Abstract:
An apparatus is provided that adjusts an angle of image device used with information processing equipment such as a portable computer, a computer for a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor, and a Personal Digital Assistance (PDA). As a display device is rotated relative to a main body, a supporting member adjusts a position of the image device according to rotation of the display device to maintain a desired angle of the image device. The information processing equipment can include a main body with a plurality of key buttons and a display body including a display unit which is rotationally coupled to one side of the main body. An image device unit is installed on one side of the display body for holding the image device. A connecting link rotates the image device unit in accordance with the rotation angle of the display body against the main body. Therefore, the angle of image device such as a camera can be automatically controlled according to the movement of the display body.

Description:
This application is a Continuation Application of Application Ser. No. 09/974,844 filed Oct. 12, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,061,536, which claims priority to application Ser. No. 60318/2000 filed in Korea on Oct. 13, 2000, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable information processing equipment in which a display device is rotated from a main body or a supporting member such as a portable computer, a computer for a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor, and a Personal Digital Assistance (PDA), and more particularly, to an apparatus for adjusting angle of an image device such as a camera which is attached to the display device. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     Generally, information processing equipment is a portable terminal such as a PDA, and a portable computer such as a palmtop computer, a notebook computer, or a laptop computer. Some of these information processing equipments include a display device rotated from a main body or a supporting unit on which various data is displayed. In addition, information processing equipments can include a camera installed on the display device for a video communication. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a perspective view of a portable computer that is one of the information processing equipment including a camera. The portable computer includes a main body  11  having a square plate, and a display body  21  rotationally connected to the main body. 
     A keyboard  13  and a control button  15  are installed on a upper surface of the main body  11 , and a plurality of connector ports  17  are installed on a side boundary for connecting with computer external devices. In addition, a pair of hinge coupling units  19  are formed on the main body  11  protruded upward so that the display body  21  can be opened/closed by rotating from/to the main body  11 . 
     A display panel  23 , which is electrically connected to a built-in unit in the main body  11  and displays data, is disposed on an inner surface of the display body  21 . A camera  31 , which is a kind of an image device, is electrically connected to the built-in unit of the main body  11  and rotatably connected to the display body  21  so that the picture/video communication can be made. The camera  31  is installed on an upper end part of the display body  21 . 
     In addition, a camera accepting portion  41  is formed on the upper end part of the display body  21  to position the camera. The camera accepting portion  41  includes a camera connector  45  so that the camera  31  can be electrically connected to the built-in unit in the main body  11 . A sliding door  43  is installed on the display body  21  so that the camera accepting portion  41  can be slidingly opened/closed. 
     The camera  31  includes a camera body  33  connected to the camera connector  45  so as to be removable and a lens unit  35 . The lens unit  35  has a lens  34  rotatably connected to the camera body  33  so as to photograph a user for the picture communication. 
     To make the picture communication using the image device such as the camera in the portable computer described above, the display body  21  is rotated to a certain angle from the main body  11 , and then the camera  31  is connected to the camera connector  45  of the display body  21 . After that, the lens unit  35  is rotated and controlled so that the camera  31  can photograph the user. 
     However, the portable computer described above has various disadvantages. The camera connector  45  on which the camera  31  is connected is fixed, and therefore, the angle of the lens unit  35  should be changed whenever the viewing angle of the display body  21  from the main body  21  is changed. Further, since the angle of the display body  21  is changed in order to view displayed information according to posture or height of an user in the conventional portable computer, the user should change the angle of the camera  31  so that a face can be correctly inputted through the camera  31 . 
     The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for adjusting an angle of an image device for information processing equipment. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for adjusting an angle of an image device for information processing equipment to maintain a viewing angle of the image device despite rotational movement of a display body between an open position and a closed position. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for adjusting an angle of an image device for information processing equipment by automatically controlling the angle of the image device such as a camera in accordance with movements of a display body. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for adjusting an angle of an image device for information processing equipment by automatically controlling the angle of the image device such as a camera to compensate for movements of a display body. 
     To achieve at least the above objects in a whole or in parts and in accordance with the present invention as broadly embodied and described, there is provided an apparatus for adjusting an angle of an image device for an information processing equipment including a main body including a plurality of key buttons and a built-in unit, a display body having a display unit, rotatably coupled to one side of the main body, an image device unit coupled to the display body that is capable of mounting an image device, and rotation means for rotating the image device unit in accordance with a rotation angle between the display body and the main body. 
