Multi-media mobile communication device and related construction method

• US 20040204055A1
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Nousiainen, Jaakko
• Granted Patent: US 6,980,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

Mechanical and operational design considerations for the antenna, speaker and image capture functionalities, in a multi-media mobile communication device are combined and carried in a common shared antenna-speaker-image capture chamber. The common shared chamber permits greater focal lengths and larger optics packages compared to conventional multi-media communication devices with separate, individual chambers within the device.

Claims

1. A multi-media mobile communication device of the type having a housing for carrying an RF transmitter and receiver, and a shared interior air cavity defined within the housing for carrying both an RF antenna and audio component, the improvement characterized in that said shared interior cavity further includes imaging functionality.

2. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said imaging functionality further comprises camera optical means.

3. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 2, further characterized by camera sensor means.

4. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said camera sensor means is located within said shared interior cavity.

5. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said camera sensor means is located outside said shared interior cavity.

6. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said camera optical means includes a camera lens carried within said shared interior cavity and located intermediate of said camera sensor means and an aperture in a wall of said interior cavity and defining an optical path having a first focal length.

7. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 3, further characterized by one or more lenses defining a lens system being located intermediate said camera lens and said aperture along said optical path and defining a second focal length to improve the quality of an image being captured.

8. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said lens system includes means for varying the focal length along said optical path to improve the quality of an image being captured.

9. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 6, further characterized in that said housing includes a window in optical alignment with said camera sensor means whereby an image is captured when said housing is held in an orientation with said window pointed in the direction of the image.

10. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 9, further characterized by a further lens being located in said window.

11. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said RF antenna is an internal planar antenna located in a spaced relationship to and with said audio component and said camera means.

12. The multi-media mobile communication device as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said shared interior cavity provides a suitable air volume to simultaneously accommodate RF antenna functionality, audio functionality and imaging functionality.

13. The multi-media mobile communication device as defined in claim 1, wherein said shared interior air cavity is substantially sealed and further comprises an acoustical cavity.

14. A reduced size mobile communication device comprising:

a housing for carrying subassemblies defining an operational communication device;

speaker means for producing audible signals;

antenna means for transmitting RF signals;

camera sensor means for capturing an image signal;

cavity means within said housing for carrying said speaker means and said antenna means and said camera sensor means, said cavity means further defining a substantially sealed common shared chamber comprising an acoustic resonator chamber and an antenna-ground plate separation chamber.

15. Method for construction of a multi-media mobile communication device having RF antenna, audio, and image capture functionalities, wherein the improvement comprises the steps of:

locating the RF antenna means, audio transducer means and camera sensor means in a combined common shared chamber within the multi-media mobile communication device.