JP2006211501A - Portable equipment with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display an image of the whole view angle from a light receiving area of an imaging element on the entire screen of a liquid crystal monitor with composition that an operator intends. <P>SOLUTION: A camera unit 18 has the imaging element which has an optical axis C of imaging parallel to the axis of rotation of a 1st hinge 4 connecting a 1st housing 2 having a display unit 6 and a 2nd housing 3 having the camera unit 18 and rotating on the optical axis C of imaging. Further, the camera unit has a rotary drive unit which rotates the imaging element according to the output of a rotational angle detector detecting the angle of opening of the 1st housing 2 and 2nd housing 3. Consequently, zoom photography is enabled while the image of the whole view angle which can be photographed in the photodetection area is displayed on the entire screen of the display unit 6 to match the composition that the operator intends without being influenced by a 1st photographic style wherein the 1st housing 2 is rotated about the axis B of rotation of a 2nd hinge 5 after the 1st housing 2 and 2nd housing 3 are opened by 180° nor a 2nd photographic style wherein the 1st housing 2 is further rotated about the axis of rotation of the 1st hinge 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera-equipped mobile device having a digital camera function.

  In recent years, camera phones with built-in imaging cameras have built-in imaging cameras in various forms, and mobile phones with cameras that incorporate imaging cameras with an optical zoom function have also been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-309756 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-290523 (Patent Document 2) have a built-in imaging camera having an optical zoom function in the hinge portion of a foldable mobile phone. A mobile device with a camera is disclosed.

  The mobile phone with a zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided between a liquid crystal monitor unit having a liquid crystal monitor, an operation unit having various operation buttons, and the liquid crystal monitor unit and the operation unit. A camera-equipped mobile phone is disclosed that includes a hinge part serving as a hinge, a rotating plate rotatably provided between the liquid crystal monitor part and the hinge part, and a camera part. The camera unit includes a photographic lens, a zooming mechanism that includes a plurality of zoom lenses and performs zooming by optical zoom, and an imaging element arranged in parallel on a central axis in the hinge unit. ing.

  In this cellular phone with a zoom lens, the rotating plate is provided between the liquid crystal monitor unit and the hinge unit so that the liquid crystal monitor unit can rotate with respect to the hinge unit at an angle of 0 to 360 degrees. Thus, the user can perform zoom shooting while looking at the through image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor regardless of the shooting direction.

  Further, the foldable portable device with a camera disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a configuration in which an imaging camera is incorporated in a cylindrical hinge portion that rotatably connects an upper housing and a lower housing. The imaging camera has an imaging optical axis parallel to the hinge axis, and an imaging window disposed in a direction orthogonal to the imaging optical axis, and light incident from the imaging window is transmitted along the imaging optical axis. And an imaging optical unit having a zoom lens and an imaging device arranged along the direction of the imaging optical axis. An incident light deflection angle portion having the deflection angle element is configured to be rotatable with respect to the imaging optical axis.

  In this foldable portable device with a camera, the incident light deflection angle part is rotated around the imaging optical axis, and the photographing window is directed toward the user side or toward the opposite side to the user side. The user can be photographed without changing the orientation of the device, or the subject in front of the device can be photographed.

  However, the conventional mobile device with a camera has the following problems. First, in the mobile phone with a zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1, at least two types of shooting styles of the first shooting style and the second shooting style as described below can be considered in actual use. Here, the first photographing style is to rotate the hinge part from the folded state, open the liquid crystal monitor part at an angle of 180 degrees with respect to the operation part, and further rotate the rotating plate. This is a shooting style in which the liquid crystal monitor section is rotated to an angle of 90 degrees or 270 degrees. Also, the second shooting style is that the hinge part is rotated from the folded state to open the liquid crystal monitor part at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the operation part, and further, the rotating plate is rotated. This is a shooting style in which the liquid crystal monitor unit is rotated to an angle of 90 degrees or 270 degrees.

  In the first photographing style, when the arrangement of the image sensor is fixed so that the long side direction of the display screen of the liquid crystal monitor and the long side direction of the light receiving area in the image sensor coincide with each other, the image sensor It is possible to take a full-field image that can be captured in the light receiving area while displaying the full-screen image on the liquid crystal monitor.

