JP2006270229A - Personal digital assistant - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a personal digital assistant with a simple configuration and a sophisticated function capable of surely acquiring an imaged image with high image quality. <P>SOLUTION: The personal digital assistant 100 including a foldable mechanism and an image optical system 1a located to a casing 14: is provided with a fitting protrusion 18 located to the case 14 for applying positioning between the casing 14 and a cover 15 when the casing 14 and the cover 15 are folded; an adaptor optical system 1b located to the cover 15 and coupled with the image pick-up optical system 1a to provide an additional optical system to the image optical system 1a when the case 14 and the cover 15 are folded; an interlocking section located to the cover 15 for coupling the adaptor optical system 1b to the image pick-up optical system 1a in interlocking with the fitting operation between the fitting protrusion 18 and a fitting hole 20 and escaping the adaptor optical system 1b from the image pick-up optical system 1a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device that includes a folding mechanism and includes an imaging unit that captures an image in one casing that is folded by the folding mechanism.

  In recent years, with the downsizing and low power consumption of image pickup devices, and also with the increase in speed and capacity of communication infrastructures, image pickup functions have been mounted on portable information terminal devices such as mobile phones and PDAs.

  The portable information terminal device employs a folding mechanism in the housing in order to improve portability. An operation key function and a voice input function are arranged on one side of the casing to be folded, and a liquid crystal display function, a voice output function, a transmission / reception function, and the like are arranged on the other side of the casing. Using this folding mechanism, higher functionality of portable information terminal devices has also been achieved. An imaging optical system is provided on one side of the housing, and an adapter optical system to be added to the imaging optical system is provided on the other side of the housing. When the housing is folded, the imaging optical system and this adapter optical system are coupled. In addition, the imaging optical system becomes highly functional (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-69868 A

  However, the folding mechanism in the portable information terminal device mainly uses a hinge, and the coupling between the imaging optical system and the adapter optical system is likely to be incomplete due to the play diameter generated at the hinge portion, and the reproducibility is high. There is a problem in that it is impossible to reliably obtain a captured image with high image quality and functions.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a portable information terminal capable of completely acquiring a high-quality and high-quality captured image by completely coupling the imaging optical system and the adapter optical system with a simple configuration. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, a portable information terminal device according to claim 1 includes a folding mechanism, and a portable information terminal including an imaging unit that captures an image in one casing of the folding mechanism. In the apparatus, positioning means provided in the one casing and positioning the one casing and the other casing when the one casing and the other casing are folded. An additional optical unit provided in the other casing and coupled with the imaging unit to provide an additional optical system to the imaging unit when the one casing and the other casing are folded. And an interlocking means provided on the other casing for coupling the additional optical means to the imaging means in conjunction with a positioning operation of the positioning means and for detaching the additional optical means from the imaging means. It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable information terminal device according to the above invention, wherein the additional optical unit is positioned at a position where the optical axis and the focal point are aligned with the imaging unit when the additional optical unit is positioned by the positioning unit. It is characterized by being arranged.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable information terminal device according to the above invention, wherein the positioning unit is provided with a convex protrusion provided in the one casing and the convex protrusion provided in the other casing. The interlocking means has a protrusion inserted into the concave hole, and the convex protrusion pushes out the protrusion when the positioning means is positioned. The additional optical means is coupled to the imaging means in conjunction with the projection, and the protrusion is inserted into the concave hole when the positioning means is released. The additional optical means is detached from the imaging means in conjunction with the insertion operation. It is characterized by making it.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal device according to the present invention, the interlocking unit includes a first spring that presses the additional optical unit toward the imaging unit and a spring stronger than a spring force of the first spring. A second spring for pulling back the additional optical means from the image pickup means side, the protrusion at one end, the other end connected to the second spring, and the additional optical means at the other end. A pivotable lever that engages, and the other end of the lever is pivoted toward the imaging means by the pushing operation of the protrusion when the one casing and the other casing are folded. The additional optical means is extended toward the imaging means by the spring force of the first spring, and the spring force of the second spring overcomes the first spring force with the insertion operation, and the other end of the lever is The additional optical means from the imaging means side Rotates, characterized in that pull back the additional optical means from said image pickup means.

  The portable information terminal device according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the second spring is a coil spring.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable information terminal device according to the above invention, further comprising illumination means for illuminating the imaging target.

  Further, in the portable information terminal device according to claim 7, in the above invention, the illuminating unit is disposed in the one casing, and is disposed in a light source that illuminates the imaging target side, and the other casing, And transmissive means for transmitting illumination light emitted from the light source to the outside of the housing.

