JP2004336092A - Folding portable communication apparatus with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a folding portable communication apparatus with a camera having enhanced user-friendliness as a camera. <P>SOLUTION: An upper side unit 200 with a display section is hinged to a lower side unit 100 in an openable / closable and turnable manner, a camera 110 is provided in a rear side of the lower side unit 100, and a sub operation section 104 usable for a camera shutter is provided in a side face. The sub operation section 104 usable for the camera shutter is located above the display section 202 in a state that the display section 202 of the upper side unit 200 is directed outwardly and closed. A user can hold the portable communication apparatus in this state in the same manner as an ordinary camera. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a foldable mobile communication device represented by a mobile phone, and more particularly to a foldable mobile communication device with a camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, mobile phones equipped with various functions such as an Internet browser and a camera have appeared, and have continued to evolve as mobile information communication terminals that are more than just telephones. In particular, camera-equipped mobile phones are becoming popular, especially among young people, because they can not only take pictures at any time, but also can easily transmit the taken pictures.
[0003]
Many camera-equipped mobile phones adopt a folding structure in order to increase the area of the display unit. Many foldable mobile phones have a structure in which two housings are opened during a call to expose a display and keys, but recently, a foldable structure in which a display can be directed outward even when closed is used. Proposed.
[0004]
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-320463 (Patent Document 1), a ridge portion having a display device is rotatably connected to a housing main body in two axial directions and closed with the display device facing outward. A portable terminal device with a camera that can perform the operation is disclosed (see FIG. 2). In this conventional example, a camera is mounted on the rear surface or side surface of the housing body, and the external subject and the photographer can be monitored by rotating the ridge portion (see FIGS. 1 and 4). In particular, when a camera is mounted on the back, if the display device is closed with the display device facing outward (see FIG. 2A), a captured image can be displayed on the display device when the camera is pointed at an external subject, and the captured image can be monitored. It is possible to take a picture while performing the shooting (paragraph number 0032).
[0005]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-300237 (Patent Document 2) discloses an openable / closable portable device provided with a sub-display on the back surface in addition to a main display. In this conventional example, a display method is adopted in which, when image data captured by a camera is displayed on a sub-display, the image is turned upside down to make it easier to see, and when the image is not being displayed during photography, the display is returned to a normal display.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-320463 A (paragraph number 0032, FIG. 2A)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2002-158758 (paragraph numbers 0043 and 0047, FIGS. 3 and 4).
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the foldable portable terminal device with a camera described in Patent Literature 1, when the camera is pointed at an external subject as described above, a captured image viewed from the camera can be displayed on the display device. It is not out of the range of "mobile phones". For this reason, it is not always easy for the user to handle in terms of usability as a camera, that is, ease of holding, operation of buttons and the like, and shutter position.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a foldable portable communication device with a camera that improves the usability as a camera.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A foldable portable communication device with a camera according to the present invention includes a first housing having a display unit, a second housing having an operation unit on one main surface, and opening and closing the first housing and the second housing. A foldable portable communication device with a camera having a hinge portion rotatably and rotatably connected, wherein the display portion is exposed to the outside and is parallel to the display portion when the first and second housings are closed. A camera unit is provided on the other main surface of the second housing, and a sub-operation unit for operating the camera unit is provided on at least one side surface of the first housing and the second housing. It is characterized by having. Preferably, the operation unit has a shutter function of the camera unit.
[0010]
According to the present invention, by changing the orientation of the display unit of the first housing, it is possible to change the form so that the sub-operation unit that can be used as a camera shutter is positioned above the display unit. The camera can be held like a camera, and operability and usability are greatly improved.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a foldable mobile communication device with a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using a mobile phone as an example.
[0012]
FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining an example of opening / closing and rotating operations of a foldable mobile phone with a camera according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a plan view of the mobile phone in a closed state with a display unit inside, and FIG. ) Is a plan view with the upper unit open, (c) a rear view from the camera side in a closed state with the display unit outside, and (d) a closed state with the display unit outside. It is the top view seen from the display part side.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the foldable mobile phone 500 with a camera mainly includes a lower unit 100, an upper unit 200, and a biaxial hinge 300 connecting these units. The hinge unit 300 can move the upper unit 200 in the opening / closing direction and the rotating direction with respect to the lower unit 100 as described later.
[0014]
The lower unit 100 and the upper unit 200 have a predetermined thickness, and have a flat oval shape having substantially the same size. The lower unit 100 is provided with a key operation unit 102 including a numeric keypad and a microphone 103 on a main plane 100a.
