Abstract:
An image-photographing apparatus and method comprises a camera unit for an image, a body in which the camera unit is disposed, a display panel for g the image, and a hinge unit connected to the display panel, for allowing the nit to selectively turn to one of both side directions which are symmetrical with e to the body. Accordingly, an operator can hold the apparatus with their right and conveniently.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-56925, filed on Aug. 18, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an image-photographing apparatus and method for capturing an image and storing the captured image. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for capturing, storing and displaying images in different positions relative to the body of the image-capturing device.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     A camcorder, which exemplifies an image-photographing apparatus for recording and reproducing a captured image of an object on and from a recording medium such as a tape, has been widely used.  
         [0006]     Such a camcorder includes a lens device for capturing an image, a recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing the captured image, and a display device for displaying the recorded images. The conventional recording and reproducing device employs a deck using a magnetic tape. However, the recent development of recording and reproducing devices such as a memory stick, a high-capacity Hign Definition Display (HDD), and so on, can allow a reduction in size and weight of the image-photographing apparatus.  
         [0007]     Display devices generally includes a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel openably and closably mounted to a side of a body of the camcorder, and also includes a viewfinder. Generally, the LCD panel is disposed at the left side of the camcorder body from a point of view of the photographer. That is, most camcorders are designed for right-handed users, and accordingly, the LCD panel is disposed at the left side to avoid interfering with the user&#39;s right hand. Accordingly, the opening and closing of the LCD panel is performed at the beginning and ending of the recording of an event, and the LCD panel turns by a predetermined angle when opened. Usually the viewfinder is disposed at an opposite side to a camera device.  
         [0008]     However, if the operator is a left-handed user, because the LCD panel is designed for the right-handed user and is disposed at the left side of the camcorder, the LCD panel is inconvenient for the left-handed user to operate. Also, even if the operator is a right-handed user, the operator sometimes wants to hold the camcorder using their left hand. In that situation, the operator is inconvenienced.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention has been developed in order to solve the above described problems in the prior art. Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an image-photographing apparatus having an improved structure and method, which is capable of selectively changing a position of a display panel to suit both the right-handed operator and left-handed operator.  
         [0010]     The above aspect is achieved by providing an image-photographing apparatus and related method comprising a camera unit for capturing an image. The apparatus also comprises a body in which the camera unit is disposed, a display panel for displaying the image, and a hinge unit connected to the display panel, for allowing the display unit to selectively turn to one of both side directions which are symmetrical with reference to the body.  
         [0011]     The hinge unit may comprise a first axis unit for supporting and rotating the display panel at a predetermined angle with reference to an image-photographing direction which is established by the camera unit; and a second axis unit connected to the first axis unit, for supporting and rotating the display panel at a predetermined angle with reference to a perpendicular direction of the image-photographing direction.  
         [0012]     The first axis unit may comprise a fixing bracket fixed to the body and having a shaft hole, a shaft member inserted into the shaft hole, and a rotary bracket supported on the shaft member to be rotatable with respect to the fixing bracket, and supporting the second axis unit, and further comprises a click bracket disposed between the fixing bracket and the rotary bracket, for generating a click when the rotary bracket rotates at a predetermined angle.  
         [0013]     The click bracket may be a plate spring that is fixed to the rotary bracket and has embossed portions protruding therefrom at a predetermined rotation angle interval for insertion into a click recess formed in the fixing bracket.  
         [0014]     In an embodiment of the present invention, the click bracket may be disposed at the fixed bracket and embossed portions may protrude from the rotary bracket  
         [0015]     The first axis unit may further comprise a detecting switch for detecting a rotation state of the display panel.  
         [0016]     Preferably, the detecting switch may comprise a pattern terminal panel supported by the fixing bracket, and having a switch terminal of a predetermined pattern disposed on a surface opposing to the rotary bracket; and a switching elastic piece supported by and rotating together with the rotary bracket, and elastically contacting with the switch terminal according to a rotation position to be switched on and off according to a position mode of the display panel.  
         [0017]     The switch terminal may comprise a basic terminal shaped in a circular arc pattern with respect a rotation axis of the rotary bracket, and first, second and third mode terminals adjacent to the basic terminal and selectively connected to the reference terminal by the switching elastic piece according to the rotation angle of the rotary bracket.  
