Patent Publication Number: US-2005134717-A1

Title: Portable device with camera

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-395738, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a portable device incorporating a camera.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Heretofore, portable telephones incorporating cameras, for close-up photography of subjects placed on tabletops, have been proposed.  
      For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2000-358225 has disclosed a structure in which an antenna, which can be folded up, is abutted against a tabletop and sets a distance between a camera and a subject. In this structure, the camera is provided at a rear face of a monitor, a first casing is equipped with a keyboard, and a second casing is equipped with the monitor. The first casing and second casing are opened out to approximately 180° and a subject is photographed in this opened state. The monitor is oriented upward, so it is possible to take a close-up photograph while checking the subject with the monitor.  
      However, it is necessary for a camera operator to hold the portable telephone firmly, and the distance between the camera and the subject will vary greatly if the portable telephone is inclined even slightly relative to the subject. That is, there are concerns about steadiness at times of close-up photography.  
      Further, JP-A No. 2003-163824 has disclosed a structure in which two casings joined by a hinge are opened out to a certain angle of less than 180°. In this state, a hinge portion is oriented upward and the structure is invertedly stood on a tabletop, which sets a distance between a camera provided at the hinge portion and a subject. With this structure, steadiness at times of close-up photography is high. Moreover, a monitor faces outward in the state in which the casings are invertedly stood on the tabletop, and it is possible to perform close-up photography while checking the subject with the monitor.  
      However, the hinge portion cannot open the two casings beyond 180°. Therefore, it is necessary for the hinge portion to have a bi-axial structure, with an opening/closing axis for opening out and closing up the two casings and a rotation axis for turning the monitor around. Thus, a mechanism of the hinge portion is likely to be complicated.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been devised in consideration of the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an opening/closing-type portable device with a camera, which portable device alters to a shape for close-up photography, raises steadiness at times of close-up photography, and avoids complication of a mechanism of a hinge portion.  
      In order to achieve the object described above, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a portable device with a camera is provided, the device including: (a) a first casing body including one surface, at which a control portion is provided, and an opposite surface; (b) a second casing body including one surface, at which a monitor is provided, and an opposite surface; (c) a hinge portion joining the first casing body and the second casing body such that the first casing body and the second casing body are rotatable relative to one another about the hinge; and (d) the camera, which is provided at the hinge portion, (e) the portable device can be put into a first state, in which the first casing body and the second casing body are superposed such that the one face of the first casing body and the one face of the second casing body oppose one another, and a second state, in which the first casing body and the second casing body are relatively rotated from the first state by a predetermined angle about an axis of the hinge portion such that the opposite surface of the first casing body and the opposite surface of the second casing body nearly oppose one another.  
      The foregoing, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the attached claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a portable telephone incorporating a camera of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a hinge portion and a camera unit of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment.  
       FIGS. 3A, 3B ,  3 C and  3 D are sectional views showing states of an operation in which the camera unit of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment rotates.  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the hinge portion of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing the hinge portion of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment.  
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are sectional views showing the hinge portion of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment.  
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are sectional views showing the hinge portion of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a state of close-up photography of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 9  is a side view showing the state of close-up photography of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing structure of a circuit for controlling the camera unit of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment.  
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are sectional diagrams showing sensing means for detecting a position of rotation of a second casing body of the portable telephone with camera of the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 12  is a sectional side view of principal components showing a state in which a portable telephone incorporating a camera of a second embodiment is opened out.  
       FIG. 13  is a sectional side view of principal components showing a state in which the portable telephone with camera of the second embodiment is folded over backward.  
       FIG. 14  is a sectional side view of principal components of a portable telephone incorporating a camera of a third embodiment.  
       FIG. 15  is a sectional side view of principal components showing a state in which the portable telephone with camera of the third embodiment is folded over backward. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Below, a plurality of embodiments of a portable device incorporating a camera relating to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , at a portable telephone with a camera  10  of a first embodiment, a first casing body  14  and a second casing body  18  are openably/closeably joined by a hinge portion  20 . The first casing body  14  is provided with a control portion  12 , and the second casing body  18  is provided with a monitor  16 . In a state in which the first casing body  14  and second casing body  18  are closed up, the monitor  16  and the control portion  12  are accommodated at inner sides of the first casing body  14  and second casing body  18 , and are close to and facing one another.  
      A camera unit  22  is rotatably provided at a central portion of the hinge portion  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , at the camera unit  22 , an imaging lens  26  is provided at a front face of a circular tube-form casing  24 , and a CCD  28  is provided inside the casing  24 . A central portion of an image pickup surface of the CCD  28  is aligned with an optical axis of the imaging lens  26 .  
