JP2002237880A - Cellular phone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize the entire configuration of a cellular phone and at the same time improve usability as a camera while equipping the functions of the camera for shooting an image such as a photo. SOLUTION: The cellular phone 11 comprises a cellular phone body 12, a folding unit 14 that is provided at the cellular phone body 12 so that it can be attached/detached and folded, and a digital camera 21 for shooting an image such as a photo, and a moving picture being provided at the folding unit 14. In this configuration, the configuration of the entire cellular phone can be miniaturized, and the folding unit can be used as a camera while the folding unit has been removed from the cellular phone body, thus improving the ease of use as the camera.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable telephone having a function of taking a picture or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, some portable telephones have built-in data communication functions such as transmission and reception of electronic mail and Internet connection, in addition to voice communication functions.
Services using them have become widespread. When the chance of using data communication in a mobile phone increases, it is desired to display a large amount of information on a display. However, an increase in the size of the display causes an increase in the size of the main body of the mobile phone, which deteriorates portability.
Therefore, as a configuration for increasing the size of the display without increasing the size of the mobile phone main body, the mobile phone main body was formed in a foldable shape, one of which was provided with a display and a speaker, and the other was provided with an operation switch and a microphone. Things are provided.

On the other hand, it has been considered that when a large amount of data can be transmitted / received in a mobile phone, a camera is provided in the mobile phone and image data taken by the camera is transmitted to the outside. As a configuration in which the camera is provided on the main body of the mobile phone, as shown in FIG. 18, a configuration in which the lens 2 of the camera is provided in the corner of the front surface of the main body 1 of the mobile phone, or as shown in FIG. A configuration in which the camera lens 3 is provided at the center of the rear surface of the main body 1 of the mobile phone can be easily considered.

[0004]

However, as described above, in the case where the camera is directly provided on the main body 1 of the mobile phone, when the mobile phone is used as a camera for photographing, it has a drawback that it is very difficult to use. there were. In particular, when the photographer himself wants to take a picture in an image, he or she must have someone take the picture, or it is difficult to take the picture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable telephone which has a function of a camera for photographing an image such as a photograph, can be downsized, and can be used as a camera. is there.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a portable telephone has a folding unit detachably and foldably provided on a main body thereof, and an image such as a photograph or a moving image provided on the folding unit is provided. Since the camera is configured to include a camera capable of photographing, the structure can be reduced in size, and the folding unit can be used as a camera in a state where the folding unit is detached from the mobile phone main body. improves.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the portable telephone main body and the folding unit are connected via wireless communication means so that the camera of the folding unit can be remotely operated from the portable telephone main body side. With this configuration, the folding unit can be more easily used as a camera.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the display unit provided on the main body of the portable telephone can be used as a monitor of the camera of the folding unit, so that the portable telephone can be further used as a camera. It will be easier.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
The mobile phone main body 12 includes a folding unit 14 that is provided on the mobile phone main body 12 via a hinge 13 so as to be foldable. In this case, the folding unit 14 is, as shown in FIG.
2 is configured to be detachable via a hinge portion 13. The specific configuration of the hinge 13 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, a recess 15 is formed on the front portion of the portable telephone main body 12, and the folding unit 14 fits into the recess 15 as shown in FIG. It is configured to be folded so as to perform. When the folding unit 14 is folded, the surface of the mobile phone main body 12 and the surface of the folding unit 14 are configured to be substantially flush. It should be noted that the surface of the mobile phone body 12 and the surface of the folding unit 14 may not be flush.

On the front part of the portable telephone body 12,
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a key operation unit 16 including a plurality of operation keys, a microphone 17, and a display unit 1 including an LCD
8, speakers 19 and the like are provided. An extractable antenna 20 is provided on the upper end surface of the mobile phone body 12. The key operation unit 16 includes, as a plurality of operation keys, a call start key, a call end key, a redial key, numeric keys of “0” to [9], *
A key, a # key, a scroll key, an access key for the Internet, and the like are provided. Further, the key operation unit 1
6 is also provided with various operation keys for remotely operating the digital camera 21 provided in the folding unit 14.

