JP2005055714A - Portable terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal device which allows photographing in a wide range of optical magnifications, including telephoto and wide angle or close-up, and which has the various mechanisms and functions of ordinary electronic cameras while keeping the small size. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal device composed of at least two housings which can be overlaid one with the other includes a first imaging optical means disposed in one of the housings, and a second imaging optical means disposed in the other. A single imaging device is constituted by integrating the first and second imaging optical means when the housings are overlaid one with the other, thereby increasing the freedom of the direction of the thickness of the imaging device and, accordingly, allowing necessary optical mechanisms and functions to be mounted in the device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone and a mobile data processing device, and more particularly to a mobile terminal device including an imaging unit such as a camera unit.

  Portable terminal devices that have an imaging function by storing a camera unit and can store electronic data of captured images are widely used. A portable terminal device equipped with such a camera unit can directly transmit captured image data to the outside using a communication function of the portable terminal device itself.

  For this reason, mobile terminal devices equipped with camera units can be used to shoot a photographer's own face, such as a videophone, in addition to shooting landscapes, people, etc. as with normal film cameras and digital cameras. For example, it can be transmitted to the outside on the spot, or a product sample, a drawing or a document can be photographed at a meeting place at a company business trip, and an image can be transmitted to a personal computer or the like. For this reason, the camera unit provided in the mobile terminal device is also strongly required to have functions such as telephoto shooting, wide-angle shooting, close-up shooting, and zoom shooting.

  On the other hand, in the camera unit provided in the conventional portable terminal device, a digital zoom function (imaging magnification adjustment by electrical processing of image data) is supported as a method for changing the imaging magnification. Is inevitable.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-262164 provides a zoom changing unit that performs a zoom adjustment operation based on the correlation between the rotation position of the camera and the zoom magnification, so that a face such as a use form as a videophone can be used. And a method that enables photographing with a wide range of magnifications from close-up of drawings and documents to telephoto shooting of landscapes and people, and wide-angle shooting (Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-262164 A

  However, although the mobile phone disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a lens configuration capable of telephoto, wide-angle, or close-up imaging, the structure is more complicated than that of a pan-focus (fixed focus) lens configuration. I have to make it. For this reason, there existed a problem that the designability and portability as a mobile telephone will be impaired because a camera unit part enlarges or an unevenness | corrugation arises in the external shape of a housing | casing.

  In such a mobile phone, since many mechanical moving parts are used to construct the image device, the cam pin of the movable lens frame may be detached from the cam groove at the time of impact, and the impact resistance is There was a problem. In addition, since many of these movable parts are components of the optical system, even a slight deformation of the cam pins, lens support parts, etc. will cause a significant problem in imaging performance.

  In addition, the camera unit provided in a conventional mobile phone does not include an aperture device, a mechanical shutter, an optical zoom mechanism, an autofocus mechanism, or the like that is provided in a digital still camera. A shutter, a digital zoom, etc. are employed.

  In the electronic shutter, since the light incident on the image element cannot be blocked during the charge transfer of the image sensor, smearing occurs in the captured image. Further, in the light amount adjustment range by the electronic shutter, it is difficult to cover the shooting conditions from a high-brightness shooting environment in fine weather to a low-brightness shooting environment in the evening, and this causes a reduction in image quality. Further, in the method of changing the imaging magnification by digital zoom, the image quality decreases as the magnification becomes higher. The magnification change to the wide angle side cannot be performed at a magnification higher than the setting of the imaging lens. In addition, since the pan focus (fixed focus) is from a distant view, the distance that can be photographed on the close side becomes long, and a focus blur or the like occurs during close-up photography.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and enables photographing with a wide range of optical magnifications ranging from telephoto, wide-angle, and close-up without impairing the portability of a thin portable terminal device. In addition, an object is to provide a portable terminal device having various optical mechanisms and functions included in a normal electronic camera.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a mobile terminal device including at least two casings that can be overlapped with each other, and a first imaging optical unit disposed in one of the casings. And second imaging optical means disposed in another one of the casings, and when the casings are overlaid, the first imaging optical means and the second imaging optical means are It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable terminal device that is integrated to form a single imaging device.

