Abstract:
The present invention aims at providing a function-expansion unit for an electronic apparatus that may reduce the stress onto a connector, and provides a high stability with a CCD camera. The CCD camera includes a reinforcing member under its connecting portion and a height-adjustable stand, thereby reducing the stress that would otherwise apply to the USB connector as the connecting portion, enhancing the connection, preventing connector&#39;s deterioration in the course of time, and allowing the CCD camera to be stably placed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to peripheral equipment for use with a notebook personal computer (“notebook PC”) or portable terminal, a portable electronic apparatus, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), and other electronic apparatuses, and more particularly to an image pickup device connectible with the electronic apparatus or hardware. The “peripheral equipment”, as used herein, is such hardware as is connectible with a PC body and realizes necessary functions. 
     The recent development and spread of notebook PCs, portable terminals and portable electronic apparatuses have increasingly demanded compact and lightweight notebook PCs for portability purposes which nevertheless exhibit such affluent functions on a desk in an office as desktop personal computers (“desktop PCs”). As part of an attempt to achieve such multi-functionality, a device for adding an image pickup function to the notebook PC has been proposed. 
     Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-128091 discloses a notebook computer that has an image pickup device connectible to a PC card with a cable. However, an image pickup portion including an image-pickup lens is still too large for portability. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-271376 has proposed a CCD camera built-in notebook PC that has improved the portability by mounting the entire CCD camera onto the PC card. Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open Nos. 8-9215 (or U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,218) and 7-322117 (or European Patent Application, Publication No. 683,596) also disclose techniques of building a CCD camera in a card-shaped housing. 
     Japanese Utility-Model Registration No. 3011657 discloses an electronic camera that may be detachably stored in a concave portion provided on a desktop PC body and connected via a connector with the PC body in the concave portion. 
     A technique of mounting a CCD camera in a hinge portion connecting a liquid display bezel frame and base section of the notebook PC is known in the art as seen in products such as Toshiba&#39;s Libretto ff 1100, Panasonic&#39;s Let&#39;s note/C33EA, Sony&#39;s VAIO PCCGC1s. 
     Attachment techniques of a CCD camera or other USB-compatible units through a USB port instead of a PC card are known in the art as well. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-53060 discloses a notebook PC equipped with a CCD-camera USB port at a top of its display section so that the camera is connectible directly or via cable to the USB port. The USB port is compatible with a printer or keyboard in addition to the CCD camera. As recently as Jun. 21, 1999, Victor Company of Japan, Limited announced a release of a CCD camera (USB capture camera ‘MP-UC1’) that can be mounted on a notebook PC (mobile PC ‘InterLink’ MP-C101). 
     The present inventors have focused attention on a USB-compatible image pickup device having several advantages including plug-and-play and hot plug capabilities. The CCD camera as seen in Victor&#39;s MP-UC1 may be likely to be broken by concentrated load of its own weight on a connector portion with the notebook PC when the notebook PC with the CCD camera is lifted. In this respect, conventional configurations for the CCD camera are not sufficient so as to prevent the connector portion such as a USB port from breaking while ensuring its connectivity with universal notebook PCs. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an exemplified general object of the present invention to provide a novel and useful image pickup device attachable to an electronic apparatus in which the above disadvantages are eliminated. 
     Another exemplified and more specific object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup device attachable to an electronic apparatus that can prevent the connector portion from breaking while ensuring its connectivity with universal notebook PCs. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, an image pickup device as one exemplified, embodiment of the present invention comprises a connector which is connectible, e.g., electrically or optically, to an electronic apparatus, and a reinforcing portion which is located near the connector and reinforces the connector when the electronic apparatus and the connector connect with each other. The reinforcing portion in this image pickup device may reduce a load that would otherwise apply to the connector, and prevent connector&#39;s deterioration in the course of time. 
