CN1943232B

CN1943232B - Multifunctional terminal with a hinge incorporating an imaging device

Info

Publication number: CN1943232B
Application number: CN2005800120110A
Authority: CN
Inventors: F·洛玛欧
Original assignee: Sagem SA
Current assignee: Mobile Wireless Co; Apple Inc
Priority date: 2004-04-02
Filing date: 2005-03-21
Publication date: 2011-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-21
Also published as: CN1943232A; WO2005101833A1; EP1730960A1; FR2868651A1; FR2868651B1

Abstract

A multifunctional terminal comprising a first portion (1) and a second portion (2) each having a front surface (4, 5), a rear surface (6, 7) and at least one linking arm (8, 9) connected to a hinge member (3) comprising two separate and parallel hinge axes (10, 11) with the first and second portions respectively pivotable therearound between a closed position in which the front surfaces are mutually adjacent and an open position in which the front surfaces are spaced apart. The hinge member has a substantially rectangular cross-section transversely to the hinge axes, and the terminal includesa display (12) on the front surface of the first portion, a keypad on the front surface of the second portion and an imaging device (14) housed in the hinge member and connected to the display. Said terminal is characterised in that the imaging device has an optical axis that is not parallel to the hinges axes and is located substantially on one short side of the rectangular cross-section of the hinge member.

Description

The hinged multifunctional terminal device that comprises camera

Technical field

The present invention relates to a multifunctional terminal device, such as a mobile phone (for example, GSM type) that is applicable to wireless telecommunications network, a PDA(Personal Digital Assistant), notebook computer ...

Background technology

Various terminal equipments are arranged, they comprise first and second parts, each several part has a front, a back, an and linking arm that is connected to articulated element, articulated element has two intervals and parallel hinge axes, first and second parts pivot between an off-position and an open position respectively around hinge axes, and their front is adjacent in off-position, and in open position their rear adjacent.Terminal equipment comprises display, one group of key that is deployed into the front of second portion towards the front of first, and one is contained in the articulated element and is connected to the camera of display.

The animated photography machine that camera normally is made of a fixed focal length or varifocal mirror, wherein, one transducer is arranged on the camera back, camera is parallel to hinge axes and extends and be used for absorbing static or moving image around the user, but can not be used for taking the user when the user is utilizing this terminal equipment.

Also have various mobile phones, they comprise two parts that are connected through the hinge together, so that pivot opening and closing between the position, wherein, camera similarly is used for taking the user, and simultaneously, telephone set just is being used as a visual telephone.Then, camera is installed on one of them part of telephone set, so that point to the user, simultaneously, mobile phone is shown in an open position, and display then can allow the user see other people.

When the scenery of user around absorbing, mobile phone remains in the position of opening, and its camera points to landscape and prepares to take.Yet, for the user, also must can see the ken that is covered by camera.For this purpose, an additional display is deployed into the back of one of them part of phone, can allow the user carry out composition.Should increase the complexity of telephone structure by additional display, and increase its volume and weight.

People also know a kind of camera that can pivot that is mounted to of use on hinge, so that can allow the user specify camera backward towards the user, telephone set is used as a visual telephone, or forward towards surrounding environment so that make traditional photography, then, use the display of mobile phone to carry out composition.Yet pivotable camera has the shortcoming as additional display.

In addition, the zoom lens in being used for such camera itself occupies increasing amount of space and causes the total volume of mobile phone to increase and usually more during multifunctional terminal device, the volume problem trouble more that becomes.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to propose a mobile phone in camera is integrated in, simultaneously, keep a simple and little structure of size.

For this purpose, the invention provides a multi-functional terminal equipment, it comprises first and second portion, each several part has a front respectively, one back, and at least one is connected to the linking arm of an articulated element, articulated element has two separation and parallel hinge axes, first and second portion pivot between an off-position and an open position respectively around hinge axes respectively, their front is adjacent in off-position, and their previous space is opened in open position, articulated element laterally presents a part that is essentially rectangle perpendicular to hinge axes, the part of this rectangle has long limit and the minor face that length equals the thickness sum of first and second portion, terminal equipment comprises a display towards the front of first, one is deployed into the key apparatus of the front of second portion, and one be contained in the articulated element and be connected to the camera of display, camera has an optical axis, and it is not parallel to hinge axes and roughly is deployed in the minor face of rectangle part of articulated element.

