Proximity wireless communication apparatus including fixed housing and movable housing rotated endlessly

One array antenna including three induction coils is formed on an application integrated circuit of a fixed housing. Eight array antennas, each of which is arranged in a manner similar to that of the array antennas of the application integrated circuit, are formed at intervals of 45 degrees around a rotation axis on an imaging process integrated circuit of a movable housing. A controller selects one of the eight array antennas of the imaging process integrated circuit so that a magnitude of a difference between a rotation angle of a movable housing and a rotation angle of the movable housing becomes equal to or smaller than 22.5 degrees based on the rotation angle of the movable housing, and controls a stepping motor so that a selected array antenna opposes to the array antenna on the application integrated circuit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a proximity wireless communication apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a proximity wireless communication apparatus having a fixed housing and a movable housing rotating in an endless track (also referred to as rotating endlessly hereinafter) on the fixed housing.

BACKGROUND ART

In a variety of fields, products with a movable housing that performs rotating operation are used. A portable telephone apparatus including a rotary display, a rotary radar, and a tracking camera are examples of such products. Generally speaking, there is a limitation in a rotational range of the movable housing that performs rotating operation, however, some products are required to be rotatable in an endless track (to be able to rotate unlimited times) without limitations in the rotational range. As a typical example of the products required to be rotatable in an endless track, there is a surveillance camera apparatus. Numbers of surveillance camera apparatuses are used for the purpose of surveiling intruders in areas where an unspecified number of people enter and exit, off-limit districts and so on. The surveillance camera apparatuses need to have wide surveillance ranges in some areas because of its function of surveillance. Therefore, in order to tail intruders by changing the field of view of the surveillance camera apparatus in a wide range, the surveillance camera apparatus are provided with driving apparatuses for driving its camera in a pan direction (in a horizontal direction) and in a tilt direction (in an elevation direction).

When the fixed housing of the surveillance camera apparatus is wirely connected to the movable housing, to which the camera is attached, by means of a wiring cable, the wiring cable is twisted, and the movable housing cannot be endlessly rotated. Therefore, previously, the fixed housing and the movable housing have been electrically connected together by using a slip ring. However, when the slip ring is used, there has been such a problem that only low-resolution analog video data and control data of a relatively smaller amount of information are allowed to be transmitted from the camera to an image processing circuit provided in the fixed housing.

In order to solve this problem, the Patent Document 1 discloses a camera apparatus configured to include a fixed part and a movable part that pivots about a rotation axis. The fixed parts includes at least a first wireless part, a first signal processing part and a power supply part, and the movable part includes at least a camera part, a second signal processing part, a second wireless part and a drive part to drive the camera part. The first wireless part is coupled to the second wireless part by a waveguide through which radio waves propagate, and the waveguide path of the waveguide coincides with a center of the rotation axis of the movable part. According to the camera apparatus of the Patent Document 1, the fixed part and the movable part are wirelessly connected to each other, and therefore, the movable part can endlessly rotate, and it is possible to transmit video data having a resolution higher than when the slip ring is used.

CITATION LIST

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The camera apparatus of the Patent Document 1 is endlessly rotatable, however, it has had a problem that it is required to provide the movable part and the fixed part with the first and second wireless parts for transmitting and receiving high-frequency signals in a millimeter waveband, respectively, and this leads to an increased cost larger than a cost when the slip ring is used. In addition, when compared with the case where the movable part and the fixed part are wirely connected together, there has been such a problem that a data transfer speed is smaller, and only low-resolution video data is allowed to be transmitted. In order to avoid the increased cost and to increase the data transfer speed, it can be considered to implement the first signal processing part provided for the fixed part and the second signal processing part provided for the movable part respectively by large scale integrated circuits (Large-Scale Integrations; referred to as LSIs hereinafter), respectively, and to implement wireless communications between the LSIs by proximity wireless communication such as wireless TSV (Through Silicon Via). However, the camera apparatus described in the Patent Document 1 has the configuration in which the first wireless part is coupled to the second wireless part by the waveguide through which the radio waves propagate, and the waveguide path of the waveguide coincide with the center of the rotation axis of the movable part. Therefore, it has been unable to utilize the proximity wireless communication that forms and uses a plurality of warless communication paths by opposing a plurality of transmitting antennas to a plurality of receiving antennas, respectively, so as to raise the data transfer speed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a proximity wireless communication apparatus for a surveillance camera apparatus or the like capable of solving the above-described problems, being rotated endlessly, raising the data transfer speed in comparison with the prior art, and being realized at low cost.

Solution to Problem

A proximity wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a fixed housing and a first movable housing provided so as to rotate about a predetermined rotation axis on the fixed housing. The fixed housing includes a first proximity wireless communication circuit including a first array antenna including a plurality of antenna elements each fixed in the fixed housing. The first movable housing includes first driving means that rotates the first movable housing, a second proximity wireless communication circuit, and control means. A second proximity wireless communication circuit includes a plurality of second array antennas, each of the plurality of second array antennas including a plurality of antenna elements fixed in the first movable housing and being arranged to oppose to the first array antenna when the first movable housing is rotated by a predetermined rotation angle. The control means selects one of the plurality of second array antennas, controls the first driving means so that a selected second array antenna opposes to the first array antenna, and controls the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits to perform a proximity wireless communication between the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits via the first array antenna and the selected second array antenna.

In the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the proximity wireless communication is one of a wireless communication from the first proximity wireless communication circuit to the second proximity wireless communication circuit, a wireless communication from the second proximity wireless communication circuit to the first proximity wireless communication circuit, and a bidirectional wireless communication between the first proximity wireless communication circuit and the second proximity wireless communication circuit.

In addition, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the plurality of second array antennas are arranged at predetermined angular intervals around the rotation axis.

Further, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna are arranged on a straight line perpendicular to the rotation axis.

Still further, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna are arranged on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, part of the plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna are arranged on a first straight line perpendicular to the rotation axis, and other antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna are arranged on a second straight line perpendicular to the rotation axis.

In addition, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna are arranged on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, and the plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna are arranged on a plurality of straight lines perpendicular to the rotation axis, respectively.

Further, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, one antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna is arranged on the rotation axis.

In addition, the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, further includes a second movable housing provided to rotate about the rotation axis on the fixed housing. The second movable housing includes an electronic equipment that is fixed to the second movable housing and performs wired communication with the second proximity wireless communication circuit. The control means selects one of the plurality of second array antennas so that a magnitude of a difference between a rotation angle of the first movable housing and a rotation angle of the second movable housing becomes a minimum based on the rotation angle of the second movable housing, controls the first driving means so that a selected second array antenna opposes to the first array antenna, and controls the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits to perform a proximity wireless communication between the electronic equipment and the first proximity wireless communication circuit via the second proximity wireless communication circuit.