      Portions at two end portions of the casing  24  are formed with narrower diameters to serve as rotation shafts  24 A. Bearings  30 , which are formed at an end face of the first casing body  14 , rotatably support these rotation shafts  24 A. Latches  32  are provided at circumferential faces of the rotation shafts  24 A. At the latches  32 , distal end portions  32 A thereof, which are folded over in triangular forms, are caused to protrude from the circumferential faces of the rotation shafts  24 A by plate springs, which extend in the axial direction of the rotation shafts  24 A.  
      Anchoring grooves  30 A,  30 B and  30 C, which engage with the latches  32 , are formed at inner circumferential faces of the bearings  30 . The anchoring grooves  30 A are formed at the control portion  12  side of the first casing body  14 . As is shown in  FIG. 3A , when the latches  32  are engaged with the anchoring grooves  30 A, the imaging lens  26  is oriented toward a user. Thus, a “self-portrait”, in which a camera user photographs him/herself, is possible.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3B , when the camera unit  22  is rotated in a clockwise direction (the direction of arrow A in the drawing), the latches  32  are pushed into the circumferential faces of the rotation shafts  24 A by the inner circumferential faces of the bearings  30 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 3C , the anchoring grooves  30 B are formed at an interval of approximately 180° from the anchoring grooves  30 A. When the rotation shafts  24 A are rotated to the positions of these anchoring grooves  30 B, the latches  32  are protruded from the circumferential faces of the rotation shafts  24 A by resilient force and are engaged with the anchoring grooves  30 B. In this state, the imaging lens  26  is oriented to the opposite side from the operator, that is, toward usual photographic subjects. Hence, it is possible to photograph subjects which are located in front of the camera user.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3D , the anchoring grooves  30 C are formed at intervals of approximately 90° from the anchoring grooves  30 A and the anchoring grooves  30 B (intermediate to the anchoring grooves  30 A and  30 B). When the latches  32  are engaged with these anchoring grooves  30 C, the imaging lens  26  is oriented toward subjects which are the targets of close-up photography, as described later. Hence, close-up photography is possible.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , two first tubular bodies  34  are formed at an end face of the second casing body  18 , and the bearings  30  are disposed between the two first tubular bodies  34 . Two second tubular bodies  36  are formed at end faces of the first casing body  14 , and the first tubular bodies  34  are disposed between the two second tubular bodies  36 . The first tubular bodies  34  are tubular bodies with bases, with axial direction one end portions thereof (at the respective bearing 30 sides) serving as base faces  34 B. The second tubular bodies  36  are tubular bodies of which both end portions in the axial direction are open.  
      Hinges  38  and  39  are inserted into the first tubular bodies  34  and second tubular bodies  36 , enabling opening/closing of the first casing body  14  and second casing body  18 . The hinge  38 , which is disposed at the left side in the drawings, is structured by a first hinge  40 , a second hinge  42 , a rotation shaft  44  and a compression coil spring  46 . The hinge  39 , which is disposed at the right side in the drawings, is structured by another first hinge  40 , a second hinge  41 , another rotation shaft  44  and another compression coil spring  46 . Note that the components assigned the same reference numerals, i.e., the first hinges  40 , the rotation shafts  44  and the compression coil springs  46 , are common components.  
      Each first hinge  40  has a circular tube form and is inserted into the first tubular body  34 . Two key grooves  40 A, which extend in the axial direction at a circumferential face of the first hinge  40 , are formed with a spacing of 180°. Two keys  34 A, which are formed at an inner circumferential face of the first tubular body  34 , are formed with a spacing of 180° and engage with the key grooves  40 A. Accordingly, the first hinges  40  are non-rotatable in the first tubular bodies  34 .  
      The second hinge  42  has a circular tube form with the same diameter as the first hinge  40 , and is inserted into the second tubular body  36  at the left side of the drawings. Two key grooves  42 A, which extend in the axial direction at a circumferential face of the second hinge  42 , are formed with a spacing of 180°. Two keys  36 A, which engage with the two key grooves  42 A, are formed with a spacing of 180° at an inner circumferential face of the second tubular body  36 . Accordingly, the second hinge  42  is non-rotatable in the second tubular body  36 .  
      The second hinge  41  of the hinge  39  has a circular tube form with the same diameter as the first hinge  40 , and is inserted into the second tubular body  36  at the right side of the drawings. Two key grooves  41 A, which extend in the axial direction at a circumferential face of the second hinge  41 , are formed with a spacing of 180°, and engage with two more keys  36 A, which are formed with a spacing of 180° at the inner circumferential face of the second tubular body  36 . Accordingly, the second hinge  41  is non-rotatable in the right-side second tubular body  36 .  
