HK1057145B - Portable electronic device - Google Patents

Description

Portable electronic device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus having a photographing function, and more particularly, to a portable electronic apparatus such as a portable cellular phone equipped with an electronic camera preferably used when an operator (photographer) photographs himself/herself.

Background

The present invention claims priority to Japanese patent application No. 2001-401963, filed on 28.12.2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Recently, portable electronic devices such as portable cellular phones have not only an original function for telephone conversation (voice communication) but also a function of performing data communication. That is, the portable electronic device has a browser and/or a mail program so as to be able to access a homepage via the internet, send or receive an e-mail, so that the user can enjoy the internet connection service and/or the e-mail service gently regardless of the time and/or place.

Further, in recent years, portable cellular phones equipped with electronic cameras have been disclosed, for example, in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2000-295323, which is widely used. In the disclosed portable cellular phone, the sender can send an electronic mail to which a picture of the sender's face and/or scenery around the sender is attached as image data, and the recipient can confirm the sender using the image data displayed on the display of the portable cellular phone.

A portable cellular phone having a photographing function, such as a foldable portable cellular phone 101 shown in fig. 24, has a small mirror portion 104 placed on the side of an electronic camera lens window 103 on the back of a housing 102 for framing when an operator photographs himself/herself. When taking a picture of himself/herself, the operator takes the portable cellular phone 101 so that the image of the operator can be seen from the mirror portion 104, and checks whether the image of the operator deviates from the area where the picture can be successfully obtained by observing the image of the operator appearing in the mirror portion 104.

However, the conventional foldable cellular phone 101 has a problem that the above-described concave-convex shape of the mirror portion 104 is very awkward from the design point of view, and the mirror portion 104 is particularly protruded due to the presence of specular reflection, and is not aesthetically pleasing when not used as a mirror. Further, the conventional foldable cellular phone 101 has another problem that its mirror portion 104 is installed only in a small area of the back of the foldable cellular phone 101 from an aesthetic point of view, and thus is not conspicuous, it is difficult to precisely check the distance at which a clear picture is obtained, and it is impossible to reliably take a desired picture at all times.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic apparatus which does not give an operator (photographer) an awkward feeling from a design (aesthetic) point of view, but a good feeling, which enables the operator to know in which area a photographing will succeed or to know the position of a subject of photographing, preventing the operator from failing to take a photograph.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a portable electronic device comprising:

a camera for photographing a subject;

a composition determining mirror for viewing the photographic subject therethrough to determine a photographic composition of the photographic subject; and

the electro-optically controlled switch is used to selectively place the constituent defining mirrors in either a reflective or non-reflective state.

In the foregoing, a preferable embodiment is one in which the composition determining mirror has a specular reflector, alternately appearing or hidden under electro-optic control.

Also, a preferable mode is one in which an optical control layer is installed in front of the specular reflector, and under electro-optical control, into a transparent state through which incident light can pass, or into a light-shielding state, the incident light is absorbed or scattered.

Further, it is preferable that an optical control layer is installed in front of the specular reflector to control its light transmittance in accordance with a voltage applied thereto.

Also, it is a preferable solution to constitute therein the optical control layer so that the microcapsules in which the liquid crystal is sealed are dispersed in the base material.

Also, a preferable mode is one in which the composition determining mirror is placed on the side of the lens irradiated with the incident light from the subject to be photographed, and is used when the person taking a picture himself/herself or an object behind the person taking a picture is taken.

Further, a preferable mode is one which comprises a display unit capable of displaying characters and/or images, a mirror reflector serving as a composition determining mirror as needed, and a control unit controlling the display unit to bring a portion to be photographed in all regions of the mirror reflector into a state of being displayed.

Further, it is preferable that the display unit is composed of a mirror reflector having a plurality of pixels (picture elements) behind a liquid crystal panel, and the control unit brings a part or all of the area of the display unit into a light transmitting state, brings a part or all of the area of the mirror reflector into a appearing state at the time of photographing, and mainly causes the display unit to display characters and/or images at the time of non-photographing.

Further, it is preferable that the optical control layer is interposed between the liquid crystal panel and the specular reflector, and the control unit is configured to bring the optical control layer into a light transmitting state mainly when taking a picture and into a light shielding state mainly when not taking a picture.

Also, a preferable mode is one in which the surface light-emitting device is in front of the liquid crystal panel.

Also, a preferable mode is one in which the control unit brings a part or all of the specular reflector into the appearing state, thereby determining (a part of) the photographing region by the photographer.

Also, a preferable mode is one in which the control unit brings an area of the specular reflector into the appearing state according to the type of the camera lens.

Also, a preferable mode includes:

the display unit has a liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of pixels capable of displaying characters and/or images, a semi-transparent mirror (semi-reflecting mirror) layer on the rear of the liquid crystal panel, and a surface light emitting device on the rear of the semi-transparent mirror layer, serving as a composition determining mirror at the same time when necessary; and

the control unit controls the display unit, mainly enables pixels in a part of or all areas of the display unit to enter a light-transmitting state when photographing is carried out, and mainly displays characters and/or images when photographing is not carried out.