Therefore, camera is placed in the articulated element and along a direction of articulated element and extends, and it is quite big that articulated element presents a size, and this size at least can be big as the summation of all segment thicknesses of terminal.Then, camera apparatus can be the sizable size that does not influence the phone cumulative volume.In addition, the hinge types of given this position and employing, then when terminal placed open position or off-position, one of them part of phone pivoted on the either side that camera is opened.Therefore, although keep display towards the user, also may obtain a plurality of orientations, wherein, camera points to the user, or towards user's external environment condition.

In a special embodiment, the optical axis of camera is substantially perpendicular to hinge axes, and the optical axis of camera preferably is arranged essentially parallel in the plane of hinge axes one and extends.

When the landscape around the subtend user, and when the user used this terminal equipment, for example, when terminal equipment was operated in visual telephone or video conference mode, this embodiment in use provided bigger comfortableness.

Articulated element preferably comprises and is used for the element of calibration first and second parts with respect to the position of articulated element, this indexing component preferably forms a primary importance and a second place, in primary importance, described first and second portion turn over about 90 ° angle with respect to articulated element, and in the second place, described first and second portion form an angle of 270 ° of being about with respect to articulated element.

This calibration is used for defining an off-position, one open position, wherein, the rear adjacent of all parts, one first centre position, wherein, all parts form one 180 ° angle between them, make camera be placed on one first orientation, and one second centre position, wherein, all parts form one 180 ° angle between them, make camera be placed on one second orientation.Then, camera is pointed to by the user, keeps phone to be in a certain position simultaneously, and wherein, all parts of phone are got about 180 ° of angles each other, simultaneously, roughly moves one of them partial parallel and does translation in himself along an arc track.This motion causes articulated element to pivot between the two positions with respect to all parts, in a position, the user can use display that landscape is on every side carried out composition, and in the another location, phone is in video telephone mode and allows the user to see other people on display, is taken simultaneously.

In first specific embodiment of hinge, first and second portion comprise two linking arms that extend respectively on the both sides of articulated element.

This can implement an articulated element, and it is big as far as possible that its size is parallel to hinge axes.This feasible camera is dissolved in the articulated element is more prone to.

In addition, preferably, an illuminating member can be installed near the articulated element the camera.

Read followingly, will show other feature and advantage of the present invention for after specific and description non-restrictive example of the present invention.

Brief description of drawings

With reference to accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the stereogram according to a mobile terminal apparatus of the present invention in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is the diagrammatic sketch of watching below mobile phone in the closed position;

Fig. 3 is the diagrammatic sketch of watching above the mobile phone that is in first centre position;

Fig. 4 is the end view that is in the mobile phone in first centre position;

Fig. 5 is the stereogram of the mobile phone in mediating;

Fig. 6 is the diagrammatic sketch of watching above the mobile phone that is in second centre position;

Fig. 7 is the end view that is in the mobile phone in second centre position;

Fig. 8 is the rearview of the mobile phone in being shown in an open position;

Fig. 9 is the schematic section by mobile phone; And

Figure 10 is the end view of the mobile phone of the present invention one variant embodiment.

Embodiment

The multifunctional terminal device of the present invention of the following stated constitutes a mobile phone.

Referring to figs. 1 through 9, mobile phone according to the present invention comprises two

parts

1 and 2, and these two parts interconnect with articulated element 3.

Part

1 and 2 has

corresponding front

4,5,

back

6,7, and the linking

arm

8,9 that is connected to articulated element 3.Linking

arm

8,9 is on the both sides of articulated element 3 and in its

extension

1 and 2, outside.