The digital camera 21 is a camera capable of photographing images such as photographs and moving images. In the case of this configuration, the lens 22, the finder 23, and the flash 2 are provided on the inner surface when the folding unit 14 is folded.
4 and the like are provided. Then, the folding unit 14
A shutter button 25 and an operation unit 26 for a digital camera are provided on the side surface of the camera.

Here, a specific configuration of the hinge portion 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a protrusion 27 is formed at the upper end of the mobile phone main body 12 in FIG. 5 (that is, the lower end in FIGS. 1 and 4), and recesses 28, 28 are formed on both sides of the protrusion 27. Is formed. The lower end of the folding unit 14 in FIG. 5 (that is, the upper end in FIGS.
Are formed, and the recess 29
Convex portions 30, 30 fitted to the concave portions 28, 28 on both sides of the
Are formed.

On both side surfaces of the convex portion 27 of the portable telephone body 12, protruding pieces 31 are provided so as to protrude outward. The tip portions of the protruding piece members 31 and 31 are formed in a rounded triangular shape, and are configured to be rotatable in the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. Further, the protruding piece members 31 and 31
Is configured to be able to be retracted inward of the convex portion 27, and is always configured to protrude to the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 by a spring (not shown) force. I have.

On the other hand, the convex portions 30 of the folding unit 14
The projecting members 31, 3
1 are formed with fitting grooves 30a, 30a.
When the protruding piece members 31 are fitted into the fitting grooves 30a, 30a at the opening edges of the fitting grooves 30a, 30a,
Alternatively, when the protruding piece members 31, 31 are removed from the fitting groove 30a, the protruding piece members 31, 31 are connected to the fitting grooves 30a, 3
0a or the protruding piece members 31, 31 are fitted into the fitting grooves 30a,
Guide grooves 30b, 3 for guiding the escape from 30a
0b is formed. When the protruding piece members 31, 31 pass through the guide grooves 30b, 30b while fitting,
The protruding piece members 31, 31 are configured to be pushed inward of the protruding portions 27 and retracted.

In the case of the above configuration, the protruding piece members 31, 31 on the side of the portable telephone body 12 are connected to the fitting grooves 3 of the folding unit 14.
When the folding unit 14 is fitted to the mobile phone main body 12, the folding unit 14 is rotatably connected to the main body 12. Conversely,
When the protruding piece members 31, 31 on the mobile phone main body 12 side are removed from the fitting grooves 30a, 30a of the folding unit 14,
The folding unit 14 is separated from the mobile phone main body 12.

Next, FIG. 8 shows the portable telephone body 12 and the folding unit 14 (digital camera 2) having the above-described configuration.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of 1). As shown in FIG. 8, the mobile phone body 12 includes a control unit 32, a speaker 19, a microphone 17, a wireless unit 33 for a mobile phone, a wireless unit 34 for a camera, and a display unit 1.
8, a key operation unit 16, and a power supply unit 35. The control unit 32 is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and has a function of controlling the entire operation of the mobile phone main body 11.

The control section 32 is configured to receive an operation signal from the key operation section 16 and control the display operation of the display section 18. When a voice is input to the microphone 17, a voice signal is output from the microphone 17, and the voice signal is transmitted via the control unit 32 to the wireless unit 33 for the mobile phone.
And transmitted therefrom as a radio signal via the antenna 20. on the other hand,
When a radio signal is received by the antenna 20, the received signal is subjected to signal processing in a wireless unit 33 for a mobile phone, and then supplied to a control unit 32, where it is converted into an audio signal and then supplied to a speaker 19. , And is output from the speaker 19 as sound. The camera wireless unit 34 is for wirelessly communicating with the digital camera 21 of the folding unit 14, and its function will be described later. Further, the power supply unit 35 is configured by a secondary battery or a primary battery.

