Abstract:
Disclosed is a mobile communication terminal with an integrated camera having multidirectional adjusting capabilities to allow changes in orientation and position of the camera without altering the position and orientation of the terminal. The terminal comprises of a body, a display, and one or more input devices to enter terminal and photographic commands. A camera is affixed to the terminal, and a device for manipulating the position and orientation of the camera is included. One or more shafts operationally connect the camera to an adjusting plate so that forces applied to the adjusting plate correspond to movement and changes in orientation of the camera. Alternatively, a rotation member can be installed so that rotation of the adjustment plate results in the rotation of the camera.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    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. 2002-57380, filed on Sep. 19, 2002, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal with an integrated camera, and more particularly, to a mobile communication terminal with an integrated camera having multidirectional adjusting capabilities.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    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.  
           [0006]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional mobile terminal is shown with a camera mounted on the terminal. The mobile terminal comprises a main folder  10 , a subfolder  20 , a hinge connection element  30  for pivotally connecting the folders  10  and  20 , which are to be opened at a predetermined angle, and a digital camera  40  mounted on the hinge connection element. The digital camera  40  is fixedly mounted on a right or left hinge portion of the main folder  10  or a hinge portion of the subfolder  20 . A lens  41  of the digital camera  40  is directed towards a subject to be photographed. An image of the subject is reproduced on a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel  21 .  
           [0007]    Referring to FIG. 3, the lens  41  is enclosed within the digital camera  40  by a lens holder in which a light aperture  42  is formed. A transparent filter  44  is disposed in front of the lens  41 , thereby protecting the lens without preventing light from passing through the lens. An image sensor  45  is disposed behind the lens  41  to convert incident optical signals from the lens  41  to electrical signals. In addition, other electronic parts are disposed within the digital camera  40 . Furthermore, a shutter button  46  is provided at one side of the main folder in the mobile phone  1 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to operate the camera  40 .  
           [0008]    When photographing subjects with a conventional mobile terminal  1  having a camera mounted on the terminal, the mode of the mobile phone is converted into a digital camera mode by means of a mode conversion (not shown). Next, the user directs the lens  41  to the subject and sets the imaging angle and focus upon viewing the image displayed on the LCD panel  21 . Afterwards, the user photographs the image by pushing the shutter button  46  and stores the image as image data to a memory device in the mobile phone  1 . The user may then perform various desired operations such as reproducing, editing, transmitting and deleting operations on the image data.  
           [0009]    However, in this conventional mobile terminal  1  having a camera mounted on the terminal, it may be inconvenient for a user to correctly set the imaging angle in some photographing environments. The lens  41  of the digital camera and the screen of the liquid crystal display panel are fixedly directed to the subject and, in some cases, the user himself when the mobile phone  1  is opened. Thus, when a user photographs a particular object, the user must tilt the lens  41  and the display panel in the direction of the object being photographed. Consequently, the position and angle of the screen  21  of the LCD panel relative to the user is altered along with the position and angle of the lens  41 . This makes it inconvenient and difficult for the user to correctly see the image displayed on the LCD panel  21 .  
           [0010]    Accordingly, a solution is needed to allow or facilitate a user&#39;s viewing the display while photographing an object when using a mobile communication terminal with an integrated camera.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a mobile communication terminal with an integrated camera that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art above.  
           [0012]    An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal with an integrated camera having multidirectional adjusting capabilities.  
           [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal with an integrated camera that can be rotated with respect to a hinge axis.  
           [0014]    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.  
           [0015]    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 with an integrated camera that comprises a body, at least one manipulation device disposed on the body that performs an operational function of the camera, and a display for reproducing an image created by the camera, wherein the camera is mounted on the body of the mobile communication terminal so that orientation of the camera can be manipulated.  
