Patent Publication Number: US-2005140812-A1

Title: Mobile terminal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority to Korean application No. 97905/2003 filed on Dec. 26, 2003, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Feild of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly to a mobile terminal which allows a user to conveniently use a camera included with the mobile terminal by making a camera lens face a photographing direction desired by the user only by opening or closing a terminal folder of the mobile terminal.  
      2. Background of the Related Art  
      Mobile terminals generally include an Internet access function, a TV reception function, camera function, etc. One example of a mobile phone having a rotary type camera is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mobile terminal includes a main body  20 , a folder  30  with a display (not shown) for displaying information, a rotating mechanism  40  rotatably installed to the main body  20  and integrally rotating relative to the main body  20 , and a camera apparatus  10  rotatably fixed and coupled to the main body  20 .  
      Further, the main body  20  includes a main body case  23  forming the profile of the main body  20 , a microphone unit (not shown) for receiving voice or sound information, etc. from a user, and a battery  22  detachably mounted on one side of the main body  20 . The main body  22  also includes a circuit part (not shown) having circuitry for controlling the mobile terminal.  
      In addition, as shown, the folder  30  includes a folder case  32  formed to surround the display, an auxiliary liquid crystal display screen  31  providing fundamental information to a front center part of the folder case  32 , and a speaker unit  33  for providing voice or sound information. The folder  30  also includes a plurality of circuit parts (not shown) also used for controlling different operations related to the mobile terminal.  
      Further, with reference to  FIG. 2 , the camera apparatus  10  includes a rotating shell  13  rotatably coupled to the main body  20 , a fixed member  14  fixed and coupled to the main body  20  and for supporting the rotation of the rotating shell  13 , a camera lens  11  rotatably mounted integrally with the rotating shell  13  and formed as a convex lens, a FPCB (Flexible Printed Circuit Board)  12  connecting the camera lens  11  and the appropriate circuit parts to transmit signals, and a cap  15  sealing a hole (not shown) for mounting the camera lens  11  to the rotating shell  13 . Also shown is a handgrip including a plurality of grooves  17  the user grips to rotate the lens  11  to a desired position. That is, the rotating shell  13  can be rotated using the grooves  17  so the camera lens  11  faces an object to be photographed. Also, because the rotating shell  13  is mounted to the fixed member  14 , the camera apparatus  10  can rotate regardless of the rotating mechanism  40 .  
      Therefore, to take a picture, a user must open the folder  30  and then manually rotate the rotating shell  13  while viewing the image displayed on the display to focus the camera lens  11  on the object to be photographed. When the object is properly displayed on the display, the user presses a photographing button to take the picture.  
      In more detail, to photograph an object in a direction opposite to that of the display when the folder  30  is opened, the user must rotate the shell  13  so the camera lens  11  faces the object. In this position, the direction of the display is opposite to the viewing direction of the camera lens  11 . The user may then photograph the object while viewing the image displayed on the display. Further, when the user wants to photograph an object in the direction of the display when the folder  30  is opened (e.g., to take a picture of himself or herself), the user must rotate the shell  13  so the camera lens  11  faces the user. The user may then take the picture.  
      However, the above-described mobile terminal is inconvenient because the rotating shell  13  has to be rotated based on whether or not the position of the object is consistent with the direction of the display when the folder  30  is opened. Further, the user is only able to photograph an object when the folder  30  is opened, which increase the overall size of the terminal acting as a camera and creates an awkward feeling when taking a picture compared to taking a picture with a stand-alone camera.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to at least address the above noted and other objects.  
      Another object of the present invention is to automatically adjust the viewing direction of a camera lens according to the opening and closing of a terminal folder without having to manually adjust the viewing direction of the camera lens.  
      To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a novel mobile terminal including a rotating mechanism coupling a main body and a folder and configured to rotate between a closed position in which the folder is folded against the main body and an open position in which the folder is folded open from the main body. Also included is a camera module integrally coupled with the rotating mechanism in which a viewing direction of a camera lens of the camera module coincides with a viewing direction of a display included in the folder.  
      Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a general mobile terminal with a camera apparatus;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the camera apparatus in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a mobile terminal of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the mobile terminal in  FIG. 3  when partially disassembled;  
       FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating a viewing direction of a camera lens when a folder is closed according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating a viewing direction of the camera lens when the folder is opened according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating the folder being rotated according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a side view illustrating the folder rotated 180° according to the present invention; and  
       FIG. 9  is a side view illustrating the folder rotated 180° and in a closed position according to the present invention. 
