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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera
and a portable telephone equipped with a digital camera in which
while a user views one monitor screen, the user can selectively
photograph an image located in the side of the face of the user
and an image located in an opposite side to the face of the user
without turning out the digital camera or the portable telephone
having the digital camera under a state that the user holds the
digital camera or the portable telephone having the digital camera.
The digital camera and the portable telephone having the digital
camera of the present invention include a first camera mounted on
a first surface of a casing member, a second camera mounted on a
second surface in the back side of the first surface of the casing
member and a camera selecting unit for selecting a photographing
camera. Thus, while the user holds the portable telephone having
the camera, the user can photograph the face of the user himself
or herself by the first camera, can photograph a scene viewed by
the user himself or herself by the second camera or can photograph
both the face and the scene at the same time. Further, a synthesizing
unit is provided for synthesizing the images respectively photographed
by the first camera and the second camera. Accordingly, a synthesized
photograph obtained by synthesizing both the images can be taken
or after the images are photographed, the images can be synthesized.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera, comprising: a first camera that is provided
on a first surface of a casing member; a second camera that is provided
on a second surface in the back side of the first surface of the
casing member; a control unit that controls photographing operations
of the first camera and the second camera; a camera selecting unit
that selects a camera for photographing; a camera shutter unit;
a monitor unit; and an image storing unit, wherein the photographing
camera is selected by the camera selecting unit to photograph an
image.
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein both the first
camera and the second camera are selected by the camera selecting
unit to photograph images by both the first camera and the second
camera at the same time.
3. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising
an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes the images photographed
by the first camera and the second camera to photograph the synthesized
image obtained by synthesizing the images photographed by the first
camera and the second camera.
4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein one screen
of the monitor unit is divided into a first display area and a second
display area to display all part or a part of the image photographed
by the first camera in the first display area and to display all
part or a part of the image photographed by the second camera in
the second display area; and wherein the images photographed by
the first camera and the second camera that are displayed on the
monitor unit are photographed as the synthesized image.
5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the monitor
unit is formed with a first liquid crystal display part and a second
liquid crystal display part; wherein the first liquid crystal display
part is provided in the surface side of the casing member in which
the first camera is provided; wherein the second liquid crystal
display part is provided in the surface side of the casing member
in which the second camera is provided; and wherein the image photographed
by the first camera or the second camera is displayed on the first
liquid crystal display part or the second liquid crystal display
part of the monitor unit.
6. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a moving image
is photographed by the first camera or the second camera; and wherein
the moving image is stored in the image storing unit.
7. A portable telephone equipped with a digital camera on which
the digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is mounted.
8. A foldable portable telephone equipped with a digital camera
on which a digital camera is mounted, comprising: a camera mode
setting unit; a camera mode completing unit; and an opening and
closing detecting unit, wherein when the opening and closing detecting
unit detects that a casing member of the foldable portable telephone
is closed in a state that a camera mode is operated by the camera
mode setting unit, the camera mode completing unit completes the
camera mode, then when the opening and closing detecting unit detects
that the casing member of the foldable portable telephone is opened
without an input of other signal, the camera mode is operated again
by the camera mode setting unit.
Digital Camera Patent Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a digital camera and a
portable telephone equipped with a digital camera on which a digital
camera is mounted.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A recent digital camera has been progressively miniaturized
and a portable telephone on which the digital camera is mounted
to photograph the face of a user or the landscape in a neighborhood
has been put to practical use. Further, to photograph both a front
side and an opposite side, a method that one digital camera mounted
on the portable telephone is rotated or detachably attached to the
portable telephone to change its direction has been known (for instance,
see Patent Document 1). However, most of the portable telephones
that have been used have the cameras fixed on either the front sides
or the opposite sides.
[0003] FIG. 16 shows a schematic sectional view of a usual portable
telephone 200 with a digital camera. The portable telephone 200
with the digital camera supports a second casing member 214 at the
hinge 213 of an end of an arm extending from a first casing member
212 so as to freely open and close. To the second casing member
214, a magnet 222 for detecting opening and closing operations,
a receiver 224, a liquid crystal display device 201 viewed by an
operator when the second casing member 214 is opened, a back light
209 for the liquid crystal display device 201 and a camera 230 are
attached. The camera 230 is arranged so that while the user (not
shown in the drawing) of the portable telephone 200 holds the portable
telephone, the user can photograph the face or the user can recognize
a monitor image on the liquid crystal display device 201. The liquid
crystal display device 201 is driven by a driver circuit 241. The
liquid crystal display device 201, the back light 209, the receiver
224 and the camera 230 are respectively connected to a flexible
controlling board 216 having a branching end. The other end of the
flexible controlling board 216 is connected to a main body board
215 in the first casing member 212.
[0004] The main body board 215 of the portable telephone is provided
in the first casing member 212. To the main body board 215, the
respective circuits of a control part 218, a memory 219 and a radio
part 220, a key operating part 217, a microphone 223 and an opening
and closing detecting unit 221 are attached to realize a radio communication
function as the portable telephone.
