Abstract:
A first camera equipped for a video telephony and a second camera configured for capturing still or video images are combined into one assembly. The assembly is interconnected with a flexible printed circuit board then assembled into and connected with a portable communications terminal body. The assembly is configured for efficient integration with the terminal and saves assembly time and manufacturing costs.

Description:
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0070864 filed on Jul. 13, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a portable terminal having one camera equipped for video telephony and another camera equipped for capturing still and video images. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     A portable terminal is a portable communications device having one or more functions such as video telephony function, an information function, a data storage function. 
     As the functions of terminals have become diversified, terminals have incorporate functions such as capturing still and video images, playing back music or video files, playing games, receiving broadcasts, and the like. Terminals also are used as integrated multimedia devices. 
     In a multimedia device, for instance, a user interface is provided in a terminal to enabling a user to easily and conveniently search for and select available functions. 
     Further, a terminal is often considered a personal belonging with which to express the user&#39;s personality, thereby requiring the terminal to have various designs. Currently, terminals have a video telephony function allowing two parties to view each other while talking, and a function of capturing still and video images. 
     Such a terminal has with two separate cameras—one for video telephony and another for capturing still and video images—complicating the manufacturing process. The need to assemble each camera, mounting, and connecting wiring in separate steps raises the cost and manufacturing complexity. Also, installation space and connection requirements are increased making it difficult to reduce the size and weight of a terminal. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to address the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the manufacturing costs of and to optimize space utilization within a mobile communications terminal having cameras for video telephony and capturing still or video images. 
     In one embodiment, a portable communications terminal has a terminal body having a camera mounting unit and a camera assembly mounted within the camera mounting unit wherein the camera assembly comprises a first camera and a second camera. The camera assembly comprises a camera housing in which the first camera is mounted on a first surface of the camera housing, and the second camera is mounted on a second surface of the camera housing, wherein the back of the first camera is affixed to the back of the second camera. The first camera lens is positioned to face a first side of the terminal body, and a camera lens of the second camera lens is positioned to face the opposite side of the terminal body. 
     The first camera is configured for video telephony, and the second camera is configured to capture a still or video image, and the first camera has a lower resolution than the second camera. 
     The camera housing has an opening through which the lens of the second camera protrudes thereby enabling the first and the second cameras to be affixed to the camera housing. The camera mounting unit further comprises a retaining ledge to prevent the camera housing from separating from the camera mounting unit when the camera housing is disposed within the camera mounting unit. 
     Each of the cameras is connected to a connecting flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) with separate FPCBs connectors on each end of the connecting FPCB. The connecting FPCB is then folded and placed in a FPCB mounting portion of the camera housing. Once the connecting FPCB is connected to the two cameras and placed in the camera housing with the cameras, the connecting FPCB is connected to a printed circuit board in the terminal. 
     In another embodiment, a method for assembling a portable communications terminal having a terminal body and a cameral assembly includes affixing a rear surface of a first camera to a rear surface of a second camera, wherein a lens of the first camera is positioned to face a first side of the terminal body, and a lens of the second camera is positioned to face a second side of the terminal body, mounting the first camera and the second camera in a camera housing, connecting the first camera to a first connector and the second camera to a second connector wherein the first and the second connectors are disposed on opposite ends of a connecting FPCB, and mounting the connecting FPCB in a FPCB mounting unit formed in the camera housing thereby completing a camera assembly. The camera assembly is mounted in a camera mounting unit of the terminal, and a third connector of the connecting FPCB is connected to a printed circuit board disposed in the terminal body. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like numerals refer to like elements. The accompany 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. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view showing a terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view showing the terminal of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a camera assembly mounted in the terminal body of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the camera assembly shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the camera assembly shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the camera assembly shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a connecting FPCB of the camera assembly shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described in a more detailed manner with reference to the drawings. Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show a front perspective view and a rear perspective view, respectively, of a terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. The terminal includes a body  10 , a display unit  13  located on a front surface of the body  10  to display information, and a camera assembly mounted within the body  10  as one assembly. 
