JP2004120392A - Cellular telephone with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simultaneously perform hand-free operation using no separate fixed stand or the like and the adjustment and stability retention of a photographing angle in a cellular telephone with camera. <P>SOLUTION: In the foldable cellular telephone 10 with the camera, a hinge section 16 connecting a first half 12 to a second half 14 is constituted in such a way that both the halves are locked with each other at at least two opening angles containing the opening angle used for photographing. Appropriately allocating weight to the first half 12 and the second half 14 prevents falling or the like of the cellular telephone 10 even if the opening angle used for the photographing is a right angle or an obtuse angle as well as an acute angle. Consequently, the cellular telephone with the camera is stably mounted on a plane surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera-equipped mobile phone, and more particularly to a foldable camera-equipped mobile phone capable of hands-free operation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many camera-equipped mobile phones with a built-in camera mechanism and capable of digital photography and videophone calls have been developed.
[0003]
In such a camera-equipped mobile phone, it is desirable that the shooting angle, that is, the direction in which the lens portion of the built-in camera faces can be freely adjusted.
[0004]
In addition, when a mobile phone body is held by hand to perform digital photography or videophone-type telephone calls, so-called camera shake is likely to occur and the photographing range is limited. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to perform not only hand-held operation but also hand-free operation by placing a mobile phone on a flat surface such as a table and taking a picture with a self-timer or a remote control or making a videophone call. . In the case of such a hands-free operation, the orientation of the mobile phone body cannot be arbitrarily changed manually, so that the adjustment of the photographing angle becomes more important.
[0005]
Mobile phones that can adjust the shooting angle are already provided with a lens part of a built-in camera on a ball-shaped member partially protruding from the phone body and adjusting the shooting angle by rotating the ball-shaped member. It is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). However, in such a configuration, the photographing angle can be adjusted only within a range in which the entire lens portion provided on the ball-shaped member is exposed to the outside of the telephone body. Therefore, the adjustable angle range is limited to a narrow range. . In addition, in order to perform the hands-free operation, a fixed stand or the like is separately required, which is inconvenient.
[0006]
In addition, the camera mechanism is not built in the mobile phone body, but is a separate and independent small camera device having a circular cross-section plug terminal, and the plug terminal is inserted into the jack terminal provided on the side surface of the mobile phone body and connected. What is known is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In such a configuration, since the plug terminal and the jack terminal for connecting the camera device and the mobile phone body are both circular in cross section, the user can attach the camera device to the mobile phone body at an arbitrary angle, The angle can be adjusted. However, in this case as well, a separate stand or the like is required in order to perform a hands-free operation. In addition, since the camera mechanism is a separate and independent camera device, the configuration is complicated and the production cost is high, and the user must carry both the mobile phone body and the camera device inconveniently. is there.
[0007]
As a mobile phone capable of hands-free operation without using a fixed stand or the like, it is generally held at an opening angle of around 150 ° in a type of mobile phone having a flip that covers an operation portion on which operation buttons are arranged. It is known that the flip to be rotated is rotated to any opening angle of 270 ° to 300 ° that goes around to the rear side of the mobile phone body (see, for example, Patent Document 3). According to this configuration, the mobile phone body and the flip are substantially L-shaped when viewed from the side, and the flip functions as a self-supporting stand. However, the photographing angle cannot be adjusted with this configuration.
[0008]
In addition, in a folding camera-equipped cell phone, a rectangular space is provided at the upper edge of the half on the LCD screen side, and the housing member provided with the lens part of the built-in camera on one side is rotated to the above-mentioned space. What is held possible is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 4). The purpose of this configuration is to expose the lens part at the inner upper edge of the half on the LCD screen side when using the camera function, and to provide the surface on which the lens part of the housing member is provided when the camera function is not used. This is to protect the lens part by facing the inner wall of the above-mentioned space facing down, not adjusting the photographing angle. Even if this configuration can be applied to the adjustment of the shooting angle, the adjustable shooting angle range is an extremely limited range in which the inner wall of the void does not disturb the field of view of the camera. . Patent Document 4 teaches that a mobile phone having the above-described configuration can be placed on a table or the like to perform a hands-free operation. A click-type hinge that can lock both halves only in two states, a completely closed state and a completely opened state, is employed for the hinge portion that connects the two halves that constitute the. Therefore, a state between a completely closed state and a fully opened state, for example, a state where the opening angle is approximately 90 ° is unstable, and therefore, when a hand-free operation is performed in that state, blurring may occur, There is a high possibility that the mobile phone closes during operation due to the biasing force of the hinge. On the other hand, when placed on a table or the like in a fully open and stable state, it is not possible to take a picture of the front, etc., and the lens part is directed forward by adjusting the rotation angle of the above casing member. However, since the field of view of the camera is obstructed by the inner wall of the void, etc., the hands-free operation is hardly performed.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-352380 A
[Patent Document 2]
Registered Utility Model No. 3074054 Gazette [0011]
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-326711
[Patent Document 4]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-185589
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, all of the conventional camera-equipped mobile phones are capable of adjusting the shooting angle in hands-free operation without using a separate fixed stand or the like, and in order to stably hold the set shooting angle. It could not be answered.