  Thus, in this portable terminal device, when a plurality of casings are overlaid, a plurality of imaging optical means are combined and integrated, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the thickness direction. Can be equipped with functions.

  Here, the first imaging optical unit is configured to include a photoelectric conversion element that converts light into an electrical signal, and the second imaging optical unit performs imaging for changing the imaging magnification fixedly. Configure the optical system. The second imaging optical unit may include a zoom unit that continuously changes the imaging magnification.

  Furthermore, the second imaging optical means can include an automatic or manual focus adjustment means. Further, the second imaging optical unit can include a light amount adjusting unit. Here, the light amount adjusting means is a shutter that is opened and closed by a driving means.

  The reason why it was possible to provide the various optical mechanisms as described above without increasing the size of the case was because the degree of freedom in the thickness direction could be increased by overlapping multiple cases. is there.

  In the portable terminal device, when the casings are overlapped, the two casings are maintained so that the first imaging optical unit and the second imaging optical unit are pressed against each other. A pressing means for pressing the body is provided. As a result, the mutual physical positional relationship is ensured so that the two optical couplings are not displaced or blurred.

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal device configured of at least two casings that can be overlapped with each other, and a first imaging optical means disposed in one of the casings and another one of the casings. The first imaging optical means and the second imaging optical means are integrated to form a single imaging device when the second imaging optical means arranged in one and the casing are overlapped with each other. As a result, the degree of freedom in the thickness direction of the imaging device is increased, and the necessary optical mechanism and function can be provided accordingly.

  Accordingly, the present invention is equipped with a means for changing the imaging magnification such as telephoto, wide-angle, close-up, etc., a focus adjustment mechanism, a light amount adjustment mechanism, a mechanical shutter mechanism, etc. in a portable terminal device without increasing the size of the device. Has been realized.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments in which a mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied to a mobile phone will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a mobile terminal device according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, in the mobile terminal device of the present embodiment, the first imaging optical unit 1 that finally captures an object uses an imaging lens 12 and an optical image formed by the imaging lens as an electrical video signal. The imaging device 11 (FIG. 2) to convert is comprised. The image pickup device 11 is usually composed of a CCD (charge coupled device) or a CMOS device. The portable terminal device further includes a liquid crystal display device 2 capable of displaying various device operation screens and captured images converted into electronic signals on the image sensor 11. The first imaging optical means 1 and the liquid crystal display means 2 are housed in a casing A (3) which is one (upper half) casing of the main body.

  On the other hand, a housing B (4), which is the other (lower half) housing of the main body, has a plurality of input keys and operation buttons 7 for operating the apparatus, a change in photographing magnification, automatic or manual operation, etc. Second imaging optical means 5 used for focus adjustment, light amount adjustment, and the like, and a fitting portion 6 that foldably engages the housing A (3) and the housing B (4) are provided.

  The first imaging optical means 1 can be arranged at an arbitrary position of the casing A (3). For example, it can be arranged at the left end on the left side of the casing A (3).

  As long as the liquid crystal display device is a thin type display device, it can be configured using other types of display devices. For example, a thin display means such as a plasma display device or an organic EL display device is used. Is also possible.

  The second imaging optical means 5 may be an optical member or an optical device that enables changing the photographing magnification, automatic or manual focus adjustment, light amount adjustment, and the like. The second imaging optical means 5 has a conventional ND filter having a dimming effect and various filters having a picture-like shooting effect (for example, a cross-cut filter) separately from the purpose of improving the shooting function. All optical filters used in single lens reflex cameras can also be used.

  By the way, this 2nd imaging optical means 5 can be comprised so that attachment or detachment is possible with respect to housing | casing B (4).