Further, the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus further includes a second movable housing provided to rotate about the rotation axis on the fixed housing. The second movable housing includes electronic equipment that is fixed to the second movable housing and performs wired communication between the equipment and the second proximity wireless communication circuit. The control means selects one of the plurality of second array antennas so that a magnitude of a difference between the rotation angle of the first movable housing and the rotation angle of the second movable housing becomes equal to or smaller than a half angle of the angular interval based on the rotation angle of the second movable housing, and controls the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits to perform a proximity wireless communication between the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits via the first array antenna and the selected second array antenna.

Still further, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the electronic equipment is wirely connected to the second proximity wireless communication circuit by means of a cable having a length required to rotate the first movable housing and the second movable housing mutually independently.

In addition, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the first movable housing further includes a buffer memory that stores predetermined signal data. The control means controls the first driving means so that the selected second array antenna opposes to the first array antenna, and thereafter, controls the buffer memory to output signal data outputted to the buffer memory to the first proximity wireless communication circuit.

Further, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the electronic equipment is an imaging apparatus that generates video data and outputs the video data to the buffer memory as the signal data.

Still further, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the second movable housing includes second driving means that rotates the second movable housing, and the control means controls the second driving means to direct the electronic equipment toward a predetermined direction.

In addition, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the control means controls the second driving means to continuously rotate the electronic equipment.

Further, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, the control means controls the second driving means to rotate the electronic equipment in steps.

Still further, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, each of the plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna is an induction coil, and each of the plurality of antenna elements of the second array antenna is an induction coil. When the first array antenna and the selected second array antenna oppose to each other, the induction coils of the first array antenna and the induction coils of the selected second array antenna are inductively coupled with each other, respectively.

In addition, in the above-described proximity wireless communication apparatus, each of the plurality of antenna elements of the first array antenna has a predetermined resonance frequency, and each of the plurality of antenna elements of the second array antenna has the resonance frequency. When the first array antenna and the selected second array antenna oppose to each other, the antenna elements of the first array antenna and the antenna elements of the selected second array antenna are electromagnetically coupled with each other.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention selects one of the plurality of second array antennas provided for the first movable housing, controls the first driving means so that a selected second array antenna opposes to the first array antenna, and controls the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits to perform a proximity wireless communication between the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits via the first array antenna and the selected second array antenna. Therefore, according to the proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention can be rotated endlessly on the fixed housing. In addition, since the proximity wireless communication is performed, it is possible to increase the data transfer speed to be larger than that of the prior art, and the proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention can be realized at a cost lower than that of the prior art.

Further, the proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention selects one of the plurality of second array antennas so that a magnitude of a difference between a rotation angle of the first movable housing and a rotation angle of the second movable housing becomes a minimum based on the rotation angle of the second movable housing, controls the first driving means so that a selected second array antenna opposes to the first array antenna, and controls the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits to perform a proximity wireless communication between the electronic equipment and the first proximity wireless communication circuit via the second proximity wireless communication circuit Therefore, the second movable can be rotated endlessly on the fixed housing.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. In the following preferred embodiments, components similar to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals.

First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 1is a sectional view showing a configuration of a camera apparatus1according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera apparatus1ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a side view showing an application integrated circuit25, an imaging process integrated circuit46, a camera part31, and a flexible cable5ofFIG. 1, andFIG. 4is a plan view showing the application integrated circuit25, the imaging process integrated circuit46, the camera part31, and the flexible cable5ofFIG. 1.FIG. 5is a plan view showing an array antennas49A to49H formed on the imaging process integrated circuit46ofFIG. 1, and an array antenna28formed on the application integrated circuit25. Further,FIG. 6is a table showing an array antenna selection table47tofFIG. 2, andFIG. 7is a flow chart showing a camera apparatus control process executed by a controller47ofFIG. 2.

As described later in detail, the camera apparatus1of the present preferred embodiment is configured to include a fixed housing2, and movable housings3and4that are provided to rotate about a rotation axis21on the fixed housing2. In this case, the fixed housing2includes a proximity wireless communication circuit251including the array antenna28that includes a plurality of induction coils R1, R2and R3fixed in the fixed housing2. In addition, the movable housing4includes a driving apparatus45for rotating the movable housing4, a proximity wireless communication circuit463, and the controller47. The proximity wireless communication circuit463includes eight array antennas49A to49H, each of which includes three induction coils fixed in the movable housing4and is arranged to oppose to the array antenna28when the movable housing4is rotated by a predetermined angle. In this case, the controller47is characterized to select one of the array antennas49A to49H so that a magnitude of a difference between a rotation angle θ3of the movable housing3and a rotation angle θ4of the movable housing4becomes the minimum based on the rotation angle of the movable housing3, control the driving apparatus45so that a selected array antenna opposes to the array antenna28, and controls the proximity wireless communication circuit251and the second proximity wireless communication circuit463to perform a proximity wireless communication between the proximity wireless communication circuit251and the second proximity wireless communication circuit463via the array antenna28and the array antenna selected from among the array antennas49A to49H.

Referring toFIG. 1, the camera apparatus1is configured to include the fixed housing2having a rotation axis21, the movable housing3that is slidably and rotatably supported to the rotation axis21, and the movable housing4that is slidably and rotatably supported to the rotation axis21. In this case, gears26and27are fixed to the rotation axis21. In addition, a dielectric substrate22is fixed inside the fixed housing2at an angle perpendicular to the rotation axis21, and an application integrated circuit25that is an LSI formed of one silicon device is mounted on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate22. Further, magnets23and24are provided inside the fixed housing2.

In addition, referring toFIG. 1, a driving apparatus35for endlessly rotating the movable housing3in a direction counterclockwise about the rotation axis21is provided inside the movable housing3. In this case, the driving apparatus35is configured to include a stepping motor33, a gear32that is fixed to a shaft of the stepping motor33and is engaged with the gear26, and an encoder34that detects a rotating speed of the stepping motor33and generates a pulse signal representing the rotating speed. In addition, a Hall element36is provided for the movable housing3so that the Hall element36opposes to the magnet23when the movable housing3(i.e., the camera part31) is located in a predetermined reference position described later in detail. The encoder34and the Hall element36constitute a rotation angle detection means for detecting the rotation angle θ3(SeeFIG. 3) of the movable housing3. Further, the camera part31, which is an imaging apparatus to generate digital video data (signal data), and an operation input part39of a switch or a numeric keypad are fixed on an upper portion of the movable housing3. The camera apparatus1has two operation modes of an endless rotation mode in which the camera part31is continuously and endlessly rotated about the rotation axis21, and a rotation angle instruction mode in which the rotation angle θ3(SeeFIG. 3) of the camera part31is specified. The user of the camera apparatus1is able to give an instruction of operation in the endless rotation mode or to give an instruction of operation in the rotation angle instruction mode, and an input of the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31to the operation input part39. The operation input part39generates an instruction signal S39including information of the instruction from the user, and outputs the same signal to the controller47provided for the movable housing4.

