JP2003188953A - Cellular phone set - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cellular phone set wherein closeup image pickup is enabled without installing a new switch for operation or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The cellular phone set is set in a state that the upper chassis of the telephone set is turned around a hinge part 3 as a center by an angle βgreater than an ordinary angle α. By detecting the state that the angle becomes β, an image pickup part 8 is changed from the setting of normal image pickup (setting for image pickup of an object 20 which is positioned at least several ten centimeters from the portable telephone set) to the setting of closeup image pickup (setting for image pickup of the object 20 which is positioned several centimeters to ten and several centimeters from the portable telephone set). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable telephone device having an image pickup portion and two casings connected by a hinge portion,
In particular, the present invention relates to a mobile phone device that changes the setting of the imaging unit to the setting of close-up photography by detecting the rotation angle of the hinge unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to reduce the size of a portable device and increase the size of a display unit using liquid crystal or the like, the portable device is composed of a plurality of housings, and the portable device is folded using a hinge structure. A configuration is proposed. As a portable device using such a hinge structure, there are a notebook computer and a mobile phone. In addition, there is also proposed a portable device using the above-mentioned hinge structure, in which an imaging unit is housed in a housing.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a conventional mobile phone device that utilizes a hinge structure and has an image pickup unit housed in a housing. FIG. 6A shows the mobile phone device viewed from the side. FIG. 6B is a view seen from the front (the surface on which the key operation unit and the display unit for inputting / outputting information are located), and FIG. 6C is the back of the mobile phone device (the surface opposite to the front) It is the figure seen from. Upper housing 101 and lower housing 10 which constitute a mobile phone device
2 are connected by a hinge portion 103. Upper housing 101
Accommodates the display unit 104 and the receiving unit 105 in the front,
The imaging unit 108 and the mirror unit 109 are housed on the back surface.
Further, the lower housing 102 accommodates a transmitter section 106 and a key operation section 107 on the front side.

Normally, the upper casing 101 is at the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 6A when the mobile phone device is not used, and is rotated to the position shown by the solid line when the mobile phone device is used. The upper housing 101 is shown in FIG.
In the state shown by the broken line, the surface area of the mobile phone device is reduced and storage becomes easy. At the same time, it becomes impossible to directly contact the display unit 104 and the key operation unit 107 from the outside of the mobile phone device, so that the display unit 104 may be damaged or soiled due to contact with an object other than the mobile phone device.
It is possible to prevent erroneous input on the key operation unit 107.
When using the mobile phone device, the upper housing 101 rotates to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6A, but generally, the rotation angle α at this time is 180 degrees or less. This is because the earpiece 105 is put on the ear and the mouthpiece 106 is brought close to the mouth during a call to improve the handset sensitivity.

When taking a picture using this portable telephone device, first, the key operation unit 107 is operated to switch from the normal telephone function to the image pickup function. After that, the image capturing unit 108 is turned to the subject, and the image captured by the image capturing unit 108 is displayed on the display unit 104.
Shoot while checking. Further, when the subject (imaging target object) is the photographer himself, the mirror unit 1 provided beside the imager 108 with the imager 108 facing the photographer himself.
Photography is performed with the image shown in 09 as a guide. After shooting,
The key operation unit 107 is operated to switch the imaging function to the telephone function.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the subject is usually a person or a landscape, and taking the image close to the subject (close-up photography) has not been considered. For this reason, when the subject is photographed close to the subject, the image is out of focus. When the focal length and the like can be adjusted to allow close-up photography, it is necessary for the user to prepare a switch or the like for appropriately adjusting the focal length and the like according to the subject. However, there has been a problem that it is difficult to newly add a switch for adjusting operation to a mobile device that requires a small housing.

Further, since the mobile phone device and the subject come close to each other, the mobile phone device and the photographer block the ambient light, and the subject is shaded, and only a dark image can be taken. .

Further, when the photographer takes a picture using the mobile phone device, it is necessary to set the mobile phone device to the shooting state by using the key operation unit. Many functions such as book function, mail function, and web browsing function are included, and multiple key inputs are required to select and operate these functions with few keys, resulting in a problem of complicated operations. .

Further, since the portable telephone device is small and lightweight, camera shake is liable to occur, and when a close object is photographed, problems such as a large distance from the focal plane and a blurred image occur.

Further, since the mobile phone device is usually fixed on a tripod or the like and is not used for shooting, it is difficult to keep the object and the image pickup unit parallel to each other even when shooting is performed from the front of the object. There was a problem.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and performs close-up photography by rotating an existing hinge portion without providing an independent switch or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile phone device that enables the following.

