Abstract:
An electronic apparatus includes a shooting device, a housing and a switch ring rotatably engaged with and fixed onto said housing, wherein when said switch ring is rotated, a focal point for photography of said shooting device is manually switched.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the right of foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-347248, filed on Nov. 30, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to an electronic apparatus having a shooting device, and more particularly to an apparatus that enables a focal point of the shooting device to be manually switched (which is also referred to as a “macro switching apparatus”) The present invention is suitable, for example, for a rotatable macro switching apparatus for a shooting device which is mounted onto a foldable cell phone (including a personal digital cellular (“PDC”), a personal handy phone system (“PHS”), and another mobile communication terminal, which are generally referred to as “mobile radio communication apparatuses”).  
         [0003]     Along with recent widespread of the mobile radio communication apparatuses, various demands have been made on them including versatility, the reduced number of component, and an improved operability.  
         [0004]     From the versatility aspect, a cell phone having a shooting device is proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application, Publication (“JP”) No. 2005-218119). In addition, a focus switching mechanism that manually changes a focal point position of the shooting device by rotating a switch ring attached to a housing of the cell phone (see, for example, JP No. 2005-218119).  
         [0005]      FIG. 5  is a partially sectional view around a housing  3  of a shooting device  4  in JP No. 2005-218119. A switch ring  1  is rotatably fixed onto the housing  3  via a cover  6 . A shooting device panel  2  is provided as a transmission window between the switch ring  1  and a case  3 , and protects a lens (not shown) in the shooting device  4  held by a holder  5 . The switch ring  1  has a projection (not shown) engageable with a flat spring  7 . The projection is engaged with the flat spring  7  at two focal point positions. When the projection becomes engaged with the flat sprint  7 , a user can obtain a click sense or sound, confirming a switch of the photographing mode.  
         [0006]     Other prior art include JP Nos. 2005-277643 and 2005-189414.  
         [0007]     JP No. 2005-218119 arranges the cover  6  that fixes the switch ring  1  on the housing  3 , and needs the flat spring  7  that provides the click sense when the focal point is changed by the switch ring  1 , thus requiring many components. In addition, in JP No. 2005-218119, the switch ring  1  projects from the housing  3 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the shooting device is likely to be caught. Therefore, the operability is insufficient, because this configuration causes a drop of the cell phone  100 , a damage of a shooting device due to pressure, and a breakdown of the shooting device panel  155   b.    
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Accordingly, it is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide an electronic apparatus having a shooting device and a macro switching apparatus that reduces the number of components and improves operability.  
         [0009]     An electronic apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a shooting device, a housing and a switch ring rotatably engaged with and fixed onto the housing, wherein when the switch ring is rotated, a focal point for photography of the shooting device is manually switched. According to the electronic apparatus, switch ring is engaged with and fixed onto the housing, and supersedes the cover that fixes the switch ring, thereby reducing the number of components.  
         [0010]     A top surface of the switch ring is preferably as high as a top surface of the housing. The operability improves by preventing the switch ring from projecting. The electronic apparatus may further include a holder fixed, as a separate member from the housing, in the housing, and a shooting device panel that is held between the switch ring and the holder, and protects a lens of the shooting device. While JP No. 2005-218119 arranges the shooting device panel on the housing and the shooting device panel and the switch ring that covers it are likely to project from the housing, this inventive configuration prevents the projection by holding the shooting device panel with the holder that is a separate member from the housing and improves the operability. For example, the electronic apparatus is a movable radio communication apparatus, and the holder holds the shooting device and an antenna for the movable radio communication apparatus.  
         [0011]     An electronic apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a shooting device, a housing, a holder that is fixed, as a separate member from the housing, in the housing, and at least partially holds the shooting device, a switch ring that enables a focal point for photography of the shooting device to be manually switched when the switch ring is rotated; and a clicking unit that uses an engagement between the switch ring and the holder, and provides a click sense at two rotating positions of the switch ring, which correspond to two focal point positions. According to the electronic apparatus, the clicking unit utilizes the engagement between the switch ring and the holder, and supersedes the flat spring as in JP No. 2005-218119. Therefore, the number of components reduces.  
         [0012]     The clicking unit includes, for example, an elastic member that is provided at one of the switch ring and the holder, and deformable between a first position and a second position, the elastic member being located at the first position when the switch ring is located at one of the two rotating positions, and the elastic member being located at the second position when the switch ring is located between the two rotating positions, and a cam member that is provided at the other of the switch ring and the holder, contacts the elastic member, and deforms the elastic member between the first and second positions.  