Further, referring toFIG. 1, a dielectric substrate48is fixed inside the movable housing4at an angle perpendicular to the rotation axis21, the controller47is mounted on a upper surface of the dielectric substrate48, and the imaging process integrated circuit46that is an LSI formed of one silicon device is mounted on a lower surface of the dielectric substrate48. Further, a driving apparatus45for endlessly rotating the movable housing4in a direction counterclockwise to the rotation axis21is provided inside the movable housing4. In this case, the driving apparatus45is configured to include a stepping motor43, a gear42that is fixed to a shaft of the stepping motor43and engaged with the gear27, and an encoder44that detects a rotating speed of the stepping motor43and generates a pulse signal representing the rotating speed. In addition, a Hall element41, that opposes to the magnet24when the imaging process integrated circuit46is located in a predetermined reference position described later in detail, is provided for the movable housing4. The encoder44and the Hall element41constitute a rotation angle detection means for detecting the rotation angle θ4(SeeFIG. 3) of the movable housing4.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, respective circuits including the camera part31, the operation input part39, the stepping motor33, the encoder34and the Hall element36, which are provided for the movable housing3, are electrically connected to connecting conductors at an end portion of the imaging process integrated circuit46by using a flexible cable5(SeeFIGS. 3 and 4). Video data from the camera part31is outputted to the camera signal processing circuit461(SeeFIG. 2) of the imaging process integrated circuit46via the flexible cable5. On the other hand, the instruction signal S39(SeeFIG. 2) including the information of the instruction from the user inputted by using the operation input part39and respective output signals from the encoder34and the Hall element36are outputted to the controller47via the flexible cable5and connecting wiring conductors formed on the dielectric substrate48. In addition, a control signal for the stepping motor33is outputted from the controller47to the stepping motor33via the connecting wiring conductors formed on the dielectric substrate48and the flexible cable5, and the stepping motor33rotates the movable housing3in response to this. Further, the stepping motor43, the encoder44and the Hall element41are each electrically connected to the controller47via connecting wiring conductors in the movable housing4. The output signals from the encoder44and the Hall element41are outputted to the controller47. In addition, a control signal for the stepping motor43is outputted from the controller47to the stepping motor33, and the stepping motor43rotates the movable housing4in response to this.

Referring toFIG. 1, it is noted that the camera part31and the imaging process integrated circuit46rotate about the rotation axis21mutually independently as described later in detail. Therefore, the flexible cable5has a sufficient and shortest length so that neither disconnection nor twisting occurs even if the camera part31and the imaging process integrated circuit46rotate mutually independently and the positions of both ends of the flexible cable5consequently are located apart.

Further, referring toFIG. 1, electric powers are supplied directly from an external power supply to the respective circuits including the application integrated circuit25provided for the fixed housing2. In addition, a slip ring (not shown) for supplying electric powers from the external power supply to the respective circuits provided for the movable housings3and4via the fixed housing2is provided between the fixed housing2and the movable housings3and4.

As shown inFIGS. 1,3,4and5, a center of rotation of the camera part31is defined as O3, and a center of rotation of the imaging process integrated circuit46is defined as O4in the present preferred embodiment. Further, a position of projection of the centers of rotation O3and O4on the application integrated circuit25is defined as an origin O2of a cylindrical coordinate system, and the upward direction with respect to the origin O2is defined as a positive direction of a Z axis. A direction directed rightward from the origin onFIGS. 1 and 4is defined as a positive direction of an X axis. An intersecting point of the application integrated circuit25and the positive direction of the X axis is defined as a reference point ST2of the application integrated circuit25. In addition, a reference position of the camera part31is defined as shown inFIG. 4, an intersecting point of the camera part31and the positive direction of the X axis when the camera part31is located in the reference position is defined as a reference point ST3of the camera part31, and a rotation angle of the camera part31from the reference position is defined as θ3. Further, a reference position of the imaging process integrated circuit46is defined as shown inFIG. 4, an intersecting point of the imaging process integrated circuit46and the positive direction of the X axis when the imaging process integrated circuit46is located in the reference position is defined as a reference point ST4of the imaging process integrated circuit46, and a rotation angle of the imaging process integrated circuit46from the reference position is defined as θ4.

Referring toFIG. 1, the controller47detects whether or not the movable housing3is located in the reference position thereof based on the output signal from the Hall element36, counts the number of pulses of the pulse signal from the encoder34from the timing when the movable housing3is located in the reference position thereof, and calculates the rotation angle θ3based on a counted number of pulses and a known number of pulses when the movable housing3makes a turn. The controller47rotates the movable housing3(i.e., the camera part31) by a desired angle by driving the stepping motor33based on the calculated rotation angle θ3. In a manner similar to above, the controller47detects whether or not the movable housing4is located in the reference position thereof based on the output signal from the Hall element41, counts the number of pulses of the pulse signal from the encoder44from the timing when the movable housing4is located in the reference position thereof, and calculates the rotation angle θ4based on a counted number of pulses and the known number of pulses when the movable housing4makes a turn. The controller47rotates the movable housing4(i.e., the imaging process integrated circuit46) by a desired angle by driving the stepping motor43based on the calculated rotation angle θ4.

Referring toFIG. 5, an array antenna28is formed on the upper surface of the application integrated circuit25. The array antenna28is configured to include three induction coils R1, R2and R3formed at intervals of L in a positive portion of the X axis. In addition, referring toFIG. 5, eight array antennas49A to49H are formed at 45-degree angular intervals of Δθ4around the rotation axis21on the surface of the imaging process integrated circuit46. Each of the array antennas49A to49H is arranged to oppose to the array antenna28. It is noted thatFIG. 5shows a perspective view when the imaging process integrated circuit46is seen from the positive direction of the Z axis in perspective. Concretely speaking, induction coils A1, A2and A3of the array antenna49A are formed on the lower surface of the imaging process integrated circuit46so that the coils A1, A2and A3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively, when the imaging process integrated circuit46is located in the reference position (when the rotation angle θ4is zero degrees). In a manner similar to above, induction coils H1, H2and H3of the array antenna49H are formed so that the coils H1, H2and H3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively, when the rotation angle θ4is 45 degrees. Induction coils G1, G2and G3of the array antenna49G are formed so that the coils G1, G2and G3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively, when the rotation angle θ4is 90 degrees. Induction coils F1, F2and F3of the array antenna49F are formed so that the coils F1, F2and F3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively, when the rotation angle θ4is 135 degrees. In addition, induction coils E1, E2and E3of the array antenna49E are formed so that the coils E1, E2and E3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively, when the rotation angle θ4is 180 degrees. Induction coils D1, D2and D3of the array antenna49D are formed so that the coils D1, D2and D3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively, when the rotation angle θ4is 225 degrees. Further, induction coils C1, C2and C3of the array antenna49C are formed so that the coils C1, C2and C3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively, when the rotation angle θ4is 270 degrees. Induction coils B1, B2and B3of the array antenna49B are formed so that the coils B1, B2and B3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively, when the rotation angle θ4is 315 degrees. It is noted that a slit2sis provided in a portion of the movable housing2, where the porting opposing to the array antenna28.