  As long as the second imaging optical means 5 is disposed so as to face each other in a state where the casing A (3) and the casing B (4) are closed, the second imaging optical means 5 is placed at an arbitrary position of the casing B (4). For example, it is also possible to arrange at the left end on the left side of the housing B (4).

  Hereafter, each component which the portable terminal device of a present Example has is demonstrated.

  The first imaging optical means 1 is provided with an imaging lens for imaging a subject on the surface side, and a photoelectric conversion element for converting light imaged by the imaging lens into an electrical signal on the back side. ing. The imaging lens has optical characteristics that allow normal shooting or telephoto shooting of landscapes and people.

  The liquid crystal display device 2 is a display device that displays various operation screens, images taken by the first imaging optical means 1, images received by a receiving unit built in the apparatus body, and the like. It is also possible to display operation using operation keys provided on the upper surface of the housing B (4) and input data using data input keys.

  In particular, the liquid crystal display device 2 plays a role of a monitor of a captured image when displaying a captured image at the time of shooting, and the user can take a picture while viewing the captured image displayed on the monitor. .

  The casing A (3) is a casing in the upper half of the main body. In this casing, an antenna 10 and a speaker 9 are provided in addition to the first imaging optical means 1 and the liquid crystal display device 2. The casing B (4) is a casing in the lower half of the main body. In this casing, in addition to the second imaging optical means 5, an input means 7 for operation and data input and a microphone 8 are arranged. ing.

  The second imaging optical means 5 is mainly used for changing the imaging magnification, automatic or manual focus adjustment, light amount adjustment, and the like, but such imaging is performed by the second imaging optical means 5 alone. Instead, as will be described in detail later, the first imaging optical means 1 is optically integrated.

  The fitting part 6 has a function of engaging the casing A (3) and the casing B (4) so as to be foldable. The fitting portion 6 includes a bearing portion in which the upper end portion of the housing B (4) and the lower half of the housing A (3) are combined in a nested manner, and a rotating shaft inserted into the bearing portion. Composed. The housing A (3) and the housing B (4) can be folded by the function of the fitting portion 6 until the inner surfaces of the housing A (3) and the housing B (4) overlap each other, and can be opened to an angle of approximately 180 degrees. Is possible.

  The fitting portion is provided with a pressing means (not shown) such as a spring that maintains the casing A (3) and the casing B (4) pressed against each other with a predetermined pressure when folded. . Thereby, the physical positional relationship between the two image pickup optical means is firmly secured so that the optical coupling between the first image pickup optical means and the second image pickup optical means does not shift or blur.

  The portable terminal device according to the present invention is folded (superposed) so that two optical means are optically coupled and integrated to form one imaging device. The image pickup element 11 (FIG. 2) constituting the first image pickup optical means 1 is an element for converting the image pickup of the image pickup lens into a video signal, and can be constituted by a CCD (charge coupled device) or a CMOS.

  In the change of the photographing magnification, the automatic or manual focus adjustment, the light amount adjustment, etc., the first imaging optical means provided in the casing A (3) and the second imaging optical means provided in the casing B (4). The imaging optical means 5 is integrated, and the casing A (3) and the casing B (4) are used in a folded state (closed state) until the inner surfaces overlap each other by the function of the fitting portion 6. Is possible. At this time, the second imaging optical means 5 is positioned immediately before the subject side of the first imaging optical means 1 and forms one optical path together with the imaging lens constituting the first imaging optical means 1.

  Further, at the time of normal shooting of the mobile terminal device according to the present embodiment (at the time of normal telephoto shooting of a background or a person), the user holds the casing A (3) and the casing B (4) at a predetermined set angle. It can also be used in the open state.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram describing in more detail the configurations of the first imaging optical means 1 and the second imaging optical means 5 of the portable terminal device shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2A shows a state in which the casing A (3) and the casing B (4) are opened, and FIG. 2B shows that the casing A (3) and the casing B (4) are closed. The first imaging optical means 1 and the second imaging optical means 5 are integrated to form a single imaging device.

