JP2003287783A - Cellular telephone with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To equip an auxiliary light source 8 without increasing a space in a cellular telephone in which a camera 7 is attached so as to face to a camera window provided at a casing 1. <P>SOLUTION: In the cellular telephone with the camera, the casing 1 is provided with an auxiliary light window adjacent to the camera window, and the auxiliary light source 8 to emit light at photographing by the camera 7 is equipped at the back part of the auxiliary light window, and the camera window is covered with a main optical cover 4, and the auxiliary light window is covered with an auxiliary optical cover 5, and a half mirror processed surface 51 through which outgoing light from the auxiliary light source 8 is transmitted and also by which incident light from outside is reflected is formed on the surface of the auxiliary optical cover 5. <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 a mobile phone which is equipped with a camera so that an image of the user himself can be taken.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mobile phones with cameras have become popular. For example, the camera-equipped mobile phone shown in FIG. 9 is a foldable mobile phone in which an upper half case (20) and a lower half case (30) are connected by a hinge mechanism (104). An auxiliary display (101) and a camera window (102) are provided on the outer surface. A CCD camera (not shown) is installed behind the camera window (102). Further, on the outer surface of the upper half case (20), on the side of the camera window (102), a mirror member (for adjusting the orientation of the camera by displaying the image of the user himself when the image of the user himself is taken). 103) has been deployed.

[0003]

However, in the conventional camera-equipped mobile phone, when the surroundings are dark at the time of photographing with the CCD camera, there is a problem that the natural light alone does not provide sufficient brightness and the photographed image becomes unclear. It was Therefore, it is conceivable to provide an auxiliary light source to the mobile phone with a camera to supplement the brightness at the time of shooting. However, mobile phones are becoming smaller and smaller, and particularly when the auxiliary display (101) is provided in the casing (100) as shown in FIG. 9, the casing (100) has a camera window (102) and When the mirror member (103) is provided, it becomes difficult to secure a space for providing the auxiliary light source window. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary light source at the time of shooting in a camera-equipped mobile phone without increasing the space.

[0004]

In a camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention, a camera window (22) is provided in a casing (1).
An auxiliary light window (23) is provided adjacent to the auxiliary light window (23), and an auxiliary light source that emits light when the camera (7) shoots is provided at the back of the auxiliary light window (23).
(8) is provided, and the auxiliary light window (23) is characterized in that it is covered with a half mirror surface that allows the light emitted from the auxiliary light source (8) to pass therethrough and reflects the light incident from the outside of the casing. .

Specifically, the camera window (2) of the casing (1)
2) is covered by the main optical cover (4), the auxiliary light window (23) is covered by the auxiliary optical cover (5), and the front surface or the back surface of the auxiliary optical cover (5) is subjected to a half mirror treatment. , Which constitutes the half mirror surface. As the half mirror treatment, a metal thin film or an organic thin film is formed on the front surface or the back surface of the auxiliary optical cover (5), and the auxiliary light source (8)
It is possible to employ a process for adjusting the transmittance of the light emitted from the device to 10 to 90%.

In the camera-equipped mobile phone of the present invention, for example, when the camera window (22) is directed toward the user when the camera (7) captures the image of the user himself, the image of himself is reflected on the half mirror surface. The orientation of the camera (7) can be adjusted. When the image is taken by the camera (7), the auxiliary light source (8) emits light, and the light emitted from the auxiliary light source (8) passes through the half mirror surface and is irradiated to the user himself. As a result, sufficient brightness can be obtained at the time of shooting, and a clear image can be taken.

If the half mirror surface having the function of an optical filter is adopted, the auxiliary light source provided in the inner part of the half mirror surface cannot be seen from the outside, and the emitted light of the auxiliary light source is colored light. Also in the case of, white light can be obtained by the filter processing.

[0008]

According to the camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention, by covering the auxiliary light source with the half mirror surface, the conventional auxiliary light source and the mirror member can be integrated, whereby the auxiliary light source is installed. It becomes unnecessary to secure a separate space.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. The camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention constitutes a foldable mobile phone by connecting the upper half case (2) and the lower half case (3) by a hinge mechanism (10) as shown in FIG.

