JP2003283893A - Imaging apparatus and mobile communication terminal with imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance ease-of-use features of an electronic device in a twofold state such as a mobile communication terminal provided with a camera. <P>SOLUTION: A sub display section 10 placed on a rear side of a cover 2 is driven in a waiting state wherein the cover 2 is closed and displays characters or the like. When a shutter key 7 is depressed, a control section 18 stops driving of the sub display section 10 to bring the whole surface of the sub display section 10 into a mirror surface state. Thus, the mobile communication terminal can be shifted to a camera mode even not in a cover open state, and an operator can confirming a photographing state because the sub display section 10 displays the operator himself/herself in photographing the operator himself/ herself. When the operator depresses again the shutter key 7, an imaging module 28 captures the image of the operator via an imaging lens 12 and stores the image to a RAM 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device mounted in an electronic device such as a mobile phone and a mobile communication terminal with the image pickup device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital cameras have become widespread in addition to so-called optical cameras for printing an image on a film, and there are various electronic devices, especially mobile phones equipped with the digital camera.

Among the mobile phones, a two-fold type has also been introduced. In this type of mobile phone, a camera module is provided on the back of the lid or the main body, and the lid and the main body are opened. In the state (open state), the through image is displayed on the display unit, and the desired image can be captured by detecting the operation of the shutter key, and can be attached to an e-mail or sent to the network on the spot. It is like this.

In addition, the two-fold type mobile phone has a display section (sub-display section) for displaying the current time, the contents of the incoming call (caller display), the radio wave reception state, etc., mainly on the back surface of the lid. ), The operator can be informed of the state of the mobile phone by displaying the sub-display on the sub-display even if the mobile phone is not opened.

[0005]

However, in the prior art, when the camera module is arranged on the rear surface of the lid,
If the sub-display unit is further arranged, the layout becomes complicated and the appearance may be spoiled. Further, in a model in which a camera module is mounted on the back surface of the lid, for example, when shooting the operator himself, the image shot by the camera module is displayed as a through image on the main display unit on the front surface of the lid. However, since the main display section is on the front surface of the lid section, the operator naturally cannot confirm the shooting state of himself / herself through the through image.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup device and a mobile communication terminal with an image pickup device which can improve the usability of an electronic device such as a mobile communication terminal having a two-fold shape and equipped with a camera.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the image pickup apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is arranged so that the image pickup means for picking up an image converged by the image pickup lens and the optical axis of the image pickup lens are substantially orthogonal to each other. And display means for arranging the characters or the background in a mirror display, and control means for stopping the driving of the display means prior to photographing by the photographing means so that the entire display surface of the display means functions as a mirror. It is characterized by

As a preferred embodiment, for example, as in claim 2, in the image pickup device according to claim 1, the display means disposes a polarizing member on the front surface of the liquid crystal cell, and polarizes along the reflection axis. An optical member having a property of reflecting the incident light of the component and transmitting the incident light of the polarized component along the transmission axis may be arranged on the back surface, and the coloring sheet may be arranged on the back surface of the optical member.

In order to achieve the above object, a portable communication terminal with an image pickup device according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises a lid portion and a main body portion, and a main display means is provided on the front surface of the lid portion, and the lid is provided. In a mobile communication terminal with an image pickup device that is folded in two, in which image pickup means for picking up an image converged by an image pickup lens is arranged on the back surface of the section, it is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the image pickup lens, and characters or a background It is characterized by comprising sub-display means for displaying a mirror surface, and control means for stopping the driving of the sub-display means prior to photographing by the photographing means and for causing the entire display surface of the sub-display means to function as a mirror. .

As a preferred aspect, for example, as described in claim 4, in the portable communication terminal with an imaging device according to claim 3, an instruction means for instructing photographing by the imaging means is provided, and the control means, When the instruction means is operated, the driving of the sub-display means is stopped, and the entire display surface of the sub-display means is made to function as a mirror. When the instruction means is operated again, an image is taken by the photographing means. You may make it capture the image.

As a preferred aspect, for example, as in claim 5, in the portable communication terminal with an image pickup device according to claim 4, a detection means for detecting the open / closed state of the lid portion is provided, and the control means is provided. , Even when the lid is closed by the detection means, if the instruction means is operated,
The driving of the sub-display unit may be stopped, the entire display surface of the sub-display unit may function as a mirror, and when the instruction unit is operated again, the image captured by the image capturing unit may be captured. .