[0015]
Also, on the side surface of the lower unit 100, characters and images displayed on the display unit 202 are scrolled by a page during a normal operation such as data communication, and a sub-operation such as a shutter operation can be performed during a camera function operation. A unit 104 (here, two keys 104a and 104b) is provided. As the sub-operation unit 104, a side position that has little effect on the characteristics of an antenna (not shown) is appropriately selected.
[0016]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, a camera 110 and a camera light source (here, flash) 111 are provided on the back surface 100b of the lower unit 100. It is desirable that the camera 110 be located at the center of the rear surface 100b of the lower unit 100 as much as possible. The function of the camera 110 is not limited to a still image / moving image.
[0017]
On the main plane 200a of the upper unit 200, a substantially rectangular display section 202 is vertically arranged, and a speaker 203 and a sub-operation key 207 are provided at the end thereof. Note that a small sub-display unit 206 is provided on the back of the upper unit 200.
[0018]
In the closed state shown in FIG. 1A, the main planes 100a and 200a of the lower unit 100 and the upper unit 200 respectively overlap, and the key operation unit 102 and the display unit 202 are protected by both units.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1B, when the upper unit 200 is opened in the direction of arrow D1, a key operation unit 102, a display unit 202, a microphone 103, and a speaker 203 appear, and key operations such as dialing and data input and a telephone call are performed. Will be possible.
[0020]
By rotating the upper unit 200 in the direction of arrow D2 from the open state shown in FIG. 1B, the upper unit 200 is turned outward with the display unit 202 facing outward as shown in FIG. 1D. Can be overlaid. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, the opening surface of the camera 110 provided on the back surface 100b of the lower unit 100 and the display surface of the display unit 202 are parallel to each other, and A display in the same direction as the line of sight can be obtained, and the camera becomes very easy to use. At this time, it is desirable that the line of sight of the camera 110 and the center of the screen of the display unit 202 be as close as possible so that the user's line of sight of the camera 110 and the display screen of the display unit 202 intuitively match as much as possible.
[0021]
FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of a holding form when the camera is used as a camera in a closed state with the display unit as illustrated in FIG. 1D outside, and FIG. It is a rear view showing the state where it opened by rotating in the direction of arrow D2 from the closed state shown in a).
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2A, when the camera function is used, the mobile phone 500 according to the present embodiment displays an image captured by the camera 110 disposed on the back surface 100 b of the lower unit 100 on the display unit of the upper unit 200. 202.
[0023]
Further, in this state, as shown in FIG. 2A, the sub-operation unit 104 provided on the side surface of the lower unit 100 comes to be positioned on the horizontal display unit 202. Therefore, the user can hold the mobile phone 500 with both hands as if holding a normal camera, and furthermore, by making the sub-operation unit 104 function as a camera shutter, the user's finger can be used as a key ( Here, the shutter operation can be performed by placing it on the rightmost key 104a). Since this holding method is the same as holding an ordinary camera, camera shake is small, and even a user who is not used to the mobile phone can easily operate the camera.
[0024]
Further, if the camera is configured as shown in FIG. 2B, since the camera 110 and the display unit 202 face the same direction, it is possible to photograph the photographer himself while monitoring the photographing screen. At this time, the image displayed on the display unit 202 can be inverted mirror display by an internal process described later. Also in this case, by making the sub-operation unit 104 function as a camera shutter, usability as a camera is improved, and operation errors such as camera shake can be prevented.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the sub operation unit 104 is provided on the side surface of the lower unit 100 and is also used as a page scroll key and a shutter key, but similarly, a dedicated shutter key may be provided on the side surface of the upper unit 200. . By using the shutter exclusively, a shutter feeling (click feeling, etc.) similar to that of a normal camera can be obtained. Of course, the sub-operation unit 104 can be provided on both the side surface of the lower unit 100 and the side surface of the upper unit 200.
[0026]
Next, an example of a biaxial hinge portion 300 that enables such opening / closing and rotation operations will be briefly described. The structure and operation of the biaxial hinge portion 300 exemplified here are described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-303959 filed on Sep. 28, 2001 by the present applicant.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hinge unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3, the base plate 304 is fixed to the lower unit 100. At the center of the base plate 304, a rotating shaft 301 is provided vertically via a rotating torque generating unit (not shown). The rotation shaft 301 is rotatably supported in the direction of arrow D2. An opening / closing shaft 302 extending in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the rotating shaft 301 is supported by the rotating shaft 301 so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow D1. L-shaped brackets 303 are provided at both ends of the opening / closing shaft 302, and these are fixed to the upper unit 200. Further, the opening / closing shaft 302 is provided with opening / closing torque generating sections 305, 306 and 308, and generates opening / closing torque in the direction of arrow D1. With such a hinge portion 300, opening and closing and rotating operations as shown in FIG. 1 are possible.