Further, a preferable mode is one including a display unit provided with a liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of pixels capable of displaying characters and/or images, an optical control layer in front of the liquid crystal panel, a semi-transparent mirror layer in front of the optical control layer, surface light emitting means in back of the liquid crystal panel as a composition determining mirror when necessary, and a control unit for controlling the display unit, the optical control layer being brought into a light shielding state mainly at the time of photographing and displaying characters and/or images mainly at the time of not photographing, the optical control layer being brought into a light transmitting state.

Also, a preferable mode is one including a foldable case composed of an upper case and a lower case, which are connected to each other by a hinge portion.

Also, a preferable mode is one in which a first display unit is on the inner side of the casing when the casing is closed and a second display unit is on the outer side of the casing, and at least one of the first and second display units is also used as a composition determining mirror when necessary.

Also, a preferred embodiment is one in which the display unit is placed in an area surrounding the lens window.

Further, it is preferable that the display device includes an opening and closing detecting means for detecting an opening and closing state of the casing, wherein the control unit controls the display unit in accordance with a detection signal sent from the opening and closing detecting means.

Also, a preferable mode is one in which the control unit brings the display unit into the reflective state at least when the housing is changed from the closed state to the open state.

In addition, a preferable scheme is to include a telephone conversation (voice communication) function and a data communication function.

With the above structure, the mirror for determining the composition of a photograph of a subject is brought into a reflecting state only when necessary, and thus the portable electronic device gives the operator a sense of no inconvenience but a good sense from an aesthetic point of view.

With another structure, since the operator can easily determine the picture composition of the photographic subject from the image of the photographic subject, which is in the appearing state at the time of photographing, has been viewed in the mirror reflector, the photographing area, or the position of the photographic subject can be confirmed, and thus failure of photographing can be prevented.

With still another structure, the display unit, which is used as a mirror to determine the composition of a photograph of a subject, can be used as a mirror only at the time of photographing and as a normal display device for displaying characters or images at the time of non-photographing.

Drawings

The above objects, advantages and features, and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with its housing in a closed state;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of a foldable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with its housing in an open state;

fig. 3 is a schematic view of a foldable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with its housing in an open state;

fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a foldable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the structure of an auxiliary display portion of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the foldable cellular phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating an operation of a foldable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8A is a schematic view illustrating an operation of the foldable cellular phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the auxiliary display portion is not a mirror portion, and fig. 8B is a schematic view illustrating an operation of the foldable cellular phone, in which the auxiliary display portion is a mirror;

fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a structure of a mirror portion of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a light control film structure in the mirror portion shown in FIG. 9;

fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a portable cellular phone according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 14 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the structure of a main display portion of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a portable cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 18 is a perspective view also illustrating the structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 19 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 20 is a sectional view showing the structure of an auxiliary display portion of the portable cellular phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 21 is a sectional view showing the structure of an auxiliary display portion of a portable cellular phone according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 22 is a sectional view showing the structure of an auxiliary display portion of a portable cellular phone employed in a modified example of the first embodiment;

fig. 23 is a perspective view showing a structure of a portable cellular phone employed in another modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 24 illustrates a conventional technique.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below using various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First embodiment

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with its housing in a closed state. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a foldable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with its housing in an open state. Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a foldable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with its housing in an open state. Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a foldable cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the structure of an auxiliary display portion of the foldable portable cellular phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the foldable cellular phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a schematic view illustrating an operation of the foldable cellular phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8A is a schematic view illustrating an operation of a foldable portable cellular phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which an auxiliary display portion is not provided as a mirror portion, and fig. 8B is a schematic view illustrating an operation of a foldable portable cellular phone, in which an auxiliary display portion is provided as a mirror.

A portable cellular phone (portable electronic device) 1 in a first embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3 has a foldable housing 2, and is capable of taking a picture with an embedded electronic camera, as well as performing data communication, browsing a homepage, and/or sending and receiving an electronic mail through a connection such as the internet, in addition to an original function for a telephone conversation (voice communication). In addition, the portable cellular phone 1 in the first embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 4 has a control section 3 for controlling each component of the main body of the portable cellular phone 1, a storage section 4 for storing a processing program to be executed by the control section 3 and/or various data and the like, an electronic camera section 5 for photographing a person and/or surrounding scenery and the like for transmission, an antenna 6 for transmitting and receiving radio waves, a wireless communication section 7 for modulating voice and/or data, transmitting as radio waves through the antenna 6, and receiving radio waves through the antenna 6, demodulating them to obtain voice and/or data, performing a telephone conversation or performing data communication according to a prescribed protocol, an operation section 8 composed of various operation keys and the like, a main display section (serving as the second display section) composed of a liquid crystal display on the inner surface when folded up A display unit) 9, which is placed on the outer surface of the portable telephone 1 when folded, is composed of a liquid crystal display, functions as a mirror when necessary, such as an auxiliary display portion 11 (a mirror for determining the composition of a photograph of a subject, a display unit, and a second display unit) for determining the composition of a photograph of a subject when an operator (photographer) takes a photograph of himself/herself, a speaker 12 for outputting sound, a microphone 13 for receiving sound, a power supply 14 composed of a battery or the like, and a signal arrival indicator lamp 15 for reminding, for example, the arrival of a signal.

The foldable housing 2 in the first embodiment shown in fig. 3 comprises an upper housing 17 and a lower housing 18, which are connected to each other by a hinge portion 16. The hinge portion 16 connects the upper housing 17 and the lower housing 18 so that they can freely rotate, so that the portable cellular phone 1 has a foldable structure.