         [0013]     The elastic member and the switch ring may be made of the same resin material and integrated with each other. The cam member and the holder may be made of the same resin material and integrated with each other. Thereby, the number of components reduces rather than configuring them as separate members.  
         [0014]     Other objects and further features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are side and front views when a cell phone as an inventive foldable information processing apparatus opens, and  FIG. 1C-1E  are top, side and rear views when the cell phone closes.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of the cell phone shown in  FIGS. 1A-1E .  
         [0017]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are partially enlarged sectional and plane views near the shooting device shown in  FIG. 1D .  
         [0018]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are views for explaining one example of a click means applicable to the shooting device shown in  FIG. 3A .  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a partially sectional view near the conventional shooting device&#39;s housing. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     A description will be given of a cell phone  100  as one example of an inventive electronic apparatus, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here,  FIG. 1A  is a left side view of the opening cell phone  100 .  FIG. 1B  is a front view of the opening cell phone  100 .  FIG. 1C  is a top view of the closed cell phone  100 .  FIG. 1D  is a left side view of the closed cell phone  100 .  FIG. 1E  is a rear view of the closed cell phone.  FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of a fixed-side housing  120  of the cell phone  100 .  
         [0021]     The cell phone  100  is a foldable cell phone that foldably couples the movable-side housing  110  to the fixed-side housing  120  via a hinge part  130 , and the movable-side housing  110  is configured to be rotatable relative to the fixed-side housing  120 . A user can fold the movable-side housing  110  onto the fixed-side housing  120  as shown in  FIG. 1D  during a non-use period of the cell phone  100  by rotating the movable-side housing  110  in a 1  direction in  FIG. 1A . In addition, before using, the user opens the movable-side housing  110  from the fixed-side housing  120 , as shown in  FIG. 1A , by rotating the folded movable-side housing  110  in a 2  direction shown in  FIG. 1D .  
         [0022]     The movable-side housing  110  has a housing structure that couples a front case  112  to a rear case  114 , as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , installs an LCD holder (or movable-side chassis)  116 , and houses a variety components, such as a display  140 , and a receiver  142 .  
         [0023]     The display  140  includes an LCD module that displays communication information, such as transmission information, reception information, address book information, information input by an operating part  150 , and various functional information. The LCD module is held by the magnesium alloy LCD holder (movable-side chassis)  116 . The receiver  142  outputs voices of a communicatee.  
         [0024]     The fixed-side housing  120  also has a housing structure that couples a front case  122  to a rear case  124 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B  and  1 E. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the fixed-side housing  110  installs a key case (fixed-side chassis)  126  and a holder  128 , and houses a variety components, such as the operating part  150 , the printed board  152 , a speaker  153 , a vibrator  154 , a shooting device  155 , an IrDa panel  157 , a battery  158 , and an antenna  159 .  
         [0025]     The front case  122  and the rear case  124  are formed, for example, by injection molding using ABS resin. Both are combined with each other by screws  123   a , and each screw  123   a  is covered by a PET screw cap  123   b  and a rear cover  125 . The rear case  124  is detachably coupled with the rear cover  125 .  
         [0026]     The operating part  150  has a pad and a flexible module, and the pad is mounted with a track-ball type operating section, and a ten-key type operating section. The operating part  150  inputs communication information. Information is input from the pad, and the flexible module serves as a switch. The operating part  150  is held by a magnesium alloy key case and a front case  122 .  
         [0027]     The printed board  152  processes information input from the operation part  150 , transmission and reception information, and other information, and transmits the information to the display  140 . A microphone (not shown) through which a user speaks during calls is attached to the printed board  152 . The printed board  152  is held by the ABS holder  128  and key case.  
         [0028]     The printed board  152  has a terminal to which an earphone is connected, and a connection terminal with an external apparatus, such as a personal computer (“PC”), and these terminals are covered by rubber covers  127   a  and  127   b  attached to the rear case  124 .  
         [0029]     The speaker  153  outputs an incoming call sound, and is attached to an opening  124   b  in the rear case  124 . The vibrator  154  transmits the incoming call through vibrations to the user instead of the sound.  
         [0030]     The shooting device  155  is a module that takes both still and motion pictures. The macro switch ring  155   b  switches between a normal photographing mode and a zooming mode (or a focal point), and is attached to an opening  124   a  in the rear case  124 . The acrylic out shooting device panel  155   a  is inserted into the ABS macro switch ring  155   b , and protects a lens.  
         [0031]      FIG. 3A  is a partially sectional view near the macro switch ring  155   b  in the shooting device  155 .  FIG. 3B  is an enlarged plane view near the macro switch ring  155   b  of the rear case  124  shown in  FIG. 1E .  
