Camera, an image inputting apparatus, a portable terminal device, and a method of transforming the camera configuration

• US 6,591,069 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Horiguchi, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US09/813,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20010051049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 396/535, 396/539, 396/540, 396/57, 396/429, 348/333.06
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0208 characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• 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 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/20 including a rotatable camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

A camera has a camera body formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape, and in the intermediate portion of the camera body, a flexion/transformation mechanism dividing the camera body into an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip the camera body at the time of photographing is provided. The flexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose the image photographing section and the gripping section on a same straight line such that the camera body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the gripping section angled relative to said image photographing section in a second state.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a camera body having a longitudinal rectangular shape and an intermediate portion, including a flexion/transformation mechanism dividing said camera body into an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip said camera body at a time of photographing is provided, wherein,

said flexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that the camera body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes in a second state, and

said gripping section accommodates a battery as a power source.

2. The camera as defined in claim 1,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexional mechanism capable of angling said gripping section by almost 90 degrees relative to said image photographing section.

3. The camera as defined in claim 1,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other on an inclined surface obliquely intersecting with said straight line in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line and to relatively rotate said image photographing section and said gripping section around an axis line substantially perpendicular to said inclined surface.

4. The camera as defined in claim 1,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other so as to be relatively rotatable on an axis line substantially in parallel with an optical axis of said lens system in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line.

5. The camera as defined in claim 1,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexible connection member that cannot be easily bent, for connecting said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other.

6. The camera as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a cover member that is configured to cover at least a part of said image photographing section and said flexion/transformation mechanism in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line, so as to keep the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line, and to slidably move in a direction along said straight line so as to expose a flexing portion of said flexion/transformation mechanism and an object surface of a lens system of said image photographing section.

7. The camera as defined in claim 1,

wherein said image photographing section further comprises at least one of a release button for performing a release operation, a strobe light emitting section for irradiating an illumination light onto the subject, a display section for indicating an operation state of the camera, and an optical finder for confirming a photographing visual field.

8. The camera as defined in claim 1,

wherein said gripping section accommodates an image recording medium for recording an image of the subject.

9. The camera as defined in claim 1,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism and at least one other flexion/transformation mechanism is provided in the intermediate portion of said camera body formed in the rectangular longitudinal shape;

and

wherein a portion of said camera body between an end of said camera body and one of said flexion mechanism and at least one other flexion mechanism and a portion nipped by said flexion mechanism and at least one other flexion mechanism comprises said gripping section.

10. The camera as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device for transmitting photographing information by wireless transmission.

11. The camera as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a power on/off device configured to cause a power source to co-operate with said flexion/transformation mechanism and to turn on the power source when said gripping section is angled relative to said image photographing section.

12. A camera having a camera body, said camera body comprising:

an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject;

a gripping section for a photographer to grip at a time of performing an image photographing operation; and

a flexion/transformation mechanism that is configured to connect an end of said image photographing section with an end of said gripping section so as to dispose a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that said camera body is formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes in a second state,

wherein said gripping section accommodates a battery as a power source.

13. The camera as defined in claim 12,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexional mechanism capable of angling said gripping section by almost 90 degrees relative to said image photographing section.

14. The camera as defined in claim 12,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other on an inclined surface obliquely intersecting with said straight line in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line and to relatively rotate said image photographing section and said gripping section around an axis line substantially perpendicular to said inclined surface.

15. The camera as defined in claim 12,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other so as to be relatively rotatable on an axis line substantially in parallel with an optical axis of said lens system in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line.

16. The camera as defined in claim 12,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexible connection member that cannot be easily bent, for connecting said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other.

17. The camera as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

a cover member that is configured to cover at least a part of said image photographing section and said flexion/transformation mechanism in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line, so as to keep the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line, and to slidably move in a direction along said straight line so as to expose a flexing portion of said flexion/transformation mechanism and an object surface of a lens system of said image photographing section.

18. The camera as defined in claim 12,

wherein said image photographing section further comprises at least one of a release button for performing a release operation, a strobe light emitting section for irradiating an illumination light onto the subject, a display section for indicating an operation state of the camera, and an optical finder for confirming a photographing visual field.

19. The camera as defined in claim 12,

wherein said gripping section accommodates an image recording medium for recording an image of the subject.

20. The camera as defined in claim 12,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism and at least one other flexion/transformation mechanism is provided in the intermediate portion of said camera body formed in the rectangular longitudinal shape;

and

wherein a portion of said camera body between an end of said camera body and one of said flexion mechanism and at least one other flexion mechanism and a portion nipped by said flexion mechanism and at least one other flexion mechanism comprises said gripping section.

21. The camera as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

a communication device for transmitting photographing information by wireless transmission.