  However, in the second shooting style, the angle formed between the long side direction of the display screen of the liquid crystal monitor and the long side direction of the light receiving area in the image sensor is 90 degrees. It becomes impossible to capture a full-field image that can be captured while displaying the full-screen image on the liquid crystal monitor. Therefore, there is a problem that a captured image different from the composition intended by the user can be obtained. Conversely, in the second shooting style, when the arrangement of the image sensor is fixed so that the long side direction of the display screen of the liquid crystal monitor matches the long side direction of the light receiving area in the image sensor, The same problem as described above occurs in the first shooting style.

  In the foldable portable device with a camera disclosed in Patent Document 2, the incident light deflection angle portion is rotated around the imaging optical axis so that the photographing window is directed toward the user side or the user side. The shooting angle can be changed by pointing it to the opposite side. However, since the imaging device is fixed with respect to the imaging optical axis, the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor is also rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the incident light deflection angle portion, which is different from the composition intended by the user. There is a problem that a photographed image can be obtained.

  In the above-described two examples of the camera-equipped mobile device, the camera unit having the photographing lens or the declination element, the zoom lens optical unit, and the imaging element is integrated, and the imaging optical axis of the integrated camera unit is It is conceivable to solve the above-mentioned problem by turning the rotation axis of the hinge so as to coincide with the rotation axis of the hinge.

However, among the components of the integrated camera unit, the zoom lens optical unit includes a plurality of lens groups, a zoom mechanism that can change the focal length, and a zoom drive device. Among them, the lens group and the zoom mechanism are arranged symmetrically with respect to the imaging optical axis, but the zoom driving device is arranged asymmetrically with respect to the imaging optical axis. Therefore, in order to make the imaging optical axis of the zoom lens optical unit coincide with the rotation axis of the hinge and rotate the zoom lens optical unit around the rotation axis of the hinge, the diameter of the housing case of the camera unit As a result, the problem arises that the diameter of the hinge portion also increases.
JP 2003-309756 A JP 2002-290523 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera-equipped mobile phone that can display a full-angle image captured in a light receiving area of an image sensor on a liquid crystal monitor with a composition intended by an operator and can be downsized. To provide a phone.

In order to solve the above problems, a mobile device with a camera of the present invention is
A first housing having a display unit;
A second housing having a camera unit including an image sensor and an operation unit;
A first hinge portion that connects the first housing and the second housing so as to be freely opened and closed;
A second hinge portion that rotatably couples the first housing to the first hinge portion around a rotation axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the first hinge portion;
The image pickup device is provided with an image pickup device moving unit that moves the image pickup device so that the direction of the long side of the display unit coincides with the direction of the long side of the light receiving area of the image pickup device.

  According to the above configuration, the first casing is opened with respect to the second casing, and the first casing is rotated with respect to the first hinge part perpendicular to the rotation axis of the first hinge part. Even when it rotates around the axis, the direction of the long side of the display unit of the first housing matches the direction of the long side of the light receiving area of the image sensor of the camera unit. Therefore, it is possible to display a full-field image that can be captured in the light receiving area of the image sensor on the display unit so as to match the composition intended by the user.

In the portable device with a camera of one embodiment,
The camera unit has an imaging optical axis parallel to the rotation axis of the first hinge unit,
The imaging element moving unit is
A rotation support unit that rotatably supports the imaging element around the imaging optical axis;
An opening angle detector that detects an opening angle between the first housing and the second housing;
A rotation drive unit that rotationally drives the rotation support unit based on a detection result of the opening angle detection unit;

  According to this embodiment, the first casing is opened at an angle of 180 degrees with respect to the second casing portion, and the first casing is rotated to an angle of 90 degrees or 270 degrees to take a first image. From the shooting style to the second shooting style in which the first casing is opened at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the second casing portion, and the first casing is rotated to an angle of 90 degrees or 270 degrees to capture the image. The direction of the long side of the display unit of the first housing and the direction of the long side of the light receiving area of the image sensor of the camera unit may be matched at an arbitrary opening angle of the first case with respect to the second case. it can.

