Mobile communication device with enhanced image communication capability

• US 20050140778A1
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yun, Jung-Pil, Cho, Yoo-Seok, Kim, Eun-Mi, Kim, Dong-Eun
• Granted Patent: US 7,499,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display 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

Abstract

The present invention discloses a mobile communication device that allows the user to easily perform simultaneous voice communication and image communication that allows the user to transmit high quality image information to another user and receive high quality image information from another user. The mobile communication device provides multiple cameras and/or display screens that allow a user to easily photograph a subject and view captured images that are received either from a camera located in the device or from another user.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a main body;

a folder rotatably installed on the main body such that the folder has an open configuration and a closed configuration;

at least a first camera adapted to capture image data;

at least one display unit located on the folder and adapted for displaying information; and

at least one display unit located on the main body and adapted for displaying information, wherein a screen of the at least one display unit located on the folder and a screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body are activated and may be viewed simultaneously by a user when the folder is in the open configuration.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body is inclined toward the user.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein an inclination angle between the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body and the main body is substantially identical to an inclination angle between the folder and the main body when the folder is in the open configuration.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the inclination angle between the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body and the main body ranges from about 40°

to about 55°

.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body is formed on the same plane surface as the main body.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body may be viewed when the folder is in the completely closed configuration.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 6, wherein the folder further comprises a transparent protecting window that covers the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body when the folder is in the closed configuration.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one display unit located on the main body further comprises a touch pad, the touch pad enabling a user to enter at least one of textual information and graphical information.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 8, further adapted to display the at least one of textual information and graphical information on the screen of the at least one display unit.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 8, further adapted to store the at least one of textual information and graphical information.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 8, further adapted to transmit the at least one of textual information and graphical information to another mobile communication device.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further adapted to selectively display image data captured by the first camera on the at least one display unit located on the main body.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further adapted to selectively display image data captured by the first camera on the at least one display unit located on the folder.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the at least one display unit located on the folder further comprises at least a first screen region and a second screen region and the mobile communication device is adapted to selectively display first image data captured by the first camera on the first screen region and at least one of information and second image data on the second screen region.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the information is received from a touch pad on the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 14, further adapted to change the attributes of and content displayed by the first screen region and the second screen region according to an input from a user.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further comprising a first flash unit located on a portion of the device where the first camera is located.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further comprising a slide cover adapted to open and close over the first camera.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further comprising a second camera adapted to capture image data.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 19, further comprising a second flash unit located on a portion of the device where the second camera is located.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 19, wherein the mobile communication device is adapted to selectively display image data captured by one of the first camera and the second camera on the screen of the at least one display unit located on the folder.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 21, wherein the at least one display unit located on the folder further comprises at least a first screen region and a second screen region and the mobile communication device is adapted to selectively display first image data captured by the first camera on the first screen region and at least one of information and second image data on the second screen region.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 22, wherein the second image data is received from the second camera.

24. The mobile communication device of claim 22, wherein the information is received from a touch pad on the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body.

25. The mobile communication device of claim 22, further adapted to change the attributes of and content displayed by the first screen region and the second screen region according to an input from a user.

26. The mobile communication device of claim 19, further adapted to selectively display image data captured by one of the first camera and the second camera on the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body.

27. The mobile communication device of claim 19, wherein the second camera is located on the opposite side of the main body where the at least one display unit is located, the at least one display unit located on the main body is activated and may be viewed when the folder is in the closed configuration and the mobile communication device is adapted to automatically display image data captured by the second camera on the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body when the folder is in the closed configuration and the second camera is activated.

28. A mobile communication device enabling a user to capture photographic images, the mobile communication device comprising:

a main body;

a folder rotatably installed on the main body such that the folder has an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a first camera located on the folder and adapted to capture photographic images;

a second camera located on the main body and adapted to capture photographic images;

at least one display unit located on the folder and adapted for displaying information; and

at least one display unit located on the main body and adapted for displaying and entering information,

wherein, the first and second cameras and display units are located such that when the folder is in the open configuration, the user may selectively view on a screen of the at least one display located on the folder unit a first photographic image as the first photographic image is captured by the first camera and one of a second photographic image as the second photographic image is captured and information, the second photographic image one of captured by the second camera and received from another mobile communication device and the information one of entered by the user via a screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body and received from another mobile communication device and, when the folder is in the closed configuration, the user may view a photographic image on the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body as it captured by the second camera.

29. The mobile communication device of claim 28, wherein the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body is inclined toward the user.

30. The mobile communication device of claim 28, wherein the folder further comprises a transparent protecting window that covers the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body when the folder is in the closed configuration.

31. The mobile communication device of claim 28, wherein the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body comprises a touch pad, the touch pad enabling a user to enter at least one of textual information and graphical information.

32. The mobile communication device of claim 31, further adapted to store the at least one of textual information and graphical information.

33. The mobile communication device of claim 31, further adapted to transmit the at least one of textual information and graphical information to another mobile communication device.

34. The mobile communication device of claim 28, further adapted to selectively display image data captured by one of the first camera and the second camera on the screen of the at least one display unit located on the folder.

35. The mobile communication device of claim 28, further adapted to selectively display image data captured by one of the first camera and the second camera on the screen of the at least display unit located on the main body.

36. The mobile communication device of claim 28, wherein the at least one display unit located on the folder further comprises at least a first screen region and a second screen region.

37. The mobile communication device of claim 36, further adapted to change the attributes of and content displayed by the first screen region and the second screen region according to an input from a user.

38. The mobile communication device of claim 28, further comprising a slide cover adapted to open and close over the second camera.

39. The mobile communication device of claim 28, further comprising a first flash unit located on a portion of the device where the first camera is located and a second flash unit located on a portion of the device where the second camera is located.

40. The mobile communication device of claim 28, wherein the second camera is located on the opposite side of the main body where the at least one display unit is located and the mobile communication device is adapted to automatically display image data captured by the second camera on the screen of the at least one display unit located on the main body when the folder is in the closed configuration and the second camera is operational.