     A case (casing, housing, or cover) forming the outer surface of the body  10  includes a front case  11  and a rear case  12 . Various electronic components are mounted within the space formed between the front case  11  and the rear case  12 . At least one intermediate case may additionally be disposed between the front case  11  and the rear case  12 . The cases may be formed of an injection molded plastic, or formed using metallic material (e.g., stainless steel (SS) or titanium (Ti)). 
     The display unit  13 , a speaker  14 , and a first control unit  16  may be positioned on the body  10 , more particularly, on the front case  11 . The display unit  13  may include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module, or an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) module, for example, for providing a visual display of information. The display unit  13  may further include a touch screen to accept user information and commands. 
     The first control unit  16  enables a user to provide inputs or commands to control the operation of the terminal. The first control unit  16  may be implemented in any of various types known in the art so long as it is capable of being operated in a tactile manner. For instance, the first control unit  16  may be a dome switch, a touch screen, or a touch pad operated by a user&#39;s push or touch manipulation, or may be configured as a wheel, a jog type or a joy stick by which input keys are rotated. 
     A second control unit  24  may be positioned at a side surface of the body  10 . The first control unit  16  provides commands, such as start, stop, scroll, and the like. The second control unit  24  can be operated as a hot-key for performing a specific function, such as activating a first camera  60 . 
     A first audio input unit  25  may be implemented, for instance, as a microphone to receive a user&#39;s voice or other sounds. 
     Interface  26  is a communication port allowing the terminal to exchange data with external devices. For instance, interface  26 , can be at least one of a headphones jack, a port for a short-range communication (e.g., infrared data association (IrDA) port, a Bluetooth port, a wireless LAN port), and a power supply terminal to supply power to the portable terminal. The interface  26  also may be configured as a card socket for receiving an external card, such as a SIM (subscriber identification module) card, UIM (user identity module) card, and a memory card for information storage. 
     A battery unit  27  for supplying power to the portable terminal is mounted at a rear case  12  side. The battery unit  27  can be detachably coupled to the rear case  12  for replacement or recharging. 
     A broadcast signal receiving antenna  32 , in addition to an antenna for a mobile call (not shown), may be disposed at one side of the terminal body  10 . The antenna  32  may be capable of being extended from the terminal body  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a camera assembly  50  mounted in the terminal body  10 .  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the camera assembly  50 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views of the camera assembly. 
     The camera assembly  50  includes a camera housing  54  disposed in a camera mounting unit  52  formed inside the terminal body  10 , a first camera  60  mounted on the camera housing  54  and disposed to face the front of the terminal body  10 , and a second camera  62  mounted on the camera housing  54  and disposed to face the rear of the terminal body  10 . The first and second cameras  60  and  62  are integrally assembled together by affixing their respective rear surfaces to one another. A first camera lens  64  is disposed on a front surface of the first camera  60 , and a second camera lens  66  is disposed on a front surface of the second camera  62 . 
     The camera housing  54  is formed to have a rectangular bracket shape. A first camera mounting portion  70  for inserting the first camera  60  is disposed in the front of the camera housing  54 , and the rear of the camera housing  54  has an open configuration for mounting the second camera  62 . That is, since the first and second cameras  60  and  62  are integrally assembled together, and if the first and second cameras  60  and  62  are received in an open position in the camera housing  54 , the first camera  60  is inserted into the first camera mounting portion  70  and the second camera  62  is disposed in the open position of the camera housing  54 . 
     Here, since the first camera  60  is smaller in size than the second camera  62 , the first camera  60  is coupled, in a fitting manner, into the first camera mounting portion  70  formed within the camera housing  54 , and a portion of the first camera  60  to which the camera lens  64  is mounted protrudes toward the outside of the camera housing  54 . The size of the first camera mounting portion  70  can be changed according to the size of the first camera  60 . 
     A retaining ledge  53  for abutting an inner surface of the terminal body  10  may be formed extending at one side of the camera housing  54  to prevent a separation of the camera housing  54  from the camera mounting unit  52  when the camera housing  54  is mounted in the camera mounting unit  52 . 
     Since the camera lens  64  is mounted exposed toward the front surface of the terminal body  10  when the terminal is used for video telephony, the first camera  60  serves to capture the image of the user for transmission to another party. Since the camera lens  66  is mounted exposed toward the rear surface of the terminal body  10 , the second camera  62  serves to capture still or video images. 