As described later in detail, the controller47makes one array antenna of the array antennas49A to49H oppose to the array antenna28by rotating the imaging process integrated circuit46by an angular interval Δθ4of 45-degree. In this case, when, for example, the induction coils A1, A2and A3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively, each of the induction coil pair A1and R1, the induction coil pair A2and R2, and the induction coil pair A3and R3is inductively coupled together to form a wireless transmission path. Then, three formed wireless transmission paths are used for proximity wireless communication using wireless TSV. In this case, the wireless TSV is a wireless communication intended for a near field (field at a short distance or a very short distance being equal to or smaller than one-tenth of the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave). For example, when a 40-GHz electromagnetic wave propagates in silicon, 1 mm or less is the near field. In the present preferred embodiment, a distance between the pair of mutually opposing induction coils (a distance between the upper surface of the imaging process integrated circuit46and the lower surface of the application integrated circuit25) is set to 1 mm or less. In addition, a diameter of each induction coil is set to a value smaller than the distance between the mutually opposing induction coils, and the distance L between the induction coils R1, R2and R3is set to a distance at which no interference occurs among the wireless transmission paths. It is noted that a data transfer speed achievable with one pair of induction coils is equal to or larger than 10 Gbps in the wireless TSV.

Referring toFIG. 2, the controller47is configured to include a table memory47mthat previously stores the array antenna selection table47t. As shown inFIG. 6, the array antenna selection table47tshows relations among the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31(i.e., the movable housing3), the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46(i.e., the movable housing4) and the induction coils selected in the imaging process integrated circuit46. Concretely speaking, the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46is set to one angle of zero degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 270 degrees and 315 degrees so that the magnitude |θ3−θ4| of a difference between the rotation angle θ4and the rotation angle θ3becomes the minimum depending on the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31. According to the present preferred embodiment, the magnitude of the difference |θ3−θ4| between the rotation angle θ4and the rotation angle θ3is equal to or smaller than 22.5 degrees, which is one half of the angular interval Δθ4(45 degrees) of the array antennas49A to49H.

In addition, referring toFIG. 2, the imaging process integrated circuit46is configured to include a camera signal processing circuit461, a buffer memory462, and a proximity wireless communication circuit463. In this case, the proximity wireless communication circuit463is configured to the include induction coils A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, . . . , H1, H2and H3, transmitting buffers A1b, A2b, A3b, B1b,B2b, . . . , H1b, H2band H3bconnected to the induction coils A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, . . . , H1, H2and H3, respectively, and an array antenna selection control circuit464to execute turning-on and -off control of the transmitting buffers A1b, A2b, A3b, B1b,B2b, . . . , H1b, H2band H3b. In this case, the camera signal processing circuit461executes predetermined signal processing on video data from the camera part31including a noise rejection process and a compression process, and thereafter, serial-to-parallel converts processed video data into two video data according to a predetermined clock signal, and outputs the clock signal and the two video data to the buffer memory462. The buffer memory462outputs inputted clock signal and two video data to each of the transmitting buffers A1b, B1b, . . . , H1b, the transmitting buffers A2b, B2b, . . . , H2b, and the transmitting buffers A3b, B3b, . . . , H3b. In this case, as described later in detail, the array antenna selection control circuit464is controlled to transmit a control signal for turning on only three transmitting buffers connected to three induction coils included in the array antenna that opposes to the array antenna28among the induction coils A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, . . . , H1, H2, and H3, to the transmitting buffers A1b, A2b, A3b, B1b,B2b, . . . , H1b, H2band H3b. By this operation, the clock signal and the two video data from the camera signal processing circuit461are wirelessly transmitted to the induction coils R1, R2and R3via the buffer memory462, the transmitting buffers turned on by the array antenna selection control circuit464, and the induction coils connected to the transmitting buffers turned on.

Further, referring toFIG. 2, the application integrated circuit25is configured to include a proximity wireless communication circuit251and an application processing circuit252. In this case, the proximity wireless communication circuit251is configured to include the induction coils R1, R2and R3, and receiving buffers R1b, R2band R3bconnected to the induction coils R1, R2, R3, respectively. The clock signal and the two video data received by the induction coils R1, R2and R3are outputted to the application processing circuit252via the receiving buffers R1b, R2band R3b. The application processing circuit252parallel-to-serial converts inputted two video data into one video data according to an inputted clock signal, and executes predetermined application processing to a resultant video data including luminance adjustment processing, color difference adjustment processing and object recognition processing.

Next, the camera apparatus control process executed by the controller47ofFIG. 2is described with reference toFIG. 7. It is noted that the movable housings3and4are located in the respective reference positions thereof before the power of the camera apparatus1is turned on. First of all, when the power of the camera apparatus1is turned on, it is judged at step S1whether or not the instruction signal S39representing the rotation angle instruction mode has been received. If YES at step S1, then the control flow goes to step S2. On the other hand, if NO at step S1, then the control flow goes to step S7. In this case, the instruction signal S39to designate the rotation angle instruction mode includes the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31. Then, at step S2, the controller47determines the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46and three induction coils to be selected with reference to the array antenna selection table47tbased on the rotation angle θ3included in the instruction signal S39. Namely, at step S2, the controller47selects one array antenna from among the array antennas49A to49H. Further, at step S3, the controller47controls the stepping motor33to rotate the camera part31by the rotation angle θ3, and controls the stepping motor43to rotate the imaging process integrated circuit46by the rotation angle θ4, so as to oppose the three induction coils selected in the imaging process integrated circuit46to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively. Then, at step S4, the controller47controls the array antenna selection control circuit464to turn on the transmitting buffers connected to the respective selected three induction coils. Subsequently, at step S5, the controller47controls the buffer memory462to output the video data and the clock signal from the camera signal processing circuit461. By this operation, the video data and the clock signal from the camera signal processing circuit461are wirelessly transmitted to the application processing circuit252via the buffer memory462, the transmitting buffers connected to the selected three induction coils, the selected three induction coils, the induction coils R1, R2and R3, and the receiving buffers R1b, R2b, and R3b. Subsequently to step S5, it is judged at step S6whether or not the instruction signal S39representing stop of the camera apparatus1has been received. If YES at step S6, then the control flow returns to step S1. In this case, the controller47sets the movable housings3and4back to the respective reference positions thereof. In addition, if NO at step S6, then the processing of step S6is repeated.

