Patent ID: 6587151
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A portable computer of the type that is within a package including a computer base portion supporting a keyboard and a cover portion supporting a display, where said cover portion is attached by at least one hinge to said computer base, having an integrated a video camera capability, comprising:a video camera assembly, said video camera assembly having an optical conversion unit including at least a lens and pixel conversion circuitry, said optical conversion unit being positioned in a first end of a mount member having first and second ends with said lens exposed at said first end, said video camera assembly further having an approximately rectangular video camera base member having first and second essentially parallel top and bottom surfaces, said mount member being positioned with said second end in an opening in said top surface of said video camera base member, said video camera base member having a specific thickness between said top and bottom surfaces said specific thickness defining side faces of said video camera base member, said video camera base member having at least one opening in at least one of said side faces, mounting means for said video camera assembly positioned in the portion of said cover that is most extended when said cover is in the open position, said mounting means being adapted for movement of said video camera assembly around an azimuth axis for said movement, cabling means for communicating video camera signals from said optical conversion unit to a processor located in said computer base portion, and, video camera assembly storage means located in said computer base position.