The folding unit 14 (ie, the digital camera 21) includes a control unit 36, a radio unit 37, an antenna 38, a lens 22, a mechanism unit 39, and a display unit 4.
0, operation unit 26, shutter button 25, power supply unit 4
And 1. The control unit 36 includes a microcomputer or the like, and has a function of controlling the entire operation of the digital camera 21. The control unit 36 is configured to receive an operation signal from the operation unit 26, control the operation of the mechanism unit 39, and control the display operation of the display unit 40.

The mechanism section 39 is a mechanism section for adjusting the angle of the lens 22 and for adjusting the zoom magnification of the lens 22. The display unit 40 is, for example, LE
D and a liquid crystal display, etc., and are not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

Further, the control unit 36 of the digital camera 21
Are the wireless unit 37, the antenna 38 and the mobile phone body 12
It is configured to be able to transmit and receive data (wireless communication) with the control unit 32 of the mobile phone body 12 via the antenna 34a on the side and the wireless unit 34 for the camera.
In this case, the wireless communication between the digital camera 21 and the mobile phone body 12 may be configured to use, for example, wireless communication using radio waves, or may be configured to use wireless communication using infrared rays or the like. It is preferable to use, for example, a Bluetooth communication standard as the wireless communication using the radio waves. Of course, other communication standards may be used. Also,
The power supply unit 41 of the digital camera 21 includes a secondary battery or
It is composed of a secondary battery.

The digital camera 21 having the above configuration can take a picture similar to that of a normal digital camera and store the image data by appropriately operating the operation unit 26 and the shutter button 25. It is configured. The memory for storing the image data is provided by the control unit 36.
It is provided within.

In the case of the above configuration, the digital camera 21
It is possible to take a picture in a state of being separated from the mobile phone main body 12 (that is, a state of the folding unit 14 alone). The digital camera 21 is connected to the mobile phone main body 12.
It is possible to take a picture even when the camera is connected to the camera. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the photographing operation can be performed when the folding unit 14 is in an open state.

Further, in the above configuration, image data of a photograph taken by the digital camera 21 can be transmitted to the portable telephone body 12 by wireless communication. Further, the mobile phone main body 12 is configured so that the sent image data can be stored in a built-in memory of the control unit 32. On the mobile phone main body 12 side, the image data is displayed on the display unit 18 (that is, the display unit 18 is used as a monitor of the digital camera 21), and the image data is transferred to another mobile phone or fixed telephone. It is configured to be able to transmit to a fax or a facsimile.

In the case of the above configuration, the digital camera 2
When taking a photograph by separating the 1 (folding unit 14) from the mobile phone main body 12, the mobile phone main body 12 can be used as a remote controller of the digital camera 21. That is, the digital camera 21 can be remotely operated by operating the key operation section 16 of the mobile phone main body 12.

In the case of this configuration, the display section 18 of the portable telephone body 12 is configured to be used as a monitor of the digital camera 21. That is, the digital camera 21
It is possible to display on the display section 18 image data before pressing the shutter button 25 (image data captured by the camera sensor through the lens 22) and image data captured by pressing the shutter button 25. It has a configuration.

Thus, the user can easily photograph himself / herself with the digital camera 21. In addition, even when the photographer himself wants to enter the photographed image, the photographer can easily photograph. It is to be noted that the mobile phone main body 12 can be used for talking even when a photograph is taken by the digital camera 21 (folding unit 14).

According to this embodiment having such a configuration, the folding unit 14 is provided on the portable telephone body 12 in a detachable and foldable manner, and the folding unit 1 is provided.
4 is provided with a digital camera 21 capable of photographing an image such as a photograph or a moving image, so that the entire configuration of the mobile phone 11 can be reduced in size, and the folding unit 14 is removed from the main body of the mobile phone 12. In this state, the folding unit 14 can be used as a camera, so that the usability as a camera is improved.

