JP2002149278A - Information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus which has superior portability and operability and can secure an imaging range without requiring any installation space for an imaging unit. SOLUTION: This information processing apparatus equipped with a display part which displays graphics, characters, etc., on a screen and an operation part for inputting information has an upper panel provided with the display part, a lower panel provided with the operation part, and a camera part having a lens part and a rotary shaft, and the camera part is fitted at a fitting recessed part formed by cutting the upper panel almost in U shape.

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 (hereinafter referred to as "personal computer"), and more particularly to a CC.
The present invention relates to a mounting structure for mounting a D camera on a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, a CCD camera which can be connected to a desktop personal computer via a cable is known as an information processing apparatus, for example, an imaging apparatus for taking an image into a personal computer.

As shown in FIG. 4, a desktop personal computer 1 has a main body 2, a display 3 for displaying graphics and characters on a screen, and a keyboard 4 connected to the main body 2 for performing input operations. It is composed of

An expansion slot for connecting an external device (not shown) is provided inside the main body 2. A board provided with an interface circuit for inputting and outputting signals to and from the CCD camera 5 is mounted on the expansion slot. , Control of imaging and input of captured image data are performed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the CCD camera 5 has a table-top structure, and can take an image in the direction in which the lens barrel 6 is directed. When the CCD camera 5 is arranged on the display 3, an image of the upper body of the user of the personal computer 1 can be taken. By using such a CCD camera 5, an image of a user of another personal computer connected through a computer network can be viewed. Although not shown in FIG. 4, by connecting a microphone to the personal computer 1 and transmitting voice via a computer network, a conversation can be performed while sitting in front of the personal computer.

Further, with the recent improvement in the performance of CPUs, portable personal computers can handle image data, and there is a demand that portable personal computers can capture image data.

[0007]

However, in a conventional imaging apparatus which can be connected to a personal computer, the imaging range is limited only to the direction in which the lens barrel 6 is directed as shown in FIG. When capturing an image, there is a restriction on a place where the imaging device is installed, which is inconvenient.

Further, when it is desired to capture images outdoors using a portable personal computer, for example, a cable and a CCD camera 5 must be carried in addition to the portable personal computer itself. It was bad.

Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide an information processing apparatus which is excellent in portability and operability, and which can secure an imaging range without taking up a space for installing the imaging apparatus.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

An information processing apparatus comprising a display unit for displaying graphics, characters, etc. on a screen, and an operation unit for inputting information, wherein the upper panel provided with the display unit and the operation unit are provided. A lower panel, a camera unit having a lens unit and a rotating shaft, and a portion of the upper panel where the camera unit is attached to the device is an attachment concave portion having a substantially U-shaped cutout. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

In the information processing apparatus having such a configuration, by providing a substantially U-shaped mounting recess at a predetermined position on the upper panel, the camera section can be freely moved in a desired direction without projecting from the apparatus itself. Can be attached.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of an information processing apparatus provided with an imaging device according to the present invention, for example, a portable personal computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assist) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Will be described. However, the drawings are for explanation only, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

First, a portable personal computer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the portable personal computer 10 comprises a main body 11 formed of a rectangular thin housing, and a main body having substantially the same size as the main body 11 and capable of being opened and closed. And a display panel unit 14 for displaying graphics, characters, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the display panel 14 can be turned upward and opened when in use, and the display panel 14 can be turned downward and closed when not in use.

The main body 11 is a lower panel, and is provided with operation parts such as a keyboard 12 and a track pad 13 operated by a user. By operating these keyboards 12 and trackpads 13, data is input and output. Although not shown, a CPU (Central P
processing Unit), ROM (Read
Only Memory), RAM (Random A)
access memory) is incorporated.

The display panel unit 14 is an upper panel, and is provided with a liquid crystal display 15 which is a display unit capable of displaying graphics, characters, and the like on a screen.
A mounting groove 16 to which a later-described CCD camera 18 is freely mounted is formed.

The mounting groove 16 is a mounting recess, and has a structure in which a part of the display panel 14 is cut out in a substantially U-shape. The CCD camera 18 is supported by a support member 17 provided in the mounting groove 16.

The supporting member 17 is a curved surface supporting portion, and as shown in FIG.
Cup-shaped support curved surface 17b having the same curved surface as
have. The support member 17 has at least two support curved surfaces 17b of the rotating sphere 25,
7b. Therefore, the support curved surface 17b can rotatably support the turning ball 25. Note that the number of the support curved surfaces 17b is not limited to this.

The CCD camera 18 is an electronic camera. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the camera body 19 is formed in a substantially spherical shape, and is formed to project from the camera body 19 in a cylindrical shape. The lens unit 20 includes a rotating shaft 24 connected to a part of the camera body 19 and a rotating ball 25 formed of a sphere connected to the other end of the rotating shaft 24. The camera main body 19 is provided with a cable 22 connected to a circuit board (not shown) inside the portable personal computer 10. The cable 22 is connected to the personal computer 10 via the rotation shaft 24 and the rotation ball 25.
It may be configured to connect to an internal circuit board.

