JP2002271679A - Mobile telephone equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a configuration of a mobile telephone mounted with a CCD camera that can enhance the photographing functions of the camera, without losing user-friendliness. SOLUTION: The CCD camera is turnably provided to an upper part of a body case 2 of the mobile telephone 1. An area S1 is set to the CCD camera 4, at which the CCD camera can photograph a user or the like in a state of being turned in front. When the CCD camera 4 is turned to the rear side, the camera is set to a remote area S2, where the camera photographs an object through a telescopic lens unit 5 provided in the body case 2. Without the need for separately mounting of the telescopic lens, the CCD camera 4 can photograph an object merely through switching with a simple operation by having only to turn the CCD camera 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile communication device having an image pickup means.

[0002]

There is a mobile communication device such as a portable telephone having a digital camera such as a CCD camera. In this configuration, a CCD portion provided as a camera is fixed to a main body case portion of a mobile phone. As a result, not only text information but also image information obtained by photographing a person's face can be easily transmitted to the other party using an electronic mail function or the like.

[0003] By adopting such a configuration in which a camera is mounted, it is possible to photograph not only general objects such as a photograph of a user's face and scenery, but also various other subjects. In this case, the function of the camera can be fully exhibited, and a multi-functional mobile phone can increase the demand of the user.

In order to enhance the functions of the camera, it is considered to add a telephoto function, a wide-angle function, a close-up function, or the like by attaching lenses made for various uses.

However, if such a lens is attached to a camera to achieve such advanced functions, the lens portion will protrude from the body case, resulting in an increase in size as a whole and an increase in handling. In addition to the inconvenience above, it is necessary to carry it separately when not in use, and it is time-consuming to attach and detach when using it, and it is necessary to attach and detach it every time you try to change the shooting mode. It is expected to be difficult to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a mobile communication apparatus equipped with an image pickup means such as a camera, which is configured to enhance the functions of the camera and to be excellent in usability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile communication device capable of performing such operations.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to take a picture in a state where an optical functional component is interposed by turning a rotatable image pickup means on a main body case in a predetermined direction. Therefore, when the optical functional component is not used, the optical functional component can be used by turning it in another direction, and it is possible to easily switch whether to use the optical functional component by rotating the imaging unit. It is possible to provide a compact configuration, which is excellent in usability, and eliminates the need to carry an optical function component separately. In this case, as the optical functional parts, there are those having a telephoto shooting function, a wide-angle shooting function, or a close-up shooting function, and a filter function for producing a special effect. Can be adopted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the optical functional component is rotated so as to set a photographing target area with respect to a surface of the main body case opposite to the operation surface. The camera can be used when operated, so when the user shoots his or her own face, normal shooting can be performed with the imaging unit facing the operation surface, and the image taken immediately Can be used while displaying or operating on the display unit, etc. When shooting other subjects, turn the imaging unit in the direction opposite to the operation surface side to shoot using the optical functional parts This makes it possible for the user to operate on the operation surface while shooting the subject, especially when shooting a distant subject, thus realizing excellent functions. become.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the optical function component is provided as a lens suitable for long-distance photography by the imaging means.
When shooting with the imaging means is used without optical functional parts, by setting in a state suitable for short distance,
By rotating and switching the imaging means, it is possible to easily switch between a short distance and a long distance for photographing, and when photographing at a long distance, move the imaging means to the side opposite to the operation surface. Since the lens for long distance can be used in the rotated state, the user does not use the lens when shooting at a short distance such as his own face, facing the subject located on the opposite side When the imaging means is rotated, it is possible to take a picture using a lens that is far away.

According to the invention of claim 4, claims 1 and 2
In the invention of the above, a filter for performing optical processing is provided as an optical functional component, so that it can be used by being rotated when giving a filter effect to a captured image of a subject, which is excellent in usability and separately There is no need to carry the optical functional component to the user, and the operability is improved.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a mobile phone will be described with reference to FIGS. The mobile phone 1 as a mobile communication device is provided with a keypad (not shown) including a numeric keypad for operating telephone functions and the like on the front side of a main body case 2 formed in a size that can be held by one hand. The display unit 3 is provided on the upper side. The display unit 3 uses liquid crystal or the like, and performs various displays.

A CCD camera 4 as an image pickup means is provided on the upper part of the main body case 2. This CCD
The camera 4 is rotatably supported from the front side to the rear side through the upper side as shown by an arrow A in the drawing. At a position where the CCD camera 4 is rotated to the rear side, a telephoto lens unit 5 as an optical functional component is fixed to the main body case 2 in a shooting direction.

Thus, the CCD camera 4 can perform normal photographing with the lens 4a of a degree suitable for photographing the face or person of the user when the photographing direction is directed to the front side or the upper side, The telephoto lens unit 5 is interposed in the photographing direction so as to be in a state suitable for photographing a distant subject when the photographer is turned to the rear side.

According to the above configuration, the following operation and effect can be obtained. 2 and 3 show a state in which the shooting direction of the CCD camera 4 is rotated to a different position. As shown in FIG. 2, when the CCD camera 4 is rotated to the front side, the CCD camera 4 is rotated. Is taken as it is, and the shooting area is from the upper side to the front side CC
Area S1 in the direction in which the lens 4a of the D camera 4 is facing
Is set to In this state, for example, photographing the user's own face, photographing another person at a close distance,
Alternatively, it is possible to shoot an object to be shot.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Is rotated to the rear side, the telephoto lens unit 5 is located at the front of the CCD camera 4. As a result, an area S2 suitable for photographing a subject located at a distant position on the back side with the CCD camera 4 facing is set. For example, it can be effectively used when photographing a landscape, a building, or a person at a distant position.

