Mobile Communication Device With Enhanced Image Communication Capability

• US 20070070184A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• 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 8,032,177 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

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A mobile terminal adapted for video telephony, comprising:

a housing;

a first camera located on a front surface of the housing;

a second camera located on a rear surface of the housing;

at least one input unit adapted to allow a user to select at least one of the first camera and second camera to perform an image capturing function; and

a display unit having a viewing direction that is essentially the same as a capturing direction of the first camera, the display unit adapted to function as a viewfinder by showing an image captured by at least one of the first camera and the second camera,

wherein the first camera has a different capturing direction than a capturing direction of the second camera.

42. The mobile terminal of claim 41, wherein the housing comprises a first body and a second body, the first body moveable with respect to the second body such that the mobile terminal has an open configuration and a closed configuration.

43. The mobile terminal of claim 42, further comprising a protective device adapted to cover the second camera, the protective device moveable between an open position and a closed position.

44. The mobile terminal of claim 42, wherein the first camera and the display unit are located on the first body and the second camera is located on the second body.

45. The mobile terminal of claim 42, further comprising a second display unit adapted to function as a viewfinder by showing the image captured by the second camera while the mobile terminal is in the closed configuration.

46. The mobile terminal of claim 42, wherein the first camera is located on either the same side of first body as the display unit or on the opposite side of the first body as the display unit.

47. The mobile terminal of claim 41, further comprising a transceiver adapted to:

transmit an image captured by at least one of the first camera and the second camera; and

receive an image captured by another mobile terminal in order to perform a video telephony function.

48. The mobile terminal of claim 43, wherein the image captured by the second camera is automatically displayed on a second display unit when the protective device is moved to the open position to expose the second camera.

49. The mobile terminal of claim 41, wherein an image resolution of the first camera is lower than an image resolution of the second camera.

50. A mobile communications device comprising:

a first body;

a second body moveable with respect to the first body such that the mobile communications device has an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a first image capturing device located on the first body, the first image capturing device having a first capturing direction;

a second image capturing device located on the second body, the second image capturing device having a second capturing direction;

at least one switch key adapted to initiate an image capturing function;

a display unit having a viewing direction that is essentially the same as the first capturing direction or the second capturing direction; and

a transceiver adapted to transmit an image captured by at least one of the first image capturing device and the second image capturing device and to receive an image captured by another mobile communications device.

51. The mobile communications device of claim 50, wherein the first capturing direction is different from the second capturing direction.

52. The mobile communications device of claim 51, wherein the display unit is adapted to provide a viewfinder function by displaying an image captured by at least one of the first image capturing device and the second image capturing device.

53. The mobile communications device of claim 50, wherein the at least one switch key is further adapted to allow a user to select at least one of the first image capturing device and the second image capturing device to perform the image capturing function.

54. The mobile communications device of claim 53, wherein the first image capturing device and the display unit are located on the first body and the second image capturing device is located on the second body.

55. The mobile communications device of claim 54, further comprising a second display unit adapted to provide a viewfinder function by displaying an image captured by the second image capturing device when the mobile communications device is in the closed configuration.

56. The mobile communications device of claim 55, wherein the first image capturing device is located either on the same side of the first body as the display unit or on the opposite side of the first body as display unit and the second image capturing device is located either on the same side of the second body as the second display unit or on the opposite side of the second body as the second display unit.

57. The mobile communications device of claim 55, wherein the image captured by the second image capturing device is automatically displayed on the second display unit when a protective cover is moved to an open position.

58. A mobile terminal comprising:

a body;

a display screen located on a front surface of the body;

a first camera located on a rear surface of the body, the first camera having a first capturing direction; and

a second camera having a second capturing direction, the second capturing direction different than the first capturing direction and essentially coincident with a viewing direction of the display screen,

wherein an image resolution of the first camera is higher than an image resolution of the second camera such that the first camera can capture higher quality images than the second camera.

59. The mobile terminal of claim 58, wherein the first capturing direction is essentially opposite to the viewing direction of the display screen.

60. The mobile terminal of claim 58, wherein the second capturing direction is toward a user and the first capturing direction is away from the user.

61. The mobile terminal of claim 58, wherein the first camera is fixed with respect to the body and the second camera is movable with respect to the body.

62. The mobile terminal of claim 58, further comprising a folder operatively attached to the body and adapted to be opened and closed and wherein the second camera is attached to the folder.