The control section 3 executes various programs stored in the storage section 4, including a switch control program for switching the auxiliary display section 11 between a case where the auxiliary display section 11 is used as a normal display and a case where the auxiliary display section 11 is used as a mirror, a display control program for controlling the main display section 9, a browser for browsing a homepage as a program, a mail program for generating, sending and receiving e-mails as a program, and an e-mail program for controlling each component, managing information using various registers and/or flags included in the storage section 4.

The storage section 4 includes a semiconductor memory such as a ROM (read only memory), a RAM (random access memory) or the like, stores various programs such as a switch control program, a display control program or a program executed by the control section 3, and also stores various information including received information, image data obtained by photographing by the electronic camera section 5 or the like, and has various registers and flags for the control section 3 to execute the above programs. The on-off control program describes a program for controlling so that the auxiliary display section 11 can be used as a mirror in which all pixels are put into a light-transmitting state at the time of taking a picture, and the auxiliary display section 11 may not be used as a mirror and may be used to display, for example, the current time, a reminder of arrival of data and/or a message, other than the time at the time of taking a picture.

When the upper casing 17 is folded up, the electronic camera section 5 is mounted on the outer side surface of the portable cellular phone 1, and has a lens window 21 through which light from a subject enters, the camera lens 22 including, for example, a wide-angle lens around the lens window 21, an image pickup device 23 constituted by a CCD (charge coupled device) image receiving device for photoelectrically converting an image formed by the camera lens 22, outputting the image signal as an electric signal to an image processing section 24, AD (analog-to-digital) converting the image signal sent from the image receiving device 23, and image processing such as gamma correction, color-to-space conversion, and the like, and a shutter button 25 at the top end of the upper casing 17.

Further, the optical axis of the camera lens 22 is slightly inclined downward with respect to the normal direction of the surface of the auxiliary display section 11 outside the upper housing 17, and when an operator (photographer) photographs himself/herself, an area where the operator is a photographic subject is viewed in the auxiliary display section 11, thereby matching the mirror with the photographic area.

The operating portion 8 is placed on the inner surface of the lower casing 18 when folded. A photographing mode selection key 8a for selecting a photographing mode by which the electronic camera section 5 is controlled to photograph is provided on the inner surface of the lower housing 18; a mail mode selection button for generating, sending or receiving an electronic mail; a conversation mode selection button for performing a voice telephone conversation; a browsing mode selection key for operating a browsing program to browse a homepage; a clear button for switching from a photographing mode or the like to a standby mode, a waiting picture being displayed on the display screen, waiting for an operation, data and/or message to arrive; a power button; a ten-key pad for inputting numbers and the like; a cursor key for moving a cursor appearing on the display screen of the main display section 9 up, down, left, and right; and so on. The main display portion 9 is constituted by a liquid crystal display of a transparent type mounted on the inner surface of the folded upper casing 17.

As shown in fig. 5, the auxiliary display section 11 is located below the lens window 21, and is constituted by a liquid crystal display of a mirror reflection type whose planar shape is substantially rectangular. The auxiliary display section 11 has a liquid crystal panel 26 composed of a plurality of pixels, front lights (surface lighting devices 27 are placed on the front side of the liquid crystal panel 26 (i.e., the side facing the viewer on the auxiliary display section 11), and a mirror reflection plate (mirror reflection section) 28 placed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 26.

The liquid crystal panel 26 is a flat panel of, for example, a TFT (thin film transistor) type whose outer shape is a rectangle, and as shown in fig. 5, it has a TFT substrate 29 on which a plurality of thin film transistors and transparent pixel electrodes are formed, an opposing substrate 31 fixed so as to face the thin film transistor substrate 29, a distance between the opposing substrate 31 and the thin film transistor substrate 29 being several micrometers, a liquid crystal layer 32 sealed in the above space, a polarizing plate 33 placed on the front surface of the opposing substrate 31, and a quarter wave plate 34.

The front light (surface lighting device) 27 has a strip light irradiation source 35 constituted by a fluorescent lamp or the like for irradiating strip light, and a light guide plate 36 constituted by a light transmitting material, light from the strip light irradiation source 35a is irradiated thereon from its light entrance end face 36a, illumination light of a planar shape is irradiated on the liquid crystal panel 26 behind the front light (surface lighting device) 27 from the planar-shaped light irradiation surface 36b, and reflected light from the liquid crystal panel 26 is irradiated on one face of the prism face 36c from the side of the light irradiation surface 36b, on which parallel ridge groups each subjected to surface treatment to form a prism shape are formed.

In the auxiliary display portion 11, at the time of photographing, all pixels constituting the liquid crystal panel 26 are brought into a light transmitting state, and as a result, the operator can see the reflected light coming from the mirror reflection plate 28 while seeing the image of the subject within the photographing distance in an approximately rectangular area, and at the time of non-photographing, for example, arrival information such as data and/or a message at present is displayed. Here, the shape and size of the auxiliary display section 11 when used as a mirror correspond to a photographing distance at which a photographic subject is captured as image data.

Next, the operation of the portable cellular phone 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 6 to 8B. First, after the power is turned on, the control section 3 enters a standby mode, waits for an input operation by the operator and/or a notification of arrival of data and/or a message, and displays a standby screen on the main display section 9 as shown in fig. 8A, and at present, a data and/or message arrival notification and the like are displayed on the auxiliary display section 11 (step ST11, refer to fig. 6). In this state, when the operator presses the shooting mode selection key 8a to select the shooting mode (step ST12), the mode is changed to the shooting mode.

