U.S. patent application number 11/076709 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-14 for mobile communications.
Invention is credited to Fisher, Graham.
Application Number | 20050151877 11/076709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 10865071 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050151877 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fisher, Graham |
July 14, 2005 |
Mobile communications
Abstract
A mobile videophone capable of transmitting and receiving
information in mobile telecommunications systems, particularly
cellular radio networks, is disclosed. The videophone includes a
first portion and a second portion, the second portion being
rotatable with respect to the first portion, the second portion
including a camera for image capture, the camera including a lens,
the second portion being rotatable with respect to the first
portion from a first position in which the camera lens is protected
by said first portion, to a second position in which the first
portion does not protect the camera lens
Inventors: |
Fisher, Graham; (Somerset,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
10865071 |
Appl. No.: |
11/076709 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11076709 |
Mar 9, 2005 |
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10148508 |
Sep 23, 2002 |
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6876379 |
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10148508 |
Sep 23, 2002 |
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PCT/GB00/04482 |
Nov 24, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/373 ;
348/E7.079 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 2007/145 20130101;
H04N 7/142 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/373 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/225 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 24, 1999 |
GB |
9927796.4 |
Claims
1. A mobile telephone handset including a body portion and a
housing rotatable with respect to the body portion, wherein the
housing includes a camera for image capture, and the handset
includes an image inversion function enabling, in the case of
rotation of the housing with respect to the body portion, inversion
of an image produced by the camera.
2. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
housing has a substantially cylindrical shape with a cylindrical
side, and wherein the camera includes a lens built into the
cylindrical side of the housing.
3. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 2, wherein the
housing is mounted to the body portion such that the cylindrical
side surrounds an axis about which the housing is rotatable.
4. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
body portion has a lower end and an upper end, wherein the housing
is mounted at the upper end, and wherein the microphone is mounted
at the lower end.
5. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
body portion has a front surface, and wherein the housing is
rotatable from a first position, in which the camera is directed
forward from the body portion, to a second position, in which the
camera is directed rearward from the body portion.
6. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
image inversion function is controlled based at least in part on a
rotational position of the camera.
7. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 6, wherein the
image inversion function is responsive to rotation of the housing
with respect to the body portion beyond a predetermined
position.
8. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
housing is mounted to a side of the body portion, and wherein the
housing projects from the side of the body portion.
9. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
handset is responsive to rotation of the housing to switch on the
camera.
10. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
housing is rotatable with respect to the body portion by at least
approximately 180 degrees.
11. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 10, wherein the
housing is rotatable with respect to the body portion by
approximately 270 degrees.
12. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
telephone handset is configured with videophone capabilities.
13. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
handset is configured to transmit an image captured by the camera
from the mobile telephone handset to a remote party.
14. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 13, wherein the
image inversion function is configured to invert an image produced
by the camera before the image is transmitted to the remote
party.
15. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein the
image inversion function includes a data processing function for
performing the image inversion.
16. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 15, wherein the
handset includes a camera interface which provides a digital
representation of an image produced by the camera, and wherein the
camera interface includes the image inversion function.
17. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 15, wherein the
handset includes a video codec, and wherein the video codec
includes the image inversion function.
18. A method of controlling image capture on a mobile telephone
handset, wherein the handset includes a body portion and a
rotatable housing, wherein the housing includes a camera for image
capture, the method comprising: rotating the housing with respect
to the body portion, and at least in dependence on the rotation,
performing an image inversion process in which an image produced by
the camera is inverted.
19. The method of controlling image capture according to claim 18,
further comprising controlling the image inversion process in
dependence on a rotational position of the camera.
20. The method of controlling image capture according to claim 19,
further comprising controlling the image inversion process in
response to rotation of the housing with respect to the body
portion beyond a predetermined position.
21. The method of controlling image capture according to claim 18,
comprising transmitting the image to a remote party after
conducting the image inversion process.
22. The method of controlling image capture according to claim 18,
comprising conducting the image inversion process after the image
is captured by the camera.
23. A mobile telephone handset comprising a body portion and a
rotatable housing, the body portion including a microphone and the
housing including a camera for image capture, wherein the housing
has a substantially cylindrical shape with a cylindrical side,
wherein the housing is mounted to the body portion such that the
cylindrical side surrounds an axis about which the housing is
rotatable, and wherein the camera comprises a lens built into the
cylindrical side of the housing, wherein the body portion has a
lower end and an upper end, the housing being mounted at the upper
end of the body portion and the microphone being mounted at the
lower end of the body portion, and wherein the handset includes an
image inversion flnction enabling, in the case of rotation of the
housing with respect to the body portion, inversion of an image
produced by the camera.
24. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 23, wherein the
image inverter function is controllable at least in dependence on a
rotational position of the camera.
25. The mobile telephone handset according to claim 24, wherein the
image inversion function is responsive to rotation of the housing
with respect to the body portion beyond a predetermined position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/148508 entitled "MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS"
filed on Sep. 23, 2002. The disclosure of the above-described filed
application is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a portable image capture device
including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion
being rotatable with respect to the first portion, the second
portion including a camera for image capture. More specifically but
not exclusively, the invention relates to portable videophones
capable of receiving and transmitting information in mobile
telecommunications systems, such as cellular radio networks. Such
devices may be referred to as mobile videophones.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Technology
[0005] The inclusion of a video camera and display in a mobile
telephone handset so as to allow mobile video-conferencing has been
proposed in various documents.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,444 (AT&T) describes a communicator
having an openable cover which contains an LCD-type display and a
video camera. In this document, the video camera is reorientable
when the cover is open, and the communicator includes mechanical
apparatus interactive with the closing of the cover to reset the
camera to a standard position after use.
[0007] A further form of mobile videophone is proposed in PCT
publication number WO97/26744. This document describes a portable
telephone having a display and a camera mounted in the main body of
the phone. The camera is mounted on a rotational pivot to enable it
to receive images from various directions.
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
portable handheld image capture device including a first portion
and a second portion, the second portion being rotatable with
respect to the first portion, the second portion including a camera
for image capture, the camera including a lens, the first portion
including a display for viewing images captured by the camera, the
second portion being rotatable with respect to the first portion
from a first position, in which the camera lens is protected by
said first portion, to a second position in which the first portion
does not protect the camera lens.
[0009] According to a further aspect of the invention there is
provided a portable handheld image capture device including a first
portion and a second portion, the second portion being rotatable
with respect to the first portion, the second portion including a
camera for image capture, the second portion being rotatable with
respect to the first portion from a first position to a second
position, wherein said device includes means responsive to rotation
of said first portion with respect to said second portion from said
first position to switch on said camera.
[0010] According to an additional aspect of the invention there is
provided a mobile telephone handset including a body portion and a
housing rotatable with respect to the body portion, wherein the
housing includes a camera for image capture and the handset
includes an image inversion function enabling, in the case of
rotation of the housing with respect to the body portion, inversion
of an image produced by the camera. In certain embodiments, the
housing has a substantially cylindrical shape with a cylindrical
side, wherein the camera includes a lens built into the cylindrical
side of the housing.
[0011] According to a further aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of controlling image capture on a mobile
telephone handset, wherein the handset includes a body portion and
a rotatable housing, wherein the housing includes a camera for
image capture, and wherein the method comprises rotating the
housing with respect to the body portion, and, at least in
dependence on the rotation, performing an image inversion process
in which an image produced by the camera is inverted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the following, in which an embodiment of the invention will
now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the functional
elements of a videophone in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of videophone in
accordance with the invention; and
[0015] FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a camera portion of
the videophone shown in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of the main
functional elements which may be included commonly to the different
embodiments of the invention, which elements are each individually
known and will not be described in detail herein. A main processor
36 may be a conventional programmable microprocessor, or a special
purpose or specially configured unit (e.g. a digital signal
processor) could alternatively be used. A read-only memory (ROM) 38
is connected to the processor 36 for the storage of control
programs, data and images. The ROM 38 can be implemented by any
appropriate technology, for example, by a flash PROM. A
random-access memory (RAM) 40 is connected to the processor 36 via
a bus 42, is used as a working storage and for the storage of data
and images captured using a CCD video camera 24.
[0017] Signals relating to the data captured by the camera are
passed via a camera interface 44 to the processor 36 to be
processed. The camera interface 44 also provides the video codec 46
with a digital representation of the captured data from the camera
24, where it can be suitably processed for display and/or
transmission to the mobile communications system. An indicator
light may be connected to the processor to report successful
capture of data and/or images from the camera 24 and may also be
used during video conferencing to indicate the correct usage of the
device.
[0018] The camera interface 44 carries out all the necessary signal
conditioning as required on receiving images from the camera 24.
Signal conditioning will depend on the exact configuration of the
camera but preferably comprises signal conditioning to enable
accurate analogue to digital conversion with sufficient buffering
of the captured data. The camera 24 will include all the necessary
support circuitry to produce a fully functional camera delivering a
fully formatted video signal. The camera 24 may also include
circuitry to regulate the voltage for power supply control and a
suitable output buffer to directly drive a standard VDU should the
videophone be connected to an external device.
