JP2004304832A - Videophone - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a handy videophone capable of transmitting/receiving video and audio while holding the case in one hand. <P>SOLUTION: The case is foldably configured by hinging a case part provided with a speaker and a display section or the like to another case part provided with a microphone and an operation section or the like and a camera section 3 is provided to a front side of the case or the hinge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a handy telephone terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving video and audio while holding a housing with one hand.

  2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional handy type videophone device, there has been proposed a videophone in which a display unit is disposed at the upper front of a thin main body, an operation unit is provided at the center, and a speaker unit is provided at the bottom.

Design Registration No. 774750

  According to the conventional example, since the display unit and the speaker unit are provided, it is possible to receive video and audio from the other party. However, no consideration has been given to configuring the telephone terminal into a foldable handy type. In addition, no consideration is given to improving the accommodation and portability of the telephone terminal equipped with the camera by improving the arrangement of the camera unit, or protecting the camera against external impact and dust.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a handy telephone terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving video and audio while holding a housing with one hand. .

  A second object of the present invention is to take both a voice call attitude corresponding to audio and a video call attitude corresponding to video and audio while holding the housing with one hand, and to obtain a favorable attitude in any of the attitudes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a handy telephone terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving.

  A third object of the present invention is to provide a handy-type telephone terminal device in which a camera can be effectively installed and miniaturization, storability and portability can be improved.

  A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a handy type telephone terminal device capable of protecting a camera.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above-described object. As one mode, a signal processing unit for performing communication by voice and / or image, a speaker unit for outputting voice, and a voice input And a display unit for outputting an image, a camera unit for inputting an image, and an operation unit for inputting an operation command to the signal processing unit. In the apparatus, the display unit is provided between the speaker unit and the microphone unit.

  As another aspect of the present invention, a first housing storing a microphone unit, a second housing storing a speaker unit, and the first housing and the second housing are connected. Connection means, and a videophone device.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a first housing storing a microphone unit, a second housing storing a speaker unit, a third housing storing a display unit, and a first housing A videophone device comprising: first connecting means for connecting the second housing to the third housing; and second connecting means for connecting the second housing to the third housing.

  According to the present invention, since transmission and reception of video and audio can be performed while holding the housing with one hand, transmission and reception of video and audio can be performed without hindering the user's actions. In addition, in addition to the video communication posture corresponding to both video and audio, where the housing is positioned in front of the user, the voice communication corresponding to the voice, in which the speaker unit and microphone unit are brought close to the user's ears and mouth. Since the posture can be taken, the conversation posture suitable for the content of the information to be communicated can be taken. Also, in a call state, the operation unit and the display unit are exposed to make the total length equal to the length corresponding to the ear and the mouth, and in the storage state, the operation unit and the display unit can be concealed and the total length can be shortened. High storage and portability. Further, in the present invention, since the camera section is arranged at the hinge section of the handy phone terminal of the folding configuration, it is possible to reduce the size, accommodation, and portability without making the entire terminal unnecessarily large, Furthermore, since the camera unit is covered with the device by folding when not in use, the camera unit can be protected.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a hand-held videophone device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 show a first embodiment of a handy type videophone apparatus according to the present invention.

  The outline of the external structure of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The handy type videophone device 1 includes a thin, flat, vertically long main body 2, a camera section 3 rotatably mounted on a right side surface of the main body 2, and an ear pad mounted on a front upper portion of the main body 2 so as to be foldable. Unit 4, a speaker unit 6 arranged at the center of the ear pad unit 4, an antenna unit 21 detachably attached to the lower rear part of the main body 2, and a battery detachably attached to the lower rear part of the main unit 2. 9 mainly. In addition, a blip portion 35 is formed from the back surface to both side surfaces of the handy-type videophone device 1.

  On the front face of the main body 2, in addition to the above-mentioned ear pad section 4, a display section 11, a transmission / reception key 12, an end key 13, an operation section 14, a function key 15, and a microphone section 16 are arranged in this order from the top. .

  The schematic arrangement of the functional units inside the device will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a development view of the functional unit, and FIG. 4 is a schematic layout diagram of the functional unit. The handy videophone device 1 includes a main board 17 including a processing unit and a memory, a communication device 18 having a wireless / image codec, a code reel unit 19, a speaker unit 6, a liquid crystal display unit and a liquid crystal display unit 11. , An operation board 20, a microphone section 16, a battery 9, an antenna section 21, and a camera section 3.

The main board 17 is arranged on the upper rear side inside the main body 2. The communication device 18 and the display unit 11 are arranged on the front side. An operation board 20 is arranged below the display unit 11, and a microphone unit 16 is arranged below the operation board 20.

  The battery 8 is located below the main board 17 and is detachably attached to the rear cover 8.

  The antenna unit 21 is disposed diagonally above and to the right of the communication device 18. The antenna section 21 is mounted on a mounting table 21a (see FIG. 1) formed on the upper right side of the front cover 7.

  The camera unit 3 is disposed on the right side of the main board 17 and the communication device 18 and below the antenna unit 21. The camera section 3 is rotatably mounted at a position on the right outside of the front cover 7.