Inside the casing (1), a main board (31) and a sub-board (32) are installed as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, a liquid crystal display (6) as an auxiliary display is installed on the main board (31).
On the sub-board (32), the CCD camera (7) and the LED
And an auxiliary light source (8). On the other hand, in the upper half case (2), a display window (21) for exposing the liquid crystal display (6), a camera window (22) for exposing the CCD camera (7), and an auxiliary light source (8). A supplemental light window (23) for exposing the is opened.

A main optical cover (4) for closing the display window (21) and the camera window (22) and an auxiliary optical cover (5) for closing the camera window (22) are attached to the upper half case (2). . The main optical cover (4) is made of a transparent resin made of polycarbonate or acrylic, and the main optical cover (4) is provided with a transparent display window cover part (41) facing the liquid crystal display (6). At the same time, a transparent camera window cover (42) is formed facing the CCD camera (7), and the other surface area is
It is decorated by printing. Also, the main optical cover (4)
The opening (43) for fitting the auxiliary optical cover (5)
Are formed.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an auxiliary optical cover
(5) is a main body portion (5) made of a transparent resin made of polycarbonate or acrylic, which has a collar portion (53) protruding from the outer periphery.
4) and an outer peripheral layer portion (55) made of ABS resin formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion (54). Such a two-layer structure can be easily formed by the well-known two-color molding (double injection). Then, by electrolessly plating nickel on the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary optical cover (5), a light-shielding surface (52) of nickel plating is selectively formed with respect to the ABS resin surface. Incidentally, the light-shielding surface
The light transmittance of (52) is preferably less than 10%.

The auxiliary optical cover (5) has a main body (5
A half mirror treated surface (51) is formed on the surface of 4) by sputtering aluminum, gold, silver, chromium, titanium or the like. Where half mirror processing surface
The visible light transmittance of (51) is in the range of 10% to 90%, and the higher the transmittance, the more the function as a mirror improves, but the attenuation rate of the auxiliary light increases, so that the auxiliary light source (8 ) Set the appropriate transmittance according to the brightness.

As shown in FIG. 5, a step wall (26) for mounting the main optical cover (4) is formed on the upper half case (2), and the step window (26) is provided on the step wall (26). 21) and camera windows (22)
Has been established. Further, the step wall (26) has a flange portion (25) for receiving the flange portion (53) of the auxiliary optical cover (5).
Projecting from the auxiliary light window (2) inside the flange (25).
3) has been opened.

A main optical cover (4) for the upper half case (2)
In the step of attaching the auxiliary optical cover (5), as shown in FIG. 6, between the facing surfaces of the step wall (26) of the upper half case (2) and the main optical cover (4), the auxiliary optical cover (5). Collar part (53)
And the main optical cover (4) facing each other, and between the flange (53) of the auxiliary optical cover (5) and the flange (25) of the upper half case (2) facing each other. The main optical cover (4) and the auxiliary optical cover (5) are fixed to the upper half case (2) with (9) interposed. In this step, first, the auxiliary optical cover (5) is attached to the main optical cover (4) with the double-sided adhesive tape (9), and then the main optical cover (4) is attached with the double-sided adhesive tape (9) to the upper half case ( Since it can be attached to 2), the work is easier than the case where the main optical cover and the auxiliary optical cover are separately attached to the upper half case.

As a result, the main optical cover (4) and the auxiliary optical cover (5) are integrated into one optical cover.
Further, the collar portion (53) of the auxiliary optical cover (5) is sandwiched by the flange portion (25) of the upper half case (2) and the opening edge portion (43a) of the main optical cover (4) as shown in FIG. Will be done. Therefore, even if a large pressing force acts on the auxiliary optical cover (5), the auxiliary optical cover (5) is received by the flange portion (25) of the upper half case (2), and the main optical cover (5) is received.
It does not fall from (4) into the casing. Also, between the flange portion (53) of the auxiliary optical cover (5) and the opening edge portion (43a) of the main optical cover (4), and the flange portion (2) of the upper half case (2).
Since the double-sided adhesive tape (9) is interposed between the main optical cover (4) and the auxiliary optical cover (5), it is completely waterproof and dustproof.

In the camera-equipped mobile phone, as shown in FIG. 2, the CCD camera (7) has a main optical cover (4).
It is possible to face the camera window cover part (42) and receive the light that has been transmitted through the camera window cover part (42) and is incident, whereby a subject in front can be photographed.