         [0018]     Reference coordinates of the image displayed on the display panel are determined according to connection states of the basic terminal to the respective mode terminals.  
         [0019]     The respective mode terminals each occupy a predetermined space between a reference angle 0° and a rotation angle of at least 270°, wherein the reference angle 0 is set as the display panel is seated in the body.  
         [0020]     The first mode terminal may preferably be provided in a space between 0° and at least 135°, the second mode terminal may preferably be provided in a space between 135° and 225°, and the third mode terminal may preferably be provided in a space between 225° and at least 270°, and the first, the second, the third mode terminals may be connected to the basic terminal by the switching elastic piece.  
         [0021]     The body may comprise a first case in which a storage medium is disposed, a second case connected to an upper portion of the first case, in which the camera unit is disposed, and a third case connected to the upper portion of the first case to be symmetrical to the second case, in which a viewfinder is disposed. Between the second and the third cases is provided a gap for movably receiving the hinge unit.  
         [0022]     The body further may comprise a cover bracket connected to the hinge unit, for covering the gap.  
         [0023]     The first case may comprise a panel receiving portion depressed in an outer side of the first case, for receiving the display panel, and a battery receiving portion depressed in the other outer side of the first case and symmetrical to the panel receiving portion.  
         [0024]     The first, the second and the third mode terminals may be disposed within the same rotation radius. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0025]     The above aspect and other advantages of the present invention will be more apparent by describing embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an image-photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2A  is a partial cross section perspective view showing the image-photographing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 2B  is an enlarged perspective view showing the main part of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing the first shaft unit of the hinge unit of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the second shaft unit of the hinge unit of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the detecting switch of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a view showing the display panel mounted in the mounting portion of the body of the display panel;  
         [0033]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are views respectively showing the display panel rotated by 90° and a connection to the detecting switch in a state that the display panel is rotated by 90°;  
         [0034]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are views respectively showing the display panel rotated by 135° and a connection to the detecting switch in a state that the display panel is rotated by 135°;  
         [0035]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are views respectively showing the display panel rotated by 180° and a connection to the detecting switch in a state that the display panel is rotated by 180°;  
         [0036]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are views respectively showing the display panel rotated by 225° and a connection to the detecting switch in a state that the display panel is rotated by 225°; and  
         [0037]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are views respectively showing the display panel rotated by 270° and a connection to the detecting switch in a state that the display panel is rotated by 270°. 
     
    
       [0038]     In the drawing figures, it should be understood that in the invention like reference numerals refer to like features and structures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]     Hereinafter, an image-photographing apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an image-photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a body  10 , and a display panel  20  movably disposed at the body  10 .  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the body  10  has a first case  11  in which a deck device and a circuit board  10   b  are mounted, and a second case  12  and a third case  13  disposed above the first case  11  and symmetrically connected to each other. The second and the third cases  12  and  13  are lens barrel type cases, and a predetermined gap G is provided therebetween. A camera unit  14  is disposed in the second case  12  to capture an image, and a viewfinder unit  15  is disposed in the third case  13 .  
         [0042]     Also, the first case  11  has a panel receiving portion  11   a  depressed in one side thereof. A battery receiving portion (not shown) is depressed in the other side of the first case  11 , corresponding to the panel receiving portion  11   a  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0043]     In order to cover the gap ‘G’, a cover bracket  17  is connected to a hinge unit  30 . That is, the cover bracket  17  is connected to a rotary bracket  42  (see  FIG. 2B ), which will be described in detail later, so that it is rotated with the rotary bracket  42  while covering the gap G.  
         [0044]     The display panel  20  is connected to the body  10  by the hinge unit  30  so that the display panel  20  is movable to right and left sides with reference to the body  10  and specifically, the first case  11 . That is, the display panel  20  is configured such that it rotates about two axes, so that the display panel  20  rotates about an image-photographing direction ‘A’ and a predetermined axial direction ‘B’ perpendicular to the direction ‘A’.  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 3 , the hinge unit  30  includes a first axis unit  40  for turning the display panel  20  about the image-photographing direction ‘A’, and a second axis unit  50  connected to the first axis unit  40 , for turning the display panel  20  about the axial direction ‘B’.  
         [0046]     The first axis unit  40  includes a fixing bracket  41 , a rotary bracket  42 , a shaft member, a click bracket  44 , and a fixing member  45 .  