In addition, referring toFIG. 7, it is judged at step S7whether or not the instruction signal S39representing the endless rotation mode has been received. If YES at step S7, then the control flow goes to step S8. On the other hand, if NO at step S7, the control flow returns to step S1. At step S8, the controller47controls the stepping motor33to rotate the camera part31at a predetermined rotating speed. Next, at step S9, the controller47calculates the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31based on the pulse signal from the encoder34and the output signal from the Hall element36. Then, subsequently to step S9, the controller47determined the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46and the three induction coils to be selected at step S10with reference to the array antenna selection table47tbased on the calculated rotation angle θ3. Namely, at step S10, the controller47selects one array antenna from among the array antennas49A to49H. Next, subsequently to step S10, the controller47controls the stepping motor43to rotate the imaging process integrated circuit46by the rotation angle θ4at step S11, so as to oppose the three induction coils selected in the control stepping motor43to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively. Subsequently, at step S12, the controller47controls the array antenna selection control circuit464to turn on the transmitting buffers connected to the respective selected three induction coils. Next, the controller47controls the buffer memory462to output the video data from the camera signal processing circuit461at step S15, and the control flow goes to step S14. It is judged at step S14whether or not the instruction signal S39representing stop of the camera apparatus1has been received. If YES at step S14, then the control flow returns to step S1. In this case, the controller47sets the movable housings3and4back to the respective reference positions thereof. If NO at step S14, the control flow returns to step S9.

According to the camera apparatus control process ofFIG. 7, the video data from the camera part31is continuously outputted to the camera signal processing circuit461, and the video data and the clock signal from the camera signal processing circuit461are also continuously outputted to the buffer memory462. On the other hand, the video data and the clock signal in the buffer memory462are outputted to the transmitting buffers connected to the selected array antenna only when the selected array antenna among the array antennas49A to49H of the imaging process integrated circuit46opposes to the array antenna28, and wirelessly transmitted from the selected array antenna toward the array antenna28. Therefore, the video data can be wirelessly transmitted with certainty higher than certainty when the buffer memory462is not used.

Next, with reference toFIGS. 8A and 8BtoFIGS. 12A and 12B, concrete examples of the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31and the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46are shown.FIGS. 8A and 8BtoFIGS. 12A and 12Bshow perspective views when the imaging process integrated circuit46is seen from the positive direction of the Z axis in perspective. As shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B, when the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31is 15 degrees, the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46is set to zero degrees, and the induction coils A1, A2and A3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively. As shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B, when the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31is 30 degrees, the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46is set to 45 degrees, and the induction coils H1, H2and H3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively. Further, as shown inFIGS. 10A and 10B, when the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31is 100 degrees, the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46is set to 90 degrees, and the induction coils G1, G2and G3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively. Still further, as shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B, when the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31is 200 degrees, the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46is set to 180 degrees, and the induction coils E1, E2and E3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively. As shown inFIGS. 12A and 12B, when the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31is 300 degrees, the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46is set to 315 degrees, and the induction coils B1, B2and B3oppose to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively. Referring toFIGS. 8A and 8BtoFIGS. 12A and 12B, the rotation angle θ3of the camera part31and the rotation angle θ4of the imaging process integrated circuit46are different from each other. However, according to the present preferred embodiment, the maximum value of the magnitude of the difference between the rotation angles θ3and θ4is 22.5 degrees, and the flexible cable5has the sufficient and shortest length so that neither disconnection nor twisting occurs even if the magnitude of the difference between the rotation angles θ3and θ4is 22.5 degrees. Therefore, the difference between the rotation angles θ3and θ4can be absorbed by the flexible cable5.

As described above, according to the present preferred embodiment, the controller47selects one of the plurality of array antennas49A to49H provided at the movable housing4, and controls the driving apparatus35to oppose selected array antenna to the array antenna28provided for the fixed housing2, so as to perform the proximity wireless communications between the proximity wireless communication circuit463of the movable housing4and the proximity wireless communication circuit251of the fixed housing2via the selected array antenna and the array antenna28. Therefore, the movable housing4can be rotated endlessly on the fixed housing2. In addition, since the proximity wireless communications are performed by using the wireless TSV, the data transfer speed can be raised to a level equivalent to the data transfer speed of wired communications and the camera apparatus of the present preferred embodiment can be realized at a cost lower than that of the prior art. Therefore, according to the present preferred embodiment, high-definition video data can be transferred between the proximity wireless communication circuit463and the proximity wireless communication circuit251.

In addition, according to the present preferred embodiment, the camera part31is provided at the movable housing3separately from the movable housing4, the camera part31is wirely connected to the proximity wireless communication circuit463, and one array antenna is selected from among the array antennas49A to49H so that the magnitude of the difference between the rotation angle θ3of the movable housing3and the rotation angle θ4of the movable housing4becomes the minimum based on the rotation angle θ3of the movable housing3. Therefore, although the movable housing4is endlessly rotated in the angular units of Δθ4(45 degrees in the present preferred embodiment), the movable housing3can be rotated at an arbitrary rotation angle θ3, and the camera part31can be directed in an arbitrary pan direction. Further, the camera part31can be continuously and endlessly rotated on the fixed housing2.

In the present preferred embodiment, the controller47controls the motor33to rotate the camera part31at the predetermined rotating speed in the endless rotation mode, however, the present invention is not limited to this. The motor33may be controlled to rotate the camera part31in predetermined steps. Concretely speaking, for example, the motor33may be controlled to repeat an operation of rotate the camera part31by a predetermined rotation angle (e.g., 30 degrees) and thereafter, fixing the camera part31without rotation for a predetermined period (e.g., ten seconds).

First Modified Preferred Embodiment of First Preferred Embodiment

In the first preferred embodiment, the induction coils R1, R2and R3of the array antenna28formed on the application integrated circuit25are arranged on a straight line (on the X axis) perpendicular to the rotation axis21(SeeFIG. 5), however, the present invention is not limited to this, and the coils R1, R2and R3may be arranged in an arbitrary configuration.FIG. 13is a plan view showing array antennas49A-1to49H-1formed on an imaging process integrated circuit46A and an array antenna28A formed on an application integrated circuit25A according to the first modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 13, the array antenna28A is formed on the upper surface of the application integrated circuit25A of the present modified preferred embodiment. The array antenna28A is configured to include three induction coils R1, R2and R3arranged at vertices of a triangular, respectively. In this case, the induction coils R1and R3are formed on the X axis, while the induction coil R2is formed on a straight line Xa perpendicular to the rotation axis21. In addition, the array antennas49A-1to49H-1are formed on the lower surface of the imaging process integrated circuit46A of the present modified preferred embodiment so that the array antennas49A-1to49H-1oppose to the array antenna28A when the imaging process integrated circuit46A is rotated from the reference position thereof by zero degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 270 degrees, and 315 degrees, respectively.