In the above embodiment, the portable telephone body 12 and the folding unit 14 (ie, the digital camera 2)
1) is connected via wireless communication means (such as a camera wireless unit 34 and a wireless unit 37) so that the digital camera 21 of the folding unit 14 can be remotely operated from the mobile phone main body 12 side. , Folding unit 14
Becomes easier to use as a camera.

In the above embodiment, the display 18 provided on the mobile phone main body 12 is configured to be usable as a monitor of the digital camera 21 of the folding unit 14, so that the mobile phone 11 is used as a camera. Easy to use.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The electrical structure of the folding unit 14, that is, the digital camera 21, includes a mechanism section 39, a display section 40, and an operation section 2.
6, but these parts can be omitted as appropriate.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the second embodiment, the folding unit 14, that is, the surface of the digital camera 21 opposite to the surface on which the lens 22 is provided (that is, the surface on the front side of the mobile phone body 12), (See FIGS. 9A and 10C). The configuration of the second embodiment other than that described above is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, substantially the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In particular,
In the case of the second embodiment, the digital camera 21
Is provided, image data before the shutter button 25 is pressed (image data reflected on the camera sensor through the lens 22) and image data captured by pressing the shutter button 25 are displayed on the monitor 42.
Can be displayed. For this reason, usability when the digital camera 21 is separated from the mobile phone main body 12 and used alone is further improved.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the third embodiment, the folding unit 14 (that is, the digital camera 21) is detachably and foldably provided on the mobile phone main body 12 via the hinge 13 provided at the upper end in the figure. I have.

The folding unit 14, that is, the surface of the digital camera 21 opposite to the surface on which the lens 22 is provided (ie, the surface on the front side of the portable telephone body 12) is provided with a monitor 4 made of, for example, a liquid crystal display.
3 (see FIGS. 11A and 13B).
In this configuration, when the folding unit 14 is folded, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the key operation unit 16 of the mobile phone main body 12 is exposed, and the display unit 18 is moved to the folding unit 14. Covered by

For this reason, in this embodiment, when the folding unit 14 is in the folded state, the monitor 43 of the folding unit 14 is configured to perform a display operation as the display unit of the portable telephone body 12. Thus, even when the folding unit 14 is folded, the mobile phone 11 can be used in the same manner as a general mobile phone.

In the state where the folding unit 14 is separated from the portable telephone body 12, the folding unit 14
The monitor 43 operates as a monitor of the digital camera 21, and the display section 18 of the mobile phone main body 12 performs display operation as a display section of the mobile phone main body 12. Thus, the mobile phone main body 12 can be used in the same manner as a general mobile phone with the folding unit 14 separated (see FIG. 12). The separated folding unit 14 can be used as the digital camera 21.

The configuration of the third embodiment other than that described above is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the third embodiment, substantially the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

FIGS. 14 to 17 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the fourth embodiment, the size of the mobile phone 44 in the vertical direction in FIG. 14 is configured to be about half the size of the mobile phone 11 of the first embodiment. Specifically, the size of the mobile phone main body 45 and the size of the folding unit 46 (digital camera 21) are configured to be substantially the same, and the folding unit 46 is detachably attached to the mobile phone main body 45 via the hinge portion 47 and can be folded. It is provided as possible. The specific configuration of the hinge portion 47 is substantially the same as the configuration of the hinge portion 13 of the first embodiment.

In the case of the above configuration, a projection 48 is formed at the center of the upper end of the folding unit 46 in FIGS.
Protrusions 49, 49 are formed at both ends of the upper end portion 6 in such a manner that the protrusions 48 are fitted between the protrusions 49, 49.

A monitor 43, a shutter button 25, and a finder 23 are provided on the front side of the digital camera 21 as the folding unit 46 when the digital camera 21 is folded, and the lens 22, flash 24, The speaker 19 of the telephone body 45 is provided. An operation unit 26 is provided on the side of the digital camera 21.