         [0047]     The fixing bracket  41 is fixed to an upper end of the body  10  and specifically, to a surface of the second case  12  facing the third case  13 . The fixing bracket  41  has a shaft hole  41   a  into which the shaft member  43  is inserted. A surface of the fixing bracket  41 , facing third case  13 , has a plurality of click recesses  41   b  and at least one protrusion  41   c.  The click recesses  41   b  are formed at a predetermined interval with respect to the shaft hole  41   a.    
         [0048]     The rotary bracket  42  has a shaft hole  42   a  (see  FIG. 4 ) into which the shaft member  43  is inserted, and supports the second axis unit  50 . The rotary bracket  42  rotates about the shaft member  43  with the shaft member  42  being inserted into the shaft hole  42   a.  That is, the rotary bracket  42  rotates about the image-photographing direction ‘A’, and accordingly, the display panel  20  rotates about the image-photographing direction ‘A’ by a predetermined angle. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the rotary bracket  42  has a protrusion  42   b  protruding from a surface thereof facing to the fixing bracket  41 , to secure the click bracket  44 . Also, the rotary bracket  42  is provided with a receiving recess  42   c  depressed therein, for receiving and supporting a switching elastic piece  63 , which will be described later. Also, a supporting portion  42   d  is extended from one side of the rotary bracket  42  in a curve, for supporting the second axis unit  50 .  
         [0049]     The click bracket  44  is disposed between the fixing bracket  41  and the rotary bracket  42 . The click bracket  44  is a ring-type plate spring and has a plurality of embossed portions  44   a  formed at a predetermined interval, corresponding to the click recesses  41   b.  Also, the click bracket  44  has a position fixing hole  44   b  corresponding to the protrusion  42   b  of the rotary bracket  42 . As the rotary bracket  42  rotates in a state that the click bracket  44  is fixed to the rotary bracket  42  in order for the protrusion  42   b  to fit into the hole  44   b,  the embossed portions  44   a  of the click bracket  44  are inserted into and separated from the click recesses  41   b.  Accordingly, a click occurs at a predetermined angle.  
         [0050]     As one end of the shaft member  43  is fitted into the fixing member  45  and caulked, the fixing bracket  41 , the rotary bracket  42  and the click bracket  44  are tightly assembled with one another, without being separated.  
         [0051]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the first axis unit  40  further includes a sensing switch  60  to detect a rotation state of the display panel  20 ,  10  and specifically, a position of the display panel when the display panel  20  rotates about the image-photographing direction ‘A’.  
         [0052]     The sensing switch  60  includes a pattern terminal panel  61  supported on the fixing bracket  41  and the switching elastic piece  63  supported on the rotary bracket  42  to face the pattern terminal panel  61 . The pattern terminal panel  61  is a disk-type plate having a hollow space  61   a  formed in a center thereof, through which the shaft member  43  penetrates. The pattern terminal panel  61  has a connection hole  61   b  connected to the protrusion  41   c  of the fixing bracket  41 . The pattern terminal panel  61  may be secured to the fixing bracket  41  by an adhesive. On a surface of the pattern terminal panel  61 , which faces the rotary bracket  42 , is formed a switching terminal unit  62  in a predetermined pattern to be electrically connected to the switching elastic piece  63 .  
         [0053]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the switching terminals unit  62  includes a basic terminal  62   a  formed around the hollow  61   a  in a predetermined circular pattern, and a first, a second, and a third mode terminals  62   b,    62   c,  and  62   d  formed around the basic terminal  62   a  in respective predetermined patterns. The basic terminal  62   a  maintains contact with the switching elastic piece  63 .  
         [0054]     As the rotary bracket  42  rotates, the respective mode terminals  62   b,    62   c,  and  62   d  selectively come into contact with the switching elastic piece  63  to be electrically connected to the switching elastic piece  63 . Accordingly, the sensing switch  60  detects a rotation angle of the rotary bracket  42  by detecting which mode terminal among the first, second, and third mode terminals  62   b,    62   c  and  62   d  are connected to the switching elastic piece  63 . Based on the information on the rotation angle, the sensing switch  60  detects the rotation state of the display panel  20  and determines coordinates of the displayed image. For this, the respective first, second and third mode terminals  62   b,    62   c,  and  62   d  each occupies a space of a predetermined angle outside the basic terminal  62   a  in an arc shape, without overlapping. It is also possible that the basic terminal  62   a  is formed in a ring shape outside the first, the second and the third mode terminals  62   b,    62   c,  and  62   d.    
