Camera integration on a mobile device

• US 20040198435A1
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: King, Michael Robert, Winebrenner, Jon Theron, Patel, Harish Kumar, Gauld, Craig Stephen, Harries, Andrew Stanely Guy
• Application Number:
  US10/358,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20040198435A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• 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 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

An electronic device that has a lower portion that unfolds to reveal an extendable keyboard. When the keyboard is folded closed, a number pad is visible and the device looks similar to a traditional portable or cellular telephone. The device can be used as a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone or as the handset of a traditional wire line telephone. The fold-out keyboard of the electronic device can be used for easy entry of text data while a communication channel is active. The device includes two way messaging and Internet browsing capabilities.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic communication device, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a display connected to said housing;

c) an extendable keyboard connected to said housing, and,

d) a camera system including an image sensing system connected to said extendable keyboard.

2. The device of claim 1 further including control, communication and memory means connected to said housing and coupled in electronic communication with said camera system to permit a user to transmit data captured by said camera system.

3. The device of claim 1 further including control, communication and memory means connected to said housing and coupled in electronic communication with said extendable keyboard to permit a user to enter data and transmit the data using said extendable keyboard.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said extendable keyboard is connected to said housing by a hinge.

5. The device of claim 1 further including an auxiliary pointing device.

6. The device of claim 1 further including at least one antenna.

7. The device of claim 1 further including a power supply.

8. An electronic device for telephonic, data and video communication, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a display connected to said housing;

c) a speaker connected to said housing;

d) a numeric keyboard connected to said housing;

e) a microphone connected to said housing;

f) an extendable keyboard connected to said housing, said extendable keyboard comprising a first section and a second section, said first section being coupled to said second section by a hinge so that said keyboard has an open position and a closed position;

g) an image processing system connected to the housing;

h) an image sensing system connected to the extendable keyboard and coupled in electronic communication with said image processing system and said display;

i) a plurality of keys connected to said extendable keyboard; and

,

j) control, communication and memory means connected to said housing and coupled in electrical communication with said extendable keyboard to permit a user to enter data and transmit the data using said extendable keyboard and coupled in electrical communication with said image processing system to permit a user to transmit data captured by said image processing system.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein when said keyboard is in the open position said second section is adjacent to the housing, and said plurality of keys are exposed to permit a user to type using said keys.

10. A device according to claim 8 wherein when said keyboard is in the open position said second section of the keyboard forms a panel located adjacent said housing.

11. An electronic device for telephonic, video and data communication, comprising:

a) a housing having an lower face and an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said lower face;

b) a display connected to said housing;

c) a speaker connected to said housing;

d) a numeric keyboard connected to said housing;

e) a microphone connected to said housing;

f) an extendable keyboard connected to said housing, said extendable keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, said extendable keyboard having a first segment to one side of the axis and a second segment to the other side of the axis;

g) an image sensing system coupled to said extendable keyboard; and

,

h) control, communication and memory means connected to said housing and coupled in electronic communication with said extendable keyboard to permit a user to enter data and transmit the data using said extendable keyboard.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said extendable keyboard has a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the keyboard is closed and in the second position the keyboard is open.

13. A device according to claim 11 wherein said hinge is constructed so that said keyboard can be rotated about said hinge to enable said image sensing system to sense images in a variety of directions relative to said housing.

14. A device according to claim 11 wherein said control, communication and memory means are constructed so that the image captured by said image sensing system can be displayed on said display.

15. A device according to claim 11 wherein said numeric keypad is located on one face of said extendable keyboard and said image sensing system is coupled to the same face of said extendable keyboard.

18. The process according to claim 12 wherein the user types on keys comprising the extendable keyboard and transmits the typed data to a remote location.

20. A process according to claim 15 further including the step of transmitting the image of the object to a remote location.

16. A process for using a mobile electronic communication device which can be held by a user, the device having a display, an extendable keyboard and an image sensing system connected to the extendable keyboard, the process comprising:

a) positioning the extendable keyboard relative to the mobile electronic communication device so that the image sensing system captures an image of the user of the device; and

,

b) displaying on the display the image of the user.

17. The process according to claim 16 further including the step of transmitting the image of the user to a remote location.

19. A process for using a mobile electronic communication device which can be held by a user, the device having a display, an extendable keyboard and an image sensing system connected to the extendable keyboard, the process comprising:

a) positioning the extendable keyboard relative to the mobile electronic communication device so that the image sensing system captures an image of an object which is spaced apart from the user of the device;

b) displaying on the display the image of the object.