Patent Publication Number: US-7719611-B2

Title: Handheld electronic device with image-capturing apparatus exposed through window

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a divisional of and claims priority benefit of an application Ser. No. 10/709,605, filed on May 18, 2004, now allowed, which claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 93201366, filed on Jan. 30, 2004. The entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a handheld electronic device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a handheld electronic device with an image-capturing apparatus which can capture image conveniently in two opposite directions. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Handheld electronic devices are compact, portable electronic products. Examples of handheld electronic devices include mobile phones, pocket personal computers (Pocket PCs) and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Because handheld electronic devices can be used for wireless communication and Internet connection, the device is a versatile and highly efficient means of processing communications. At present, handheld electronic devices have become one of the most sought-after high-tech products. 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B  are front view and back view of a conventional mobile phone  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the mobile phone  100  has an image-capturing apparatus  102  capable of turning 180° around an axis  104 . The image-capturing apparatus  102  is installed within a groove  112  in a top of a main body  110  of the mobile phone  100 . The image-capturing apparatus  102  includes a lens  106  which can be rotated within a range of 180 degrees to take pictures of objects at different directions. When the lens  106  of the image-capturing apparatus  102  is positioned in the same direction as a display screen  120  of the mobile phone  100 , an image of a user of the mobile phone  100  can be displayed on the display screen  120  of the main body  110 . Thereafter, if the user presses a function key  116  on the main body  110 , the image of the user can be captured by a photosensitive element (not shown) inside the image-capturing apparatus  102 . When the image-capturing apparatus  102  is turned rearwards for 180° so that the lens  106  is now directed rearwards, images of objects or other persons facing the user can be displayed on the display screen  120 . Thereafter, if the user presses the function key  116  on the main body  110 , the images of the objects or other persons are captured by the photosensitive element (not shown) within the image-capturing apparatus  102 . 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,473,631 disclosed a swivel videophone whose image-capturing apparatus has a rotation shaft locatable between and pivoted to lateral beams of a main body of the videophone. Hence, the image-capturing apparatus is free to rotate to a desired direction. 
   The two aforementioned mobile phones each must provide a groove in a top of a main body of the mobile phone for accommodating the image-capturing apparatus. The groove extends through front and rear faces of the main body the mobile phone. The cost of molding and fabricating the main body of the mobile phone is relatively high. Moreover, it is difficult to precisely and reliably locate the lens of the image-capturing apparatus at forward and rearward directions, which are the mostly desired directions in use. In addition, the image-capturing apparatus undermines the visual feeling of integrity of the mobile phone since the image-capturing apparatus looks like an addition component attached to the mobile phone. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,507 shows an image-capturing apparatus pivoted to one side of a main body of a mobile videophone so that an image of an object can be captured by turning the image-capturing apparatus to a desired aspect pointing toward the object. The image-capturing apparatus gives a user of the mobile videophone a visual feeling of being not integral and compact. Furthermore, it is not convenient to set the image-capturing apparatus fixed at a specific direction. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a handheld electronic device with an image-capturing apparatus, which can flip between forward and rearward-facing directions so that the handheld electronic device can be used to capture images of a user thereof and other persons and objects. Moreover, the image-capturing apparatus gives the handheld electronic device an integral and compact visual effectiveness. 
   To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a handheld electronic device including a first casing and a second casing. A display screen and an image-capturing apparatus are set up on the first casing and the second casing respectively. Furthermore, the display screen is positioned on a front surface of the first casing and the second casing is pivoted to a rear surface of the first casing. The image-capturing apparatus for capturing images is positioned at a distance away from a hinge joint between the first casing and the second casing. The second casing is permitted to flip relative to the first casing so that the second casing can move between first and second positions, wherein at the first position, the second casing is received in the rear surface of the first casing, and at the second position, the second casing extends away from the rear surface of the first casing. 