     The image pickup device may further comprise an anchor portion and a movable portion. The movable portion includes an image pickup portion, and the connector and the reinforcing portion may be placed on the anchor portion. The reinforcing portion can be stored in the anchor portion so that it can project from the anchor portion. Accordingly, the reinforcing portion may be stored in the anchor portion while the image pickup device is not attached to the electronic apparatus. The image pickup device may further comprise a stand that is connected with the anchor portion and serves to adjust a height of the anchor portion. Consequently, the height of the image pickup device can be varied according to a height of the electronic apparatus to which the image pickup device is attached, reducing a load applied that would otherwise apply to the connector when the electronic apparatus having the image pickup device is placed on its footprint. The stand may adjust an inclined angle of the anchor portion. Therefore, for example, even if the electronic apparatus is a notebook PC of which a keyboard tilts for ergonomic purposes, a position and orientation of the anchor portion of the image pickup device can be adjusted accordingly, whereby the load to the connector would be eliminated as well. The anchor portion may include a storage portion that can store the image pickup portion. This allows the image pickup device to protect the image pickup portion when unused. 
     The image pickup device as another exemplified embodiment of the present invention comprises a connector that is connectible, e.g., electrically or optically, to an electronic apparatus, and an attachment portion that enables the image pickup device to be attached to an external apparatus. This image pickup device may be attached to an external device (including electronic apparatus) through the attachment portion. Thus, the image pickup device attached to a desired position may capture a desired subject, and to remove or reduce an area for placement of the image pickup device. The image pickup device may include an anchor portion and a movable portion. The movable portion includes an image pickup portion, and the connector may be placed on the anchor portion. The attachment portion enables the anchor portion to be attached to the external apparatus. The attachment portion may be provided onto the anchor portion so that it can project from the anchor portion. Accordingly, the attachment portion may be attached to any position, for instance, the electronic apparatus may include a display portion, and the image pickup device may be attached onto the display portion through the attachment portion. 
     Other objects and further features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of one exemplified aspect of an inventive image pickup device connected to an electronic apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a CCD camera in which a movable portion is raised (opened) from an anchor portion when a USB connector and a reinforcing portion are stored in the anchor portion. 
         FIG. 3  is a right side view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is raised (opened) from the anchor portion when the USB connector and reinforcing portion are stored in the anchor portion. 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is raised (opened) from the anchor portion when the USB connector and reinforcing portion are stored in the anchor portion. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is raised (opened) from the anchor portion when the USB connector and reinforcing portion are stored in the anchor portion. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is raised from the anchor portion when the USB connector and reinforcing portion project from the anchor portion. 
         FIG. 7  is a right side view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is raised from the anchor portion when the USB connector and reinforcing portion project from the anchor portion. 
         FIG. 8  is a left side view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is raised from the anchor portion when the USB connector and reinforcing portion project from the anchor portion. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is raised from its anchor portion when the USB connector and reinforcing portion project from the anchor portion. 
         FIG. 10  is a rear view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is raised from the anchor portion when USB connector and reinforcing portion project from the anchor portion. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is folded (closed) into its anchor portion. 
         FIG. 12  is a right side view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion is folded (closed) into its anchor portion. 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of a CCD camera in which the USB connector and reinforcing portion project. 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of a CCD camera in which the USB connector and reinforcing portion are stored. 
         FIG. 15  is a rear view of a notebook PC to which a CCD camera is attached. 
         FIG. 16  is a right side view of a CCD camera for explaining a stand for the CCD camera. 
         FIG. 17  is a right side view of a CCD camera in which the movable portion tilted by approximately 180 degrees relative to the anchor portion when the attachment portion projects from its anchor portion. 
         FIG. 18  is a right side view of the CCD camera shown in  FIG. 17  attached to an LCD bezel frame of a notebook PC. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A description will now be given of an inventive image pickup device  100  connected to an electronic apparatus  100  with reference to  FIG. 1 . The same members are designated by the same reference numerals, and a duplicate description thereof will be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electronic apparatus  100  and the image pickup device  200  are exemplarily shown as, but not limited to, a notebook PC  100  and a CCD camera  200 , respectively. The electronic apparatus  100  includes PDAs, handheld PCs, palm-size PCs, wearable computers, portable electronic apparatuses, and portable terminals. The image pickup device  200  includes, but not limited to, digital still cameras, digital movie cameras, disc cameras, digital video cameras, retina recognition devices, fingerprint recognition devices, and the like. The notebook PC  100  may cover A4, B5, sub-notebook, mini-notebook and other sizes. Hereupon,  FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of the CCD camera  200  mounted on the notebook PC  100  while it is being used. The CCD camera  200  includes an anchor portion  210 , a movable portion  220 , a focus lens (image pickup portion)  230 , a shutter  240 , a USB connector  250 , a reinforcing portion  260 , and a stand  270 . A further description will be given of its detailed structure with reference to magnified diagrams shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     The notebook PC  100  includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) bezel frame  10  and a base  20  that are connected to each other via a hinge  30 , and an LCD screen  12  is placed on the LCD bezel frame  10 . Typically, the base  20  has a thickness of about 50 mm or less, or preferably about 20 to 30 mm. The LCD bezel frame  10  has a substantially rectangular shape so as to hold the LCD screen  12 . As described above, a universal notebook PC may be used for the notebook PC  100  of the present embodiment. However, the image pickup device  200  of the present invention is also applicable, for example, to a notebook PC of a special specification that is equipped with a USB port at the top of the LCD bezel frame  10 . 
