Folding communication terminal apparatus

• US 7,616,261 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Hoshino, Hirokazu, Kitamura, Kazuo, Oosawa, Nobuaki, Yabe, Toshiya, Nakae, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tuan V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron; Wanda M
• Application Number:
  US10/498,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20050157174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,808 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566.1, 455/575.3, 455/556.1, 348/333.01, 348/333.06, 348/333.11, 348/333.12, 348/373, 348/552, D14/138
• US Class Current: 348/552
• 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 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• 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 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• 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

A communication terminal apparatus (1) includes a first casing (41) and a second casing (42) which are foldably connected to each other and have a photographic lens (31) and a display device (18) which is visible in a same field of view as the lens. A user can photograph himself/herself while verifying his/her photographed image by means of the display device, and thus is able to gain an anticipated image composition easily, and therefore reduce unsuccessful photographs. The photographed image is displayed as a mirror image, so that the user can verify the image as if looking in to an ordinary mirror, without experiencing any awkwardness.

Claims

1. A communication terminal apparatus that has a photography function, and is made up of a first casing and a second casing which are foldably connected to each other, the communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a detecting unit operable to detect whether or not the first and second casings are in a folded state;

a photographic lens provided on a first surface of the first casing, the first surface being exposed when the first and second casings are in a folded state;

a first display device that is for displaying a photographed image, and that is visible in a same field of view as the lens; and

a second display device that is for displaying the photographed image, and that is provided on a second surface of the first casing, the second surface being concealed when the first and second casings are in the folded state,

wherein when the detecting unit is detecting that the first and second casings are in the folded state, the first display device displays a minor image of a photographed image, and the second display device is in an unilluminated state, and

when the detecting unit is detecting that the first and second casings are not in the folded state, the second display device displays the image being photographed, and the first display device is in an unilluminated state.

2. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lens is positioned on a line which divides a width of the first display device substantially in half.

3. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lens and the first display device are both positioned substantially in a widthwise center of the first surface.

4. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, having a construction such that a battery is detachable from a third surface of the second casing, the third surface being exposed in the folded state.