Portable terminal with rotatable axial flip unit and dual lens arrangement

• US 7,084,919 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Shibata, Junichiro, Yamaguchi, Shuuji
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/733,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,058 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.99, 348/220.1, 348/333.01, 348/333.06, 348/333.07, 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 348/14, 348/15, 348/552, 348/335, 386/107, 386/117, 386/118, 708/115, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557
• US Class Current: 348/333.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0243 using the relative angle between housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters

Abstract

This portable terminal comprises a main unit having a microphone, a key operation unit, and a radio sending/receiving function of image and sound, a rotation axial unit having a video camera and an operation dial, an image display unit with a touch panel capable of displaying an image taken by the video camera, a received image and a screen for input operation, and a flip unit having the image display unit, a CCD camera, a speaker and an operation button. The rotation axial unit further includes an opening/shutting axis for connecting the main unit and the flip unit in a mutually rotatable way and a rotation axis for connecting the flip unit in a way of rotating the flip unit across the above rotation in the horizontal direction, and when the flip unit is opened and rotated across, it is used as a video camera with a monitor.

Claims

1. A portable terminal formed by connecting a main unit and a flip unit having a monitor screen by an axial unit rotatably, comprising:

a first photographic lens housed in the axial unit in the longitudinal direction; and

a second photographic lens provided at a predetermined position on the flip unit.

2. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, in which

the flip unit has said second photographic lens on the side of the monitor screen, and

the axial unit has a structure of closing both the units making inside surface of the main unit into contact with inside surface of the flip unit.

3. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

an axial unit state sensor for detecting angle or positional relationship of the flip unit and the main unit, according to the angle of a movable portion of the axial unit; and

a means for selecting and executing each function predetermined based on the angle or relationship of the flip unit and the main unit detected by said axial unit

state sensor, from various usable functions provided in the portable terminal.

4. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a microphone on the inside of the main unit;

a speaker on the inside of the flip unit;

a communication unit for sound communication; and

a means for putting a communication function through a wireless communication line into an executable state

when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

5. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a microphone on one surface of the main unit;

a speaker on the outside of the flip unit;

a communication unit for sound communication; and

a means for putting a communication function through a wireless communication line into an executable state

when the surface having said microphone on the main unit and the outside surface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

6. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

a microphone on the inside of the main unit;

said communication unit

including a communication means of an image; and

a means for putting a communication function of a TV telephone through a wireless communication line into an executable state,

when the surface having said microphone on the main unit and the inside surface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

7. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

an information processing unit for processing input information and instruction;

the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel; and

a means for putting a function of an information terminal for processing the input information and instruction upon receipt of the input from the touch panel, into an executable state

when the outside surface of the flip unit and one surface of the main unit are closed in contact with each other.

8. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

a storing means for storing electronic data;

a means for converting a static image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data; and

a means for putting a photographic function as a digital camera into an executable state

when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens in an inverse direction.

9. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

a means for converting a moving image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data; and

a means for putting a photographic function as a digital video camera into an executable state

when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens in an inverse direction.

10. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

a means for stopping a predetermined function to be finished, of the functions under activation, after judging that the function is in unused state

when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of the flip unit are closed in contact with each other.

11. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a storing means for storing electronic data.

12. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

a means for converting a static image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data,

the portable terminal storing the taken static image in said storing means as a digital camera.

13. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

a means for converting a moving image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data,

the portable terminal storing the taken moving image in said storing means as a digital video camera.

14. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit for image and sound communication; and

a means for transmitting images taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens through said communication unit.

15. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, in which

the main unit is provided with said microphone,

the flip unit is provided with said speaker, and

communication through a wireless communication line is performed by said communication unit.

16. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:

a mans for displaying the image received by said communication unit on the monitor screen, reproducing the sound received by said communication unit through said speaker, and transmitting the images taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens and the sound supplied to said microphone, to a communication party, in which

communication by a TV telephone is performed by said communication unit.

17. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an information processing unit for processing input information and instruction;

the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel; and

a means for receiving input from the touch panel and processing the input information and instruction.

18. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 17, in which

input with an input pen on the monitor screen that is the touch panel monitor is accepted.

19. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an operation button for specifying the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen, to a control unit, in which

the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switched according to the specification by said operation button.

20. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

a means for displaying an image taken by said first photographic lens on the monitor screen;

a means for displaying an image taken by said second photographic lens on the monitor screen; and

a means for displaying the image taken by said first photographic lens and the image taken by said second photographic lens simultaneously on the monitor screen at predetermined respective portions, in which

the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switched according to the specification by said operation button.

21. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an input/output unit for performing communication by electric signals through connection to an outward information device, in which

bidirectional data transfer is performed with the outward information device through said input/output unit.

22. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a sound input/output terminal for sending and receiving a sound signal.

23. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, in which

the axial unit

connects a central portion of one side of the flip unit to a central portion of one side of the main unit in a movable way, and

includes an opening/shutting axis for connecting both the flip unit and the main unit in a way of freely opening and closing around the connected one side, and

a rotation axis for connecting the flip unit in a way of freely rotating across around said opening/shutting axis.