[0028]
4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an example of a posture detection mechanism of the upper unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a layout diagram of a magnetic sensor provided in the lower unit 100, and FIG. FIG.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 4A, magnetic sensors 112 a and 112 b are arranged on the lower unit 100 around the hinge unit 300 at predetermined intervals on the circumference, and further near the microphone 103 of the lower unit 100. A magnetic sensor 112c is provided. Here, Hall elements are used as the magnetic sensors 112a to 112c. This is because the Hall element can simultaneously detect not only the presence or absence of a magnetic field but also the direction of the magnetic field.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 4B, a magnet 204a is embedded in the upper unit 200 at a position along an arc corresponding to the magnetic sensors 112a and 112b of the lower unit 100, and the S pole of the magnet 204a has a rear surface. Side and the N pole face the display unit 202 side, respectively. Further, the upper unit 200 is provided with a magnet 204b at a position corresponding to the magnetic sensor 112c of the lower unit 100.
[0031]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the relative positions of the sensor and the magnet when the upper unit 200 rotates in the direction of arrow D2. In FIG. 5, positions Lo1 and Lo4 indicate respective positions of the magnets 204a and 204b in the closed state shown in FIG. 1A. In this case, all of the magnetic sensors 112a to 112c detect the magnetic field, and both the magnetic sensors 112a and 112b detect the N pole. This makes it possible to detect that the upper unit 200 is closed with the display unit 202 inside.
[0032]
When the upper unit 200 is rotated in the direction of arrow D2 from this closed state, the magnet 204a moves to, for example, a position Lo2. In this case, the magnetic sensor 112b still detects the N-pole magnetic field, but all the other magnetic sensors 112a and 112c no longer detect the magnetic field. Thus, it is possible to detect that the upper unit 200 has rotated about 90 ° to the left.
[0033]
When the upper unit 200 is opened from the closed state of FIG. 1A as shown in FIG. 1B, the magnet 204b moves away from the magnetic sensor 112c, and the magnet 204a moves to the position Lo3. Therefore, all of the magnetic sensors 112a to 112c stop detecting the magnetic field. This makes it possible to detect that the upper unit 200 is open.
[0034]
Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, when the display unit 202 is closed outward, the upper unit 200 has its upper limit inverted, so that both the magnetic sensors 112a and 112b have S poles. The magnetic sensor 112c does not detect the magnetic field because the magnet 204b is on the opposite side. This makes it possible to detect that the upper unit 200 closes the display unit 202 with the outside facing outward.
[0035]
By monitoring the outputs of the magnetic sensors 112a to 112c in this manner, the attitude of the upper unit 200 with respect to the lower unit 100 can be determined. The circuit for posture determination is provided inside the mobile phone 500 as described below.
[0036]
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an internal electric circuit of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0037]
6, the lower unit 100 includes the above-described components, that is, a main operation unit 102, a sub-operation unit 104 for shutter / key, a camera 110, a flash 111 serving as a camera light source, and magnetic sensors 112a to 112a. In addition to the circuit block 112c, it has the following circuit block.
[0038]
Each output of the magnetic sensors 112a to 112c is input to the posture detection unit 113, and the posture detection unit 113 detects the relative position (posture) of the upper unit 200 with respect to the lower unit 100 as described above (for example, FIG. 1). The detected attitude is notified to the control unit 117 of the mobile phone, and the mode and function of the mobile phone can be changed in accordance with the attitude of the upper unit 200 (details will be described later). The control unit 117 performs overall control such as incoming call control, communication control, and camera function control of a mobile phone, and is specifically a program control processor such as a CPU.
[0039]
The main display unit 202 and the sub-display unit 206 of the upper unit 200 are connected to the display control unit 114. The display control unit 114 controls the display of the main display unit 202 and the sub-display unit 206 under the control of the control unit 117. Control. Further, the camera 110 and the flash 111 are connected to a camera control unit 115, and the camera control unit 115 controls the camera 110 and the flash 111 under the control of the control unit 117.