Further, instead of providing an independent switch or the like for lighting operation, by rotating the existing hinge part to turn on the light and illuminate the subject, it is possible to carry out photographing under good conditions. The purpose is to provide a telephone device.

Further, since a key (switch) is not added to the key operation unit in order to switch the state of the normal telephone function to the state of the image pickup function, a portable telephone which does not require a complicated input operation in the key operation unit. The purpose is to provide a device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile phone device which realizes the prevention of camera shake and is capable of capturing a good image.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable telephone device which makes it easy to keep the subject and the image pickup section parallel to each other and is capable of taking a good image.

Further, the rotation angle of the existing hinge portion can be rotated more than the rotation angle during a normal call, so that a rotation suitable for performing a normal call when various functions are realized. An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile phone device capable of holding a corner.

[0017]

A first technical means is a portable telephone device in which a first casing accommodating an image pickup portion and a second casing are rotatably coupled by a hinge portion. It is characterized in that the setting of the image pickup unit is changed to the setting of close-up photography by detecting the rotation angle of the unit and the hinge unit is rotated by a predetermined rotation angle or more, so that an independent switch for changing the setting is provided. It is possible to perform close-up photography by rotating the existing hinge portion, instead of providing the above.

A second technical means is the same as the first technical means, in which the first housing or the second housing accommodates an illumination for illuminating an object to be imaged, and the hinge portion rotates by a predetermined rotation angle or more. Thereby, the lighting is turned on,
Therefore, instead of providing an independent switch or the like for lighting operation, by rotating the existing hinge part to turn on the light and illuminate the subject, it is possible to shoot under favorable conditions.

A third technical means, in the first or second technical means, starts display or image processing of an image picked up by the image pickup part by rotating the hinge part by a predetermined rotation angle or more. Therefore, since a key (switch) is not added to the key operation unit in order to switch from the state of the normal telephone function to the state of the image pickup function, a complicated input operation in the key operation unit is unnecessary.

In a fourth technical means, in the first to third technical means, the distance between the focal plane and the image pickup section, which is set by changing to the setting of the close-up photography, is the same as that of the second casing. It is characterized in that it is equal to the distance between the image pickup target object and the image pickup unit when the tip portion comes into contact with the image pickup target object or a mounting table of the image pickup target object, and thus enables good imaging with focus. .

A fifth technical means is the same as the first to fourth technical means, wherein a portion of the distal end portion of the second casing which comes into contact with the object to be imaged or the mounting table of the object to be imaged is the same as the imager. Characterized by being formed to be parallel,
As a result, it is possible to shoot with good distortion.

A sixth technical means is the same as the first to fifth technical means, in which a non-slip process is applied to a portion of the tip of the second casing which comes into contact with the object to be imaged or the mounting table of the object to be imaged. Since the mobile phone device is fixed, it is possible to more reliably prevent camera shake.

A seventh technical means is that, in the first to sixth technical means, when the hinge portion has a rotation angle for carrying out a call or web browsing different from close-up photography, a click feeling is generated and the rotation angle is fixed. As a feature, the rotation angle of the existing hinge part can be rotated more than the rotation angle for normal calls, etc., so that it is suitable for normal calls when performing various functions. Allows to hold the corner.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a mobile phone device of the present invention, FIG. 1 (A) is a front view of the mobile phone device, and FIG. 1 (B) is a rear view of the mobile phone device. is there. The casing of the mobile phone device is composed of an upper casing 1 and a lower casing 2, which are rotatably coupled by a hinge portion 3.
As shown in FIG. 1A, a display unit 4 and a receiver unit 5 are housed on the front side of an upper casing 1 of the mobile phone device, and a transmitter unit 6 and a receiver unit 5 are disposed on the front side of the lower casing 2. The key operation unit 7 is housed. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, an imaging unit 8, a mirror unit 9, and an illumination unit 10 are housed on the back surface of the upper housing 1 of the mobile phone device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the portable telephone device shown in FIG. When not in use, the mobile phone device has the upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2 closed. This reduces the surface area and is convenient for carrying, and it is possible to prevent the display unit and the key operation unit housed on the front side from coming into contact with an external object. When making a call or browsing the web, the hinge portion 3 is rotated by a rotation angle α.
As a result, the display unit and the key operation unit are exposed, and the display unit can be browsed and operated by the key operation unit. Moreover, the earpiece and the transmitter, which are housed in the front side of the earpiece and mouth of the user, It will be located nearby.

