Portable communications terminal having camera assembly with two cameras

• US 8,046,026 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Koh, Sung-Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost; Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TIMOTHY X
• Application Number:
  US12/113,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20090017867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/333, 348/373
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• 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 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A first camera equipped for a video telephony and a second camera configured for capturing still or video images are combined into one assembly. The assembly is interconnected with a flexible printed circuit board then assembled into and connected with a portable communications terminal body. The assembly is configured for efficient integration with the terminal and saves assembly time and manufacturing costs.

Claims

1. A portable communications terminal, comprising:

a terminal body having a camera mounting unit; and

a camera assembly mounted within the camera mounting unit and comprising a camera housing on which a first camera and a second camera are disposed; and

a connecting flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) that is connected to a first FPCB and a second FPCB,

wherein the first camera is disposed on a first surface of the camera housing and the second camera is disposed on a second surface of the camera housing,

wherein the camera housing is configured to have an opening through which a lens of the second camera protrudes in order to enable the first and the second cameras to be affixed to the camera housing,

wherein the first FPCB connects the first camera to the connecting FPCB and the second FPCB connects the second camera to the connecting FPCB,

wherein the connecting FPCB further comprises a first connector disposed on a first end of the connecting FPCB configured to connect the connecting FPCB to the first FPCB,

wherein the connecting FPCB further comprises a second connector disposed on a second end of the connecting FPCB configured to connect the connecting FPCB with the second FPCB,

wherein the connecting FPCB further comprises a third connector configured to connect the camera assembly to a printed circuit board in the terminal, and

wherein the camera housing further comprises an FPCB mounting portion in which the connecting FPCB is disposed when the connecting FPCB is folded.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein a camera lens of the first camera is positioned to face a first side of the terminal body, and a camera lens of the second camera is positioned to face a second side of the terminal body.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the first camera is configured for video telephony, and the second camera is configured to capture a still or video image.

4. The terminal of claim 3, wherein the first camera has a lower resolution than the second camera.

5. The terminal of claim 1, wherein a rear surface of the first camera is affixed to a rear surface of the second camera.

6. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the camera mounting unit further comprises a retaining ledge configured to prevent the camera housing from separating from the camera mounting unit when the camera housing is disposed within the camera mounting unit.

7. A method for assembling a portable communications terminal having a terminal body and a camera assembly, the method comprising:

affixing a rear surface of a first camera to a rear surface of a second camera, such that a lens of the first camera is positioned to face a first side of the terminal body and a lens of the second camera is positioned to face a second side of the terminal body;

mounting the first camera and the second camera in a camera housing;

connecting the first camera to a first connector and the second camera to a second connector wherein the first and the second connectors are disposed on opposite ends of a connecting FPCB; and

mounting the connecting FPCB in a FPCB mounting unit formed in the camera housing thereby completing a camera assembly;

mounting the camera assembly in a camera mounting unit of the terminal; and

connecting a third connector of the connecting FPCB to a printed circuit board disposed in the terminal body,

wherein a first FPCB is configured to connect the first camera to the connecting FPCB and a second FPCB is configured to connect the second camera to the connecting FPCB, and

wherein the camera housing is configured to have an opening through which a lens of the second camera protrudes thereby enabling the first and the second cameras to be affixed to the camera housing.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first camera is configured for video telephony, and the second camera is configured to capture still or video images.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first camera has a lower resolution than the second camera.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the camera mounting unit further comprises a retaining ledge configured to prevent the camera housing from separating from the camera mounting unit when the camera housing is disposed within the camera mounting unit.