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described as an example applied to a mobile phone with reference to the drawings.

A. Configuration of Embodiments FIGS. 1A and 1B are a front view and a rear view showing an appearance of a mobile phone (in an open state) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, a mobile phone 1 is roughly composed of a lid portion 2 and a main body portion 3. The lid portion 2 can be folded toward the main body portion 3 side. The antenna 4 is provided on the back surface of the lid portion 2 and can extend and contract.

The speaker 5 is provided on the front side of the lid portion 2 and outputs a sound. Display (main display) 6
Is a color liquid crystal, and when a transition to the camera mode is detected in the open state, a through image is displayed. The shutter key 7 is provided on the side surface of the main body 3, and in the camera mode, is pressed by the user to instruct shooting by the imaging lens 12 described later. The key input unit 8 is provided on the front surface of the main body unit 3 and is composed of various function keys, a numeric keypad, and the like. The microphone 9 is provided in the lower portion of the main body 3 and inputs voice.

The sub display section 10 is provided on the back surface of the lid section 2. The display surface of the sub-display unit 10 is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the imaging lens 12 described later. The structure of the sub display unit 10 will be described later. The back key 11 is made of a transparent or translucent member and has a built-in LED that emits light when an incoming call arrives. Imaging lens 12
Are provided on the back surface of the lid portion 2 and below the sub-display portion 10. The battery pack 13 is detachably provided on the back surface of the main body 3, and is fixed by the lock portion 14. The lock portion 14 is for fixing the battery pack 13 to the main body portion 3. Notification speaker 15
Is for notifying an incoming call or the like, and covers the lid portion 2 with the body portion 3
It is arranged on the back surface of the main body 3 so that the notification sound can be heard even in the closed state.

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment. The wireless transceiver 16
Voice and data are wirelessly transmitted and received via the antenna 4 to be modulated / demodulated. The wireless signal processing unit 17 includes the wireless transmission / reception unit 1
The processing required for wireless communication such as demodulating the audio and data received in 6 or modulating the audio and data transmitted from the wireless transmitting / receiving unit 16 is performed. The control unit 18 controls various operations of the lid unit 2 and the main body unit 3 and the overall operation.

The detector 19 detects that the shutter key 7 has been operated. The open / close detection unit 20 is composed of an optical sensor, a mechanical switch, and the like, and may be in a closed state (in the main body unit 3) whether the mobile phone 1 is in an open state (a state in which the lid unit 2 and the main body unit 3 are open). It is detected whether or not the cover 2 is covered.

The driver 21 drives the display section 6.
The driver 22 drives the sub display unit 7. The subscriber information storage unit 23 stores profile data such as a telephone number for calling the mobile phone 1 and an operator (subscriber) ID.

The ROM 24 stores various programs for controlling the controller 18. The RAM 25 stores various data necessary for the wireless communication terminal, stores data necessary for the control unit 25 to operate, and also stores captured image data. The audio signal processing unit 26 encodes the audio signal input from the microphone 9 or decodes the signal output from the wireless signal processing unit 17 and outputs the decoded signal from the speaker 5.

The DSP 27 encodes the image data taken into the image pickup module 28. The image pickup module 28 is composed of CCD or CMOS and captures a color image. The notification device 29 is the sound speaker 1
5, a driver for driving the vibrator 30, and the LED 111.

Next, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the detailed structure of the liquid crystal panel applied to the sub-display section 10. The liquid crystal panel includes a protective cover 101, a polarizing plate 102, and a liquid crystal cell 10.
3, an optical sheet 104, a colored plate 105, and an EL light emitting sheet 106. Transparent protective cover 10
Inside 1, a polarizing plate 102 is arranged on the front side of a liquid crystal cell 103 sandwiching a liquid crystal layer whose birefringence changes according to voltage. On the rear surface side of the liquid crystal cell 103, an optical sheet 10 having a property of reflecting incident light of a polarized component along the reflection axis and transmitting incident light of a polarized component along the transmission axis.
4 are arranged. Behind the optical sheet 104,
A translucent colored plate 105 and an EL light emitting sheet 106 are arranged. The liquid crystal panel is the optical sheet 104.
The display is performed by the specular reflected light of the external light, the colored plate 105, and the EL light emitting sheet 106.