  The configuration of the first imaging optical means 1 provided in the housing A (1) is composed of the imaging lens 12 having a fixed magnification and the imaging element as described above. On the other hand, the second imaging optical means 5 includes a cover glass 15 provided on the side in contact with the casing A (3) when the casing B (4) is closed, a lens system 16, and a shutter having a light amount adjusting means. 17 etc.

  In this apparatus, there are various variations in the lens system 16. The first form is a fixed magnification lens that jointly changes the imaging magnification in cooperation with the imaging lens 12. The fixed magnification lens according to the first embodiment may be configured so that one can be selected from a plurality of types. Thereby, the imaging magnification can be changed when the imaging lens 12 is used alone.

  The second form of the lens system 16 is zoom means for continuously changing the imaging magnification in cooperation with the first imaging lens. Since the zoom mechanism is known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, in the present apparatus, since the first imaging optical means 1 and the second imaging optical means 5 are combined to form one imaging apparatus, the conventional zoom mechanism is known. This makes it possible to incorporate a zoom mechanism that was not possible with other mobile terminal devices.

  Further, the second imaging optical means 5 in the portable terminal device can be provided with an automatic or manual focus adjusting means (not shown). The focus adjusting means is performed by moving a predetermined lens constituting the lens system 16 in the optical axis direction.

  Furthermore, the second imaging optical means 5 can also include an aperture mechanism that is a light amount adjusting means. In FIG. 2, a shutter 17 including a light amount adjusting unit is provided. The shutter 17 is opened and closed by driving means.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a shutter having a light amount adjustment function used in the portable terminal device.
As shown in FIG. 3, the shutter 17 accommodates the shutter blade 21 including the first shutter blade 21 </ b> A and the second shutter blade 21 </ b> B, the drive motor 20 that drives the shutter blade 21, and the shutter blade 21 in a rotatable manner. And a bracket 25.

  In FIG. 3, the first shutter blade 21 </ b> A rotates around the first fulcrum 22 provided on the bracket 25, and the second shutter blade 21 </ b> A rotates around the second fulcrum 23 provided on the bracket 25. The electromagnetic drive motor 20 moves the protrusion 24 in the direction of the arrow so that the opening hole is formed or closed. FIG. 3 shows a state where the shutter 17 is closed. When the light amount adjustment function is operated as a diaphragm mechanism, it is achieved by changing the amount of movement of the projection 24 (in the direction A in FIG. 3) by the electromagnetic drive motor 20.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the configurations of the first imaging optical means 1 and the second imaging optical means 5 are different from the configuration shown in FIG. In this example, the lens system 16 is incorporated in the first image pickup optical means 1, and the first image pickup optical means 5 includes a cover glass 15 and a diaphragm mechanism and / or a shutter mechanism 17 that are light quantity adjusting means. Has been.

  FIG. 4A shows a state where the casing A (3) and the casing B (4) are opened. Since the lens system 16 is incorporated in the first imaging optical means 1 on the housing A (3) side, the first imaging optical means 1 has a convex shape protruding toward the surface side of the liquid crystal display device 2 (FIG. 1). On the other hand, the second imaging optical means 5 on the case B (4) side is composed of a thin cover glass 15 and a shutter mechanism 17, so that the concave shape retracted on the input key 7 (FIG. 1) surface side. Make it.

  FIG. 4B shows a state in which the housing A (3) and the housing B (4) are closed. The convex portion of the first imaging optical means 1 on the housing A (3) side is housed in a fitting state with the concave portion in the second imaging optical means 5 on the housing B (4) side. As a result, the portable terminal device does not have a large storage shape or unevenness in a part of the case, so that portability is not impaired. Further, in this stored state, the first imaging optical means 1 and the second imaging optical means 5 are integrated to form one imaging device.