     To further achieve at least the above objects in a whole or in parts and in accordance with the present invention as broadly embodied and described, there is provided an apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of an image device for an information processing equipment including a main body including a plurality of key buttons and a built-in unit, a display body including a display unit and connected to one side of the main body to rotate between an open position and a closed position, an image device unit installed on one side of the display body and having an image device installed therein, and rotation means having one side connected to the main body spaced apart from a center of rotation of the display body and the other side connected to the image device unit spaced apart from a center of rotation of the image device unit for rotationally connecting the main body to the image device unit. 
     To further achieve at least the above objects in a whole or in parts and in accordance with the present invention as broadly embodied and described, there is provided an apparatus that adjusts an angle of an image device for an information processing equipment including a display body including a display unit and rotatably coupled to one side of a main body of the information processing equipment, and an image device unit rotating in a prescribed relationship together with the display body. 
     An apparatus for adjusting the angle of the image device for the information processing equipment according to preferred embodiments of the present invention is constructed so that the photographing and projecting angles are compensated when the display body is rotated from the main body, and therefore the photographing and projecting angles are maintained continuously, and the convenience of the user can be improved. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram that shows a perspective view of a general portable computer; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram that shows a partially cut perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of an image device adjustment apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram that shows a front view of a portable computer of  FIG. 2  according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram that shows an exploded perspective view of an apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of an image device according to the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram that shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the portable computer of  FIG. 2  illustrating an operating state of the apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of the image device where the display body of the portable computer is opened at a right-angle; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram that shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the portable computer of  FIG. 2  illustrating is an operating state when the display body of the portable computer is opened at an obtuse angle; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram that shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the portable computer of  FIG. 2  illustrating an operating state when the display body of the portable computer is closed; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram that shows a side cross-sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of an apparatus for automatically adjusting angle of a camera according to the present invention illustrating an operating state when a display body of a portable computer is vertically opened; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram that shows an elevational view in section of the portable computer of  FIG. 8  according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram that shows a partially cut perspective view of an apparatus for automatically adjusting angle of a camera according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram that shows a partially cut perspective view of an apparatus for automatically adjusting angle of a camera according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram that shows a side cross-sectional view of an apparatus for automatically adjusting angle of a camera according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram that shows a partially cut perspective view illustrating a portable computer including a first preferred embodiment of an apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera or the like in an information processing equipment according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first preferred embodiment of an apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera is installed in a portable computer.  FIG. 3  is a diagram that shows a front view of the portable computer in  FIG. 2 . Detailed descriptions of the same or similar components as described above in  FIG. 1  are omitted here. 
     The portable computer shown in  FIG. 2  according to the preferred embodiments include a main body  11  having a pair of hinge engaging portions  19  on an upper surface, a display body  21  coupled to the hinge engaging portions on the main body  11  so as to be rotational for displaying information, and a camera  31 . The camera  31  is preferably removably installed on the display body  21 . 
     The portable computer includes a keyboard  13 , a controlling button  15 , and a connector port  17 . A display panel  23  is preferably disposed on an inner surface of the display body  21  to display the information to a user by being coupled to a built-in unit such as a CPU of the main body  11 . 
     A camera accepting portion  41  having a prescribed shape is formed on an upper center part of the display body  21  so that the camera  31  can be coupled/separated to/from (e.g., removable) the display body  21 , and a sliding door  43  is preferably installed next to the camera accepting portion  41  so as to slidingly cover or block the camera accepting portion  41  for protection when the camera  31  is separated from the portable computer. In addition, a camera connector  45  is disposed in the camera accepting portion  41  so that the camera  31  can be electrically coupled to the built-in unit (not shown) of the main body  11 . The first preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of the camera changes the photographing angle of the camera  31  based on the opening or viewing angle of the display body  21 . 
     The first preferred embodiment of an apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of the camera preferably includes a body protruding portion  58  preferably protruded to the same direction of a protrusion of the hinge engaging portion  19  from a rear center part of the main body  11  and a connecting link  61 . The connecting link  61  is preferably coupled between the body protruding portion  58  and a camera installing portion  50  having the camera connector  45  so as to have a link structure inside the display body  21  for changing the angle of the camera  31  according to the rotation angle of the display body  21 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram that shows an exploded perspective view illustrating the first preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of the camera. To change the angle of the camera  31  in accordance with the rotation angle of the display body  21  in the first preferred embodiment, both ends of the connecting link  61  should be coupled a prescribed distance away from rotation centers of the display body  21  and of the camera installing portion  50 , respectively. An exemplary operating structure will now be described. 
     The connecting link  61  can be formed as a long bar, and holes  61   a  are formed on both ends of the connecting link  61  so as to be coupled to the body connecting portion  59  and a link connecting portion  55 . In addition, the body connecting portion  59  in which the end of the connecting link  61  is rotatably coupled is installed on the body protruding portion  58  which extends inside the display body  21 , but the body connecting portion  59  is offset from the rotation center h of the display body  21 . 
