Multifunctional mobile electronic device

• US 7,126,626 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Makoto, Kurokawa, Seiji, Sawahara, Shingo, Machide, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/791,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.02, 348/552, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 455/556.1, 455/557, 379/110.01
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

The main body section and the cover section, those of which are combined with the coupling section so that the electronic device can pivot, constitute the present invention. There is an input key section is provided in the opposed surface of the main body section meeting the cover section when the device is folded. There is the main display section provided in the opposing surface of the cover section meeting the main body section when the device is folded. Because of this, the electronic device can be used easier as a mobile phone. Furthermore, the electronic device also can be used easier as a still camera because the device can be used as a still camera immediately whenever the user wants to, even when the electronic device is in stand-by mode of mobile phone mode.

Claims

1. A multifunctional mobile electronic device comprising:

a device main body that is a combination of a main body section and a cover section via a coupling section such that the main body section and the cover section can be folded,

one of inner surfaces of the main body section and the cover section meeting each other when the electronic device is folded, one of the inner surfaces being provided with an input key section including numeral keys, the other of the inner surfaces being provided with a first display section,

said device further comprising;

a lens section, provided for a first camera, provided in one of outer surfaces of the main body section and the cover section, the outer surface being exposed to outside when the electronic device is folded;

a second display section, that serves as a finder of the first camera, provided in the other of the outer surfaces; and

a shutter button, provided for the first camera, provided in a side surface part of the device main body,

information processing means, which allows the first camera to carry out image capturing when the main body section and the cover section are folded,

when the main body section and the cover section are folded, the second display section serving as the finder of the first camera by displaying an image of a target for the first camera,

the cover section including a second camera in its inner surface.

2. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the device main body has a rectangular shape.

3. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the shutter button, provided for the first camera, is provided in an oblong part of the device main body.

4. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the second display section displays at least one part of information displayed in the first display section.

5. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the second display section displays at least one part of information displayed in the first display section.

6. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the second display section displays at least one part of information displayed in the first display section.

7. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said device has a communication function.

8. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said device has a mobile phone function.

9. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the second display section displays at least identification information of a sending end that has transmitted a communication request, while the multifunctional mobile electronic device is folded.

10. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

the main body section includes a microphone in its inner surface; and

the cover section includes a speaker in its inner surface.

11. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

a shutter button, provided for a second camera, provided around the second display section.

12. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the first display section displays information such that the coupling section is downward, and the second display section displays information such that the coupling section is upward.

13. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the main body section includes a shutter button, provided for the second camera, in its inner surface.

14. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the first display section simultaneously displays images taken by the camera and the second camera, respectively.

15. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the second display section displays the image of the target in such a direction that a top of the image of the target corresponds to a top of the target.

16. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the multifunctional electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means carries out control such that the second camera serves as a camera for carrying out the image capturing.

17. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the multifunctional electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means is able to transmit, to a receiving end, an image captured by the second camera.

18. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the multifunctional electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means carries out control such that the first camera serves as a camera for carrying out the image capturing.

19. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the multifunctional electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means is able to transmit, to a receiving end, an image captured by the first camera.

20. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the multifunctional electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means carries out control such that each of the first camera and the second camera serves as a camera for carrying out the image capturing.

21. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the multifunctional electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means is able to transmit, to a receiving end, an image captured by each of the first camera and the second camera.

22. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the multifunctional electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means is able to transmit, to a receiving end, a composite image of images respectively captured by the first camera and the second camera.

23. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the multifunctional electronic device is brought from a mobile phone mode into a camera mode in response to operation of the shutter button, which operation is carried out when the multifunctional electronic device is in a standby state of the mobile phone mode with the cover section folded.

24. A multifunctional mobile electronic device comprising:

a device main body that is a combination of a main body section and a cover section via a coupling section such that the main body section and the cover section can be folded,

an inner surface of the main body section meeting an inner surface of the cover section when the electronic device is folded, the inner surface of the main body section being provided with an input key section including numeral keys,

an inner surface of the cover section meeting the inner surface of the main body section when the electronic device is folded, the inner surface of the cover section being provided with a first display section,

said device further comprising;

a lens section, provided for a first camera, provided in an outer surface, which is exposed to outside when the electronic device is folded, of the cover section;

a second display section, that serves as a finder of the first camera, provided in an outer surface, which is exposed to outside when the electronic device is folded, of the main body section; and

a shutter button, provided for the first camera, provided in the device main body,

information processing means, which allows the first camera to carry out image capturing when the main body section and the cover section are folded,

when the main body section and the cover section are folded, the second display section serving as the finder of the first camera by displaying an image of a target for the first camera.

25. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 24 wherein:

the main body has a rectangular shape.

26. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

the shutter button, provided for the first camera, in an oblong part of the device main body.

27. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

the second display section displays at least one part of information displayed in the first display section.

28. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

the second display section displays at least one part of information displayed in the first display section.

29. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

the second display section displays at least one part of information displayed in the first display section.

30. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

said device has a communication function.

31. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 30, wherein:

said device has a mobile phone function.

32. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 30, wherein:

the second display section displays at least identification information of a sending end that has transmitted a communication request, while the multifunctional electronic device folded.

33. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 32, wherein:

the main body section includes a microphone in its inner surface; and

the cover section includes a speaker in its inner surface.

34. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 33, wherein:

the cover section includes a second camera in its inner surface.

35. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 34, wherein:

the main body section includes a shutter button, provided for the second camera, in the inner surface.

36. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 32, wherein:

the cover section includes a second camera in its inner surface.

37. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

the main body section includes a shutter button, provided for the second camera, in its inner surface.

38. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 36, wherein:

the first display section simultaneously displays images taken by the camera and the second camera, respectively.

39. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 32, further comprising:

a shutter button, provided for a second camera, provided around the second display section.

40. The multifunctional mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

the first display section displays information such that the coupling section is downward, and the second display section displays information such that the coupling section is upward.

41. The multifunctional electronic device as set forth in claim 24, wherein:

the second display section displays the image of the target in such a direction that a top of the image of the target corresponds to a top of the target.

43. The electronic device as set forth in claim 32, wherein:

an operation section of key-switch type is provided in an opposed surface of the first member or the second member; and

a second display section which displays at least data supplied via the operation section in the other of the opposed surfaces.

44. The electronic device as set forth in claim 43, further comprising:

a first shutter button, provided for the first image pick-up section, provided in an outer surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is folded.

45. The electronic device as set forth in claim 44, wherein:

the first shutter button is provided in a surface which is perpendicular to the opposed surface of the first member or is provided in a surface which is perpendicular to the opposed surface of the second member.

46. The electronic device as set forth in claim 44, wherein:

the first shutter button is provided in the surface on the opposite side of the opposed surface of the first member or is provided in the surface on the opposite side of the opposed surface of the second member.

47. The electronic device as set forth in claim 43, further comprising:

a second shutter button, provided for the second image pick-up section, provided in an opposed surfaces of the first or second members.

48. The electronic device as set forth in claim 32, further comprising:

a first shutter button for the first image pick-up section provided in an outer surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is folded.

49. The electronic device as set forth in claim 48, wherein:

the first shutter button is provided in a surface which is perpendicular to the opposed surface of the first member or is provided in a surface which is perpendicular to the opposed surface of the second member.

50. The electronic device as set forth in claim 48, wherein:

the first shutter button is provided in the surface on the opposite side of the opposed surface of the first member or is provided in the surface on the opposite side of the opposed surface of the second member.

51. The electronic device as set forth in claim 48, further comprising:

a second shutter button, provided for the second image pick-up section, provided in an opposed surfaces of the first or second members.

42. An electronic device in which first and second members can be folded via a coupling section, comprising:

a first member including a first image pick-up section provided in a surface on an opposite side of an opposed surface which faces the second member when the electronic device is folded;

a second member including a first display section, which displays at least an image taken by the first image-pick up section, provided in a surface on an opposite side of an opposed surface which faces the first member when the electronic device is folded;

a second image pick-up section provided in an opposed surface of the first or second member, and

information processing means, which allows the first image pick-up section to carry out image capturing when the first member and the second member are folded, the first display section serving as the finder of the first image pick-up section by displaying an image of a target for the first image pick-up section.

52. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, further comprising:

a second shutter button, provided for the second image pick-up section, provided in an opposed surfaces of the first or second members.

53. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

said device has a communication function.

54. The electronic device as set forth in claim 53, wherein:

said device has a mobile phone function.

55. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

the first display section displays the image of the target in such a direction that a top of the image of the target corresponds to the top of the target.

56. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means carries out control such that the second image pick-up section serves as a camera for carrying out the image capturing.

57. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means is able to transmit, to a receiving end, an image captured by the second image pick-up section.

58. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means carries out control such that the first image pick-up section serves as a camera for carrying out the image capturing.

59. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means is able to transmit, to a receiving end, an image captured by each of the first image pick-up section and the second image pick-up section.

60. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means carries out control such that each of the first image pick-up section and the second image pick-up section serves as a camera for carrying out the image capturing.

61. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means is able to transmit, to a receiving end, an image captured by each of the first image pick-up section and the second image pick-up section.

62. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

while holding a connection made by using the electronic device as a telephone terminal, the information processing means is able to transmit, to a receiving end, a composite image of images respectively captured by the first image pick-up section and the second image pick-up section.

63. The electronic device as set forth in claim 42, wherein:

the electronic device is brought from a mobile phone mode into a camera mode in response to operation of a first shutter button that is provided for the first image pick-up section and that is provided in a surface exposed to outside when the second member is folded, which operation is carried out when the electronic device is in a standby state of the mobile phone mode with the second member folded.