           [0016]    According to one aspect of the present invention, the mobile communication terminal is a folding type mobile communication terminal and further comprises a lower main folder, an upper subfolder, a hinge connection element that pivotally connects the lower main folder to the upper subfolder, an adjustment plate disposed on the first side of the hinge connection element, and the camera being disposed on the second side of the hinge connection element. Further, manipulation of the adjustment plate results in a change in orientation of the camera by providing a lateral force onto an area of the adjustment plate opposite to a desired pivot direction of the camera. This manipulation can be effected by having at least one shaft axially disposed in the hinge connection element and having a first and second ends connected to the adjustment plate and the camera, respectively.  
           [0017]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the mobile communication terminal further comprises a lower main folder, an upper subfolder, a hinge connection element that pivotally connects the lower main folder to the upper subfolder, a cylindrical pivot member axially disposed within the hinge connection element, an adjustment plate disposed on the first side of the hinge connection element, and the camera being disposed on the second side of the hinge connection element. Rotation of the adjustment plate results in a change in direction of the camera. Further, manipulation of the adjustment plate results in a change in orientation of the camera by providing a lateral force onto an area of the adjustment plate opposite to a desired pivot direction of the camera. This manipulation can be effected by having at least one shaft axially disposed in the hinge connection element and having a first and second ends connected to the adjustment plate and the camera, respectively.  
           [0018]    According to this aspect of the present invention, at least one groove is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the hinge connection element and is engaged by at least one protrusion that is formed on the cylindrical pivot member. The groove encompasses less than 360 degrees of the inner circumferential surface so that the cylindrical pivot member cannot completely rotate within the hinge connection element.  
           [0019]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to further describe the invention as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    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.  
         [0021]    In the drawings:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a mobile communication terminal having an integrated camera mounted at a central portion of a hinge connection element, according to the related art;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a mobile communication terminal having an integrated camera mounted at one end of a hinge connection element, according to the related art;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of a camera mounted on a mobile communication terminal according to the related art;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a mobile communication terminal having an integrated camera according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a connection between an integrated camera and an adjustment plate according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a structure for connecting central, right, left, upper, and lower shafts to the camera and to the adjustment plate according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 illustrates a partial frontal elevation view of a hinge connection element of a mobile communication terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 illustrates a partial side elevation view of a hinge connection element of a mobile communication terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic view of the relationship between operations of the right and left shafts and the associated rotations of the camera according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic view of the relationship between operations of the upper and lower shafts and the associated rotations of the camera according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a mobile communication terminal according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 12 illustrates a side cross sectional view of the hinge connection element according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 13 illustrates a front cross sectional view of the hinge connection element according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
     
    
       [0035]    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 THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]    Reference will now be made in detail to one or more embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0037]    In FIGS.  4  to  8 , a mobile communication terminal  100  with an integrated camera  140 , in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Depending on implementation, the present invention may be utilized in a clamshell type mobile phone, and is disclosed as applicable to such implementation. It is noteworthy, however, that this disclosed application is provided by way of example. As such, the present invention may be applied to and embodied in any other type of mobile communication terminal including, for example, personal data assistants (PDA&#39;s), notebook computers, handheld computers, and other portable devices.  
         [0038]    The camera  140  is disposed between an upper end of the lower main folder  120  and a lower end of the upper subfolder  110 . Similarly, the adjustment plate  150  is disposed on the opposite side of the terminal where the camera  140  is disposed, between an upper end of the lower main folder  110  and a lower end of the upper subfolder  120 .  
         [0039]    Referring to FIG. 5, a central shaft  160 , a right shaft  180 , a left shaft  170 , an upper shaft  190 , and a lower shaft  200  are provided and pass though the hinge connection element  130  of the lower main folder  120 . An upper subfolder  110  and the ends of each of said shafts protrude a predetermined length from the right and left side surfaces of the hinge connection element  130 . The central shaft  160  is provided with a pair of circular stoppers  161  and  161 ′ that are situated a predetermined distance from the camera  140  and the adjustment plate  150 , respectively. The circular stoppers  161  and  161 ′ are affixed to the outer side surfaces of the hinge connection element  130  in order to prevent the central shaft  160  from sliding in an axial direction beyond a first limit. The adjustment plate  150  comprises a hard plastic material or a flexible rubber material and is circular in shape, for example.  