      At each rotation shaft  44 , a screw portion  44 A is formed at one axial direction end portion and a head portion  44 B is formed at the other axial direction end portion. The rotation shafts  44  pass through the first hinge  40  and second hinge  42  of the hinge  38 , and the first hinge  40  and second hinge  41  of the hinge  39 , respectively, and the rotation shafts  44  screw into the base faces  34 B of the first tubular bodies  34 .  
      The compression coil springs  46  are disposed between the second hinge  42  and the corresponding head portion  44 B and between the second hinge  41  and the corresponding head portion  44 B, respectively, and urge the second hinge  41  and the second hinge  42 , respectively, towards the first hinges  40 .  
      A cam  43  and cams  45  are formed at, respectively, an abutting face  40 B of the first hinge  40  and an abutting face  42 B of the second hinge  42 . The cam  43  is a protrusion with a taper form in cross-section, and the cams  45  are grooves with taper forms in cross-section, which engage with the cam  43 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the cam  43  extends from an end face of the abutting face  40 B to an end face at an opposite side of the abutting face  40 B, transiting across a hole  40 C. The two keys  34 A are arranged along a direction of thickness of the second casing body  18 , and the cam  43  extends in a radial direction with an angle of approximately 90° to a direction of arrangement of the two key grooves  40 A. That is, in the state in which the first hinge  40  is inserted into the first tubular body  34 , the cam  43  extends in a direction substantially intersecting the thickness direction of the second casing body  18 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 7A , the cams  45  are structured by three cams, a first cam  45 A, a second cam  45 B and a third cam  45 C, which extend from an end face of the abutting face  42 B to an end face at an opposite side of the abutting face  42 B, transiting across a hole  42 C. The two keys  36 A are arranged along a direction of thickness of the first casing body  14 , and the first cam  45 A extends in a radial direction with an angle of approximately 90° to a direction of arrangement of the two key grooves  42 A. That is, in the state in which the second hinge  42  is inserted into the second tubular body  36  at the left side of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first cam  45 A extends in a direction substantially intersecting the thickness direction of the first casing body  14 .  
      The second cam  45 B extends at an angle approximately 30° in an anti-clockwise direction of the drawing relative to the first cam  45 A, and the third cam  45 C extends at an angle approximately 30° in the anti-clockwise direction relative to the second cam  45 B.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , another cam  43  and cams  47  are formed at, respectively, another abutting face  40 B of the first hinge  40  of the hinge  39  and an abutting face  41 B of the second hinge  41 . This cam  43  is as described above.  
      The cams  47  are grooves with taper forms in cross-section, which engage with the cam  43 . As shown in  FIG. 7A , the cam  47  is structured by three cams, a first cam  47 A, a second cam  47 B and a third cam  47 C, which extend from an end face of the abutting face  41 B to an end face at an opposite side of the abutting face  41 B, transiting across a hole  41 C. The first cam  47 A extends in a radial direction with an angle of approximately 90° to a direction of arrangement of the two key grooves  41 A. That is, in the state in which the second hinge  41  is inserted into the second tubular body  36  at the right side of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first cam  47 A extends in a direction substantially intersecting the thickness direction of the first casing body  14 .  
      The second cam  47 B extends at an angle approximately 30° in a clockwise direction of the drawing relative to the first cam  47 A, and the third cam  47 C extends at an angle approximately 30° in the clockwise direction relative to the second cam  47 B.  
      In the state in which the first casing body  14  and second casing body  18  are closed up, the cam  43  of the first hinge  40  of the hinge  38  engages with the first cam  45 A of the second hinge  42 , and the cam  43  of the first hinge  40  of the hinge  39  engages with the first cam  47 A of the second hinge  41 . In this state, the second hinges  41  and  42  are urged against the first hinges  40  by the compression coil springs  46 , the hinges  38  and  39  are locked, and there is no looseness between the first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18 .  
      When the second casing body  18  is opened out from the closed state, an angled surface of the first cam  45 A of the hinge  38  pushes against an angled surface of the corresponding cam  43 , and an angled surface of the first cam  47 A of the hinge  39  pushes against an angled surface of the corresponding cam  43 . As a result, engagements of the first cam  45 A with the cam  43  of the hinge  38  and of the first cam  47 A with the cam  43  of the hinge  39  are released, and the hinge  38  and hinge  39  become rotatable.  