    
    
     BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION  
      A mobile terminal according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a mobile terminal of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the mobile terminal when partially disassembled.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the mobile terminal includes a main body  100 , a folder  200  with a display  250 , and a rotating mechanism  300  rotatably installed to the main body  100  and rotating relative to the main body  100  integrally with the folder  200 . Also shown is a turning mechanism  400  that allows the folder  200  to be turned around a longitudinal axis thereof Further, a camera module  500  is coupled to the rotating mechanism  300 . Note, the viewing direction of a camera lens  501  is opposite to the direction of the display  250  when the folder is closed and is the same as the direction of the display  250  when the folder  200  is opened. These features will be described in more detail later.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the main body  100  includes a main body case  111  forming a profile of the main body  100 , a microphone unit  130  for receiving information such as a voice or sound; a keypad  112  formed on a front surface of the main body case  111  for inputting information; a circuit part (not shown) mounted inside the main body case  111 ; a battery  121  detachably connected to one side of the main body case  111 , and a first hinge coupling portion  113  projecting at one side. Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the coupling portion  113  is provided at an inner side contacting the rotating mechanism  300  and includes an insertion groove  116  for receiving a hinge cam projection  330  of the rotating mechanism  330 . Also shown in  FIG. 4  is a second hinge coupling portion  14  projecting at the other side of the main body case  111  and including an insertion hole  115  for mounting the rotating mechanism  300  while forming a pair with the first hinge coupling portion  113 .  
      Further, an inner side of the second hinge coupling portion  114  contacting the rotating mechanism  300  includes the insertion hole  115  for receiving a round hollow projection  361  of a case cover  360  and an outer side coupling portion  114  includes a fixed hole  117  for receiving a fixed body  173  of a mode selection switch  170  and a fixed groove  118  for receiving a fixed projection  174  projecting on the fixed body  173 .  
       FIG. 4  further illustrates the rotating mechanism  300  including a rotating case  301  rotating integrally with the folder  200 , a hinge apparatus  320  rotatably connecting the first hinge coupling portion  113  and one side face of the rotating case  301 , and the case cover  360  enclosing a receptacle space in the rotating case  301  and being rotatably coupled to parts of the main body  100 .  
      Further, the rotating case  301  has a cylinder shape with a predetermined length and is blocked at one side. Also, a surface of the blocked side has a hinge fixing groove  308  for receiving the hinge apparatus  320 . A guide groove  304  for receiving the camera module  500  is also formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating case  301 . In addition, also shown is a lens exposure hole  306  for receiving the camera lens  501 , and a flash exposure hole  307  for receiving a flash  503  of the camera module  500 .  
      Further, the hinge apparatus  320  includes a hinge cam  340  rotating integrally with the folder  200  and having a shape profile of sloping planes  343  and  344  formed at one side a hinge cam projection  330  mounted at parts of the main body  100  and contacted to the hinge cam  340  with a constant contact force to move along the shape profile of the sloping planes  343  and  344 . Also included is a hinge spring  352  inserted with a predetermined compression displacement so as to have a constant contact force between the hinge cam  340  and the hinge cam projection  330 . The hinge apparatus  320  also includes a supporting shaft  350  penetrating the hinge spring  352 , the hinge cam  340  and the hinge cam projection  330 , and a pin  333  engaged to a pin hole  351  formed on the supporting shaft  350  through a coupling hole  332  formed on a head portion  331  of the hinge cap projection  330  to integrally fix the supporting shaft  350  and the hinge cam portion  330 . Further illustrated is a spring stopping plate  353  formed at one end of the supporting shaft  350  and supported so the hinge spring  352  has a predetermined compression displacement.  
      Further, as shown, the hinge cam  340  includes an ascending sloping plane  343  curved at a steep slope from a stopping ridge  341  and a descending sloping plane  344  curved at a gentle slope. A flat plane  342  to be coupled to a flat portion  309  of the hinge fixing groove  308  is formed on the outer side face of the hinge cam  340  for rotating integrally with the rotating case  301 .  
