WO2011141930A1

WO2011141930A1 - Portable electronic device having rotatable

Info

Publication number: WO2011141930A1
Application number: PCT/IN2011/000325
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rohan Pandey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-12
Filing date: 2011-05-10
Publication date: 2011-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-12
Also published as: WO2011141930A9

Abstract

Portable electronic device having rotatable camera (301) mounted on a small cylindrical shaft (302), facilitating rotation of a camera in more than one direction about the hinge axis, wherein a rotation of the shaft by 180 rotation of the camera lenses is allowed in order for the viewing angle to increase from front to rear without moving the display panel, where a tilt sensor determines the angle of the digital camera and issues the corresponding command the focus thus is set automatically for taking a photograph by autofocus (AF), when the camera lens detects an object, and, if required, rotates the image which is thereafter displayed on the LCD screen.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to portable electronic device having rotatabie camera and, more particularly to a method and apparatus to control the pan and/or tilt of rotatabie camera which is incorporated into a hand-held portable electronic device.

Background of the Invention

Data capture devices such as digital camera, in particular, have become quite popular. A digital camera records and feeds images in the electronic devices in digital form. A digital camera generally includes a sensor that converts light into electrical charges. There have been many portable devices like various mobile communication terminals and also computing devices such as laptops/netbooks which can reproduce high quality audio and video and take high quality photographs. But the above mentioned digital devices have not solved the following problems and/or issues which are very essential for efficient Data Capture.

1. Photograph can be captured only when the camera is directed towards the object:

2. taking photographs at different angles is not possible

3. does not display the image to a viewer both when imaging in a first direction away from the viewer as well as displaying image in a second direction towards the viewer,

4. extra wiring and more physical space, when a mobile terminal uses dual camera

Object of the invention

The biggest hurdle arises in the related art camera mounted terminals since photographing is generally done using only one camera and position of the camera with respect to the display is fixed on the related art camera mounted terminals. An object can be photographed only when the camera is directed towards the object. When a user wants to take a photograph at different angles, the display also moves along with the camera. This makes it difficult for the user to view and check the image before taking the photograph. For example, when using a related art camera mounted mobile communication terminal, if a user wants to take a photograph of oneself, the user needs to turn the mobile terminal to direct the camera towards the user. On doing this, the display is also turned on the other side and the user is not able to view and check the image before taking the photograph. Similar problem arises when using a related art camera mounted laptop or netbook device. When a user is working on a laptop/netbook device, the camera on top of the lid is directed towards the user and the user can take his photograph and/or record a video of the user. If a user needs to take a photograph and/or record a video in a direction away from the user, he needs to direct the camera and the display screen away from the user.

There are camera attached mobile terminals having two cameras for taking photographs in both front and rear directions, which, increases the size of the device as two cameras in the device require extra wiring and more physical space. Also, it can take photographs only for front and rear scenery and not at any other angle which a user may wish to.

The related art camera mounted communication terminals or the laptop/netbook devices have a camera and its position is fixed with respect to the display, due to which the viewing area of the camera becomes fixed hence making it difficult for a user to take photographs or record videos at different angles.

Various portable devices mobile communication terminals and also computing devices such as laptops/netbooks which can reproduce high quality audio and video and take high quality photographs are available. Thus the present invention fulfills the long felt need of a camera attached portable electronic device utilizing a single camera with which a user can view, check and take photographs or record videos at various angles keeping the image display always in a viewable position.

Thus the object of the present invention is to utilize a single camera with which a user can view, check and take photographs or record videos at various angles keeping the image display always in a viewable position.

Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings

We shall now describe the invention with reference to accomapanying drawing which are given for the sake of illustration, but do not restrict the scope of present invention.