In the portable device with a camera of one embodiment,
The first hinge portion is inserted into the first connecting portion provided on the first housing side, the second connecting portion provided on the second housing side, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion have opposing surfaces facing each other,
The opening angle detector is
A resistor that is provided on any one of the facing surfaces of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and has an arc shape having a center on the rotation axis;
An electrode that is attached to the other of the opposing surfaces of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and that is in sliding contact with the resistor;
An opening angle between the first housing and the second housing is detected by detecting a potential difference between one end of the resistor and the electrode when a predetermined voltage is applied to both ends of the resistor. It is like that.

  According to this embodiment, the opening angle detection unit can be easily configured by the arc-shaped resistor and the voltage detection electrode.

In the portable device with a camera of one embodiment,
The camera unit includes a photographic lens, a zoom lens optical unit, and the imaging element that are arranged in series from the subject side.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to perform zoom shooting while displaying a full-angle image that can be captured in the light receiving area of the image sensor on the display unit in a full screen so as to match the composition intended by the user. Become. Further, at that time, when the image sensor is moved by the image sensor moving device, the photographing lens and zoom lens optical unit constituting the camera unit do not move with respect to the second casing. Therefore, it is not necessary to rotate the zoom driving device that is asymmetric with respect to the imaging optical axis, and the diameter of the housing case of the camera unit can be prevented from increasing.

Moreover, the mobile device with a camera of the present invention is
A first housing having a display unit;
A second housing having a camera unit including an image sensor and an operation unit;
A hinge portion that connects the first housing and the second housing so as to be freely opened and closed;
The camera unit captures an imaging optical axis parallel to the rotation axis of the first hinge unit and light from a subject incident in a direction orthogonal to the imaging optical axis, and is rotatable around the imaging optical axis. And a shooting window provided in the
The image pickup device is provided with an image pickup device moving unit that moves the image pickup device so that the direction of the long side of the display unit matches the direction of the long side of the light receiving area of the image pickup device.

  According to the above configuration, even when a photographing window for capturing light from a subject incident in a direction orthogonal to the imaging optical axis is rotated around the imaging optical axis, the image is displayed on the display unit of the first casing. Image rotation is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to display a full-field image that can be captured in the light receiving area of the image sensor on the display unit so as to match the composition intended by the user.

In the portable device with a camera of one embodiment,
The imaging element moving unit is
A rotation support unit that rotatably supports the imaging element around the imaging optical axis;
A rotation angle detector that detects a rotation angle of the imaging window around the imaging optical axis;
A rotation drive unit that rotates the rotation support unit based on a detection result of the rotation angle detection unit;

  According to this embodiment, the imaging element can be rotated in synchronization with the rotation of the imaging window around the imaging optical axis. Therefore, the direction of the long side in the display unit of the first housing can coincide with the direction of the long side in the light receiving area of the image sensor of the camera unit.

In the portable device with a camera of one embodiment,
The photographing window is provided in a rotating case that rotates around the imaging optical axis, and the rotating case and the second housing have opposing surfaces that face each other.
The rotation angle detector is
A resistor that is provided on any one of the facing surfaces of the rotating case and the second housing and has an arc shape centered on the imaging optical axis;
An electrode fixed to the other of the opposing surfaces of the rotating case and the second housing and in sliding contact with the resistor;
A rotation angle of the imaging window around the imaging optical axis is detected by detecting a potential difference between one end of the resistor and the electrode when a predetermined voltage is applied to both ends of the resistor. It has become.

  According to this embodiment, the rotation angle detector can be easily configured by the arc-shaped resistor and the voltage detection electrode.

In the portable device with a camera of one embodiment,
The camera unit includes a declination optical element that deflects light taken from the photographing window in the direction of the imaging optical axis, a photographing lens, a zoom lens optical unit, and the imaging element.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to perform zoom shooting while displaying a full-angle image that can be captured in the light receiving area of the image sensor on the display unit in a full screen so as to match the composition intended by the user. Become. Further, at that time, when the arrangement direction of the image sensor is moved by the image sensor direction moving device, the photographing lens and zoom lens optical unit constituting the camera unit move with respect to the second casing. do not do. Therefore, it is not necessary to rotate the zoom driving device that is asymmetric with respect to the imaging optical axis, and the diameter of the housing case of the camera unit can be prevented from increasing.