   In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the handheld electronic device mainly comprises a first casing, a second casing and an image-capturing apparatus. The first casing has a display screen and the second casing is pivoted to the first casing. The second casing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The second casing has a window extending through the inner surface and the outer surface. In addition, the image-capturing apparatus is set up on the outer surface of the second casing for capturing images. The second casing is permitted to fold over the first casing so that the image-capturing apparatus and the display screen both face the same direction and the display screen is exposed through the window. 
   The present invention also provides another alternative handheld electronic device design. The handheld electronic device mainly comprises a first casing, a second casing and an image-capturing apparatus. The first casing has a first surface and a second surface. The first casing has a display screen on the first surface and a window extending through the first surface and the second surface. The second casing is pivoted to the first casing. The second casing is permitted to move over the second surface of the first casing. The image-capturing apparatus is set up on the second casing for capturing images. When the second casing is located on the second surface of the first casing, the image-capturing apparatus and the display screen both faces the same direction so that the image-capturing apparatus can capture images of a user of the handheld electronic device facing the display screen. At this position, the image-capturing apparatus is exposed to the user through the window. 
   According to the embodiments of the present invention, the image-capturing apparatus may comprise a lens and a photosensitive device. Images of objects pass through the lens and project onto the photosensitive device whereby the handheld electronic device can take pictures of these objects and store them in a memory of the device. The photosensitive device can be a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) or a charge-coupled device (CCD), for example. 
   In the present invention, a flippable/foldable image-capturing apparatus is deployed so that images coming from front and rear directions can pass through the lens and project onto the photosensitive device. Therefore, a user holding the handheld electronic device can easily capture an image of himself (herself) or an image of other people or object facing the user. Furthermore, the image-capturing apparatus is set up on the second casing, which is visually an integral part of the first casing. Therefore, the handheld electronic device of the present invention does not have an awkward appearance. Finally, since the image-capturing apparatus is not confined to rotate within the space of a groove, the handheld electronic device is easier to operate. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  are front view and rear view of a conventional mobile phone. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front view and rear view of a handheld electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of an upper portion of the handheld electronic device of the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein a second casing thereof is at a first position. 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , with the second casing at a second position. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are views similar to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively, showing a variation of the first embodiment of the present application. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are front views showing opened and closed configurations of a handheld electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 7C and 7D  are side views of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , respectively. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are front views showing opened and closed configurations of a handheld electronic device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 8C and 8D  are side views of  FIGS. 8A and 8B , respectively. 
       FIGS. 8E and 8F  are perspective views showing opened and closed configurations of a handheld electronic device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 8G and 8H  are front views showing the closed and opened configurations of the handheld electronic device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 8I and 8J  are side views of  FIGS. 8I and 8J , respectively. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are front and back views of a handheld electronic device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention in an opened configuration. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of  FIG. 9A . 
       FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10 , with the handheld electronic device at a closed configuration, and  FIG. 12  is front view of  FIG. 11 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front and back views of a handheld electronic device  200  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the handheld electronic device  200  mainly comprises a first casing  210  and a second casing  220 . The first casing  210  has a display screen  212  mounted on a front surface  210   a  thereof, and the second casing  220  has an image-capturing apparatus  222 . The first casing  210  is a palm-size body that houses all major electronic components of the handheld electronic device  200  therein. Aside from the display screen  212 , the front surface  210   a  of the first casing  210  further includes a matrix of telephone keys  214  and functional keys  216  between the display screen  212  and the telephone keys  214 . Furthermore, the second casing  220  is pivoted to a rear surface  210   b  of the first casing  210 . When the image-capturing apparatus  222  is positioned in the rear surface  210   b  of the first casing  210 , a lens  224  on the image-capturing apparatus  220  faces rearwards. At this position, images of objects behind the handheld electronic device  200  can be taken by the image-capturing apparatus  222  through the lens  224  and displayed on the display screen  212 . If the user presses a predetermined one of the function keys  216  on the first casing  210 , the image shown on the display screen  212  can be stored in a memory of the handheld electronic device  200 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the rear surface  210   b  of the first casing  210  comprises a hinge-accommodating groove  218  for receiving the second casing  220  therein. Furthermore, the hinge-accommodating groove  218  has an opening  219  through an upper wall of the first casing  210 . Since the hinge-accommodating groove  218  does not penetrate through to the front surface  210   a  of the first casing  210 , the handheld electronic device  200  can have an integral and compact visual feeling. Furthermore, when the second casing  210  is received in the hinge-accommodating groove  218 , a surface of the second casing  210  wherein the image-capturing apparatus  222  is mounted flushes with the rear surface  210   b  of the first casing  210  to form a smooth profile for the handheld electronic device  200 , whereby the handheld electronic device  200  is aesthetically appealing. As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , at this position, the hinge section  226  is located between the display screen  212  and the image-capturing apparatus  222 . 
     FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the image-capturing apparatus  222  in  FIG. 3  flipped to a forward-facing direction. The first casing  210  and the second casing  220  are joined together through a hinge section  226 . The image-capturing apparatus  222  is set up at a position distant from the hinge section  226 . When the second casing  220  flips up by 180° from the position of  FIG. 3  to the position of  FIG. 4 , the second casing  220  extends through the upper opening  219 , and the lens  224  of the image-capturing apparatus  222  faces the same direction as the display screen  212 . The second casing  220  can flip between first and second positions, wherein at the first position, the second casing  220  is totally received in the groove  218  as shown in  FIG. 3 , and at the second position, the second casing  220  extends through the upper opening  219  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Furthermore, after flipping 180 degrees, the lens  224  of the image-capturing apparatus  222  now is located above the first casing  210  and faces a forward direction similar to the display screen  212 . Hence, the display screen  212  on the first casing  210  is able to display an image of the user of the handheld electronic device  200  when he (she) faces the lens  224 . Thereafter, if the user presses the predetermined one of the function keys  216  on the first casing  210 , the image of the user is stored in the memory of the handheld electronic device  200 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an extension plate  230  is formed at the upper wall of the first casing  210  and extends above the opening  219 . Furthermore, the second casing  220  has a corresponding slot  232 . When the second casing  220  is flipped to the position above the opening  219 , the extension plate  230  engages in the slot  232  so that the image-capturing apparatus  222  is reliably fixed in position. The extension plate  230  can also serve to cover a gap between the first casing  210  and the second casing  220  to improve the continuousness of the outer appearance of the handheld electronic device  200 . Moreover, the outer surface of the second casing  220  is provided with serrations  234  to facilitate the user&#39;s finger to manipulate the second casing  220  to move from the first position to the second position and vice versa. When the image-capturing apparatus  222  faces a direction opposite to the display screen  212 , the image-capturing apparatus  222  is located below the hinge section  226 . On the other hand, when the image-capturing apparatus  222  faces the same direction as the display screen  212 , the image-capturing apparatus  222  is located above the hinge section  226 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  are side views showing a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, in which when the second casing  220  is moved to the second position as shown in  FIG. 6 , the second casing  220  tightly abuts against an edge of a top wall of the first casing  210  so that a gap  240  between the first and second casings  210 ,  220  can be minimized to enhance the visual feeling of integrity of the handheld electronic device  200 . In this modified embodiment, in order to enable the second casing  220  to move freely from the first position to the second position and vice versa, the hinge accommodating groove must be enlarged from the original position indicated by reference number  218  to a new position indicated by reference number  238 . 