Fig. 1A is a front view of a camera mounted mobile communication terminal;

Fig. IB is a back view of a camera mounted mobile communication terminal;

Fig. 1C is a perspective view of a camera mounted laptop or netbook computing device; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of portable electronic device having a rotatable camera in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, by means of an example, how a user shall be using the portable electronic device having a rotatable camera according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a magnified view of the rotatable shaft on which camera is mounted and the hinge structure about which camera can rotate in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the functioning of camera in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of portable electronic device having a rotatable camera placed on a surface in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the shaft and the mounted camera depicting the camera field of vision with the rotation of shaft according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6B is a cross sectional view of the shaft and the mounted camera depicting the field of vision as the camera rotates about the hinge according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 7A and 7B depict, by means of an example, the camera functionality of displaying the image in an upright configuration at all camera positions. Detailed Description of the present embodiment

Fig. 1A and Fig. IB show the front and backside of a mobile communication terminal with a camera mounted for taking photographs. Fig. 2 gives a perspective view of the camera mounted laptop or netbook device. As shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. IB, a related art comprises of a main body 100 with a display 101 where a user can view the photograph to be taken when using the camera 102 which can be controlled by a combination of buttons on the keypad 103. The camera is generally installed on the backside of the main body opposite to the display section. When a user takes a photograph, the user directs the camera towards the object and can check the image on the display screen. After checking, the user may take the photograph by manipulating some buttons on the keypad or by some other button installed on the main body. The display screen can be a touchscreen in some embodiments allowing a user to take a photograph by touching the operational button on the display screen. In other embodiments, the keypad is placed on the main body while the display is installed onto a folder with a camera on the outer surface of the folder. This folder is attached to the main body with a hinge structure and can rotate about the main body in one direction. In this system, the user generally opens the folder to view the image on the display screen. The user can take the photograph using the keypad on the main body or by using some other key.

Fig. 1C is a perspective view of a related art camera mounted laptop or netbook device. It comprises of a main body 200 with a keyboard 201, a trackpad 202 and a foldable lid 204 having a display screen 205. The lid is hinged to the main body at the upper end of the main body and is free to rotate in one direction. On the upper portion of the lid, just above the screen, a camera 203 is installed. A user can use this camera to take photographs or record a video when the lid is in open mode and the camera is directed towards the user. A user may optionally use the camera for telecasting live video when connected to the internet. Referring to Fig. 2, the portable electronic device 700 comprises of a main body 310 housing a processor which is configured to execute coded instructions. For example, processor may manipulate input operations and execute computer code to display the output on the display screen 400 that is operatively coupled to the processor. The display screen with touchscreen is configured to display a user interface and displays perhaps a cursor in order to take inputs using an optional trackpad installed at the backside of the main body as an alternate method of user input. The portable electronic device includes other input/output circuitry that is configured to control functions of other input/output devices which may be internal or peripheral. For example, the input/output devices may include disk drives, memory, keyboard, speakers, microphones, video camera, music players and the like. A digital camera 301 with autofocus (AF) functionality having a lens 501 is installed in the centre at the upper portion of the main body and a user can rotate the camera 301 and position it at different angles, including front and rear directions, and check the image on screen and take the photograph. The rotatable camera 301 is mounted on a small cylindrical shaft. This shaft can be rotated to allow a 180 rotation of the camera lens (can be increased as per the requirements). This way the allowed viewing angle increases from front to rear without moving the display panel.

The portable electronic device 700 can be handled as shown in Fig. 3. This example shows both hands in operation, with a user holding the device using palms of the both hands providing support to the portable electronic device 700. The portable electronic device can be used with only one hand, with the device placed on a surface. In this example, left hand 811 is being used for holding the device and right hand 812 for navigation/clicking/tapping on the display screen. In this configuration, the camera 301 is directed in front direction towards the user. A user can rotate the camera and position it at different angles to direct it away in other directions including rear direction opposite to the user. Fig. 4 shows a magnified view of the cylindrical shaft 302 on which a digital camera 301 is mounted and is fixed to the shaft by means of a hinge 303. A user can rotate the camera by pressing the camera and rotating the shaft and/or by rotating the camera about the axis of the hinge.

Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of the functioning of camera according to one embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not restricted to a particular digital camera technology and is applicable to all. When the camera lens detects an object, the focus is set automatically for taking a photograph by autofocus. The light is let into the digital camera 301 through the lens 501 and it falls on an image sensor or a charged- couple device (CCD) 502 converting light into electric charges. These charges are stored as analog data that are then converted to digital via an analog digital converter (ADC) 503. The digital output is processed by an image processor or a digital signal processor 504. A tilt sensor 505 determines the angle of the digital camera and issues the corresponding command and, if required, rotates the image which is thereafter displayed on the LCD screen 400. An image can be saved by a user in a memory device 506 for future use.

Figs. 6, 6A and 6B explain how the field of vision changes as the camera is rotated by rotating the shaft and/or by rotating about the hinge axis. Fig. 6 gives a perspective view of the portable electronic device while the device is kept on a surface. Fig. 6 A shows the cross-sectional view of the cylindrical shaft and the mounted camera corresponding to the configuration shown in Fig. 6 and the configurations when the shaft is rotated twice by an angle of 90 degrees each in the direction shown. Vision fields 11, 12 and 13 are the examples of what the camera 301 would be able to view in various configurations. Fig. 6B shows the rotation of camera about the hinge axis. Vision fields 21, 22 and 23 are the examples of what the camera 301 would be able to view in various configurations when camera is rotated about the hinge axis. This example shows how a user can use the camera for viewing oneself even when the portable electronic device is kept on a surface. These two types of methods of rotation - by means of shaft and about hinge axis - can be combined to get wider field of vision without moving the display screen 400.

The image on the screen is viewable in the upright position at all angles. As shown in Fig. 7 A, when the user is viewing the image with the camera directed in the front direction towards the user, the image of the object 51 in field of vision 31 is depicted on the display screen 400. In this configuration, the image on the display is in an upright position. When a user rotates the camera by 180 degrees, as shown in Fig. 7B the image that is visible on the screen is the object 52 located in the field of vision 32 which is opposite to the user. When the camera is rotated and is directed towards the rear side, the image formed by the camera is rotated by a tilt sensor to give a non-inverted view on the display screen 400. There are two sensors installed, the first sensor detects the angle of inclination of the portable electronic device with respect to earth i.e. the angle between the plane of the main body 310 of the portable electronic device and the ground, and the second sensor detects the angle of inclination of the rotatable camera 301 with respect to the main body 310 of the portable electronic device. For example, an accelerometer can be used to measure the tilt of the portable electronic device. Using these two angle measures, the absolute angle of camera 301 with respect to earth is calculated and as per encoded instructions, if required, the image is rotated before displaying on the display screen 400. Hence, to a user the image on the display screen is always in the upright position and the user can conveniently take the photograph. Summary of the nvention

The present invention relates to a portable electronic device and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus to control the pan and/or tilt of rotatable video camera which is incorporated into a handheld portable electronic device. This rotatable camera can be used for taking photographs at various angles including front and rear directions. The terminal is designed in such a way that the camera can be rotated and directed towards objects at various angles without rotating the display, thus making it convenient for a user to view and check the image before taking the photograph.

According to the present invention there is provided Portable electronic device having rotatable camera (301) mounted on a small cylindrical shaft (302), facilitating rotation of a camera in more than one direction about the hinge axis, wherein a rotation of the shaft by 180 rotation of the camera lenses is allowed in order for the viewing angle to increase from front to rear without moving the display panel, where a tilt sensor determines the angle of the digital camera and issues the corresponding command the focus thus is set automatically for taking a photograph by autofocus (AF), when the camera lens detects an object, and, if required, rotates the image which is thereafter displayed on the LCD screen. The said portable electronic device (700) comprises of a main body (310) housing a processor which is configured to execute coded instructions. For example, processor, may manipulate input operations and execute computer code to display the output on the display screen (400) that is operatively coupled to the processor, the display screen with touchscreen is configured to display a user interface and displays perhaps a cursor in order to take inputs using an optional trackpad installed at the backside of the main body as an alternate method of user input

The said portable electronic device includes other input/output circuitry that is configured to control functions of other input/output devices which may be internal or peripheral. For example, the input/output devices may include disk drives, memory, keyboard, speakers, microphones, video camera, music players and the like, a digital camera (301) with autofocus (AF) functionality having a lens (501) installed in the centre at the upper portion of the main body so that a user can rotate the camera (301) and position it at different angles, including front and rear directions, and check the image on screen and take the photograph.