     The base  20  includes a keyboard section  40  for typing information in, and the keyboard may use any type and arrangement. Usable types of the keyboard may include 101, 106, 109 and ergonomics, and usable key arrangements include QWERTY, DVORAK, JIS, new-JIS, and NICOLA (Nihongo Nyuryoku Conthotium Layout). 
     The base  20  includes an external frame  22  and an aperture  24  provided on the external frame  22 , as will be described later with reference to  FIG. 15 . The base  20  also includes a pointing device  50  that emulates part of mouse functions. Despite the structure shown in  FIG. 1 , the pointing device  50  may include a mouse, a trackball, a trackpad, a tablet, a digitizer, a joystick, a joypad, a touch panel, and a stylus pen. 
     The base  20  is provided with a connecting portion (USB interface, not shown) connectible with the USB connector  250 , and this interface and USB connector  250  serve to establish an electric connection between the CCD camera  200  and the notebook PC  100 . Through this connecting portion, data is transmitted from the CCD camera  200  to the notebook PC  100 . Similarly, control information is transmitted from the notebook PC  100  body to the CCD camera  200 . 
     USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a serial interface for PC peripherals, serves to bring connecting cables together, and supports a plug and play or hot plug. It permits a multiplex connection up to 128 ports, and supports two kinds of transfer rates, 1.5 Mbps for a low-speed mode, and 12 Mbps for a high-speed mode. Four varieties of transfer modes (bulk, control, interrupt, and isochronous modes) are available. The isochronous mode is used for preferentially transferring at intervals data required for a real-time transfer such as a movie and sound. Its signal lines consist of four wires (two communication lines and two power lines). As described above, the USB is suitable for a low- or mid-speed communication interface (ranging from 1.5 Mbps to 12 Mbps), and thus preferably applied to capturing a movie of midrange quality in resolution and display speed (e.g., 320×240 pixels, and 5 or 6 frames/sec.), therefore serving as an inexpensive and standardized communication interface. 
     However, the connector of the image pickup device  200  of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the USB connector  250 , and applicable interfaces exemplarily include, but are not limited to, a parallel interface (e.g., IEEE1284 and IEEE1394), a serial interface (e.g., RS-232C and RS-422), IDE (including Enhanced IDE and the like), SCSI (including SCSI-2, SCSI-3), Ultra ATA, ATAPI, 10BASE-2, 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, MIDI, ZV port, CardBus, and IrDA. It goes without saying that a cable or other members may be used for the connector, instead. It is preferable that an expansion unit such as the image pickup device  200  supports plug-and-play or hot plug capabilities so as to update the system immediately upon connecting to the notebook PC  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 16 , a description will be given of a shape and structure of the CCD camera  200  as one exemplified embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2 through 5  are respectively a front view ( FIG. 2 ), a right side view ( FIG. 3 ), a left side view ( FIG. 4 ), and a top view ( FIG. 5 ) of the CCD camera  200  with its movable portion  220  raised (opened) from its anchor portion  210  for showing a state in which a USB connector  250  and a reinforcing portion  260  are stored in the anchor portion  210 .  FIGS. 6 through 10  are respectively a front view ( FIG. 6 ), a right side view ( FIG. 7 ), a left side view ( FIG. 8 ), a top view ( FIG. 9 ), and a rear view ( FIG. 10 ) of the CCD camera  200  with its movable portion  220  raised from its anchor portion  210  for showing a state in which a USB connector  250  and a reinforcing portion  260  are projected from the anchor portion  210 .  FIGS. 11 and 12  are respectively a front view and a right side view of the CCD camera  200  with its movable portion  220  folded (closed) into its anchor portion  210 .  FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the CCD camera  200  showing a state in which a USB connector  250  and a reinforcing portion  260  are projected.  FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the CCD camera showing a state in which a USB connector  250  and a reinforcing portion  260  are stored.  FIG. 15  is a rear view of the notebook PC  100  to which the CCD camera  200  is attached.  FIG. 16  is a right side view of the CCD camera  200  for explaining a stand  270  for the CCD camera  200 . 