24. A portable terminal formed by connecting a main unit and a flip unit having a monitor screen by an axial unit rotatably, comprising:

a first photographic lens located in the axial unit; and

a second photographic lens provided at a predetermined position on the flip unit.

25. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 24, in which

the flip unit has said second photographic lens on the side of the monitor screen, and

the axial unit has a structure of closing both the units making inside surface of the main unit into contact with inside surface of the flip unit.

26. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 25, further comprising:

an axial unit state sensor for detecting angle or positional relationship of the flip unit and the main unit, according to the angle of a movable portion of the axial unit; and

a means for selecting and executing each function predetermined based on the angle or relationship of the flip unit and the main unit detected by said axial unit state sensor, from various usable functions provided in the portable terminal.

27. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 26, further comprising:

a microphone on the inside of the main unit;

a speaker on the inside of the flip unit;

a communication unit for sound communication; and

a means for putting a communication function through a wireless communication line into an executable state

when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

28. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 26, further comprising:

a microphone on one surface of the main unit;

a speaker on the outside of the flip unit;

a communication unit for sound communication; and

a means for putting a communication function through a wireless communication line into an executable state

when the surface having said microphone on the main unit and the outside surface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

29. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 27, further comprising:

a microphone on the inside of the main unit;

said communication unit including a communication means of an image; and

a means for putting a communication function of a TV telephone through a wireless communication line into an executable state

when the surface having said microphone on the main unit and the inside surface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

30. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 26, further comprising:

an information processing unit for processing input information and instruction;

the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel; and

a means for putting a function of an information terminal for processing the input information and instruction upon receipt of the input from the touch panel, into an executable state

when the outside surface of the flip unit and one surface of the main unit are closed in contact with each other.

31. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 27, further comprising:

a storing means for storing electronic data;

a means for converting a static image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data; and

a means for putting a photographic function as a digital camera into an executable state

when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens in an inverse direction.

32. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 31, further comprising:

a means for converting a moving image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data; and

a means for putting a photographic function as a digital video camera into an executable state

when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens in an inverse direction.

33. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 27, further comprising:

a means for stopping a predetermined function to be finished, of the functions under activation, after judging that the function is in unused state

when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of the flip unit are closed in contact with each other.

34. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 24, further comprising:

a storing means for storing electronic data.

35. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 34, further comprising:

a means for converting a static image taken by photographic lens into electronic data,

the portable terminal storing the taken static -image in said storing means as a digital video camera.

36. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 35, further comprising:

a means for converting a moving image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data,

the portable terminal storing the taken moving image in said storing means as a digital video camera.

37. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 24, further comprising:

a communication unit for image and sound communication; and

a means for transmitting images taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens through said communication unit.

38. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 37, in which

the main unit is provided with said microphone,

the flip unit is provided with said speaker, and communication through a wireless communication line is performed by said communication unit.

39. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 38, further comprising:

a mans for displaying the image received by said communication unit on the monitor screen, reproducing the sound received by said communication unit through said speaker, and transmitting the image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens and the sound supplied to said microphone, to a communication party, in which

communication by a TV telephone is performed by said communication unit.

40. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 24, further comprising:

an information processing unit for processing input information and instruction;

the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel; and

a means for receiving input from the touch panel and processing the input information and instruction.

41. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 40, in which

input with an input pen on the monitor screen that is the touch panel monitor is accepted.

42. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 24, further comprising:

an operation button for specifying the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen, to a control unit, in which

the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switched according to the specification by said operation button.

43. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 42, further comprising:

a means for displaying an image taken by said first photographic lens on the monitor screen;

a means for displaying an image taken by said second photographic lens on the monitor screen; and

a means for displaying the image taken by said first photographic lens and the image taken by said second photographic lens simultaneously on the monitor screen at predetermined respective portions, in which

the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switched according to the specification by said operation button.

44. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 24, further comprising:

an input/output unit for performing communication by electric signals through connection to an outward information device, in which

bidirectional data transfer is performed with the outward information device through said input/output unit.

45. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 24, further comprising:

a sound input/output terminal for sending and receiving a sound signal.

46. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 24, in which

the axial unit connects a central portion of one side of the flip unit to a central portion of one side of the main unit in a movable way, and

includes an opening/shutting axis for connecting both the-flip unit and the main unit in a way of freely opening and closing around the connected one side, and

a rotation axis for connecting the flip unit in a way of freely rotating across around said opening/shutting axis.

47. A portable terminal formed by connecting a main unit and a flip unit having a monitor screen by an axial unit rotatably, comprising:

a plurality of functions for performing are provided,

a state sensor for detecting positional relationship of the flip unit and the main unit, and

a means for executing selectively functions beforehand assigned corresponding to at least three positional relationships based on the relationship of the flip unit and the main unit detected by said state sensor, wherein

said axial unit is provided with a photographic lens.