[0040]
The main operation unit 102 and the shutter / key sub operation unit 104 of the lower unit 100 and the sub operation unit 207 of the upper unit 200 are connected to the key control unit 116, and the functions of the operation keys are controlled according to the control of the control unit 117. Assignment changes can be made. For example, the shutter / key sub-operation unit 104 in the present embodiment functions as a camera operation key for a shutter or the like in the camera mode, and functions as a scroll key in a normal communication mode.
[0041]
In addition, the lower unit 100 is also provided with a circuit for a mobile phone communication system and a circuit for an incoming call notification system, but the description is omitted here.
[0042]
As described above, the control unit 117 can control the operation mode and the camera function of the mobile phone according to the posture of the upper unit 200 detected by the posture detection unit 113. Hereinafter, this operation control will be described.
[0043]
FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing a first example of operation control of the foldable mobile phone with a camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a flowchart showing a second example.
[0044]
In the operation control illustrated in FIG. 7A, only when the posture detection unit 113 detects the camera configuration illustrated in FIG. 2A, that is, a state in which the display unit 202 and the camera 110 are closed outward and facing each other, The control unit 117 makes the camera 110 and the flash 111 available.
[0045]
Specifically, the control unit 117 determines whether or not the photographing mode is set (step S101). If the photographing mode is set (Yes in step S101), the control unit 117 further outputs a detection signal of the posture detecting unit 113. A check is made to determine whether the camera 110 and the display unit 202 are exposed on the opposite surface (in the opposite direction), that is, whether or not the camera has the camera configuration shown in FIG. 2A (step S102).
[0046]
In the case of the camera mode shown in FIG. 2A (Yes in step S102), the control unit 117 enables the camera function (step S103). When the shooting mode is not set (No in step S101) or when the camera is not in the camera mode shown in FIG. 2A (No in step S102), the control unit 117 disables all or a part of the camera functions (step S102). S104).
[0047]
When the camera function is enabled, all of the camera functions can be enabled. However, some functions (arbitrary functions such as imaging, zooming, and flashing) are enabled according to the posture of the upper unit 200. You can also
[0048]
For example, when the camera 110 has a zoom function, the zoom function may be enabled only when the camera configuration shown in FIG. 2A is detected. As described above, since the camera configuration shown in FIG. 2A is easy to hold and can take a position suitable for photographing, it is possible to effectively prevent a photographing error due to camera shake or the like that appears remarkably when using the zoom function.
[0049]
In the operation control illustrated in FIG. 7B, when the posture detection unit 113 detects the camera configuration illustrated in FIG. 2B, that is, the state in which the display unit 202 and the camera 110 are opened in the same direction, The control unit 117 changes the display mode of the image captured by the camera 110. For example, since the posture shown in FIG. 2B can photograph the photographer himself, it is convenient to set the display mode to reverse mirror display.
[0050]
Specifically, the control unit 117 determines whether or not the shooting mode is set (step S201). If the shooting mode is set (Yes in step S201), the control unit 117 further outputs a detection signal of the posture detection unit 113. A check is made to determine whether the camera 110 and the display unit 202 are exposed on the same surface (in the same direction), that is, whether the camera is in the camera configuration shown in FIG. 2B (step S202).
[0051]
In the case of the camera mode shown in FIG. 2B (Yes in step S202), the control unit 117 controls the camera control unit 115 and the display control unit 114 to set the imaging display to the inverted mirror display (step S203). If the camera type is not the one shown in FIG. 2B (No in step S202), the control unit 117 sets the imaging display to the normal viewfinder display (step S204). If the shooting mode has not been set (No in step S201), the normal display mode is set (step S205).
[0052]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a third example of operation control of the foldable mobile phone with a camera according to the present invention. In the operation control illustrated in FIG. 8, the camera function is automatically activated when the posture detection unit 113 detects the camera configuration illustrated in FIG. 2A, that is, a state in which the display unit 202 and the camera 110 are closed outward and facing each other. The camera function is automatically terminated when the camera is deactivated from the camera configuration shown in FIG.
[0053]
First, the control unit 117 checks the detection signal of the posture detection unit 113 to determine whether the relative positional relationship between the upper unit 200 and the lower unit 100 has changed (step S301). When the position change is detected (Yes in step S301), the control unit 117 further checks whether the camera 110 and the display unit 202 are exposed on the opposite surface (in the opposite direction), that is, the camera configuration shown in FIG. Is determined (step S302). In the case of the camera mode shown in FIG. 2A (Yes in step S302), the control unit 117 automatically activates the camera function (step S303).