     As described above, the CCD camera  200  includes an anchor portion  210 , a focus lens  230 , a shutter  240 , a USB connector  250 , a reinforcing portion  260 , and a stand  270 . 
     The anchor portion  210  is attached through the USB connector  250  and the reinforcing portion  260  to the notebook PC  100  in such a manner as not to rotate. The anchor portion  210  includes a storage portion  212  of the focus lens  230  as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7  and  8 . Accordingly, as best shown in  FIG. 12 , the focus lens  230  is stored in the storage portion  212  when the movable portion  220  is closed, and thus prevented from breaking when unused. In addition, the anchor portion  210  includes a pivot portion  214  constituting an axis of a pivoting movement of the movable portion  220  in a direction A, as will be discussed later. 
     The movable portion  220  includes first and second movable portions  222  and  224 . The first movable portion  222  may pivot about a shaft (not shown) that pierces the first and second movable portions  222  and  224 , in a direction B as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , with respect to the second movable portion  224 . The second movable portion  224  may pivot about a shaft (not shown) that pierces the pivot portion  214  and the second movable portion  224 , in a direction A as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7  and  8 , with respect to the anchor portion  210 . 
     The USB connector  250  and the reinforcing portion  260  are stored in the anchor portion  210  so that it can project out to the left as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 10 . Each member may project synchronously or separately. An exemplary projection mechanism for each member is shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  13 , and  14 . In these drawings, the USB connector  250  and the reinforcing portion  260  are connected via members  252  and  262  to each other, and synchronously move between a projection position and a storage position by shifting a button  264  shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  13 , and  14  in a direction C. 
     In contrast to the present embodiment, the USB connector  250  and the reinforcing portion  260  may be provided on a right, front, or rear side, or other portions, and connected to the notebook PC  100  in a position opposite to that in the present embodiment. In addition, the USB connector  250  and/or the reinforcing portion  260  to be provided may come more than one in number as necessary. 
     Since any structures known in the art may be applied to the focus lens  230 , the shutter  240 , and its other necessary imaging structures, a detailed explanation will now be omitted. An image captured through the lens  230  are transmitted by way of the USB connector  250  and a connector portion (not shown) in the notebook PC  100  to a information processing portion in the notebook PC  100 . Also, this image is displayed on the LCD screen  12 . Consequently, a user may edit the image using image-editing software as known in the art. 
     The reinforcing portion  260  serves to prevent the connector  250  from breaking by application of moment of a force by the CCD camera  200  based on its own weight. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the reinforcing portion  260  is placed under the connector  250 . As specifically illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the reinforcing portion  260  includes a cutaway portion  266  which mates with a part of the external frame  22  of the base  22  in the notebook PC  100  shown in  FIG. 15 . In other words, the notebook PC  100  includes an aperture  24  through which the reinforcing portion  260  is inserted into the base  20 . The external frame  22  near the aperture  24  can be wrought into a desired shape. 
     The stand  270  serves to adjust the height of the CCD camera  200 , and as necessary, to partially tilt its orientation. Its height adjustment capability can accommodate variations of the height among the kinds of the notebook PC  100  to be connected. Its tilt adjustment capability can tilt the anchor portion  210  of the CCD camera  200  so as to be brought into alignment with the keyboard  40  of the notebook PC  100  to be connected that would be tilted toward a user (so as to raise its rear side having the LCD screen  12 ) for ergonomic purposes (i.e., for convenience in typing). Such a tilt adjustment mechanism of the stand  270  may adjust the CCD camera  200  itself so as to be kept in a horizontal position even if a footprint P where the CCD camera is placed is tilted. For example, in  FIG. 16 , the footprint P where the CCD camera  200  is placed descends to the right, but the stand  270  serves to maintain lateral balance with its height adjustment mechanism and/or tilt adjustment mechanism, keeping the camera  200  in a horizontal position. From the foregoing it will be seen that the stand  270  may align the heights of the CCD camera  200  and the notebook PC  100  to which the CCD camera  200  is connected, even if the heights vary between them relative to a footprint P, and may keep the CCD camera in a horizontal position even if the footprint P is tilted, thereby reducing a stress arising in the connector  250 . 