[0005] In FIG. 17, the schematic block diagram of the usual portable
telephone 200 having the digital camera is shown. In FIG. 17, to
the control part 218, the driver circuit 241 is connected and the
liquid crystal display device 201 is connected to the driver circuit
241. In the driver circuit 241, a memory part 251 for temporarily
storing image information to be displayed is provided. Further,
to the control part 218, the memory 219 in which the image information
is stored, the back light 209 for the liquid crystal display device
201 as a completely transmitting type liquid crystal display device,
the radio part 220 for performing a radio communication, the microphone
223 for transmitting voice, the receiver 224 for receiving voice,
the key operating part 217, the opening and closing detecting unit
221 and the camera 230 are connected.
[0006] A photographing operation carried out by the camera 230
of the usual portable telephone 200 equipped with the digital camera
will be described below. The user of the portable telephone 200
holds the first casing member 212 and opens the second casing member
214 to input a camera mode selecting signal by using the key operating
unit 217 and operate a camera mode by the control part 218. When
the camera mode is obtained, the user picks up an image by an image
pick-up unit of the camera 230 that is not in the drawing to display
a monitor image on the liquid crystal display device 201. When the
user presses a shutter button serving as a camera shutter that is
allocated to the ten key of the key operating unit 217, the image
photographed by the camera 230 is stored in the memory 219 and the
stored image is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 201.
Then, when a camera mode completion signal is inputted from the
key operating part 217 or the opening and closing detecting unit
221 detects that the second casing member 214 is closed, the control
part 218 turns off the power of the camera 230 to complete the camera
mode.
[0007] Then, the image stored in the memory 219 can be read and
displayed on the liquid crystal display device 201 by operating
the key operating unit 217 or transmitted to other portable telephone
by using the radio part 220 or the photographed image can be printed
by connecting the portable telephone 200 to a printer that is not
shown in the drawing by a cable.
(Patent Document 1) JP-A-2001-245034 (Pages 3 to 4, FIG. 1)
[0008] An existing ordinary digital camera has a camera on one
surface of a casing member and a monitor screen on a surface opposite
to the camera. The camera has a structure in which when the user
photographs an object, the user (photographer) directs the camera
to the object to be photographed and views the monitor screen in
the opposite side to the camera and presses a shutter button. Accordingly,
when the user holds the digital camera to photograph the face of
the user himself or herself, the user turns the inside of the digital
camera out. In this case, since the user himself or herself is the
object to be photographed, the user cannot inconveniently view the
monitor screen located in the opposite side of the camera.
[0009] Especially, in the portable telephone having the digital
camera on which the digital camera is mounted, even when the camera
230 and the liquid crystal display device 201 are provided on the
same plane as shown in FIG. 16, operations for turning out the portable
telephone having the digital came are necessary when the face of
the user is photographed and when an image located in the opposite
side to the face of the user is photographed. However, it is more
difficult to hold the portable telephone having the digital camera
under a state that the portable telephone is turned out than to
hold a digital camera under the same state. Further, the shutter
button is undesirably hardly pressed down.
[0010] Further, a shutter chance is taken aim at once under a camera
mode, however, the chance does not come so that a next shutter chance
is taken aim at. At this time, when the second casing member 214
is closed, the opening and closing detecting unit 221 detects that
the second casing member 214 is closed and the control part 218
turns off the power of the camera 230 to complete the camera mode.
Therefore, when the second casing member 214 is subsequently opened,
the camera mode needs to be started from its setting operation so
that the shutter chance is undesirably missed.
[0011] It is a first object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera and a portable telephone equipped with a digital
camera in which while a user views one monitor screen, the user
can selectively photograph an image located in the side of the face
of the user and an image located in an opposite side to the face
of the user without turning out the digital camera or the portable
telephone having the digital camera under a state that the user
holds the digital camera or the portable telephone having the digital
camera.
[0012] It is a second object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera and a portable telephone equipped with a digital
camera in which an image located in the side of the face of a user
and an image located in an opposite side to the face of the user
can be photographed at the same time under a state that the digital
camera or the portable telephone having the digital camera is held
by a hand.
[0013] Further, it is a third object of the present invention to
provide a digital camera and a portable telephone equipped with
a digital camera in which while the digital camera or the portable
telephone having the digital camera is held by a hand, an image
located in the side of the face of a user holding the portable telephone
and an image located in an opposite side of the face of the user
can be photographed as a synthesized image.
[0014] Further, it is a fourth object of the present invention
to realize a function for completing a camera mode only by closing
a casing member of a foldable portable telephone under a state that
the camera mode is operated and operating again the camera mode
only by directly opening the casing member so that a shutter chance
is not missed.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0015] In order to solve the above-described first problem, a digital
camera according to the present invention comprises: a first camera
provided on a first surface of a casing member; a second camera
provided on a second surface in the back side of the first surface
of the casing member; and a camera selecting unit for selecting
a photographing camera to photograph an image by selecting the photographing
camera.
