JPH0865647A - Portable television telephone device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To use the portable television telephone device with both the hands free without having the view interrupted by a main body by arranging an image display means on the upper half body of a user below the vision of the user. CONSTITUTION: A support member 210 is a ring-shaped member which is formed of an elastic material such as plastic and partially parted, and this support member 201 supports a display 202 such as a liquid crystal display and a camera 203 so that their angles are variable. Further, the display 202 is supported on one side of the support member 201 and the camera 203 is supported on its one adjacent side while directed to the display 202. An image reflecting surface 206 is provided in front of the display 202, and a face image of the user is reflected on this image reflecting surface 206 and picked up by the camera 203.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable videophone device that wirelessly transmits and receives voice and images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Research on a portable terminal device which transmits and receives voice and images wirelessly, that is, a so-called portable videophone device is under way. Such a portable videophone device,
For example, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-109891. By using the mobile videophone device, the user can send his / her face image to the other party and, while receiving the other party's face image, can talk like a normal conversation, which improves convenience. To do.

FIG. 6 shows an external view of a conventional portable videophone device. A camera 212, a display 213, a microphone 124, a speaker 215, and operation buttons 216 are arranged on the front surface of the portable videophone main body 211. Transmission and reception of the audio signal and the image signal are performed via the antenna 217. When making a call, the user holds the portable videophone device body 211 with one hand and holds it in front of his / her face for use. However, such a conventional videophone has the following problems.

(1) There are various situations in which the portable videophone device is used. For example, walking on the street, or stopping, riding a train, driving a car, sitting on a chair or a bench indoors or outdoors, and doing a light exercise such as jogging can be considered. Of these, it is difficult to hold or operate the portable videophone device when driving a car or walking with luggage in both hands, but conventional videophones have at least one hand. And must be used for operations and cannot handle such usage. In other usage forms, it is often inconvenient to have one hand restricted to use the portable videophone device.

(2) As a special application of the portable videophone device, a policeman rushing to a crime scene monitors the surrounding scene at a police station, and the pedestrian's field of view is manually placed in another place. In the case of monitoring without holding, there is a demand to put the portable videophone device in a breast pocket so that only the camera can look into it. However, because the chest pockets have different depths, it is not always possible to house the body in the chest pocket so that only the camera is exposed. In addition, there is a demand for a camera to monitor a 360 ° range, but the conventional portable videophone device cannot meet such a demand.

(3) There is known a technique of displaying a face image of oneself on a display and monitoring how large the image is to be transmitted. There is a demand for a system that allows both right-handed people and left-handed people to easily adjust by simply using the fingertips of the hand holding the portable videophone device body.

(4) Do not hold the portable videophone device by hand,
For example, although it may be used while standing up on a desk or the like, in the conventional portable videophone device shown in FIG. 6, when trying to operate in a standing up position, the device will fall down due to the force of the hand or the user's hand There was a problem that the face image was not captured correctly.

(5) A portable videophone device usually incorporates a rechargeable battery (secondary battery) as a power source, which is a signal for inputting / outputting voice / images and encoding / decoding. Used for processing. Among these, a large amount of power is required especially for outputting an image to a display and for encoding / decoding. On the other hand, less power is required for voice input / output and encoding / decoding. However, in the related art, image processing and audio processing are always performed simultaneously even when the remaining battery level is low, so there is a drawback that the battery runs out quickly due to image processing.

(6) Similar to the conventional voice mobile phone, in the mobile videophone device, there is also a demand that the use of the speaker unit of the handset on the ear is more comfortable and convenient. In the conventional portable videophone device shown in FIG. 6, it is not possible to take a face image of oneself or see a received image in such a usage pattern.

(7) When using a portable videophone device while moving on a train or automobile, it is necessary to take measures against fading at the time of reception in order to prevent transmission errors. Particularly, in order to transmit and receive an image signal wirelessly in a narrow band, a large band compression by high-efficiency compression coding is required, and there is a possibility that a transmission error causes a remarkable image quality deterioration. Conventionally, there is known a space diversity system in which a plurality of antennas are arranged as a countermeasure against fading and outputs of the respective antennas are adaptively switched or combined (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-27).
4625 "diversity antenna device"). In this method, it is desired that the spatial arrangement of a plurality of antennas can be adjusted as appropriate in order to improve the performance, but such arrangement of the antennas cannot be adjusted conventionally.

(8) Generally, in an image coding and transmitting apparatus for compressing and transmitting image information with high efficiency, an important area such as a face image or a document image of the transmitting side is designated by the receiving side, A technique is known in which image information of a region is encoded and transmitted with higher quality than image information of other regions.
However, according to the conventional technique, even when a plurality of areas are designated in duplicate, since the overlapping area and the non-overlapping area are encoded and transmitted with the same quality, even if there is a more important area in the important area, However, there is a problem that the image in that area cannot be displayed in high quality.

[0012]

As described above, in the conventional portable videophone device, (1) it is inconvenient because one hand of the user is bound during use, and (2) it is stored in the user's chest pocket. Can not take pictures of the surroundings, (3) Both right-handed people and left-handed people cannot adjust the imaging magnification with fingertips, (4) Put the mobile videophone device in the upright position Operation is difficult, the face image of the user cannot be correctly captured and transmitted, (5) the battery is exhausted quickly and communication cannot be continued for a long time, (6) the speaker unit of the handset is heard. You cannot take the same usage pattern as a voice mobile phone that makes a call.
(7) The degree of freedom of the antenna arrangement required when performing space diversity is small. (8) When a plurality of important areas are specified in duplicate on the image, there are more important areas within the important area. However, there is a problem in that the image in that area cannot be encoded and transmitted with high quality as compared with other areas and displayed.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the conventional portable videophone device. That is, a first object of the present invention is to provide a portable videophone device that can be used without using a hand.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a portable videophone device capable of taking a picture of the surroundings of a user while being housed in a chest pocket.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a portable videophone device in which both right-handed people and left-handed people can easily perform operations such as adjusting the imaging magnification with a fingertip.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a portable videophone device which is easy to operate even when it is used in an upright position and which can correctly capture and transmit a face image of a user.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a portable videophone device which can communicate for a long time even when a battery is used.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a portable videophone device which can be used in the same manner as a voice portable phone for making a call by putting the speaker unit of the handset on the ear.

A seventh object of the present invention is to provide a portable videophone device having a large degree of freedom in antenna arrangement required for space diversity.

An eighth object of the present invention is to specify a plurality of important areas overlappingly on an image and encode image information of particularly important areas with higher quality than image information of other important areas. Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable videophone device that can be transmitted and displayed.

[0021]

In order to achieve the first object, the portable videophone device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises an image display means and a visual field of the user of the portable videophone device. A support means for supporting the upper half of the user so that the user's face image is reflected and an image on the image display means is transmitted. It is characterized in that it is provided with an image reflection means for making it possible and an image pickup means for picking up an image on this image reflection means.

Further, another portable videophone device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an image display means and a user of the portable videophone device so that the image display means is located below the visual field of the user of the portable videophone device. Supporting means for supporting the upper half of the body, image reflecting means arranged at a position adjacent to the image display means for reflecting the face image of the user, and image pickup means for picking up an image on the image reflecting means. It is characterized by having.