         [0040]    The right shaft  180 , the left shaft  170 , the upper shaft  190 , and the lower shaft  200  are formed symmetrically with respect to the central shaft  160  as a rotational axis. A first end of each of the central, left, right, upper, and lower shafts  160 ,  170 ,  180 ,  190  and  200 , respectively, is connected to the camera  140  through a universal joint mechanism A. A second end of each of the central, left, right, upper, and lower shafts  160 ,  170 ,  180 ,  190  and  200  is also connected to a camera adjustment plate  150  through a universal joint mechanism A.  
         [0041]    The universal joint element A is a connecting mechanism by which the camera  140  and the adjustment plate  150  are connected to each shaft  160 ,  170 ,  180 ,  190  and  200  in order to pivotally rotate the camera  140  and adjustment plate  150  in the upward, downward, right and left directions. The universal joint element is a universal joint element known to one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0042]    There is a predetermined distance D between the camera  140  and the left side end of the hinge connection element  130 , the upper end of the lower main folder  110 , and the lower end of the upper subfolder  120 . There is also a predetermined distance D between the adjustment plate  150  and the right side end of the hinge connection element  130 , the upper end of the lower main folder  110 , or the lower end of the upper subfolder  120 .  
         [0043]    The central, left, right, upper, and lower shafts  160 ,  170 ,  180 ,  190  and  200 , respectively, axially pass through shaft openings  131  that are formed at right and left side ends of the hinge connection element  130 . Each of the shaft openings has a cruciform and the shafts  160 ,  170 ,  180 ,  190  and  200  are positioned at the central, left, right, upper, and lower portions, respectively, of the cruciform of the shaft openings.  
         [0044]    Referring to FIGS.  9  to  10 , operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be described.  
         [0045]    In order to rotate the camera  140  in a laterally inwards direction, an external force Fa is initially applied to the adjustment plate  150 . As a result of the external force Fa, the right shaft  180 , which is connected to the adjustment plate  150 , slides through the shaft opening  131 , thereby correspondingly moving the camera  140 . The camera  140  and the adjustment plate  150  are pivotally rotated in the direction Sa at the universal joint portions A, which are positioned at both ends of the central shaft  160  and act as the rotational axes. Consequently, the lens  141  mounted on the camera  140  is pivotally rotated the direction Sa, as well. Furthermore, the left shaft  170  slides through the shaft opening  131  in the direction Fa1. The rotational angle of the lens  141  is approximately equivalent to the rotational angle θ1 of the camera  140 , which is proportional to the sliding distances of the right and left shafts  180  and  170 .  
         [0046]    In order to rotate the camera  140  in a laterally outwards direction, an external force Fb is initially applied to the adjustment plate  150 . As a result of the external force Fb, the left shaft  170 , which is connected to the adjustment plate  150 , slides through the shaft opening  131 , thereby correspondingly moving the camera  140 . The camera  140  and the adjustment plate  150  are pivotally rotated in the direction Sb at the universal joint portions A, which are positioned at both ends of the central shaft  160  and act as the rotational axes. Consequently, the lens  141  mounted on the camera  140  is pivotally rotated the direction Sb, as well. Furthermore, the right shaft  180  slides through the shaft opening  131  in the direction Fb  1 . The rotational angle of the lens  141  is equivalent to the rotational angle 02 of the camera  140 , which is proportional to the sliding distances of the right and left shafts  180  and  170 .  