[0016] With the above-described structure employed, while a user
holds a digital camera or a portable telephone equipped with a digital
camera by a hand, the user can selectively photograph an image located
in the side of the face of the user and an image located in an opposite
side to the face of the user without turning out the digital camera
or the portable telephone having the digital camera.
[0017] Further, in order to solve the above-described second problem,
both the first camera and the second camera are selected by the
camera selecting unit to photograph images by both the first camera
and the second camera at the same time.
[0018] Thus, under the state that the digital camera or the portable
camera having the digital camera is held by a hand, the image located
in the side of the face of the user and the image located in the
opposite side to the face of the user can be photographed at the
same time.
[0019] In order to solve the above-described third problem, an
image synthesizing unit is further provided for synthesizing the
images photographed by the first camera and the second camera to
photograph the synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the images
photographed by the first camera and the second camera.
[0020] Thus, a synthesized photograph can be obtained in which
the image located in the side of the face of the user is synthesized
with the image located in the opposite side to the face of the user
as one image.
[0021] Further, for solving the above-described fourth problem,
in a foldable portable telephone equipped with a digital camera
on which a digital camera is mounted according to the present invention,
under a state that a camera mode is operated by a camera mode setting
unit, when an opening and closing detecting unit detects that a
casing member of the foldable portable telephone is closed, a camera
mode completing unit completes the camera mode. However, when the
opening and closing detecting unit detects that the casing member
of the foldable portable telephone is opened without an input of
other signal, the camera mode is operated again by the camera mode
setting unit.
[0022] Thus, while the camera mode is operated, only when the casing
member of the foldable portable telephone is closed, the camera
mode is completed. Further, only when the casing member is directly
opened, the camera mode is operated again to prevent a shutter chance
from being missed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a portable telephone
equipped with a digital camera according to a first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the portable telephone
having the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a conceptual view showing a using state of the
portable telephone having the digital camera according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is an external appearance view when the portable
telephone having the digital camera according to the first embodiment
of the present invention is opened;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a conceptual view showing a using state of a portable
telephone equipped with a digital camera according to a second embodiment
of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 is an external appearance view of the portable telephone
having the digital camera according to the second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is an external appearance view of the portable telephone
having the digital camera according to the second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 8 is an external appearance view of a portable telephone
equipped with a digital camera according to a third embodiment of
the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 9 is an external appearance view of the portable telephone
having the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the
present invention;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a camera mode of a portable telephone
equipped with a digital camera according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a camera mode of a portable telephone
equipped with a digital camera according to a fourth embodiment
of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a camera mode of a portable telephone
equipped with a digital camera according to a fifth embodiment of
the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 13 is an external appearance view of the portable telephone
having the digital camera according to the fifth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0036] FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional view of a portable telephone
equipped with a digital camera according to a sixth embodiment of
the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view of a portable telephone
equipped with a digital camera according to a seventh embodiment
of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 16 is a schematic sectional view of a usual portable
telephone equipped with a digital camera; and
[0039] FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of the usual portable
telephone having the digital camera.
[0040] In the drawings, reference numeral 1 designates a first
liquid crystal display part. 2 designates a second liquid crystal
display part. 3 designates a connecting flexible board. 4 designates
a driver circuit. 9 designates a back light. 18 designates a control
part. 19 designates a memory. 23 designates a first camera. 24 designates
a second camera. 41 designates a memory part. 42 designates a display
switching part. 212 designates a first casing member. 213 designates
a hinge. 214 designates a second casing member. 215 designates a
main body board. 217 designates a key operating part. 219 designates
a memory. 220 designates a radio part. 221 designates an opening
and closing detecting unit. 223 designates a microphone. 224 designates
a receiver. 310 designates a holder.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0041] A digital camera according to the present invention includes:
a first camera provided on a first surface of a casing member; a
second camera provided on a second surface in the back side of the
first surface of the casing member; a control unit for controlling
the photographing operations of the first camera and the second
camera; a camera selecting unit for selecting a photographing camera;
a camera shutter unit; a monitor unit; and an image storing unit.
Thus, the photographing camera is selected by the camera selecting
unit to photograph an image.
[0042] According to this structure, under a state that the digital
camera is held by a hand, an image located in the side of the face
of a user and an image located in an opposite side to the face of
the user can be selectively photographed without turning out the
digital camera.
[0043] Further, in the digital camera according to the present
invention, both the first camera and the second camera are selected
by the camera selecting unit to photograph images by both the first
camera and the second camera at the same time.
[0044] According to this structure, under a state that the digital
camera is held by a hand, an image located in the side of the face
of a user and an image located in an opposite side to the face of
the user can be photographed at the same time.
[0045] Further, in the digital camera according to the preset invention,
an image synthesizing unit is further provided for synthesizing
the images photographed by the first camera and the second camera
in addition to the above-described structure to photograph the synthesized
image obtained by synthesizing the images photographed by the first
camera and the second camera.
[0046] According to this structure, a synthesized photograph can
be obtained in which the image located in the side of the face of
the user is synthesized with the image located in the opposite side
to the face of the user as one image.