A portable videophone device according to the second invention is
A portable videophone device body configured to be foldable,
This portable videophone device main body is provided with an image pickup means provided so as to be exposed in both a folded state and a non-folded state of the portable videophone device main body.

Another portable videophone device according to the second invention is a foldable portable videophone device main body, and a state in which the portable videophone device main body is folded and folded. Adjusting the distance between the image pickup means provided so as to be exposed in any of the unopened state and the image pickup means from the lowermost part of the portable videophone device body when the portable videophone device body is folded. And a supporting means configured to be possible.

Another portable videophone device according to the second invention is a portable videophone device body which is foldable, and a state in which the portable videophone device body is folded and folded. An image pickup means provided so as to be exposed in any of the unfolded state and a first detection means for detecting whether the portable videophone device body is in the folded state or the unfolded state. A second detecting means for detecting whether the portable videophone device body is in an upright state or an inverted state; and the portable videophone device body is in a folded state by the first detecting means. Is detected by the second detecting means and the portable videophone device body is in an upright state, and by the first detecting means. A picked-up image signal obtained by the image pickup means is detected when the telephone device body is detected to be in an unfolded state and the portable videophone device body is detected to be inverted by the second detection means. Inverting means for vertically inverting is provided.

The portable videophone device according to the third invention is
A main body of the portable videophone device, first and second operating means respectively provided on both left and right side surfaces of the main body of the portable videophone device, and setting of function allocation of the first and second operating means And a setting means.

Another portable videophone device according to the third invention is a portable videophone device body having an image pickup means and an image display means, and is provided on each of the left and right side surfaces of the portable videophone device body, and the image display is provided. Setting the allocation of the functions of the first and second operation means and the first and second operation means for adjusting the enlargement / reduction ratio of the captured image captured by the image capturing means displayed on the means. And a setting unit for setting.

A portable videophone device according to the fourth invention is
A portable videophone device body having an image display means and an image pickup means, a support means for supporting the portable videophone device body in an upright state, and a detachably provided to the portable videophone device body. And an operating unit for operating the main body of the videophone device.

A portable videophone device according to the fifth invention is
A portable videophone device using a battery as a power source, comprising an image display means, a charge amount detecting means for detecting the charge amount of the battery, and the charge amount detected by the charge amount detecting means being below a predetermined value. At this time, at least a part of the image display means is stopped or a display mode is changed.

A portable videophone device according to the sixth invention is
Portable videophone device main body having an audio input / output unit, a panel detachably attached to the portable videophone device main body, image display means and image pickup means provided on the panel, and these image display means And a connection means for mechanically and electrically connecting the image pickup means and the portable videophone device main body.

The portable videophone device according to the seventh invention is
A portable videophone device main body having an antenna, an image display unit and an image pickup unit, at least one of which is detachably provided to the portable videophone device main body, and the portable videophone device among the image display unit and the image pickup unit. At least one of which is configured to be detachable from the main body and a connecting means for mechanically and electrically connecting the portable videophone device main body, and the configuration of the image display means, the image pickup means, and the connecting means. At least a part of the member and the antenna constitute a space diversity antenna.

Another portable videophone device according to the seventh invention is a portable videophone device main body having an image display means and an image pickup means, and supporting this portable videophone device main body at an arbitrary position and direction, and It is characterized in that it is provided with a supporting means which also functions as an antenna for transmission and reception.

A portable videophone device according to the eighth invention is
An area designating unit capable of designating a plurality of regions of high importance in the received image or the transmitted image, and an image of a region in which a plurality of regions among the image information of the regions designated by the region designating unit overlap. And a coding and transmitting means for coding and transmitting the information with higher quality than the image information of the non-overlapping area.

[0034]

[Action]

(1) In the portable videophone device according to the first aspect of the invention, since the image display means is disposed below the field of view of the user and on the upper half of the body of the user, both hands remain free and the field of view is provided by the main body. It can be used without being hindered.

Further, by capturing an image from the image reflection means provided on the front surface of the image display means or the image reflection means arranged in a position adjacent to the image display means, the distance from the image pickup means to the face is substantially measured. Therefore, it is possible to extend the image pickup range even with a camera having the same viewing angle.

(2) In the portable videophone device according to the second aspect of the present invention, by using the support means of the portable videophone device body for adjusting the length from the lowermost part of the body to the image pickup means, an image is taken from the chest pocket. It is possible to take a picture by looking through the means.

Also, by exposing the image pickup means even when the main body is folded, it is possible to take an image while protecting the display means. Further, by folding the body, the upper and lower sides of the image are displayed as in the case of using it upside down. In the case of reversing, by reversing the image information and capturing the image, it is possible to capture the image in the correct vertical relationship.

(3) In the portable videophone device according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily and appropriately adjust the enlargement / reduction ratio of the captured image while displaying the captured image on a part or all of the image display section. It is possible to make adjustments, and by setting the function allocation of the operating means by switching between right-handed and left-handed functions, both right-handed people and left-handed people can easily operate.

Moreover, since the operating means is arranged on the side surface of the main body, it is easy to operate with the fingertip while holding the main body.

(4) In the portable videophone device according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the operating means can be detached from the main body of the portable videophone device while standing upright and supported on a desk or the like. Images can be captured and transmitted correctly, and it is possible to avoid falls and shaking of captured images due to pressing operation buttons on the main body.

(5) In the portable videophone device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the image display means is stopped or the display mode is changed when the amount of electricity stored in the electricity storage means falls below a predetermined value. , Reduce battery consumption,
It becomes possible to maintain the minimum communication by voice for a long time. (6) In the portable videophone device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, by providing the image display means and the image pickup means on the operation panel, these are protected. At the same time, it becomes possible to use the handset of the main body on the ear when using a voice call only as in the case of the conventional voice mobile phone.

(7) In the portable videophone device according to the seventh invention, a space diversity antenna is constructed by at least a part of the components of the image display means, the image pickup means and the connection means and the antenna.
The degree of freedom in antenna arrangement required when performing space diversity is improved.

Further, by providing the connecting means with a degree of freedom such as rotation and expansion / contraction, there is an advantage that the image display means and the image pickup means can be easily positioned.

(8) In the portable videophone device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of important areas are designated in an image so as to be overlapped with each other, the image information of the particularly important overlapped area is transferred to another important area. It can be encoded and transmitted with higher quality than the image information of the area and displayed.

[0045]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable videophone device according to this embodiment. In the figure, a supporting member 201 is a ring-shaped member which is made of an elastic material such as plastic and is partially divided.
02 and the camera 203 are supported so that the respective angles can be changed.

The display 202 is supported on one side of the support member 201, and the camera 203 is supported on one side adjacent thereto in the direction of the display 202. The supporting member 201 is hollow, and the cord of the earphone 204 that has both the input and output of voice, that is, the function of both the microphone and the speaker is pulled out from the inside, and the length of the cord can be changed by pulling the earphone 204. It can be postponed.