  As is clear from the above, the camera-equipped mobile device according to the present invention opens the first housing having the display unit by the first hinge portion with respect to the second housing having the camera unit including the image sensor, and further Even when the first housing is rotated around the rotation axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the first hinge portion with respect to the first hinge portion, the direction of the long side of the display portion of the first housing and the camera It is possible to make the direction of the long side in the light receiving area of the image sensor of the part coincide with each other. Therefore, the full-field image that can be imaged in the light receiving area of the image sensor can be displayed on the full screen on the display unit so as to match the composition intended by the user.

  In addition, the portable device with a camera according to the present invention has the first housing even when the photographing window for taking in the light from the subject incident in the direction orthogonal to the imaging optical axis of the camera unit is rotated around the imaging optical axis. Rotation of the image displayed on the display unit can be prevented. Therefore, the full-field-of-view image that can be captured in the light receiving area of the image sensor of the camera unit can be displayed on the display unit in a full screen so as to match the composition intended by the user.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera-equipped mobile phone as a camera-equipped mobile device according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 2A and 2B are a cross-sectional view including a rotation axis of the first hinge portion 4 in FIG. 1 and a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the rotation axis. 3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view including the imaging optical axis of the camera unit 18 in FIG. 1 and a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the imaging optical axis. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are side views showing a photographing style in the camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a camera-equipped mobile phone 1 includes a first housing 2 having a display unit 6, a second housing 3 having an operation unit 8 and a camera unit 18, a first housing 2 and a second housing 3. The first hinge portion 4 disposed between the first housing 2 and the second hinge portion 5 disposed between the first housing 2 and the first hinge portion 4.

  For example, when the second housing 3 is disposed on the lower side, the first housing 2 disposed on the upper side with respect to the second housing 3 includes the display unit 6 and a speaker configured from a liquid crystal display device or the like. 7. The operation unit 8 of the second housing 3 includes a microphone 9, an operation button 10 for inputting a telephone number, a camera mode start button 11 for starting a camera mode, a zoom operation mode when a camera mode is selected, A selection button 12 for switching the menu to a shooting mode or the like and a determination button 13 for determining a menu selected by the selection button 12 are provided. The determination button 13 may also serve as a shutter button for performing shooting in the camera use mode.

  The first hinge portion 4 includes a first connecting portion 14 provided on the first housing 2 side, a second connecting portion 15 provided on the second housing 3 side, and rotation in the first connecting portion 14. It includes a hinge shaft 16 that extends from both sides of the extending direction of the shaft (hereinafter referred to as the rotational axis direction) in the rotational axis direction and is inserted into the second connecting portion 15. Thus, the first connecting portion 14 is pivotally supported with respect to the second connecting portion 15. Here, a release button 17 as a shutter button dedicated to the camera mode is arranged on the side of the second connecting portion 15 on the right side in the drawing of the first hinge portion 4. By pushing the release button 17 in the direction of the rotation axis, the shutter of the camera unit 18 is cut. Furthermore, as will be described in detail later, the first hinge portion 4 has an angle formed by the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 when the first housing 2 is opened with respect to the second housing 3. A rotation angle detector for detecting “open rotation angle” is included.

  Here, the rotation angle detector will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B (a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 2A). The surface on the first connecting portion 14 side in the surface in which the first connecting portion 14 and the second connecting portion 15 on the left side in the drawing face each other in the axial direction has an arcuate shape having a center on the rotation axis ( A C-ring-shaped first resistor 19 is disposed. A first electrode 20 made of a metal plate spring having an electrical contact with the first resistor 19 is disposed on the surface on the second connecting portion 15 side. As described above, the first electrode 20 slides along the first resistor 19 in accordance with the rotation operation in the first hinge portion 4 to maintain stable electrical contact. A biasing force is applied to the first resistor 19 by the electrode 20.