         [0055]     In an embodiment of the present invention, the first, the second, and the third mode terminals  62   b,    62   c,  and  62   d  are each formed at a predetermined angular distance from a reference angle 0°. The reference angle 0 is determined when the first mode terminal  62   b  contacts with the switching elastic piece  63  in a state that the display panel  20  is mounted in the panel receiving portion  11   a  of the body  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first mode terminal  62   b  is continuously formed within a range from azimuth 0° to, at least, 135°. More specifically, the first mode terminal  62   b  extends to a predetermined distance between 135° to 180°. The second mode terminal  62   c  is continuously extended to a predetermined distance within a range from 125° to 225°, and the third mode terminal  62   d  is continuously formed within a range from 225° to 270°. The respective mode terminals  62   b,    62   c,  and  62   d  are concentrically positioned, but occupy spaces of different azimuth angles. Preferably, the first and the second mode terminals  62   b  and  62   c  are separated from each other between 135° and 180°, and the second and the third mode terminals  62   c  and  62   d  are separated from each other between 180° and 225°.  
         [0056]     The respective mode terminals  62   b,    62   c,  and  62   d  are connected to a controller (not shown) to provide information about a connection state with the switching elastic piece  63 . Based on the provided information, the controller selectively rotates the image coordinates displayed on the display panel  20  by as much as at least 90° and displays the image coordinates.  
         [0057]     Meanwhile, the switching elastic piece  63  is fixedly inserted into the receiving recess  42   c  of the fixing bracket  42 . The switching elastic piece  63  has a first contact piece  63   a  in contact with the basic terminal  62   a  at all times, and a second contact piece  63   b  adjacent to the first contact piece  63   a  and selectively connected to one of the mode terminals  62   b,    62   c  and  63   d  by contact. In an embodiment, the first and the second contact pieces  63   a  and  63   b  are provided in pairs, each of which being formed by cutting, to thereby prevent deformations and improve a contacting property. Also, the switching elastic piece  63  and the pattern terminal panel  61  are exchangeable in their position.  
         [0058]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the second axis unit  50  is connected to the supporting portion  42   d  of the rotary bracket  42  to support and rotate the display panel  20  with respect to the axial direction ‘B’. As the second axis unit  50  employs a conventional hinge construction, it includes a shaft  51  rotatably inserted into a shaft hole h 1  of the supporting portion  42   d,  a panel supporting bracket  52  connected to a lower end of the shaft  51  inserted into the supporting portion  42   d,  a locking bracket  53  fixed to the supporting portion  42   d  and allowing the shaft  51  to rotatably pass therethrough, a plate spring typed elastic bracket  54 , a rotation angle regulating member  55  and a fixing member  56  for preventing separation.  
         [0059]     The supporting bracket  53  is connected to the display panel  20 . Accordingly, the rotations of the supporting bracket  53  with respect to the shaft  51  and with respect to the rotary bracket  42  are accomplished integrally with the display panel  20 . The locking bracket  53  is fixed to an upper surface of the supporting portion  42   d  together with the elastic bracket  54 . That is, the fixing bracket  54  has a pair of fixing hooks  54   b,  and the fixing hooks  54   b  pass through a pair of passing holes  53   b  formed in the locking bracket  53  and are inserted into locking holes h 2  formed in the supporting portion  42   d.  The locking bracket  53  and the elastic bracket  54  have shaft holes  53   a,    54   a,  respectively, through which the shaft  52  is rotatably inserted. The regulating member  55  has a non-circular connection hole  51   a  to be connected to the shaft  51 , so that the regulating member  55  is connected to the shaft in contact with the elastic bracket  54  and rotates with the shaft  51 . On an outer circumference of the regulating member  55  is disposed a pair of latching portions  55   b  that are latched onto a regulating protrusions  53   c  as the regulating member  55  rotates. Since the regulating member  55  rotates in contact with the regulating protrusion  53   c,  the regulating member  55  is less subjected to a friction during the rotation, and also noise can be reduced. The fixing member  56  is connected to a top end of the shaft  51  to prevent the members  53 ,  54 , and  55  from being separated from the shaft  51 .  