  Here, the lens system 16 constituting the first imaging optical means 1 has various variations such as a fixed magnification lens and a zoom means. Further, the first imaging optical means 1 can be provided with an automatic or manual focus adjusting means (not shown). The focus adjusting means is performed by moving a predetermined lens constituting the lens system 16 in the optical axis direction.

  On the other hand, the second imaging optical means 5 includes a diaphragm mechanism and / or a shutter mechanism 17 which are light quantity adjusting means.

  Here, when the lens system constituting the entire imaging optical system is arranged in the first imaging optical means 1 and the shutter mechanism 17 is arranged in the second imaging optical means 5, the lens system 16 of the imaging optical system. The shutter mechanism 17 can be manufactured with high accuracy because it is integral, and if the aperture is set large, the fitting position accuracy is not required by that amount, so the accuracy of the fitting portion is unnecessary.

  FIG. 5 shows a second form of the overlapping mechanism of the casing A (3) and the casing B (4).

  In the mobile terminal device according to the second embodiment, a rotating shaft 46 is provided instead of the fitting portion 6 of the mobile terminal device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The rotating shaft 46 is provided with a rear surface of the housing A (43) (a surface behind the surface on which the liquid crystal monitor is disposed) and an inner surface (operation keys and data input keys) of the housing B (44). 2) with the surfaces facing each other, the two can be rotated with respect to the rotating shaft 46 as an axis. The rotation angle can be configured so as not to be limited.

  FIG. 6 shows a third form of the overlapping mechanism of the casing A (3) and the casing B (4).

  In the mobile terminal device of the third embodiment, a slide groove 56 is provided instead of the fitting portion 6 of the mobile terminal device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The slide groove 56 is provided with a rear surface of the housing A (43) (a surface behind the surface on which the liquid crystal monitor is disposed) and an inner surface (operation keys and data input keys) of the housing B (44). In the state where the two surfaces are facing each other, they have a function of being able to slide each other along the slide groove 56.

  Although a plurality of embodiments when the mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied to a mobile phone has been described above, the present invention is applied to data processing such as a personal information terminal device (PDA: Personal Digital Assistants) having a photographing unit. Needless to say, it is applicable to the apparatus.

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone provided with an imaging means such as a camera unit, and has industrial applicability.

It is a perspective view which shows the fundamental whole structure of the portable terminal device which concerns on this invention. It is the figure which described in detail the structure of the 1st imaging optical means 1 and the 2nd imaging optical means 5 of this portable terminal device shown in FIG. The example of the shutter which has the light quantity adjustment function used for this portable terminal device is shown. Examples of different configurations of the first imaging optical means 1 and the second imaging optical means 5 are shown. The 2nd form of a housing | casing overlapping mechanism is shown. The 3rd form of a housing | casing superposition mechanism is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st imaging optical means 2 Liquid crystal display device 3,43 Case A
4,44 Case B
5 Second imaging optical means 6 Fitting portion 11 Imaging element (imaging means)
12 Imaging lens 16 Lens system 17 Shutter 46 Rotating shaft 56 Slide groove

Claims (7)

In a mobile terminal device composed of at least two casings that can be overlapped with each other,
First imaging optical means disposed in one of the housings;
A second imaging optical means disposed in another one of the casings, and the first imaging optical means and the second imaging optical means are integrated when the casing is overlaid. To form a single imaging device. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging optical unit includes a photoelectric conversion element that converts light into an electrical signal. The portable terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the second imaging optical unit is an imaging optical system for changing an imaging magnification. The portable terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the second imaging optical unit includes an automatic or manual focus adjustment unit. The portable terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the second imaging optical unit includes a light amount adjusting unit. The portable terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the light amount adjusting unit is a shutter that is opened and closed by a driving unit. And a pressing unit that presses the two casings so that the first imaging optical unit and the second imaging optical unit are pressed against each other when the casings are overlaid. Item 2. The mobile terminal device according to Item 1.

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