  The portable information terminal device according to the present invention is provided with a fitting portion in a housing having a folding mechanism to completely combine the imaging optical system and the adapter optical system, so that a captured image with high image quality and functions can be reliably obtained. There is an effect that can be acquired.

  Exemplary embodiments of a portable information terminal device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a portable information terminal device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a control unit (CPU) 13 includes an imaging unit 1, a display unit 2, an input unit 3, a voice input / output unit 4, an external communication unit 7, a memory unit 8, and an illumination unit 10. Connect and control. The imaging unit 1 includes an imaging optical system 1 a, an adapter optical system 1 b, and an imager 1 c, and the external communication unit 7 connects an antenna 9.

  The imaging unit 1 includes an imaging optical system 1a that captures an image, an imager 1c that photoelectrically converts an image captured via the imaging optical system 1a, and an adapter optical system that combines the imaging optical system 1a to add an imaging function. 1b. The imager 1c is realized by a CCD, a CMOS, or the like, photoelectrically converts a captured image into a display signal for each pixel, and outputs the display signal to the CPU 13. The imaging unit 1 captures an image via the imaging optical system 1 a under the control of the CPU 13.

  The display unit 2 includes a display element of a thin display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) 2A or an organic EL panel, and is a captured image acquired by the imaging unit 1 under the control of the CPU 13. Image information or writing information including a writing instruction sent from the input unit 3 is displayed and output. The display unit 2 may display and output a predetermined error display for notifying the error via the CPU 13 under the control of the CPU 13 when an error relating to the processing operation occurs in the portable information terminal device 100.

  The input unit 3 has a plurality of operation keys 3 a to be input, and is arranged on the casing of the portable information terminal device 100. For example, when the operator inputs input information from the operation keys 3 a by key operation, the input unit 3 receives the input information and sends the received input information to the CPU 13.

  The external communication unit 7 has an external interface such as RS232C, USB, or IEEE1394, or an infrared communication interface that conforms to the IrDA standard, and is an external host system (not shown) or a peripheral device (not shown) such as a printer. Communication). When input information or the like is input from the CPU 13, the external communication unit 7 sends the information input from the CPU 13 to an external host system or peripheral device under the control of the CPU 13. Further, when various information for controlling the processing operation of the CPU 13 is input from an external host system, the external communication unit 7 sends the information input from the external host system to the CPU 13. The external communication unit 7 may use a shared terminal that can be electrically connected to each terminal of an external host system or peripheral device, or may perform wireless communication via the antenna 9. In this case, it is desirable that the antenna 9 be extendable to improve portability.

  The memory unit 8 includes a ROM in which various data such as processing programs are recorded in advance, and a RAM that stores various calculation parameters, input information, audio information, and the like. The CPU 13 executes the processing program recorded in the memory unit 8.

  The illumination unit 12 has a light source such as a semiconductor laser element or a light emitting diode that projects infrared light or visible light onto the imaging target, and projects light onto the imaging target under the control of the CPU 13.

  The voice input / output unit 4 includes a microphone 4a and a speaker 4b. Under the control of the CPU 13, the voice input / output unit 4 inputs voice information from the outside and sends the inputted voice information to the CPU 13. The voice input / output unit 4 outputs voice information input from the CPU 13 to the outside under the control of the CPU 13. The voice input / output unit 4 outputs a predetermined notification sound for notifying the start or completion of processing by each component under the control of the CPU 13 or an error relating to the processing operation of the portable information terminal device 100 has occurred. In this case, a predetermined error sound for notifying this error sound may be output under the control of the CPU 13. In this case, the voice input / output unit 4 outputs an error sound corresponding to the error display in synchronization with the output of the error display by the display unit 2 described above.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the portable information terminal device 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the portable information terminal device 100 includes a housing 14 and a lid 15, and the housing 14 and the lid 15 are connected by a hinge 16, and the housing 14 and the lid 15. Is folded around the hinge 16 as a pivot axis. The housing 14 includes the antenna 10, the speaker 4b, the LCD 2A, the switch driving protrusion 17, the fitting protrusion 18, and the imaging optical system 1a. The lid portion 15 is fitted with the adapter optical system 1b. It has a hole 20, a detection switch 21, an operation key 3a, and a microphone 4a.

  When the casing 14 and the lid 15 are folded, the positions of the switch drive protrusion 17 and the detection switch 20 correspond to each other, the positions of the imaging optical system 1a and the adapter optical system 1b correspond, and the fitting protrusion 18 And the positions of the fitting holes 19 correspond to each other.