      When the second casing body  18  has opened to 120° from the closed state, the cam  43  of the first hinge  40  of the hinge  38  engages with the third cam  45 C of the second hinge  42 , and the cam  43  of the first hinge  40  of the hinge  39  engages with the third cam  47 C of the second hinge  41 .  
      When the second casing body  18  opens a further 30° and reaches a state of having been opened to 150° (another rotation position), the cam  43  of the first hinge  40  of the hinge  38  engages with the second cam  45 B of the second hinge  42 , and the cam  43  of the first hinge  40  of the hinge  39  engages with the second cam  47 B of the second hinge  41 . In the state in which the second casing body  18  has been opened to 150° (another rotation position) as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a state in which the second casing body  18  has opened a further 30° to 180° (another rotation position), the portable telephone with camera  10  is in a condition for performing telephone calls, usual photography and the like. In this state, the first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18  are locked by the hinges  38  and  39 . Thus, telephone calls, usual photography, etc. can be performed without difficulty.  
      When the second casing body  18  is opened to 300° (a first rotation position), the cam  43  of the first hinge  40  of the hinge  38  engages with the third cam  45 C of the second hinge  42 , and the cam  43  of the first hinge  40  of the hinge  39  engages with the third cam  47 C of the second hinge  41 . As a result, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18  are locked in a state which is opened by 300° from the closed state. Hence, the first casing body  14  and second casing body  18  can be invertedly stood on a flat surface G with the hinge portion  20  oriented upward.  
      In this state, the control portion  12  and the monitor  16  face to outer sides. Further, the camera unit  22  is locked centrally to inner sides of the first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18 , as described earlier. Consequently, it is possible to operate the control portion  12  and photograph a subject on the flat surface G while checking the subject with the monitor  16 .  
      Thus, because a degree of freedom of rotation of the hinge portion  20  is raised, a rotation axis for turning the monitor  16  around is not necessary, and it is possible for the hinge portion  20  to have a uni-axial form. Consequently, complication of the structure of the hinge portion  20  can be avoided.  
       FIG. 10  shows a block diagram representing structure of a circuit for controlling the camera unit  22  of the portable telephone with camera  10  of the present embodiment.  
      The portable telephone with camera  10  is equipped with the imaging lens  26 , the CCD  28 , image signal processing means  48 , a memory controller  50  and memory  52 . A subject which is focused through the imaging lens  26  onto the CCD  28  is converted to analog image signals by the CCD  28 . Then, the analog image signals, which are outputted from the CCD  28 , are subjected to analog signal processing, A/D conversion and digital signal processing by the image signal processing means  48 . The digital image data that has been subjected to the digital signal processing is compressed by the memory controller  50  and recorded at the memory  52 . Depending on a photography mode, the compression process may be omitted and the data recorded directly to the memory  52 . Hence, the digital image data stored at the memory  52  is read out to the monitor  16 , and an image of the subject is displayed at the monitor  16 .  
      The portable telephone with camera  10  is equipped with a system controller  54  which oversees control of the portable telephone with camera  10  as a whole. Taking of a photograph is implemented by operating the control portion  12  to set desired photography conditions and pressing a shutter button  56  (see  FIGS. 1 and 8 ).  
      A zoom motor  58 , sensing means  60  and lights  62  are provided at the portable telephone with camera  10 . The zoom motor  58  drives the imaging lens  26  for zooming, and the sensing means  60  detects when the second casing body  18  has been opened to 300° (the first rotation position).  
      As shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the sensing means  60  is structured by a detection protrusion  64  and a detection contact  66 . The detection protrusion  64  is formed at an outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body  34  of the second casing body  18 , and the detection contact  66  is provided at a rear face  14 A of the first casing body  14  and conducts electricity when pressed by the detection protrusion  64 .  
      When the second casing body  18  is rotated as shown in  FIG. 11A  to the first rotation position, the detection protrusion  64  pushes against the detection contact  66 , as shown in  FIG. 11B , and the detection contact  66 , which has been open hitherto, is closed. Hence, a detection signal that the detection contact  66  has closed is sent to the system controller  54 . When the system controller  54  receives the detection signal, the system controller  54  drives the zoom motor  58 , alters a searching range of the imaging lens  26  to a macro region, and switches the photography mode to a macro (close-up) photography mode. Further, the lights  62 , which are provided at the rear face  14 A of the first casing body  14  and a rear face  18 A of the second casing body  18 , are lit up.  