   In the first embodiment and its modification of the present invention, the display screen and the image-capturing apparatus are set up on the first casing and the second casing respectively. When the second casing is returned to the hinge-accommodating groove in the rear surface of the first casing, the display screen and the image-capturing apparatus face different directions as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 . After rotating the second casing out of the hinge-accommodating groove in the first casing, both the display screen and the image-capturing apparatus face the same direction as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 . Hence, images of the user himself (herself) or other people or objects can be readily captured by the image-capturing apparatus of the handheld electronic device of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 7A through 7D  show the fold out and the fold in configuration of a handheld electronic device  300  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 7A through 7D , the handheld electronic device  300  has a display screen  310  and an image-capturing apparatus  320 . The display screen  310  and the image-capturing apparatus  320  are set up on a first casing  302  and a second casing  304  respectively. The second casing  304  is pivoted to an edge of the first casing  302  via a hinge joint (not labeled). Furthermore, the second casing  304  covers the display screen  310  of the first casing  302  when the first casing  302  and the second casing  304  are folded to each other. It should be noted that the second casing  304  has a window  306  extending through inner surface  304   a  and outer surface  304   b  of the second casing  304 . When the second casing  304  covers the display screen  310  of the first casing  302 , a portion of the display screen  310  is exposed to outside via the window  306 , as shown in  FIGS. 7B and 7D . The second casing  304  has keys (not labeled) for inputting data and commands into the handheld electronic device  300 . 
   The image-capturing apparatus  320  is set up on the outer surface  304   b  of the second casing  304 . The image-capturing apparatus  320  mainly comprises a lens  322  and a photosensitive device (not shown) received in the second casing  304 . Image of an object is received by the photosensitive device when the lens  322  is moved to aim at the object. When the second casing  304  is flipped away from the first casing  302 , the display screen  310  and the image-capturing apparatus  320  each face a different direction as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7C . On the contrary, when the second casing  304  is on top of the first casing  302 , both the display screen  310  and the image-capturing apparatus  320  face the same direction as shown in  FIGS. 7B and 7D . Consequently, the handheld electronic device  300  is able to capture images of the user himself (herself) as well as any other persons or objects, by turning the image-capturing apparatus  310  to an appropriate direction. When the handheld electronic device  300  is used to capture the image of the user, the handheld electronic device  300  is at the fold in (closed) position of  FIGS. 7B and 7D , and the image of the user on the display screen  310  can be seen by the user through the window  306 . When the handheld electronic device  300  is used to capture the images of other persons or objects, the handheld electronic device  300  is at the fold out (opened) position of  FIGS. 7A and 7D , and the images on the display screen  310  can be seen by the user directly. 
     FIGS. 8A through 8D  show the fold out and the fold in configuration of a handheld electronic device  400  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 8A through 8D , the handheld electronic device  400  has a display screen  410  and an image-capturing apparatus  420 . The display screen  410  and the image-capturing apparatus  420  are set up on a first casing  402  and a second casing  404  respectively. The second casing  404  is pivoted to an edge of the first casing  402  via a hinge joint (not labeled). Furthermore, the second casing  404  covers a portion of the display screen  410  of the first casing  402  when the first casing  402  and the second casing  404  are folded to each other. It should be noted that the second casing  404  does not cover the first casing  402  entirely but exposes a portion of the display screen  410  as shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8D . The second casing  404  has a length shorter than that of the first casing  402 . The image-capturing apparatus  420  mainly comprises a lens  422  and a photosensitive device (not shown) in the second casing  404 . The second casing  404  has keys (not labeled) for inputting data and commands into the handheld electronic device  400 . 
   Therefore, the image-capturing apparatus  402  of the handheld electronic device  400  can be used to capture images in different directions. Furthermore, even when the electronic device  400  is folded together, the second casing  404  will not prevent a user from observing a display image on the display screen  410 . As shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8C , the display screen  410  and the image-capturing apparatus  420  each faces a different direction when the handheld electronic device  420  is unfolded. The hinge joint is located between the display screen  410  and the image-capturing apparatus  420 . Alternatively, both the display screen  410  and the image-capturing apparatus  420  face the same direction when the handheld electronic device  420  is folded, as shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8D . 