[0054]
With the camera function activated, the control unit 117 checks the detection signal of the posture detection unit 113 and determines whether or not the relative positional relationship between the upper unit 200 and the lower unit 100 has changed (step S304). . When the position change is detected (Yes in step S304), the control unit 117 automatically ends the camera function (step S305). For example, when the camera is opened from the camera configuration shown in FIG. 2A, the camera function automatically ends.
[0055]
As described above, the camera function can be quickly activated by a simple operation of displacing the mobile phone to a position suitable for imaging as shown in FIG. 2A, and an imaging operation with few errors can be performed. In addition, by performing a simple operation such as opening the upper unit 200 while the camera function is activated, the camera function can be switched to another function, and the operation can be performed more smoothly.
[0056]
In the above-described embodiment, the camera 110 and the flash 111 are provided on the back surface 100b of the lower unit 100, respectively. However, the camera 110 and / or the flash 111 may be integrally provided on a unit detachable from the back surface 100b. Good. As such a detachable unit, there is a battery unit. By making a camera and / or a light source for the camera suitable for imaging detachable together with the battery unit, it is possible to further widen the imaging range.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by changing the orientation of the display unit of the upper unit, the mode is changed so that the sub-operation unit that can be used as a camera shutter is located above the display unit. And the user can hold it like holding a regular camera. For this reason, the operability is greatly improved, it is easy to adapt to a user who is used to a normal camera, and photographing errors such as camera shake can be prevented beforehand.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining an example of opening and closing and rotating operations of a foldable mobile phone with a camera according to the present invention, wherein FIG. (b) is a plan view with the upper unit opened, (c) is a rear view seen from the camera side with the display unit outside and closed, and (d) is a closed state with the display unit outside. 5 is a plan view as viewed from the display unit side.
FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of a holding form when the camera is used as a camera in a closed state with the display unit illustrated in FIG. 1D facing outside, and FIG. It is a rear view which shows the state opened by rotating in the direction of arrow D2 from the closed state shown to Fig.1 (a).
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hinge unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an example of a posture detection mechanism of an upper unit according to the present embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A is a layout diagram of a magnetic sensor provided in a lower unit 100, and FIG. It is a layout diagram of the provided magnet.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative positions of a sensor and a magnet when the upper unit 200 rotates in the direction of arrow D2.
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an internal electric circuit of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
7A is a flowchart illustrating a first example of operation control of the foldable mobile phone with a camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a flowchart illustrating a second example.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a third example of operation control of the foldable mobile phone with a camera according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Lower unit 102 Key operation unit 103 Microphones 104a, 104b Sub operation unit 110 Camera 111 Flash 200 Upper unit 202 Display unit 203 Speaker 300 Hinge unit

Claims (8)

A first housing having a display portion, a second housing having an operation portion on one main surface, and a hinge portion connecting the first housing and the second housing so as to be openable and rotatable. In a foldable portable communication device with a camera having
A camera unit is provided on another main surface of the second housing parallel to the display unit when the display unit is exposed to the outside and the first and second housings are closed, and the first housing is provided. A foldable portable communication device with a camera, wherein a sub-operation unit for operating the camera unit is provided on at least one side surface of the body and the second housing. The foldable portable communication device with a camera according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit has a shutter function of the camera unit. The foldable portable communication device with a camera according to claim 1, wherein the display unit functions as a finder of the camera unit when the camera unit is used. Detecting means for detecting a relative positional relationship between the first housing and the second housing;
A control unit that enables a camera function when the display unit and the camera unit are both exposed to the outside and the closed state is detected by the detection unit,
The foldable portable communication device with a camera according to claim 1, further comprising: The foldable portable device with a camera according to claim 4, wherein the camera unit has a zoom function, and the control unit activates the zoom function when the closed state is detected by the detection unit. Communication device. Detecting means for detecting a relative positional relationship between the first housing and the second housing;
Control means for controlling activation and termination of a camera function based on the relative positional relationship detected by the detection means;
The foldable portable communication device with a camera according to claim 1, further comprising: The foldable portable communication device with a camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera unit is detachable from the second housing. Detecting means for detecting a relative positional relationship between the first housing and the second housing;
When the detection unit detects that the display unit and the camera unit are exposed and opened in the same direction, the control unit switches a display screen of the display unit to a mirror display.
The foldable portable communication device with a camera according to claim 3, further comprising:

Images