JP2004287305A - Portable digital assistance device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To load a camera unit having a variable power optical system into a portable digital assistance device while miniaturizing it. <P>SOLUTION: The portable digital assistance device is provided with: a main body 10 with operation buttons 11 arranged; a cover body 20 with a display part 21 arranged; connection parts 12, 30 and 23 having an opening/closing shaft S1 for connecting the cover body 20 to the main body 10 so that the cover body 20 can be freely opened/closed and a twisting shaft S2 for connecting the cover body 20 to the main body 10 so that the body 20 can be freely rotated in a twisting direction; and a camera unit 50 including an optical system and an imaging device for photographing an object, wherein the camera unit 50 is arranged in the main body 10 so that a photographing window 52 can be positioned in the side face 10a of the main body 10. Thus, even if the camera unit has the comparatively long optical system in whole length, the camera unit can be easily loaded into the personal digital assistance device, and at photographing, the user can photograph while viewing an image in the display part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device such as a mobile phone or a portable personal computer, and more particularly to a portable information terminal device provided with a camera unit capable of photographing an operator or a surrounding scenery.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable information terminal devices such as mobile phones and portable personal computers capable of transmitting and receiving image signals have been developed. Conventional mobile phones include, for example, a main body in which operation buttons for performing various operations are arranged, a lid in which a display unit (liquid crystal monitor) for displaying various information is arranged, and a lid that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body. And a camera unit having a variable-power lens optical system arranged in the internal space of the connection unit. The camera unit has a reversible support for the photographing window on the front side or the back side, and enters from the photographing window. There is known a method in which the traveling direction of the subject light is changed to the opening / closing axis direction of a connecting portion by a prism or the like (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
Other portable telephones include a main body on which operation buttons are disposed, a lid on which a display unit (liquid crystal monitor) is disposed, a connecting part for connecting the lid to the main body in an openable and closable manner, and a turning part on the outer surface of the connecting part. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a camera unit having a lens optical system as a separate component movably connected and having a photographing window of the camera unit reversibly supported on a front side or a back side (for example, Patent Document 1). 2).
[0004]
Further, as another portable telephone, a main body on which operation buttons are disposed, a lid on which a display unit (liquid crystal monitor) is disposed, and a lid which is connected to the main body so as to be openable / closable and rotatable in a torsional direction. There is a known device that includes a connecting portion and the like, and the cover can be closed with the cover turned upside down and the display unit facing the front side (for example, see Patent Document 3).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-290523 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-069214 [Patent Document 3]
JP 2002-118633 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional portable information terminal device (mobile phone), in a configuration in which the camera unit is arranged in the internal space of the connecting portion, since the internal space of the general connecting portion is very narrow, the optical system, the image pickup device, Alternatively, it is practically difficult to accommodate a camera unit including a variable magnification mechanism or the like. On the other hand, to accommodate the camera unit in the internal space of the coupling portion, it is necessary to particularly increase the contour of the coupling portion.
Further, in a configuration in which the camera unit is rotatably connected as a separate component on the outer surface of the connecting portion, it is necessary to make the camera unit narrow in the axial direction of the connecting portion, and the overall length of the optical system is relatively long. Camera unit cannot be used.
Further, in a configuration in which the lid is connected to the main body in a reversible (twistable) manner, even if the camera unit shown in the above-described conventional configuration is to be disposed in the connection portion, the structure of the connection portion is complicated, and the accommodation space is secured. Is difficult to do.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of an apparatus and securely dispose a camera unit having a relatively long optical system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information terminal device capable of photographing a subject while looking at a display unit.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A portable information terminal device according to the present invention includes a main body on which operation buttons are disposed, a lid on which a display unit is disposed, an opening / closing axis for connecting the lid to the main body in an openable and closable manner, and a rotatable pivotal direction. A portable information terminal device comprising: a connecting portion having a torsion axis to be connected; and a camera unit including an optical system and an image sensor for photographing a subject, wherein the camera unit has a photographing window on a side surface of a main body. So that it is arranged on the main body.
According to this configuration, in an apparatus including a connecting portion having two axes (opening / closing axis and torsion axis), since the camera unit is arranged with respect to the main body such that the imaging window is located on the side surface of the main body, the prism or the like is used. A camera unit having an optical system having a relatively long overall length in the optical axis direction can be easily mounted without using an element for changing the optical axis as described above. In addition, when the lid is opened and rotated by a predetermined angle around the torsion axis with respect to the main body, the display unit can be viewed with the shooting window facing the subject substantially in front. Therefore, when photographing the surrounding scenery and the like, it is possible to appropriately determine an image frame and photograph while looking at the display unit.
[0009]
In the above configuration, a configuration can be adopted in which the camera unit is disposed on the main body so as to have an optical axis in a direction parallel to the opening / closing axis.