When performing close-up photography with this mobile telephone device, it is in a state in which the rotation angle β is rotated about the hinge portion 3 which is larger than the rotation angle α. By detecting that the rotation angle β has been reached, the imaging unit 8 sets the normal shooting (the shooting of the subject 20 that is several tens of centimeters or more away from the mobile phone device) to the close-up shooting (from the mobile phone device). It is changed to a setting for photographing the subject 20 that is several centimeters to ten and several centimeters apart. When detecting that the upper housing 1 has rotated by the rotation angle β, the illumination unit 10 is turned on to illuminate the subject 20. As a result, it is possible to prevent the subject from being shot dark due to the shadow of the mobile phone device or the user.

Further, when it is detected that the upper casing 1 has rotated by the rotation angle β, the portable telephone device is switched from the normal state in which a standby screen or the like is displayed to the close-up photographing state. At this time, in order to inform the user what the user is capturing, the image captured by the image capturing unit 8 is displayed on the display unit 4. Further, when the object to be imaged is a book or the like and character recognition or the like is performed by the mobile phone device, when the upper housing 1 is rotated by the rotation angle β, the processing for image capturing and character recognition is automatically started. As a result, it becomes possible to perform close-up photography and character recognition without performing complicated operations using the key operation unit 7.

Further, the image pickup section 8 changes the focal length due to the rotation of the upper casing 1 by the rotation angle β. More specifically, the setting of the distance between the lens inside the image pickup section and the image pickup element is changed. By doing so, the distance between the imaging unit 8 and the in-focus focal plane is made shorter than usual so as to be suitable for close-up photography.
At this time, when the front end of the lower housing 2 is in contact with the subject 20 and the upper housing 1 and the subject 20 are parallel to each other, the distance between the image capturing unit 8 and the subject 20 is defined as the focal plane in focus with the image capturing unit 8. To be equal to the distance of. As a result, it is possible to easily capture a good image in focus without camera shake, and the recognition rate is improved in image recognition such as character recognition. Further, the subject 20 may be a small object placed on a horizontal plane and having a small thickness. In this case, the tip of the lower housing 2 is brought into contact with the horizontal surface on which the subject 20 is placed or the mounting table.

FIG. 3 is a side view of essential parts for explaining one embodiment of means for detecting that the upper casing shown in FIG. 1 has rotated by a predetermined rotation angle. 3A is a side view of the main part of the mobile phone device in which the mobile phone device has a rotation angle less than β, and FIG. 3B shows the main part of the mobile phone device in which the mobile phone device has a rotation angle β. FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, a protrusion 11 is provided on the back side of the upper casing 1, and a detection switch 12 that fits with the protrusion 11 is housed inside the lower casing 2 on the back side. When the rotation angle is less than β, Fig. 3 (A)
As described above, the detection switch 12 is not pressed. However, when the upper casing 1 rotates about the hinge portion 3 by the rotation angle β, the protrusion 11 pushes the detection switch 12 housed in the lower casing 2. As a result, it is possible to detect that the upper housing 1 is in the state of the predetermined rotation angle β.

The means for detecting the rotation angle is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3, but various means capable of detecting the rotation angle can be applied. Further, the processing is not limited to detecting when a certain rotation angle is reached, but also performs processing such as detecting that the rotation angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined rotation angle and setting the close-up photography as described above. You may do it.

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining another embodiment of the mobile phone device according to the present invention, which is a view for explaining the mobile phone device which facilitates keeping the image pickup unit parallel to the object. is there. The angle θ formed by the lower housing 2 and the contact surface that contacts the subject 20 at the tip of the lower housing 2 is formed to be equal to the angle formed by the upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2.
The angle is 0 degree minus the rotation angle β. As a result, it is easy to keep the upper housing 1 and the subject 20 parallel to each other, it is possible to capture an image with small distortion, and the recognition rate is improved in image recognition such as character recognition. Here, the portion of the lower housing 2 that comes into contact with the subject 20 is the contact surface, but the portion that comes into contact with the subject 20 is three or more protrusions, and the tips of the three or more protrusions are. The surface formed by connecting the two may be parallel to the upper housing 1 when contacting the subject 20.

5A and 5B are views for explaining still another embodiment of the portable telephone device according to the present invention. FIG. 5A is a side view of the portable telephone device, and FIG. 5B is a portable telephone device. FIG. 6 is a rear view (view seen from the subject side in FIG. 5A). As shown in FIG. 5, by adding a contact member 13 made of a rubber material to the lower end of the lower housing 2, it is possible to make a stable contact without the lower housing 2 sliding on the subject 20. A charging contact 1 for charging the mobile phone device is usually provided at the lower end of the lower housing 2.
4 and a connector 15 for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device. Rubber parts 13
Can not only prevent the object 20 from slipping, but also prevent the charging contact 14 and the connector 15 from coming into contact with an external object and being damaged.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a mobile phone device in which an upper housing provided with an imaging unit and a lower housing on the other side are joined by a hinge portion, the upper housing is rotated by a large amount around the hinge portion compared to during a call, and this rotation is detected, By changing the setting of the image pickup unit to the close-up shooting setting, it is possible to shoot a focused image without blur even when shooting a subject in close proximity.