Part 1 comprises that one is deployed into the display 12 of front 4.For instance, display 12 is liquid crystal display screens.

Part 2 comprises a traditional keypad 13, and it is deployed into front 5.

In particular with reference to Fig. 9, linking

arm

8 and 9 has all coverage rates, respectively have from wherein outstanding pin 15, pin 15 is received within the depression 16 pivotly, and this depression extends to the corresponding end interior (pin 15 and a corresponding depression 16 in the linking arm 9 only is shown) of articulated element 3.

Therefore the depression 16 of linking

arm

8,9 forms two parallel isolated

hinge axes

10 and 11 with pin 15, and

part

1 and 2 can pivot between two extreme positions around hinge axes.

In one first extreme position or " off-position " (seeing Fig. 1 and 2),

front

4 and 5 is adjacent.

In one second extreme position or " open position " (see figure 8), back 6 and 7 contacts with each other.

Articulated element 3 comprises

calibration part

1 and 2 elements with respect to articulated element 3 positions.

For

various piece

1 and 2, indexing component forms a primary importance and a second place, and in primary importance,

part

1 and 2 forms about 90 a ° angle with respect to articulated element 3, and in the second place,

part

1 and 2 forms an angle of 270 ° of being about with respect to articulated element 3.

Indexing component comprises a gradient face 17, and it constitutes the end face of the pin 15 of one of linking arm 8 and one of linking arm 9.Corresponding depression 16 is admitted the bearing boots 18 with a gradient face 19 slidably, is inserted in bearing boots 18 and the spring 20 between 16 ends of caving in by one, and this gradient face 19 is pressed against on the gradient face 17 of pin 15.

Face

17 and 19 comprises the part (not shown among Fig. 9) of the embossment that is matched shape, and they locate to form two positions at 180 ° in a conventional manner.

Articulated element 3 has one perpendicular to hinge axes 10 and the rectangular part of 11 shapes, and a long limit of the length that presents is substantially equal to first and

second parts

1 and 2 thickness sums.

Mobile phone comprises a camera, in this case, be an animated photography machine, it is received within the articulated element and is connected to an electronic module, by means of by a cable that is formed on the hole in one of linking arm 8 and the articulated element 3, provide the function of collection, processor and display interface device.

Camera 14 fixedly is installed in the articulated element 3, so that launch in the minor face of the above-mentioned part of articulated element 3.Say that exactly camera 14 has one and extends and be positioned at the optical axis 21 of a parallel plane perpendicular to hinge axes 10 and 11.In this example, this plane has comprised hinge axes 10 and 11.The length of camera 14 is restricted to

part

1 and 2 thickness sums basically.

Camera 14 is mounted to: when mobile phone was in the closed position, camera 14 was deployed in the next door (seeing Fig. 1 and 2) of the back 7 of part 2.

In this position, display 12 is towards the direction relative with camera 14, like this, and the scenery around the user can take.

Part

1 and 2 all is in 90 ° of angles with respect to articulated element 3.

(see Fig. 3 and 4) in first centre position, part 1 is in 270 ° of angles with respect to articulated element 3.

Part

1 and 2

front

4,5 form roughly 180 ° angle between them.In this position, camera is deployed in the next door of the

back

6,7 of

part

1 and 2, and the user can use mobile phone of the present invention to take scenery on every side.

The user arrests phone, and then, camera can point to a certain position, and wherein, the

part

1 and 2 of phone forms about 180 a ° angle between them, simultaneously, along an arc track (see figure 5) roughly translation movable part 1 be parallel to himself.This motion causes articulated element 3 to pivot towards second centre position from first centre position with respect to

part

1 and 2.

(see Fig. 6 and 7) in second centre position, part 1 forms 0 ° of angle with articulated element 3, and part 2 forms 270 ° of angles with articulated element 3.