     The body protruding portion  58  is upwardly protruded from the upper surface of the main body  11  to preferably have the same shape of the hinge engaging portions  19  between the pair of hinge engaging portions  19  formed on the main body  11 . Thus, the body connecting portion  59  is positioned apart from the rotation center shaft h on the hinge engaging portion  19  preferably in parallel with the center shaft h. A screw unit  59   a  is formed on a end portion of the body connecting portion  59  to engage a nut  60  to prevent the connecting link  61  from escaping. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. Other couplings can be used to controllably hold the connecting link  61  in a fixed position relative to the body connecting portion  59 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a insertion recess  22  is formed on the display body  21  so that the body protruding portion  58  can be inserted therein. Further, the display body  21  has opened part on the insertion recess  22  corresponding to where the body connecting portion  59  is protruded. 
     The camera device unit  50  preferably includes a rotation shaft  51  rotatably supported inside the camera accepting portion  41 , a supporting plate  53  and the link connecting portion  55 . The supporting plate  53  is disposed to be rotational and the camera connector  45  is preferably fixed thereon. The link connecting portion  55  extends toward the opposite direction of the supporting plate  53  and is coupled to the end portion of the connecting link  61  so as to perform a relative motion. 
     The link connecting portion  55  has a connecting pin  57  protrudingly installed at the position where the connecting link  61  is coupled in parallel with the body connecting portion  59 . A screw unit  57   a  is formed on the connecting pin  57  to be coupled to a nut  60 ′ to prevent the connecting link  61  from escaping in a similar method to the body connecting portion  59 . 
     The link connecting portion  55  described above is formed as a single body with the supporting plate  53  and preferably has a rotation centered around the rotation shaft  51  together with the supporting plate  53 . The link connecting portion  55  is formed and located to be slanted at a selected angle relative to the supporting plate  53 . 
     The rotation shaft  51  is supported to rotate inside the display body  21 , and can be supported, for example, by inserting both end parts into a shaft supporting portion  52  (see  FIG. 5 ) protruded from an inner surface of the display body  21 . 
     A plurality of holes  53   a  are formed on the upper surface of the supporting plate  53  so that the camera connector  45  can be fixed. Fixing pins  45   b  that are coupled to the holes  53   a  protrude from the camera connector  45 . Thus, the fixing pins  45   b  of the camera connector  45  are preferably inserted and fixed into the holes  53   a  of the supporting plate  53 , whereby the camera connector  45  is moved as a single body with the supporting plate  53 . However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited as other couplings can be used to move the camera connector  45  as a single body with the supporting plate. In addition, connecting ports  45   a  or the like in which the connecting pins  33   a  of the camera  31  are inserted are disposed on the camera connector  45 . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram that shows a side cross-sectional view illustrating the portable computer of  FIG. 2  along line A-A. Exemplary lengths of the connecting link  61  in the first preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of the camera and positions where the connecting link  61 , the connecting pin  57  and the body connecting portion  59  are coupled will now be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     In the connecting link  61 , a length L 1  between the centers of the holes  61   a  is the same as a length L 2 , which is a shortest distance between the rotation shaft  51  and the rotation center h of the display body  21 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the body connecting portion  59  is located so that a distance L 4  horizontally spaced apart from the rotation center h of display body is the same as a distance L 3  between the rotation shaft  51  and the connecting pin  57 . Further, the body connecting portion  59  is disposed to have a prescribed height difference H 2  from the rotation center h of the display body  21  that corresponds a height difference H 1  of the connecting pin  57  from the rotation shaft  51 . However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. 
     Operations of the portable computer having the first preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of camera according to the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 .  FIG. 5  is a view showing an operating state of the first preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of the camera in the state that the display body of the portable computer is opened at a right-angle.  FIGS. 6 and 7  are views showing an operating state of the apparatus when the display body of the portable computer is opened at an obtuse angle and closed, respectively. 
     For video communications using the camera  31 , the display body  21  is moved to stand from the main body  11 , for example as shown in  FIG. 5 , and then the sliding door  43  coupled to the display body  21  is opened to open the camera accepting portion  41 . The camera  31  is then coupled to the camera connector  45  disposed inside the camera accepting portion  41 , and the angle of the camera  31  is controlled so that the lens unit  35  of the camera  31  is directed to a user by rotating the lens unit  35  against the camera body  33 . 