      When the folder  200  is opened relative to the main body  100  at an angle smaller than a rotary angle with the stopping ridge  341 , the folder  200  is closed with a force given thereto. When the folder  200  is opened relative to the main body  100  at an angle larger than the rotary angle with the stopping ridge  341 , the folder  200  is fully opened with a force given thereto.  
      In addition, the hinge spring  352  is preferably disposed between the spring stopping plate  353  and the hinge cam  340 . Also, the hinge fixing groove  308  includes a flat portion  309  engaging with the flat plane  342  of the hinge cam  340  so the hinge cam  340  can rotate integrally with the folder  200  when the folder  200  is rotated.  
      Further, as shown, the case cover  360  has a male screw portion  363  formed at one side for enclosing the rotating case  301 , and is engaged with a female screw portion  303  of the rotating case  301 . The cover  360  also includes a hollow hole  362  formed at the center of the other side for passing a signal line through, and the hollow projection  361  rotatably inserted into the insertion hole  115  of the main body  100 .  
      Referring now to the turning mechanism  400  in  FIG. 4 . As shown, the turning mechanism  400  includes an installation column  450  constituting the rotating mechanism and projecting in a circular cylinder shape on the outer side face of the rotating case  301  rotating integrally with the folder  200 . Also included is a turning cam projection  452  projecting around the installation column  450 , a turning cam holder  410  having a hollow portion  413  for receiving the installation column  450 , and a cam portion  415  coupled to the turning cam projection  452  to provide a discontinuous moment when the folder  200  turns around. Further, a turn spring  420  is located on a top surface  414  of the turning cam holder  410  and disposed with a predetermined compression displacement to apply a constant force in a downward direction of the turning cam holder  410 . Also included is a fixed nut  430  located on the top surface of the turn spring  420  so as to maintain the compression displacement of the turn spring  420  and including a female screw portion  431  coupled and fixed to the male screw portion  451  formed at an upper part of the installation column  450 . Further, the folder cases  211  and  212  constituting the outer part of the folder  200  are engaged with the turning cam holder  410  so as to integrally turn with each other.  
      That is, as shown, folder engaging portions  441  extend on the outer side face of the turning cam holder  410  and include engaging holes  442 , and bolts  446  penetrate through the fixed holes  443  formed on the folder cases  211  and  212  via the engaging holes  442 . Then, nuts  445  engage the bolts  446  and integrally couple the folder cases  211  and  212  and the turning cam holder  410 .  
      Preferably, the number of the turning cam projection  453  is more than one, the cam portion  415  projects at an equivalent interval while forming a waveform in a circumferential direction, and the turn spring  420  is a coil spring.  
      Further, the bottom face of the hollow portion  453  is formed to penetrate the inside of the rotating case  301 . Thus, a signal line transmitting a signal to the display  250  may pass through the rotating case  301  from the circuit part in the main body  100  and be connected to the inside of the folder  200  via the hollow portion  453  and the through hole  444 . Also, as noted above, the fixed holes  443  are formed on a bottom face  213  of the folder case  211  so as to be bolted to the engaging holes  442  of the engaging portions  441 . Female screw threads are also formed on the fixed holes  443  and bolted to the engaging holes  442  through the fixed holes  443 , thereby connecting and fixing the folder  200  and the turning cam holder  410  so as to be integrally turnable.  
      When a user turns the folder  200  around, the integrally coupled turning cam holder  410  is also turned around. At this time, the cam portion  415  formed on the back surface of the turning cam holder  410  is contacted to the turning cam projection  452 , and is given a predetermined force by the turn spring  420 . Therefore, when the user turns the folder  200  around, the cam portion  415  turns around by colliding with the turning cam projection  452  to thus provide a discontinuous moment to the user. When the user does not turn the folder  200  around, the folder  200  is fixed at a specific position without being moved.  
      Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the folder  200  includes the display  250  formed on a rear surface of the folder  200  so as to display various information and the image of an object being photographed. Also included is a folder case  201  surrounding the display  250 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the folder case  201  includes a front part case  211  and a rear part case  212 , which can include a space for receiving a circuit part inside.  
      Note, on the bottom face  213  of the front part case  211 , a through hole  444  is formed into which the installation column  450  can be inserted through the hollow portion  413 , and the fixed holes  443  couple the turning cam holder  410  and the folder  200  integrally by bolt coupling.  