Part

1 and 2

front

4,5 form roughly 180 ° of angles between them.In this position, camera is deployed in 4,5 next doors, front of

part

1 and 2, and the user can use mobile phone as a visual telephone, for example, part 2 is placed on the desk, so that display 12 extends in the user front basically.User's face is taken by camera 14 then, for example, if having a zoom lens, the position of desirable wide-angle, simultaneously, the user watches the face that can see other people at display 12.

By part 1 is pivoted, so that back 6 is translated into next 7 (utilize articulated element 3,

part

1 and 2 forms one 270 ° of angles) downwards, then phone is placed into its position of opening, and makes camera 14 be deployed into front 5 away from the part 2 of display 12.Then, phone forms the assembly of a compactness, and user's landscape on every side is suitable for taking a picture.

Should see that the internal electronic device of mobile phone is especially carried out the module of collection, processing and camera and display interface device function, can be traditional, therefore no longer is described.Electronic device can comprise a procedure service, is delivered to open position from second centre position, and vice versa, so that around the reverse shown image of the medial axis of the display 12 that is parallel to hinge axes 16,17.

In the embodiment of variant shown in Figure 10, camera 14 is installed in the articulated element 3 in static mode, and like this, when terminal equipment was in the closed position, camera 14 was deployed into 6 next door of part 1.In first centre position, camera 14 points to the user then, and can be used for video telephone mode.

Nature, the present invention is not limited to described embodiment, and under the prerequisite that is no more than by the defined scope of the invention of attached claims, various variants are also applicable.

Especially, although the present invention is described in the application of mobile phone, the present invention also is applicable to notebook computer or PDA.

Phone part can respectively have only linking arm, and articulated element 3 can be to be different from a described structure, for example, it can with the so single linking arm cooperation on each phone part.

The location of camera can be revised, and be not parallel to hinge axes so that comprise the plane of optical axis, and/or optical axis is not orthogonal to hinge axes.

For terminal equipment being remained in its all places, indexing component can comprise a cam, and it is fixed on one of them hinged member, and has a finger-type thing that is fixed to another hinged member that flexibly presses.This cam should be included in hinged member and be in and admit takeing in of finger-type thing corresponding in the position of above-mentioned position the time.Every 35 ° it a stable position also can be provided.

Part

1,2 can be different from above-mentioned angle in the angle that its diverse location place forms.

Claims

1. a multi-functional terminal equipment, comprise first (1) and second portion (2), each several part has a front (4 respectively, 5), one back (6,7), and at least one is connected to the linking arm (8 of an articulated element (3), 9), articulated element has two separation and parallel hinge axes (10,11), first and second portion pivot between an off-position and an open position around hinge axes respectively, their front is adjacent in off-position, and their previous space is opened in open position, articulated element laterally presents one for the part of rectangle perpendicular to hinge axes, the part of this rectangle has long limit and the minor face that length equals the thickness sum of first and second portion, terminal equipment comprises a display (12) towards the front of first, one is deployed into the key apparatus of the front of second portion, and one be contained in the articulated element and be connected to the camera (14) of display, terminal equipment is characterised in that, camera has an optical axis, and described optical axis is not parallel to hinge axes and is deployed in the minor face of rectangle part of articulated element.

2. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that the optical axis of camera is perpendicular to hinge axes.

3. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that, the optical axis of camera is positioned at a plane that is parallel to hinge axes.

4. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that articulated element has indexing means, is used for first and second parts of calibration with respect to articulated element.

5. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 4, it is characterized in that, indexing component forms a primary importance and a second place, in primary importance, described first and second portion form about 90 a ° angle with respect to articulated element, and in the second place, described first and second portion form an angle of 270 ° of being about with respect to articulated element.

6. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, first and second portion have two linking arms that extend respectively on the both sides of articulated element.

7. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, articulated element equals the summation of first and second segment thicknesses along the size of the direction of camera optical axis.

8. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, an illuminating member is installed near the articulated element of camera.

9. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, at the off-position place, camera is deployed in the next door of the back of first.

10. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, at the off-position place, camera is deployed in the next door of the back of second portion.

11. terminal equipment as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, the back of first and second parts is adjacent in open position.