Communication devices incorporating reduced area imaging devices
First Claim
1. In a wireless telephone for conducting wireless telephonic communications, the improvement comprising:
- a video system integral with said telephone for receiving and transmitting video images, and for viewing said video images, said video system comprising;
a camera module housing an image sensor therein, said image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, a first circuit board lying in a second plane and electrically coupled to said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
a video monitor attached to said wireless phone for viewing said video images, said video monitor communicating with said first circuit board, and displaying video images processed by said first circuit board.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reduced area imaging device is provided for use with a communication device, such as a wireless/cellular phone. In one configuration of the imaging device, the image sensor is placed remote from the remaining image processing circuitry. In a second configuration, all of the image processing circuitry to include the image sensor is placed in a stacked fashion near the same location. In the first configuration, the entire imaging device can be placed at the distal end of a camera module. In a second configuration, the image sensor is remote from the remaining image processing circuitry wherein available space within the phone is used to house the remaining circuitry. In any of the embodiments, the image sensor may be placed alone on a first circuit board, or timing and control circuits may be included on the first circuit board containing the image sensor. One or more video processing boards can be stacked in a longitudinal fashion with respect to the first board, or the video processing boards may be placed within the housing of the communication device. The communication device includes a miniature LCD-type monitor which is capable of viewing not only the images taken by the camera module, but also can show incoming video images. The camera module is of such small size that it can be easily stored within the housing of the communication device, and may be attached thereto as by a small retractable cable. Having a tethered camera module allows it to be pointed at any desired object within sight of the user, and without having to actually point or move the phone housing in order to take an image.
54 Citations
75 Claims
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1. In a wireless telephone for conducting wireless telephonic communications, the improvement comprising:
a video system integral with said telephone for receiving and transmitting video images, and for viewing said video images, said video system comprising;
a camera module housing an image sensor therein, said image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, a first circuit board lying in a second plane and electrically coupled to said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
a video monitor attached to said wireless phone for viewing said video images, said video monitor communicating with said first circuit board, and displaying video images processed by said first circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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17. In a video telephone for receiving and transmitting telephone communications to include video signals transmitted by the user of the phone, and video signals received from the party to whom a call was made, the video telephone including a housing, and a video monitor for viewing the video signals the improvement comprising:
a camera module for taking video images, said camera module communicating with circuitry within said video telephone enabling viewing on said video telephone and enabling video signals to be transmitted from said camera module for viewing by said party, said camera module including an image sensor housed therein, said image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of said CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, a first circuit board electrically connected to said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format.
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33. A video telephone for conducting telephonic communications including receiving and transmitting video images between two parties of a telephone call, said video telephone comprising:
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an image sensor lying in a first plane, and an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal;
a first circuit board electrically communicating with said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
a camera module housing said image sensor;
a transceiver/amplifier section electrically coupled to said first circuit board for transmitting, receiving, and amplifying video and audio signals;
a digital signal processor electrically coupled to said first circuit board and said transceiver/amplifier section, said digital signal processor further conditioning said pre-video signal which is first conditioned by said first circuit board, and also for conditioning video and audio signals from said transceiver/amplifier section;
a microphone electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for receiving audio signals;
a speaker electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for broadcasting audio signals;
a video monitor attached to said video phone, said video monitor for selectively displaying images from said imaging device, and for selectively displaying video images received by said transceiver/amplifier section;
a video switch communicating with said first circuit board and said digital signal processor for switching video images to be viewed on said video monitor; and
a power supply mounted to said video telephone for providing power thereto. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51)
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49. In a wireless telephone for conducting wireless telephonic communications, the improvement comprising:
a video system integral with said telephone for receiving and transmitting video images, and for viewing said images, said video system comprising;
a camera module housing an image sensor therein, said image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, a first circuit board lying in a second plane and electrically coupled to said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels and circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format; and
a video monitor attached to said wireless phone for viewing said video images, said video monitor communicating with said first circuit board.
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52. In a wireless telephone for conducting wireless telephonic communications, the improvement comprising:
a video system integral with said telephone for receiving and transmitting video images, and for viewing said images, said video system comprising;
a camera module housing an image sensor therein, said image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, circuitry means electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said circuitry means for timing and control being placed remote from said array of CMOS pixels on a second plane, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, a first circuit board lying in a third plane and electrically coupled to said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format; and
a video monitor attached to said wireless phone for viewing said video images, said video monitor communicating with said first circuit board, and displaying video images processed by said first circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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55. In a video telephone for receiving and transmitting telephone communications to include video signals transmitted by the user of the phone, and video signals received from the party to whom a call is made, the video telephone including a video monitor for viewing the video signals, the improvement comprising:
a camera module for taking video images, said camera module communicating with circuitry within said video telephone enabling viewing on said video telephone and enabling video signals to be transmitted from said camera module by said party for viewing, said camera module including an image sensor housed therein, said image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, a first circuit board lying in a second plane and electrically connected to said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels and circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 59, 60)
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58. In a video telephone for receiving and transmitting telephone communications to include video signals transmitted by the user of the phone, and video signals received from the party to whom a call was made, the video telephone including a video monitor for viewing the video signals, the improvement comprising:
a camera module for taking video images, said camera module communicating with circuitry within said video telephone enabling viewing of said video images on said video telephone and enabling video signals to be transmitted from said camera module for viewing by said party, said camera module including an image sensor housed therein, said image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means electrically coupled to said array of said CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said circuitry means for timing and control placed remote from said array of CMOS pixels on a second plane, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, a first circuit board electrically connected to said image sensor and lying in a third plane, said first circuit board including circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format.