  In the configuration of the rotation angle detector, a predetermined voltage is applied to both ends of the first resistor 19, and a potential difference between any one end of the first resistor 19 and the first electrode 20 is detected by an electrometer or the like. The opening rotation angle of the first casing 2 and the second casing 3 can be detected based on the detected potential difference.

  The second hinge part 5 is composed of a well-known rotating plate, and the first housing 2 provided with the display part 6 is moved with respect to the first hinge part 4 around the rotation axis B shown in FIG. It can turn freely. At this time, the state of the first housing 2 shown in FIG. 1 is set to 0 degree, and a desired angle from a state rotated 90 degrees clockwise as viewed from the speaker 7 side to a state rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise. Can be stopped free of charge.

  The camera unit 18 is built in the second housing 3 and is disposed adjacent to the first hinge unit 4. The imaging optical axis C is provided in parallel with the rotation axis of the first hinge part 4 as indicated by a thick arrow in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the camera unit 18. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD ′ in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3A, the camera unit 18 includes a photographing lens 21, a zoom lens optical unit 22, an imaging element 23, a rotation support member 24, and a rotation drive motor 25 in this order from the subject side. . Here, the zoom lens optical unit 22 includes a plurality of lens groups, a well-known zoom mechanism (not shown) that can change the focal length, and a zoom driving device (not shown).

  As the imaging device 23, a CCD (charge coupled device) type sensor or a MOS type sensor is used. The image pickup device 23 is fixed to the rotation support member 24, and the image pickup device 23 and the rotation support member 24 have the center of the light receiving area of the image pickup device 23 and the rotation center of the rotation support member 24 coincide with the image pickup optical axis C. Are arranged to be.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the same detection principle as that of the rotation angle detector provided in the first hinge portion 4 is provided on the back surface of the surface on which the imaging element 23 is mounted in the rotation support member 24. The rotation angle detector using is provided. That is, the rotation support member 24 is provided with an arc-shaped (C-ring-shaped) second resistor 26 centered on the rotation axis of the rotation support member 24, while the second resistance is provided on the case 27 side of the camera unit 18. A second electrode 28 made of a metal leaf spring having an electrical contact with the body 26 is disposed. Thus, the angle formed by the long side direction of the light receiving area in the image sensor 23 and the thickness direction of the second housing 3 is detected by using a detection method similar to that of the rotation angle detector provided in the first hinge unit 4. It can be done.

  A stepping motor is used as the rotational drive motor 25. The drive gear 29 attached to the rotation shaft of the rotation drive motor 25 and the gear provided on the outer peripheral portion of the rotation support member 24 mesh with each other, whereby the rotation drive force of the rotation drive motor 25 is transmitted to support rotation. The member 24 is driven to rotate.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 having the above configuration will be described.

  The operator lifts the upper first casing 2 while holding the second casing 3 of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 folded in two downward, and rotates the rotation axis of the first hinge unit 4. The first casing 2 is rotated to an angle of about 180 degrees around the center to open the camera-equipped mobile phone 1.

  Next, the imaging operation is started when the operator presses the camera mode start button 11. That is, light incident from the photographing lens 21 passes through the zoom lens optical unit 22 and forms an image on the image sensor 23. The formed image is signal-processed by a signal processing circuit (not shown) and displayed on the display unit 6 of the first housing 2.

