JP2001298654A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain suitable focusing on an object. SOLUTION: An image pickup part 22 which photographs an object has an almost cylindrical shape and is located almost at the center part of an upper part of the display screen of a display part. Then the part 22 is rotatively supported to move along a virtual plane where the photographing direction is set orthogonal to the display screen and over a prescribed range set between the front and back of the display part when both ends of the part 22 are pivoted. The main body of this information processor is pivoted so as to freely open and close to the display part. A recess part 141 having a shape corresponding to the part 22 is formed to prevent interference between the main body of the processor and the part 22 when the main body is closed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a CC capable of adjusting a focus of a subject.
The present invention relates to an information processing device incorporating a D (Charge Coupled Device) video camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present invention has incorporated a CCD video camera into a portable personal computer, processes the captured image data, and displays the processed image data on a display. Proposed. 18 and 19 show examples of the configuration.

In FIG. 18, a personal computer 161 is composed of a main body 162 having a rectangular thin housing and a housing having substantially the same size as the main body 162, and is attached to the main body 162 so as to be freely opened and closed. Display panel 165 for displaying graphics, characters, etc.
It is composed of As shown in FIG. 18, the display panel 165 can be turned upward and opened when in use, and the display panel 165 can be turned downward and closed when not in use.

The main body 162 is provided with operating parts such as a keyboard 163 and a track pad 164 operated by a user. By operating the keyboard 163 and the track pad 164, data is input and output. Further, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Mem
ory), a circuit board on which a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like are mounted.

The display panel 165 is provided with a liquid crystal display 166 for displaying graphics, characters, and the like.
Mounting groove 1 in which CCD camera 169 is slidably mounted
67 are formed.

[0006] The mounting groove 167 is provided in the display panel section 1.
It has a structure (recess structure) in which a part of the upper central position of 65 is cut out in a substantially U-shape. CCD video camera 169
Are supported by a support member 168 provided in the mounting groove 167. An image formed on a CCD (not shown) in the CCD video camera 169 can be taken into the personal computer 161 via a cable (not shown).

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the CCD video camera 169. The support member 168 fixed to the display panel unit 165 side includes a CCD video camera 169.
And a cup-shaped support curved surface 168b having the same curved surface as the curved surface of the rotating ball 175. This support member 168
Slidably supports the rotating ball 175 so as to be sandwiched by the support curved surface 168b.

The CCD video camera 169 has a camera body 171 formed in a substantially spherical shape, a lens 172 formed in a cylindrical shape from the camera body 171, and a turn connected to a part of the camera body 171. The moving shaft 174 and the rotating shaft 17
4 and a rotating ball 175 formed of a sphere connected to the other end of the rotating ball 4. The camera body 171 has a cable 1 connected to the inside of the personal computer 161.
73 are provided. By sliding the camera body 171 about the pivot sphere 175 as a fulcrum, the camera body 171 can capture an image of a predetermined range via the lens 172.

As described above, by providing the rotating shaft 174 having a predetermined length, when a force is applied to the camera main body 171 to change the direction, the rotating shaft 174 moves to the rotating ball 175. The torque is transmitted. That is, the camera body 171 can change its direction around the rotating ball 175, and the imaging range can be appropriately changed. When no turning force is applied, the turning ball 175 is supported by the support member 168.
The imaging direction of the camera body 171 is fixedly supported and maintained without rotating inside the camera.

[0010]

However, in the above-described CCD camera incorporated in the personal computer, the imaging range can be changed as appropriate, but there is a problem that the focus cannot be appropriately adjusted with respect to the subject. Was.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and has as its object to provide an information processing apparatus incorporating a CCD camera capable of appropriately focusing on a subject.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, comprising: a display unit for displaying an image; and an image pickup unit provided at a substantially central portion above a display screen of the display unit.
By supporting the both ends of the substantially cylindrical image pickup means and the image pickup means, a virtual direction in which the image pickup direction of the image pickup means is orthogonal to the display screen over a predetermined range between the front and back of the display means. A shaft supporting means rotatably supporting the moving means so as to move along a plane, and an image supporting means which is supported to be openable and closable with respect to the display means so as to prevent interference with the image taking means in a closed state. And a body provided with a concave portion of a corresponding shape.