According to this configuration, since the optical axis of the optical system is arranged parallel to the opening / closing axis of the connecting portion, the camera unit can be arranged within the width of the main body. Further, since the opening / closing axis of the connecting portion is parallel to the optical axis of the camera unit, the shooting window can be easily directed to a desired subject by using the extension direction of the opening / closing axis as an index.
[0010]
In the above configuration, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the optical system of the camera unit is a variable power optical system that changes the magnification of the subject.
According to this configuration, since the optical system is a variable power optical system, the subject can be photographed with the magnification appropriately changed in the range from wide angle to telephoto. Further, since the camera unit is arranged so that the shooting window faces the side surface of the main body, even a variable magnification optical system having a long overall optical system can be easily arranged in the main body.
[0011]
In the above configuration, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which an operation unit for manually performing a variable power operation of the variable power optical system is disposed on the surface of the main body.
According to this configuration, when the operator manually operates the operation unit, the subject can be photographed while appropriately adjusting the magnification to a desired magnification.
[0012]
In the above configuration, a configuration can be adopted in which the lid is connected to the main body so as to be rotatable by 90 degrees or more around the torsion axis.
According to this configuration, when the camera body is rotated by 90 degrees relative to the main body in a state in which the lid is opened, the direction of the photographing optical axis of the camera unit (the direction in which the photographing window is directed) is perpendicular to the front direction of the display unit. Therefore, when photographing the subject directly in front of the operator or the operator himself, it is possible to decide the image frame and photograph while observing the subject image projected on the display unit from the front.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 to 7 show a mobile phone as an embodiment of the mobile information terminal device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state where a lid is opened, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are lids. FIGS. 4 to 7 are cross-sectional views of the camera unit, showing a state where the body is twisted by 90 degrees with respect to the main body.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone includes a main body 10 on which various operation buttons 11 and the like are disposed, a display unit (liquid crystal monitor) 21 for displaying various information, and a lid 20 on which an antenna 22 is disposed. Thereby, the entire contour is formed.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 10 has a pair of bearing portions 12 as a connecting portion at one end, an opening 13 at the side surface 10a, and an elongated hole 14 at the surface 10b. .
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid 20 is formed at one end with a bearing portion 23 as a connecting portion. The shaft member 30 is connected to the bearing portion 12 of the main body 10 and the bearing portion 23 of the lid 20 so as to project in an inverted T-shape in three directions.
Here, the wires of the display unit 21 and the antenna 22 provided on the lid 20 are passed through the internal regions of the shaft member 30 and the bearing units 23 and 12, and the power supply and control circuit and the like provided in the main body 10 are provided. Is electrically connected to
[0016]
That is, the lid body 20 is supported on the main body 10 so as to be openable and closable in a range of about 180 degrees around the opening / closing axis S1, and can be twisted (rotatable) in a range of about 180 degrees around the torsion axis S2. It is supported by. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, the torsion state (for example, a state rotated by 90 degrees) is opened after the lid body 20 is opened. In this case, the lid 20 is closed (by untwisting as shown in FIG. 1).
[0017]
The camera unit 50 is housed in the main body 10 in the vicinity of the connecting portion (the bearing portion 12 and the shaft member 30). The camera unit 50 is positioned so that the imaging window (lens 52) faces the opening 13 on the side surface 10a, and is arranged such that the optical axis L of the optical system (imaging direction) is parallel to the opening / closing axis S1. .
[0018]
As described above, since the optical axis L is disposed parallel to the opening / closing axis S1, even the camera unit 50 having a relatively long overall length and having a relatively large outer contour is within the width of the main body 10. Easy to place. Further, since the opening / closing axis S1 and the optical axis L are parallel to each other, the shooting window (lens 52) can be easily directed to a desired subject by using the extension direction of the opening / closing axis S1 as an index during shooting. be able to.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the camera unit 50 is formed by an optical unit 50a constituting a variable power optical system and an imaging unit 50b including an imaging element.