Although the element interval of the array antenna28is L in the first preferred embodiment, the element interval can be made longer than L without increasing the area of the application integrated circuit25A in the case of the array antenna28A of the present modified preferred embodiment. Therefore, interferences among the induction coils R1, R2and R3can be made smaller than in the first preferred embodiment.

Second Modified Preferred Embodiment of First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 14is a plan view showing array antennas49A-2to49H-2formed on an imaging process integrated circuit46B and an array antenna28B formed on an application integrated circuit25B according to the second modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 14, the array antenna28B is formed on the upper surface of the application integrated circuit25B of the present modified preferred embodiment. The array antenna28B is configured to include three induction coils R1, R2and R3arranged at vertices of a triangular shape, respectively. In this case, the induction coil R1is formed on the X axis, the induction coil R2is formed on a straight line Xa perpendicular to the rotation axis21, and the induction coil R3is formed on a straight line Xb perpendicular to the rotation axis21. In addition, the array antennas49A-2to49H-2are formed on the lower surface of the imaging process integrated circuit46B of the present modified preferred embodiment so that the array antennas49A-2to49H-2oppose to the array antenna28B when the imaging process integrated circuit46B is rotated from the reference position by zero degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 270 degrees, and 315 degrees, respectively. The present modified preferred embodiment exhibits action and advantageous effects similar to those of the first modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment.

Third Modified Preferred Embodiment of First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 15is a plan view showing array antennas49A-3to49H-3formed on an imaging process integrated circuit46C and an array antenna28C formed on an application integrated circuit25C according to the third modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 15, the array antenna28C is formed on the upper surface of the application integrated circuit25C. The array antenna28C is different from the array antenna28of the first preferred embodiment in that the induction coil R1is placed at the origin O2(i.e., on the rotation axis21). Namely, the induction coils R1, R2and R3are formed at an element interval L on the X axis. In addition, the array antennas49A-3to49H-3are formed on the lower surface of the imaging process integrated circuit46C of the present modified preferred embodiment so that the array antennas49A-3to49H-3oppose to the array antenna28C when the imaging process integrated circuit46C is rotated from the reference position by zero degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 270 degrees, and 315 degrees, respectively. In this case, the induction coil A1is provided at the center of rotation O4and shared by the array antennas49A-3to49H-3. It is noted that two circular grooves are formed by removing the rotation axis21from the fixed housing2, and the movable housings3and4are slidably fitted in the grooves, so that the induction coil A1can be formed at the center of rotation O4of the imaging process integrated circuit46C. Alternatively, the rotation axis21is formed in a cylindrical shape so that the induction coil A1can be formed at the center of rotation04of the imaging process integrated circuit46C.

According to the present modified preferred embodiment, the induction coil R1and the induction coil A1consistently oppose to each other, and therefore, the clock signal can be continuously transmitted via the induction coil R1and the induction coil A1. Therefore, wireless communications can be stably performed between the proximity wireless communication circuits463and251than in the first preferred embodiment. In addition, since the induction coil A1is shared by the array antennas49A-3to49H-3, the imaging process integrated circuit46C can be manufactured at lower cost than that of the first preferred embodiment.

Fourth Modified Preferred Embodiment of First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 16is a plan view showing array antennas49A-4to49H-4formed on an imaging process integrated circuit46D and an array antenna28D formed on an application integrated circuit25D according to the fourth modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 16, the array antenna28D is formed on the upper surface of the application integrated circuit25D of the present modified preferred embodiment. The array antenna28D is configured to include three induction coils R1, R2and R3arranged at vertices of a triangular shape, respectively. In this case, the induction coils R1and R3are formed on the X axis, while the induction coil R2is formed on a straight line Xa perpendicular to the rotation axis21. Further, the induction coil R1is formed at the origin O2. In addition, the array antennas49A-4to49H-4are formed on the lower surface of the imaging process integrated circuit46D of the present modified preferred embodiment so that the array antennas49A-4to49H-4oppose to the array antenna28D when the imaging process integrated circuit46D is rotated from the reference position by zero degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 270 degrees, and 315 degrees, respectively.

Although the element interval of the array antenna28C is L in the third modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment, the element interval can be made longer than L without increasing the area of the application integrated circuit25D in the case of the array antenna28D of the present modified preferred embodiment. Therefore, interferences among the induction coils R1, R2and R3can be made smaller than in the third modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment.

Fifth Modified Preferred Embodiment of First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 17is a plan view showing array antennas49A-5to49H-5formed on an imaging process integrated circuit46E and an array antenna28E formed on an application integrated circuit25E according to the fifth modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 17, the array antenna28E is formed on the upper surface of the application integrated circuit25E of the present modified preferred embodiment. The array antenna28E is configured to include three induction coils R1, R2and R3arranged at vertices of a triangular shape, respectively. In this case, the induction coil R1is formed at the origin O2, the induction coil R2is formed on a straight line Xa perpendicular to the rotation axis21, and the induction coil R3is formed on a straight line Xb perpendicular to the rotation axis21. In addition, the array antennas49A-5to49H-5are formed on the lower surface of the imaging process integrated circuit46E of the present modified preferred embodiment so that the array antennas49A-5to49H-5oppose to the array antenna28E when the imaging process integrated circuit46E is rotated from the reference position by zero degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 270 degrees, and 315 degrees, respectively. The present modified preferred embodiment exhibits action and advantageous effects similar to those of the fourth modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment.

Sixth Modified Preferred Embodiment of First Preferred Embodiment

In the first preferred embodiment, the angular interval Δθ4of the array antennas49A to49H is 45 degrees, however, the present invention is not limited to this. The angular interval Δθ4is only required to be a positive divisor N of 360 other than 360 degrees. In this case, M (=360/N) array antennas28are formed on the imaging process integrated circuit46so that each of the M array antennas opposes to the array antenna28when the imaging process integrated circuit46is rotated at angular intervals Δθ4(=N). In addition, the controller47determines the rotation angle θ4so that the magnitude of the difference |θ3−θ4| between the rotation angle θ3and the rotation angle θ4becomes equal to or smaller than Δθ4/2. Further, the length of the flexible cable5is set to a length required to rotate the movable housings3and4mutually independently. Concretely speaking, the length of the flexible cable5is set so that neither disconnection nor twisting occurs even if the magnitude of the difference |θ3−θ4| between the rotation angle θ3and the rotation angle θ4is Δθ4/2.

FIG. 18is a plan view showing the array antennas49A and49E formed on an imaging process integrated circuit46F according to the sixth modified preferred embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the present modified preferred embodiment, the angular interval Δθ4of the array antennas49A and49E is 180 degrees, and only the two array antennas49A and49E are formed on the imaging process integrated circuit46B.

In addition, in the first preferred embodiment, the array antennas49A to49H are arranged at equal intervals around the rotation axis21, however, the present invention is not limited to this. The array antennas49A to49H may be arranged at non-equal intervals. Also in this case, the controller47determines the rotation angle θ4so that the magnitude of the difference |θ3−θ4| between the rotation angle θ3and the rotation angle θ4becomes the minimum.