[0013] The imaging means may be a CCD.

In the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the display means displays an image and captures an image of a subject, and the substantially cylindrical imaging means is provided at a substantially central portion above a display screen of the display means. The image pickup means moves along a virtual plane whose image pickup direction is orthogonal to the display screen over a predetermined range between the front and back of the display means by the both ends of the image pickup means being pivotally supported. The main body is rotatably supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the display means, and in a closed state, a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the imaging means is formed so as to prevent interference with the imaging means. It is provided on the main body.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 show examples of the configuration of a portable personal computer to which the present invention is applied. The personal computer 1 is a mini-notebook type personal computer, and basically includes a main body 2 and a display unit 3 which can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 2. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the display unit 3 is opened with respect to the main body 2, FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the display unit 3 is closed with respect to the main body 2. 4 is a right side view showing the display unit 3 opened 180 degrees with respect to the main body 2, FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 3, and FIG.
FIG.

On the upper surface of the main body 2, a keyboard 4 operated when inputting various characters and symbols, and a track point (trademark) 5 operated when moving a mouse cursor are provided. I have. Further, on the upper surface of the main body 2, there are further provided a speaker 8 for outputting sound and a shutter button 10 operated when capturing an image with the CCD video camera 23 provided on the display unit 3.

A claw 13 is provided at an upper end portion of the display unit 3. As shown in FIG. 3, when the display unit 3 is closed with respect to the main body 2, the main body 2 is located at a position opposed to the claw 13. Is provided with a hole 6 into which the claw 13 is fitted. A slide lever 7 is provided on the entire surface of the main body 2 so as to be movable in parallel with the entire surface. The slide lever 7 can be locked by engaging with the claw 13 fitted into the hole 6 and can be unlocked. I can do it. By releasing the lock, the display unit 3 can be rotated with respect to the main body 2. Next to the claws 13, a microphone 24
Is attached. This microphone 24 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the sound from the back can also be picked up.

On the front of the main body 2, a programmable power key (PPK) 9 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, an exhaust hole 11 is provided on the right side surface of the main body 2, and an intake hole 14 is provided at a lower part of the front surface of the main body 2 as shown in FIG. 5. In addition, a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card Interna
nation association) card (PC card) is provided.

An LCD for displaying images is provided on the front of the display unit 3.
(Liquid Crystal Display) 21 is provided, and an imaging unit 22 is provided at the upper end thereof so as to be rotatable with respect to the display unit 3. That is, this imaging unit 22
It can rotate to any position within a range of 180 degrees between the same direction as D21 and the opposite direction (backward direction). A CCD video camera 23 is attached to the imaging unit 22.

A power lamp is provided on the lower body side of the display unit 3.
PL, battery lamp BL, message lamp ML, other LEDs
Is provided. Reference numeral 40 shown in FIG. 3 is a power switch provided on the left side surface of the main body 2, and reference numeral 25 shown in FIG. 5 is an adjustment ring for adjusting the focus of the CCD video camera 23. Further, reference numeral 26 shown in FIG. 6 is a lid for covering an opening for mounting an additional memory in the main body 2, and reference numeral 41 is a small hole for inserting a pin for releasing the lock nail of the lid 26.

FIG. 7 shows the internal configuration of the personal computer 1. Internal (PCI (Peripheral Componet I
nterconnect)) bus 51 includes a CPU (Central Processing
Unit) 52, PC card 53 inserted as necessary, R
An AM (Random Access Memory) 54 and a graphic chip 81 are connected. The internal bus 51 includes an external (ISA (Industrial Standard Architecture)) bus 55.
The external bus 55 includes a hard disk drive (HDD) 56 and an I / O (input / output) controller 5.
7, a keyboard controller 58, a track point controller 59, a sound chip 60, an LCD controller 83, a modem 50 and the like are connected.

