Abstract:
There is provided a mobile communication terminal having a connecting apparatus for allowing unrestricted rotation of a rotary camera disposed on the terminal while maintaining an electrical circuit between the camera and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) installed in the terminal. The connecting apparatus uses a plurality of bearings disposed on an outer circumferential surface of a connecting member to maintain the circuit. A portion of the member adjacent to the camera rotates with the camera while the remaining portion is fixed. The bearings also provide sufficient resistance to prevent unintended rotation of the camera.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to the Korean Patent Application No. 2003-30303, filed on May 13, 2003, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile communication terminal with a rotary camera. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In general, mobile communication terminals include cellular phones or Personal Communication Systems (PCS) having wireless communication capabilities. As the need for video/image communication emerges along with voice communication, several types of mobile communication terminals with an integrated photographic apparatus have been suggested to satisfy this demand. 
   Efforts have been made to provide mobile communications devices with cameras which are capable of rotating about an axis in order to better provide the capability of capturing a photographic image while the user is still able to view the display screen of the communications device. The ability to position a rotary camera to capture an image while still being able to view the display screen allows the user to continue communicating, via voice or data transmission, while the photographic image is captured. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a conventional mobile communication device equipped with a rotary camera  1  includes a main body  10  with a main printed circuit board  11  installed therein. A folder  20  is rotatably installed at one end of the main body  10  by a hinge  30 . A camera  40  is rotatably installed at a certain angel adjacent to the hinge  30 . 
   The camera  40  includes a collar  42  formed on the outer side of a camera housing  41  and a cap  43  inserted at the inner of the camera housing  41 . A camera module  45  having a lens  44  is installed inside the camera housing  41 , wherein the lens  44  is exposed at a front surface of the camera housing  41 . A connecting bar  45  extends from the cap  43  to allow rotation of the camera  40 . An engaging device  46 , which is formed at the end of the connecting bar  45 , is inserted into a coupling groove  31   a  of an engaging jaw  31  formed at the hinge  30 . Accordingly, the camera module  45  is constructed to be rotated in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 2  (or counterclockwise around the connection bar  45 ). 
   A slot (not shown) is formed at a middle portion of the cap  43 , through which a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)  12  is inserted into the housing  41 . One end of the FPCB  12  is connected to the camera module  45 , and the other end thereof is fixed at the main PCB  11  installed at the main body  10 . The FPCB  12  has a structure that may not be expanded and contracted in terms of its characteristics, so if a user rotates the camera  40  excessively or forcibly in controlling a photographing angle of the camera  40 , the FPCB may be pulled, stretched or torn, thereby breaking the FPCB  12 . 
   To remedy this, the FPCB  12  is wound on the connecting bar  45  several times. Accordingly, when the camera  40  is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to control the photographing angle of the camera  40 , the FPCB  12  wound on the connecting bar  45  of the cap  43  can be wound or unwound, so that the FPCB  12  would not be broken. However, in the conventional mobile communication device  1 , an interior of the hinge  30  is so narrow that the FPCB  12  is wound on the connecting bar  45  only a finite number of times. Therefore, rotation of the camera is limited to the number of times the FPCB is wound around the connecting bar  45 . 
   Since the rotational angle and rotational direction of the camera  40  are limited as the FPCB  12  wound on the connecting bar  45  of the cap  43  is unwound or wound, the user cannot rotate the camera  40  in one direction, for example, clockwise, continuously, causing inconvenience in using the camera  40 . 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a mobile communication terminal with a rotary camera that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art above. 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal with rotary camera having unrestricted rotation. 
   Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
   To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a mobile communication terminal comprising a hinge disposed on one end of a main body; a camera rotatable along an axis; and a connecting apparatus disposed between the camera and the hinge to maintain an electrical circuit between the camera and a main Printed Circuit Board (PCB) installed in the first folding body during rotation of the camera. 