  The cord reel unit 19 is for winding the connection cord 5 that transmits a signal to the speaker unit 6. The code reel unit 19 is arranged in the ear pad unit 4 in a semi-embedded state. The speaker unit 6 is detachably held on the rotation axis of the code reel unit 19.

  Next, the structure of each part will be described in detail.

  The external appearance of the main body 2 is composed of a front cover and a rear cover 8, and most of the above-described components are housed between the two covers. The connection between the front cover 7 and the rear cover 8 has an enemy-proof structure connected via rubber packing. In addition, a concave storage portion 10 for storing the ear pad 4 is provided in the upper front surface of the front cover 7 (see FIG. 7).

  The ear pad portion 4 has a protruding portion 26 a formed at the center of the lower end thereof rotatably connected to a receiving portion 26 b formed on the front cover 7. Thus, the ear pad 4 is configured to be openable and closable about its lower end (more precisely, the shaft 26c in FIG. 5). When the ear pad portion 4 is closed, the back surface portion is stored in the concave storage portion 10 so that a sense of unity with the main body 2 is obtained. On the other hand, when the ear pad portion 4 is opened, the ear pad portion 4 can be used as a hood for avoiding external light incident on the display portion 11 provided below the ear pad portion 4 (see FIG. 5).

  On the front surface of the ear pad portion 4, a concave portion 27 having a rotation shaft 28 at the center is formed. The code reel portion 19 has the concave portion 27 formed therein. The code reel portion 19 is fitted in the concave portion 27 and is held so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 28. The front side of the cord reel portion 19 is exposed to the outside, and the cord can be wound around the cord winding portion 19a by rotating the exposed portion 29 by hand. Further, the exposed portion 29 has a mortar shape, and a concave portion (hereinafter, the concave portion is referred to as a “speaker mounting portion 30”) in which the speaker portion 6 can be detachably stored is formed in the center thereof. The depth of the speaker mounting portion 30 is set so that even when the speaker portion 6 is stored, a part of the speaker mounting portion 30 is made to protrude from the speaker mounting portion 30 to facilitate attachment and detachment thereof. Therefore, if the use as a hood is not considered, the ear pad 4 is configured to be openable and closable because the ear pad 4, that is, the speaker unit 6 is directly arranged on the front upper portion of the main body 2. I do.

Further, the speaker mounting portion 30 is provided with a contact 30a to be connected when the speaker portion 6 is mounted. Whether the speaker unit 6 is used in a state of being housed in the ear pad 4 or removed and used as an earphone is detected by a signal obtained through the contact 30a. Therefore, the sound volume is automatically adjusted to an appropriate volume according to the use state. Alternatively, a signal for use as a speaker may be separately input to the speaker unit 6 through the contact 30a, and a signal for use as an earphone may be separately input to the speaker unit 6 through the code 5. However, in this case, it is necessary to provide a terminal for connecting to the contact 30a also on the side of the speaker section 6. As described above, the present embodiment has a configuration in which the volume and sound quality can be automatically changed according to the use state of the speaker unit 6.

  The connection cord 5 of the speaker unit 6 is stored in the cord winding unit 19a of the code reel unit 19 via the outlet 31. The outlet 31 is formed by cutting out a part of the edge of the recess 27 described above.

To pull out the speaker section 6, first, the speaker section 6 is pinched and removed from the speaker mounting section 30. Then, when the speaker section 6 is pulled as it is, the cord reel section 19 rotates, and the connection cord 5 is pulled out from the cord winding section 19a. For storage, the connecting cord 5 is wound around the cord winding portion 19a by manually rotating the exposed portion 29 in the winding direction. Finally, the speaker unit 6 is mounted on the speaker mounting unit 30. In this embodiment, a part of the cord reel portion 19 is exposed from the ear pad portion 4 in order to perform the winding operation of the cord 5 by hand. For example, an automatic winding device provided with a torsion spring is used. If a mechanism is provided, the entire cord reel unit 19 may be incorporated in the ear pad unit 4 or the main body 2.

The camera unit 3 has an automatic focus function and an angle-of-view adjustment function (enlargement, telephoto). The camera unit 3 is connected to a rotation shaft 32 provided on a right side surface of the display unit 11 and substantially perpendicular to the side surface, and one end thereof. Thereby, the camera unit 3 is rotatable in the front-rear direction with respect to the main body 2. As shown in FIG. 6, the rotatable angle of the camera unit 3 is in a range of 120 ° forward to 120 ° backward. In addition, radial ribs (not shown) are provided on the rotation shaft 32 at, for example, 5 ° cuts, and the camera unit 3 can be fixed at an arbitrary (although stepwise) angle. Further, the viewpoints of the display unit 11 and the camera unit 3 are matched as much as possible. This is because if the camera unit is not photographing the caller from the front, the (photographed) caller does not face the front on the image displayed on the other party's videophone, and This is because it gives a natural feeling.

  The lens unit 24 provided at the tip of the camera unit 3 is slidable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the main body of the camera unit 3. On the other hand, at the lower end of the mounting base 21 a of the antenna section 21, there is provided a recess 25 that can be fitted to the tip of the lens section 24. In a state where the longitudinal direction of the camera unit 3 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the telephone device 1 (that is, the state of FIG. 6), if the lens unit 24 is pulled out and engaged with the concave portion 25, Can be fixed to be stored. In this stored state, the lens portion 24 can be protected from water drops and dust (see FIG. 6).