[0014]
In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a camera-equipped mobile phone that has a simple structure, that is, a hand-free operation that can be stably placed on a flat surface, and that can adjust and stably hold a shooting angle. It is intended to provide at a low cost.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In other words, a camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention includes a first half having a lens portion of a built-in camera, and a second half connected to the first half via a hinge portion so as to be opened and closed. The portion is configured such that the first half and the second half can be locked at at least two opening angles including an opening angle used for photographing.
[0016]
In the camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention, at least at the opening angle used for the above photographing, the first half is stably placed on the plane with the outer surface of the second half as the bottom surface. The half and the second half are preferably weight distributed. In this weight distribution, for example, the center position of the first half is closer to the hinge part than the center of the first half, and the center position of the second half is farther from the hinge part than the center of the second half. This can be done.
[0017]
Further, in the camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention, at least one projecting portion for improving stability when the second half is placed on a flat surface with the outer surface as a bottom surface, or An antiskid part may be provided. Alternatively, at least one suction cup may be provided on the outer surface of the second half.
[0018]
In the present invention, the “mobile phone” includes a PHS terminal.
[0019]
Further, in the present invention, the “opening angle” means an angle between the first half and the second half constituting the foldable mobile phone and indicating the degree of opening through the hinge portion, and is 0 °, that is, completely closed. The angle of the state is not included.
[0020]
In the present invention, “locking” means that the first half and the second half constituting the foldable mobile phone are stably held at a set desired opening angle and placed on a plane at the opening angle. This means a state in which the mobile phone itself does not deviate from the set opening angle due to the weight of the mobile phone itself, etc. That is, in the “locking” in the present invention, for example, an aspect in which a multi-stage click type hinge portion capable of fixing both halves at a plurality of opening angles or a friction force of the hinge portion to increase the friction force between the halves is used. And the like that is fixed at a desired opening angle.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
The camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention is a hinge that can lock the first half having the lens portion of the built-in camera with respect to the second half at at least two opening angles including an opening angle used for photographing. Therefore, it is possible to realize an appropriate opening angle that is stable at the time of photographing, that is, a photographing angle. In addition, within a wide range of angles up to the open angle in the fully open state, which is generally about 150 °, by making it possible to set a number of open angles that can be used for shooting, a wide range of angles can be set. It is possible to finely adjust the shooting angle over a wide range, and the degree of freedom in setting the shooting angle can be increased.
[0022]
In addition, by distributing the weight of the first half and the second half so that the outer surface of the second half can be stably placed on the flat surface at the opening angle used for the above photographing, Then, it can be fixed at a desired opening angle, that is, a photographing angle, and placed on a table or the like to perform a stable hand-free operation without shaking.
[0023]
Further, by providing at least one projecting portion or a non-slip portion or at least one suction cup for enhancing stability on the outer surface of the second half which is the bottom surface when placing, at the time of hand-free operation Stability can be further enhanced.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Elements common to the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0025]
1A and 1B are perspective views of a camera-equipped mobile phone 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A shows a fully opened state and FIG. 1B shows a completely closed state. The mobile phone 10 includes a first half 12 and a second half 14, and both halves are connected via a hinge portion 16. The first half 12 is provided with a liquid crystal screen 18 and a receiving unit 20 on the inner surface, and a lens unit 22 of a built-in camera and a photographing contrast viewing mirror 24 on the outer surface. Instead of or in addition to the mirror 24, a small liquid crystal screen for visually recognizing an object to be photographed may be provided. The second half 14 has an operation unit 26 and a transmission unit 28 including a plurality of operation buttons on the inner surface, a shutter button 30 for taking a photograph on the side surface, and a protruding portion 32 (described later) on the outer surface. 1 is provided). The camera-equipped cellular phone 10 is capable of shooting by a self-timer by operating the operation unit 26 in addition to manual shooting by pressing the shutter button 30. In addition, a remote controller that enables photographing by remote control may be separately attached.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of a state in which the camera-equipped mobile phone 10 of FIG. 1 is placed on a plane. The hinge portion 16 of the mobile phone 10 has an opening angle θ between the first half 12 and the second half 14 of 150 ° corresponding to a fully opened state, or 45 ° to 120 ° used for photographing. A multi-stage click type hinge that can hold both halves by holding them at six opening angles in increments of 15 ° up to 15 ° is employed. In the state of FIG. 2, both halves are locked at an opening angle of 75 °.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a side view showing an example of the usage state of the camera-equipped mobile phone 10 of FIG. In this example, the mobile phone 10 is placed on a table, and the lockable opening angles θ = 45 °, 60 °, and 75 used for photographing so that a photographing object that is also a photographer enters the field of view of the camera. Θ = 75 ° is selected from °, 90 °, 105 °, and 120 °, and the first half 12 and the second half 14 are stably locked. By using a self-timer or a remote control in this state, the photographer can photograph himself / herself by a hands-free operation without causing blurring.
