Camera device with selectable image paths

• US 6,992,699 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2000
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Vance, Scott L, Hunt, Charles C
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/631,175
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.05, 348/14.07, 348/14.08, 348/14.16, 348/207.99, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 359/212, 359/618, 359/872, 396/322, 396/429, 396/447, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A combination mobile terminal and camera with multiple light apertures in the housing. One aperture is disposed on a front side of the housing while another aperture is disposed on a rear side of the housing. The device has an image sensor disposed within the housing for converting images formed by light directed onto the image sensor into electrical signals. The device also has a movable optical system for selectively directing light passing through one of the light apertures onto the image sensor. The device also includes an image processor coupled to an output of the image sensor for processing the electrical signals from the image sensor to produce image signals. The device also has a position detector to detect the position of the movable optics and for directing the image processor to invert the images as needed.

Claims

1. A combination mobile terminal and camera comprising:

a housing having a first light aperture formed in a first side of said housing and a second light aperture formed in a second side of said housing;

a wireless transceiver disposed within said housing for transmitting and receiving signals;

an image sensor fixedly disposed within said housing for converting images formed by light on said image sensor into electrical signals;

a movable optical system for selectively directing light passing through said first and second light apertures onto said image sensor; and

an image processor coupled to an output of said image sensor for processing the electrical signals from said image sensor to produce image signals.

2. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 1 wherein said optical system comprises a mirror assembly having at least one movable mirror, said mirror assembly being movable between a first position to direct light entering through said first light aperture along a first image path onto said image sensor and a second position to direct light entering through said second light aperture along a second image path onto said image sensor.

3. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 2 wherein said mirror assembly comprises at least one movable mirror rotatable between at least first and second positions.

4. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 3 wherein said movable mirror directs light entering through said first light aperture along said first image path onto said image sensor when disposed in the first position and directs light entering through said second light aperture along said second image path onto said image sensor when disposed in the second position.

5. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 2 wherein said mirror assembly comprises at least first and second movable mirrors.

6. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 5 wherein said first and second movable mirrors slide between the first position and the second position.

7. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 5 wherein said first movable mirror directs light entering through said first light aperture along said first image path onto said image sensor when said first and second movable mirrors are disposed in said first position and wherein said second movable mirror directs light entering through said second light aperture along said second image path onto said image sensor when said first and second movable mirrors are disposed in said second position.

8. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 2 further comprising a position detector to detect the position of said mirror assembly, said image processor being responsive to a signal from said position detector to invert said images when said mirror assembly is in one of said first and second positions.

9. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 1 wherein said optical system further comprises at least one lens.

10. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 9 wherein said lens is movable between a first position along a first image path to a second position along a second image path.

11. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 10 further comprising a movable mirror assembly having at least one movable mirror, said mirror assembly being movable between the first position to direct light entering through said first light aperture along said first image path onto said image sensor and the second position to direct light entering through said second light aperture along said second image path onto said image sensor.

12. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 9 comprising a first lens disposed along said first image path and a second lens disposed along said second image path.

13. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 12 wherein said first and second lenses are fixed.

14. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 1 further comprising a display.

15. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 10 wherein said first light aperture faces in the direction of a display and said second light aperture faces in the direction opposite said display.

16. A camera comprising:

a housing;

a display mounted in said housing;

a first light aperture formed in a first side of said housing and facing in the direction of said display;

a second light aperture formed in a second side of said housing and facing in a direction opposite said display;

an image sensor fixedly disposed within said housing for converting images formed by light on said image sensor into electrical signals;

a movable optical system for selectively directing light passing through said first and second light apertures onto said image sensor; and

an image processor coupled to an output of said image sensor for processing the electrical signals from said image sensor to produce image signals.

17. The camera of claim 16 wherein said optical system comprises a mirror assembly having at least one movable mirror, said mirror assembly being movable between a first position to direct light entering through said first light aperture along a first image path onto said image sensor and a second position to direct light entering through said second light aperture along a second image path onto said image sensor.

18. The camera of claim 17 wherein said mirror assembly comprises at least one movable mirror rotatable between at least first and second positions.

19. The camera of claim 18 wherein said movable mirror directs light entering through said first light aperture along said first image path onto said image sensor when disposed in said first position and directs light entering through said second light aperture along said second image path onto said image sensor when disposed in said second position.