This operation causes the control section 3 to perform control so that all the pixels constituting the liquid crystal panel 26 are brought into a light-transmitting state (display white) (step ST13), and the operator can see the light reflected back from the mirror reflection plate 28. That is, as shown in fig. 8B, the auxiliary display section 11 is used as a mirror for viewing an image of a photographic subject.

Further, the control section 3 causes the main display section 9 to display the subject in front of the camera lens 22, and displays a message stating that the main display section 9 is currently in the photographing standby state, and photographing is enabled by pressing the shutter button 25.

If it is desired to take a picture of himself/herself, as shown in fig. 7, the operator takes the portable cellular phone 1, aligns the camera lens 22 with himself/herself, and determines the picture composition of the subject through the auxiliary display section 11 used as a mirror. That is, the operator adjusts the posture or the like of the portable cellular phone 1 so that his/her face appears to be appropriate in size and position. After the operator determines the picture composition of the photographic subject and confirms the photographing area, the operator presses the shutter button 25 (step ST 14). Further, at this time, the control section 3 sends a predetermined sound signal to the microphone 13 to generate a shutter sound.

When the captured image data is received from the image processing section 24, the control section 3 stores it in the storage section 4 (step ST15) and displays an image on the main display section 9 based on the image data. Then, if the operator wants to send an electronic mail with a photograph taken for himself/herself, for example, to a friend, by pressing a mail mode selection key in the operation section 8 to make it enter a mail mode for transmission, the control section 3 transmits the captured image data to the other portable cellular phone designated by the operator through the wireless communication section 7.

Thus, according to the portable cellular phone of the first embodiment, since the auxiliary display portion 11 can be used only as a mirror at the time of taking a picture and displays, for example, the current time or the like as a normal display at the time of not taking a picture, the operator (photographer) has no awkward feeling from the design (aesthetic) point of view but feels good. Further, since the operator can confirm the picture composition of the photographic subject by confirming the image of the photographic subject that can be seen through the auxiliary display section 11 serving as a mirror at the time of photographing, and can confirm the photographing region (section) and the position of the photographic subject, it is possible to prevent the photographed picture from being bad. Further, the auxiliary display section 11 can be used not only for confirming the photographing region but also for making himself/herself look neat.

Second embodiment

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a structure of a mirror portion of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a structure of a light control film in the mirror portion shown in fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a flowchart of the operation of the portable cellular phone according to the second embodiment.

The structure of the second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that a mirror portion which cannot be displayed at all is used as a mirror at the time of taking a picture, instead of an auxiliary display portion. Except for the above, the structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

The foldable cellular phone 1 in the second embodiment has a specular reflection part 37 (serving as a mirror for determining the composition of a picture of a subject) placed below the lens window 21 and serving as a mirror when necessary, for example, for determining the composition of a picture of a subject when an operator takes a picture of himself/herself. As shown in fig. 9, the specular reflection section 37 has a mirror reflection plate 38 and a light control film (light control layer) 39 in front of the mirror reflection plate 38, the light transmittance of which is controlled in accordance with an applied voltage.

In the specular reflection portion 37, the light control film 39 is brought into a light transmitting state, the whole specular reflection portion 37 is used as a mirror at the time of photographing, and the light control film 39 is brought into a light shielding state at the time of non-photographing, and the outside light is scattered. As shown in FIG. 10, the light control film 39 has a liquid crystal layer 40c formed of a polymer matrix 40b in which microcapsules (each capsule having a diameter of, for example, 1 to 2 microns and having a sealed liquid crystal) 40a are disposed, one on one side of the liquid crystal layer 40c and the other on the other side of the liquid crystal layer 40c, transparent conductive layers 40d and 40 e.

When no voltage is applied between the transparent conductive layers 40d and 40e, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules sealed in the microcapsule 40a is arbitrary, light incident on the liquid crystal layer 40c is scattered, and the liquid crystal layer 40c enters an opaque white state. Further, when an alternating current of, for example, 30 to 150 volts or a direct current is applied between the transparent conductive layers 40d and 40e, the liquid crystal molecules sealed into the microcapsules 40a are aligned in the direction of the electric field, and the liquid crystal layer 40c becomes transparent. If the applied voltage is reduced, the liquid crystal layer 40c enters a semi-transparent state in which a portion of the incident light is scattered.

Next, the operation of the portable cellular phone in the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 11. First, after the power is turned on, the control section 3 enters a standby mode, waits for an input operation by an operator or arrival of data and/or a message or the like, displays a standby screen on the main display section 9, does not apply a voltage to the light control film 39, causes it to enter a light shielding state, and scatters incident light (step ST21, see fig. 11). In this state, when the operator presses the photographing mode selection key 8a to select the photographing mode (step ST22), the photographing mode is changed to the photographing mode.

As a result, the control section 3 applies a predetermined voltage to the light control film 39 to bring it into a transparent state (step ST23) to allow the operator to see the light reflected from the mirror reflection plate 38. That is, the specular reflection part 37 is used as a mirror through which the photographic subject is viewed. In this state, if the operator wants to take a picture of himself/herself, the operator can align the camera lens 22 with himself/herself, prepare the portable cellular phone 1, correct the posture of the portable cellular phone 1, and thereby make his/her face size and position appropriate.