  Therefore, when the housing 14 and the lid portion 15 are folded, the switch driving projection 17 presses the detection switch 21 and the detection switch 21 is driven, and the housing 14 and the lid portion 15 are folded. Is detected. Further, the fitting protrusion 18 is fitted into the fitting hole 20, and the imaging optical system 1a and the adapter optical system 1b are coupled in conjunction with this fitting.

  The adapter optical system 1b is configured by an optical system for each function such as a telephoto function, a close-up function, and a wide-angle function, and can be replaced with an optical system having a desired function. Therefore, the imaging optical system 1a can perform imaging having each function by being coupled with the adapter optical system 1b. Of course, the imaging optical system 1a can also perform imaging with a normal function without coupling the adapter optical system 1b.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the portable information terminal device 100 in which the housing 14 and the lid 15 are folded. As shown in FIG. 3, the casing 14 and the lid 15 are folded by the hinge 16, the fitting protrusion 18 is inserted into the lid 15, and the lens barrel 2 b that holds the adapter optical system 1 b is removed from the lid 15. It protrudes to form a convex shape, and is coupled to the imaging optical system 1a disposed on the bottom formed in a concave shape on the housing. By this combination, the imaging optical system 1a can acquire the optical image captured by the adapter optical system 1b through the transparent window 21c, and the imager 1c converts the optical image acquired by the imaging optical system 1a into an image signal. Can be converted.

  4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating details of the vicinity of the imaging optical system 1a and the adapter optical system 1b before the casing 14 and the lid 15 are folded, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing details of the vicinity of the imaging optical system 1a and the adapter optical system 1b after the cover 15 is folded. As shown in FIG. 4A, the housing 14 includes a housing 19a provided with a fitting protrusion 18, and a housing 19b. The housings 19a and 19b allow the imaging optical system 1a, the imager 1c, and the lens barrel 1d. The lens barrel holding member 1e and the conducting wire 1f are housed. The imaging optical system 1a is held by a lens barrel 1d, and the lens barrel 1d is held by a lens barrel holding member 1e. The imaging optical system 1a connects an imager 1c, and the imager 1c connects a conducting wire 1f. The optical image picked up by the image pickup optical system 1a is photoelectrically converted by the imager 1c, and the photoelectrically converted electric signal is output to the CPU 13 through the conducting wire 1f. The CPU 13 converts the input electrical signal into a display signal, and outputs and displays it on the LCD 2A.

  The lid 15 has a housing 21a provided with a fitting hole 20, and a housing 21b provided with a transparent window 21c. The optical adapter 1b and the lens barrel 2b provided with a rib 2a are provided by the housings 21a and 21b. A coil spring 2c, a lever 2d provided with a stopper 2f, a hinge 2e for rotating the lever 2d, and a leaf spring 2g are housed. The adapter optical system 1b is held by a lens barrel 2b, and the lens barrel 2b is supported by a coil spring 2c. A part of the lever 2d is fitted into the fitting hole 20, and the lever 2d rotates around the hinge 2e.

  The lever 2d is connected to the leaf spring 2g, and the leaf spring 2g applies a force in a direction to push down the lever 2d. Therefore, the lever 2d applies a force in a direction to push down the rib 2a. The coil spring 2c applies a force in a direction in which the rib 2a is pushed up, but is smaller than the force of the leaf spring 2g, and as a result, the rib 2a is pushed down. The lever 2d is stopped at the position where the stopper 2f is contacted by the housing 21a. At the position where the lever 2d is stopped, the protruding end of the lever 2d is fitted into the fitting hole 20, and the tip of the lens barrel 2b is connected to the housing 21a. Stay in the same plane. Therefore, when the housing 14 and the lid portion 15 are not folded, the surface of the housing 21a is smooth.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, when the housing 14 and the lid portion 15 are folded, the fitting protrusion 18 is inserted into the fitting hole 20, and the lever 2 d that has been fitted into the fitting hole 20. Press the tip. Since the force for pressing the lever 2d is larger than the force of the leaf spring 2g, the protruding end of the lever 2d is pushed down, and accordingly, the lever 2d rotates around the hinge 2e. When the lever 2d rotates, the rib 2g pushed down by the lever 2d is pushed up by the force of the coil spring 2c. When the rib 2g is pushed up, the lens barrel 2b is pushed up together with the rib 2g. When the lens barrel 2b is pushed up, the tip of the lens barrel 2b protrudes from the housing 19a and is coupled to a recess formed in the lens barrel 1d on the housing 14 side. As a result, the adapter optical system 1b and the imaging optical system 1a are coupled to form an imaging optical system to which a function is added by the adapter optical system 1b.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portable information terminal device 100 in which the housing 14 and the lid 15 are folded. As shown in FIG. 5, when the fitting protrusion 18 is fitted in the fitting hole 20, the center of the hinge 16 is positioned at the center of the play diameter, and the imager 1c and the optical adapter 1b are kept at a predetermined distance d. In addition, the optical axis of the imaging optical system 1a coincides with the optical axis of the adapter optical system 1b. As a result, the imager 1c can reliably acquire a captured image to which a function is added with high image quality via the imaging optical system 1a and the adapter optical system 1b.