The rotatable camera (301) is mounted on a small cylindrical shaft, this shaft which can be rotated to allow a 180 rotation of the camera lens.

All types of methods of rotation - by means of shaft and about hinge axis - are combined to get wider field of vision without moving the display screen.

The image on the screen is viewable in the upright position at all angles.

There is plurality of sensors installed, the first sensor detects the angle of inclination of the portable electronic device with respect to earth, and the second sensor detects the angle of inclination of the rotatable camera with respect to the main body of the portable electronic device.

The portable handheld electronic terminal of the present invention preferably comprises of a digital camera 301 with autofocus (AF) functionality having a lens 501 and mounted on a small cylindrical shaft 302 installed at the central portion of the upper part of the main body 310. The cylindrical shaft can be rotated thereby rotating the camera about the main body in one direction. The camera is hinged at a single point to the shaft and can rotate in a second direction about the hinge point. In addition to rotation of camera by rotating the shaft on which the camera is mounted, the camera can be rotated in one more direction about the hinge axis.

A user can rotate the camera by rotating the cylindrical shaft and/or by rotating the camera about the hinge axis and direct it towards the object to be photographed keeping the display in the same position.

The display screen 400 of the portable handheld electronic device is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel with touchscreen. The user can then manipulate the operational buttons on the display screen to take photographs. An optional trackpad can also be provided at the backside of the main body for alternate input operations.

While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, there are alterations, permutations and equivalents, which fall in the scope of this invention. For example, although the invention is primarily directed at a rotatable camera in a handheld portable electronic device, it should be noted that the concepts disclosed herein can be extended to other electronic devices including but not limited to laptop computers, music players, mobile phones and the like.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. Portable electronic device having rotatable camera (301) mounted on a small cylindrical shaft (302), facilitating rotation of a camera in more than one direction about the hinge axis, wherein a rotation of the shaft by 180 or more rotation of the camera lenses is allowed in order for the viewing angle to increase from front to rear without moving the display panel, where a tilt sensor determines the angle of the digital camera and issues the corresponding command the focus thus is set automatically for taking a photograph by autofocus (AF), when the camera lens detects an object, and, if required, rotates the image which is thereafter displayed on the LCD screen.

2. Portable electronic device having rotatable camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said portable electronic device (700) comprises of a main body (310) housing a processor which is configured to execute coded instructions. For example, processor, may manipulate input operations and execute computer code to display the output on the display screen (400) that is operatively coupled to the processor, the display screen with touchscreen is configured to display a user interface and displays perhaps a cursor in order to take inputs using an optional trackpad installed at the backside of the main body as an alternate method of user input.

3. Portable electronic device having rotatable camera as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the said portable electronic device includes other input/output circuitry that is configured to control functions of other input/output devices which may be internal or peripheral. For example, the input/output devices may include disk drives, memory, keyboard, speakers, microphones, video camera, music players and the like, a digital camera (301) with autofocus (AF) functionality having a lens (501) installed in the centre at the upper portion of the main body so that a user can rotate the camera (301) and position it at different angles, including front and rear directions, and check the image on screen and take the photograph.

4. Portable electronic device having rotatable camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotatable camera (301) is mounted on a small cylindrical shaft, this shaft which can be rotated to allow a 180 or more rotation of the camera lens.

5. Portable electronic device having rotatable camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein all types of methods of rotation - by means of shaft and about hinge axis - are combined to get wider field of vision without moving the display screen.

6. Portable electronic device having rotatable camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the image on the screen is viewable in the upright position at all angles.

7. Portable electronic device having rotatable camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein there are plurality of sensors installed, the first sensor detects the angle of inclination of the portable electronic device with respect to earth, and the second sensor detects the angle of inclination of the rotatable camera with respect to the main body of the portable electronic device.