22. The camera as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

a power on/off device configured to cause a power source to co-operate with said flexion/transformation mechanism and to turn on the power source when said gripping section is angled relative to said image photographing section.

23. An image inputting apparatus comprising:

a body having a longitudinal rectangular shape and an intermediate portion including a flexion/transformation mechanism dividing said body into an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip said body at a time of photographing is provided,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that the body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes in a second state,

wherein said gripping section accommodates a battery as a power source.

24. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexional mechanism capable of angling said gripping section by almost 90 degrees relative to said image photographing section.

25. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other on an inclined surface obliquely intersecting with said straight line in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line and to relatively rotate said image photographing section and said gripping section around an axis line substantially perpendicular to said inclined surface.

26. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other so as to be relatively rotatable on an axis line substantially in parallel with an optical axis of said lens system in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line.

27. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexible connection member that cannot be easily bent, for connecting said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other.

28. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23, further comprising:

a cover member that is configured to cover at least a part of said image photographing section and said flexion/transformation mechanism in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line, so as to keep the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line, and to slidably move in a direction along said straight line so as to expose a flexing portion of said flexion/transformation mechanism and an object surface of a lens system of said image photographing section.

29. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23,

wherein said image photographing section further comprises at least one of a photographing operation section for performing a photographing operation, a strobe light emitting section for irradiating an illumination light onto the subject, a display section for indicating an operation state of the image inputting apparatus, and an optical finder for confirming a photographing visual field.

30. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23,

wherein said gripping section accommodates a battery as a power source.

31. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism and at least one other flexion/transformation mechanism is provided in the intermediate portion of said camera body formed in the rectangular longitudinal shape;

and

wherein a portion of said camera body between an end of said camera body and one of said flexion mechanism and at least one other flexion mechanism and a portion nipped by said flexion mechanism and at least one other flexion mechanism comprises said gripping section.

32. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23, further comprising:

a communication device for transmitting photographing information by wireless transmission.

33. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 23, further comprising:

a power on/off device configured to cause a power source to co-operate with said flexion/transformation mechanism and to turn on the power source when said gripping section is angled relative to said image photographing section.

34. A method of using a portable terminal device having a camera body, comprising steps of:

relatively rotating an image photographing section and a gripping section of the body such that a longitudinal axis of the gripping section is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes, wherein the image photography section and the gripping section are relatively rotated around an axis line substantially perpendicular to an inclined surface on which the image photographing section and the gripping section are connected with each other so as to be disposed on a same straight line; and

holding the gripping section for photographing.

35. The method as defined in claim 34, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

36. A method of transforming a body of a camera, comprising a step of:

flexing and transforming the camera body formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape, with a flexion/transformation mechanism provided in an intermediate part of the camera body, such that a longitudinal axis of an image photographing section of the camera body including a lens system is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a remaining section of the camera body, wherein said remaining section accommodates a battery as a power source.

37. The method as defined in claim 36, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

38. A method transforming a body of a camera, comprising a step of:

relatively rotating an image photographing section and a gripping section of the camera body such that a longitudinal axis of the gripping section is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes, wherein the image photography section and the gripping section are relatively rotated around an axis line substantially perpendicular to an inclined surface on which the image photographing section and the gripping section are connected with each other so as to be disposed on a same straight line.

39. The method as defined in claim 38, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

40. A method of making a camera having a camera body, comprising steps of:

forming the camera body in a longitudinal rectangular shape;

providing a flexion/transformation mechanism in an intermediate portion of the camera body, so as to divide the camera body into an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip said camera body for photographing; and

providing in said gripping section a compartment for accommodating a battery as a power source,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that the camera body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes in a second state.

41. A method of making a camera having a camera body, comprising steps of:

providing an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject;

providing a gripping section for a photographer to grip at a time of performing an image photographing operation;

providing in said gripping section a compartment for accommodating a battery as a power source; and

connecting an end of said image photographing section with an end of said gripping section so as to dispose, in a first state, a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that said camera body is formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape, and in a second state, the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes.

42. A method of using a camera having a camera body, comprising steps of:

flexing and transforming the camera body formed in a rectangular longitudinal shape, with a flexion/transformation mechanism provided in an intermediate part of the camera body, such that a longitudinal axis of an image photographing section of the camera body including a lens system is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a remaining section of the camera body, wherein said remaining section accommodates a battery as a power source; and

holding the remaining section of the camera body for photographing.

43. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

44. A method of using a camera having a camera body, comprising steps of:

relatively rotating an image photographing section and a gripping section of the camera body such that a longitudinal axis of the gripping section is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes, wherein the image photography section and the gripping section are relatively rotated around an axis line substantially perpendicular to an inclined surface on which the image photographing section and the gripping section are connected with each other so as to be disposed on a same straight line; and

holding the gripping section for photographing.