After the operator thus determines the picture composition of the subject and confirms the shooting area, the operator presses the shutter button 25 (step ST 24).

Upon receiving the captured image data from the image processing section 24, the control section 3 stores the received image data in the storage section 4 (step ST25), stops supplying the voltage to the light control film 39 to bring it into a light shielding state, scatters incident light, and then supplies a predetermined display signal based on the image data to the main display 9 to display an image. After that, under the transmission operation by the operator, the control section 3 transmits the image data obtained by photographing to another portable cellular phone or the like specified by the operator through the wireless communication section 7.

Since the specular reflection part 37 thereof is used only as a mirror at the time of taking a picture and shields light, scattering light, at the time of not taking a picture, according to the portable cellular phone in the second embodiment, the operator (photographer) does not feel awkward from the design point of view (aesthetic point of view) but feels good.

Further, since the operator can surely determine the picture composition of the photographic subject on the basis of the photographic subject image when looking from the specular reflection portion 37 serving as a mirror at the time of photographing, and can confirm the photographing region or the position of the photographic subject, it is possible to prevent failure of photographing.

Third embodiment

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a structure of a foldable cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the structure of a foldable cellular phone according to a third embodiment. Fig. 14 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the structure of a main display portion of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the portable cellular phone according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the structure of the foldable cellular phone in the third embodiment and the structure of the first embodiment includes a lens window and a camera lens of an electronic camera section mounted on a surface serving as an inner surface when the upper housing of the foldable cellular phone is folded, and a difference between them is that a main display section is made of a liquid crystal display, which can be used as a mirror if necessary, and a flip sensor for checking whether the housing is opened, so that the main display section can be used as a mirror when the closed housing is opened. As a result, the auxiliary display section is used only as a normal display without a mirror. The structures other than those described above are approximately similar to those in the first embodiment, and their description is omitted here.

The foldable cellular phone 1A in the third embodiment, as shown in fig. 12 to 14, has a foldable housing 41; a control portion 42; a storage section 43; an electronic camera portion 44; an antenna 45; a wireless communication section 46; an operation section 47, a main display section (which is used as a mirror, a picture composition for determining a subject, a display, and a first display unit) 48 composed of a reflective liquid crystal display, which is placed on the inner surface when the foldable housing 41 is folded, and which is used as a mirror when necessary, and also for determining a picture composition of a subject when, for example, an operator takes a picture of himself/herself; an auxiliary display portion (also serving as a second display unit) 49 constituted by, for example, a transmissive liquid crystal display, mounted on an outer surface of the foldable housing 41 when folded; a flip sensor (opening and closing detection unit) 51 for checking whether the foldable housing 41 is opened; a speaker 52; a microphone 53 and a power supply section 54.

As shown in fig. 15, the main display portion 48 has a liquid crystal panel 55; a front light (surface lighting device) 56 placed on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel 55; a light control film (light control layer) 57 placed on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel 55 and controlling light transmittance with applied voltage; and a mirror reflection plate 58 behind the light control film 57. At the main portion 48, mainly at the time of photographing, all pixels on the liquid crystal panel 55 are placed in a light transmitting state (displaying white), and the light control film 57 is brought into the light transmitting state, and as a result, the entire main display portion 48 is used as a mirror, and mainly at the time of non-photographing, the light control film 57 is brought into a light shielding state, displaying characters or images. The flip sensor 51 checks whether the foldable housing 41 is opened or closed, and the main display section 48 of the control section 42 is used as a mirror when the foldable housing 41 is changed from the closed state to the open state, so that the main display section 48 is brought into the photographing standby state.

Next, the operation of the foldable portable cellular phone 1A in the third embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 16. When the foldable housing 41 is closed, the flip sensor 51 sends a closed state detection signal to the control section 42, and the control section 42 maintains the photo standby state on the basis of the closed state detection signal (step ST31, see fig. 16). When the foldable housing 41 is brought from the closed state to the open state (step ST32), the flip sensor sends an open state detection signal to the control section 42, and the control section 42 changes to the photographing mode based on the open state signal, controls the liquid crystal panel 55 so that all its pixels are brought into a light transmitting state (displaying white), and at the same time, applies a predetermined voltage to the light control film 57 so that it is brought into a transparent state (step ST33) to allow light to be reflected from the mirror reflection plate 58 so as to be visible to the operator. That is, the main display section 48 is used as a mirror so that an image of a photographic subject can be seen.

In this state, if it is desired to take a picture of himself/herself, the operator aligns the camera lens 22 with himself/herself, prepares the foldable portable cellular phone 1A, and at the same time, corrects the position of the foldable portable cellular phone 1A so that his/her face can be seen in the main display section 48 to obtain a desired size and position. In this way, when the operator determines that the photographic composition of the photographic subject is good and confirms the photographing area, the operator presses the shutter button 25 (step ST 34). Upon receiving the photographed image data from the image processing section 24, the control section 42 stores the received image data in the storage section 43 (step ST35), stops applying the voltage to the light control film 57 to bring it into the light shielding state, scatters the incident light, and supplies a predetermined display signal to the display section 48 based on the image data to display the image. Then, by the transmission operation of the operator, the control section 42 transmits the image data obtained by photographing to other portable cellular phones or the like specified by the operator through the wireless communication section 46.