The CPU 52 is a controller for controlling each function, and the PC card 53 is appropriately mounted when adding optional functions.

In the RAM 54, when the activation is completed, an e-mail program (application program) 54A, an auto-pilot program (application program) 54B, and an OS (basic program) 54C are transferred from the HDD 56 and stored. .

The electronic mail program 54A is a program for sending and receiving messages via a network from a communication line such as a telephone line. E-mail program 54
A has an incoming mail acquisition function as a specific function. This incoming mail acquisition function checks the mail server 93 to see if mail addressed to the user (user) has arrived in the mailbox 93A, and if there is mail addressed to the user, obtains the mail. Execute.

The autopilot program 54B includes a plurality of processes (or programs) set in advance.
This is a program that is started and processed sequentially in a preset order.

OS (basic program software) 54C
Controls the basic operation of a computer, such as Windows95 (trademark).

On the other hand, a hard disk drive (HDD) 56 on the external bus 55 side has an electronic mail program 56
A, an autopilot program 56B and an OS (basic program software) 56C are stored. OS 56C in hard disk drive 56, auto pilot program 56B, and e-mail program 56A
Are sequentially transferred and stored in the RAM 54 during the startup (boot-up) process.

The I / O controller 57 has a microcontroller 61, and the microcontroller 61 is provided with an I / O interface 62. This microcontroller 61 includes an I / O interface 62, C
The PU 63, the RAM 64, and the ROM 69 are connected to each other. The RAM 64 has a key input status register 65, an LED (light emitting diode) control register 66, a set time register 67, and a register 68. The set time register 67 is used to start the operation of the start-up sequence control unit 76 at a time (start-up condition) set by the user in advance. The register 68 stores a correspondence between a preset operation key combination (start condition) and an application program to be started. When the stored operation key combination is input by the user, the register 68 stores the correspondence. The activated application program (for example, e-mail) is activated.

The key input status register 65 stores an operation key flag when the programmable power key (PPK) 9 for one-touch operation is pressed. The LED control register 66 controls the lighting of a message lamp ML that indicates the start-up state of the application program (e-mail) stored in the register 68. The set time register 67 can arbitrarily set a predetermined time.

A backup battery 74 is connected to the microcontroller 61.
The values of the registers 65, 66, and 67 are retained even when the power of the main unit 2 is turned off.

The ROM 69 in the microcontroller 61 stores a wake-up program 70, a key input monitoring program 71, and an LED control program 72 in advance. The ROM 69 is, for example, an EEPROM (electricall
y erasable and programmable read only memory). This EEPROM is also called a flash memory. Further, an RTC (Real-Time Clock) 75 that constantly counts the current time is connected to the microcontroller 61.

The wake-up program 70 in the ROM 69 checks whether or not the time set in advance in the set time register 67 has come based on the current time data supplied from the RTC 75. , A program for starting a predetermined process (or a program). The key input monitoring program 71
This is a program for constantly monitoring whether or not K9 has been pressed by the user. The LED control program 72 is a program for controlling lighting of the message lamp ML.

The ROM 69 further includes a BIOS (Basic Input / O
utput System) 73 is written. The BIOS is a basic input / output system, and is a software program that controls data transfer (input / output) between an OS or application software and peripheral devices (display, keyboard, hard disk drive, etc.).

A keyboard controller 58 connected to the external bus 55 controls an input from the keyboard 4. The track point controller 59 controls input of the track point 5.

The sound chip 60 includes the microphone 24
Or an audio signal is supplied to the built-in speaker 8.

The modem 50 can be connected to a communication network 92 such as the Internet, a mail server 93, and the like via a public telephone line 90 and an Internet service provider 91.