20. The camera of claim 17 wherein said mirror assembly comprises at least first and second movable mirrors.

21. The camera of claim 20 wherein said first and second movable mirrors slide between a first position and a second position.

22. The camera of claim 20 wherein said first movable mirror directs light entering through said first light aperture along said first image path onto said image sensor when said first and second movable mirrors are disposed in said first position and wherein said second movable mirror directs light entering through said second light aperture along said second image path onto said image sensor when said first and second movable mirrors are disposed in said second position.

23. The camera of claim 22 further comprising a position detector to detect the position of said mirror assembly, said image processor being responsive to a signal from said position detector to invert said images when said mirror assembly is in one of said first and second positions.

24. The camera of claim 16 wherein said optical system further comprises at least one lens.

25. The camera of claim 24 wherein said lens is movable between a first position along a first image path to a second position along a second image path.

26. The camera of claim 25 further comprising a movable mirror assembly having at least one movable mirror, said movable mirror assembly being movable between the first position to direct light entering through said first light aperture along said first image path onto said image sensor and the second position to direct light entering through said second light aperture along said second image path onto said image sensor.

27. The camera of claim 24 comprising a first lens disposed along a first image path and a second lens disposed along a second image path.

28. The camera of claim 27 wherein said first and second lenses are fixed.

29. A method for selectively displaying images seen through first and second apertures of a camera facing in opposing directions, said method comprising:

providing a movable mirror assembly for selectively directing light entering through said first and second apertures onto an image sensor to capture an image;

positioning said movable mirror assembly in a first position to direct light entering through said first light aperture along a first image path to capture an image seen through said first light aperture; and

positioning said movable mirror assembly in a second position to direct light entering through said second light aperture along a second image path to capture an image seen through said second light aperture.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said movable mirror assembly comprises a movable mirror and wherein positioning said movable mirror assembly in said first and second positions comprises moving said mirror between said first and second positions.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said movable mirror is rotatable and wherein moving said movable mirror between said first and second positions comprises rotating said movable mirror between said first and second positions.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein moving said movable mirror between said first and second positions comprises sliding said movable mirror between said first and second position.

33. A method of directing multiple images through multiple apertures onto an image sensor comprising:

positioning a movable mirror assembly in a first position;

recording a first image by directing the first image through a first aperture onto the movable mirror assembly;

reflecting the first image from the mirror assembly disposed in the first position to direct the reflected first image onto the image sensor;

positioning the movable mirror assembly from the first position to a second position;

recording a second image by directing the second image through a second aperture onto the movable mirror assembly; and

reflecting the second image from the mirror assembly disposed in the second position to direct the reflected second image onto the image sensor.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the mirror assembly includes a single mirror, and wherein the first and second images are reflected from the single mirror onto the image sensor.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the single mirror is movable between the first and second positions, and wherein in the first position said single mirror aligns with said first aperture, and wherein in said second position said single mirror aligns with said second aperture.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said single mirror is rotatable between said first and second positions.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein said mirror assembly includes first and second mirrors movable between the first and second positions, and wherein in said first position said first mirror aligns with said first aperture, and wherein in said second position said second mirror aligns with said second aperture.

38. A combination mobile terminal and camera comprising:

a housing;

a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing for transmitting and receiving signals;

an image sensor fixedly disposed within the housing for converting images formed by light directed on the image sensor into electrical signals;

a movable optical system for selectively directing light entering the housing from a first and a second direction onto the image sensor; and

an image processor coupled to an output of the image sensor for processing the electrical signals from the image sensor to produce image signals.

39. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 38 wherein the optical system selectively directs light entering the housing through one of two apertures in the housing.

40. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 38 wherein the optical system selectively directs light entering the housing through a first aperture located in the front of the housing and a second aperture located in the rear of the housing.

41. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 38 wherein the optical system for selectively directing light comprises a first and second movable mirrors slidable between a first position and second position to selectively direct light entering the housing onto the image sensor.

42. The combination mobile terminal and camera of claim 38 wherein the optical system comprises at least one movable component that is movable between two positions to selectively direct light entering the housing onto the image sensor and further comprising a position detector to detect the position of the movable component, the image processor being responsive to a signal from the position detector to invert the images when the movable component is in one of the two positions.