   According to one aspect of the present invention, the connection apparatus may comprise a support member fixed to the hinge; a connecting member for connecting the support member to the camera, wherein the connecting member comprises first and second sides; a first Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB) connected at a first end to the main PCB and connected at second end to the first side of the connecting member; and a second FPCB connected at a first end to the camera and connected at second end to the second side of the connecting member. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, the connecting member may comprise a fixed plate disposed at the first side of the connecting member, wherein the fixed plate is fixedly attached to the support member; and a rotating plate disposed at the second side of the connecting member, wherein the rotating member correspondingly rotates with the camera. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, the connecting member may also comprise a plurality of recesses are formed on a outer circumferential surface of the fixed plate; a plurality of recesses formed on a outer circumferential surface of the rotating plate, wherein the plurality of recess formed on the rotating plate correspond to the plurality of recesses are formed on the fixed plate; and a plurality of bearings that maintain an electrical circuit between the camera and the main PCB, wherein each bearing is disposed within a pair of corresponding recesses formed on the rotating plate and the fixed plate. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a mobile communication terminal in accordance the related art. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a partial sectional view of portion “A” of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a rotary camera in accordance with the related art. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a partial sectional view of a rotary camera installed on a mobile communication terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged view of a bearing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded sectional view of a rotary camera installed on a mobile communication terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a rotary camera installed on a mobile communication terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8   a  illustrates a sectional view of the connection between a fixed plate and a first flexible printed circuit board in a rotary camera installed on a mobile communication terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8   b  illustrates a sectional view of the connection between a rotating plate and a second flexible printed circuit board in a rotary camera installed on a mobile communication terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention relates to a camera that is mountable in a mobile communications terminal and that allows the user of the terminal to precisely adjust the angle of the camera with respect to the body of the freely by freely rotating the camera. Although the present invention is illustrated with regard to a folder-type mobile terminal, it is contemplated that the present invention may be utilized with any type or configuration of mobile communication device (for example, PDA or notebook with wireless communication capabilities) or anytime it is desired to provide photographic capabilities for a communications device while allowing unlimited rotation of the camera. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , a mobile communication terminal in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body  110  in which a main printed circuit board  111  is installed, a folder (not shown) rotatively connected to one end of the main body  110  via a hinge  130 , and a camera  140  rotatably installed adjacent to the hinge  130 . The terminal further comprises a camera connecting device  150 , which supports the electrical connection between the main printed circuit board  111  and the camera  140 , is installed between the main body  110  and the camera  140  to allow the camera to rotate. 
   The camera  140  comprises a cylindrical camera housing  141  and a collar  142  formed at one side of the camera housing  141 , wherein the collar  142  provides a gripping surface and serves to facilitate rotation of the camera  140  by the user. The camera  140  further comprises a camera module  145  having a lens  144 , which is installed within the camera housing  141 . The lens  144  is preferably exposed on the cylindrical surface of the camera housing  141 . 
   The camera connecting device  150  comprises a support member  160  fixed at the hinge  130 , and a connecting member  170  for supporting an electrically connection between the support member  160  and the camera  140 . A connecting rod  180  is inserted into holes  160   a  and  170   a , preferably formed at the center of the support member  160  and the connection member  170 , respectively. Preferably, the connection bar  180  has a screw thread formed on its outer surface and is also inserted into a coupling recess  141   a  formed at the center of an inner side surface of the camera housing  141 . Also, a washer insertion recess  161  is preferably formed at the center of a side of the support member  160 , wherein the recess receives a washer  162 . 
   The connecting member  170  comprises a fixed plate  171  and a rotating plate  172 . The fixed plate is attached to the support member  160 . A first side of the rotating plate  172  is rotatably coupled to the fixed plate  171  in an electrically connected state and fixed to the camera housing  141  on a second side. Namely, the fixed plate  171  is fixed at the support member  160  and cannot rotate. However, the rotating plate  172  is fixed at the camera housing  141  and can be freely rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise around the connecting bar  180  together with the camera housing  141 . 
   A plurality of bearing insertion recesses  171   a  and  172   a  are formed at the adjacent sides of the fixed plate  171  and the rotating plate  172 . Preferably, the recesses  171   a  and  172   a  form circular concavities and are disposed along the outer circumferential surfaces of the fixed plate  171  and rotating plate  172 . Referring to  FIG. 5  specifically, each bearing insertion recess  171   a  and  172   a  form a space (S) when the fixed plate  171  and the rotating plate  172  are coupled, and receive a plurality of bearings  173 . Preferably the bearings  173  are ball bearing that comprise a spherical shape and a metal. 