  A pause button 37 is provided at the rear end of the camera unit 3. When the pause button 37 is operated during a call using the videophone function, shooting by the camera unit 3 (or transmission of the shot image) is temporarily stopped. If this function is used, for example, when the camera section 37 is rotated during a call, an unsightly image taken during the rotation can be cut.

  The translucent plate 22 (see FIG. 1) covering the display unit 11 is for protecting the display unit 11 and the like. The translucent plate 22 is provided flush with the front cover 7.

The operation unit 14 is composed of a liquid crystal panel provided with a touch panel, and displays numeric keys and various operation keys in a rectangular section, and allows input by touching the operation keys at the designated locations with a finger.

  The function key 15 includes a button 15a for switching between a videophone function and a voice telephone function, a screen switching button 15b of the operation unit 14, and screen scroll buttons 15c and 15d of the operation unit 14.

  The grip 35 (see FIG. 2) is partially constituted by the battery 9 as well as the back of the main body 2. Since the grip portion 35 is chamfered at both lower corners (the processed portion is denoted by reference numeral 35a in the drawing), the grip portion 35 fits into the hand and can be used with one hand by the handy-type videophone device 1. Can be held firmly.

  The power switch 33 provided on the left side of the main body 2 is for putting the handy-type videophone device 1 in a standby state. It goes without saying that an incoming call can be accepted even in this standby state. In the present embodiment, the power switch 33 is normally arranged on the left side on the assumption that the device is held in the left hand, but the user holds the handheld videophone device 1 with the right hand and uses the power switch 33. Of course, there is no problem.

  The battery 9 can be removed by sliding in the direction of the thick arrow in FIG. Further, an uneven portion 34 is formed on the surface of the battery 9 to enhance the operability at the time of attachment and detachment. The lock release switch 36 of the battery 9 is provided above the battery 9 on the back surface of the main body 2. The charging terminal 23 provided on the bottom surface of the main body 2 is connected to a terminal of a separate charger when charging the battery 9.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the size of the handy type videophone device 1 is 164 mm for the height h2 of the main body 2, 64 mm for the width W1, 29 mm for the thickness D1, 205 mm for the height h3 including the antenna unit 21, and the speaker. The distance h1 between the unit 6 and the microphone unit 16 is 130 mm, the length h4 of the camera unit 3 is 59 mm, the width W2 including the antenna unit 21 is 80 mm, the thickness D2 including the ear pad unit 4 is 35 mm, and the lower end of the main body 1 The thickness D3 of the portion is 30 mm. The camera section 3 has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 15 mm. In this embodiment, the speaker unit 6 and the microphone unit 16 are provided so as to protrude from the arrangement surface of the operation unit 14. However, the speaker section 6 and the microphone section 16 may be substantially provided on substantially the same surface of the main body 2.

  These sizes and shapes, especially the size (h2, W1, D1) of the main body and the distance (h1) between the speaker unit 6 and the microphone unit 16 are sufficient to include the functions required for the device. Not only that, it is determined in consideration of ease of holding when held by hand, operability, and the like. For example, the distance h1 is determined as a distance at which the microphone unit 16 is located close to the mouth when the speaker unit 6 is put on the ear (while still attached to the ear pad 4). Therefore, the size is not limited to this, and a slight difference in the specific value does not matter.

  Next, the method of use will be described.

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to take two calling postures, a video calling posture corresponding to the videophone function (video and audio) and a voice calling posture suitable for the voice telephone function (only voice). Note that the presence of the grip portion 35 allows the handy-type videophone device 1 to be firmly held with one hand in any of the calling postures.

  First, the power switch 33 provided on the left side of the main body 2 is operated to enter a standby state. In this state, it can be received from the other party. Here, since the power switch 33 is arranged near the thumb of the left hand to be held, the power switch 33 can be operated while being held by the left hand without particularly changing. When the message is received, a ring tone is emitted from the speaker unit 6 and the message can be received by pressing the transmission / reception key 12. In this case, the processing unit determines the signal of the communication device 18 and indicates on the display unit 11 whether the call is a voice-only call or not. When the call ends, the user can press the end key 13 to return to the standby state.

When used as a videophone, the user holds the grip 35 with the left hand and operates with the right hand. For example, from the standby state, in order to transmit by the videophone function, the lens unit 24 of the camera unit 3 is slid downward with the right hand to release the connection with the concave portion 25. Then, the camera unit 3 is rotated to a desired angle (see FIG. 7). Subsequently, the transmission / reception key 12 is operated to turn on the display unit 11 and the operation unit 14. Further, the videophone function is selected by the switching button 15a. Thereafter, the user operates the numeric keypad displayed on the operation unit 14 to input a destination telephone number. Since the input destination telephone number is displayed on the display section 11, it is confirmed, and the transmission / reception key 12 is finally operated. Thus, the call is transmitted to the other party of the telephone number.

  In the present embodiment, the phonebook list can be displayed on the operation unit 14 by operating the screen switching button 15b. The display of the telephone length list can be scrolled by operating the screen scroll buttons 15c and 15d. Therefore, it is also possible to make the apparatus memorize a large number of telephone numbers and to select and transmit the other party's telephone number from among them.