Incidentally, the dividing portion (break) of the supporting member 201
Earphones may be arranged in the earphones and the earphones may be applied to both ears like a stethoscope for use. This way, the earphones 204
There is no need to lengthen or shorten the code. The image and sound processing circuit (not shown) is provided on the support member 20.
It is stored in a case 205 fixed to 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, when using this apparatus, the support member 201 is hung on the neck of the user. In this state, since the display 202 is located below the user's face, the user can see the image on the display 202 without hindering the view.

As described above, the portable videophone device according to this embodiment can be used without both hands being free and the main body not obstructing the field of view.

The camera 203 may be mounted around the display 202 as shown in FIG. 3. However, if the viewing angle of the camera 203 is not wide enough, only a part of the face can be imaged, and a wide viewing angle is required. If a camera is used, the captured image may be distorted. Therefore, in this embodiment, an image reflecting surface 206 is provided on the front surface of the display 202, the face image of the user is reflected on the image reflecting surface 206, and the camera 203 captures the image.

Here, the image reflecting surface 206 is a half mirror or the like such that the image on the display 202 can be seen through from the angle of the user's eyes and the reflected light can be seen from another angle, for example, the position of the camera 203. It is formed by a polarization filter. In this case, the distance between the user's face and the camera 203 in FIG. 3 is L, and the path length of the camera 203 via the user's face and the image reflection surface 206 in FIG. Even a narrow camera can capture the entire face.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a portable videophone apparatus according to this embodiment. Instead of forming an image reflection surface 206 on the front surface of the display 202 as shown in FIG. An image reflecting mirror 207 composed of a normal mirror is arranged adjacent to the display 202. In this case, the user's face image can be reflected by the image reflecting mirror 207 and taken by the camera 203.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is a view showing an outline of a portable videophone device according to this embodiment, and a supporting member 202.
Is to be placed on the shoulder of the user. In this case, the image on the display is slightly difficult to see as compared with the first and second embodiments, but there is an advantage that the front field of view of the user is widened.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portable videophone device according to this embodiment, which is a plate-shaped base 220 provided with an operation section and a voice input / output section, and a display 22.
1 and the lid 223 on which the camera 222 is arranged are rotatably connected to each other, whereby the portable videophone device is configured to be foldable as a whole. Camera 222
Is provided in the vicinity of the connecting portion of the lid 223 with the base 220.

Further, an opening 220a is formed at a position facing the camera 222 in a state where the base 220 is entirely folded. Further, the base 220 is provided with a stand 224 as a supporting member, and the stand 224 can be used to put the whole on a desk or the like. In addition, the stand 224 is slidably attached to the base 220 along slits formed on both side surfaces of the base 220, whereby the distance between the tip position of the stand 224 and the position of the opening 220a. That is, the distance from the lower part of the main body to the camera 222 can be changed.

FIG. 8 is an external view when the portable videophone device of FIG. 7 is folded. If you do not need to see the received image, fold it in this way to display 22
1 can be protected. However, even when the portable videophone device is folded in this manner, the front surface of the camera 222 is exposed through the opening 220a provided in the base 220. Therefore, if the entire portable videophone device is put in the chest pocket of the user as shown in FIG. 9 in such a folded state, the user can take an image of the landscape without using his hands. At this time, when the camera 222 is hidden in the pocket when the pocket is too deep, the stand 224 is slid and extended to move the camera 222 to the stand 22.
By increasing the distance to the tip of 4
22 can be exposed from the pocket.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the portable videophone device is folded as shown in FIG. 8 and the stand 224 is hung on an object such as a hook 225 in a state in which it is turned upside down from the state shown in FIG. This is an example in which the user's face image or the like is photographed.

As described above, the portable videophone device of this embodiment is in a state of standing on a desk or the like by the stand 224 as shown in FIG. 7, a state of being folded as shown in FIG. 8 and being put in a chest pocket as shown in FIG. Further, it can be imaged in various usage modes such as being folded as shown in FIG. 8 and being hung on the hook 225 using the stand 224 as shown in FIG.

By the way, the image pickup in the state of FIG.
When the image is captured in this state, the top and bottom (top and bottom) of the captured image is reversed. Further, even in the same folded state as shown in FIG. 8, the picked-up image is turned upside down between picking up an image in the state of FIG. 9 and picking up an image in the state of FIG. 10. Therefore,
For example, if a correct captured image is obtained when the image is captured in the state of FIG. 7, the captured image is inverted up and down when captured in the state of FIG. turn into.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the structure of a signal processing system for solving such a problem. Camera 2
The picked-up image signal from 22 is directly and vertically inverted.
It is input to the switch 227 via 26. Switch 2
27 is an exclusive OR (EXOR) circuit 230
When the switching control signal input from is "L", the picked-up image signal output from the camera 222 is selected, and when the switching control signal is "H", the picked-up image signal inverted by the up-down reversing circuit 226 is selected. And supplies it to an encoder (not shown).

The lid opening / closing detector 228 is a detector whose output is "H" when the lid 223 is open, and "L" when the lid 223 is closed, and is composed of a switch which is operated by opening / closing the lid 223. The output of the upside-down inversion detector 229 is "H" when the posture of the portable videophone device is in the upright state (states of FIGS. 7 to 9) and is "L" when it is in the inverted state (state of FIG. 10). A detector, which is composed of a switch that is activated by the movement of a weight due to gravity, for example. The outputs of the lid open / close detector 228 and the vertical inversion detector 229 are input to the EXOR circuit 230, and the EXOR circuit 230
Is output to the switch 227 as a switching control signal as described above.

Now, when the lid 223 is open and is in the upright state, that is, in the state of FIG. 7, the outputs of the lid open / close detector 228 and the vertical inversion detector 229 are both "H", so the EXOR circuit. Since the output of 230 is "L", the switch 227 supplies the captured image signal output from the camera 222 as it is to the encoder.

On the other hand, when the lid 223 is closed and in the upright state, that is, in the states of FIGS. 8 and 9, the lid open / close detector 2 is opened.
Since the output of 28 is "L" and the output of the vertical inversion detector 229 is "H", the output of the EXOR circuit 230 is "H".
Therefore, the switch 227 supplies the picked-up image signal vertically inverted by the vertically inverting circuit 226 to the encoder.

Further, when the lid 223 is closed and in the inverted state, that is, in the state of FIG.
Since the output of 8 is "L" and the output of the vertical inversion detector 229 is also "L", the output of the EXOR circuit 230 is "L".
Therefore, the switch 227 supplies the captured image signal output from the camera 222 as it is to the encoder.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portable videophone device according to the present embodiment, which is an outer casing 237 of a camera.
Is configured to automatically rotate together with the image pickup system inside the main body of the portable videophone device.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, a subject image is formed on the CCD image pickup device 234 via the lens 233, converted into an electric signal, and the picked-up image signal 235 is sent to the encoder 236. Here, the outer casing 237 of the camera is connected to a motor 239 via a belt 238,
The outer casing 237 of the camera is synchronized with the rotation of the motor 239.
Also rotates.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, there is an advantage that the camera can monitor the image in the range of 360 ° around the user while the portable videophone device is put in the chest pocket or the like.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 14 is an external view of a portable videophone apparatus according to this embodiment, in which the magnification of a captured image can be manipulated. The display screen 301 of the display includes a display area 301a for the image of the other party and a display area 301b for the user set at the lower right. Camera 3
When the user's face image is captured by 02, the captured image signal is encoded and transmitted from the antenna 308. At this time, the encoded image signal that is encoded at the same time is decoded,
It is displayed in the display area 301b. The image of the other party decoded from the image signal received from the antenna 308 is displayed in the display area 301a.