         [0060]     The operation of the image-photographing apparatus with the above construction will now be described.  
         [0061]      FIG. 6  shows a state where the display panel  20  is seated in the body  10  prior to being separated therefrom. In this state, the switching elastic piece  63  is positioned at the reference angle 0° as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the basic terminal  62   a  is electrically connected to the first mode terminal  62   b.    
         [0062]     Then, the display panel  20  is rotated to a state illustrated in  FIG. 7A .  FIG. 7A  shows the display panel  20  that is rotated at 90° by the first axis unit  40  and also rotated 90° by the second axis unit  50 . Also, in this state, the rotary bracket  42  is rotated at 90°. Accordingly, the switching elastic piece  63  supported on the rotary bracket  42  is positioned at a distance, rotated from the reference angle (0°) as much as 90°, as shown in  FIG. 7B . In this state, the switching elastic piece  63  is connected to the basic terminal  62   a  and the first mode terminal  62   b.  Accordingly, the image appears with an upper image and a lower image with reference to the axis ‘y’ on the display panel  20 . Also, in a state that the display panel  20  is positioned at the left side of the body  10 , it is convenient for a right-handed person.  
         [0063]      FIG. 8B  shows a state where the display panel  20  is further rotated as much as 45° from the state of  FIG. 7A  in a counterclockwise direction. In this state, the switching elastic piece  63  is electrically connected the reference terminal  62   a  to the first mode terminal  62   b  as shown in  FIG. 8A . Accordingly, the controller controls the image to be displayed on the display panel  20  with an upper image and a lower image with reference to the axis ‘y’. That is, the display panel  20  shows the image appearing on the same coordinates between 0° and, at least, 135°.  
         [0064]     When the switching elastic piece  63  is moved toward 180° after passing 135°, the switching elastic piece  63  is separated from the first mode terminal  62   b  and comes into contact with the second mode terminal  62   c.  Then, the image displayed on the display panel  20  is reversed as much as 90°. That is, as shown in  FIG. 9B , when the display panel  20  is rotated at 180° from the initial position, the image displayed thereon is reversed and appears with the upper image and the lower image with reference to the axial ‘x’. As a result, the elastic piece  63  is electrically connected to the reference terminal  62   a  and the second mode terminal  62   c  as shown in  FIG. 9A .  
         [0065]     Consequently, as the display panel  20  is rotated further from the state of  FIG. 9B  as much as 45° as shown in  FIG. 10B , the elastic piece  63  is separated from the second mode terminal  62   c  and is connected to the third mode terminal  62   d.  Accordingly, the image displayed on the display panel  20  are further reversed from the state of  FIG. 9B  as much as 90°. That is, the image again appears with an upper image and a lower image with reference to the axis ‘y’.  
         [0066]     Also, as shown in  FIG. 11A and 11B , the display panel  20  can rotate further from the state of  FIG. 10B  as much as 45°. In this case, the switching elastic piece  63  keeps being connected to the third mode terminal  62   d,  and the image appears with the upper and lower images with reference to the axis ‘y’.  
         [0067]     Meanwhile, the state illustrated in  FIG. 11A  shows that the display panel  20  is turned to the right side of the body  10  completely. Accordingly, the left-handed person feels no inconvenience in holding the body  10 . That is, the states illustrated  FIG. 8A  to  10 B causes no inconvenience to both the right-handed and the left-handed persons. The state of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  is suit for the right-handed person, while the sate of  FIGS. 11A and 11B  is suitable for the left-handed person.  
         [0068]     As described above, the coordinates of the image displayed on the display panel  20  is determined according to the rotation angle of the display panel  20 . That is, the construction allows the coordinates of the image to be reversed at a predetermined angle. However, the reversing angle should not be considered as limiting, and can be selected by the operator. Also, the image photographing apparatus is properly designed so that there occurs a click by the click bracket  43  after and before the image is reversed.  
         [0069]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the display panel  20  can be selectively positioned at the right and left sides of the body  10 , the operator can use the apparatus with their right or left hand with convenience.  
         [0070]     Also, the image is reversed on predetermined coordinates according to the position of the display panel  20 , the operator always can view a normal image during the use of the apparatus.  
         [0071]     The foregoing embodiment and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The description of the embodiments 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