[0047] Further, in the digital camera according to the present
invention, one screen of the monitor unit is divided into a first
display area and a second display area to display all part or a
part of the image photographed by the first camera in the first
display area and display all part or a part of the image photographed
by the second camera in the second display area. The images photographed
by the first camera and the second camera that are displayed on
the monitor unit are photographed as the synthesized image.
[0048] According to this structure, all part or a part of the image
photographed by the first camera can be displayed in the first display
area and all part or a part of the image photographed by the second
camera can be displayed in the second display area.
[0049] Further, in the digital camera according to the present
invention, the monitor unit is formed with a first liquid crystal
display part and a second liquid crystal display part. The first
liquid crystal display part is provided in the surface side of the
casing member in which the first camera is provided. The second
liquid crystal display part is provided in the surface side of the
casing member in which the second camera is provided. The image
photographed by the first camera or the second camera is displayed
on the first liquid crystal display part or the second liquid crystal
display part of the monitor unit.
[0050] According to this structure, the image photographed by the
first camera or the second camera can be viewed on the first liquid
crystal display part or the second liquid crystal display part of
the monitor unit.
[0051] Further, in the digital camera according to the present
invention, a moving image is photographed by the first camera or
the second camera to store the moving image in the image storing
unit.
[0052] According to this structure, under a state that the digital
camera is held by a hand, a moving image located in the side of
the face of the user and a moving image located in the opposite
side to the face of the user can be photographed without turning
out the digital camera.
[0053] Further, a portable telephone with a digital camera according
to the present invention has a structure as the portable telephone
equipped with a digital camera on which any of the above-described
digital cameras is mounted. According to this structure, under a
state that the portable telephone having the digital camera is held
by a hand, an image located in the side of the face of the user
and an image located in the opposite side to the face of the user
can be photographed without turning out the portable telephone having
the digital camera.
[0054] Further, a foldable portable telephone equipped with a digital
camera on which a digital camera is mounted according to the present
invention comprises: a camera mode setting unit; a camera mode completing
unit; and an opening and closing detecting unit. Under a state that
a camera mode is operated by the camera mode setting unit, when
the opening and closing detecting unit detects that a casing member
of the foldable portable telephone is closed, the camera mode completing
unit completes the camera mode. However, when the opening and closing
detecting unit detects that the casing member of the foldable portable
telephone is opened without an input of other signal, the camera
mode is operated again by the camera mode setting unit.
[0055] Thus, while the camera mode is operated, only when the casing
member of the foldable portable telephone is closed, the camera
mode is completed. Further, only when the casing member is directly
opened, the camera mode is operated again to prevent a shutter chance
from being missed.
[0056] Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described
by referring to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0057] FIG. 1 sows a schematic sectional view of a portable telephone
equipped with a digital camera according to a first embodiment of
the present invention. The structure of the portable telephone 100
equipped with the digital camera of the present invention shown
in FIG. 1 is greatly different from the structure of the existing
example from the viewpoint that two cameras and two liquid crystal
display parts are provided in a second casing member 214. However,
many parts of the portable telephone 100 having the digital camera
are the same as those of the usual example explained by referring
to FIG. 16 as well as the basic structures of the first casing member
212 and the second casing member 214. Thus, the same parts are designated
by the same reference numerals and an explanation thereof is omitted.
[0058] In FIG. 1, a back light 9 is fitted to a first recessed
part 311 of a holder 310 to which a plurality of liquid crystal
display parts are attached. A first liquid crystal display part
1 is fitted to a second recessed part 312 of the holder 310 in the
upper part of the back light 9. In the first liquid crystal display
part 1, a driver circuit 4 is provided. A connecting flexible board
3 is connected to one end of the first liquid crystal display part
1 and a second liquid crystal display part 2 is connected to the
end of the connecting flexible board 3. The second liquid crystal
display device 2 is added to the first liquid crystal display part
1 through the connecting flexible board 3. Both the liquid crystal
display parts are driven by the driver circuit 4. The connecting
flexible board 3 is bent in a U shape from the first liquid crystal
display part of the holder 310 to the second liquid crystal display
part to fit the second liquid crystal display part 2 connected to
the end of the connecting flexible board 3 to a third recessed part
313 of the holder 310. In the holder 310, a hole part 314 corresponding
to the size of the second liquid crystal display part 2 is opened
to allow the light of the back light 9 to pass to the second liquid
crystal display part 2. Then, an end part 1a of the first liquid
crystal display part 1 and an end part 9a of the back light 9 are
respectively connected to a controlling flexible board 216 whose
end branches. The controlling flexible board 216 is connected to
a main body board 215 of a first casing member 212. As described
above, in the portable telephone 100 having the digital camera of
the present invention, a liquid crystal display device in the second
casing member 214 has a structure that the back light 9, the first
liquid crystal display part 1 and the second liquid crystal display
part 2 integrally formed with the first liquid crystal display part
1 by the connecting flexible board 3 are respectively fitted to
the first recessed part 311, the second recessed part 312 and the
third recessed part 313 of the holder 310 to assemble one liquid
crystal display unit.