In this embodiment, a right-handed enlargement / reduction ratio adjustment knob 303 and a left-handed enlargement / reduction ratio adjustment knob 304 are provided on both sides of the main body 300 for adjusting the enlargement / reduction ratio of the lens 302. It is provided. By rotating these knobs 303 and 304, the lens 302 zooms up and down. Which one of the right-handed and left-handed enlargement / reduction ratio adjustment knobs 303 and 304 is selected is set by a setting button 309 shown in FIG.
Can be initialized. For example, if the user selects the right-handed enlargement / reduction ratio adjustment knob 303, thereafter, the left-handed enlargement / reduction ratio adjustment knob 304 may not function at all or may be assigned another function. Good.

Returning to FIG. 14, a panel in which telephone number instruction buttons are arranged (hereinafter referred to as a telephone number instruction panel)
The 305 is removable as will be described later. The voice uttered by the user is detected by the microphone 306, and the voice signal is encoded in the main body 300 and transmitted from the antenna 308. The encoded voice signal from the other party is received by the antenna 308, is decoded in the main body 300, and is output as voice from the speaker 307. The microphone 30
6 and the speaker 307 are preferably provided at a certain distance on the main body to prevent howling.

In FIG. 15, the power switch 310 is provided on the side surface of the main body 300. For example, for a right-handed user, hold the main body 300 with the right hand and
0, the setting button 309, and the right-handed enlargement / reduction ratio adjustment knob 303 can all be operated with one hand.

FIG. 16 shows the enlargement / reduction rate adjustment adjustment knob 3.
It is a figure which shows the display screen which operated 03 or 304 and changed the expansion / contraction ratio of a lens. In FIG. 16A, as a result of zooming up the lens, the face image of the user is input in an enlarged state, and the face is displayed large in the lower right part of the display screen 301. In FIG. 16B, as a result of zooming down the lens, the user's face image is input in a reduced size,
A small face is displayed in the lower right of the display screen 301. In any case, the user can monitor his / her face image at a desired size while holding the main body with one hand and keeping the distance between the main body and the face constant.

FIG. 17 shows a state in which the telephone number instruction panel 305 in FIG. 14 is removed. Body 300
And the telephone number instruction panel 305 are connected by a signal line 312. Further, the main body 300 is provided with legs 311. Therefore, the user can sit down on the chair and lean on the desk while removing the telephone number instruction panel 305 to input the telephone number. Further, when communication with the other party starts, the user can talk while looking at the display screen with both hands free. Therefore, other work (writing, etc.) can be performed in parallel using both hands.

Further, a lens expansion / reduction ratio adjusting knob, a volume control, a display brightness adjustment, etc., which are operated even during a call, are usually provided in the main body 300, and the main body 300 is operated by the force of a finger to operate them. When the camera moves, the camera shakes and sends a distorted image to the other party. Therefore, if these adjustment knobs are provided on the removable telephone number instruction panel 305, various adjustments can be performed without shaking the camera. In addition, in the present embodiment, the main body 300 is connected by the signal line 312, that is, by wire.
Although the panel 305 and the panel 305 are connected to each other, it goes without saying that both may be connected wirelessly.

(Embodiment 7) In a portable videophone device, a rechargeable battery is generally used as a power source. This battery supplies power to the input image coding and transmission, the received coded image decoding and display unit, the input sound encoding and transmission unit, and the received sound decoding and output unit, respectively. Is. Among these, the power consumption rate is very large particularly in the area related to image display.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, means for detecting the approaching of the dead battery is provided in the main body, and when the remaining amount of the battery is below a certain value, as shown in the display screen 313 of FIG. , Interrupt the image display. As a result, the communication using only voice can be maintained as long as possible. Communication with the other party can be sufficiently carried out even in the communication of only voice without images.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a portable videophone device according to this embodiment. Lens enlargement / reduction adjustment unit 31
Reference numeral 4 corresponds to the adjustment knobs 303 and 304 described in the fifth embodiment, and the information of the enlargement / reduction ratio set by the adjustment unit 314 is given to the camera 315. The camera 315 captures the face image of the user according to the enlargement / reduction ratio.

The picked-up image signal output from the camera 315 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 316, processed by a pre-processing unit 317 such as pre-filter / face recognition, and further moved by an encoding unit 318. Compensated / discrete cosine transformed and encoded. The encoded face image signal is transmitted to the other party's videophone via the multiplexer 319.

The coded face image signal is also sent to the decoding unit 323, where it is decoded and then the post-processing unit 3
After being subjected to processing such as a post filter at 22, converted into an analog signal at the D / A converter 321, it is sent to the display 320 and displayed in the display area 301b at the lower right of the display screen 301 in FIG. . This allows the user to monitor the size and condition of his or her face image.

On the other hand, the coded face image signal sent from the destination is also decoded by the decoding unit 32 via the multiplexer 319.
3, the post-processing unit 322 performs post-filter processing and the like, the D / A converter 321 converts the analog signal, and then the analog signal is sent to the display 320. The display area 301a of the display screen 301 in FIG. Is displayed in.

The voice uttered by the user is the microphone 31.
It is picked up in 9 and encoded by the voice codec section 326, and then transmitted to the other party via the multiplexer 319. In addition, the encoded voice from the other party is the multiplexer 3
It is decoded by the audio codec unit 326 via 19 and output from the speaker 328. Audio codec section 326
Has a voice encoding / decoding function.

The battery 324 is of a rechargeable type and supplies electric power to the respective parts shown in FIG. The dead battery detector 325 constantly detects the remaining amount of the battery 324. Then, when the remaining amount becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value, the dead battery detection unit 325 sends an interruption instruction signal to a portion that performs processing related to an image, that is, the display 320, the D / A converter 321, the post-processing unit 322, and the decoding unit 323. Is output. In response to this, the decoding unit 323 interrupts the decoding of the coded image signal from the other party and the coded image signal of this side, and the post-processing unit 32.
2. The D / A conversion unit 321 and the display 320 also interrupt the processing. As a result, the display 320 is shown in FIG.
Display screen 313 and nothing is displayed. Therefore, the amount of power consumption is saved by the amount of interruption of the image processing, and the call can be maintained as long as possible.

(Embodiment 8) FIG. 20 is a flow chart of processing for monitoring power consumption in the portable videophone device according to this embodiment. When the call procedure is performed by the call start process S1, the power consumption is monitored by the power consumption monitoring process S2, and it is determined whether or not a preset predetermined power amount remains. When the predetermined power remains, the power consumption is continuously monitored. When the predetermined amount of power is not remaining, the user is notified that the remaining amount of power is running low in the remaining power level warning process S3. At this time, the method of transmitting to the user may be any of a sound method, a voice method, a method using a lamp such as an LED, a method for displaying adjustment, or a method combining these methods. .