  After the call is connected, the user talks while looking at the display unit 11. In this case, since the camera unit 24 can be rotated by 240 °, it is possible to perform communication not only by photographing a person's own face but also by photographing a third party or landscape. Further, when talking outdoors or when the illumination is reflected on the display unit 11, if the ear pad unit 4 is raised, the ear pad unit 4 blocks off the external light entering the display unit 11 to make it easier to see (FIG. 7). reference). If the user does not want the surroundings to be heard by the surrounding people, the speaker unit 6 may be pulled out and used as an earphone (see FIG. 7). At this time, as described above, the sound volume is automatically adjusted to an appropriate volume according to the use state, depending on whether the speaker unit 6 is used in a state housed in the ear pad 4 or is used as an earphone after being removed. .

After the end of the call, if the end key 13 is pressed, the standby state can be set again.
Next, use as a normal voice-only phone will be described.

  The basic operation of a voice call function is almost the same as that of a videophone call.

  Hold the grip 35 with your left hand and operate it with your right hand. To transmit from the standby state using the normal voice-only telephone function, the transmission / reception key 12 is operated, and the display unit 11 and the operation unit 14 are turned on. Further, the voice telephone function is selected by the switching button 15a. Thereafter, the user operates the numeric keypad displayed on the operation unit 14 to input a destination telephone number. Since the input destination telephone number is displayed on the display section 11, it is confirmed, and the transmission / reception key 12 is finally operated. Thus, the call is transmitted to the other party of the telephone number. After this operation, the user puts the ear pad unit 4 in contact with the ear of the caller, and talks with the other party in a call posture like a normal handset that holds the microphone unit 16 close to the mouth of the user.

  Even when used as a videophone, it is possible to talk in the same attitude as in the case of talking only with voice. In this case, the display unit 11 and the camera unit 3 cannot be used. However, this is effective for conversation that the surrounding people do not want to hear or noise generated by a car passing during a call.

  The operation unit 14 may be a normal button type or a sheet-shaped numeric keypad.

  In addition, the ear pad unit 4 and the camera unit 3 may link the movements of both. Further, both of them may be provided integrally.

  In the present embodiment, the camera unit 3 is attached to the side of the display unit 11, but it is sufficient that the camera unit 3 is provided so that the viewpoint of the display unit 11 and the camera unit 3 match. For example, the camera unit 3 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the camera unit 3 is in contact with the upper surface of the main body 2. The rotation axis of the camera unit 3 may be provided at the center of the upper surface of the main body 2. In this case, the camera unit 3 and the main body 2 may have the same width.

In the present embodiment, the antenna 21 is provided so as to protrude from the main body 2. However, if the amount of protrusion from the main body 2 is reduced by integrating the antenna 21 with the camera section 3, the storage efficiency is improved.

  The camera section 3 may be detachable from the main body 2. In this case, if the connection is made with a connection cord that can be pulled out via the hinge portion 32, the connection cord is concealed at the time of attachment, so that the design is good.

  As described above, in the handy-type videophone device according to the present invention, the grip unit 35 for holding with one hand is formed on the thin main body 2 and the main body 2 can change the photographing angle. The provision of the unit 3 enables transmission and reception of video and audio while holding the main body 2 with one hand. Further, by raising the ear pad portion 4 provided on the upper portion of the display section 11, the influence of external light reflected on the display section 11 can be prevented.

  In addition, the speaker unit 6 is provided at one end of the main body 2 in the longitudinal direction, the microphone unit 16 is provided at the other end, and the display 11 and the operation unit 14 are provided between the speaker unit 6 and the microphone unit 16, so that video communication can be performed. Either the posture or the voice call posture can be selected. In addition, since the whole can be held and used with one hand, operability is excellent. Further, since the entire device is integrated, it is excellent in portability and storage in a bag or the like. Further, since the speaker section 6 can be pulled out and used as an earphone, it is effective in secret conversations or when it is difficult to hear the other party's voice. In addition, since the handy-type videophone device 1 has a drip-proof structure at various places, it is effective when used outdoors.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a video communication posture, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a stored state, and FIG. The parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 and the same parts as the arrows are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  This embodiment is characterized in that the main body is divided into a plurality of devices, and each device is connected by a hinge. Thereby, in addition to the talking posture in which the main body is held with one hand, the installation talking posture in which the main body is installed on the table surface can be taken. Further, the storability can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the handy type videophone device 1 of the present embodiment includes a thin flat main body 38, a camera section 3 rotatably attached to a side surface of the main body 38 via a hinge 32, and a main body 38. And a battery 9 (not shown) detachably attached to the center of the back surface of the main body 38.

  The main body 38 includes a first device 39, a second device 41, and a third device 43. The case of the second device 41 corresponds to the “first case” in claim 15. Further, the case of the third device 43 corresponds to the “second case”. Further, the case of the first device 39 corresponds to the “third case”.

  A function arrangement surface 39a is formed on the front of the first device 39, and the display unit 11, the transmission / reception key 12, and the end key 13 are arranged on the function arrangement surface 39a. The first device 39 has a built-in main board 17 (not shown), and a battery 9 (not shown) is detachably attached to a rear portion thereof. The rear part of the first device 39 and the battery 9 form a grip portion 35 for holding the handy-type videophone device 1 with one hand. A power switch 33 (not shown) is provided on the left side surface of the first device 39.