       FIG. 15  shows a state in which the USB connector  250  and the reinforcing portion  260  are connected to the notebook PC  100 , and their heights are adjusted by the stand  270 . It will be understood that the height adjustment capability that the stand  270  has makes the connector  250  and the reinforcing portion  260  connected to the notebook PC  100  in a horizontal position. This may reduce the stress arising in the connector  250 , and avoid deteriorating the connector  250 . 
     A description will be given of another exemplary configuration of the CCD camera  220  connected to the notebook PC  100 , with reference to  FIGS. 17 and 18 .  FIG. 17  is a right side view of the CCD camera  200  with its movable portion  220  tilted approximately 180 degrees relative to its anchor portion  210  for showing a state in which its attachment portion  280  is projected from the anchor portion  210 .  FIG. 18  is a right side view showing a state in which the CCD camera  200  shown in  FIG. 17  is attached to an LCD bezel frame  10  of a notebook PC  100 . 
     The attachment portion  280  is provided on the anchor portion  210  of the CCD camera  200 . The attachment portion  280  includes a holding plate  282  that can be stored in an area  216  of the anchor portion  210 , a column  284  that includes the holding plate  282  at its end and can be projected from the anchor portion  210 . The attachment portion  280  may also include, as necessary, a mechanism for locking the attachment portion  280  in the state as shown in  FIG. 17 . Similarly, the movable portion  220  may also include a mechanism for locking the movable portion  220  into the anchor portion  210  in the state as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     The attachment portion  280  may be engaged with the notebook PC  100  by projecting the column  284  from the anchor portion  210  and inserting a top portion of the LCD bezel frame  10  between the holding plate  282  and the anchor portion  210 . At that time, the notebook PC  100  and the CCD camera  200  may be connected, for instance, via a USB cable  254 . The USB cable  254  may be directly connected to the notebook PC  100 . The CCD camera  100  as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 16  may either include the USB cable  254 , or not. The CCD camera  200  may be used at a height different from a conventional configuration by mounting the CCD camera  200  on the LCD bezel frame  10 . In addition, the CCD camera  200  is allowed to ensure its shooting range as far as the cable  254  can extend. 
     Instead of the cable  254 , the notebook PC  100  may use a wireless communication means such as an infrared data communication protocol to communicate with the anchor portion  210 . Among infrared data communication protocols, IrDA known in the art may be utilized, as a great number of the notebook PCs may be equipped with an IrDA port. The IrDA port may be provided at any place on the body of the notebook PC  100 . In that event, information captured through the CCD camera  200  is transmitted directly to the notebook PC  100 . 
     It is to be noted that the illustrated shape of the attachment portion  280  is exemplary only. Accordingly, if necessary, the attachment portion  280  may be configured to be replaceable with other structural member. Further, any shape attachable to at least other apparatus except for itself (image pickup device) may be enough for the attachment portion  280  of the present invention, and the apparatuses to which the image pickup device  200  can be attached are not restricted to the electronic apparatus  100  to which the image pickup device  200  is electrically or optically connected (e.g., portable information processor, and notebook PC), but may be other apparatuses. Such other apparatuses may not necessarily be electronic apparatuses such as a desk, a partition, and other office automation appliances. Moreover, a tripod, a bookshelf, a bookend, and the like may be included in the above other apparatuses, and the present invention covers the image pickup device  200  attachable to such apparatuses. 
     Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various changes and modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 
     As described above, the image pickup device of the present invention due to its inclusion of a reinforcing portion would reduce a stress arising in the connector when it connects to the main body of the notebook PC, etc., and prevent the connector from deteriorating, while keeping the main body compact by allowing the reinforcing portion to be stored and projected. Furthermore, the image pickup device of the present invention is attachable to any external device including the liquid crystal display (LCD) of the notebook PC, and thus can change its height and position.