By detecting the rotation and turning on the illumination for illuminating the subject, it is possible to provide a portable telephone device capable of taking a good image without the subject becoming dark.

By detecting the rotation and starting image processing such as displaying and recognizing the captured image, it is not necessary to add a new operation switch for photographing.
Further, it is possible to provide a mobile phone device that does not require the user to perform a complicated operation for photographing.

Also, by holding the tip of the lower casing in contact with the subject while the upper casing is being rotated, camera shake is prevented,
Furthermore, since the portion of the lower housing that contacts the subject and the imaging unit are formed to be parallel to each other, it is possible to prevent the tilt of the mobile phone device and further prevent camera shake.
Furthermore, since the portion of the lower housing that comes into contact with the subject is subjected to anti-slip processing, it is possible to more reliably prevent camera shake during shooting with the mobile phone device.

Further, when a rotation angle is used during a normal call or the like, a click feeling is generated, and the rotation angle can be fixed, so that a mobile phone device having no problem that the rotation angle moves during a call is provided. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view and a rear view showing an embodiment of a mobile phone device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mobile phone device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of essential parts for explaining an embodiment of means for detecting that the upper housing shown in FIG. 1 has rotated by a predetermined rotation angle.

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining another embodiment of the mobile phone device according to the present invention.

5A and 5B are a side view and a rear view for explaining still another embodiment of the mobile phone device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view, a front view, and a rear view for explaining an example of a conventional mobile phone device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 101 ... Upper housing, 2, 102 ... Lower housing, 3, 1
03 ... Hinge part, 4, 104 ... Display part, 5, 105 ... Ear receiving part, 6, 106 ... Transmitting part, 7, 107 ... Key operating part,
8, 108 ... Imaging section, 9, 109 ... Mirror section, 10 ... Illumination section, 11 ... Projection section, 12 ... Detection switch, 13 ... Contact parts, 14 ... Charging contact, 15 ... Connector, 20 ... Subject, α ... Rotation angle during call, β ... Rotation angle during shooting, θ ... Angle formed by lower housing and subject, and angle formed by upper housing and lower housing.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04Q 7/32 H04B 7/26 V 5K067 F term (reference) 2H054 AA00 BB04 BB06 2H100 AA17 AA20 AA33 CC07 2H101 BB00 DD21 DD29 5K023 AA07 DD08 MM00 MM25 5K027 AA11 HH26 5K067 AA34 BB04 KK17

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A mobile phone device in which a first housing and a second housing housing an image pickup section are rotatably coupled by a hinge section, the rotation angle of the hinge section is detected, and the hinge section is detected. The mobile phone device is characterized in that the setting of the image pickup unit is changed to the setting of close-up photography by rotating at a predetermined rotation angle or more. 2. The mobile phone device according to claim 1, wherein the first housing or the second housing houses an illumination for illuminating an imaging target, and the hinge portion rotates by a predetermined rotation angle or more. The mobile phone device is characterized in that the lighting is turned on. 3. The mobile phone device according to claim 1, wherein display of an image captured by the image capturing unit or image processing is started when the hinge unit rotates by a predetermined rotation angle or more. Mobile phone device. 4. The mobile phone device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the focal plane and the imaging unit set by changing to the close-up shooting setting is:
A mobile phone device, wherein a distance between the image pickup target object and the image pickup unit when the tip end portion of the second housing is brought into contact with the image pickup target object or a mounting table of the image pickup target object is equal to the distance between the image pickup target object and the image pickup unit. 5. The mobile phone device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the distal end portion of the second housing that comes into contact with the imaging target object or the mounting table of the imaging target object is A mobile phone device, wherein the mobile phone device is formed so as to be parallel to the imaging unit. 6. The mobile phone device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the distal end portion of the second housing that comes into contact with the imaging target object or the mounting table of the imaging target object, A mobile phone device characterized by being subjected to non-slip processing. 7. The mobile phone device according to claim 1, wherein when the hinge portion has a rotation angle at which a call or web browsing is performed, which is different from close-up photography, a click feeling is generated and the rotation angle is changed. A mobile phone device characterized by being fixed.