The optical unit 50a includes, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a unit case 51, a lens 52 as a shooting window held by the unit case 51, a first lens group 53 and a second lens group 54, and a first lens group 53. Guide shafts 55 and 56 for reciprocally moving the first lens group 54 and the second lens group 54 in the optical axis direction L, a rotation regulating shaft 57 for regulating the rotation of the first lens group 53 and the second lens group 54, and the first lens. It is formed by a cam member 58 for moving the group 53 and the second lens group 54 to predetermined positions in the optical axis direction L.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 6, the cam member 58 is formed to have an arc-shaped cross section, and has a first cam groove 58a acting on the first lens group 53 on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and a second lens A second cam groove 58b that exerts a cam action on the group 54 is formed, and a protruding operation portion 58c for performing a manual operation is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
The operation portion 58c protrudes outside from the long hole 51c of the unit case 51 and the long hole 14 of the main body 10, as shown in FIGS. Therefore, when the operator manually swings the operation unit 58c, the cam member 58 reciprocates in a predetermined angle range to exert a cam action on the first lens group 53 and the second lens group 54, and the wide angle to Magnification adjustment for photographing in the telephoto range is performed.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6A, the first lens group 53 includes a biconcave lens G1 having a substantially rectangular contour, and a lens frame 53a holding the biconcave lens G1. The lens frame 53 a is inserted into the first cam groove 58 a of the cam member 58, the connecting portion 53 b slidably fitted on the guide shaft 55, the U-shaped portion 53 c slidably engaged with the rotation regulating shaft 57. A first follower 53d and the like guided and guided are provided.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6B, the second lens group 54 is formed by a biconvex lens G2 having a substantially rectangular contour, and a lens frame 54a holding the biconvex lens G2. The lens frame 54a is inserted into the connecting portion 54b slidably fitted to the guide shaft 56, the U-shaped portion 54c slidably engaged with the rotation regulating shaft 57, and the second cam groove 58b of the cam member 58. A second follower 54d and the like guided and guided are provided.
[0023]
4 to 7, the imaging unit 50b is connected to the unit case 51 and forms a part of the unit case 51, a low-pass filter 60 held by the holding member 59, a face plate 61, and an imaging unit. It is formed by a CCD 62 as a device, a circuit board 63 and the like.
[0024]
The optical unit 50a and the imaging unit 50b are assembled after being separately assembled, and the relative positions in the optical axis direction L are adjusted in a state where they are assembled together.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the unit case 51 is integrally formed with a flange 51d into which the guide shaft 64 is fitted and a flange 51e having a female screw 51e 'into which the adjusting screw 65 is screwed. Have been.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, a flange 59a having a through hole 59a 'into which the adjustment screw 65 is inserted and a flange 59b having a through hole 59b' into which the guide shaft 64 is inserted are integrally formed on the holding member 59, as shown in FIG. Is formed.
[0025]
Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the guide shaft 64 is passed through the through hole 59b ', the rectangular projecting portion 59c of the holding member 59 is passed through the opening 51b of the unit case 51, and between the flange 51e and the flange 59a. When the spring 66 is arranged in a compressed state and the adjusting screw 65 is screwed into the female screw 51e ', the optical unit 50a and the imaging unit 50b are connected and the screwing amount of the adjusting screw 65 is appropriately adjusted. Thus, the relative distance between the first lens group 53 and the second lens group 54 and the CCD 62 is finely adjusted. With this fine adjustment, initial adjustment such as focusing on the CCD 62 can be performed.
[0026]
The camera unit 50 having the above configuration is arranged so that its extending direction, that is, the optical axis direction L is parallel to the opening / closing axis S1 of the connecting portion (the bearing portion 12, the shaft member 30). Therefore, even if the camera unit 50 includes a variable power optical system having a relatively long optical axis, the camera unit 50 can be easily housed inside without providing a protruding contour on the main body 10, and thus the size of the apparatus can be reduced. .
[0027]
Next, the operation of the mobile phone will be described. First, from the state where the lid 20 is closed, as shown in FIG. 1, the lid 20 is rotated around the opening / closing axis S1 and opened. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2, with the display unit 21 facing the front of the operator, the lid 20 is held with one hand, and the main body 10 is grasped with the other hand, and is rotated about the torsion axis S2. Rotate 90 degrees.
[0028]
In this state, when one of the operation buttons 11 is operated to turn on the switch of the camera unit 50 (CCD 62), subject light from the surrounding scenery or the like in front of the shooting window (lens 52) is transmitted from the shooting window 52. The light enters the first lens group 53 and the second lens group 54, and reaches the imaging surface of the CCD 62.
[0029]
The image photographed by the CCD 62 is subjected to predetermined image processing and displayed on the display unit (liquid crystal monitor) 21. Here, the operator manually moves the operation unit 58c to adjust the position of the cam member 58, and positions the first lens group 53 and the second lens group 54 at positions separated from each other as shown in FIG. Then, a wide-angle image of the subject is taken and a wide-angle image is displayed on the display unit 21. On the other hand, when the first lens group 53 and the second lens group 54 are positioned close to each other as shown in FIG. The photographing is performed, and the telephoto image is displayed on the display unit 21.
[0030]
Therefore, the operator determines the image frame by appropriately adjusting the photographing magnification while checking these photographed images on the display unit 21, and presses the shutter button (one of the operation buttons 11) to save the photographed image in the storage unit. Alternatively, the photographed image can be transmitted to the communication partner by performing a transmission operation.