[0059] Particularly, in the second casing member 214, a first camera
23 and a second camera 24 are respectively provided in the first
liquid crystal display part side and the second liquid crystal display
part side. The first camera 23 and the second camera 24 are respectively
connected to the controlling flexible board 216 whose end branches,
which is not shown in the drawing.
[0060] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the portable telephone
100 having the digital camera according to the first embodiment
of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the portable telephone 100
having the digital camera of the present invention is greatly different
from the existing example from the viewpoint that two cameras and
two liquid crystal display parts are provided. However, many parts
of the portable telephone 100 having the digital camera are the
same as those of the usual example. Thus, the same parts are designated
by the same reference numerals and an explanation thereof is omitted.
[0061] In FIG. 2, the first liquid crystal display part 1 and the
second liquid crystal display part 2 are driven by the one driver
circuit 4. In the driver circuit 4, a display switching part 42
is provided as well as a memory part 41. The display switching part
42 switches whether image information that is read from a memory
19 of the main body board, a below-described memory 27 for the first
camera, a memory 28 for the second camera or a memory 29 for a synthesized
photograph and stored in the memory part 41 by a control part 18
is displayed on the first liquid crystal display part 1, or on the
second liquid crystal display part 2 or on both the first liquid
crystal display part and the second liquid crystal display part
at the same time. Driver circuits may be respectively provided for
the first liquid crystal display part 1 and the second liquid crystal
display part 2 to drive the liquid crystal display parts.
[0062] To the control part 18, the first camera 23 and the second
camera 24 are connected except the above-described members. The
control part 18 controls a camera photographing operation in accordance
with an operating signal inputted from a key operating part 217.
The image information photographed by the first camera 23 and the
second camera 24 is stored respectively in the memory 27 for the
first camera and the memory 28 for the second camera so as to be
readable. The control part 18 not only controls the photographing
operations of the first camera 23 and the second camera 24, but
also combines the image information stored in the memory 27 for
the first camera and the memory 28 for the second camera to form
image information for a synthesized photograph and stores the image
information for the synthesized photograph in the memory 29 for
the synthesized photograph so as to be readable. The memory 27 for
the first camera, the memory 28 for the second camera and the memory
29 for the synthesized photograph are not shown in FIG. 1, however,
these memories may be provided on the main body board 215 like the
memory 19 or may be arranged near the first camera 23 or the second
camera 24 in the second casing member 214 and respectively connected
to the cameras so that an image signal does not affect a radio part
220. In the memory 19, telephone directory information is stored
as well as photographing frames. As the telephone directory information,
telephone numbers of persons registered in a telephone directory
and the photographs of the faces of the persons registered in the
telephone directory are correlated to each other and stored.
[0063] FIG. 3 shows a conceptual view of a using state of the portable
telephone 100 having the digital camera according to the first embodiment
of the present invention. In FIG. 3, a person A 30 who is a user
of the portable telephone 100 having the digital camera holds the
first casing member 212 by a hand and opens the second casing member
214 to input a camera mode selecting signal to a key operating part
217 and set a mode to a camera mode. Then, the user A 30 selects
the first camera 23 to view the face of the user himself or herself
displayed for a monitor on the first liquid crystal display part
1 having the first camera 23 and press a shutter button serving
as a camera shutter assigned to a key of the key operating part
217. Thus, the user can photograph the face of himself or herself.
[0064] Then, while the user A 30 holds the first casing member
212 of the portable telephone 100 having the digital camera by the
hand, when the user selects the second camera 24 as a camera for
photographing an image, the landscape of a remote mountain caught
by the second camera 24 is displayed for a monitor on the first
liquid crystal display part 1 on which the face of the user himself
or herself has been just displayed as the monitor. Thus, the user
A 30 can photograph the landscape of the remote mountain by pressing
the camera shutter assigned to the key operating part 217.
[0065] As described above, when the user A 30 photographs the face
of the user himself or herself, the user selects the first camera
23 to display the monitor image obtained by photographing the face
of the user himself or herself on the first liquid crystal display
part 1 and photograph the face of the user himself or herself. When
the user photographs a remote landscape, the user selects the second
camera 24, so that the user can view the monitor image of the remote
landscape displayed on the same first liquid crystal display part
1 to photograph the remote landscape.
[0066] FIG. 4 is an external appearance view of the portable telephone
100 having the digital camera when the user selects the first camera
23 and the second camera 24 to photograph the face of the user and
the remote landscape respectively and the user synthesizes the image
302 of the face of the user stored in the memory 27 for the first
camera and the image of the landscape stored in the memory 28 for
the second camera by the control part 18 to store the synthesized
image as a synthesized photograph in the memory 29 for a synthesized
photograph, and then, read and display the synthesized photograph.
In such a way, the remote landscape and the face of the user himself
or herself who views the landscape can be respectively photographed
and both the images can be synthesized as the synthesized photograph
after both the images are photographed.
[0067] In photographing an image by the first camera 23 and the
second camera 24, only one camera can be selected or both the cameras
can be selected as a camera for photographing an image by using
the key operating part 217. Accordingly, the user can firstly photograph
the face of the user himself or herself, then photograph the landscape
of the remote mountain and synthesize the photographed images later.