  The second device 41 is foldably attached to the lower end of the first device 39 via a hinge 40. In this embodiment, the hinge portion 40 is a connecting means for connecting the first device 39 and the second device 41. The second device 41 is provided with a function arrangement surface 41a, and the function arrangement surface 41a is provided with the microphone unit 16 at an end facing the hinge unit 40. Further, the operation unit 14 is disposed between the microphone unit 16 and the hinge unit 40. The function placement surface 41a and the function placement surface 39a have substantially the same size, and when the second device 41 is folded into the first device 39, the function placement surface 41a has the function placement surface 39a. Conceal.

  The third device 43 is disposed above the first device 39. The connection between the two is made by connecting the lower end of the third device 43 and the upper end of the first device 39 in a rotatable manner by the hinge 42. In this embodiment, the hinge portion 42 connects the first device 39 and the third device 43. The third device 43 incorporates the communication device 18 (not shown). Further, a speaker section 44 is arranged at the center of the function arrangement surface 43a formed on the front surface.

  Ear pad portions 46a and 46b made of a soft material are attached to the left and right sides of the functional arrangement surface 43a via hinge portions 45a and 45b so as to be freely opened and closed. When the ear pads 46a and 46b are closed, the ear pads 46a and 46b cover the function arrangement surface 43a. The ear pads 46a and 46b are formed with a recess 48 having a sound hole 47.

  The lower end of the camera section 3 is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft 32 disposed at the axial position of the hinge section 42 described above. In this case, the camera unit 3 can be moved independently of the third device 43. The rotatable angle range of the camera unit 3 is set to 240 ° (front side 120 ° to rear side 120 °) based on an angular position parallel to the surface of the third device 43. The camera unit 3 has a lock mechanism for preventing the angle from being changed carelessly at an angle position parallel to the surface of the third device. Further, the point that a rib or the like is provided and can be set at an arbitrary angle is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Although the specific size of the entire device and each part is not shown here, the size and shape of the entire device, the distance between the speaker and the microphone, and the sizes and shapes of other parts are basically the same as those of the first embodiment. It is determined from the same viewpoint as in the first embodiment. The same applies to other embodiments described hereinafter.

  The operation state will be described with reference to FIG. 10A is a partial front view, and FIG. 10B is a right side view.

  The handy type videophone device 1 of the present embodiment can be roughly divided into three modes (storage posture, voice call posture, and video call posture).

  The storage posture is shown by the solid line in FIG. 10 and FIG.

  In the storage position, the second device 41 is folded to an angle where the second device 41 contacts the first device 39. At this time, the function arrangement surface 41a covers the function arrangement surface 39a, and the function units arranged on the function arrangement surfaces 39a and 41a can be protected. Further, the entire length can be shortened and stored by the amount by which the second device 41 is folded.

The third device 43 also covers the speaker unit 44 by closing the ear pad units 46a and 46b. In this case, the ear pads 46a and 46b correspond to the second device 41 in the folded state, and the rotation of the third device 43 is restricted. Thereby, the storage posture can be maintained. The camera unit 3 is also fixed at the angle shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the storage posture, the entire body is folded compactly, and the handy-type videophone device 1 can be formed into a thin and flat shape with little unevenness. Therefore, it is effective when carrying or when storing in a bag.

Next, the voice call attitude will be described.

  In this position, the second device 41 is held at an angle of 120 ° with respect to the first device 39 (the second device 41 indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 10B corresponds to the state). Is). On the other hand, the third device 43 is in a state parallel to the first device 39 (the third device 43 shown by a solid line in FIG. 10B corresponds to this state).

  In this posture, the rear portion of the first device 39 can be firmly gripped with one hand as the grip portion 35. In addition, the speaker unit 44 and the microphone unit 16 can be located at positions suitable for the user's ear and mouth, respectively.

  Next, the video call attitude will be described.

  There are two types of video call attitudes.

  One is a state in which the third device 43 is tilted forward by 90 ° from the above-described voice call posture (see FIG. 12). In this position, the third device 43 functions as a hood, and is effective in blocking external light from being projected onto the display unit 11 from above.

  The second is a state in which the ear pads 46a and 46b are further opened by 90 ° from the state of FIG. 12 (see FIG. 9). In this state, only the upper and lower sides of the display unit 11 can be covered, which is particularly effective when used outdoors. The sound emitted from the speaker 44 is shielded and reflected by the ear pads 45a and 45b and the first device 39, and the directivity is increased. As a result, the voice has a great advantage that it is easy for the caller to hear and hard for others to hear.

  Also, in the video call posture (FIGS. 9 and 12), the third device 43 is tilted forward, so that the center of gravity of the entire handy-type videophone device 1 moves forward, and the second device 41 is moved to the leg position. The portable videophone device 1 can be made independent on a table surface or the like as a unit. Therefore, the attitude can also be referred to as an “installation call attitude”.

  Although the videophone function can be used in the voice call posture, the video call posture shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 is effective for improving the visibility of the display unit 11.

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  13 is a perspective view of a used state, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a stored state, FIG. 15 is a schematic structural view of a hinge section, and FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory view of a camera section. The parts shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 12, the same parts as the arrows, and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

  The present embodiment is characterized in that the main body is divided into two devices, and both are foldably connected by two hinge portions, and a camera portion is provided in the hinge portions to improve portability and operability. It has.