  Next, the operator directs the photographing lens 21 toward the subject to be imaged, and at the same time, the first casing 2 is rotated around the rotation axis B of the second hinge unit 5, and the image displayed on the display unit 6 is displayed. Aim at the operator for easy viewing. At that time, the opening rotation angle of the first housing 2 and the second housing detected by the rotation angle detector provided in the first hinge unit 4, and the rotation angle detector built in the camera unit 18. The angle formed by the long side direction of the light receiving area of the image sensor 23 detected by the above and the thickness direction of the second housing 3 is compared by a control unit (not shown) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The Then, the rotation drive motor 25 is rotationally controlled by the control unit based on the comparison result, and the long side direction in the light receiving area of the image sensor 23 and the long side direction in the display unit 6 of the first housing 2 coincide. Thus, the rotation support member 24 is rotated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, the full-field image formed on the light receiving area of the image sensor 23 can be displayed on the full screen on the display unit 6 without missing. Therefore, the operator can determine the composition of the image that the operator wants to capture and record while viewing the display unit 6.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 4A, the first casing 2 is opened at an angle of 180 degrees with respect to the second casing 3 by the first hinge portion 4, and the first casing 2 is An image captured in the first shooting style rotated to an angle of 90 degrees or 270 degrees by the hinge portion 5 is vertically long. Here, for the operator's intention, the first casing 2 is rotated by −90 degrees around the rotation axis of the first hinge portion 4 in order to capture a horizontally long image, and the second case shown in FIG. Consider the case where the shooting style is changed. In that case, a change occurs in the opening rotation angle between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 detected by the rotation angle detector provided in the first hinge unit 4, and the light receiving area of the image sensor 23. There is a deviation in the angle between the long-side direction at and the long-side direction of the display unit 6. Then, the amount of the angular deviation is detected by the control unit, and the image sensor 23 is rotationally controlled so that the angular deviation is set to “zero”. As a result, even in the case of the second shooting style changed as shown in FIG. 4B, the entire display angle image formed on the light receiving area of the image sensor 23 is not lost on the display unit 6. It is possible to display on the screen. Therefore, the operator can determine the composition of the image that the operator wants to capture and record while viewing the display unit 6.

  In this way, after the operator determines the shooting style, the zoom operation is performed while viewing the image displayed on the display unit 6 to determine the final composition, and then the release button 17 is pressed to record the still image. It is.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the full-field-of-view image that can be imaged in the light receiving area of the image sensor 23 is matched with the composition intended by the operator, regardless of the above-described shooting style. It is possible to perform zoom shooting while displaying the entire screen on the display unit 6.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 5 and 6 are external views of a camera-equipped mobile phone as a camera-equipped mobile device according to the present embodiment. However, FIG. 5 is a side view and FIG. 6 is a plan view. FIG. 7 is a sectional view including the imaging optical axis of the camera unit built in the mobile phone with the camera and a sectional view perpendicular to the imaging optical axis. Hereinafter, the camera-equipped mobile phone 31 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the same member as the said 1st Embodiment, the same number is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the camera unit 18 having the imaging optical axis C parallel to the rotation axis of the first hinge unit 4 that rotatably supports the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 is incorporated. is doing. On the other hand, the present embodiment relates to a camera-equipped mobile phone 31 having a built-in camera unit 32 in which the imaging optical axis G is bent in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the hinge unit 33.

  5 and 6, the camera-equipped mobile phone 31 includes a first casing 2 having a display unit 6, a second casing 3 having an operation unit 8 and a camera unit 32, a first casing 2, and a first casing 2. It is roughly constituted by a hinge part 33 arranged between two housings 3.

  FIG. 7B shows a cross section including the imaging optical axis G of the camera unit 32. In FIG. 7B, the camera unit 32 includes a photographing window 34 that captures light from a subject, a prism 35 that deflects incident light by 90 degrees, a zoom lens optical unit 22, an image sensor 23, and a rotation support member 24. And a rotational drive motor 25. Here, the zoom lens optical unit 22 includes a plurality of zoom lenses, a zoom mechanism (not shown), and a zoom drive device (not shown).

  The rotation support member 24 is arranged so that the rotation axis thereof coincides with the imaging optical axis G deflected by the prism 35. Further, the photographing window 34 and the prism 35 are integrated and accommodated in a cylindrical rotating case 36. The rotation case 36 is deviated through a connecting portion 38 with respect to a fixed case 37 that houses the zoom lens optical unit 22, the image sensor 23, the rotation support member 24, and the rotation drive motor 25. It is rotatably mounted around the imaging optical axis G.

  FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE ′ in FIG. In FIG. 7C, in order to detect the rotation angle of the image sensor 23 with respect to the fixed case 37 (that is, the rotation angle with respect to the second housing 3), as in the case of the first embodiment, the rotation support member is used. A first rotation angle detector is provided on the rear surface of the surface on which the image sensor 23 is mounted. The first rotation angle detector includes an arc-shaped (C-ring-shaped) first resistor 39 having a center on the rotation axis of the rotation support member 24, and a first electrode 40 made of a metal plate spring. Has been.

  FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF ′ in FIG. In FIG. 7A, in order to detect the rotation angle of the rotation case 36 with respect to the fixed case 37 (that is, the rotation angle with respect to the second housing 3), a second rotation angle detector is provided on the side surface of the rotation case 36. Provided. The second rotation angle detector includes a second electrode 41 made of an arc-shaped (C-ring-shaped) second resistor 41 centered on the rotation axis of the rotation case 36 and a metal spring fixed to the second housing 3. 42.

  The operation of the camera-equipped mobile phone 31 having the above configuration will be described below.

  The operator lifts the upper first casing 2 while holding the second casing 3 of the camera-equipped mobile phone 31 folded in two downwards, and centers the rotation axis of the hinge portion 33 on the center. Then, the first housing 2 is rotated at an angle of about 120 degrees to open the camera-equipped mobile phone 31 as shown in FIG.

  Next, the imaging operation is started when the operator presses the camera mode start button 11. That is, light incident from the imaging window 34 is deflected by 90 degrees by the prism 35, passes through the zoom lens optical unit 22, and forms an image on the image sensor 23. The formed image is signal-processed by a signal processing circuit (not shown) and displayed on the display unit 6 of the first housing 2.

  Next, the operator manually rotates the rotating case 36 to direct the photographing window 34 toward the subject, and performs a zoom operation while viewing the image displayed on the display unit 6 to determine the composition. Then, the shutter button 17 is pressed to capture an image into the internal memory or the external card type memory in the camera-equipped mobile phone 31.

  In this case, the rotation angle change from the shooting angle at which the shooting window 34 is directed toward the operator side to the shooting angle at which the shooting window 34 is directed toward the subject opposite to the operator side is the second case of the rotating case 36. It can be detected by a second rotation angle detector that detects the rotation angle with respect to the body 3. Therefore, a control unit (not shown) such as a CPU or the like controls the rotation angle change amount of the image pickup device 23 relative to the fixed case 37 (that is, the second housing 3) to coincide with the rotation angle change amount of the rotation case 36. By controlling the rotation drive motor 25 to rotate the rotation support member 24, the rotation of the image pickup device 23 can be controlled following the rotation of the rotation case 36.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent rotation of the image formed on the light receiving area of the image sensor 23 at an arbitrary shooting angle, and to display the entire screen on the display unit 6. The composition can be determined while viewing the display unit 6.

  In the first embodiment, the first resistor 19 is provided in the first connecting portion 14 while the first electrode 20 is provided in the second connecting portion 15. However, the first resistor 19 is provided in the second connecting portion 15. On the other hand, the first electrode 20 may be provided on the first connecting portion 14 while being provided on the portion 15. Similarly, in the second embodiment, the second resistor 41 is provided on the rotating case 36 and the second electrode 42 is provided on the second housing 3. However, the second resistor 41 is provided on the second housing 3. While the body 3 is provided, the second electrode 42 may be provided on the rotating case 36.

  In both the above embodiments, the rotation angle of the image sensor 23 is detected by the arc-shaped resistors 26 and 39 and the electrodes 28 and 40. However, the rotation control amount of the rotary drive motor 25 that is a stepping motor is detected. It is also possible to detect by.