After telling the user that the remaining charge is getting low, the call is continued in the call mode selection process S4 (while the display is kept ON): Mode A or the display is turned OFF. Then, the call is continued only by voice: Mode B or the call is ended: Mode C is selected. In the following explanation, adjustment is ON
OFF means not only to display or not,
In the case of a liquid crystal display having a backlight for adjustment, it also means turning the backlight on and off.

When the mode A is selected in the call mode selection process S4, the remaining charge amount presenting process S6 is performed, then the call continuation determination process S7 is performed, and when the mode B is selected, the digital OFF process S5 is performed. After that, the call continuation determination process S7 is performed, and when the mode C is further selected, the call end process S8 is performed.

(Embodiment 9) FIG. 21 is a flow chart of power consumption monitoring in the portable videophone apparatus according to the present embodiment, and is an example in which the presentation of the remaining charge is displayed on the display of the portable videophone apparatus. Is. In this embodiment, a part of the display is turned off in the call mode selection process S4 (S9), and the remaining charge is displayed on the remaining part. The other processing is the same as in FIG.

(Embodiment 10) FIG. 22 is a flow chart of power consumption monitoring in the portable videophone device according to the present embodiment. 22, the call mode selection process S4 is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, but when the call in the saving mode: mode D is selected in the call mode selection process S4, one of the displays The reduced image is displayed in the area, and the display of other areas is off
(S10). Other processes are shown in FIGS.
Is the same as

Although the image is displayed in a reduced size in FIG. 22, only a part of the image may be displayed without being reduced. In the case of FIG. 22,
The display has a plurality of small display areas a as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to divide each of the display areas e to i and to control each of them independently, and to display only the display area e, for example. In the case of a liquid crystal display having a backlight, if the backlight is divided and controlled as shown in FIG. 26, the power consumption by the backlight can be reduced.

(Embodiment 11) FIG. 23 is a flow chart of power consumption monitoring in the portable videophone apparatus according to this embodiment. In the call mode selection processing S11, the call is continued as it is: A and the call is ended except for C. 20 and FIG.
It is possible to select both the voice-only call: mode B in FIG. 1 and the saving mode call: mode D in FIG. When mode B is selected, part or all of the display is turned off (S
12) If mode D is selected, the reduced image is displayed on a part of the display, and the display of the other parts is turned off (S10).

(Embodiment 12) FIG. 24 is a flow chart of power consumption monitoring in the portable videophone apparatus according to the present embodiment. When the call in the saving mode: mode D is selected in the call mode selection processing S4, This is an example in which the brightness of the display is changed (for example, darkened) in S13.

(Thirteenth Embodiment) In the eighth to twelfth embodiments, the call mode is selected by the call mode selection processes S4 and S1.
Although the setting is made after the warning of the remaining amount of stored electricity is issued in No. 1, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, the call mode is set in advance and stored before the start of the call (S
14) When the remaining charge is low, the setting value is referred to and the call mode is set (S15). in this case,
A mechanism may be provided so that the set call mode can be arbitrarily changed during a call.

In the eighth to twelfth embodiments, the remaining amount warning and the call mode selection process S4 (S4) are executed in the remaining charge amount warning process S3.
After 11), the remaining call amount is posted in the remaining call amount posting process S6. However, the remaining call amount may be omitted, and there is no option for ending the call in the call mode selection process S4 (S11). It doesn't matter.

When the display is changed in the eighth to twelfth embodiments, the change may be made according to the remaining charge amount.

(Embodiment 14) FIG. 27 is a block diagram of a portable videophone device according to this embodiment. First and second antennas 100 for space diversity
a and 100b are provided. These antennas 10
The signals received at 0a and 100b are selected or combined by the antenna switching / combining circuit 101, and the decoder 1
It is input to 02. In the decoder 102, the audio signal and the video signal are separated and individually decoded. The decoded audio signal is reproduced by the speaker 105, and the decoded video signal is displayed on the display 106 through the display switching device 104. A lightweight liquid crystal panel or the like is suitable for the display 106, but a display other than the liquid crystal panel may be used.

On the other hand, at the time of transmission, the audio signal input by the microphone 108 and the video signal picked up by the camera 107 are coded and multiplexed by the encoder 103 and transmitted from the antenna 100a or 100b. Camera 1
It is desirable that 07 is a lightweight one such as CCD,
It is not limited to this. The captured image signal obtained from the camera 107 can also be monitored on the display 106 by the display switching device 104.

The control of each unit in FIG. 27 is performed by the control device 109. The antenna switching / combining circuit 101 detects the reception state (for example, the reception electric field strength) of each of the antennas 100a and 100b, and controls the antenna switching or combining based on the detection result. A specific antenna may be used at the time of transmitting a signal, or an antenna for transmission may be selected based on the above detection result of the reception state.

The number of antennas forming the space diversity is not limited to two, and a plurality of antennas more than that may be used.

FIG. 28 is an external view of the portable videophone device according to this embodiment. In the figure, 110 is a main body of the portable videophone device, 111 is a first transmitting / receiving antenna, 112 is a speaker, 113 is an operation panel that can be opened and closed, 114 is a rod-shaped support member, and 115 is a microphone. This embodiment can be used in the same manner as the conventional mobile phone device when transmitting and receiving only audio without transmitting and receiving video.

FIG. 29 shows a state in which the operation panel 113 is opened. In the figure, 116 is a camera and 117 is a display panel. The operation panel 113 is openably and closably connected to the main body 110 by a supporting member 114, and the supporting member 114 also serves as a second antenna.

Although it can be used in the state shown in FIG. 29, as shown in FIG. 30, the user 118 holds the main body 110 at a position away from his / her face and simultaneously picks up images while looking at the display panel 117. It is possible. In this case, it is also possible to reduce external noise by using a microphone having a strong directivity as the microphone 115.

FIG. 31 shows a state in which the operation panel 113 is fixed to a position separated from the main body 110 by the support member 114. In this embodiment, the support member 114 has a structure in which the expandable rod is bent at 180 ° at a specific position, and both ends of the support member 114 are connected to the lower portion of the main body 110 and the lower portion of the operation panel 113, respectively. . The support member 114 is not limited to the above configuration.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a state during an actual call. The user 118 holds the main body 110 in the same manner as a telephone handset, and the camera 116 and the display 117 provided on the operation panel 113 capture images and display images.

The camera 116 may have a detachable structure as shown in FIG. 29. By electrically connecting the camera 116 to the operation panel 113 with a cable 119, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the image pickup range. Further, as shown in FIG. 34, the camera 116 is fixed to the operation panel 113 by one axis,
It may be configured to be able to rotate about this axis by about 180 °. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily correct the imaging position and image the front of the user.