     When the user rotates the display body  21  to the clock-wise direction behind the main body  11  in order to control the tilt angle of the display panel  23 , for example to yield an obtuse angle as shown in  FIG. 6 , the supporting plate  53  moves to the counter clock-wise direction centered on the rotation shaft  51  relative to the angle or amount of movement of the display body  21 , which is centered on the rotation center h, because of the connecting link  61  coupled to the link connecting portion  55 . Thus, the rotation angle or amount of the display body  21  is compensated and the earlier preset photographing angle of the lens unit  35  is preferably maintained. 
     When the user rotates the display body  21  to the counter clock-wise direction in the state that the camera  31  is not separated from the camera connector  45 , the supporting plate  53  is rotated to the clock-wise direction relative the display body  21 , for example as shown in  FIG. 7 . When the portable computer is closed, the camera  31  is rotated behind the upper end part of the display body  21  and the lens unit  35  is faced frontward as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Therefore, in the first preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of the camera according to the present invention, when the display body  21  is moved from the main body  11  between an open position and a closed position, then the camera  31  is correspondingly rotated to an opposite direction of the rotation angle of the display body  21 . Therefore, the photographing angle can be compensated, and problems or inconveniences of controlling the photographing angle of the camera can be reduced or solved. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram that shows a side cross-sectional view of an apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of an image device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted in a display body of a portable computer opened vertically.  FIG. 9  is a diagram that shows an elevational front view having a cut-away section showing principal parts in the portable computer according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     In the second preferred embodiment of a portable computer according to the present invention, a first connecting link  161  and a second connecting link  162  are respectively installed between a camera device unit  130  and a main body  111  preferably on front and rear sides of the display body  121  to automatically control a photographing angle of a camera  131 . However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. For example, fewer or more multiple connecting links could be installed on the same side of the display body. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-9 , the second preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera couples the first connecting link  161  from a left side of a body protruding portion  158  protruded from the main body  111  on an inner front side of the display body  121 . The second connecting link  162  couples from a right side of the body protruding portion  158  protruded from the main body  111  on an inner rear side of the display body  121 . 
     One advantage of positions of the first and second connecting links  161  and  162  being set differently is preventing interference between the first and the second connecting links  161  and  162  when the display body  121  is totally opened/closed relative to the main body  111 . 
     A first and a second body connecting portions  159  and  160  in which the first and second connecting links  161  and  162  are coupled are formed respectively on both sides of the body protruding portion  158 . The first and second body connecting portions  159  and  160  are preferably disposed on opposing sides of the rotation center h of the display body  121 . 
     A camera device unit  150  is preferably installed to an inner upper side of the display body  121 . However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. The camera device unit  150  includes a rotation shaft  151  preferably supported inside the display body  121 , a supporting plate  153  supported by the rotation shaft  151 , and connecting portions  156  and  157  preferably protruded on both sides of the supporting plate  153  so that the first and the second connecting links  161  and  162  are rotationally coupled therein or thereto. The rotation shaft  151  is rotationally supported on a shaft supporting unit  152  or the like fixed inside the display body  121 . 
     The supporting plate  153  rotates around the rotation center  151  and has the rotation center  151  preferably on center portion. A connector supporting portion  153   a  is preferably upwardly protruded on an upper portion of the supporting plate  153  so that the camera  131  is installed on a camera connector  145 . However, the camera connector  145  may be directly fixed on the upper surface of the supporting plate  153  as in the first preferred embodiment according to the present invention without forming the connector supporting portion  153   a.    
     The connecting portions  156  and  157  are located on the front and the rear sides of the display body  121  as shown in  FIG. 8  and the first and the second connecting links  161  and  162  are respectively coupled thereto. The connecting links  161  and  162  can be made using metal wires having a certain diameter with a circular ring portion on both end parts to be respectively assembled to the body connecting portions  159  and  160  and to the connecting portions  156  and  157 . 
     In the second preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of the camera according to the present invention, the photographing angle of camera  131  is compensated by moving of the connecting links  161  and  162  and the supporting plate  153  as a parallelogram structure according to the movement of the display body  121  as shown in  FIG. 8 . However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram that shows a partial cut perspective view showing a third preferred embodiment of a apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera according to the present invention. The third preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera is mounted in a portable computer. 