Otherwise, the user can photograph the face of the user himself
or herself and the landscape of the remote mountain at the same
time to obtain a synthesized photograph.
[0068] As described above, in the present invention, the first
camera 23 and the second camera 24 are mounted on the front surface
and the back surface of the second casing member 214 to provide
in the control part 18 a function for synthesizing the image information
photographed by the first camera 23 and the image information photographed
by the second camera 24 and storing the synthesized image information
in the memory 29 for the synthesized photograph.
Second Embodiment
[0069] Now, a portable telephone equipped with a digital camera
according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be
described below. FIG. 5 is a conceptual view showing a state that
the face of a person A 30 is attempted to be photographed by using
a first camera 23 of the portable telephone 100 having the digital
camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention
and the face of a person B 31 is attempted to be photographed by
using a second camera 24 at the same time. The person A 30 holds
a first casing member 212 of the portable telephone 100 having the
digital camera by a hand to open a second casing member 214 and
direct the first camera 23 to the face of the person A 30 himself
or herself. Then, the second camera 24 is directed toward the person
B 31. At this time, the portable telephone 100 having the digital
camera simultaneously displays all part or a part of images caught
by the first camera 23 and the second camera 24 on both a first
liquid crystal display part 1 and a second liquid crystal display
part 2 directly by a display switching part 42 of a driver circuit
4 as monitor images.
[0070] FIG. 6 is an external appearance view of the portable telephone
100 having the digital camera depicted so as to show the second
liquid crystal display part 2. FIG. 7 is an external appearance
view of the portable telephone 100 having the digital camera depicted
so as to show the first liquid crystal display part 1. In FIG. 6,
a monitor image 302 of the person A is displayed on the right half
part of the second liquid crystal display part 2 and a monitor image
312 of the person B is displayed on a left half part.
[0071] In FIG. 7, the monitor image 302 of the person A is likewise
displayed on the right half part of the first liquid crystal display
part 1 and the monitor image 312 of the person B is displayed on
the left half part. As described above, the display of the monitor
image formed by synthesizing both the images of the persons A and
B is viewed at the same time so that a photograph having two persons
standing side by side can be simply formed at good timing.
[0072] When the display of the monitor image in which the images
of both the persons A and B are combined together is viewed to press
a shutter button assigned to a key operating part 217, the image
information of the person A photographed by the first camera 23
is stored in a memory 27 for the first camera. The image information
of the person B photographed by the second camera 24 is stored in
a memory 28 for the second camera. The image information of a synthesized
photograph formed by synthesizing both the images of the persons
A and B is stored in a memory 29 for a synthesized photograph. A
user may previously set by the key operating part 217 so that image
information photographed by viewing the display of the monitor image
having both the images of the persons A and B synthesized is stored
only in, for instance, the memory 29 for the synthesized photograph.
Third Embodiment
[0073] Now, a portable telephone equipped with a digital camera
according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be
described below. FIGS. 8 and 9 show external appearance views of
the portable telephone having the digital camera according to the
third embodiment of the present invention in which the information
of an image photographed by one camera is displayed in a display
area of a frame of a prescribed form at a prescribed position. FIG.
8 is an external appearance view depicted so as to show a second
liquid crystal display part 2. FIG. 9 is an external appearance
view depicted so as to show a first liquid crystal display part
1. In FIGS. 8 and 9, an image 302 of a person A that is displayed
in a first display area 362 is synthesized with a monitor image
312 of a person B that is fitted to a second display area 372 of
a heart form. When the display of a monitor image in which both
the images of the persons A and B are synthesized is viewed to press
a shutter button assigned to a key operating part 217, the information
of the image of the person A photographed by a first camera 23 is
stored in a memory 27 for the first camera, and the information
of the image of the person B photographed by a second camera 24
is stored in a memory 28 for the second camera. The image information
of a synthesized photograph in which the images of the persons A
and B are synthesized is stored in a memory 29 for a synthesized
photograph in the same manner as that of the second embodiment as
already described above.
[0074] The form and the position of the second display area 372
are not shown in the drawing, however, many kinds of frames for
fitting photographs are previously stored in a memory 219 so as
to be selected by using the key operating part 217.
[0075] FIG. 10 shows a basic control procedure as a flowchart when
an image is photographed by the camera of the portable telephone
having the digital camera according to the present invention as
described above. Initially, a user (a photographer) who holds the
portable telephone 100 having the digital camera turns on a power
switch of the key operating part 217 (step 101). Then, a camera
mode selecting signal is inputted by the key operating part 217
to operate a camera mode by a control part 18 (step 102). Then,
an inquiry screen showing whether or not a photograph fitting frame
is used in the first liquid crystal display part 1 of a second casing
member 214 is displayed. Thus, when the photograph fitting frame
is not used, No (N) is selected (step 103).