Image data captured by the CCD video camera 23 is input to the graphic chip 81 connected to the internal bus 51 after being processed by the processing unit 82. The graphic chip 81 stores the video data input from the CCD video camera 23 via the processing unit 82 in the built-in VRAM 81A, reads out the data as appropriate, and outputs the read data to the LCD controller 83. LCD
The controller 83 outputs the image data supplied from the graphic chip 81 to the LCD 21 for display. The backlight 84 illuminates the LCD 21 from behind.

The power switch 40 is operated when the power is turned on or off. The half-press switch 85 is turned on when the shutter button 10 is half-pressed, and the full-press switch 86 is turned on when the shutter button 10 is fully pressed. The reversing switch 87 is connected to the imaging unit 2
2 is rotated 180 degrees (CCD video camera 23
It is turned on when it is rotated in the direction of imaging the opposite side of the CD 21).

Next, the imaging unit 2 which is a feature of this embodiment is described.
The structure 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 8, an imaging unit 22 is rotatably attached to the display unit 3 at the upper center of the display unit 3. That is, the imaging unit 22 can rotate to an arbitrary position within a range of 180 degrees between the same direction as the LCD 21 (FIG. 8) and the opposite direction (backward direction) (FIG. 9). It has been made possible.

The mounting groove 104 has a structure in which a part of the upper central position of the display unit 3 is cut out in a substantially U-shape.

The image pickup section 22 has a substantially cylindrical CCD.
A video camera unit 101, a lens barrel 102 housed in the CCD video camera unit 101, and a lens barrel 10
2 comprises a focus adjustment ring 25 for adjusting the focus position by sliding the lens 2 in the optical axis direction of the lens 103 held therein.

As shown in FIG. 11, a cable 117 and a CCD 114 connected to a circuit board inside the personal computer 1 are provided inside the CCD video camera unit 101.
Is housed. The CCD 114 captures light incident through the lens 103 attached to the lens barrel 102. The captured image data is taken into the personal computer 1 via the cable 117 and processed to execute various applications.

The focus adjustment ring 25 moves the lens barrel 102 back and forth (the lens 10) to focus on the subject.
(In the direction of the optical axis 3), it is manually operated by the user. Further, since the focus adjustment ring 25 is exposed above and below the CCD video camera unit 101, the focus adjustment ring 25 is rotated 180 degrees (see FIG. 8) as well as the state before the rotation of the CCD video camera unit 101 (FIG. 8). 9)
Also, the focus can be adjusted.

FIG. 11 shows the internal structure of the image pickup section 22 shown in FIG. 10 in detail. A gear-shaped protrusion 102A is formed around the front of the lens barrel 102. Also,
A male screw 102B is formed around the rear. Further, a lens 103 is attached to the front surface of the lens barrel 102.

The lens barrel support 113 is provided to support the lens barrel 102, and has a female screw 113 inside the cylindrical shape.
A is formed. The male screw 102B of the lens barrel 102 and the female screw 113A of the lens barrel support 113 are engaged with each other.
The slider 12 slides in the front-rear direction relative to the lens barrel support 113 fixed to the lens 12 by screws.
A CCD 114 for forming a captured image is attached to the back of the lens barrel support 113. The flexible substrate 115 is housed in the lens barrel support 113. A connector 116 is attached to the flexible board 115, and a cable 117 is connected to the connector 116. The image data formed by the CCD 114 is
It is taken into the personal computer 1 via the cable 117 housed in the hole inside 12A.

The focus adjustment ring 25 has a circular ring structure, and has a gear-shaped recess 25 inside thereof.
A is formed. The convex portion 102A of the lens barrel 102 is fitted into the concave portion 25A of the focus adjustment ring 25 so as to allow the lens barrel 102 to slide in the front-rear direction.
The focus adjustment ring 25 is rotatably supported by the case 118 so as not to move in the axial direction.
Therefore, when the user rotates the focus adjustment ring 25, the rotation is transmitted to the lens barrel 102 via the concave portion 25A and the convex portion 102A, and the lens barrel 102 can be slid in the front-back direction. That is, the user can focus on the subject.