      Next, the camera module  500  includes a camera body  505  having a receptacle space for storing a circuit part (not shown), a camera lens  501  projectably mounted to the camera body  505  and for collecting the image of an object; a lens frame  502  surrounding the camera lens  501  so the camera lens  501  is mounted on the camera body  505 , and a camera signal line  164  for transmitting a signal to the circuit part in the main body  100 .  
      Further, the camera body  505  has a projected stepped shape at one end that is inserted into the hollow portion until contacting a stepped plane  302  so that camera is coupled with the case  301 .  
      The camera body  505  also preferably includes a flash  503  on the front surface thereof, thereby making it easier to photograph an object even in a dark place. The main body  100  preferably further includes a photographing button  120  at one side of the main body  100  so as to instruct the camera module  500  to photograph, a mode selection switch  170  at one side of the main body case  111  for changing a photographing mode such as close-up photographing, outdoor photographing and night photographing, etc.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mode selection switch  170  includes a fixed body  173  inserted and fixed into the fixed hole  117 , a rotary body  171  enabling a user to select the photographing mode by rotation relative to the fixed body  173 , and a signal line  175  for transmitting the mode information selected by the user to the circuit part in the main body  100 .  
      In addition, the fixed body  173  includes a fixed projection  174  to be inserted into the fixed groove  118  and for fixing and coupling the fixed body  173 . Preferably, the rotary body  171  has a rough surface portion  172  formed through a knurling process so the user&#39;s hand does not slip when selecting the photographing mode.  
      Note, the user may change the photographing mode into general photographing, clear day photographing, cloudy day photographing, night photographing, outdoor photographing, indoor photographing, etc. by rotating the rotary body  171 . Each photographing mode has an optimum shutter speed, exposure speed and the like input and set thereto according to a specific condition such as weather, light intensity, etc. Thus, the user can produce higher quality photographs by utilizing the mode selection switch  170 .  
      Next, an operation of the mobile terminal of the present invention will be described.  
       FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating a viewing direction of a camera lens when the folder is closed, and  FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating a viewing direction of the camera lens when the folder is opened according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , when a user carries the mobile terminal without using it, the mobile terminal is folded in a manner that the display  250  of the folder  200  faces the main body  100 . In this instance, the viewing direction  550  of the camera lens faces the rear surface of the main body  100 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the user opens the folder  200 , the lens  501  integrally rotates with the rotating case  301  such that the camera lens  501  is also rotated at an angle at which the folder  200  is rotated. That is, both the display  250  and camera lens  50  face the user. Therefore, the user is able to take photographs of himself or a group of friends, for example, without modifying the viewing direction  550  of the camera lens either. In other words, because the camera lens  501  faces the user when the folder  200  is opened, the user can take photographs by pressing the photographing button after reviewing the display  250 . Further, as noted above, the quality of the photograph can be increased by selecting the appropriate photographing mode using the mode selection switch.  
      Turning now to  FIG. 7 , which is a side view illustrating the folder being turned around and  FIG. 8 , which is a side view illustrating the folder turned around 180° according to the present invention. As shown, when the user wants to photograph an object in a direction opposite to the direction of the display  250 , the user can open the folder  200  at a certain angle and then turn the folder  200  around. Note that while the display  250  turns around, the direction  550  of the camera lens is not changed. Thus, when the folder  200  is turned around 180°, the display  250  faces away from the user and the camera lens  501  faces the user, thereby making the direction of the display  250  and the viewing direction  550  of the camera lens opposite to each other.  
      Further,  FIG. 9  illustrates the folder  200  closed against the main body  100 . Thus, in this arrangement, the user can photograph an object positioned in front of the user. That is, the display  250  faces the user and the camera lens  501  faces the object, thus making it is possible to take photographs. That is, the user can take photographs by pressing the photographing button while viewing an object, checking and adjusting the image of the object displayed on the display  250  and setting the composition of the object.  
      In other words, the mobile terminal according to the present invention advantageously provides the user with more convenience in operating the camera. That is, the user does not have to manual rotate the camera lens  501  according to the direction of an object. Thus, the mobile terminal of the present invention provides greater convenience to the user, and makes the camera of the mobile terminal feel like a stand-alone digital camera. Accordingly, even people not familiar with the camera function of a mobile terminal can take photographs with ease.  
      The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention 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. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.