   The use of ball bearings  173 , for example, provides sufficient resistance so as to prevent the camera  140  from rotating without a manual force. A restorative force is provided when the camera is rotated a certain amount so that a bearing insertion recess  171   a  is not aligned with another bearing insertion recess  172   a . The bearing  173  restores the position of the fixed and rotating plates  171  and  172  so that the insertion recesses  171   a  and  172   a  are aligned. 
   Furthermore, a lubricant, such as an oil or other petroleum based lubricants known well to one of ordinary skill in the art, is preferably filled in the interval or gap “t.” This gap “t” is formed between each bearing insertion recess  171   a  and  172   a  and the bearing  173 , wherein the presence of a lubricant in the gap “t” provides for smoother rotation. Also, in order to seal the lubricant, a sealing member (not shown) is preferably installed on the outer circumferential surface of the fixed plate  171  and the rotating plate  172 . 
   A flexible printed circuit board, which connects the camera module  145 , the connecting member  170  and the main printed circuit board  111 , comprises a first flexible printed circuit board  191  and a second flexible printed circuit board  192 . The first flexible printed circuit board  191  extends from the main printed circuit board  111  and is connected to one side of the connecting member  170 , preferably to the fixed plate  171 . The second flexible printed circuit board  192  connects the camera module  145  to the connecting member  170 , preferably the rotating plate  172 . Since plurality of bearings  173 , which preferably comprise metal, are positioned between the rotating plate  172  and the fixed plate  171 , an electrical connection is maintained between the camera module  145  and the main printed circuit board  111 . 
   In order to couple the rotation plate  172  to the camera  140 , at least one and alternatively a plurality of fixing grooves  141   b  are formed on one end of the camera housing  141 . Preferably, a pair of fixing grooves  141   b  are formed along the inner edge of the inner circumferential surface of the camera housing  141  approximately 180° apart. A corresponding number of insertion protrusions  172   b  are formed at an outer circumferential surface of the rotating plate  172  and are inserted into the fixing grooves  141   b.    
   With respect to attachment of the fixed plate  171  to the support member  160 , a plurality of fixing grooves  160   b  are formed on one end of the support member  160 . Preferably, pair of fixing recesses  160   b  is formed along the inner edge of the inner circumferential surface of the support member  160  approximately 180° apart. A corresponding number of insertion protrusions  171   b  are formed at an outer circumferential surface of the fixed plate  171  and are inserted into the fixing grooves  160   b.    
   The support member  160  is fixed to the hinge  130 , preferably via a fixing groove  131  that is formed along an inner circumferential surface of the hinge  130 . A protrusion  163  is formed along an outer circumferential surface of the support member  160  so as to be inserted into the fixing groove  131 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , an electric connection structure between the first flexible printed circuit board  191  and the second printed circuit board  192  is shown. Power lines  191   a  and  192   a  and data lines  191   b  and  192   b  are formed at ends of the first flexible printed circuit board  191  and the second flexible printed circuit board  192 . Preferably, the power line  191   a  and the data line  191   b  are electrically connected to the bottom surface of the bearing insertion recess  171   a . Furthermore, the power line  192   a  and the data line  192   b  are preferably electrically connected to the bottom surface of the bearing insertion recess  172   a.    
   A bearing  173 ′ is inserted in the bearing insertion recess  171   a , wherein the bearing  173 ′ preferably comprises a metal and a spherical shape. The bearing  173 ′ electrically connects the power line  191   a  of the first flexible printed circuit board  191  and the power line  192   a  of the second flexible printed circuit board  192 . Furthermore, the bearing  173 ′ electrically connects the data line  191   b  of the first flexible printed circuit board  191  and the data line  192   b  of the second flexible printed circuit board  192 . Preferably, the bearing  173 ′ remains situated within the concavity formed by the bearing insertion recesses  171   a  and  172   a.    
   As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. Preferred embodiments were shown in the context of folding type mobile communication terminals. In alternative embodiments, bar and PDA type terminals can be substituted for the present invention.