The above-described focus adjustment ring 25, lens barrel 102, lens barrel support 113, flexible substrate 115,
The connector 116 and the cable 117 are connected to the case 11
2 and a case 118 to form a CCD video camera unit 101. The panel 119 is attached to the case 118.

A shaft 112 is attached to the right end of the case 112.
A is formed, and the shaft 112A is rotatably supported by a bearing 123 fixed to the display unit 3 by screws. A shaft 121 is attached to the left end of the case 112 with a screw. The shaft 121 is connected to the display unit 3 by screws.
Is rotatably supported by a receiving portion 120 fixed to the supporting member 120. Accordingly, the case 112 integrally assembled with the case 118 is rotatably attached to the display unit 3 around the shaft 112A and the shaft 121 as a fulcrum. Shaft 1
A cam 122 is connected to 21 (FIG. 12), and turns the reversing switch 87 on or off. Thereby, it is detected whether the imaging unit 22 faces the front or the back.

FIG. 13 shows the image pickup unit 22 shown in FIG.
It is the arrow view seen from -I '. As shown in FIG. 13, the shaft 112 </ b> A (shaft 121) is formed (arranged) at a position above the center and eccentric toward the rear side with respect to a substantially cylindrical member constituted by the case 112 and the case 118. I have. The maximum dimension la from the shaft 112A is formed on the case 118 side, and the minimum dimension lb is formed on the case 112 side. Thereby, the imaging unit 22 can be turned outward (clockwise in FIG. 13) but cannot be turned inward (counterclockwise in FIG. 13).

FIG. 14A shows the image pickup direction of the image pickup section 22.
The case where the direction is set in the same direction as that of the LCD 21 is shown. On the right side, an arrow view of the imaging unit 22 viewed from II ′ is shown. FIG. 14B shows the imaging direction of the imaging unit 22.
The case where the LCD 21 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise with respect to the LCD 21 is shown. On the right side, an arrow view of the imaging unit 22 viewed from II ′ is shown. FIG. 14C illustrates the imaging unit 22.
3 shows a case where the imaging direction is rotated 180 degrees clockwise with respect to the LCD 21. On the right side, an arrow view of the imaging unit 22 viewed from II ′ is shown.

The concave portion 141 is used to connect the lens barrel 102 to the case 11.
Even if the display unit 3 is closed with respect to the main body 2 in a state where the display unit 3 is most protruded from the main body 8, the imaging unit 22 does not contact the main body 2
It is formed to be able to rotate.

FIG. 15 is a view of the microphone 24 as seen from the line II ′. As shown in FIG. 15, a slit 151 is provided on the front surface of the microphone 24 (in the same direction as the LCD 21), and the rear surface of the microphone 24 (LC
In the direction opposite to D21), a slit 152 is provided. Thus, sound can be collected not only from the same direction as the LCD 21 but also from the back. still,
In FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, for convenience, a portion corresponding to the slits 151 and 152 in FIG. 15 is described as the microphone 24.

FIG. 16 shows the image pickup direction of the image pickup section 22 as viewed from the rear side of the display section 3. FIG. 16A illustrates a state in which the imaging unit 22 faces in the direction opposite to the LCD 21, and FIG. 16B illustrates a state in which the imaging unit 22 rotates 90 degrees from the same direction as the LCD 21. Is shown. FIG.
(C) shows a state in which the imaging unit 22 faces in the same direction as the LCD 21.

FIG. 17 shows the image pickup direction of the image pickup section 22 as viewed from the front side of the display section 3. FIG. 17A shows a state in which the imaging unit 22 faces in a direction opposite to that of the LCD 21, and FIG. 17B shows a state in which the imaging unit 22 rotates 90 degrees from the same direction as the LCD 21. FIG. 17C shows the image pickup unit 2
Reference numeral 2 indicates a state in which the LCD device 21 faces the same direction as the LCD 21.