In the first preferred embodiment and the modified preferred embodiments thereof, the controller47determines the rotation angle θ4with reference to the array antenna selection table47tbased on the rotation angle θ3, however, the present invention is not limited to this. The rotation angle θ4may be calculated based on the rotation angle θ3so that the magnitude of the difference |θ3−θ4| between the rotation angle θ3and the rotation angle θ4becomes the minimum.

In addition, in the first preferred embodiment and the modified preferred embodiments thereof, the number of induction coils that constitute the array antennas28A to28E is three, however, the present invention is not limited to this. The number may be two or equal to or larger than four. By increasing the number of induction coils that constitute the array antennas28A to28E, the data transfer speed between the imaging process integrated circuits46A to46E and the application integrated circuits25A to25E can be increased.

In addition, each of the modified preferred embodiments of the first preferred embodiment is applied also to the following second and third preferred embodiments described later.

Second Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 19is a plan view of a portable telephone apparatus1A according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 20is a sectional view along a line A-B of the portable telephone apparatus1A ofFIG. 19.FIG. 21is block diagram showing a configuration of the portable telephone apparatus1A ofFIG. 19. Although the video data is outputted from the movable housing3to the fixed housing2in the first preferred embodiment described above, the video data is outputted from a fixed housing2A to a movable housing3A in the present preferred embodiment.

Referring toFIGS. 19 and 20, the portable telephone apparatus1A is configured to include the fixed housing2A having a rotation axis21, the movable housing3A that is slidably and rotatably supported to the rotation axis21, and a movable housing4A that is slidably and rotatably supported to the rotation axis21. In this case, a gear27is fixed to the rotation axis21. In addition, a dielectric substrate22is fixed inside the fixed housing2A at an angle perpendicular to the rotation axis21, and an application integrated circuit25B that is an LSI formed of one silicon device on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate22. An array antenna28including induction coils R1, R2and R3is formed on the application integrated circuit25B in a manner similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. Further, a magnet24is provided inside the fixed housing2A.

In addition, referring toFIG. 20, a display part31A that is electronic equipment to display digital video data is fixed on an upper portion of the movable housing3A. A rotation angle detector circuit37for detecting the rotation angle θ3of the movable housing3A is provided inside the movable housing3A.

Further, referring toFIG. 20, a dielectric substrate48is fixed inside the movable housing4A at an angle perpendicular to the rotation axis21, a controller47A is mounted on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate48, and a display process integrated circuit46C that is an LSI formed of one silicon device is mounted on the lower surface of the dielectric substrate48. In addition, induction coils A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, . . . , H1, H2and H3are formed on the display process integrated circuit46C in a manner similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. Further, a driving apparatus45to endlessly rotate the movable housing4A in a direction counterclockwise about the rotation axis21is provided inside the movable housing4A in a manner similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. In addition, a Hall element41is provided at the movable housing4A to oppose to the magnet24when the display process integrated circuit46C is located in a predetermined reference position thereof. In the present preferred embodiment, a cylindrical coordinate system including the center of rotation O3of the display part31A, the center of rotation O4of the display process integrated circuit46C and the origin O2, the reference position and the rotation angle θ3of the display part31A, and the reference position and the rotation angle θ4of the display process integrated circuit46C are defined in a manner similar to those of the first preferred embodiment.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 19toFIG. 21, respective circuits including the display part31A and the rotation angle detector circuit37provided at the movable housing3A are electrically connected to connecting conductors at an end portion of the display process integrated circuit46C by using the flexible cable5(SeeFIG. 20). Referring toFIGS. 19 and 20, the display part31A and the display process integrated circuit46C rotate mutually independently about the rotation axis21in a manner similar to that of the camera part31and the imaging process integrated circuit46of the first preferred embodiment. The flexible cable5has a sufficient and shortest length so that neither disconnection nor twisting occurs even if the positions of both ends of the flexible cable5are located apart as a consequence of the mutual independent rotation of the display part31A and the display process integrated circuit46C. In addition, each of the stepping motor43, the encoder44and the Hall element46is electrically connected to the controller47A via wiring conductors in the movable housing4A.

Further, referring toFIG. 20, an electric power is supplied directly from a secondary battery to the respective circuits including the application integrated circuit25B in the fixed housing2A. In addition, a slip ring (not shown) is provided between the fixed housing2A and the movable housings3A and4to supply power from the secondary battery to the respective circuits in the movable housings3A and4via the fixed housing2A.

In addition, referring toFIG. 21, the application integrated circuit25B is configured to include a proximity wireless communication circuit251A and an application processing circuit252A. In this case, the proximity wireless communication circuit251A is configured to include induction coils R1, R2and R3and transmitting buffers R1c, R2cand R3cconnected to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively. The application processing circuit252A generates video data, serial-to-parallel converts the video data into two video data according to a predetermined clock signal, and outputs the clock signal and the two video data to each of the transmitting buffers R1c, R2cand R3c. Then, the clock signal and the two video data are wirelessly transmitted to three induction coils of the proximity wireless communication circuit463A by using the induction coils R1, R2and R3, where the three induction coils opposing to the induction coils R1, R2and R3, respectively.

Further, referring toFIG. 21, the controller47A is configured to include a table memory47mthat previously stores an array antenna selection table47tin a manner similar to that of the controller47of the first preferred embodiment. When the user endlessly rotates the movable housing3A, the controller47detects the rotation angle θ3of the movable housing3A based on an output signal from the rotation angle detector circuit37. Then, the controller47A determines the rotation angle θ4of the movable housing4A and three induction coils to be selected with reference to the array antenna selection table47tbased on a detected rotation angle θ3. Further, the controller47A controls the stepping motor43to rotate the display process integrated circuit46C by the rotation angle θ4, and controls the array antenna selection control circuit464A to turn on the receiving buffers connected to selected three induction coils. Then, the controller47A controls the buffer memory462to output the clock signal and the video data from the proximity wireless communication circuit463A to the display signal processing circuit461A. The display signal processing circuit461A parallel-to-serial converts the video data into one video data according to the inputted clock signal, and thereafter, outputs a resultant video data to the display part31A to display the data.

The present preferred embodiment exhibits action and advantageous effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment.

