Imaging apparatus

• US 20090059497A1
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Koshiishi, Kazunori, Kuwahara, Masato, Ehara, Yui, Fukasawa, Ryo
• Granted Patent: US 8,917,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.270
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player

Abstract

An imaging apparatus 10 comprises a lower housing 11, an upper housing 21, a lower LCD 12, an upper LCD 22, an inner camera 23, and a microphone. The upper housing 21 has a lower side which is connected to an upper side of the lower housing 11 such that the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 21 are foldable. The lower LCD 12 has a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the lower housing 11 when folded. The upper LCD 22 has a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the upper housing 21 when folded. The imaging section is provided in the inner surface of the upper housing 22 and between the display screen of the lower LCD 12 and the display screen of the upper LCD 22. The microphone is provided in the inner housing of the upper housing 21 and between the display screen of the lower LCD 12 and the display screen of the upper LCD 22.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing having a lower side which is connected to an upper side of the first housing such that the first and second housings are foldable;

a first display section having a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the first housing when folded;

a second display section having a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the second housing when folded;

an imaging section provided in the inner surface of the second housing and between the display screen of the first display section and the display screen of the second display section; and

a voice input section provided in the inner surface of the second housing and between the display screen of the first display section and the display screen of the second display section.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation button provided in the first housing.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second housing has at the lower side an axial portion which is pivotally connected to the upper housing of the first housing, and

the imaging section and the voice input section are located in the axial portion.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the axial portion is located substantially at a center of the second housing in a left-right direction.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the imaging section is located at substantially at a center in a left-right direction, and

the voice input section is located at a position away from a position of the imaging section in the left-right direction.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising voice output sections provided in the inner surface of the second housing and on both sides of the display screen of the second display section in a left-right direction, respectively.

7. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing having a lower side which is connected to an upper side of the first housing such that the first and second housings are foldable;

a first display section having a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the first housing when folded;

a second display section having a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the second housing when folded;

an imaging section provided in the inner surface of the second housing and between the display screen of the first display section and the display screen of the second display section; and

voice output sections provided in the inner surface of the second housing and on both sides of the display screen of the second display section in a left-right direction, respectively.

8. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing having a lower side which is connected to an upper side of the first housing such that the first and second housings are foldable;

a first display section having a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the first housing when folded;

a second display section having a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the second housing when folded; and

an imaging section provided in a center portion in the left-right direction and between the display screen of the first display section and the display screen of the second display section when the first housing and the second housing are opened.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a voice input section provided in the center portion in the left-right direction and between the display screen of the first display section and the display screen of the second display section when the first housing and the second housing are opened.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the imaging section is provided at a center in the left-right direction and between the display screen of the first display section and the display screen of the second display section when the first housing and the second housing are opened, and

the voice input section is provided close to the imaging section.