It is an external appearance perspective view in the mobile phone with a camera as a mobile device with a camera of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the 1st hinge part in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the camera part in FIG. It is a side view which shows a photography style. It is a side external view in the mobile phone with a camera different from FIG. It is a plane external view in the mobile phone with a camera shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the camera part in the mobile telephone with a camera shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1,31 ... mobile phone with camera,
2 ... 1st housing | casing,
3 ... second housing,
4 ... 1st hinge part,
5 ... 2nd hinge part,
6 ... display part,
7 ... Speaker,
9 ... Mike,
14 ... 1st connection part,
15 ... 2nd connection part,
16 ... hinge shaft,
17 ... Release button,
18, 32 ... Camera part,
19, 39 ... first resistor,
20, 40 ... 1st electrode,
28, 42 ... second electrode,
21 ... Photography lens,
22 ... Zoom lens optical unit,
23. Image sensor,
24 ... Rotation support member,
25 ... Rotation drive motor,
26, 41 ... second resistor,
27 ... Case,
29 ... Drive gear,
33 ... Hinge part,
34 ... Shooting window,
35 ... Prism,
36 ... rotating case,
37 ... fixed case,
38. Connection part.

Claims (8)

A first housing having a display unit;
A second housing having a camera unit including an image sensor and an operation unit;
A first hinge portion that connects the first housing and the second housing so as to be freely opened and closed;
A second hinge portion that rotatably couples the first housing to the first hinge portion around a rotation axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the first hinge portion;
A camera-equipped mobile device comprising: an image sensor moving unit that moves the image sensor to match the direction of the long side of the display unit with the direction of the long side of the light receiving area of the image sensor. The mobile device with a camera according to claim 1,
The camera unit has an imaging optical axis parallel to the rotation axis of the first hinge unit,
The imaging element moving unit is
A rotation support unit that rotatably supports the imaging element around the imaging optical axis;
An opening angle detector that detects an opening angle between the first housing and the second housing;
A portable device with a camera, comprising: a rotation drive unit that rotationally drives the rotation support unit based on a detection result by the opening angle detection unit. The mobile device with a camera according to claim 2,
The first hinge portion is inserted into the first connecting portion provided on the first housing side, the second connecting portion provided on the second housing side, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion have opposing surfaces facing each other,
The opening angle detector is
A resistor that is provided on any one of the facing surfaces of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and has an arc shape having a center on the rotation axis;
An electrode that is attached to the other of the opposing surfaces of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and that is in sliding contact with the resistor;
An opening angle between the first housing and the second housing is detected by detecting a potential difference between one end of the resistor and the electrode when a predetermined voltage is applied to both ends of the resistor. A portable device with a camera, characterized in that The mobile device with a camera according to claim 2,
The camera unit includes a camera lens, a zoom lens optical unit, and the imaging device arranged in series from the subject side. A first housing having a display unit;
A second housing having a camera unit including an image sensor and an operation unit;
A hinge portion that connects the first housing and the second housing so as to be freely opened and closed;
The camera unit captures an imaging optical axis parallel to the rotation axis of the first hinge unit and light from a subject incident in a direction orthogonal to the imaging optical axis, and is rotatable around the imaging optical axis. And a shooting window provided in the
A camera-equipped mobile device comprising: an image sensor moving unit that moves the image sensor to match the direction of the long side of the display unit with the direction of the long side of the light receiving area of the image sensor. The mobile device with camera according to claim 5,
The imaging element moving unit is
A rotation support unit that rotatably supports the imaging element around the imaging optical axis;
A rotation angle detector that detects a rotation angle of the imaging window around the imaging optical axis;
A portable device with a camera, comprising: a rotation drive unit that rotationally drives the rotation support unit based on a detection result by the rotation angle detection unit. The mobile device with a camera according to claim 6,
The photographing window is provided in a rotating case that rotates around the imaging optical axis, and the rotating case and the second housing have opposing surfaces that face each other.
The rotation angle detector is
A resistor that is provided on any one of the facing surfaces of the rotating case and the second housing and has an arc shape centered on the imaging optical axis;
An electrode fixed to the other of the opposing surfaces of the rotating case and the second housing and in sliding contact with the resistor;
A rotation angle of the imaging window around the imaging optical axis is detected by detecting a potential difference between one end of the resistor and the electrode when a predetermined voltage is applied to both ends of the resistor. A portable device with a camera, characterized by The mobile device with a camera according to claim 6,
The camera unit includes a declination optical element that deflects light captured from the photographing window in the direction of the imaging optical axis, a photographing lens, a zoom lens optical unit, and the imaging element. Mobile device with camera.

Images