Mobile communications device with a camera

• US 6,308,084 B1
• Filed: 06/03/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lonka, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Danh C
• Application Number:
  US09/325,025
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/556, 455/557, 455/550, 396/429, 379/433, 348/207, 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/220, 348/552, 348/14.01
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details

Abstract

The invention pertains to a mobile communications device with a camera, comprising a microphone (5), loudspeaker, display, keypad and camera. According to the invention the mobile communications device comprises at least two parts covering each other alternatively completely in the transport position of the camera or partly in the operational position of the camera so that when the parts (1, 2) cover each other in the transport position of the camera the lens (13) of the camera is protected, and in the operational position of the camera the lens (13) of the camera is exposed. Such a mobile communications device is easy to use and includes a protected lens (13) the protection of which is based on normal procedures carried out by the user of the mobile communications device when using the device.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device with a camera, comprising a microphone (5), a loudspeaker (6), a display (7), keypad (9) proper, and a camera, and the mobile communications device comprises at least two parts (1, 2) covering each other alternatively completely in the transport position of the camera or partly in the operational position of the camera so that when the parts (1, 2) cover each other in the transport position of the camera the lens (13) of the camera is protected, and in the operational position of the camera the lens (13) of the camera is exposed, characterized in that an image can be projected through the lens (13) of the camera and the display (7) serves as a viewfinder for the camera by displaying the through the lens projected image to the user of the device and the lens (13) of the camera is placed in the device essentially on a different side than the display (7).

2. The mobile communications device of claim 1, characterized in that the device also comprises function keys (8) and the device can be used for telephone calls by means of the microphone (5), the loudspeaker (6), the display (7) and the function keys (8) even when the lens (13) of the camera is covered.

3. The mobile communications device of claim 1, characterized in that the parts (1, 2) covering each other partly or completely move by sliding with respect to each other.

4. The mobile communications device of claim 1, characterized in that the part (2) including the keypad (9) proper of the mobile communications device has in it a shaped grip (12) to make it easier to hold the mobile communications device in hand when used for taking photographs.

5. The mobile communications device of claim 1, characterized in that a photograph is taken by pressing a button the function of which varies in accordance with the operating mode of the mobile communications device.

6. The mobile communications device of claim 1, characterized in that the battery (10) of the mobile communications device is located in that part of the mobile communications device which includes the keypad (9) proper in order to place the center of gravity as low as possible to make photographing easier in vertical position.

7. The mobile communications device of claim 1, characterized in that pictures are being stored in the memory (21) of the mobile communications device and the pictures are used in the mobile communications device in a telephone directory.