JP3642198B2 - Camera for information processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus camera that is directly connected to a connector of an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and inputs an image to the information processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, information processing apparatuses such as personal computers have been remarkably developed, and image processing is performed and information is transmitted / input using the images. Therefore, there is an increase in the number of built-in imaging cameras or external connection. Yes. In particular, recently, it has been incorporated into portable information processing apparatuses such as notebook personal computers.
[0003]
Hereinafter, a conventional camera for an information device will be described.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a camera for an information processing apparatus built in a conventional notebook computer. FIG. 6A is an external perspective view showing a state where the camera is attached, and FIG. 6B is a side view showing the operation of the camera. In the figure, 61 is a main body portion of a notebook personal computer, 62 is a display portion in which a liquid crystal display device is incorporated, and is attached to the main body portion 61 by a hinge portion 63 so as to be opened and closed. A camera unit 64 with a built-in image pickup unit is supported at the upper center of the display unit 62 by a rotary shaft 65 so as to be rotatable up and down.
[0004]
The operation of the conventional camera for information processing apparatus configured as described above will be described. The display unit 62 of the notebook personal computer is opened, and the camera unit 64 is turned up and down by hand as shown in FIG. 6B and is directed in an appropriate direction. And it image | photographs with the imaging part inside the camera unit 64, and the image is taken in into the data processing part in the main-body part 61 via a cable (not shown). The image data can be stored in an internal storage device and displayed on the display unit 62 for editing.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above conventional camera for information processing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6B, the camera unit 64 rotates in a wide range in the vertical direction, but does not rotate in the other direction. Images could only be taken from the center of 62 at a certain angle of view. In addition, since the camera unit 64 is in the upper center of the display unit 62, the entire display unit has to be enlarged when trying to secure a certain display area. Further, when changing the direction of the camera, it is necessary to hold the hand up to the center of the upper portion of the display unit 62, so that the movement of the arm becomes large and the operation is difficult.
[0006]
In this way, since the size used for a notebook computer or the like cannot be increased, the imaging unit can rotate only in one direction, and the imaging range is limited. Also, the operability was not good.
[0007]
The present invention solves the above problems, and can widen the imaging range and improve operability.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the camera for an information processing device of the present invention is capable of rotating in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of a camera case that is rotatably attached to a base portion provided with a connector. The image pickup unit is rotated by an operation knob and is attached to the side surface of the information processing apparatus main body, thereby widening the image pickup range and improving operability.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 is a connector part for connecting to an information processing device, a base part provided with the connector part, a camera case rotatably attached to the base part, and the camera An imaging unit having an axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the case and capable of rotating in a direction perpendicular to the rotation of the camera case via the orthogonal axis, and an operation knob for rotating the imaging unit; And the operation knob has an engaging portion that engages with the imaging unit for rotating the imaging unit, and is held in a camera case so that the imaging unit can be rotated, and the camera by the operation knob is intended that the information processing apparatus for a camera which is characterized in that also a possible case of the rotation, and a wide imaging range, and the camera case not only the image pickup unit in operation knob at one location Since it rotating, it is possible to improve operability.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector part for connecting to an information processing apparatus, a base part provided with the connector part, a camera case rotatably attached to the base part, and the camera An imaging unit having an axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the case and capable of rotating in a direction perpendicular to the rotation of the camera case via the orthogonal axis, and an operation knob for rotating the imaging unit; And the rotation axis of the camera case is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the connector portion, so that the imaging range is widened and the rotation axis is parallel to the upper surface of the information processing apparatus. When the camera is mounted on the information processing apparatus, the overall thickness can be reduced.
[0012]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
1A and 1B show a state in which a camera for an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a notebook computer. FIG. 1A is an external perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a side view. 2 is an external perspective view of the camera for the information processing apparatus, FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the imaging unit, FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the operation knob, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the imaging block built-in portion of the camera case. 5A is a cross-sectional view in the X direction, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view in the Y direction. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body portion of a notebook personal computer, and 2 denotes a display portion incorporating a liquid crystal display device, which is attached to the main body portion 1 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge portion 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes an information processing apparatus camera connected to a main body side connector (not shown) provided on the rear side surface of the main body 1. In the information processing apparatus camera 4, the base 5 is provided with a camera-side connector 6 connected to the main body-side connector, and the camera case 7 is attached by fitting a rotation shaft 7 a so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A. It has been. Here, the rotation shaft 7a of the camera case 7 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the connector portion. An imaging unit 8 is built in the camera case 7, and convex portions 8 a and 8 b and a concave portion 7 b that can rotate (in the direction of arrow B) about an axis Y orthogonal to the rotational axis X of the camera case 7. It is attached by fitting 7c. Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation knob, which is provided with ribs 9b and 9c so as to sandwich a knob portion 9a that can be sandwiched between fingers and a projection 8c provided on the side surface of the imaging unit 8. The operation knob 9 is movably held in the end surface opening 7d of the camera case 7.
[0013]
The operation of the information processing apparatus camera according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. As shown in the figure, the camera side connector 6 of the base 5 of the information processing device camera 4 is connected to the main body side connector of the notebook personal computer main body 1. When the display unit 2 is opened, the information processing device camera 4 appears. To adjust the direction of the camera, first, the knob portion 9a of the operation knob 9 is sandwiched between fingers and turned in the direction of arrow A to rotate the camera case 7, thereby determining the vertical position. Next, when the operation knob 9 is moved in the direction of arrow C, the projection 8c of the image pickup unit 8 is also moved by the ribs 9b and 9c. Therefore, the image pickup unit 8 rotates in the direction of arrow B, so the position in the left-right direction is determined. can do.
[0014]
As described above, the camera for information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can rotate in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction with a simple configuration, so that the imaging range can be increased. In addition, operability is improved because one operation knob can be rotated in both directions and operated from the lower side of the notebook computer. Further, since the rotation axis of the camera case is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the connection connector, the camera case can be thinned with the camera mounted on the information processing apparatus.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the camera for the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the camera case rotatably attached to the base portion provided with the connector, and the imaging unit that is rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the camera case. Is rotated by the operation knob and is attached to the side surface of the information processing apparatus main body, whereby the imaging range can be widened and the operability is greatly improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view and a side view showing a state in which a camera for an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a notebook computer. FIG. 2 is for an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. External perspective view of camera [Fig. 3] External perspective view of imaging unit [Fig. 4] External perspective view of operation knob [Fig. Perspective view and side view showing an example of an information processing device camera
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main-body part 2 Display part 4 Camera for information processing apparatuses 6 Camera side connector 7 Camera case 7a Rotating shaft 8 Imaging unit 9 Operation knob

Claims (2)

A connector part for connecting to an information processing device, a base part provided with the connector part, a camera case rotatably attached to the base part, and an axis orthogonal to the rotational axis of the camera case It has, includes an imaging unit which can rotate the rotation perpendicular direction of the camera casing via a shaft to the orthogonal, and an operating knob for rotating the imaging unit, wherein the operation knob includes an imaging It has an engaging part that engages with the imaging unit for rotating the unit, and the imaging unit is rotatably held by the camera case, and the camera case can be rotated by the operation knob. A camera for an information processing device. A connector part for connecting to an information processing device, a base part provided with the connector part, a camera case rotatably attached to the base part, and an axis orthogonal to the rotational axis of the camera case An imaging unit that is rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation of the camera case via the orthogonal axis, and an operation knob for rotating the imaging unit. A camera for an information processing apparatus, characterized in that the axis is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the connector portion.

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