On the other hand, on the front part of the portable telephone body 45,
A key operation unit 16, a microphone 17, and a display unit 18 are provided. Further, as shown in FIG.
Is configured such that a headphone / microphone set 52 in which a headphone 50 and a microphone 51 are integrated can be connected.

In the above configuration, when the folding unit 46 is in a folded state, the monitor 43 of the folding unit 46 is configured to perform a display operation as a display unit of the portable telephone body 45. When the folding unit 46 is open, the display unit 18 of the mobile phone main body 45 is configured to perform a display operation as a display unit of the mobile phone main body 45. Thereby, it is possible to make a call using the mobile phone 44 with the folding unit 46 opened.

When the folding unit 46 is separated from the portable telephone body 45, the folding unit 46
The monitor 43 operates as a monitor of the digital camera 21 and the display unit 18 of the mobile phone main body 12 performs display operation as a display unit of the mobile phone main body 12. Then, by connecting the headphone microphone set 52 to the mobile phone main body 45, it is possible to make a call with the mobile phone main body 45 in a state where the folding unit 46 is separated. Further, the separated folding unit 46 can be used as the digital camera 21.

The configuration of the fourth embodiment other than that described above is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, substantially the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view of a mobile phone with a folding unit opened.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mobile phone with the folding unit opened.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the mobile phone in a state where the folding unit is folded.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the mobile phone with the folding unit separated.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a hinge unit in a state where the folding unit is separated.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the hinge unit in a state where the folding unit is separated.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a convex portion of a hinge portion.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention;
(A) is a front view of the mobile phone with the folding unit folded, and (b) is a front view of the mobile phone with the folding unit opened.

FIG. 10A is a front view of a folding unit, and FIG.
Is a side view of the folding unit, and (c) is a rear view of the folding unit.

FIG. 11 shows a third embodiment of the present invention;
(A) is a front view of the mobile phone with the folding unit folded, (b) is a side view of the mobile phone with the folding unit folded, and (c) is a front view of the mobile phone with the folding unit opened.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a mobile phone main body.

13A is a side view of the folding unit, and FIG.
Is a rear view of the folding unit, and (c) is a front view of the folding unit.

FIG. 14 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
(A) is a front view of the mobile phone with the folding unit folded, and (b) is a side view of the mobile phone with the folding unit folded.

15A is a front view of the mobile phone with the folding unit opened, and FIG. 15B is a side view of the mobile phone with the folding unit opened.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the mobile phone main body and a headphone / microphone set.

17A is a front view of a folding unit, and FIG.
Is a side view of the folding unit, and (c) is a rear view of the folding unit.

FIG. 18 is a front view of a mobile phone having a conventional configuration.

FIG. 19 is a front view of a mobile phone having a different conventional configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 is a mobile phone, 12 is a mobile phone main body, 13 is a hinge portion, 14 is a folding unit, 16 is a key operation portion, 1
7 is a microphone, 18 is a display unit, 21 is a digital camera, 2
2 is a lens, 23 is a viewfinder, 24 is a flash,
25 is a shutter button, 27 is a convex portion, 30 is a convex portion, 31
Is a projecting member, 32 is a control unit, 33 is a wireless unit for a mobile phone, 34 is a wireless unit for a camera, 36 is a control unit, 37 is a wireless unit, 38 is an antenna, 40 is a display unit, 42 is a monitor,
43 is a monitor, 44 is a mobile phone, 45 is a mobile phone body, 46 is a folding unit, 47 is a hinge, 48 is a convex, 49 is a convex, and 52 is a headphone microphone set.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mobile phone main body, a folding unit detachably and foldably provided on the mobile phone main body, and a camera provided on the folding unit and capable of photographing an image such as a photograph or a moving image. A mobile phone comprising: 2. The portable telephone main body and the folding unit are connected via wireless communication means so that a camera of the folding unit can be remotely operated from the portable telephone main body side. The mobile phone according to claim 1. 3. The mobile phone according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit provided on the mobile phone main body, wherein the display unit is configured to be usable as a monitor of a camera of the folding unit. Phone.