(Embodiment 15) FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the configuration of a portable videophone device according to this embodiment. As a plurality of antennas for realizing space diversity,
Antennas 121 and 122 are provided inside the main body 110 and inside the operation panel 113, respectively. of course,
As in the fourteenth embodiment, the support member 114 may also serve as an antenna.

(Embodiment 16) FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the structure of a portable videophone apparatus according to this embodiment, in which an operation panel 131 is attached to the main body 110 and a camera 116.
And the display 117 is incorporated into another panel 132. The panel 132 can be closed so as to cover the operation panel 131. In this way, by separating the operation panel 131 from the panel 132 in which the camera 116 and the display 117 are incorporated, the panel 132 is separated.
It is possible to reduce the weight.

(Embodiment 17) FIG. 37 is a diagram showing the structure of a portable videophone apparatus according to this embodiment, in which the operation panel 141 is located above the main body 110, and the camera 116 and the display 117 are incorporated. The panel 142 is located below the body 110. With this configuration, the operation can be performed even when the panel 142 is closed.

(Embodiment 18) FIG. 38 is a diagram showing the structure of a portable videophone apparatus according to this embodiment, in which an operation panel 151 is located above the main body 110 and a panel 152 in which a camera and a display are incorporated. Is stored in a pocket provided at the bottom of the main body 110, and the panel 152 is pulled out when an image is to be captured or displayed. The panel 152 is shown in FIG.
Similarly to the above, it is possible to capture an image and display an image while talking, and it is also possible to use the support member 114 in the same manner as in FIG.

(Embodiment 19) FIG. 39 is a view showing the arrangement of a portable videophone apparatus according to this embodiment, in which an operation panel 161 is located above the main body 110 and a panel 162 in which a camera and a display are incorporated. 30 can be used as it is as in FIG. 30 by incorporating it into the lower surface of the main body 110, and the panel 162 can be further attached.
By being separated and supported from the main body 110 by 14, it can be used in the same manner as in FIG.

Further, in the present embodiment, the microphone has an array structure of two microphones 115a and 115b to enhance directivity and reduce noise.

(Embodiment 20) FIG. 40 is a diagram showing the structure of a portable videophone device according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, a tripod 411 is used as a fixing means for the portable videophone device, and is connected to the portable videophone device body 410 via a mounting bracket 412. Further, since the tripod 411 plays a role of an antenna, it is not necessary to use the regular antenna 415 when the tripod 411 is used. Of course, tripod 411 and regular antenna 415
It is also possible to perform space diversity using.

Further, in this embodiment, the main body 410 of the portable videophone device can be rotated around the mounting member 412, and its direction can be freely changed by 360 °.

The mounting bracket 412 of FIG. 40 (a) is shown in FIG.
With the configuration as shown in (b), it becomes possible to turn the portable videophone device main body 410 in the vertical direction.
The tripod 411 is fixed by a fixing bracket 414 to change its direction.
The orientation change fitting 413 has a three-fold structure, and the orientation of the portable videophone main body 410 on which the orientation change fitting 413 is mounted can be freely set and fixed.

FIGS. 40 (c) and 40 (d) are views of the portable videophone device main body 410 as seen from the side, in which FIG. 40 (c) is set upward using the direction changing metal fitting 413 and FIG. 40 (d) is set downward. The case is shown.

Furthermore, if the length of the legs of the tripod 411 can be changed, the portable videophone main unit 410 can be set and fixed in all directions required by the user.

(Embodiment 21) FIG. 41 is a diagram showing the structure of a portable videophone apparatus according to this embodiment, and FIG. 41A shows a state in which a tripod 411 is stored in the main body of the portable TV telephone 410. There is. The tripod may be removed and carried separately, but it is more convenient to store it as shown in the figure.

If you want to use the tripod 411, see FIG.
As shown in (b), the tripod can be taken out from the storage section 420 of the portable videophone main body 410, the legs can be spread out, and the desired length can be adjusted for use. At this time, the fixing device 421
Thus, the tripod 411 and the portable videophone device body 410 are connected.

(Embodiment 22) FIG. 42 is a side view of a portable videophone device according to this embodiment. The main body 410 of the portable videophone device has a suction cup 431 through the bellows 430.
Is attached to the glass plate 43 by this sucker 431.
It is fixed to 2 (or a wall where a suction cup can be used). In this case, the antenna 433 is used, but at this time also, the bellows 430 can freely change the orientation of the mobile TV phone. The suction cup 431 may be a magnet, in which case it can be fixed to a metal part such as an iron plate.

(Embodiment 23) FIG. 43 is a side view of a portable videophone device according to this embodiment. A metal fitting housing 440 for storing the hook metal fitting 441 is provided on the back surface of the portable videophone main body 410, and usually the hook metal fitting 441 is stored in the metal fitting storage portion 440. When it is desired to fix the portable videophone main body 410, the hook metal fitting 441 is pulled out from the metal fitting storage portion 440 to adjust the length thereof, and then the glare portion 44 at the tip thereof.
2 is opened and fixed by hooking it on the wall 443.

Also in this embodiment, since the hook metal fitting 441 also serves as the antenna, it is not necessary to attach a new antenna to the portable videophone device 410, but by using the hook metal fitting 441 and the new antenna together, It is also possible to perform space diversity.

(Embodiment 24) FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing the structure of an image signal encoder in a portable videophone apparatus according to this embodiment. A picked-up image signal from a camera (not shown) is first written into and read from the frame memory 501 for one frame. In this case, the write address and the read address of the frame memory 501 are controlled by the address control unit 502.

The image signal read from the frame memory 501 is passed through the spatiotemporal filter 503 and the coding unit 504.
To enter. In the encoding unit 504, for example, a prediction error is obtained by motion compensation prediction, the prediction error is subjected to discrete cosine transform by a DCT circuit, the obtained DCT coefficient is quantized by a quantization circuit, and further variable length coding is performed as necessary. And outputs the encoded signal 505.

The spatio-temporal filter 503 is for subjecting the image signal from the frame memory 501 to low-pass filter processing, and the filter amount thereof is the filter amount control unit 5.
Controlled by 06. Also, the quantization width (quantization step size) in the quantization circuit in the encoding unit 504 is controlled by the quantization width control unit 507.

The area designating unit 508 is for designating an important area according to an instruction from the user of the receiving side or the transmitting side of the portable videophone device. This area designation unit 50
As a specific implementation method of 8, a transparent touch panel on a display (not shown) that displays a decoded image on the receiving side or a captured image on the transmitting side (or a locally decoded image obtained inside the encoding unit 504), for example. May be arranged, and the area may be input from the touch panel by writing pressure or the like. By this operation, for example, coordinate signals corresponding to the start and end of the area designated by the user are obtained as the area designation signal from the touch panel. In addition, the area designation unit 508
It is possible to set a plurality of areas in the same image, and it is also possible to set a plurality of areas such that a part or all of one area overlaps another area.

The area designating signal thus output from the area designating unit 508 is input to the important area address memory 509. The important area designation memory 509 stores a read address corresponding to the area designation signal from the area designation unit 508, and when the stored read address is subsequently output from the address control unit 502, the filter control unit 5
A control signal is sent to at least one of 06 and the quantization width control unit 507. This control signal acts on the filter control unit 506 so as to reduce the filter amount of the low-pass filter by the space-time filter 503, and on the quantization width control unit 506, in the encoding unit 507. It acts to reduce the quantization width.