  The handy-type videophone device 1 includes a first device 49, a second device 50, a hinge portion 51 that foldably connects the first device 49 and the second device 50, and a hinge portion 51. It mainly comprises a camera section 61 rotatably mounted on the camera and an antenna 21 mounted on the first device. In this embodiment, the hinge portion 51 serves as a connecting means for connecting the first device 49 and the second device 50.

  The first device 49 has a built-in communication device 18 (not shown) and a detachable battery 9 (not shown) on the back. On the function arrangement surface 49a formed on the front surface, the speaker unit 52 is arranged on the upper part, and the display unit 11, the transmission / reception key 12 and the end key 13 are arranged on the lower part.

  The second device 50 has a built-in main board 17 (not shown). On the function arrangement surface 50a formed on the front surface, the microphone unit 16 is arranged near an end opposite to the hinge unit 51. Further, the operation unit 14 is disposed between the microphone unit 16 and the hinge unit 51.

  The first device 49 and the second device 50 are thin and flat. The function placement surface 49a and the function placement surface 50a have substantially the same shape and size, and are folded so that the two function placement surfaces are in contact with each other, so that the entire device is in a thin and flat state. (See FIG. 14).

  The camera section 61 is attached to a connection section (note: more precisely, a position between the left and right hinge sections 51) by the hinge section 51, and interlocks with opening and closing operations of the first device 49 and the second device 50. It turns and its direction changes. The structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The camera section 61 has an optical axis X perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the camera section 61.

  The support portions 54a and 54b formed on the first device 49 are located inside the support portions 53a and 53b formed on the second device 50, and are fitted on the rotating shaft 56 provided on the support portions 53a and 53b. As a result, the first device 49 and the second device 50 are rotatably connected.

  A rotation shaft 57 is formed at the longitudinal end of the camera unit 61, and is rotatably attached to the support units 54a and 54b. A torsion spring 55a is arranged between the support part 54a and the camera part 61. The torsion spring 55a has one end attached to the camera unit 61 and the other end attached to the support unit 54a. Further, a torsion spring 55b is disposed between the support portions 53b and 54b. One end of the torsion spring 55b is attached to the support 53a. The other end is attached to the camera section 61 beyond the support section 54b. The torsion spring 55a and the torsion spring 55b are balanced.

The movement during use will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 shows a side view of the used state. When the first device 49 and the second device 50 are opened, the angular position of the camera section 61 changes due to the stress of the torsion springs 55a and 55b. In this case, since the torsion springs 55a and 55b are balanced, the camera unit 61 always moves the optical axis X to the center angle position of the angle θ between the first device 49 and the second device 50. Actuate to position. That is, since the camera unit 61 operates according to the angle θ of the device, it is easy to maintain the state in which the caller's face is captured. This is because they are often located in the direction of θ / 2.) The camera arrangement / angle maintaining structure as in this embodiment can be applied to other embodiments.

  Further, since the intersection P between the optical axis Y of the display unit 11 and the camera unit X can be adjusted in accordance with the rotation angle θ, the position of the caller with good visibility and good image can be easily adjusted. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the visibility of the display unit 11 and the shooting of the camera unit 61 can be easily adjusted. In the housed state, the apparatus has a thin and flat shape, and the whole apparatus has good storability and portability. Further, the microphone unit 16 and the speaker unit 52 are held in close proximity to the caller's ears and mouth, and the display unit 11 is firmly gripped with one hand in any of the video call positions toward the caller. can do. Further, the trouble of adjusting the angle of the camera can be reduced.

  A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 is a perspective view of the voice communication posture, FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the storage posture, FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the audio-video communication posture, and FIG. 20 is a side view showing a schematic structure. The parts and arrows shown in FIGS. 1 to 16 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the main body is divided into an apparatus having a speaker section and an apparatus having a microphone section, and the apparatus is foldably connected by a hinge section, and a camera section is provided at the end of the apparatus on the microphone side. In this way, a posture corresponding to both audio and video is taken.

  17 and 18, the handy-type videophone device 1 has a thin flat first device 58, a thin flat second device 59, and a first device 58 and a second device 59 folded. It is mainly composed of a hinge part 40 that is foldably connected, a camera part 61 that is rotatably attached to the first device 58 via the hinge part 60, and an antenna 21 that is attached to the second device 59.

  The first device 58 has a built-in main board 17 (not shown). The microphone section 16 is disposed near the end opposite to the hinge section 40 on the function arrangement surface 58a formed on the front surface. Further, a display unit 11, a transmission / reception key 12, and an end key 13 are arranged between the microphone unit 16 and the hinge unit 40. The connection between the first device 58 and the hinge portion 40 is not fixed, but is made via a connecting portion 62 of the hinge portion 40. This will be described in detail later.

  The second device 59 includes a communication device 18 (not shown) inside, and a detachable battery 9 (not shown) on the back surface. A function arrangement surface 59a is formed on the front surface, and a speaker unit 52 is arranged on the function arrangement surface 59a near an end opposite to the hinge unit 40. The operation unit 14 is disposed between the speaker unit 52 and the hinge unit 40.