In the above-described configuration, a state suitable for photographing the nearby area S1 with the CCD camera 4 directed toward the front is suitable, and suitable for photographing a distant area S2 with the CCD camera 4 directed toward the back. Therefore, when the user holds the main body case 2 and can shoot any of the areas S <b> 1 and S <b> 2, the user can check the shooting state on the display unit 3.

The image photographed as described above can be displayed on the display unit 3 for confirmation, stored in an internal memory, or transmitted using the original telephone function or packet communication function. And can be transferred. Thus, shooting by the CCD camera 4 can be performed in various usage forms, and the functionality can be improved.

In the above embodiment, a wide-angle lens unit or a close-up lens unit may be provided in place of the telephoto lens unit 5. In this case, by configuring such that each lens unit can be replaced, it is possible to further improve the functionality by attaching a necessary lens unit according to the application.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is the arrangement position of the telephoto lens unit 5. FIG. . That is, the telephone function and the display unit 3 are provided in the main body case 7 of the mobile phone 6 as the same configuration as described above,
The telephoto lens unit 5 is arranged above the main body case 7 with respect to the rotatable CCD camera 4.

When the CCD camera 4 is turned forward in the direction of arrow A, a nearby area S1 is set in the same manner as described above, and when the CCD camera 4 is turned upward, the telephoto lens 5 is interposed. Area S2 is set.

With the above configuration, the same operation and effect as described above can be obtained. In this case as well, the difference is that the distant photographing direction is on the upper side, but the user holds the main body case 7. Thus, the photographing state can be confirmed while confirming the photographing state on the display unit 3 in any of the areas S1 and S2.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
The second embodiment is characterized in that two types of lens units are provided as a combination of the second embodiment.

That is, the portable telephone 8 is attached to the main body case 9.
And a CCD function on the display 3 and on top
The camera 4 is rotatably provided. A telephoto lens unit 5 is provided at an upper position, and a wide-angle lens unit 10 is provided at a rear position, at an upper portion of the main body case 9 in accordance with a rotation position of the CCD camera 4.

With the above-described configuration, the area S1 near the CCD camera 4 is set when the CCD camera 4 is rotated to the front, and the telephoto lens unit 5 is interposed when the CCD camera 4 is rotated to the upper side. In this state, a far area S2 is set, and when the camera is further turned to the rear side, a wide area S3 is set with the wide angle lens unit 10 interposed therebetween. Become so.

This makes it possible to switch between near-field, far-field and wide-angle shooting by a simple operation just by changing the rotational position of the CCD camera 4. In addition, as described above, the user can switch the main body case. The photographing state can be confirmed on the display unit 3 when photographing any of the areas S1, S2, and S3 while holding the camera 9.

In the above embodiment, the telephoto lens unit 5 is arranged above the main body case 9 and the wide-angle lens unit 10 is arranged on the rear side. However, these arrangements may be reversed. Further, the telephoto lens unit 5 and the wide-angle lens unit 10 as optical functional parts are
A configuration using a lens unit having another function may be adopted.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the telephoto lens unit 5 is replaced with a multi-functional optical component. The functional lens unit 11 has just been provided.
The multifunctional lens unit 11 is rotatably provided on the main body case 2 as shown by an arrow B in the figure, can be rotated by 180 ° with respect to the CCD camera 4, and can be turned over. Further, the multifunctional lens unit 11 functions as a telephoto lens when one surface faces the CCD camera 4, and functions as a wide-angle lens when the other surface faces.

According to the above configuration, when the CCD camera 4 is rotated rearward, the multifunctional lens unit 11
Is rotated to the side having the desired function to use it to set the distant area S2 or to set the wide-angle area S3.
Can be switched to set.
As a result, multifunctional photographing can be performed while having a compact configuration.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows. As the optical functional component, various filters can be provided in addition to the various lens units described above. Examples of the filter include a common UV cut protector filter, a polarizing filter, a light amount adjustment filter, a color temperature conversion filter, a color correction filter, a cloudy sky photographing filter (amber system), a morning and evening photographing filter (blue system), There is a special effect filter or a color enhancement / color effect filter. Further, a configuration may be employed in which various lens units and filters, which are the above-described optical functional components, are replaced according to the intended use.

As an imaging means, in addition to the CCD camera, C
A MOS image sensor can also be used. In addition to mobile phones, PHS (Personal Handy Phone) and PDA
(Personal Digital Assistance).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view when a CCD camera is used at a close-up shooting position.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view when a CCD camera is used at a telephoto shooting position.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of lens switching according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 6, 8 are mobile phones (mobile communication devices), 2, 7,
9 is a main body case, 3 is a display unit, 4 is a CCD camera (imaging means), 5 is a telephoto lens unit (optical functional parts), 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a wide-angle lens unit (optical functional component), and reference numeral 11 denotes a multifunctional lens unit (optical functional component).

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C022 AA12 AB43 AB62 AB66 AC42 AC54 AC55 AC74 AC77 AC78 5K027 AA11 HH26 HH29 5K067 AA34 BB04 EE02 KK17 5K101 KK20 LL12 NN06 NN40

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A mobile communication device having a main body case provided with imaging means, wherein said imaging means is provided rotatably with respect to said main body case, and said imaging means provided on said main body case is positioned at a predetermined position. A mobile communication device comprising: an optical functional component disposed so as to operate when an image of an imaging target area is captured in a rotated state. 2. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the optical function component sets an imaging target area of the imaging unit on a surface side of the main body case opposite to an operation surface side. A mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is arranged in a mobile communication device. 3. The mobile communication device according to claim 2, wherein the optical functional component is provided as a lens suitable for long-distance shooting by the imaging unit. 4. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the optical functional component is a filter that performs an optical process on an image captured by the imaging unit.