In the camera body 19, a CCD 21 and a circuit board (not shown) are provided inside a substantially spherical shape. By sliding the camera body 19, the CCD 21 can take an image of a predetermined range through the lens 20. The captured image data is taken into the personal computer 10 via the cable 22 and processed to execute various applications.

The lens section 20 is formed integrally with the camera body section 19 in a cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the lens unit 20 is provided with a lens 23.
Is imaged.

The rotating shaft 24 is provided with one end to which the camera body 19 is connected and fixed, and the other end to which a rotating ball 25 is connected. The rotating ball 25 is formed in a spherical housing smaller than the camera body 19. The rotating ball 25 has a structure that can be freely attached by a support member 17 (see FIG. 2) provided in a part of the housing of the personal computer 10.

With the structure in which the rotating shaft 24 having a predetermined length is provided in this manner, when a force is applied to the camera body 19 and the direction is changed, the rotating shaft 24 rotates to the rotating ball 25. Power is transmitted. In other words, the camera body 19 can be attached to the camera body 19 around the rotating ball 25 in a freely changing direction with respect to the front (front) direction from the operator himself, and the imaging range can be appropriately changed. When the rotational force is not applied, the rotating ball 25 does not rotate in the support member 17, and the imaging direction of the camera body 19 is fixedly supported and maintained.

Therefore, only when a force for changing the direction is applied to the camera body 19, the rotating ball 25 can be rotated in the support member 17 in the forward (front) direction by the operator himself. When no force for changing the direction of the camera body 19 is applied, the direction of the camera body 19 is maintained without the turning ball 25 rotating by the weight of the camera body 19. In this way, the camera main body 19 can be freely turned within a predetermined angle (forward (front) direction from the operator himself) and set in a desired direction for mounting.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cable 22 is drawn out of the camera body 19 and connected to a circuit board inside the personal computer 10 shown in FIG. CCD2
The image formed in 1 can be taken into the personal computer 10 via the cable 22.

Next, a method of using the above-described portable personal computer 10 having such a configuration will be described.

First, the display panel unit 14 is opened upward so that an image display can be seen. Then, when the image is taken into the personal computer 10, the operator determines the imaging direction of the camera body 19 of the CCD camera 18, sets the imaging range, and mounts the image. Since the imaging direction of the camera main body 19 can be attached in a desired direction (forward (front) direction from the operator himself), the operator of the personal computer 10 and an image in front of the operator can be imaged.

The keyboard 12 and the trackpad 1
3 is operated to capture a desired image with the CCD 21 and take it into the personal computer 10 as image data.
If necessary, transfer the image data to the personal computer 1
0 can be stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk built in the printer, or an image can be printed by a printer (not shown).

When the personal computer 10 is connected to a communication line, images can be sent to a personal computer or the like at the other end of the communication. On the receiving side, an image can be displayed on a display monitor in real time based on the transmitted image data, so that it can be used for a video conference system or the like.

As described above, since the CCD camera 18 is incorporated into the display panel unit 14 and integrally formed, there is no need to search for the installation location of the CCD camera 18 in or around the personal computer 10. There is no need to consider external wiring for connecting the CCD camera 18 and the personal computer 10. Accordingly, portability and versatility can be improved, and a structure that does not require installation and takes up little space is obtained.

[0032]

As described above, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a substantially U-shaped mounting recess at a predetermined position on the upper panel, so that it does not protrude from the apparatus itself and does not become an obstacle. You can attach the camera part to the position,
There is an effect that portability and operability can be improved because installation is not required and installation space is not required. Further, since the camera unit can be freely attached in a desired direction (forward (front) direction from the operator himself), there is an advantage that the imaging range can be easily changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a schematic overall perspective view of a portable personal computer having a CCD camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the CCD camera.

FIG. 3 is a schematic overall perspective view of the CCD camera.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a CCD camera used by connecting to a personal computer in the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

10; portable information processing device (portable personal computer); 11; main body; 12; keyboard; 13; track pad;
6; mounting groove, 17; support member, 17b; support curved surface, 1
8; electronic camera, 19; camera body, 20; lens, 21; CCD, 22; cable, 23; lens, 2
4; rotating shaft, 25; rotating ball

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising a display unit for displaying graphics, characters, etc. on a screen, and an operation unit for inputting information, wherein the upper panel provided with the display unit and the operation unit are provided. And a camera unit having a lens unit and a rotating shaft, and a portion of the upper panel where the camera unit is attached to the device has a substantially U-shaped cutout. An information processing device characterized by being a recess.