Portable communications terminal with camera capable of taking pictures

• US 20030036365A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kuroda, Mituru
• Application Number:
  US10/208,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036365A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

In one side of an upper casing of a portable communications terminal, a close-range-photography camera module, suitable for close-range photography, is provided. An open lens window is provided so that a lens portion of the close-range-photography camera module is exposed. In the opposite side of the upper casing, a long-range camera module having a greater magnifying power than the close-range-photography camera module is provided. An open lens window is provided so that a lens portion of the long-range camera module is exposed. Further, there is provided a flash unit for strong illumination when necessary.

Claims

1. A portable communications terminal, comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing connected to said first casing;

a first taking means for capturing image disposed on said first casing; and

a second taking means for capturing image disposed on said second casing;

receiving means for receiving a wireless signal; and

display means for displaying information.

2. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical characteristics of said first taking means and said second taking means differ from each other.

3. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first taking means is for close-range photography and said second taking means is for long-range photography.

4. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first taking means and said second taking means are arranged in a manner such that they are positioned back-to-back to each other.

5. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an illuminating means.

6. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 5, wherein said illuminating means is disposed on at least one of said first casing and said second casing.

7. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein said portable communications terminal is a portable telephone.

8. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising outputting means for outputting sound.

9. A portable communications terminal, comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing connected to said first casing;

a taking means for capturing images;

a first photography window disposed in said first casing;

a second photography window disposed in said second casing;

a switching means for switching between an image from said first photography window and an image from said second photography window; and

a directing means for directing said image to said taking means receiving means for receiving a wireless signal; and

display means for displaying information.

10. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 9, wherein said switching means is manually switched.

11. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a lens arranged in at least one of said first photography window and said second photography window.

12. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an illuminating means.

13. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein said illuminating means is disposed on at least one of said first casing and said second casing.

14. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein said portable communications terminal is a portable telephone.

15. The portable communications terminal, as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an outputting means for outputting sound.

16. A portable communications terminal, comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing connected to said first casing;

a first camera module disposed on said first casing; and

a second camera module disposed on said second casing;

a receiver that receives a wireless signal; and

a display that displays information.

17. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 16, wherein the optical characteristics of said first camera module and said second camera module differ from each other.

18. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first camera module is for close-range photography and said second camera module is for long-range photography.

19. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first camera module and said second camera module are arranged in a manner such that they are positioned back-to-back with each other.

20. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a flash unit.

21. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 20, wherein said flash using is disposed on at least one of said first casing and said second casing.

22. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein said portable communications terminal is a portable telephone.

23. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 16, further comprising an outputting circuit that outputs sound.

24. A portable communications terminal, comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing for connecting with said first casing;

a camera module;

a first photography window disposed in said first casing;

a second photography window disposed in said second casing; and

a switching circuit that switches between an image from said first photography window and an image from said second photography window;

a directing circuit for directing said image to said camera module;

a receiver that receives a wireless signal; and

a display that displays information.

25. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 24, wherein said switching circuit is manually switched.

26. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a lens arranged for at least one of said first photography window and said second photography window.

27. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a flash unit.

28. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 27, wherein said flash unit is disposed on at least one of said first casing and said second casing.

29. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 28, wherein said portable communications terminal is a portable telephone.

30. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 24, further comprising an outputting circuit that outputs sound.

31. A portable communications terminal comprising:

a first camera module oriented toward a front side of said portable communications module; and

a second camera module oriented toward a rear side of said portable communications module.

32. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 31, wherein the optical characteristics of said first camera module and said second camera module differ from each other.

33. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 32, wherein one of said first camera module and said second camera module is for close-range photography and the other is for long-range photography.

34. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 33, wherein said first camera module and said second camera module are arranged such that they are positioned back-to-back with each other.

35. A portable communications terminal comprising:

a camera module;

photography windows disposed in a front surface and in a rear surface of said portable communications terminal, respectively; and

an optical-path-switching optical system disposed inside said portable communications terminal for switching between an image from the front-side photography window and an image from the rear-side photography window and directing the image to said camera module.

36. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 35, wherein said optical-path-switching optical system is a mirror unit.

37. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 36, further comprising a lens arranged to at least one of said front-side photography window and said rear-side photography window.

38. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 37, further comprising a flash unit.

39. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 36, wherein said front-side photography window is a transparent resin and said rear-side photography window is a lens.

40. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 36, wherein said front-side photography window is a first lens and said rear-side photography window is a second lens, said first and second lens having different focal lengths.

41. The portable communications terminal as claimed in claim 35, herein said optical-path-switching optical system is a prism.