Portable information terminal device having camera feature

• US 7,106,357 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Hiroyuki, Matsui, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/225,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1408, 348/376, 348/333.06, 348/335, 348/333.08, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/575.3, 455/566
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1092 sensing by means of TV-scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• 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 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A portable information terminal device having a camera feature and comprises a case provided with an image pickup module including a lens and an image pickup element and a lid member of the device provided at a predetermined position with an adapter optical system different from the lens. The lid member is linked to the case to be displaceable relative to the case between predetermined positions including a position for causing the optical axis of the lens and that of the adapter optical system to substantially agree with each other. When the optical axis of the lens and that of the adapter optical system are substantially agree with each other by displacing the case and the lid member relative to each other, the optical parameters of the synthetic optical system obtained by combining the lens and the adapter optical system are different from those of the lens.

Claims

1. A portable information terminal device having a camera feature and comprising:

a case provided with a first optical system and an image pickup element which receives light from an object point focused by said first optical system and outputs a corresponding image signal; and

a lid member of the device provided at a predetermined position with a second optical system different from said first optical system, wherein

said lid member is linked to said case so as to make itself displaceable relative to said case between predetermined positions including a position for causing an optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other; and

optical parameters of a synthetic optical system obtained by combining said first optical system and said second optical system at a position for causing the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other as reached by displacing said case and said lid member relative to each other is different from those of said first optical system.

2. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 1, wherein

said lid member is linked to said case so as to be displaceable relative to said case between a position for causing the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other and a position for causing the optical axes not to agree with each other.

3. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 2, wherein

the position where the optical axis of said first optical system substantially agree with that of said second optical system is the position where said lid member is closed onto the case.

4. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 1, wherein

the optical parameters include a parameter relating to the position of the focused object point.

5. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 1, wherein

the optical parameters include at least one of magnification and view angle.

6. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 1, wherein

said case and said lid member are linked to each other by way of a rotary shaft so as to be rotatable in a predetermined direction.

7. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 1, wherein said case and said lid member are linked to each other by way of a sliding engaging section so as to be able to slide in a predetermined direction.

8. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control section which detects one of a substantial agreement of the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system and a motion of causing the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other and selects a second imaging mode suited for an image pickup operation using said synthetic optical system and different from a first imaging mode suited for an image pickup operation using only said first optical system.

9. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 8, wherein

the first imaging mode is suited to pick up an image of an object point at a far point in a field of view of the camera, and

the second imaging mode is suited to pick up an image of an object point at a near point in the field of view.

10. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 9, wherein

the second imaging mode includes a positional information detection mode for obtaining information on a current relative position of itself by detecting direction and distance of relative movement of itself from the images of the object picked up at different moments.

11. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 10, further comprising:

an external interface which outputs the information on the relative position of itself as obtained in the positional information detection mode to an external device.

12. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 9, wherein

the second imaging mode includes a code reading mode for picking up an image of an optically readable code recorded on a recording medium and representing data and for reproducing the data.

13. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 9, wherein

a lighting section is provided at said lid member for lighting an object point at a near point in the field of view in said second imaging mode.

14. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 13, wherein

a display section which displays information is further provided at least one of at said case and at said lid member;

and

said lighting section includes a light-conducting member which conducts light used in said display section to the object at a near point in the field of view.

15. A portable information terminal device having a camera feature and comprising:

a case provided with a first optical system and an image pickup element which receives light from an object point located at a far point of a field of view and focused by said first optical system and outputs a corresponding image signal; and

a lid member of the device provided at a predetermined position with a second optical system different from said first optical system, wherein

said lid member is linked to said case so as to be displaceable relative to said case between predetermined positions including a position for causing an optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other;

optical parameters of a synthetic optical system obtained by combining said first optical system and said second optical system at a position for causing the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other as reached by displacing said case and said lid member relative to each other is suited for focusing light from an object point at a near point in the field of view; and

a lighting section which illuminates said object point at the near point is provided at said lid member.

16. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 15, wherein

said lighting section is arranged close to said second optical system provided at said lid member.

17. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 15, wherein

said lid member is linked to said case so as to be displaceable relative to said case between a position for causing the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other and a position for causing the optical axes not to agree with each other.

18. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 17, wherein

the position where the optical axis of said first optical system substantially agree with that of said second optical system is the position where said lid member is closed onto the case.

19. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 15, wherein

a display section which displays information is further provided at least one of at said case and at said lid member;

and

said lighting section includes a light-conducting member which conducts light used in said display section to said object at a near point in the field of view.

20. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 15, wherein

said case and said lid member are linked to each other by way of a rotary shaft so as to be rotatable in a predetermined direction.

21. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 15, wherein

said case and said lid member are linked to each other by way of a sliding engaging section so as to be able to slide in a predetermined direction.

22. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 15, further comprising:

a control section which detects one of a substantial agreement of the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system and a motion of causing the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other and selects a second imaging mode suited for an operation of picking up an image of an object point at a near point in the field of view, using the synthetic optical system, and different from a first imaging mode suited for an operation of picking up an image of an object point at a far point in the field of view, using only said first optical system.

23. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 22, wherein

the second imaging mode includes a positional information detection mode for obtaining information on a current relative position of itself by detecting the direction and distance of relative movement of itself from the images of the object picked up at different moments.

24. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 23, further comprising:

an external interface which outputs the information on the relative position of itself as obtained in the positional information detection mode to an external device.

25. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 22, wherein

the second imaging mode includes a code reading mode for picking up an image of an optically readable code recorded on a recording medium and representing data and for reproducing the data.

26. A portable information terminal device having a camera feature and comprising:

a case provided with a first optical system and an image pickup element which receives light from an object point focused by said first optical system and outputs a corresponding image signal; and

a lid member of the device provided at a predetermined position with a second optical system different from said first optical system, wherein

said lid member is linked to said case so as to make itself displaceable relative to said case and able to take a first state of an optical axis of said first optical system substantially agreeing with that of said second optical system and a second state of said second optical system of being reversed and of the optical axis of said first optical system substantially agreeing with that of said second optical system; and

optical parameters of a synthetic optical system obtained by combining said first optical system and said second optical system in the first state of displacing said case and said lid member relative to each other,

optical parameters of a synthetic optical system obtained by combing said first optical system and said second optical system in the second state of displacing said case and said lid member relative to each other and

optical parameters of said first optical system are differentiated from each other.

27. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 26, wherein

the optical parameters include a parameter relating to the position of the focused object point.

28. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 26, wherein

the optical parameters include at least one of magnification and view angle.

29. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 26, further comprising:

a control section which detects either a substantial agreement of the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system and a reversed/unreversed condition of said second optical system or a motion of causing the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other and also reversing/unreversing said second optical system and selects either a second imaging mode suited for an image pickup operation using a synthetic optical system formed by said first optical system and said second optical system and different from a first imaging mode suited for an image pickup operation using only said first optical system or a third imaging mode suited for an image pickup operation using a synthetic optical system formed by said first optical system and said second optical system, which is reversed, and different from the first imaging mode.

30. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 29, wherein

the first imaging mode is suited to pick up an image of an object point at a far point in the field of view of the camera and at least one of the second imaging mode and the third imaging mode is suited to pick up an image of an object point at a near point in the field of view.

31. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 30, wherein

the imaging mode suited for picking up an image of an object point at a near point in the field of view includes a positional information detection mode for obtaining information on a current relative position of itself by detecting direction and distance of relative movement of itself from the images of the object picked up at different moments.

32. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 31, further comprising:

an external interface which outputs the information on the relative position of itself as obtained in the positional information detection mode to an external device.

33. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 30, wherein

the imaging mode suited for picking up an image of an object point at a near point in the field of view includes a code reading mode for picking up an image of an optically readable code recorded on a recording medium and representing data and for reproducing the data.

34. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 30, wherein

a lighting section is provided at said lid member for lighting an object point at a near point in the field of view in said imaging mode.

35. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 34, wherein

a display section which displays information is further provided at least one of at said case and at said lid member;

and

said lighting section includes a light-conducting member which conducts light used in said display section to the object at a near point in the field of view.

36. A portable information terminal device having a camera feature and comprising:

a case provided with a first optical system and an image pickup element which receives light from an object point focused by the first optical system and outputs a corresponding image signal; and

a lid member of the device provided at predetermined respective positions with a second optical system different from said first optical system and a third optical system different from said first optical system and said second optical system, wherein

said lid member are linked to said case so as to make itself displaceable relative to said case and able to take a first state of an optical axis of said first optical system substantially agreeing with that of said second optical system and a second state of the optical axis of said first optical system substantially agreeing with that of said third optical system; and

optical parameters of a synthetic optical system obtained by combining said first optical system and said second optical system in the first state of displacing said case and said lid member relative to each other,

optical parameters of a synthetic optical system obtained by combing said first optical system and said third optical system in the second state of displacing said case and said lid member relative to each other and

optical parameters of said first optical system are differentiated from each other.

37. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 36, wherein

the optical parameters include a parameter relating to the position of the focused object point.

38. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 36, wherein

the optical parameters include at least one of magnification and view angle.

39. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 36, further comprising:

a control section which detects one of either a substantial agreement of the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system or a substantial agreement of the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said third optical system and either a motion of causing the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said second optical system to substantially agree with each other or a motion of causing the optical axis of said first optical system and that of said third optical system to substantially agree with each other and selects either a second imaging mode suited for an image pickup operation using a synthetic optical system formed by said first optical system and said second optical system and different from a first imaging mode suited for an image pickup operation using only said first optical system or a third imaging mode suited for an image pickup operation using a synthetic optical system formed by said first optical system and said third optical system and different from the first imaging mode.

40. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 39, wherein

the first imaging mode is suited to pick up an image of an object point at a far point in the field of view of the camera and at least one of the second imaging mode and the third imaging mode is suited to pick up an image of an object point at a near point in the field of view.

41. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 40, wherein

the imaging mode suited for picking up an image of an object point at a near point in the field of view includes a positional information detection mode for obtaining information on a current relative position of itself by detecting direction and distance of relative movement of itself from the images of the object picked up at different moments.

42. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 41, further comprising:

an external interface which outputs the information on the relative position of itself as obtained in the positional information detection mode to an external device.

43. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 40, wherein

the imaging mode suited for picking up an image of an object point at a near point in the field of view includes a code reading mode for picking up an image of an optically readable code recorded on a recording medium and representing data and for reproducing the data.

44. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 40, wherein

a lighting section is provided at said lid member for lighting an object point at a near point in the field of view in said imaging mode.

45. The portable information terminal device having a camera feature according to claim 44, wherein

a display section which displays information is further provided at least one of at said case and at said lid member;

and

said lighting section includes a light-conducting member which conducts light used in said display section to the object at a near point in the field of view.