Third Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 22is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portable telephone apparatus1B according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Although the video data is outputted from the application integrated circuit25A of the fixed housing2A to the display part31A of the movable housing3A in the second preferred embodiment described above, the video data and other signals are transmitted and received bidirectionally between the application integrated circuit25B of the fixed housing2A and the touch panel part31B of the movable housing3A in the present preferred embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 22, the portable telephone apparatus1B is constituted by replacing the display part31A, the controller47A, the display process integrated circuit46C and the application integrated circuit25A of the portable telephone apparatus1A of the second preferred embodiment with a touch panel part31B, a controller47B, a touch panel processing integrated circuit46D and an application integrated circuit25B. In this case, each of the touch panel processing integrated circuit46D and the application integrated circuit25B is an LSI formed of one silicon device. The touch panel processing integrated circuit46D is configured to include a touch panel signal processing circuit461B, a buffer memory462, and a proximity wireless communication circuit463B. In addition, the proximity wireless communication circuit463B is configured to include induction coils A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, . . . , H1, H2, and H3, transceiving buffer circuits A1d, A2d, A3d, B1d, B2d, . . . , H1d, H2dand H3dincluding transmitting buffers and receiving buffers connected to the induction coils A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, . . . , H1, H2, and H3, respectively, and an array antenna selection control circuit464B that executes on/off control of the transmitting buffers and receiving buffers of the transmitting buffers A1d, A2d,A3d, B1d, B2d, . . . , H1d, H2dand H3d. Further, the application integrated circuit25B is configured to include a proximity wireless communication circuit251B and an application processing circuit252B. In this case, the proximity wireless communication circuit251B is configured to include induction coils R1, R2and R3, and transceiving buffer circuits R1d, R2dand R3dincluding transmitting buffers and receiving buffers connected to the respective induction coils R1, R2and R3.

Referring toFIG. 22, the touch panel part31B is an electronic equipment to detect an event that the user has touched the touch panel part31B, and output signal data including information concerning the touch to the touch panel signal processing circuit461B, while displaying signal data of video data and the like from the touch panel signal processing circuit461B. In addition, the touch panel signal processing circuit461B outputs the output signal from the touch panel part31B to the proximity wireless communication circuit463B via the buffer memory462, while outputting the video data received from the proximity wireless communication circuit463B via the buffer memory462to the touch panel part31B to display the data.

In addition, the application processing circuit252B turns on the transmitting buffers of the transceiving buffer circuits R1c, R2cand R3cat the time of transmitting the video data, so as to wirelessly transmit the video data to be transmitted toward the proximity wireless communication circuit463B via the transceiving buffer circuits R1c, R2cand R3cand the induction coils R1, R2and R3. Further, the application processing circuit252B turns on the receiving buffers of the transceiving buffer circuits R1c, R2cand R3cat the time of receiving data, so as to wirelessly receive data from the proximity wireless communication circuit463B via the induction coils R1, R2and R3.

The controller47B is configured to include the table memory47mthat previously stores the array antenna selection table47tin a manner similar to that of the controller47of the first preferred embodiment. When the user rotates the movable housing3A, the controller47detects the rotation angle θ3of the movable housing3A based on an output signal from the rotation angle detector circuit37. Then, the controller47B determines the rotation angle θ4of the movable housing4A and three induction coils to be selected with reference to the array antenna selection table47tbased on the detected rotation angle θ3. Further, the controller47B controls the stepping motor43to rotate the touch panel processing integrated circuit46D by the rotation angle θ4. In this case, the controller47B controls the array antenna selection control circuit464B to turn on the transmitting buffers of the transceiving buffer circuits connected to the respective selected three induction coils at the time of transmitting data to the application integrated circuit25B, and controls the array antenna selection control circuit464B to turn on the receiving buffers of the transceiving buffer circuits connected to the respective selected three induction coils at the time of receiving data from the application integrated circuit25B.

The present preferred embodiment exhibits action and advantageous effects similar to those of the first preferred embodiment.

In the above-described preferred embodiments and the modified preferred embodiments, the wireless TSV to perform proximity wireless communications is used by opposing the induction coils to each other to so that the induction coils are inductively coupled, however, the present invention is not limited to this. It is acceptable to use another proximity wireless communication method such as Transfer Jet oppose to perform proximity wireless communications by opposing antenna elements, that have a relatively narrow directional pattern, to each other. In addition, it is acceptable to perform proximity wireless communications by using a helical antenna or a meander line antenna that has a predetermined frequency in place of the induction coils A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, . . . , H1, H2, H3, R1, R2and R3, and by utilizing magnetic field coupling or electric field coupling (referred to as electromagnetic field coupling utilizing a resonance phenomenon or electromagnetic field resonant coupling) at the time of resonance of the mutually opposing helical antennas or meander line antennas.

In addition, in the above-described preferred embodiments and modified preferred embodiments, the plurality of array antennas49A to49H or the plurality of array antennas49A-1to49H-1are provided at the fixed housing2or2A, and one array antenna28or28A is provided at the movable housing4or4A, however, the present invention is not limited to this. It is acceptable to provide one array antenna28or28A at the fixed housing2or2A and provide the plurality of array antennas49A to49H or the plurality of array antennas49A-1to49H-1at the movable housing4or4A. In this case, at the movable housing4or4A, the rotation angle θ4of the movable housing4or4A is determined to rotate the movable housing4or4A by the rotation angle θ4, and the information of the movable rotation angle θ4is wirelessly transmitted from the movable housing4or4A to the fixed housing2or2A in a manner similar to one of the above-described preferred embodiments and modified preferred embodiments. Then, in the fixed housing2or2A, one of the plurality of array antennas49A to49H or the plurality of array antennas49A-1to49H-1is selected based on the received rotation angle θ4, and proximity wireless communications are performed between the selected array antenna and the array antenna28or28A of the movable housing4or4A.

Industrial Applicability

As described above in detail, the proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention selects one of the plurality of second array antennas provided for the first movable housing, controls the first driving means so that a selected second array antenna opposes to the first array antenna, and controls the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits to perform a proximity wireless communication between the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits via the first array antenna and the selected second array antenna. Therefore, according to the proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention can be rotated endlessly on the fixed housing. In addition, since the proximity wireless communication is performed, it is possible to increase the data transfer speed to be larger than that of the prior art, and the proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention can be realized at a cost lower than that of the prior art.

Further, the proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention selects one of the plurality of second array antennas so that a magnitude of a difference between a rotation angle of the first movable housing and a rotation angle of the second movable housing becomes a minimum based on the rotation angle of the second movable housing, controls the first driving means so that a selected second array antenna opposes to the first array antenna, and controls the first and second proximity wireless communication circuits to perform a proximity wireless communication between the electronic equipment and the first proximity wireless communication circuit via the second proximity wireless communication circuit Therefore, the second movable can be rotated endlessly on the fixed housing.

The proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention is useful as a proximity wireless communication apparatus for a surveillance camera apparatus that endlessly rotates in the pan direction or a portable telephone apparatus having a rotary display that endlessly rotates. In addition, since the proximity wireless communication circuit can be realized at lower cost than that of the wireless communication circuit having a high-frequency circuit, the proximity wireless communication apparatus of the present invention is also useful as a proximity wireless communication apparatus for surveillance camera apparatuses intended for not only business use but also consumer use.

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