[0031]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, with the display unit 21 facing the front, holding the lid 20 with one hand, grasping the main body 10 with the other hand, and rotating the body approximately 90 degrees in the opposite direction, The shooting window (lens 52) faces the operator or the like. Then, subject light from an operator or the like enters through the imaging window 52, reaches the imaging surface of the CCD 62 via the first lens group 53 and the second lens group 54. Therefore, the operator can take a picture of himself / herself, save the taken image in the storage unit, or perform the transmission operation to transmit the taken image to the communication partner as described above.
[0032]
As described above, by making the main body 10 and the lid 20 relatively twisted, it is possible to perform zoom photographing in an optimal state while checking the image of the subject displayed on the display unit 21. it can. In addition, since the optical axis L of the camera unit 50 is parallel to the opening / closing axis S1 of the connecting portion, the extension direction of the opening / closing axis S1 can be used as an index when aiming at a subject, and it is easy to aim at the subject. Can be oriented.
[0033]
Further, as described above, in the configuration having the opening / closing axis S1 and the torsion axis S2, the photographing window 52 of the camera unit 50 is arranged on the side surface 10a of the main body 10, so that the variable length optical system having a relatively long overall length is used as the optical system. However, the camera unit 50 can be easily housed in the main body 10 without using an optical element such as a prism that changes the traveling direction of the subject light.
[0034]
In the above-described embodiment, the vicinity of the connecting portion (bearing portion 12) of the main body 10 is shown as an area where the camera unit 50 is arranged. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be inside.
In addition, the case where the camera unit 50 is arranged so that the optical axis L of the camera unit 50 is parallel to the opening / closing axis S1 of the connecting portion (the bearing portion 12 and the shaft member 30) has been described, but is not limited thereto. Instead, if the photographing window 52 is provided on the side surface 10a of the main body 10, the photographing window 52 may be arranged slightly obliquely so as to form a certain angle with the opening / closing axis S1.
[0035]
In the above embodiment, a mobile phone is shown as a mobile information terminal device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration according to the present invention may be applied to a mobile personal computer or the like.
In the above embodiment, the variable power optical system including the first lens group 53 and the second lens group 54 has been described as the optical system. However, a variable power optical system including more lens groups may be used. The arrangement structure according to the present invention can be adopted even for a single-focus optical system having a relatively long optical axis.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the portable information terminal device of the present invention, the main body on which the operation buttons are disposed, the lid on which the display unit is disposed, and the biaxial structure for rotatably connecting the lid to the main body. In the configuration having a camera unit for photographing the subject, the camera unit is arranged on the main body so that the photographing window is positioned on the side surface of the main body, so that the traveling direction of the subject light such as a prism can be changed. Without using an optical element to be changed, even a camera unit having an optical system having a relatively long overall length can be easily mounted. Further, by opening the lid and twisting the body relative to the main body, it is possible to set an appropriate image frame while checking the image projected on the display unit, and to shoot an optimal image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a portable information terminal device according to the present invention, and is an external perspective view of a portable telephone as viewed obliquely from the front side.
FIG. 2 is a state diagram showing a twisted state in which the lid and the main body are relatively rotated by 90 degrees with the lid opened.
FIG. 3 is a state diagram showing a twisted state in which the lid and the main body are rotated by 90 degrees in opposite directions with the lid opened.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the camera unit showing a state where the optical system is at a wide-angle shooting position.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the camera unit showing a state where the optical system is at a telephoto shooting position.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of the camera unit taken along a plane crossing the optical axis.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the camera unit as viewed from the optical axis direction.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 body 10a side surface 10b surface 11 operation button 12 bearing part (connection part)
13 Opening 14 Slot 20 Cover 21 Display 22 Antenna 23 Bearing (connecting part)
30 Shaft member 50 Camera unit 51 Unit case 52 Lens (photographing window)
53 1st lens group (magnification varying optical system)
54 Second lens group (variable magnification optical system)
58c Operation unit 62 CCD (imaging device)
S1 Open / close axis S2 Torsion axis L Optical axis of camera unit

Claims (5)

A connection having a main body on which an operation button is disposed, a lid on which a display unit is disposed, an opening / closing axis for connecting the lid to the main body in an openable and closable manner, and a torsion axis for rotatably connecting in a torsional direction. And a camera unit including an optical system and an image sensor for photographing a subject,
The camera unit is disposed on the main body so as to have a shooting window on a side surface of the main body,
A portable information terminal device characterized by the above-mentioned. The camera unit is disposed on the main body so as to have an optical axis in a direction parallel to the opening / closing axis.
The portable information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein: The optical system of the camera unit is a variable power optical system that changes the magnification of the subject.
The portable information terminal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: On the surface of the main body, an operation unit for manually performing a variable power operation of the variable power optical system is arranged.
4. The portable information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein: The lid is connected to the main body so as to be rotatable by 90 degrees or more around the torsion axis.
The portable information terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

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