  The camera section 61 has an optical axis X perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The camera unit 61 is attached to the end of the first device 58 facing the hinge unit 40 via the hinge unit 60, and is rotated so as to raise the camera unit 61 in the direction of the white arrow in FIG. Can be done. The camera section 61 has the same length in the longitudinal direction as the width of the first device 58.

  The structure of the hinge portion 40 and the connection with the first device 58 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the hinge section 40 is a connecting means for connecting the first device 58 and the second device 59.

  The hinge section 40 has a lower end of the second device 59 and a connecting section 62 as movable ends. The connecting portion 62 is provided with a connecting plate 64, and the connection with the first device 58 is performed via the connecting plate 64. That is, the first device 58 is provided with an insertion hole therein, and the two are connected by inserting the connecting plate 64 into the insertion hole. Further, the connection is not fixed, and the connection plate 64 keeps the insertion hole slidable. Therefore, the first device 58 is configured to be movable in the direction of the connecting plate 64. Further, a connection code for connecting between the first device 58 and the second device 59 passes through the connecting plate 64.

  A mode for each usage status of the present embodiment will be described.

  A state where the first device 58 is folded so as to overlap the second device 59 is referred to as a storage mode (see FIG. 18). In this storage mode, the function arrangement surface 59a is covered with the first device 58 and the camera unit 61, and the function arrangement surface 59a, the camera unit 61, and the like can be protected. Further, the device as a whole can be kept in a thin and flat state, and the storage property and the formability are good (see the solid lines in FIGS. 18 and 20). Although not described in the above description, the function disposition surface 59a and the function disposition surface 58a have substantially the same shape and size, and just overlap in the storage posture. .

In order to change from the stowed posture to the talking posture, the first device 58 is rotated by 120 ° in the direction of arrow Z1 in FIG. The talking posture is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. In this talking posture, the bent grip portion 35 is formed at the rear portion of the hinge portion 40, so that the handy-type videophone device 1 can be firmly gripped with one hand. When the speaker unit 52 is close to the caller's ear, the microphone unit 16 can be positioned forward to approach the caller's mouth, so that a good voice call posture corresponding to voice can be obtained. Can be. Further, in the present embodiment, the display unit 11 and the camera unit 61 are provided close to the microphone unit 16 and the camera unit 61 can be caused, so that the audio-video communication suitable for transmitting and receiving both audio and video is performed. You can take a posture.

  Moreover, if the display unit 11 and the camera unit 61 pull out the first device 59, the display unit 11 and the like can be moved downward within the movable distance L of the first device 59. Therefore, the display unit 11 can be adjusted to a position that is easier to see. Further, the photographing angle of the camera unit 61 can be adjusted.

  If the connecting plate 64 is previously curved, the optical axis Y of the display unit 11 can be directed upward (on the drawing) as the first device main body 53 is pulled out. It can be easier to see.

  Further, a camera unit whose optical axis coincides with the longitudinal direction may be employed. In this case, the arrangement position of the camera unit is the same, but the connection structure with the first device 58 is changed. That is, a rotation axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is provided, and the rotation axis is rotatably connected to the center of the camera unit 61.

  A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the video call posture, FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the storage posture, and FIG. In addition, the parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 20, the parts similar to the arrows, and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, the main body is divided into a plurality of devices, and each device is connected by a hinge portion to change the form, so that the main body is set on the table surface in addition to the talking posture of holding the main body with one hand. It is intended to be able to talk.

  The handy-type videophone device 1 includes a thin and flat main body 65, a camera unit 3, a hood 67, an antenna unit 21, and a battery 9 (not shown).

  The main body 65 mainly includes a thin and flat first device 68 and a second device 70. The first device 68 includes a main board 17 and a communication device 18 (not shown). The display unit 11, the speaker unit 52, and the operation unit 14 are provided at the upper front part. A power switch 33, an earphone jack 71, and a microphone jack 72 are provided on the right side.

  The second device 70 is thin and flat, and is rotatably attached to the lower end of the first device 68 via a hinge 69. The rotatable range is a range of 80 ° forward (left side in the drawing) and 120 ° backward. A transmission / reception key 12 and an end key 13 are arranged at the center of the front of the second device 70, and a microphone section 16 is provided below the key. A detachable battery 9 is attached to the back.

  The hood 67 is rotatably attached to the upper front part of the main body 65 via the hinge 66. The hood 67 has a size and shape sufficient to cover the display unit 11 and the speaker unit 52 in the folded state, and to block external light incident on the display unit 11 in the open state. are doing. The hinge section 66 has the same rotation axis as the hinge section 32 of the camera section 3, but can rotate independently of each other.

  The hood 67 can be fixed at an arbitrary angle position within a range of up to 90 ° with respect to the first device 68.

  The camera section 3 is rotatably attached to the side surface of the main body 65 via the hinge section 32. In the present embodiment, the camera unit 3 and the hood 67 are provided independently, but the camera unit 3 may be attached to the hood 67 so that both are linked.

  The antenna unit 21 is attached to the upper surface of the rear surface of the main body 65.

  The battery 9 (not shown) is detachably attached to a lower rear portion of the main body 65.

  The form for each use situation will be described.

