Portable electronic equipment having a photographic function and a concealable lens

• US 7,224,394 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Shimamura, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US10/319,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 348/335, 348/363, 348/376, 348/333.08, 348/14.02
• US Class Current: 348/335
• 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 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• 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 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

When no photographing is carried out, a control unit applies no voltage to a dimming film of a lens concealing plate, sets a light blocking state to scatter incident light, and prevents a camera lens from becoming visible. When an operator depresses a photographing mode selection key, the control unit applies a predetermined voltage to the dimming film to set a transparent state, thereby enabling photographing to be carried out. In this state, when photographing a landscape, the operator directs the camera lens to an object, sets a cellular phone ready, decides a composition by watching an image of the object displayed on a main display unit, and correcting a position of the cellular phone, and depresses the photographing mode key again.

Claims

1. A portable electronic equipment comprising:

forming means for forming an image of an object;

concealing means for concealing said forming means, said concealing means attached to an outer surface of said portable electronic equipment, said concealing means comprising a first dimming layer having a light transmittance controlled in accordance with an applied voltage;

judging means for judging whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not;

controlling means for controlling said means based on a result of said judging means;

decision means for deciding a composition of said object, said decision means arranged in the vicinity of said concealing means and held in a mirror surface state or a non-mirror surface state by switching based on electrical control, said decision means comprising a mirror surface reflection portion for reflecting an incoming light on a mirror surface and a second dimming layer arranged on a front surface side of said mirror surface reflection portion and having a light transmittance controlled in accordance with an applied voltage; and

displaying means comprising a liquid crystal panel capable of displaying characters or images, said second dimming layer arranged on a rear surface side of said liquid crystal panel and said mirror surface reflection portion arranged on a rear surface side of said second dimming layer.

2. The portable electronic equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said decision means is adapted to said displaying means.

3. The portable electronic equipment as claimed in claim 2, further comprises second controlling means for controlling said concealing means and said displaying means to bring the first and second dimming layers to light transmitting states during photographing, and to light blocking states in a period other than the photographing.

4. The portable electronic equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein said portable electronic equipment is a cellular phone.

5. portable electronic equipment comprising:

a camera lens that forma an image of an object;

a lens concealing plate that conceals said camera lens, said lens concealing plate attached to an outer surface of said portable electronic equipment, said lens concealing plate comprising a first dimming layer having a light transmittance controlled in accordance with an applied voltage;

a judging circuit that judges whether a predetermined condition is satisfied or not;

a controller that controls said lens concealing plate based on a result of said judging circuit;

a decision circuit that decides a composition of said object, said decision circuit arranged in the vicinity of said lens concealing plate and held in a mirror surface state or a non-mirror surface state by switching based on electrical control, said decision circuit comprising a mirror surface reflection portion for reflecting an incoming light on a mirror surface and a second dimming layer arranged on a front surface side of said minor surface reflection portion and having a light transmittance controlled in accordance with an applied voltage; and

a display comprising a liquid crystal panel capable of displaying characters or images, said second dimming layer arranged on a rear surface side of said liquid crystal panel and said mirror surface reflection portion arranged on a rear surface side of said second dimming layer.

6. The portable electronic equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein said decision circuit is adapted to said display.

7. The portable electronic equipment as claimed in claim 6, further comprises second controller that controls said lens concealing plate and said display to bring the first and second dimming layers to light transmitting states during photographing, and to light blocking states in a period other than the photographing.

8. The portable electronic equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein said portable electronic equipment is a cellular phone.