      In consequence, close-up photography of a subject which is located between the first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18  on the flat surface G on which the first casing body  14  and second casing body  18  are invertedly standing is possible. Moreover, because the first casing body  14  and second casing body  18  are inverted on the flat surface G with the hinge portion  20  oriented upward for performing close-up photography, a distance between subjects and the camera is constant, and it is possible to perform stable close-up photography. Furthermore, because of the illumination of the lights  62 , bright close-up images can be obtained.  
      The first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18  are equipped at their respective tips with the lights  62  such that, when the first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18  are inverted on the flat surface G with the hinge portion  20  oriented upward, the lights  62  are located within a hatched (or shaded) area as shown in  FIG. 9 .  
      In a case in which a light is located within such a hatched area, alight beam, which has been discharged from the light and subsequently reflected from the surface G, does not enter the CCD  28 . Namely, the possibility of reflectance (or flashing) of the light beam (on a photograph, a display or the like) can be prevented.  
      Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that portions and components that are the same as in the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate.  
      As shown in  FIG. 12 , a portable telephone with a camera  100  is provided with a close-up photography lens  102  at the rear face  14 A, which is a face of the first casing body  14  opposite to a face of the first casing body  14  at which the control portion  12  is provided. This close-up photography lens  102  can be moved, by a hinge  104 , into and out of an accommodation portion  14 B of the rear face  14 A of the first casing body  14 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 13 , the second casing body  18  is rotated to the first rotation position and the camera unit  22  is rotated to the center at the inner sides of the first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18 . Further, the close-up photography lens  102  folds out from the accommodation portion  14 B and is disposed at a front face side of the imaging lens  26  of the camera unit  22 . In consequence, a subject disposed on the flat surface G at the inner sides of the first casing body  14  and second casing body  18  will be in focus, and close-up photography is possible.  
      Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that portions and components that are the same as in the first or second embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate.  
      As shown in  FIG. 14 , at a portable telephone with a camera  200 , the imaging lens  26  of a camera unit  202  is accommodated in a lens barrel  204 . A cylindrical body  206  is formed integrally with the casing  24 . The lens barrel  204  is supported by the cylindrical body  206  to be movable in an optical axis direction of the imaging lens  26 . An end portion of the lens barrel  204  at the CCD  28  side thereof in the optical axis direction is supported by an extension coil spring  208 .  
      The camera unit  202  is formed to be rotatable by a structure similar to that of the first and second embodiments. A cam  210  is formed at the rear face  14 A of the first casing body  14 , and a brim portion  204 A is formed at a distal end portion of the lens barrel  204 . When the camera unit  202  is rotated in a direction such that the imaging lens  26  approaches the first casing body  14  (the direction of arrow A in the drawing), the cam  210  abuts against the brim portion  204 A, as shown in  FIG. 15 . As a result, the lens barrel  204  is pushed outward and the imaging lens  26  is moved to a close-up position at which a subject on the flat surface G will be in focus.  
      In the first to third embodiments, the camera unit  22  (or  202 ) is formed to be rotatable by turning at the hinge portion  20 . However, the camera unit  22  (or  202 ) may be fixed at the hinge portion  20  such that, when the second casing body  18  is opened approximately 300° from the closed state as shown in  FIG. 9 , the imaging lens  26  faces a subject at the inner sides of the first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18 . Alternatively, the camera unit  22  (or  202 ) may rotate in conjunction with rotation of the second casing body  18  such that, when the second casing body  18  is opened approximately 300° from the closed state, the imaging lens  26  is rotated to a position that faces a subject at the inner sides of the first casing body  14  and the second casing body  18 .  
      Further, although the angles at which the second casing body  18  is locked by the hinge portion  20  in the first to third embodiments are 120°, 150°, 180° and 300°, such angles can be selected as is appropriate.  
      Further again, in the first to third embodiments, the CCD  28  is disposed at the hinge portion  20 . However, a reflection mirror may be disposed at the position at which the CCD  28  is disposed in the above embodiments, with the CCD  28  being disposed at the first casing body  14  or the second casing body  18 . The reflection mirror deflects the path of light that has passed through the imaging lens  26  to make the light incident on the CCD  28 .  
      Further yet, in the first to third embodiments, the present invention has been described taking a portable telephone incorporating a camera as an example. However, the present invention is also applicable to other opening/closing-type (folding-type) portable devices incorporating cameras in which the cameras are provided at hinge portions, such as, for example, notebook computers, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and so forth.  
      With the structures described above, the present invention is capable, in an opening/closing-type portable device incorporating a camera, which portable device alters to a shape for performing close-up photography, of raising stability at times of close-up photography, while avoiding complication of structure of a hinge portion.