The liquid crystal cell 103 comprises a pair of transparent substrates 103.
1, 1032, sealing material 1033, common electrode 103
4, alignment films 1035, 1037, a liquid crystal layer 1036, and segment electrodes 1038. The pair of transparent substrates 1031 and 1032 has a transparent common electrode 1034 and a transparent segment electrode 103 on each of the surfaces facing each other.
8 is formed. Alignment films 1035 and 135 are formed on the common electrode 1034 and the segment electrode 1038, respectively.
037 is formed.

Between the pair of front and rear transparent substrates 1031 and 1032 provided with the alignment films 1035 and 1037, a liquid crystal layer whose birefringence changes depending on the voltage applied between the common electrode 1034 and the segment electrode 1038. 1036
Is held. The pair of transparent substrates 1031 and 10
32 is bonded via frame-shaped sealing materials 1033, 1033, and the liquid crystal layer 1036 is composed of the transparent substrate 1031,
It is sealed in a region surrounded by the seal materials 1033 and 1033 between 1032.

The optical sheet 104 has a reflection axis and a transmission axis in directions substantially orthogonal to each other, reflects incident light of a polarized component along the reflection axis, and makes incident of the polarized component along the transmission axis. It has the property of transmitting light. That is, when light containing both a polarization component along the reflection axis and a polarization component along the transmission axis is made incident on the optical sheet 104, the light of the polarization component along the reflection axis is included in the incident light. Is reflected by the optical sheet 104, and the light of the polarized component along the transmission axis is transmitted through the optical sheet 104.
The optical sheet 104 is a non-colored sheet whose reflection characteristics and transmission characteristics have no wavelength dependence,
The reflected light is glossy specular reflected light.

Although the structure of the optical sheet 104 is not shown, for example, an uneven surface having a shape in which laterally long prism-shaped portions having a minute width are continuously arranged in parallel in the width direction on one surface is formed. A pair of transparent films, each top of the uneven surface of the one film and each valley of the uneven surface of the other film face each other and overlap, between the uneven surfaces of the two films, different refractive index A laminated film in which a plurality of transparent films are alternately laminated is sandwiched. Optical sheets of this type are disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 5,422,756 and 5,553.
No. 9,634 (Detailed technology is Japanese Patent Application No. 10-112011)
Is disclosed in.

B. Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the mobile phone according to the above-described embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the display state (driving state) of the sub display unit 10. Further, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a display state (light-off state) of the sub display unit 10.

At the time of start, it is assumed that the lid portion 2 is in a standby state, the lid portion 2 is in a closed state, and the sub display portion 10 is driven.
In this state, the liquid crystal cell 103 of the sub display unit 10
As shown in FIG. 6A, in detail (between the common electrode 1034 and the segment electrode), the incident linearly polarized light is transmitted through the liquid crystal cell 10 without being subjected to the optical rotatory action, and is transmitted to the optical sheet 104. Incident in the state of linearly polarized light along the transmission axis, most of the light is transmitted through the optical sheet 104,
Since it enters the coloring plate 105 behind it, the coloring plate 105
The color of indicates the received signal strength, battery level, current time, caller's telephone number and name, etc. If the back key 11 is pressed or an incoming call is detected, E
These pieces of information are displayed in the emission color of the L light emitting sheet 106 (b-2).

In the other portions (portions to which no voltage is applied), the linearly polarized light that has been transmitted through the polarizing plate 102 and is incident is in the process of being transmitted through the liquid crystal cell 103.
Due to the birefringence of the (liquid crystal layer 1036), the light is rotated by approximately 90 ° and enters the optical sheet 104 as linearly polarized light along the reflection axis thereof, and most of the light is incident on the optical sheet 10.
It is reflected at 4 and becomes a mirror surface (b-1).

As a display example, as shown in FIG.
b-1 is the mirror surface and b-2 is the color of the colored plate.