         [0032]     The switch ring  155   b  is rotatably engaged with and fixed onto the rear case  124  by a nail (not shown) of the switch ring, etc. The rear case  124  has a function of and supersedes the cover  6  shown in  FIG. 5 , thereby reducing the number of components. The rear case  124  serves as a positioning presser. The switch ring  155   b  is rotatable, as shown in  FIG. 3B , between a standard position S and a macro position M that correspond to two focal point positions.  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIG. 3A , a top surface  155   g  of the switch ring  155   b  is as high as a top surface  124   c  of the rear case  124 . Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 1D , the surface of the rear case  124  is flat, unlike the switch ring  1  projecting from the housing  3  in the prior art shown in  FIG. 5 . Therefore, the operability improves by preventing a drop of the cell phone  100 , a damage of a shooting device due to pressure, and a breakdown of the shooting device panel  155   b.    
         [0034]     The holder  128  holds the shooting device  155  and the antenna  159 . The holder  128  is fixed, as a separate member from the rear case  124 , in the fixed-side housing  120 . The shooting device panel  155   b  is held between the switch ring  155   b  and the holder  128 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . The prior art shown in  FIG. 5  arranges the shooting device panel  2  on the housing  3 , and the shooting device panel  2  and the switch ring  1  that covers it are likely to project from the housing  3 . On the other hand, this embodiment holds the shooting device panel  155   b  by using the holder  128  that is a separate member from the rear case  124 , preventing the above projection, and improving the operability.  
         [0035]     The shooting device  155  further includes a clicking means that utilizes an engagement between the switch ring  155   b  and the holder  128 , and provides a click sense at two rotating positions S and M of the switch ring  155   b , which correspond to the two focal point positions. The click means utilizes an engagement the switch ring  155   b  and the holder  128 , and supersedes the flat spring  7  in the prior art shown in  FIG. 5 , thereby reducing the number of components.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show one example of the clicking means. Here,  FIG. 4A  is a partially exploded perspective view in which the macro switch ring  155   b  is removed from the holder  128 , and omits the shooting device panel  155   a .  FIG. 4B  is a partially perspective view of the holder  128  to which the macro switch ring  155   b  is attached.  
         [0037]     The clicking means shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  includes a resin spring  155   h  and a cam member  129 . The resin spring  155   h  is provided to the switch ring  155   b . The resin spring  155   h  is located at a lower position when the switch ring  155   b  is located at one of the two rotating positions S and M, and at an upper position when the switch ring  155   b  is located between the two rotating positions S and M. The cam member  129  is provided on the holder  128 , contacts the resin spring  155   h , and deforms the resin spring  155   h  between the upper and lower positions. The cam member  129  has a pair of concaves  129   a  and  129   b , and a convex  129   c . When the resin spring  155   h  is located at one of the concaves  129   a  and  129   b , the resin spring  155   h  is located at the lower position. When the resin spring  155   h  is located at the convex  129   c , the resin spring  155   h  is located at the upper position.  FIG. 4B  shows that the resin spring  155   h is located at the concave  129   a , and this position is the lock position of the standard position S. When the resin spring  155   h  is located at the concave  129   b , the macro switch ring  155   b  is located at the lock position of the macro position M.  
         [0038]     The resin spring  155   h  and the switch ring  155   b  are made of the same resin material and integrated with each other. In addition, the cam member  129  and the holder  128  are made of the same resin material and integrated with each other. These configurations reduce the number of components rather than configuring them as separate members.  
         [0039]     The IrDa panel  157  is used for short-distance infrared data transmissions. The battery  158  includes a battery pack as a secondary battery, and a rear cover  125  that shields and exposes it is attached detachably to the rear case  124 . Screws  123   a  are provided under the rear cover  125 , and couple the front case  122  to the rear case  124 . The antenna  159  is used for communications with a base station.  
         [0040]     A variety of components mounted on the fixed-side housing  120  may use any technology known in the art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.  
         [0041]     The hinge part  130  foldably couples the movable-side housing  110  to the fixed-side housing  120 , and has a divided structure.  
         [0042]     In operation, the user uses the shooting device  155  to take still and motion pictures through various functions of the operating part  150 . The switch ring  155   b  does not project from the rear case  124 , as shown in  FIG. 1D , improving the operability. In addition, the rear case  124  serves to fix the switch ring  155   b , and the click means reduces the number of components by superseding the conventional flat spring.  
         [0043]     Further, the present invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments, and various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0044]     Thus, the present invention can provide an electronic apparatus having a shooting device and a macro switching apparatus that reduces the number of components and improves operability.