According to the structure of the foldable portable cellular phone 1A in the third embodiment, almost all the effects in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since the area used as the mirror is large, the photographing area and/or the position of the subject can be confirmed more reliably, the composition of the photograph of the subject can be easily determined, and failure in photographing can be prevented. Further, since the light control film 57 enters a light shielding state to scatter the external light, it is possible to prevent the display from dazzling, thereby improving the display quality. Further, since the lens window 21 and the camera lens 22 are placed on the inner surface when the upper housing is folded, the design of the foldable cellular phone 1A can be simplified to make it more beautiful. Also, since the main display portion 48 is used as a mirror when the housing is opened, a standby state is entered, and thus it is possible to take a picture quickly. In addition, since the main display section 48 having a large area can be used as a mirror, a large area can be utilized, thereby being more compact.

Fourth embodiment

Fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 18 is also a perspective view illustrating the structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 19 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a structure of a foldable portable cellular phone according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The foldable portable cellular phone in the fourth embodiment is different from the foldable portable cellular phone in the third embodiment in that the shutter button 25 employed in the third embodiment is not employed, and the photographing mode selection key 47a is also used as the shutter button 25. Further, the flip sensor 51 employed in the third embodiment is not employed, and the photographing mode selection key 47a is used to select a photographing mode. The structures other than those described above are the same as those in the third embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

A portable cellular phone 1B of a fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 19 has a foldable housing 41; a control portion 42; a storage section 43; an electronic camera portion 44B; an antenna 45; a wireless communication section 46; an operation portion 47; a main display portion 48, which is formed of a reflective type liquid crystal display, is placed on the inner surface of the foldable housing 41 when folded, and serves as a mirror if necessary, and also serves to determine the composition of a photograph of a subject when, for example, an operator takes a photograph of himself/herself; an auxiliary display portion 49, for example, formed of a liquid crystal display, placed on an outer surface of the foldable housing 41 when it is folded; a speaker 52; a microphone 53 and a power supply section 54.

The electronic camera section 44B shown in FIGS. 17 to 19 includes a lens window 21, a camera lens 22, an image pickup device 23, an image processing device 24 and a shutter button which is not employed in the third embodiment and is specially designed. The shooting mode selection key 47a of the control section 47, which is not adapted to select the shooting mode, is used to cause the electronic camera section 44B to take a picture while serving as a shutter button. In this embodiment, the control section 42 controls the main display section 48 to become a mirror when the photographing mode selection key 47a is pressed for the first time, and completes photographing when pressed for the second time.

According to the structure of the portable cellular phone 1B in the fourth embodiment, almost all the effects in the third embodiment can be obtained. In addition, in the fourth embodiment, since the shutter button is not used, the number of components can be reduced, making the portable cellular phone 1B more beautiful.

Fifth embodiment

Fig. 20 is a sectional view of an auxiliary display portion 71 of a portable cellular phone according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The difference in the structure of the portable cellular phone in the fifth embodiment from that in the first embodiment is that the auxiliary display portion 71 employs a transmissive liquid crystal display. The structures not described above are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The auxiliary display portion 71 of the portable cellular phone in the fifth embodiment, as shown in fig. 20, has a liquid crystal panel 72, a semi-transparent mirror 73 installed behind the liquid crystal panel 72, and a backlight source 74 installed behind the semi-transparent mirror 73.

Next, the operation of the portable cellular phone in the fifth embodiment will be described.

First, after the power is turned on, the control section 3 enters a standby mode, waits for an operator input and/or arrival of data and/or messages and the like, displays a standby screen on the main display section 9, and displays a current time, arrival notification of data and/or messages and the like on the auxiliary display section 71.

At this time, a part of the illumination light emitted from the backlight 74 passes through the semi-transparent mirror 73 and is irradiated on the liquid crystal panel 72, and at the same time, a part of the external light once passed through the liquid crystal panel 72 is also reflected from the semi-transparent mirror 73 and is irradiated on the liquid crystal panel 72. The control section 3 supplies a display control signal to the auxiliary display section 71 to make it display normally.

In this state, when the operator presses the shooting mode selection key 8a to select the shooting mode, the mode is changed to the shooting mode. This causes the control section 3 to perform control so that the liquid crystal panel 72 and all its pixels are brought into a light transmitting state (display white) and the backlight light source 74 is turned off. As a result, a part of the outside light once passed through the liquid crystal panel 72 is reflected from the semi-transparent mirror 73, and the reflected light is seen by the operator. That is, the auxiliary display portion 71 is used as a mirror from which an image of a photographic subject is viewed.

Further, the control section 3 causes the main display section 9 to display the subject in front of the camera lens 22, and the main section 9 enters a photographing standby state to display a message indicating that the shutter button 25 is pressed to enable photographing.

If it is desired to take a picture of himself/herself, the operator aligns the camera lens 22 with himself/herself, prepares the portable cellular phone, and corrects the posture of the portable cellular phone so that his/her face has a desired size or position in the auxiliary display portion 71. After the operator determines the picture composition of the subject, the operator presses the shutter button 25.

When the captured image data is received from the image processing section 24, the control section 3 stores it in the storage section 4 while displaying an image on the main display section 9 on the basis of the image data. Then, by the transmission operation of the operator, the control section 3 transmits the captured image data to another portable telephone or the like designated by the operator through the wireless communication section 7.

