manually rotate and position the video camera unit 4 in a direction other than the direction C by the above-mentioned friction mechanism.

In this embodiment, the video camera unit 4 has been described as having a structure that can be rotated by 180 degrees in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the main body, as in the direction A in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). Alternatively, the video camera unit 4 may be configured to be rotatable in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body.

When CAMERA is selected by the mode selection switch 19 in step S6, images and sounds by the built-in video camera unit 4 and microphone 13 can be recorded on the memory card 14.

As for the operation of the camera function, the AF / AE operation by moving the frame as in a conventional video camera can be performed using the jog key 8. When the menu button 10 is used, the date, preset title, and other camera operation settings can be made in the same manner as a conventional video camera. The operation of turning the dial 9 to move the cursor of the menu and performing the setting with the set button 7 is the same as that of the conventional video camera. From the input / output jack 5, the sound monitor of the microphone 13 can be performed.

The setting of the title by the operator can be made by using the button keys 17 in the same manner as the operation for creating a mail by the telephone function, and is backed up in the memory of the main body. It can be turned on and off. In step S7, the operation for recording the image and sound of the camera as described above is set to a standby state.
At 8, various camera operations and recording are performed. Then, this operation ends.

When the mode selection switch 2 is set to CAMERA, the mode selection switch 19 is turned off in step S6.
Then, in step S9, the standby state of the audio recording is established, and the camera image on the image display unit 1 disappears.
Thus, the sound from the main body microphone 13 or the sound from the external microphone from the input / output jack 5 can be recorded on the memory card 14 as a sound-only recorder. Then, this operation ends.

In step S6, the mode selection switch 19
Is set to PLAY, images and sounds recorded on the memory card 14 can be reproduced by the main body. At step S11, the reproducing operation is on standby, and at step S12, various reproducing operations are performed. For example, in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the jog key 8 is a key for reproduction, stop, fast forward, fast reverse, and pause. Then, this operation ends.

If the position of the mode selection switch 2 is the REMOTE function in step S2, a communication card (Bluetooth memory card) 15 for performing communication with another specific video camera is inserted into the dedicated communication card slot 11. By doing so, it is possible to communicate with the video camera and operate a specific other video camera from the main body, and monitor the operation status of the video camera and the captured image on the image display unit 1 of the main body. Can be done. That is, it can have the function of the viewfinder of another specific video camera.

When REMOTE is selected in step S2, the camera position sensor 32 operates, and the position of the video camera unit 4 is automatically turned in the direction C (external photographing direction).

The mode selection switch 2 is set to REMOTE, and in step S14, the mode selection switch 19 is set to REMOTE.
In the case of the Mote position, if the power of the specific other video camera is turned off in step S15, the power is turned on and the mode becomes the camera shooting mode. Then, the image shot by the specific other video camera appears on the main body image display unit 1. In step S16, the recording start and primary stop operations of the specific other video camera are performed using the start / stop button 6 of the main body. I do. In addition, the BLC, date display, title display, manual focus adjustment, on / off of camera shake correction, on / off of digital zoom, etc. in the video camera function are operated by the button keys 17. In addition, AF by frame movement performed by a conventional video camera
The / AE operation can also be performed with the jog key 8.

The title setting by the operator can be made by using the button keys 17 in the same manner as the operation of creating a mail by the telephone function, and is backed up in the memory of the main body. It can be turned on and off. Then, this operation ends.

When CAMERA is selected in step S14, the image and sound captured by the video camera unit 4 are transmitted to another specific video camera set in the communication card 15 in step S17. Can be done. In step S18, the other video camera can record video and audio from the main body. Then, this operation ends.

When PLAY is selected in step S14, if the specific other video camera is turned off in step S19, the power is turned on and the mode is set to PLAY. Then, in step S20, the reproduction operation of another specific video camera can be operated by the main body. For example, playback,
Stop, fast forward, etc. can be controlled with the jog key 8 on the main unit. Then, this operation ends.

Tables 1 and 2 show the relationship between the operation mode and the direction of the camera.

Table 1 shows a mode selection switch 2 according to the present invention.
And the direction of the video camera unit 4.
In the present embodiment, the direction of the video camera unit 4 is controlled in conjunction with the mode selection switch 2, but the position of the video camera unit 4 is controlled in conjunction with the change of the position of the mode selection switch 19 which is a submenu. The direction may be controlled.

Table 2 summarizes the relationship between the position of the mode selection switch 19 and the direction of the video camera unit 4.

According to Table 2, the mode selection switch 2 is set to PHO
NE: In the telephone mode, since there is no submenu, the position of the video camera unit 4 is always in the state of face-to-face shooting.

When the mode selection switch 2 is CAMERA: camera, the mode selection switch 19 is set to CAMERA.
Only in this case, the position of the video camera unit 4 is directed to the external photographing direction. However, when the own camera is under the control of the communication partner, the direction of the video camera unit 4 does not need to be changed. The direction of the video camera unit 4 does not need to be changed even when the mode selection switch 19 is OFF or in the PLAY: playback mode.