  6 and 7 are enlarged cross-sectional views of the portable information terminal device in which the casings 14a and 14b without the fitting protrusions 18 and the lid portions 15a and 15b without the fitting holes 20 are folded. In a portable information terminal device without a fitting portion, the separation operation between the imaging optical system 1a and the adapter optical system 1b is controlled by the detection switch 21 or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the casing 14a and the lid portion 15a are folded, there is no fitting portion, so that the center of the hinge 16 may be shifted from the center of the play diameter in the vertical direction. There is a deviation δ between the optical axis connecting the optical system 1a and the optical axis of the adapter optical system 1b. When the deviation δ occurs in the optical axis, the optical image captured through the adapter optical system 1b is not correctly formed on the imaging optical system 1a. As a result, the imager 1c has a high-function and high-quality captured image. Can not get.

  Further, the housing 14b and the lid portion 15b shown in FIG. 7 have no fitting portion similarly to the housing 14a and the lid portion 15a shown in FIG. Therefore, the imager 1c and the adapter optical system 1b are not maintained at the proper distance d and become the distance d ′. As a result, the optical system formed by the adapter optical system 1b and the imaging optical system 1a cannot acquire proper (focused) imaging, and as a result, the imager 1c has a function with high image quality. The captured image cannot be acquired reliably.

  In the first embodiment, the adapter optical system 1b has a fitting portion provided in the housing 14 and the lid 15 so that the adapter optical system 1b and the imaging optical system 1a are optically coupled appropriately. The captured image to which the function is added is surely acquired.

  In the first embodiment, the imaging optical system 1a is provided in the casing 14, and the adapter optical system 1b is provided in the lid 15. However, the adapter optical system 1b is provided in the casing 14 and the lid 15 is provided. The imaging optical system 1a may be provided in

  Further, in the first embodiment, the fitting projection 18 and the fitting hole 20 are fitted, and the fitting projection 18 rotates the lever 2d so that the adapter optical system 1b and the imaging optical system 1a are coupled. However, the adapter optical system 1b and the imaging optical system 1a may be directly fitted and coupled without providing a fitting portion.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the fitting portion is provided in the casing 14 and the lid portion 15 of the portable information terminal device 100 so that the imaging optical system 1a and the adapter optical system 1b are appropriately coupled. In the second embodiment, an illumination unit that illuminates the imaging target is further provided in the casing of the portable information terminal device so that a captured image to which a function is added with high image quality can be reliably acquired even when the imaging target is dark. ing.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of portable information terminal device 200 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the portable information terminal device 200 includes a housing 40 and a lid portion 42, and the lid portion 42 rotates about a hinge 41 as a rotation axis, and an operation function unit of the housing 40 is provided. Covering. The housing 40 includes an imaging optical system 44, an illumination unit 10 that illuminates an imaging target, and a fitting protrusion 48, and the lid 42 is an illumination that transmits the adapter optical system 45 and the light of the illumination unit 10. The transmission window 46 for use and the fitting hole 47 are provided. When the lid 42 is folded on the housing 40, the positions of the imaging optical system 44 and the adapter optical system 45 correspond, the positions of the illumination unit 10 and the illumination transmission window 46 correspond, and the fitting protrusion 48. And the fitting hole 47 correspond to each other.

  Therefore, when the lid 42 is folded on the housing 40, the fitting protrusion 48 and the fitting hole 47 are fitted, and the imaging optical system 44 and the adapter optical system 45 are coupled. Furthermore, the illumination unit 10 is covered by the illumination transmission window 48, but the illumination transmission window 48 is transparent, so that the light emitted from the illumination unit 10 passes through the illumination transmission window 48. Illumination unit 10 is controlled to be turned on by a hand switch (not shown) provided in the operation function unit to illuminate an imaging target, and imaging optical system 44 can acquire a captured image with a function with high image quality. .