[0028]
It is important that the camera-equipped mobile phone 10 can be stably formed on a plane without falling over at any of the opening angles used for photographing shown in FIG. Therefore, it is preferable that the first half 12 and the second half 14 are appropriately weight-distributed in order to achieve this object.
[0029]
FIG. 4 is a side view of the camera-equipped mobile phone 10 showing an example of the weight distribution method. Various parts are incorporated in each of the first half 12 and the second half 14 of the mobile phone 10, but in the example of FIG. 4, a heavy part should be used as the hinge portion 16 in the first half 12. The heavy parts are arranged on the side as far as possible from the hinge portion 16 in the second half 14. With this arrangement, the center of gravity of the first half 12 is closer to the hinge part 16 than the center of the first half 12, and the center of gravity of the second half 14 is closer to the hinge part than the center of the second half 14. The position is far from 16. Therefore, the mobile phone 10 can be stably placed on a flat surface not only when the opening angle θ used for photographing is an acute angle but also at a right angle or an obtuse angle, and the mobile phone 10 being used is overturned or the like. Can be prevented.
[0030]
Further, in the present embodiment, in order to further improve the stability when the mobile phone 10 is placed on a flat surface, as shown in FIG. Protruding protrusions 32 are provided at the four corners of the outer surface. As an example of the change, after performing the appropriate weight distribution as described above, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the protruding protrusions 32 are formed only at the two corners near the hinge part 16. 'May be provided. In this modified example, the mobile phone 10 is stably supported by the three points of the two protruding portions 32 ′ and the lower end portion of the outer surface of the second half 14 shown by hatching in FIG. The As another modified example, after performing appropriate weight distribution, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), one protrusion-like protruding portion 32 ′ is formed on the upper edge portion close to the hinge portion 16. 'May be provided. Also in this case, the mobile phone 10 is stably supported by the protruding portion 32 ″ having the ridge shape and the lower end portion of the outer surface of the second half 14 shown by hatching in FIG. . Alternatively, instead of the projecting portions 32, 32 ′ or 32 ″ shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, non-slip portions having the same shape made of rubber or the like may be provided at the same position.
[0031]
In addition, the stability of the mobile phone 10 is improved by providing one or a plurality of suction cups on the outer surface of the second half 14 that becomes the bottom surface when placed instead of the protruding portion or the non-slip portion. Also good.
[0032]
In the above-described embodiment, the lens portion 22 of the built-in camera is provided on the outer surface of the first half 12. However, as another embodiment, the lens is disposed on the inner surface of the first half 12 including the liquid crystal screen 18. The part 22 may be provided. In this embodiment, since the liquid crystal screen 18 and the lens unit 22 are provided on the same side, the liquid crystal screen 18 functions as a camera finder so that a photograph can be taken while checking the field of view. It is suitable for making a videophone call with the screen 18 showing the appearance of the other party. In the above embodiment, the half on the side having the liquid crystal screen 18 is the first half 12 including the lens unit 22 of the built-in camera, but the outer surface or inner surface of the half including the operation unit 26 is used. It is good also as a structure which provides the lens part 22 in this.
[0033]
In the above embodiment, the multi-click type hinge unit 16 is used as a hinge unit capable of locking the first half and the second half at at least two opening angles including the opening angle used for photographing. However, as another embodiment, a hinge part with increased friction may be employed, and both halves may be locked at a desired opening angle by the frictional force of the hinge part.
[0034]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention and its modification example were described in detail, these embodiment and modification example are only an illustration, and the technical scope of this invention is the claim in this specification. Needless to say, it should be determined only by the scope.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a perspective view showing a fully open state and a completely closed state of a camera-equipped mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the camera-equipped mobile phone of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view showing an example of a usage state of the camera-equipped mobile phone of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows an example of a weight distribution method for the first half and the second half. 1 is a side view of the camera-equipped mobile phone shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a front view of the outer surface of the second half of the camera-equipped mobile phone shown in FIG.
10 mobile phone with camera 12 first half 14 second half 16 hinge portion 18 liquid crystal screen 22 lens portion 26 of built-in camera operation portions 32, 32 ′, 32 ″ projecting portion

Claims (5)

A first half having a lens part of a built-in camera;
The first half and the second half connected to each other through a hinge portion so as to be openable and closable,
The camera-equipped mobile phone, wherein the hinge portion is configured to be able to lock the first half and the second half at at least two opening angles including an opening angle used for photographing. Phone. At least at the opening angle used for the photographing, the first half and the second half are distributed in weight so that the outer surface of the second half can be used as a bottom surface and can be stably placed on a plane. The camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein: The position of the center of gravity of the first half is closer to the hinge part than the center of the first half, and the position of the center of gravity of the second half is farther from the hinge part than the center of the second half. Thus, the camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 2, wherein the first half and the second half are distributed in weight. The outer surface of the second half is provided with at least one projecting portion or a non-slip portion for enhancing stability when the outer surface is placed on a plane with the outer surface as a bottom surface. The camera-equipped mobile phone according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 4. The camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein at least one suction cup is provided on an outer surface of the second half. 5.

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