45. The method as defined in claim 44, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

46. A method of transforming a body of an image inputting apparatus, comprising a step of:

flexing and transforming the body formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape with a flexion/transformation mechanism provided in an intermediate part of the body such that a longitudinal axis of an image photographing section of the body including a lens system is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a remaining section of the body, wherein said remaining section accommodates a battery as a power source.

47. The method as defined in claim 46, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the image photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

48. A method transforming a body of an image inputting apparatus, comprising a step of:

relatively rotating an image photographing section and a gripping section of the body such that a longitudinal axis of the gripping section is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes, wherein the image photography section and the gripping section are relatively rotated around an axis line substantially perpendicular to an inclined surface on which the image photographing section and the gripping section are connected with each other so as to be disposed on a same straight line.

49. The method as defined in claim 48, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

50. A method of making an image inputting apparatus having a body, comprising steps of:

forming the body in a longitudinal rectangular shape;

providing a flexion/transformation mechanism in an intermediate portion of the body, so as to divide the body into an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip said body for photographing; and

providing in said gripping section a compartment for accommodating a battery as a power source,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that the body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes in a second state.

51. A method of making an image inputting apparatus having a body, comprising steps of:

providing an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject;

providing a gripping section for a photographer to grip at a time of performing an image photographing operation;

providing in said gripping section a compartment for accommodating a battery as a power source; and

connecting an end of said image photographing section with an end of said gripping section so as to dispose, in a first state, a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that said body is formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape, and in a second state, the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes.

52. A method of using an image inputting apparatus having a body, comprising steps of:

flexing and transforming the body formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape, with a flexion/transformation mechanism provided in an intermediate part of the body, such that a longitudinal axis of an image photographing section of the body including a lens system is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a remaining section of the body, wherein said remaining section accommodates a battery as a power source; and

holding the remaining section of the body for photographing.

53. The method as defined in claim 52, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

54. A method of using an image inputting apparatus having a camera body, comprising steps of:

relatively rotating an image photographing section and a gripping section of the body such that a longitudinal axis of the gripping section is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes, wherein the image photography section and the gripping section are relatively rotated around an axis line substantially perpendicular to an inclined surface on which the image photographing section and the gripping section are connected with each other so as to be disposed on a same straight line; and

holding the gripping section for photographing.

55. The method as defined in claim 54, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

56. A method of transforming a body of a portable terminal device, comprising a step of:

flexing and transforming the body formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape, with a flexion/transformation mechanism provided in an intermediate part of the body, such that a longitudinal axis of an image photographing section of the body including a lens system is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a remaining section of the body, wherein said remaining section accommodates a battery as a power source.

57. The method as defined in claim 56, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

58. A method of transforming a body of a portable terminal device, comprising a step of:

relatively rotating an image photographing section and a gripping section of the body such that a longitudinal axis of the gripping section is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes, wherein the image photography section and the gripping section are relatively rotated around an axis line substantially perpendicular to an inclined surface on which the image photographing section and the gripping section are connected with each other so as to be disposed on a same straight line.

59. The method as defined in claim 58, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

60. A method of making a portable terminal device having a body, comprising steps of:

forming the body in a longitudinal rectangular shape;

providing a flexion/transformation mechanism in an intermediate portion of the body, so as to divide the body into an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip said body for photographing; and

providing in said gripping section a compartment for accommodating a battery as a power source,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that the body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes in a second state.

61. A method of making a portable terminal device having a body, comprising steps of:

providing an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject;

providing a gripping section for a photographer to grip at a time of performing an image photographing operation; and

connecting an end of said image photographing section with an end of said gripping section so as to dispose, in a first state, a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that said body is formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape, and in a second state, the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes.

62. A method of using a portable terminal device having a body, comprising steps of:

flexing and transforming the body formed in a longitudinal rectangular shape with a flexion/transformation mechanism provided in an intermediate part of the body such that a longitudinal axis of an image photographing section of the body including a lens system is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a remaining section of the body, wherein said remaining section accommodates a battery as a power source; and

holding the remaining section of the body for photographing.

63. The method as defined in claim 62, further comprising a step of:

sliding a cover covering at least a part of the flexion/transformation mechanism and the photographing section so as to expose a flexing portion of the flexion/transformation mechanism.

64. An image inputting apparatus having a body, said body comprising:

an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject;

a gripping section for a photographer to grip at a time of performing an image photographing operation; and

a flexion/transformation mechanism that is configured to connect an end of said image photographing section with an end of said gripping section so as to dispose a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that said body is formed in the longitudinal shape in a first state, and to dispose the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes in a second state,

wherein said gripping section accommodates a battery as a power source.

65. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 64,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexional mechanism capable of angling said gripping section by almost 90 degrees relative to said image photographing section.

66. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 64,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other on an inclined surface obliquely intersecting with said straight line in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line and to relatively rotate said image photographing section and said gripping section around an axis line substantially perpendicular to said inclined surface.

67. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 64,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other so as to be relatively rotatable on an axis line substantially in parallel with an optical axis of said lens system in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line.

68. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 64,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexible connection member that cannot be easily bent, for connecting said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other.

69. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 64, further comprising:

a cover member that is configured to cover at least a part of said image photographing section and said flexion/transformation mechanism in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line, so as to keep the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line, and to slidably move in a direction along said straight line so as to expose a flexing portion of said flexion/transformation mechanism and an object surface of a lens system of said image photographing section.

70. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 64,

wherein said image photographing section further comprises at least one of a photographing operation section for performing a photographing operation, a strobe light emitting section for irradiating an illumination light onto the subject, a display section for indicating an operation state of the image inputting apparatus, and an optical finder for confirming a photographing visual field.

71. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 64,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism and at least one other flexion/transformation mechanism is provided in the intermediate portion of said camera body formed in the rectangular longitudinal shape;

and

wherein a portion of said camera body between an end of said camera body and one of said flexion mechanism and at least one other flexion mechanism and a portion nipped by said flexion mechanism and at least one other flexion mechanism comprises said gripping section.

72. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 64, further comprising:

a communication device for transmitting photographing information by wireless transmission.

73. The image inputting apparatus as defined in claim 64, further comprising:

a power on/off device configured to cause a power source to co-operate with said flexion/transformation mechanism and to turn on the power source when said gripping section is angled relative to said image photographing section.

74. A portable terminal device having a body,

a camera body having a longitudinal rectangular shape and an intermediate portion, including a flexion/transformation mechanism dividing said camera body into an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject and a gripping section for a photographer to grip said camera body at a time of photographing is provided,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism is configured so as to dispose a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that the camera body is formed in the longitudinal rectangular shape in a first state, and to dispose the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes in a second state,

wherein said gripping section accommodates a battery as a power source.

75. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 74,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexional mechanism capable of angling said gripping section by almost 90 degrees relative to said image photographing section.

76. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 74,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other on an inclined surface obliquely intersecting with said straight line in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line and to relatively rotate said image photographing section and said gripping sections around an axis line substantially perpendicular to said inclined surface.

77. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 74,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other so as to be relatively rotatable on an axis line substantially in parallel with an optical axis of said lens system in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line.

78. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 74,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexible connection member that cannot be easily bent, for connecting said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other.

79. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 74,

wherein said image photographing section further comprises at least one of a photographing operation section for performing a photographing operation, a strobe light emitting section for irradiating an illumination light onto the subject, a display section for indicating an operation state of the portable terminal device, and an optical finder for confirming a photographing visual field.

80. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 74, further comprising:

a communication device for transmitting photographing information by wireless transmission.

81. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 74,

wherein said portable terminal device is a portable telephone terminal having a function of a portable telephone.

82. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 74,

wherein said portable terminal device is a portable information terminal having a function of processing information.

83. A portable terminal device having a body, said body comprising:

an image photographing section including a lens system for capturing an optical image of a subject;

a gripping section for a photographer to grip at a time of performing an image photographing operation; and

a flexion/transformation mechanism that is configured to connect an end of said image photographing section with an end of said gripping section so as dispose a longitudinal axis of said image photographing section and a longitudinal axis of said gripping section on a same straight line such that said body is formed in the longitudinal shape in a first state, and to dispose the longitudinal axis of said gripping section angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said image photographing section such that the longitudinal axes of said gripping section and said image photographing section are arranged along different axes in a second state,

wherein said gripping section accommodates a battery as a power source.

84. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 83,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexional mechanism capable of angling said gripping section by almost 90 degrees relative to said image photographing section.

85. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 83,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other on an inclined surface obliquely intersecting with said straight line in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line and to relatively rotate said image photographing section and said gripping sections around an axis line substantially perpendicular to said inclined surface.

86. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 83,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to connect said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other so as to be relatively rotatable on an axis line substantially in parallel with an optical axis of said lens system in the first state of disposing said image photographing section and said gripping section on the same straight line.

87. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 83,

wherein said flexion/transformation mechanism comprises a flexible connection member that cannot be easily bent, for connecting said image photographing section and said gripping section with each other.

88. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 83,

wherein said image photographing section further comprises at least one of a photographing operation section for performing a photographing operation, a strobe light emitting section for irradiating an illumination light onto the subject, a display section for indicating an operation state of the portable terminal device, and an optical finder for confirming a photographing visual field.

89. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 83, further comprising:

a communication device for transmitting photographing information by wireless transmission.

90. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 83,

wherein said portable terminal device is a portable telephone terminal having a function of a portable telephone.

91. The portable terminal device as defined in claim 83,

wherein said portable terminal device is a portable information terminal having a function of processing information.