  In the second embodiment, the illumination unit 10 and the illumination transmission window 48 are provided so that a captured image to which a function is added with high image quality can be acquired even when the imaging target is dark. Of course, the imaging optical system 44 can also perform imaging with a normal function without coupling the adapter optical system 45. Also in this case, the lighting of the illumination unit 10 can be controlled.

  In the second embodiment, the imaging optical system 44 is provided in the housing 40 and the adapter optical system 45 is provided in the lid 42. However, the adapter optical system 45 is provided in the housing 40 and the lid 42. An image pickup optical system 44 may be provided. The illumination unit 10 is realized by an LED or the like.

  Further, the portable information terminal device 100, 200 may be provided with a function of performing information communication without contact and reading an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag.

  The above-described portable information terminal devices 100 and 200 according to the first and second embodiments are realized by, for example, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, a mobile communication device, and a mobile PC.

It is a functional block diagram of the portable information terminal device concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the portable information terminal device concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the portable information terminal device concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the portable information terminal device concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the portable information terminal device concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the portable information terminal device concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of a personal digital assistant device without a fitting part. It is an expanded sectional view of a personal digital assistant device without a fitting part. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the portable information terminal device concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image pick-up part 1a, 44 Image pick-up optical system 1b, 45 Adapter optical system 1c Imager 1d, 2b Lens barrel 1e Lens barrel holding member 1f Conductor 2 Display part 2a Rib 2c Coil spring 2d Lever 2e, 16, 41 Hinge 2f Stopper 2g Leaf spring 2A LCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Input part 3a Operation key 4 Voice input / output part 4a Microphone 4b Speaker 7 External communication part 8 Memory part 9 Antenna 10 Illumination part 13 CPU
14, 14a, 14b, 40 Housing 15, 15a, 15b, 42 Lid 17 Switch drive protrusion 18, 48 Fitting protrusion 19a, 19b, 21a, 21b Housing 20, 48 Fitting hole 21 Detection switch 21c Transparent window 46 Illumination Transmission window 40, 41 screw 100, 200 portable information terminal device

Claims (7)

In a portable information terminal device having a folding mechanism, and having an imaging means for capturing an image in one housing folded by the folding mechanism,
A positioning means provided in the one casing and positioning the one casing and the other casing when the one casing and the other casing are folded;
An additional optical unit that is provided in the other casing and is coupled to the imaging unit to provide an additional optical system to the imaging unit when the one casing and the other casing are folded; ,
Interlocking means provided on the other casing, for coupling the additional optical means to the imaging means in conjunction with the positioning operation of the positioning means, and for detaching the additional optical means from the imaging means;
A portable information terminal device comprising:   2. The portable information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the additional optical unit is disposed at a position where the optical axis and the focal point are aligned with the imaging unit when the additional optical unit is positioned by the positioning unit. . The positioning means is formed by a convex protrusion provided in the one casing and a concave hole provided in the other casing and fitted into the convex protrusion.
The interlocking means has a protrusion inserted into the concave hole, and when the positioning means is positioned, the convex protrusion pushes out the protrusion, and the additional optical means is connected to the imaging means in conjunction with the push-out operation. The projection portion is inserted into the concave hole when the positioning means is released, and the additional optical means is detached from the imaging means in conjunction with the insertion operation. The portable information terminal device described in 1. The interlocking means is
A first spring that presses the additional optical means toward the imaging means;
A second spring having a spring force stronger than the spring force of the first spring, and pulling back the additional optical means from the imaging means side;
A rotatable lever that is provided with the protrusion at one end, the other end is connected to the second spring and the additional optical means is engaged with the other end;
And the other end of the lever is rotated toward the image pickup means by the pushing operation of the projecting portion when the one housing and the other housing are folded, and the spring force of the first spring The additional optical means is extended to the imaging means side, and the spring force of the second spring overcomes the first spring force with the insertion operation, and the other end of the lever moves from the imaging means side to the additional optical means side. 4. The portable information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the portable information terminal device rotates to pull back the additional optical means from the imaging means.   The portable information terminal device according to claim 4, wherein the second spring is a coil spring.   The portable information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination unit that illuminates the imaging target. The illumination means includes
A light source disposed in the one housing and illuminating the imaging target side;
A transmission means arranged in the other casing and transmitting illumination light emitted from the light source to the outside of the casing;
The portable information terminal device according to claim 6, further comprising:

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