Next, a method of using the personal computer 1 having the above configuration will be described. First, the display unit 3 is opened upward with respect to the main body 2 so that the LCD 21 can be seen. Then, when capturing an image of a subject (not shown) into the personal computer 1, the user sets the CCD video camera unit 101 in the imaging direction (the direction of the subject).
To stop at a predetermined position. The imaging direction of the CCD video camera unit 101 can be set at an arbitrary position within a range of 180 degrees between the same direction as the LCD 21 and the opposite direction (backward direction). Not only the user of the personal computer 1 but also surrounding images can be captured. After setting the CCD video camera unit 101 in the imaging direction, the user adjusts the focus adjustment ring 2 so that the subject is in focus.
5, the position of the lens barrel 102 is adjusted.

The user presses the shutter button 10 when the subject is in focus, and captures a desired image with the CCD video camera 23. This image data is stored in the HDD 56. The CCD video camera 23 supplies the image data of the subject to the processing unit 82. After processing the image data, the processing unit 82 supplies the processed image data to the graphic chip 81. The graphic chip 81 stores the input video data in the built-in VRAM 81A, reads it out as appropriate,
Output to the controller 83. LCD controller 83
Outputs the image data supplied from the graphic chip 81 to the LCD 21 for display. The user presses the shutter button 10 when the subject is in focus, and captures a desired image with the CCD video camera 23. This image data
It is stored in the HDD 56. The captured image can be printed by a printer (not shown) as necessary.

Further, by connecting the personal computer 1 to the Internet 92 via the modem 50, the telephone line 90, and the provider 91, images can be transmitted to the personal computer of the communication partner. On the receiving side, the image can be displayed on the LCD in real time based on the transmitted image data, so that it can be used for a video conference system or the like.

[0059]

According to the information processing apparatus of the first aspect, the display means displays an image and captures an image of a subject, and the substantially cylindrical imaging means is provided at substantially the center above the display screen of the display means. The imaging unit is provided in a unit, and both ends of the imaging unit are pivotally supported, so that the imaging unit extends in a virtual plane in which the imaging direction is orthogonal to the display screen over a predetermined range between the front and back of the display unit. The main body is rotatably supported so as to move along, and the main body is pivotally supported on the display means so as to be openable and closable, and in a closed state, the shape corresponding to the imaging means so as to prevent interference with the imaging means. Since the concave portion is provided in the main body, the subject can be appropriately focused.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a display unit of a configuration example of a portable personal computer to which the present invention is applied is opened with respect to a main body.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a left side view showing a state where the display unit of FIG. 1 is closed with respect to a main body.

FIG. 4 is a right side view showing a state where the display unit of FIG. 1 is opened 180 degrees with respect to a main body.

FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electric circuit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a mounting structure of the imaging unit 22 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a mounting structure of the imaging unit 22 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the structure of an imaging unit 22.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a structure of an imaging unit 22.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the structure of an imaging unit 22.

FIG. 13 is an arrow view of the imaging unit 22 as viewed from II ′.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining rotation of the imaging unit 22;

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a microphone 24;

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining rotation of the imaging unit 22 in a state where the display unit 3 is closed with respect to the main body 2.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining rotation of the imaging unit 22 in a state where the display unit 3 is opened with respect to the main body 2.