     A camera accepting portion and a camera device unit are located on the center part of a display body in the first and second preferred embodiments. However, a camera accepting portion  241  and a camera device unit  250  are located on a right upper end of a display body  221  and a connecting link  261  is installed to an inner right side of the display body  221  in the third preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     In the third preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera, a body connecting portion  259  is protruded from a side surface of a right hinge engaging portion  219  on a main body  211 . The connecting link  261  preferably extends upwardly from the body connecting portion  259  to the camera device unit  250  to compensate an angle of the camera  231  according to the movement of the display body  221  between an open and closed position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , structures of the camera connector  245 , a supporting plate (not shown), a rotation shaft (not shown), and a link connecting portion (not shown) forming the camera device unit  250  are preferably similar to the first preferred embodiment according to the present invention and a detailed description is omitted. The camera device unit  250  and the connecting link  261  are installed on the right side in the third preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera, however, these may be installed on left side of the display body  221  according to the conditions. Further, the connecting link  261  is coupled to a right lateral side of the hinge engaging portion  219 , but could be installed on a left inside lateral side or both sides of the hinge engaging portion  219 . 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram that shows a partially cut perspective view showing a fourth preferred embodiment of apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera according to the present invention. The fourth preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera is mounted in a portable computer. 
     In the portable computer of  FIG. 11 , a camera accepting portion  241 ′ and the camera device unit  250 ′ are located on a right central part of the display body  221 , and a connecting link  261 ′ is coupled to the right hinge engaging portion  219  of the main body  211  from the camera device unit  250 ′. That is, the camera accepting portion  241 ′ is preferably formed by omitting a center part on a side surface of the display body  221  so that the camera is located therein. Preferably, the camera connector  245 , a supporting plate, a rotation shaft, and a connecting portion for constituting the camera device unit  250 ′ are installed in the camera accepting portion  241 ′. A sliding door  243  for protecting the camera device unit  250 ′ can be retractably disposed in the display body  221 . 
     In the fourth preferred embodiment of the apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera, a body connecting portion  259  is protruded from a side surface of a right hinge engaging portion  219  on a main body  211 . The connecting link  261 ′ preferably extends upwardly from the body connecting portion  259  to the camera device unit  250 ′ to compensate an angle of the camera  231  according to the movement of the display body  221 . In addition, the connecting link  261 ′ is connected to a body connecting portion  259  apart a certain distance from a rotation center of the display body  221  on the hinge engaging portion  219  of the main body  211  similar to the third preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram that shows a side cross sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of a apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of a camera according to the present invention. The fifth preferred embodiment is mounted in a portable computer having a display body  321  and a main body  311 . 
     A camera connector is formed so that the camera can be inserted/separated to/from the display body in the first through fourth preferred embodiments, however, a camera  331  in the fifth preferred embodiment is coupled to a connecting link  361  by being rotationally installed inside the display body  321 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , a camera body  332  is supported inside the display body  321  capable of rotation, and a connecting portion  335  is spaced apart by a prescribed distance (e.g., offset) from a rotation shaft  333  of the camera body  332 . The connecting link  361  is coupled to the connecting portion  335 . In addition, the connecting link  361  is coupled to a body connecting portion  359  protruded from a body protruding portion  358  of the main body  311 , for example, as in the first preferred embodiment. 
     An opened portion  322  is formed on a front surface of the display body  321  so that a lens unit  334  of the camera  331  is exposed. The camera  335  may be formed as a circle so as to smoothly rotate in the display body  321  as shown in  FIG. 12 . However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. Further, the camera  331  may be coupled to the connecting link  361  by installing an additional supporting plate (not shown) on one or both sides of the camera  331  as described above. 
     As described above, the preferred embodiments according to the present invention were described using exemplary devices including a camera and a portable computer. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. For example, instead of a camera, which is detachably installed on the portable computer in the above preferred embodiments other image devices such as a projector can be installed on the portable computer. Also, the preferred embodiments of present invention can be applied to general monitors including an Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor. Such an LCD monitor corresponds to the display body in the preferred embodiments, and a pedestal for supporting the LCD monitor corresponds to the main body. 
     As described above, preferred embodiments of an apparatus for automatically adjusting an angle of an imaging device such as a camera according to the present invention have various advantages. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, both ends of a connecting link are rigidly connected together, each end spaced apart from the rotation centers of a camera device unit and a display body for an information processing device at a prescribed angle and distance. A rate of a changed angle of an installed camera is modified by the connecting link in accordance with the changed angle of the display body and can be controlled by controlling the angle and distance between the connecting link and the rotation centers according to the preferred embodiments. For example, it may be set such that the rotation angle of the installed camera is changed as 9.5° when the rotation angle of the display body is changed as 10°. Further, preferred embodiments of an apparatus for automatically adjusting the angle of an image device according to the present invention are constructed so that the photographing and projecting angles of the image device unit such as a camera can be compensated when the display body is rotated relative to a main body of an information processing device, and therefore, the viewing, photographing or projecting angles that are set earlier can be maintained despite relative movement of the display body. In addition, the convenience of the information processing device can be increased. 
     The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.