Mobile phone with camera

• US 20060079302A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ikeda, Minoru, Kota, Yuichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,228,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00525 Providing a more compact apparatus, e.g. sheet discharge tray in cover
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00535 using rotatably mounted or foldable components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/53 of electronic viewfinders, e.g. rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

A mobile telephone with a camera function has an optimum shooting posture and optimum storage ability. The mobile telephone has a first housing and a second housing which are so connected by a hinge to enable longitudinal folding. A main display section has an operation section containing a set of a ten-key pad and functional keys, which are respectively provided on the inner surfaces of the first and second housings and are invisible when the housings are folded. A subsidiary display section and a camera section are respectively provided on the outer surfaces opposite to the inner surfaces and a shutter switch and a phone to camera changeover switch are provided on the outer surface of the housings.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone comprising a first housing equipped with a plurality of operational switches, a second housing with a main display section, and a hinge means which pivotally connects said first and second housings and enables longitudinal folding thereof, wherein,

a main display section and an operation section containing a set of a ten-key pad and functional keys, which are respectively provided on the inner surfaces of said first and second housings which are invisible when the housings are folded,

a subsidiary display section and a camera section are respectively provided on the outer surfaces opposite to said inner surfaces of said housings,

a shutter switch and a changeover switch which switches between Phone and Camera modes are provided on the outer surface of said housings, and

said subsidiary display section displays a communication status in the Phone mode and a picture image shot by said camera section in the Camera mode. cm 2-6. (canceled)