FIG. 18 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a display unit of a configuration example of a conventional portable personal computer is opened with respect to a main body.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a CCD video camera 169.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,161 personal computer, 2,162
Main unit, 3 display unit, 4,163 keyboard, 5
Track point, 6 hole, 7 slide lever, 8 speaker, 9 PPK, 10 shutter button, 11 exhaust hole, 12 slot, 13 claw, 14 intake hole, 21 LCD, 22 imaging unit,
23 CCD video camera, 24 microphone, 2
5 focus adjustment ring, 26 lid, 40 power switch, 41 small hole, 50 MODEM, 51 internal bus, 52, 63 CPU, 53 PC card,
54, 64 RAM, 54A, 56A e-mail program, 54B, 56B auto pilot program, 54C, 56C OS, 55 external bus, 56
HDD, 57 I / O controller, 58 keyboard controller, 59 track point controller, 60 sound chip, 61 microcontroller, 62 I / O interface, 65 key input status register, 66 LED control register, 67 setting time register, 68 register, 6
9 ROM, 70 Wake-up program, 71
Key input monitoring program, 72 LED control program, 73 BIOS, 74 backup battery,
75 RTC, 76 startup sequence control unit, 81 graphic chip, 81A VRAM, 82 processing unit,
83 LCD controller, 84 backlight,
85 Half-press switch, 86 Full-press switch, 8
7 reversing switch, 90 telephone line, 91 provider, 92 Internet, 93 mail server,
93A mailbox, 101 CCD video camera unit, 102 lens barrel, 102A recess, 10
2B male screw, 103 lens, 104,167
Mounting groove, 112, 118 case, 112A shaft,
113 lens barrel support, 113A female screw, 114
CCD, 115 flexible board, 116 connector, 117, 173 cable, 119 panel, 120 receiver, 121 shaft, 122
Cam, 141 recess, 151, 152 slit,
164 track pad, 165 display panel section, 166 liquid crystal display, 168 support member, 169 CCD video camera, 171 camera body section, 172 lens section, 174 rotation axis, 17
5 rotating ball

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 11, 2001 (2001.6.1)
1)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, comprising: a display unit for displaying an image; and an image pickup unit provided at a substantially central portion above a display screen of the display unit.
By supporting the both ends of the substantially cylindrical image pickup means and the image pickup means, a virtual direction in which the image pickup direction of the image pickup means is orthogonal to the display screen over a predetermined range between the front and back of the display means. a rotatably supported means for pivotably supported for movement along a plane, is supported openably with respect to the display means, in the closed state, so as to prevent interference between the image pickup means, closed
And a main body provided with a recess having a shape facing the imaging means at a position corresponding to the imaging means in a state corresponding to the imaging means.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the display means displays an image and captures an image of a subject, and the substantially cylindrical imaging means is provided at a substantially central portion above a display screen of the display means. The image pickup means moves along a virtual plane whose image pickup direction is orthogonal to the display screen over a predetermined range between the front and back of the display means by the both ends of the image pickup means being pivotally supported. The main body is rotatably supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the display means, and is in a closed state so as to prevent interference with the imaging means in a closed state.
Wherein, at a position corresponding to the imaging means ,
The main body is provided with a concave portion having a shape opposed to the main body with a predetermined gap therebetween .

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0059

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0059]

According to the information processing apparatus of the first aspect, the display means displays an image and captures an image of a subject, and the substantially cylindrical imaging means is provided at substantially the center above the display screen of the display means. The imaging unit is provided in a unit, and both ends of the imaging unit are pivotally supported, so that the imaging unit extends in a virtual plane in which the imaging direction is orthogonal to the display screen over a predetermined range between the front and back of the display unit. The main body is rotatably supported so as to move along, and the main body is pivotally supported on the display means so as to be openable and closable, and in a closed state so as to prevent interference with the imaging means in a closed state.
Wherein, at a position corresponding to the imaging means ,
Since the main body is provided with a concave portion having a shape opposed to the main body at a predetermined gap , the subject can be appropriately focused.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A display means for displaying an image, provided at a substantially central portion above a display screen of the display means,
A substantially cylindrical image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject, and by supporting both ends of the image pickup means, the image pickup means is imaged over a predetermined range between the front and back of the display means. A pivoting means rotatably supporting the direction so as to move along a virtual plane orthogonal to the display screen; and an imaging means in a closed state, which is pivotally supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the display means. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a main body provided with a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the imaging means so as to prevent interference of the image pickup means. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is a CCD.