     FIGS. 8E through 8J  are diagrams showing various configurations of a handheld electronic device  450  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The handheld electronic device  450  has a display screen  458  and an image-capturing apparatus  466 . The display screen  458  and the image-capturing apparatus  466  are set up on a first casing  452  and a second casing  454  respectively. Furthermore, the second casing  454  is pivoted to an edge of the first casing  452  via a hinge joint  464  joining the first casing  452  and the second casing  454  together. After folding the first casing  452  and the second casing  454  together, the second casing  454  rests on top of the display screen  458  of the first casing  452 . It should be noted that the second casing  452  has a window  460  through inner and outer surfaces of the second casing  454 . The window  460  has a size substantially the same as that of the display screen  458 . When the second casing  454  sits on top of the first casing  452 , the window  460  exposes the entire display screen  458  as shown in  FIGS. 8F ,  8 G and  8 I. A speaker  462  is also installed on the second casing  454  above the window  460  to transmit acoustic information to the user. The first casing  452  has a set of keys  456  for inputting data and commands into the handheld electronic device  450 . 
   The image-capturing apparatus  466  is set up on the outer surface of the second casing  454 . The image-capturing apparatus  466  mainly comprises a lens  468  and a photosensitive device (not shown) in the second casing  454 . When the second casing  454  is unfolded from the first casing  452 , the display screen  458  and the image-capturing apparatus  466  each face a different direction as shown in  FIGS. 8H and 8J , so that the image-capturing apparatus  466  can be used to capture images of persons or objects other than the user of the handheld electronic device  450 . At this unfolded configuration of  FIG. 8J , the hinge joint  464  is located between the display screen  458  and the image-capturing apparatus  466 . Alternatively, when the second casing  454  and the first casing  452  are folded together, both the display screen  458  and the image-capturing apparatus  466  face the same direction as shown in  FIGS. 8G and 8I . At this position, the handheld electronic device  450  is able to capture images of the user himself (herself). The images of the user on the display screen  458  can be seen by the user through the window  460 . 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B  are front and back views of a handheld electronic device  500  according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the handheld electronic device  500  comprises a display screen  510  and an image-capturing apparatus  520 . The display screen  510  and the image-capturing apparatus  520  are set up on a first casing  502  and a second casing  504  respectively. The second casing  504  is pivoted to an edge of the first casing  502  via a hinge joint (not labeled) so that the second casing  504  can rotate relative to the first casing  502 . A plurality of keys (not labeled) for sending data and commands into the handheld electronic device  500  is set up on the second casing  504 . It should be noted that the display screen  510  is positioned on a front surface  502   a  of the first casing  502 . Furthermore, the first casing  502  has a window  506  extending through the front surface  502   a  and a back surface  502   b  of the first casing  502 . The window  506  exposes the image-capturing apparatus  520  when the second casing  504  is flipped to abut against the back surface  502   b  of the first casing  502  (as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 ). 
     FIG. 10  is a side view of the handheld electronic device  500  of  FIG. 9A .  FIGS. 11 and 12  are side view and front view of the handheld electronic device  500  of  FIGS. 9A-B ,  10  in a folded configuration. The image-capturing apparatus  520  mainly comprises a lens  522  and a photosensitive device (not shown) in the second casing  504 . At the folded configuration of the handheld electronic device  500 , images of the user of the device  500  can be received by the photosensitive device through the window  506  and the lens  522 , and displayed on the display screen  510 . Thus the user can readily use the handheld electronic device  500  as a digital camera to take his (her) own picture by himself (herself). At the folded configuration, the display screen  510  and the image-capturing apparatus  520  face the same direction. At the unfolded configuration of  FIGS. 9A-B  and  10 , the display screen  510  and the image-capturing apparatus  520  face opposite directions, and the user can use the device  500  as a digital camera to take pictures of other persons or objects. At the unfolded configuration, the hinge joint is located between the display screen  510  and the image-capturing apparatus  520 . 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.