     A flash element  29  and a mirror  30  (see,  FIG. 2 ) are additionally disposed adjacent to the second camera  62  on the rear surface of the terminal body  10 . When the second camera  62  is used to take a photo of an object, the flash  29  illuminates the object. When the user uses the second camera  62  to take a picture of himself (in a self-portrait mode), the mirror  30  may be used for the user to reflect the user&#39;s face. 
     Preferably, the first camera  60  has a lower resolution enabling capturing an image of the user and transferring the image to the other party for video telephony. The higher resolution of the second camera  62  is useful for obtaining higher quality images for later use. 
     A first flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)  72  is connected to the first camera  60  for electrically connecting the first camera  60  to a printed circuit board  90  disposed in the terminal body  10 . A second FPCB  74  is connected to the second camera  62  for electrically connecting the second camera  62  and the printed circuit board  90 . Further, a first connector  76  is mounted at an end of the first FPCB  72 , and a second connector  78  is mounted at an end of the second FPCB  74 . 
     An FPCB mounting unit  82  for mounting the first FPCB  72 , the second FPCB  74 , and a connecting FPCB  80  is formed in the camera housing  54 . The first and second FPCBs  72  and  74  are connected to the connecting FPCB. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a third connector  84  for connecting to the first connector  76  is mounted at one end of the connecting FPCB  80 . A fourth connector  86  for connecting to the second connector  78  is mounted at an intermediate portion of the connecting FPCB  80 . A fifth connector  88  for connecting to the printed circuit board  90  is mounted at another end of the connecting FPCB  80 . 
     The connecting FPCB  80  may be accommodated, in a folded state, in the FPCB mounting unit  82  such that the third connector  84  is disposed on the front surface of the connecting FPCB  80  and the fourth connector  86  is disposed on the rear surface of the connecting FPCB  80 . 
     Therefore, the first FPCB  72  connected to the first camera  60  and the second FPCB  74  connected to the second camera  62  are respectively connected to the connecting FPCB  80 , and the connecting FPCB  80  is connected to the printed circuit board  90 , thereby requiring mounting of only one connector on the printed circuit board  90 . Accordingly, the size of the mounting area on the printed circuit board can be reduced. 
     With such a configuration, the assembly operation of the camera assembly  50  according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail. The first camera  60  and the second camera  62  are assembled in one assembly. The rear surfaces of each of the first and second cameras  60  and  62  are fixed to each other by using an adhesive, or the like, so that the camera lens  64  of the first camera  60  faces towards the front of the terminal  10 , and the camera lens  66  of the second camera  62  faces towards the rear of the terminal  10 . 
     Next, the integrally joined first and second cameras  60  and  62  are mounted into the camera housing  54 . Then, the first connector  76  and the second connector  78 , which are respectively mounted at the ends of the first FPCB  72  connected to the first camera  60  and the second FPCB  74  connected to the second camera  62 , are mounted at the third connector  84  and the fourth connector  86  each disposed at the connecting FPCB  80 . The connecting FPCB  80  is mounted at the FPCB mounting unit  82  formed in the camera housing  54 , thereby completing the camera assembly  50 . 
     Once the camera assembly  50  is mounted in the camera mounting unit  52  and the fifth connector  88  mounted on the connecting FPCB  80  is electrically connected to the printed circuit board  90 , the camera assembly  50  is mounted in the terminal body  10 . 
     The implementation of the above-mentioned camera assembly is not limited to bar-type terminals as shown in  FIG. 1 , but can also be applied to the various types of terminals including a slide-type, a folder-type (flip type), a swing-type, or the like. 
     Since the first camera  60  for video telephony and the second camera  62  for capturing still or video images are formed as one assembly, and assembled into the terminal body  10 , the terminal with the above configuration can facilitate the assembly operations and minimize an installation space in the terminal body. 
     In addition, the connecting FPCB  80  is connected to the first FPCB  72  (which in turn is connected to the first camera  50 ) and the second FPCB  74  (which in turn is connected to the second camera  62 ). Accordingly, only one connector of the connecting FPCB  80  needs to be connected to the printed circuit board  90 , thereby saving an installation space on the printed circuit board. 
     The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description 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. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. 
     As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the 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 scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.