According to the structure of the portable cellular phone in the fifth embodiment, almost all the effects in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Sixth embodiment

Fig. 21 is a sectional view of an auxiliary display portion of a portable cellular phone according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The portable cellular phone in the sixth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment in that a light control film is placed in front of a liquid crystal panel and a semi-transparent mirror is placed in front of the light control film. The other structures are the same as those of the fifth embodiment, and thus their description is omitted.

The auxiliary display portion 75 in the sixth embodiment, as shown in fig. 21, includes a liquid crystal panel 76, a backlight source 77 disposed behind the liquid crystal panel 76, a light control film 78 disposed in front of the liquid crystal panel 76, and a semi-transparent mirror 79 disposed in front of the liquid crystal panel 76.

Next, the operation of the portable cellular phone in the sixth embodiment will be described. First, after the power is turned on, the control section 3 enters a standby mode, waits for an operator input and/or an arrival notification of data and/or a message or the like, applies a predetermined voltage to the light control film 78 to bring it into a transparent state, and also displays the arrival notification of time, data and/or a message or the like on the auxiliary display section 75. At this time, illumination light from the backlight source 77 is applied to the liquid crystal panel 76, passes through the light control film 78 and the semi-transparent mirror 79, and is viewed by the operator. Here, although a part of the external light is reflected by the semi-transparent mirror 79, the intensity of the light is smaller than that of the light emitted from the liquid crystal panel 76 and can be ignored.

In this case, when the operator presses the shooting mode selection key 8a to select the shooting mode, the shooting mode is changed to the shooting mode. That is, the control section 3 stops supplying the voltage to the light control film 78 to bring it into the light shielding state. So that the light of the liquid crystal panel 76 is intercepted by the light control film 78, and a part of the external light is reflected back from the semi-transparent mirror 79, and the reflected light is viewed by the operator. That is, the auxiliary display portion 75 is used as a mirror from which an image of a photographic subject is viewed. At the same time, the main display section 9 of the control section 3 displays a subject in front of the camera lens 22, and the main display section 9 enters a photographing standby state to display a message indicating that photographing can be performed by pressing the shutter button 25.

If he/she wants to take a picture of himself/herself, the operator aligns the camera lens 22 with himself/herself, prepares the portable cellular phone, and corrects the position of the portable cellular phone so that his/her face has a desired size or position. After the operator determines the picture composition and the shooting area of the subject, the operator presses the shutter button 25. When the captured image data is obtained from the image processing section 24, the control section 3 stores it in the storage section 4, and the main display section 9 displays an image on the basis of the image data.

After that, by the transmission operation of the operator, the control section 3 transmits the captured image data to the other portable cellular phone designated by the operator through the wireless communication section 7.

According to the structure of the portable cellular phone in the sixth embodiment, almost all the effects in the fifth embodiment can be obtained.

It is apparent that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be changed and modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, in the above embodiments, as an example of the portable electronic device, a portable cellular phone may be employed. However, PHS (personal handyphone system), PDA (personal digital assistant) having a wireless communication function, and the like may be used, with which the effects obtained with the portable cellular phone can be obtained. Further, the portable electronic device does not necessarily have a wireless communication function, but a portable electronic device having a digital camera function, such as a wristwatch-type digital camera, may be employed. Note-book type personal computers and the like in which a camera is embedded can also be used. Further, with the portable cellular phone, the portable cellular phone does not have to be of a folding type.

Also, in the above embodiments, as the display device employed in the main display portion or the auxiliary display portion, a liquid crystal display is employed, but, for example, an EL (electroluminescence display) may also be employed. In addition, a CRT (cathode ray tube) or a plasma display may be used as the display device. That is, as shown in fig. 22, the auxiliary display section 81 employed in the above embodiment may be such that the mirror reflection plate 83 is placed behind the EL display panel 82 constituted by a plurality of transparent inorganic EL devices. When a predetermined control signal is received from the control section, the EL display panel 82 performs normal display, and when the supply of voltage to all the pixels is stopped, all the regions of the EL display panel 82 are brought into a transparent state, and the external light passes through the EL display panel 82 and is reflected from the mirror reflection plate 83, so that the reflected light can be seen. In this case, the auxiliary display portion 81 may be such that the light control film is between the EL display panel 82 and the specular reflection plate 83, the light control film is controlled to be brought into a transparent state only when the light control film is used as a mirror. Thus, the EL display panel 82 can reduce the number of components, thereby reducing the size and weight.

Also, in the above embodiment, when the main display portion or the auxiliary display portion is used as a mirror, all the area of the display surface is used as a mirror, but a part of the area of the display surface may be provided to be used as a mirror. At this time, it is possible to specify that one area, one position, and one shape of the display surface are used as mirrors so as to be changed when necessary. Further, in an area serving as a mirror, characters, patterns, and the like can be displayed. Further, either the main display portion or the auxiliary display portion may be used as a mirror for taking a picture, that is, the mirror may be used to enjoy a predetermined pattern or animation.