In the above-mentioned state, the portable telephone 1
It is determined whether or not the shutter key 7 has been pressed (step S10). When the shutter key 7 is pressed, the camera mode is entered. That is, the control unit 18 controls the driver 22 to stop driving the sub display unit 10 (step S12). As a result, in the sub display unit 10, the drive voltage is not applied to the common electrode 1034 and the segment electrode 1038 of the liquid crystal cell 103.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7A, the linearly polarized light that has passed through the polarizing plate 102 and is incident on the liquid crystal cell 103.
In the process of transmitting light, the optical sheet 10 is rotated by about 90 ° due to the birefringence of the liquid crystal cell 103 (liquid crystal layer 1036).
The linearly polarized light along the reflection axis is incident on the light source 4, and most of the light is reflected by the optical sheet 104, and the sub display unit 10 becomes a mirror surface (b-1: see FIG. 7B).

That is, even if the lid portion 2 is closed and the sub-display portion 10 is driven, if the pressing of the shutter key 7 is detected, the entire surface of the sub-display portion 10 becomes a mirror surface. When taking a picture, the operator himself / herself is displayed on the sub display unit 10, so that the photographing state can be confirmed.

In this state, it is again determined whether or not the shutter key 7 has been pressed (step S16). Then, when the operation of the shutter key 7 is detected again, an image is captured by the image pickup module 28 via the image pickup lens 12, digitally encoded and compressed by the DSP 27 at the subsequent stage, and stored in the RAM 25 (step S18). next,
It is determined whether the back key 11 has been pressed (step S20). Then, when the back key 11 is pressed, it is determined that the camera mode is exited, and the sub display unit 10 is driven (step S22).

By doing so, it is possible to shift to the camera mode even when the operator is not in the open state. For example, when the operator himself / herself is photographed, the operator himself / herself is reflected on the sub display portion 10, so that the photographing state can be confirmed. can do.

On the other hand, when the shutter key 7 is not pressed at the start, the open / close detection unit 20 determines whether or not the lid portion 2 is in the open state (step S24). If the open state is not reached, the routine is exited.

On the other hand, the open / close detection unit 2 indicates that the open state has been reached.
When the sub-display unit 10 detects 0, the sub-display unit 10 controls to drive and hold the sub-display unit 10 as it is, and also controls the driver 21 to drive the display unit 6 (step S26).

Next, it is determined whether or not the camera mode is selected by detecting an arbitrary operation on the key input unit 8 (step S28). If a mode other than the camera mode is selected, the mode shifts to another mode (step S30).

On the other hand, when the camera mode is selected, the image captured by the image pickup module 28 via the image pickup lens 12 on the display section 6 is digitally encoded by the DSP 27 in the subsequent stage and sequentially displayed as a through image on the display section 6. indicate.
On the other hand, the sub-display unit 10 stops the driving and controls to turn off the light (step S32).

Next, it is determined whether or not the shutter key 7 has been pressed (step S34). Then, when the shutter key 7 is pressed, the image displayed on the display unit 6 at that time is captured, compression-encoded and stored in the RAM 25 (step S36).

After that, the opening / closing detector 20 determines whether the lid 2 is in the open state (step S38). Then, when the open / close detection unit 20 detects that the closed state is maintained while maintaining the camera mode, the driver 21 is controlled to stop the driving of the display unit 6 and the sub-display unit 10 maintains the off state ( (Step S40), and proceeds to the above-mentioned step S16 and subsequent steps.

That is, normally, when it is determined that the closed state is set, the sub display unit 10 is re-driven to display the state, but in this case, since it is determined that the camera mode is maintained, The sub display unit 10 remains in the off state, and the normal mode is not restored unless the pressing operation of the back key 11 is detected.

In the above-described embodiment, the image pickup device of the mobile phone has been described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to an optical camera and other portable electronic devices.