         [0047]    In order to rotate the camera  140  in a vertically downwards direction, an external force Fc is initially applied to the adjustment plate  150 . As a result of the external force Fb, the upper shaft  190 , which is connected to the adjustment plate  150 , slides through the shaft opening  131 , thereby correspondingly moving the camera  140 . The camera  140  and the adjustment plate  150  are pivotally rotated in the direction Sc at the universal joint portions A, which are positioned at both ends of the central shaft  160  and act as the rotational axes. Consequently, the lens  141  mounted on the camera  140  is pivotally rotated the direction Sc, as well. Furthermore, the lower shaft  200  slides through the shaft opening  131  in the direction Fc1. The rotational angle of the lens  141  is equivalent to the rotational angle θ3 of the camera  140 , which is proportional to the sliding distances of the upper and lower shafts  190  and  200 .  
         [0048]    In order to rotate the camera  140  in a vertically upwards direction, an external force Fd is initially applied to the adjustment plate  150 . As a result of the external force Fd, the lower shaft  200 , which is connected to the adjustment plate  150 , slides through the shaft opening  131 , thereby correspondingly moving the camera  140 . The camera  140  and the adjustment plate  150  are pivotally rotated in the left direction Sd at the universal joint portions A, which are positioned at both ends of the central shaft  160  and act as the rotational axes. Consequently, the lens  141  mounted on the camera  140  is pivotally rotated the direction Sd, as well. Furthermore, the upper shaft  190  slides through the shaft opening  131  in the direction Fd  1 . The rotational angle of the lens  141  is equivalent to the rotational angle θ4 of the camera  140 , which is proportional to the sliding distances of the upper and lower shafts  190  and  200 .  
         [0049]    Accordingly, the maximal rotational angle of the camera  140  is determined with respect to the maximal axial distance traveled by the right, left, upper and lower shafts  170 ,  180 ,  190 , and  200 , respectively. The axial distance corresponds to the spacing distance D, as described in FIG. 7, between the camera  140  and the left side end of the hinge connection element  130 , the upper end of the lower main folder  110 , or the lower end of the upper subfolder  120 .  
         [0050]    FIGS.  11 - 13  refer to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein a mobile communication terminal  100 - 1  is shown having a camera  140  disposed between an upper end of a lower main folder  120  and a lower end of an upper subfolder  110 . A hinge connection element  130  is shown as having two cylindrically shaped members laterally disposed on the upper end of the lower main folder  120  and one cylindrically shaped member laterally disposed on the lower end of the upper subfolder  110 , which is to be inserted between the two member set on the upper end of the lower main folder  120 . At least one vertical groove  132  is formed on the inner surface of the hinge connection element.  
         [0051]    A cylindrical pivot member  300  is inserted into the hinge connection element  130 . At least one protrusion  310  is formed at a predetermined position on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical pivot tube  300 . The at least one protrusion  310  engages the at least one groove  132  located on the inner surface of the hinge connection element  130 , thereby preventing axial movement of the cylindrical pivot member  300  but allowing rotational movement. The groove  132 , when formed on the inner surface of the hinge connection element  130 , encompasses preferably less than 360° in order to prevent the cylindrical pivot member  300  from completely and freely rotating.  
         [0052]    An adjustment plate  150  and a camera  140  are disposed on laterally opposing sides of the terminal  100 - 1  at the hinge connection element  130 . Central, left, right, upper and lower shafts  160 ,  170 ,  180 ,  190  and  200 , respectively, are connected to the inner side surfaces of the adjustment plate  150  via universal joint mechanisms A. The shafts  160 ,  170 ,  180 ,  190 , and  200  pass through the shaft opening  131  of the cylindrical pivot member  300 . As a result of the cylindrical pivot member  300 , rotation of the adjustment plate  150  results in the rotation of the camera  140 . Similar to the previous embodiment, the camera  140  can also be adjusted in the upwards, downwards, leftwards, or rightwards directions by applying lateral force to the corresponding area on the adjustment plate  150 .  
         [0053]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing description of these embodiments of the present invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Preferred embodiments were shown in the context of folding type mobile communication terminals. In alternative embodiments, candy bar and PDA type terminals can be substituted for the present invention.