[0076] Then, an inquiry screen showing which of cameras is used
to photograph an image is also displayed on the first liquid crystal
display part 1. Thus, the first camera 23, the second camera 24
or both the cameras are selected (step 104). Then, in accordance
with a selected result (step 105), a monitor image by the selected
camera is displayed on the first liquid crystal display part 1 (step
106, step 107, step 108). The monitor image may be switched to be
displayed on the second liquid crystal display part 2 by using the
key operating part 217 as required. The user views the monitor image
to press the shutter button assigned to a ten key button of the
key operating part 217 and photograph the image (step 109). The
photographed image is stored in the memory 27 for the first camera
used for a photographing operation, the memory 28 for the second
camera or the memory 29 for the synthesized photograph (step 110).
[0077] When the photographing operation is continuously carried
out (step 111), the procedure returns to the step 103. When the
photographing operation is not continuously carried out, that is,
when the photographing operation is finished, a camera mode completing
signal is inputted from the key operating part 217 to complete the
camera mode (step 112). In the step 103, a case that the photograph
fitting frame for fitting the image is used is not described. This
will be described below.
Fourth Embodiment
[0078] Now, a portable telephone equipped with a digital camera
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be
described below. In the portable telephone having the digital camera
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, when
an opening and closing detecting unit 221 detects a signal showing
that a second casing member 214 is closed under a camera mode, the
camera mode is finished. When the opening and closing detecting
unit detects a signal showing that the second casing member 214
is opened without a direct input of other signal, a mode is returned
again to the camera mode.
[0079] FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of an operation of the portable
telephone having the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment
of the present invention. Steps the same as those of FIG. 10 are
designated by the same step numbers. For the purpose of simplifying
an explanation, steps 105 to 108 are not described.
[0080] A user (a photographer) who holds the portable telephone
100 having the digital camera turns on a power switch of a key operating
part 217 (step 101). Then, the user inputs a camera mode selecting
signal by the key operating part 217 to operate a camera mode by
a control part 18 (step 102). When the user does not use a photograph
fitting frame (step 103), the user selects a camera for photographing
an image (step 104). The user views a monitor image to press a shutter
button assigned to a ten key button of the key operating part 217
and photograph the image (step 109). The photographed image is stored
in a memory 27 for a first camera used for a photographing operation,
a memory 28 for a second camera or a memory 29 for a synthesized
photograph (step 110).
[0081] When the photographing operation is continuously carried
out (step 111), the procedure returns to the step 103. When the
photographing operation is not continuously carried out, a camera
mode completing signal is inputted (step 114) from the key operating
part 217 to complete the camera mode (step 115). In the step 114,
when the second casing member 214 is closed (step 116) in place
of inputting the camera mode completing signal, the camera mode
is completed (step 117). When the second casing member 214 is opened
(step 118) without inputting other signal, a mode returns again
to the camera mode (step 119) so that the procedure can return to
the step 103.
[0082] The procedure may be controlled not to return to the step
103 from the step 119 but to return to the step 109 from the step
1 19. In FIG. 1 1, when it is detected that the second casing member
214 is closed after the image is photographed once, the camera mode
is completed. However, when it is detected that the second casing
member 214 is closed after the mode is set to the camera mode in
the step 102, the procedure may jump to the step 117 to complete
the camera mode. As described above, the second casing member is
closed to complete the camera mode after the camera mode is operated
once, and then, the second casing member is opened to return to
the camera mode. Accordingly, the image can be immediately photographed
so that a shutter chance is not missed with advantage.
Fifth Embodiment
[0083] Now, a portable telephone equipped with a digital camera
according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be
described. In the portable telephone having the digital camera according
to the fifth embodiment, when an image is photographed by a first
camera 23 or a second camera 24, a using method is realized in which
photograph fitting frames stored in a memory 19 are read to sequentially
fit photographed images in blank frames.
[0084] FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of an operation. A user of the
portable telephone having the digital camera turns on a power of
the portable telephone having the digital camera (step 201), and
then inputs a camera mode selecting signal by a key operating part
217 to set a mode to a camera mode (step 202). Then, the user reads
the photograph fitting frames stored in the memory 19 to select
favorite frames, for instance, frames having three blank heart shaped
frames as shown in FIG. 13 (step 203). Then, the blank frame to
which an image to be photographed is desired to be fitted is inputted
by the key operating part 217 to specify the blank frame. Here,
an explanation is given on the assumption that an upper left frame
shown in FIG. 13 is specified (step 204). Then, a camera is selected
(step 205) to view a monitor image displayed on a first liquid crystal
display part 1, press a shutter button assigned to the key operating
part 217 and photograph the image (step 206). In an example shown
in FIG. 13, the image information of a synthesized photograph in
which the photographed image is fitted to the upper left heart-shaped
frame is stored in a memory 29 for a synthesized photograph (step
207). In the monitor display of the first liquid crystal display
part 1, the photographed image is displayed on one frame. Thus,
a procedure from the step 204 to the step 207 is performed so that
photographed images can be successively fitted to the blank frames.
When all the blank frames are not immediately filled with the photographed
images, the camera mode is finished once (step 209). Subsequently,
the mode is set again to the camera mode in the future (step 202)
to read the stored frames from the memory 29 for the synthesized
photograph (203). The procedure from the steps 204 to 207 is performed
so that images to be newly photographed can be fitted to the blank
frames.