[0043]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the display means for displaying the characters or the background in a mirror surface is arranged and controlled so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the image pickup lens of the image pickup means for taking the image. By means of the means, the driving of the display means is stopped prior to the photographing by the photographing means, and the entire display surface of the display means is made to function as a mirror. When taking a picture, since the operator himself / herself is displayed on the display means, there is an advantage that the shooting state can be confirmed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, as the display means, a polarizing member is arranged on the front surface of the liquid crystal cell, and the incident light of the polarization component along the reflection axis is reflected and along the transmission axis. Since the optical member having the property of transmitting the incident light of the polarized component is arranged on the back surface, and further the coloring sheet is arranged on the back surface of the optical member,
There is an advantage that the characters or the background can be displayed as a mirror surface and the entire display surface can function as a mirror.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sub-display means for displaying the characters or the background in a mirror surface is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the image pickup lens, and the photographing means is controlled by the control means. The driving of the sub-display means is stopped prior to the photographing by the means, and the entire display surface of the sub-display means is made to function as a mirror. Therefore, the entire surface of the sub-display means becomes a mirror surface, and the operator himself / herself is photographed. In this case, since the operator himself / herself is displayed on the sub display means, there is an advantage that the photographing state can be confirmed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the instruction means for instructing the photographing by the image pickup means is operated, the control means stops the driving of the sub-display means, and the sub-display means. Since the entire display surface of the sub display means is made to function as a mirror and the image taken by the photographing means is taken in again when the instruction means is operated again, the entire sub display means becomes a mirror surface, so that the operator himself When taking a picture, since the operator himself / herself is displayed on the sub display means, there is an advantage that the shooting state can be confirmed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even if the detecting means detects that the lid is closed, when the instructing means is operated by the control means, the sub-display means is driven. Is stopped, the entire display surface of the sub-display means is made to function as a mirror, and when the instruction means is operated again, the image photographed by the photographing means is taken in. It is possible to shift to the camera mode, and when the operator himself / herself is photographed, since the operator himself / herself is reflected on the sub display means, there is an advantage that the photographing state can be confirmed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view and a rear view showing an appearance of a mobile phone (in an open state) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

3 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed structure of a liquid crystal panel applied to the sub display unit 10. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a display state (driving state) of the sub display unit 10.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a display state (light-off state) of the sub display unit 10.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 mobile phone 2 lid 3 main body 4 antenna 5 speakers 6 Display (main display) 7 Shutter key (instruction means) 8 key input section 9 microphone 10 Sub display unit (display means, sub display means) 12 Imaging lens (imaging means) 13 Battery pack 14 Lock part 15 Notification speaker 16 Wireless transceiver 17 Wireless signal processor 18 Control unit (control means) 19 Detector 20 Open / close detection unit (detection means) 21 driver 22 driver 23 Subscriber information storage unit 24 ROM 25 RAM 26 Audio signal processing unit 27 DSP 28 Imaging module (imaging means) 29 driver 101 protective cover 102 Polarizing plate (polarizing member) 103 liquid crystal cell 104 Optical sheet (optical member) 105 Coloring plate (coloring sheet) 106 EL light emitting sheet

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for picking up an image converged by an image pickup lens, and the image pickup means are arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the image pickup lens,
It is provided with display means for displaying characters or a background as a mirror surface, and control means for stopping the driving of the display means prior to photographing by the photographing means so that the entire display surface of the display means functions as a mirror. Image pickup device. 2. The display unit has a polarizing member arranged in front of a liquid crystal cell and reflects incident light of a polarized component along a reflection axis and transmits incident light of a polarized component along a transmission axis. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an optical member having the above is arranged on the back surface, and further, a coloring sheet is arranged on the back surface of the optical member. 3. A two-fold structure comprising a lid portion and a main body portion, the main display means provided on the front surface of the lid portion, and the image pickup means for taking an image converged by an image pickup lens arranged on the back surface of the lid portion. In the mobile communication terminal with the imaging device, the optical communication device is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the imaging lens,
The sub-display unit includes a sub-display unit for displaying a character or a background in a mirror surface, and a control unit for stopping the driving of the sub-display unit prior to photographing by the photographing unit so that the entire display surface of the sub-display unit functions as a mirror. A mobile communication terminal with an imaging device, characterized in that 4. An instruction means for instructing photographing by the image pickup means, wherein the control means stops driving of the sub display means when the instruction means is operated, and a display surface of the sub display means. 4. The portable communication terminal with an imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the entire surface is made to function as a mirror, and when the instructing means is operated again, the image photographed by the photographing means is captured. 5. A detection means for detecting an open / closed state of the lid portion, wherein the control means is operable to operate the instruction means even when the lid portion is closed by the detection means. The driving of the sub display means is stopped, the entire display surface of the sub display means is made to function as a mirror, and when the instruction means is operated again, the image photographed by the photographing means is captured. Item 4. A mobile communication terminal with an imaging device according to Item 4.