Now, as shown in FIG. 45 (a), the decoded image on the receiving side, or the picked-up image on the transmitting side or the locally decoded image (hereinafter, simply referred to as image) 600, the important area which the user has decided to see in detail. If 601 is specified, the quantization width in this important region 601 becomes smaller than that in other regions, or the amount of low-pass filter becomes smaller, so that the image quality of the important region 601 becomes higher than that of other regions. improves.

Further, as shown in FIG. 45 (b), the image 60
If a plurality of important areas 601 and 602 are designated at different positions within 0, these areas 601 and 602 do not overlap each other, and are therefore treated equally by the quantization width control unit 507 and the filter amount control unit 506. As a result, the quantization width in these regions 601 and 602 is smaller than that in the other regions, or the amount of low-pass filter is smaller, so that the image quality of the important regions 601 and 602 is smaller than that of the other regions. improves.

Further, as shown in FIG. 45 (c), image 6
If an area 603 is specified in addition to the important areas 601, 602 in 00, and the area 603 is included in the area 601, the areas in the quantization width control unit 507 and the filter amount control unit 506 are It is considered that 603 is more important than the areas 601 and 602. Then, in this case, the quantization width in the regions 601 and 602 becomes smaller than that in the other regions except the region 603, or the amount of low-pass filter becomes smaller, so that the image quality of the important regions 601 and 602 becomes different. Of the important region 60. However, the region 603 has a smaller quantization width than the regions 601 and 602, or the amount of low-pass filter is smaller than that of the regions 601, 602.
The image quality of No. 3 is further improved than that of the regions 601 and 602. When the designation of the area 603 in FIG. 45 (c) is canceled, the state returns to the state of FIG. 45 (b).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to set a plurality of important areas on an image, and when these areas overlap, it is considered that the overlapping areas have higher importance than the non-overlapping areas. A process of improving the image quality can be performed.

[0130]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) According to the first aspect of the invention, since the image display means is disposed below the field of view of the user and on the upper half of the body of the user, both hands remain free and the field of view obstructs the field of view. It can be used without being damaged.

Furthermore, by capturing an image from the image reflection means provided on the front surface of the image display means or the image reflection means arranged in a position adjacent to the image display means, the distance from the image pickup means to the face is substantially measured. Therefore, it is possible to extend the image pickup range even with a camera having the same viewing angle.

(2) According to the second aspect of the invention, the supporting means of the main body of the portable videophone device is used for adjusting the length from the lowermost portion of the main body to the image pickup means, so that the image pickup means can be seen through the chest pocket. It becomes possible to take an image.

Further, by exposing the image pickup means even when the main body is folded, it is possible to take an image while protecting the display means. Further, by folding the body, the upper and lower sides of the image can be displayed as in the case of using it upside down. In the case of reversing, by reversing the image information and capturing the image, it is possible to capture the image in the correct vertical relationship.

(3) According to the third invention, it is possible to easily and appropriately adjust the enlargement / reduction ratio of the captured image while displaying the captured image on a part or all of the image display section. By setting the function allocation of the operating means by switching between two types for right-handed and left-handed, both right-handed people and left-handed people can easily operate. Moreover, since the operation means is arranged on the side surface of the main body, it is easy to operate with a fingertip while holding the main body.

(4) According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the operating means can be detached from the main body of the portable videophone device while being supported on a desk or the like in the upright state, so that the face image of the user can be taken correctly. In addition, it is possible to avoid falling and shaking of a captured image by pressing the operation button on the main body.

(5) According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the amount of electricity stored in the electricity storage means becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value, at least a part of the image display means is stopped or the display mode is changed to reduce battery consumption. It is possible to suppress and maintain the minimum communication by voice for a long time. (6) According to the sixth invention, by providing the image display means and the image pickup means on the operation panel, these can be protected and In the case of a voice-only call, the handset of the main body can be put on the ear and used like a conventional voice mobile phone.

(7) According to the seventh invention, when space diversity is performed by forming a space diversity antenna with at least part of the components of the image display means, the image pickup means and the connection means and the antenna. The degree of freedom of the antenna arrangement required for is improved.

Further, by providing the connecting means with a degree of freedom such as rotation and expansion / contraction, there is an advantage that positioning of the image display means and the image pickup means becomes easy.

(8) According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when a plurality of important areas are designated in an overlapping manner on the image, the image information of the particularly important overlapping area is more important than the image information of the other important area. Can also be encoded and transmitted with high quality for display.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a mobile videophone device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a usage pattern of the portable videophone device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing another usage pattern of the portable videophone device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of a portable videophone device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a mobile videophone device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional portable videophone device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a mobile videophone device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the portable videophone device according to the fourth embodiment in a folded state.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of usage of the portable videophone device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a folded state of the portable videophone device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a signal processing system of the mobile videophone device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a mobile videophone device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the mobile videophone device according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the portable videophone device according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a portable videophone device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an image display example on the display in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a state where the operation panel of the portable videophone device according to the sixth embodiment is removed.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing a state where image display is interrupted in the portable videophone device according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a mobile videophone device according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart of power consumption monitoring processing according to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart of power consumption monitoring processing according to the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of power consumption amount monitoring processing according to the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart of power consumption monitoring processing according to the eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a power consumption amount monitoring process according to the twelfth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart of power consumption monitoring processing according to the thirteenth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of display area division on the display in the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable videophone device according to a fourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a front view showing the configuration of the portable videophone device according to the fourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a front view showing a state where the operation panel of the portable videophone device according to the fourteenth embodiment is opened.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing an example of usage of the portable videophone device according to the fourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a front view showing an example of usage of the portable videophone device according to the fourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of the usage pattern of the portable videophone device according to the fourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of the usage pattern of the portable videophone device according to the fourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of the usage pattern of the portable videophone device according to the fourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a mobile videophone device according to the fifteenth embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a front view showing the configuration of the portable videophone device according to the sixteenth embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a front view showing the configuration of the portable videophone device according to the seventeenth embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a front view and a side view showing the configuration of the mobile videophone device according to the eighteenth embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a front view and a side view showing the configuration of the portable videophone device according to the nineteenth embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing the configuration of a portable videophone device according to the twentieth embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing the configuration of a mobile videophone device according to the twenty-first embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a side view showing the configuration of the portable videophone device according to the twenty-second embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a side view showing the configuration of the portable videophone device according to the twenty-third embodiment.

FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile videophone device according to the twenty-fourth embodiment.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an important area on an image for explaining the processing operation of the portable videophone device according to the twenty-fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

201 ... Supporting member 202 ... Display 203 ... Camera 204 ... Earphone 205 ... Case 206 ... Image reflecting surface 207 ... Image reflecting mirror 220 ... Base 221 ... Display 222 ... Camera 223 ... Lid 224 ... Stand 225 ... Hook 226 ... Upside-down circuit 227 ... Switch 228 ... Lid open / close detector 229 ... Vertical inversion detector 230 ... EXO
R circuit 233 ... Lens 234 ... Imaging element 235 ... Imaging image signal 236 ... Encoder 237 ... Outer casing 238 ... Belt 239 ... Motor 301 ... Display screen 302 ... Camera 303 ... Right-handed enlargement / reduction ratio adjustment knob 304 ... Left-handed Expansion / reduction ratio adjustment knob 305 ... Telephone number instruction panel 306 ... Microphone 307 ... Speaker 308 ... Antenna 309 ... Setting button 310 ... Power switch 311 ... Leg part 312 ... Signal line 313 ... Display screen 314 ... Adjusting part 315 ... Camera 316 … A / D
Converter 317 ... Pre-processing unit 318 ... Encoding unit 319 ... Multiplexer 320 ... Display 321 ... D / A converter 322 ... Post-processing unit 323 ... Decoding unit 324 ... Battery 325 ... Battery exhaustion detection unit 326 ... Audio codec unit 327 ... microphone 328 ... speakers 100a, 100b ... antenna 101 ... antenna switching / combining circuit 102 ... decoder 103 ... encoder 104 ... display switching device 105 ... speaker 106 ... display 107 ... camera 108 ... microphone 109 ... control circuit 111 ... First transmitting / receiving antenna 112 ... Speaker 113 ... Operation panel 114 ... Support member 115 ... Microphone 116 ... Camera 117 ... Display panel 118 ... User 119 ... Cable 121 ... Antenna 122 ... Antenna 131 ... Operation panel 132 ... Panel 141 Operation panel 142 ... Panel 151 ... Operation panel 152 ... Panel 161 ... Operation panel 162 ... Panel 410 ... Portable videophone main unit 411 ... Tripod 412 ... Mounting metal fitting 413 ... Orientation changing metal fitting 414 ... Fixing metal fitting 415 ... Antenna 420 ... Storage part 421 ... Fixing device 430 ... Bellows 431 ... Sucker 432 ... Glass plate or wall 433 ... Antenna 440 ... Metal fitting housing 441 ... Hooking metal fitting 442 ... Glazing part 442 ... Wall

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kenichiro Fukuya 1 Komukai Toshiba-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Inside the Corporate Research and Development Center, Toshiba Corporation (72) Hirokazu Kawakatsu 70 Yanagi-cho, Sai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa (72) Inventor Takeshi Datake, Komukai-shi Toshiba-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 1st location, Toshiba Research & Development Center (72) Inventor Kaoru Suzuki, Kaoru Oyodo, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 1-30 30 Toshiba Kansai Branch Office (72) Inventor Hideki Yoshioka 1-30 1 Oyodo Naka, Kita-ku, Osaka City Osaka Prefecture (72) In-house Toshiba Kansai Branch Office (72) Naoaki Kurata Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 1-30 Oyodochu, Kita-ku Toshiba Kansai branch office

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. In a portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, image display means and the image display means of the user so that the image display means is located below the visual field of the user of the portable videophone device. Supporting means for supporting the upper half of the body, image reflecting means arranged on the front surface of the image display means for reflecting the user's face image and transmitting the image on the image display means, and on the image reflecting means An image pickup means for picking up an image of the above. 2. A portable videophone device that wirelessly transmits and receives voice and images, and image display means, and the image display means of the user so that the image display means is located below the visual field of the user of the portable videophone device. Supporting means for supporting the upper half of the body, image reflecting means arranged at a position adjacent to the image display means for reflecting the face image of the user, and image pickup means for picking up an image on the image reflecting means. A portable videophone device characterized by being provided. 3. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, a portable videophone device body configured to be foldable, and a state in which the portable videophone device body is folded on the portable videophone device body. And a photographing means provided so as to be exposed in both unfolded and unfolded states. 4. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, a portable videophone device body configured to be foldable, and a state in which the portable videophone device body is folded on the portable videophone device body. And an image pickup means provided so as to be exposed in any of the unfolded state, and a distance from the lowermost portion of the portable videophone device body to the image pickup means in the folded state of the portable videophone device body. And a supporting means configured to be adjustable. 5. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, a portable videophone device body configured to be foldable, and a state in which the portable videophone device body is folded on the portable videophone device body. And an image pickup unit provided so as to be exposed in any of the unfolded state, and a first detecting unit for detecting whether the portable videophone device main body is in the folded state or in the unfolded state. Detecting means, second detecting means for detecting whether the portable videophone device body is in an upright state or an inverted state, and a state in which the portable videophone device body is folded by the first detecting means. And when the second detecting means detects that the portable videophone device body is in the upright state, When the output means detects that the portable videophone device body is in an unfolded state, and the second detecting means detects that the portable videophone device body is in an inverted state, the image pickup means is used. And a reversing means for reversing the picked-up image signal thus taken up and down. 6. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, comprising: a portable videophone device main body; and first and second operating means provided on both left and right side surfaces of the portable videophone device main body. And a setting means for setting the allocation of the functions of the first and second operating means. 7. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, a portable videophone device main body having an image pickup means and an image display means, and a mobile videophone device main body provided on both left and right side surfaces of the main body. The first and second operation means for adjusting the enlargement / reduction ratio of the captured image captured by the image capturing means displayed on the image display means, and the allocation of the functions of the first and second operating means. A portable videophone device, comprising: setting means for setting. 8. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, a portable videophone device main body having an image display means and an imaging means, and a supporting means for supporting the portable videophone device main body in an upright state. And a manipulating means that is detachably provided to the main body of the portable videophone device and that operates the main body of the portable videophone device. 9. A portable videophone device that wirelessly transmits and receives voice and images using a battery as a power source, an image display means, a storage amount detection means for detecting the storage amount of the battery, and detection by the storage amount detection means. A portable videophone device comprising: a means for stopping at least a part of the image display means or changing a display mode when the stored amount of stored electricity becomes a predetermined value or less. 10. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, comprising: a portable videophone device main body having an audio input / output part; and a panel detachably attached to the portable videophone device main body. And an image display unit and an image pickup unit provided on the panel, and a connecting unit that mechanically and electrically connects the image display unit and the image pickup unit to the portable videophone device main body. Mobile videophone device. 11. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, and a portable videophone device main body having an antenna, and at least one of the image display means detachably provided to the portable videophone device main body. And an image pickup means, and a connecting means for mechanically and electrically connecting at least one of the image display means and the image pickup means, which is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the portable videophone device body, and the portable videophone device body. And a space diversity antenna comprising at least a part of the components of the image display unit, the image pickup unit, and the connection unit, and the antenna. 12. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, a portable videophone device main body having an image display means and an image pickup means, and supporting the portable videophone device main body at an arbitrary position and orientation. And a supporting means which also serves as an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals. 13. A portable videophone device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice and images, comprising: an area designating means capable of designating a plurality of areas of high importance in a received image or a transmitted image in a duplicated manner; and the area designating means. A coding and transmitting means for coding and transmitting the image information of a region where a plurality of regions overlap among the image information of the designated region with higher quality than the image information of a region which does not overlap. Mobile videophone device.