When the mode selection switch 2 is set to REMO
TE: In the case of the communication mode, the mode selection switch 19 turns the camera in the external shooting direction only in CAMERA. When the mode selection switch 19 is set to REMOTE or P
LAY: In the case of the playback mode, the direction of the video camera unit 4 need not be changed. Like this, drop it into a submenu,
The direction of the video camera unit 4 may be controlled as needed.

[0050]

[Table 1]

[0051]

[Table 2] In the present invention, the direction of the video camera unit 4 is controlled in conjunction with the position of the mode selection switch 2;
The operation mode may be changed in conjunction with the direction of the video camera unit 4.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 2, FIG.
The button function display panel 16 of the housing 20 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIGS. 5A and 5B is configured to use a display medium such as a liquid crystal. When operating a specific other video camera using the communication card 15, the microcomputer 25 of FIG. 2 reads the display specifications of the communication card 15 and controls the liquid crystal display panel to display the function display of each button key 17 on the card. It becomes possible to change every time, and the correspondence to various communication cards and video cameras will increase.

For example, when a communication card of model X of Company Y is inserted, the button keys 17 shown in FIG. The display is NEAR, AF / MF, F
When a communication card of model W, which is AR, is inserted, the display on the button function display panel section 16 for the displays 4, 5, and 6 on the buttons as shown in FIG.
The display specifications of the communication card can be automatically read by the main body, such as T1, EFFECT2, and EFFECT3, and the display contents of the button function display panel section 16 can be changed.

In the telephone communication mode and when the power is turned off, the face-to-face shooting position of the video camera unit is set as a predetermined position, and is automatically returned to this position. The position of is arbitrary.

Further, in the embodiment, the video camera is described as being integrated into the main body of the portable telephone, but the video camera may be replaced with a so-called "digital camera".

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a portable telephone equipped with a video camera having excellent portability, wherein the camera section can be automatically rotated and positioned in accordance with an operation mode and can be freely set at any angle. Provided is a video camera-integrated mobile phone that can shoot, can perform self-recording playback and telephone communication with an image, and can easily perform remote operation of a specific other video camera and check the operation status. Can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone according to an embodiment, FIG.
Is a perspective view from the upper left

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation mechanism of a mode switch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a basic operation mode of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of a layout of the video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone according to the embodiment, (a) is a front view,
(B) is a side view

FIG. 6 is a front view showing another example of the button function display panel unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 image display unit 2 mode selection switch 3 speaker 4 video camera unit 5 input / output jack 6 start / stop button 7 set button 8 jog key 9 dial 10 menu button 11 communication card slot 12 battery 13 microphone 14 memory card 15 communication card 16 button function Display panel section 17 Button key 18 Lens section 19 Mode selection switch 20 Housing 23 Power switch 25 Microcomputer (voice, image processing, communication circuit) 26 Antenna 27 Memory card slot 28 Operation key input section 29 Drive section (motor) 32 Camera position Sensor 33, 34 Spring 35 Solenoid 36 Washer 37 Rotating plate 38 Friction plate 40 Motor side gear 41 Camera side gear

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 7/14 H04B 7/26 U

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A communication function for wirelessly communicating images and sounds, a video camera unit for photographing an image, an image display unit displaying an image photographed by the video camera unit, a telephone communication mode and a camera photographing mode. Operating mode selection means for simultaneously and selectively controlling at least two or more operating modes of a playback mode and a remote mode for controlling other devices, wherein the video camera unit is rotatable with respect to a main body; A video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone, wherein a rotation angle of the unit and the operation mode can be controlled in conjunction with each other. 2. The video camera section controls a rotation angle in accordance with an operation mode, and can be automatically rotated and positioned at a predetermined position which is a face-to-face shooting position in a telephone communication mode and in a power-off mode. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotation is automatically performed in a direction opposite to the predetermined position.
The video camera-integrated multifunctional mobile phone described in the above. 3. A communication card which can be inserted into and removed from the main body, and which can communicate with a specific other video camera when the communication card is inserted, and serves as a finder of the specific other video camera on the image display section. It can be displayed, the operation of the specific other video camera can be performed by the operation keys of the main body, and the image display unit switches between the captured image of the video camera unit and the received image from the specific other video camera respectively. The video camera-integrated multi-function mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the mobile phone can be viewed. 4. The video camera-integrated multifunction mobile phone according to claim 1, further comprising a function of recording an image and a voice captured by a video camera unit of the main body or a received image and a voice. 5. An operation section for operating each operation mode, and a member surrounding the operation section is constituted by a liquid crystal or a function display section having a display member in place of the liquid crystal. 5. The video camera-integrated multifunction mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the function display section of the operation section automatically switches when the operation mode is switched to the operation mode. 6. A video camera section for photographing an image, a main body having an image display section for displaying an image signal, a rotating section for changing an orientation of the video camera section, and a driving section for driving the rotating section. And a vibration generating unit for notifying an incoming call in the manner mode by vibration using an electric rotating drive force, wherein the driving unit of the rotating unit of the video camera unit and the driving unit of the vibration generating unit are shared. Multifunctional mobile phone with integrated video camera.