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61. A video telephone for conducting telephonic communications including receiving and transmitting video images between two parties of a telephone call, said video telephone comprising:
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an image sensor lying in a first plane including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal;
a first circuit board electrically communicating with said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels and circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
a camera module housing said image sensor;
a transceiver/amplifier section electrically coupled to said first circuit board for transmitting, receiving, and amplifying video and audio signals;
a digital signal processor electrically coupled to said first circuit board and said transceiver/amplifier section, said digital signal processor further conditioning said pre-video signal which is first conditioned by said first circuit board, and also for conditioning video and audio signals from said transceiver/amplifier section;
a microphone electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for receiving audio signals;
a speaker electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for broadcasting audio signals;
a video monitor attached to said video phone, said video monitor for selectively displaying images from said imaging device, and for selectively displaying video images received by said transceiver/amplifier section;
a video switch communicating with said first circuit board and said digital signal processor for switching video images to be viewed on said video monitor; and
a power supply mounted to said video telephone for providing power thereto. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. A video telephone for conducting telephonic communications including receiving and transmitting video images between two parties of a telephone call, said video telephone comprising:
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an image sensor lying in a first plane, and an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said circuitry means for timing and control being placed remote from said array of CMOS pixels on a second plane, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal;
a first circuit board electrically coupled with said image sensor and lying in a third plane, said first circuit board including circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
a camera module housing said image sensor;
a transceiver/amplifier section electrically coupled to said first circuit board for transmitting, receiving, and amplifying video and audio signals;
a digital signal processor electrically coupled to said first circuit board and said transceiver/amplifier section, said digital signal processor further conditioning said pre-video signal which is first conditioned by said first circuit board, and also for conditioning video and audio signals from said transceiver/amplifier section;
a microphone electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for receiving audio signals;
a speaker electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for broadcasting audio signals;
a video monitor attached to said video phone, said video monitor for selectively displaying images from said imaging device, and for selectively displaying video images received by said transceiver/amplifier section;
a video switch communicating with said first circuit board and said digital signal processor for switching video images to be viewed on said video monitor; and
a power supply mounted to said video telephone for providing power thereto. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 68, 69)
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67. In a method for conducting video telephone communications with a video telephone, the improvement comprising the steps of:
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providing a camera module having an image sensor housed therein;
providing a cable for interconnecting the camera module to the video telephone;
displacing the camera module away from the video telephone;
pointing the camera module at a targeted object; and
taking video images of the targeted object by the camera module for viewing on the video telephone, and for transmission of the video images to another party.
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70. In a wireless telephone for conducting wireless telephonic communications, the improvement comprising:
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a camera module housing an image sensor therein, said camera module for producing video images of a targeted object;
means for interconnecting said camera module to said wireless telephone, said means for interconnecting enabling said camera module to be selectively displaced at a location remote from said wireless telephone; and
a video monitor attached to said wireless phone for selectively viewing video images taken by said camera module, and for selectively viewing incoming video images transmitted by another party. - View Dependent Claims (71)
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72. In a video telephone for receiving and transmitting audio and visual communications to include video signals transmitted by the user of the video telephone, and video signals received from the party to whom a call was made, the video telephone including a housing, and a video monitor for viewing the transmitted and incoming video signals, the improvement comprising:
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a camera module housing an image sensor therein, said camera module for producing video images of a targeted object; and
means for interconnecting said camera module to said wireless telephone, said means for interconnecting enabling said camera module to be selectively displaced at a location remote from said wireless telephone. - View Dependent Claims (73)
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74. In a video telephone for conducting communications including receiving and transmitting video images between two parties of a video telephone call, the improvement comprising:
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a camera module housing an image sensor therein;
a circuitry means coupled to said image sensor for timing and control of said image sensor;
circuitry means for processing images taken by said image sensor to create video signals of a desired video format;
means for interconnecting said camera module to a housing of said video telephone, said means for interconnecting enabling said camera module to be selectively displaced from said housing by the user for pointing the camera module at a targeted object. - View Dependent Claims (75)
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Specification