FIG. 22 shows the storage posture. In this position, the hood 67 is completely closed to cover the display unit 11 and the speaker unit 52. Also, the second device 70 is oriented in the same direction as the first device 68. In this position, the display unit 11 and the speaker unit 52 can be protected. In addition, since the main body 65 can be formed into a thin, flat, vertically long shape, the storage and portability are high. Note that even in this storage posture, if only a separate earphone and microphone are connected to the earphone jack 71 and the microphone jack 72, a voice-only call is possible.

  Next, in order to shift from the storage position to the video communication position, the second device 70 is rotated forward and the hood 67 is opened. In this video communication posture, the bent grip portion 35 is formed at the rear of the hinge portion 66, so that the handy-type videophone device 1 can be firmly gripped with one hand. Further, since the hood 67 is located above the display unit 11, the visibility of the display unit 11 can be improved. For conversations that you do not want others to hear, you can use a separate earphone and microphone.

  Further, in the video call posture, the handy-type videophone device 1 can be made independent using the second device 70 as a leg. In this position, the heavy battery 9 is on the lower rear side, and is located on the front of the camera unit 3 and the hood 67, so that the battery 9 is stable. In this sense, the video call attitude can also be referred to as “installed call attitude”. In addition, if the second device 70 is rotated rearward to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 21, it is possible to obtain a more stable installation conversation posture. In this case, a separate earphone and microphone are used for the call. As described above, in the present embodiment, various communication postures can be taken. It should be noted that, in the other embodiments described above, if the microphone can be bent rearward (via the hinge 40) by the leading second device 41, the microphone can be similarly placed in the installation posture. You may.

It is a front perspective view showing the voice communication posture of the first example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating a voice communication posture according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a development view of an internal function part. FIG. 3 is a schematic layout diagram of an internal function unit. It is a fragmentary sectional view of an ear pad part. It is a right view which shows the rotation operation of a camera part. It is a perspective view which shows a video communication attitude | position. It is a principal three side view which shows a voice communication attitude | position. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a video communication attitude according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is the partial front view and side view which show the operation state of the example. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a storage posture of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a video communication posture of the embodiment. FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a video communication posture according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a storage posture of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a camera unit holding mechanism and a hinge unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an angular position of a camera unit. FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a voice communication posture according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a storage posture of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a video communication posture of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation state of the embodiment. FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a video communication posture according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a storage posture of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation state of the embodiment.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Handy type video telephone apparatus, 2 ... Main body, 3 ... Camera part, 4 ... Ear pad part, 5 ... Connection cord, 6 ... Speaker part, 9 ... Battery, 11 ... Display part, 14 ... Input part, 16 ... Microphone , 17 ... main board, 18 ... communication device, 19 ... cord reel section, 20 ... operation board, 35 ... grip section, 38 ... body, 39 ... first apparatus, 39a ... function arrangement surface, 40 ... hinge section, 41 second device, 41a function arrangement surface, 42 hinge part, 43 third device, 43a function arrangement surface, 44 speaker unit, 46a, 46b ear pad unit, 49 first device Reference numeral 50, second device, 51, hinge portion, 52, speaker portion, 58, first device, 59, second device, 60, hinge portion, 61, camera portion, 65, main body, 67, hood, 68 first device, 69 hinge part, 70 The second device

Claims (8)

  A signal processing unit for performing communication by voice and / or image, a speaker unit for outputting voice, a microphone unit for inputting voice, a display unit for outputting image, and a display unit for outputting image. In a videophone device including a camera unit for inputting and an operation unit for inputting an operation command to the signal processing unit, the display unit includes a speaker unit and a microphone unit. A videophone device, which is arranged between the videophone devices.   The videophone device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit, the speaker unit, and the microphone unit are arranged in the same housing.   A signal processing unit for performing communication by voice and / or image, a speaker unit for outputting voice, a microphone unit for inputting voice, a display unit for outputting image, and a display unit for outputting image. In a videophone device including a camera unit for inputting and an operation unit for inputting an operation command to the signal processing means, a speaker for holding the speaker unit in a detachable state. A videophone device having a holding means.   A signal processing unit for performing communication by voice and / or image, a speaker unit for outputting voice, a microphone unit for inputting voice, a display unit for outputting image, and a display unit for outputting image. In a videophone device including a camera unit for inputting an operation command and an operation unit for inputting an operation command to the signal processing unit, a first housing storing the microphone unit; A videophone device comprising: a second housing storing a power unit; and connecting means for connecting the first housing and the second housing.   The videophone device according to claim 4, wherein the connection is such that an angle between the first housing and the second housing can be changed.   5. The videophone device according to claim 4, further comprising a camera unit holding unit that holds the camera unit adjacent to the first housing.   7. The videophone device according to claim 6, wherein the camera holding means holds the camera unit at a connecting portion between the first housing and the second housing. A signal processing unit for performing communication by voice and / or image, a speaker unit for outputting voice, a microphone unit for inputting voice, a display unit for outputting image, and a display unit for outputting image. In a videophone device including a camera unit for inputting an operation command and an operation unit for inputting an operation command to the signal processing unit, a first housing storing the microphone unit; A second housing storing the display unit, a third housing storing the display unit, first connecting means for connecting the first housing and the third housing, A videophone device comprising: a second housing and second connecting means for connecting the third housing to the third housing.

Images