The auxiliary light source (8) faces the auxiliary optical cover (5), and most of the emitted light of the auxiliary light source (8) is the auxiliary optical cover.
Since the light is transmitted through the half-mirror processed surface (51) of (5), it is possible to illuminate the subject in front by the light emission of the auxiliary light source (8). Here, since the light-shielding surface (52) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary optical cover (5), the light emitted from the auxiliary light source (8) is transmitted from the auxiliary optical cover (5) to the main optical cover (4). There is no leakage to the CCD camera (7). Therefore, C
There is no possibility that the image picked up by the CD camera (7) will deteriorate in image quality due to halation. On the other hand, most of the light incident on the auxiliary optical cover (5) from the outside is reflected by the half-mirror processed surface (51), so that the front object is not reflected on the half-mirror processed surface (51). Will be captured.

Therefore, when the user's own image is taken by the CCD camera (7), the direction of the casing (1) is adjusted so that the own image is projected on the auxiliary optical cover (5), and the auxiliary optical cover is adjusted. Operate the shutter with the image of yourself in (5). This allows the auxiliary light source
(8) emits light, and at the same time, the CCD camera (7) performs a shooting operation. As a result, the image of the user himself is captured with sufficient brightness.

As described above, according to the camera-equipped mobile phone of the present invention, the auxiliary optical cover (5) functions as a light emitting window of the auxiliary light source (8), and the auxiliary optical cover is also provided.
Since the half mirror processing surface (51) of (5) exerts a function as a mirror member for projecting an object, an auxiliary optical cover
It is not necessary to secure an installation space for the mirror member in addition to the installation space in (5), and as a result, the casing is
It is possible to downsize (1). Since the auxiliary optical cover (5) is fitted into the opening (43) of the main optical cover (4) to form one optical cover, the CCD camera (7) and the auxiliary light source are
It is possible to arrange (8) as close to each other as possible, which enables downsizing of the casing (1).

The configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. For example, instead of the CCD camera (7), it is possible to employ a camera having a CMOS as an image sensor. As the auxiliary light source (8), a halogen lamp can be used instead of the LED. The half mirror treated surface (51) can be formed on the back surface of the auxiliary optical cover (5). It is also possible to employ an organic thin film instead of the metal thin film forming the half mirror treated surface (51). Furthermore, it is also possible to form a half mirror treated surface (51) on the surface of the auxiliary optical cover (5) and give a lens surface treatment to the back surface to give the auxiliary optical cover (5) a lens function. is there. Further, the light blocking between the main optical cover (4) and the auxiliary optical cover (5) is not limited to the configuration in which the light blocking processing surface (52) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary optical cover (5), and It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the inner peripheral surface of the opening (43) of 4) is light-shielded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of the mobile phone.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a structure for attaching a main optical cover and an auxiliary optical cover to the upper half case.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the mobile phone.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the mobile phone.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an exploded main part of the mobile phone.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of an auxiliary optical cover.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of an auxiliary optical cover.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional camera-equipped mobile phone.

[Explanation of symbols]

(1) Casing (2) Upper half case (21) Display window (22) Camera window (23) Auxiliary light window (25) Flange part (3) Lower case (4) Main optical cover (41) Display window cover (42) Camera window cover (43) Aperture (5) Auxiliary optical cover (51) Half mirror treated surface (52) Light-shielding surface (53) Tsuba (6) Liquid crystal display (7) CCD camera (8) Auxiliary light source

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04M 1/21 H04M 1/21 Z

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a mobile phone in which a camera (7) is attached to a camera window (22) provided in a casing (1), the casing (1) has an auxiliary device adjacent to the camera window (22). An optical window (23) is provided, and an auxiliary light source (8) that emits light when the camera (7) shoots is provided at the back of the auxiliary light window (23). 8) A camera-equipped mobile phone characterized in that it is covered with a half-mirror surface that allows light emitted from 8) to pass therethrough and reflects light incident from the outside of the casing. 2. The camera window (22) of the casing (1) is covered by a main optical cover (4), and the auxiliary light window (23) is covered by an auxiliary optical cover (5). The mobile phone with a camera according to claim 1, wherein the front surface or the back surface of () is subjected to a half mirror treatment to form the half mirror surface. 3. In the half mirror treatment, a metal thin film or an organic thin film is formed on the front surface or the back surface of the auxiliary optical cover (5) so that the transmittance of the light emitted from the auxiliary light source (8) is 10 to 9%.
The camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 2, wherein the percentage is 0%. 4. The camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the half mirror surface has a function of an optical filter.