In the above embodiment, the case of transmitting a still image captured with an electronic camera is described. However, the portable cellular phone employed in these embodiments may be used as a television phone. At this time, the upper half area of the main display section may be used as the main display section so that the operator himself/herself can be seen in the mirror, for example, for determining the composition of a photograph of a subject to be taken, while the lower half area of the main display section is not used as the mirror but may be used for displaying an image of the subject to which the operator is to send a taken image. Further, as the camera lens, not only a wide-angle lens but also a standard lens can be used. Multiple camera lenses may be provided for selection. An area or a position of the main display part and the auxiliary display part, which can be used as a mirror, may be changed according to the type of the camera lens.

In addition, in the first embodiment, when the photographing mode selection key 8a is pressed after the housing 2 is opened, the display portion enters the photographing standby state. In the third embodiment, when the closed housing is opened, the display portion enters the photographing standby state. The manner of synchronization between the opening and closing operation of the housing and the operation of the display section can be set in advance, so that the manner thereof can be changed in accordance with the state in which the portable cellular phone is used in each operation mode. For example, the operator has a setting menu displayed on the main display section, and sets in the above manner to synchronize the opening and closing operations of the housing with the display section. Then, according to this arrangement, when the closed housing is opened, the display section is not only brought into the photographing mode but also used only as a mirror, or when the closed housing is opened, the display section is brought into the e-mail mode.

Also, in the first embodiment, if the main display portion or the auxiliary display portion is not used as a mirror, it is used for normal display. However, if none of them is used as a mirror, nothing can be displayed with them. In addition, a strobe device may be provided.

Also, in each of the above embodiments, the structure adopted by the main display portion may be used for the auxiliary display portion, and the structure adopted by the auxiliary display portion may also be used for the main display portion. For example, in the third embodiment, the main display portion includes a liquid crystal display panel, a front light, a light control film, and a mirror reflection plate, but the auxiliary display portion may also employ the components of the main display portion.

Also, in the first embodiment, the portable cellular phone is structured such that a photograph is taken when the shutter button 25 is pressed, but it is also possible to provide an automatic photographing timer so that a photograph is taken after a predetermined period of time. At this time, the portable cellular phone may be such that the arrival notification lamp blinks for a predetermined length of time in the photographing mode. Further, in the first embodiment, a front light is used as the surface lighting device of the liquid crystal panel, but if the outside light of sufficient intensity can be obtained, only the outside light may be used.

Also, in the first embodiment, the secondary display device is below the lens window and camera lens. However, as shown in fig. 23, the auxiliary display section having a relatively large area is at the center of the position where the lens window 92 and the camera lens 93 are located. In the first embodiment, the shutter button is at the upper end of the upper housing, however, the shutter button may be on the side.

Also, in the second embodiment, the mirror portion includes a mirror reflection plate, and the light control film is on the rear of the housing (outside when the housing is folded), but the mirror reflection plate and the light control film are on one side of the housing, and they are used as a mirror if necessary.

Also, in the fifth embodiment, a light control film may be placed between the liquid crystal panel and the semi-transparent mirror. Also, in the sixth embodiment, when the auxiliary display section is used as a mirror, the backlight source may be turned off.

Further, the semi-transparent mirror 79 may be used as a mirror when light is emitted from one side of the liquid crystal panel 6 without using the light control film 78.

It is apparent that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be modified and improved without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A folding portable telephone set, comprising:

a collapsible housing;

a camera;

a control section;

a main display portion disposed on a surface which becomes an inner surface of the housing in a state where the housing is folded; and

an auxiliary display portion disposed on the same surface as a photographing window of the camera as an outer surface of the housing in a state where the housing is folded,

the auxiliary display section is electrically controlled by the control section in a reception waiting state to thereby realize non-mirroring and display the current time, performs incoming call notification display upon incoming call,

and, at the time of camera shooting, as a composition determination mirror that is electrically controlled by the control section to realize mirroring and determines a picture composition of a shooting object, is used.

2. The folding portable telephone set according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary display portion is constituted by a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of pixels and a specular reflection portion disposed behind the liquid crystal panel,

the control section performs the following control: at the time of the camera shooting, a part or the whole area of the auxiliary display section is mirrored by setting the part or the whole area of the auxiliary display section to a light transmission state.

3. The folding portable telephone set according to claim 2, wherein a light control layer for controlling light transmittance in accordance with an applied voltage is provided between said liquid crystal panel and said specular reflection portion,

the control section performs the following control: the optical control layer is set to a light transmitting state at the time of camera shooting, and is set to a light shielding state in the reception waiting state.

4. The folding portable telephone set according to claim 2, wherein a front light device for irradiating planar illumination light to the liquid crystal panel is arranged in front of the liquid crystal panel.

5. The folding cellular phone according to claim 2, wherein said control section mirrors a part or all of the area of said auxiliary display section to reflect only a range to be photographed in the subject.

6. The folding portable telephone set according to claim 2, said control section sets the area mirrored in said auxiliary display section according to the type of the camera lens.

7. The folding portable telephone set according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary display section is constituted by a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of pixels, a semi-transparent mirror layer disposed behind the liquid crystal panel, and a backlight source device disposed behind the semi-transparent mirror layer and irradiating illumination light to said liquid crystal panel, and at the same time, said control section performs the following control: at the time of the camera shooting, a part or the whole area of the auxiliary display portion is mirrored by setting a part or the whole area of the auxiliary display portion to a light transmitting state and turning off the backlight light source device.

8. The folding mobile phone according to claim 3, wherein the light control layer is formed by dispersing microcapsules in which liquid crystal is enclosed in a matrix.