Sixth Embodiment
[0085] Now, a portable telephone equipped with a digital camera
according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be
described below. In the first to fifth embodiments of the portable
telephone having the digital camera according to the present invention,
a foldable portable telephone is described as an example. However,
the present invention can be applied to a portable telephone except
the foldable portable telephone.
[0086] FIG. 14 shows an example in which the present invention
is applied to what is called a slide type portable telephone 300
equipped with a digital camera constructed in such a way that a
second casing member 314 including a first camera 23 and a second
camera 24 provided in front and back surfaces is allowed to slide
relative to a first casing member 312. The second casing member
314 slides upward and downward relative to the first casing member
312 as shown by arrow marks in the drawing. The first camera 23
and the second camera 24 are mounted on the front and back surfaces
of the second casing member 314. This structure is the same as the
structure that is already described in the first embodiment shown
in FIG. 1.
[0087] A first liquid crystal display part 1 and a back light 9
are connected to a slide contact 316. The first camera 23 and the
second camera 24 are connected to the slide contact 316, which is
not shown in the drawing. A fixed contact 317 is provided in the
first casing member 312. The fixed contact 317 is connected to a
main body board 215 by wiring 318. The slide contact 316 has a resiliency
and freely slides while the slide contact remains coming into contact
with the fixed contact 317 under a prescribed pressure. The sliding
state of the second casing member 314 is detected by a magnet 222
and an opening and closing detecting unit 221. While the second
casing member 314 protrudes, an image photographed by the first
camera 23 or the second camera 24 is displayed on the first liquid
crystal display part 1 or a second liquid crystal display part 2.
[0088] In the slide type portable telephone 300 having the digital
camera according to the present invention, since a photographing
camera can be selected while the portable telephone is held by a
hand, an image in the face side of a user and an image opposite
to the face of the user can be effectively selectively photographed
without shifting the portable telephone from one hand to the other
hand or turning out the portable telephone in accordance with an
object to be photographed.
Seventh Embodiment
[0089] Now, a portable telephone equipped with a digital camera
according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will
be described below. FIG. 15 shows an example in which the present
invention is applied to what is called a straight type portable
telephone 400 equipped with a digital camera. A first camera 23
and a second camera 24 are mounted on the front and back surfaces
of a casing member 412. This structure is the same as the already
described structure of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0090] In the straight type portable telephone 400 according to
the seventh embodiment of the present invention, an effect that
one or both of a plurality of cameras provided in the front and
back surfaces of the casing member can be simply selected as a photographing
camera or an effect that a synthesized photograph can be easily
taken can be obtained similarly to a case that the present invention
is applied to the above-described foldable portable telephone 100
or the slide type portable telephone 300.
[0091] In the above-described explanation, the portable telephone
having the digital camera is shown as the embodiments. However,
in a recent portable telephone, a portable telephone having a switch
for turning off a power of a radio part is put to practical use.
Since the portable telephone having the digital camera in which
the power of the radio part is turned off may be considered to be
the substantially same as the digital camera, the present invention
can be applied to the digital camera itself in which a function
of the portable telephone is removed.
[0092] The present invention is described in detail by referring
to the specific embodiments. However, it is to be understood to
a person with ordinary skill in the art that various changes or
modifications may be made without departing the spirit and scope
of the present invention.
[0093] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application
No. 2002-309348 filed on Oct. 24, 2002 and the contents thereof
are incorporated therein as a reference.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0094] As described above, according to the present invention,
a photographing camera is selected, so that while a user holds a
digital camera or a portable telephone equipped with a digital camera
by a hand, the user can selectively photograph an image located
in the side of the face of the user and an image located in an opposite
side to the face of the user without turning out the digital camera
or the portable telephone having the digital camera. Further, the
image located in the side of the face of the user and the image
located in the opposite side to the face of the user can be photographed
at the same time.
[0095] Further, the image located in the side of the face of the
user who holds the portable telephone and the image located in the
opposite side to the face of the user, which are photographed by
holding the digital camera or the portable telephone having the
digital camera by a hand, can be photographed as a synthesized image.
[0096] Further, one screen of the monitor unit can be divided into
the first display area and the second display area to display all
or a part of the image photographed by the first camera on the first
display area and display all or a part of the image photographed
by the second camera on the second display area.
[0097] Further, the images photographed by the first camera and
the second camera can be respectively viewed at the same time from
the first liquid crystal display part and the second liquid crystal
display part of the monitor unit.
[0098] Further, while the user holds the digital camera or the
portable telephone having the digital camera by the hand, the user
can photograph a moving image located in the side of the face of
the user and a moving image located in the opposite side to the
face of the user without turning out the digital camera or the portable
telephone having the digital camera.
[0099] Further, according to the present invention, while the camera
mode is operated, only when the casing member of the foldable portable
telephone is closed, the camera mode is completed. Further, only
when the casing member is directly opened, the camera mode can be
effectively operated again to prevent a shutter chance from being
missed with good maneuverability. |