[0019] The camera 24 is rotatably mounted on the videophone to
allow adjustment of the orientation of the camera to enable the
user to point the camera in alternative directions. The positioning
of the camera 24 can be adjusted manually. The rotational position
of the camera is detected by a rotation sensor, which feeds an
output to the processor 36 whereby operation of the camera may be
controlled in dependence on the rotational position of the camera.
The processor 36 may switch the camera on in response to rotational
movement of the camera. The processor may also control an image
manipulation to flip an image produced by the camera in response to
detection of the camera in a certain rotational position or range
of positions. Such an image inversion is preferably performed by
means of software-based data processing in the videophone before
the image data is transmitted to the other party.
[0020] The on/off button 29 is connected via a suitable interface
to a power control module 50. The power control module 50 responds
to the operation of this button in a powered down state to connect
the battery 32 to the processor 36. The power control module 50 may
also control the charging of the battery 32. The power control
module 50 will also control the power requirements when a standard
AC/DC power supply is connected to the videophone.
[0021] A display interface 52 connects a graphics display 26 via
the bus 42 to the processor 36. The display interface 52 responds
to instructions from the processor 136 to drive the built-in
display 26 in a conventional manner. The display interface 52 may
also incorporate the necessary circuitry to drive a standard
external video display unit via a suitable connector 54. The
display is capable of displaying still and/or video images captured
by the camera 24.
[0022] The display 26 is provided with a touch-screen. A
touch-screen interface 55 couples the touch-sensitive display 26 to
the processor 36 via the bus 42. The touch-screen is a device
independent of the video display 26, for example, a transparent
touch-screen membrane is placed over the display 26 and connected
appropriately.
[0023] The processor 36 can be arranged to transmit to the display
26 a menu of user selectable items, and to be responsive to a
location at which the screen is touched for input of the user
selection of an item. The touch-sensitive screen can then thus be
used as a dynamic and reconfigurable user interface. Touch-screen
entry can be used in place of or in addition to the entry's
commands from an external keyboard or voice command if appropriate.
Additionally, the touch-screen area can be configured as a general
purpose scribing area to allow entry of data and written
commands.
[0024] An audio interface 56 connects the audio receiver means,
consisting of one or more microphones 18 and audio transmitter
means such as one or more ear-pieces and/or speakers 16 to the
processor 36 and carries out all the necessary signal conditioning
as required to output audio signals and to receive audio
signals.
[0025] The videophone includes infra-red data reception and
transmission capabilities and a suitable infra-red interface 60 is
provided. The infra-red interface connects an infra-red port to the
processor 36 via the bus 42.
[0026] A radio-frequency (RF) interface 62 is also connected via
the bus 42 to convert any data to be transmitted into signals for
driving an RF transmitter 64, and converts signals from an RF
receiver 66 into data to be passed via the bus to the relevant
interfaces. The RF transmitter 64 and the RF receiver 66 are
connected to a radio antenna 28. This RF interface 62 consequently
enables wireless communications between the videophone and the
mobile communications system, to allow the transmission and
reception of still and/or video images to and from other similar
videophones via the mobile communications system.
[0027] The processor 36 is programmed by means of control programs
and data stored in the ROM 38 and in use, the RAM 40, to receive
signals from the camera 24 via camera interface 44, to interpret
those signals and to derive data therefrom which are displayed on
display 26 and which can be stored in the RAM 40 or any other
suitable memory device.
[0028] Other interfaces may be included to increase the flexibility
of the unit, for example, RS232 interface 58 may be included, for
transmitting and receiving data in RS232 format. The RS232
interface enables the processor 36 to be connected via the bus 42
to allow the connection of other compatible devices to the
videophone through a standard RS232 cable.
[0029] Depending on the refresh rate used and the number of pixels
used in the images, video image data transmitted and received by
the videophone may require compression for transfer via a low data
rate radio channel, such as those currently available in known
cellular radio networks. The video data may be compressed using the
MPEG-4 standard. Alternatively, the video images captured may be
compressed into a different format suitable for transmitting the
data derived across the mobile communications system, such as that
disclosed in International Patent Publication WO95/20296.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a plan view from above of an embodiment of a
portable videophone 100 in accordance with the invention. The
videophone includes a main body portion 102 housing the display 26
on its front surface. A generally cylindrical camera housing 104 is
rotatably mounted to the body portion 102. The camera is housed
behind a lens 106 which is built in to the housing 104. The body
portion 102 is generally elongate and has an upper end 108, in the
area of which the housing 104 projects from the left side of the
body 102. A protective shoulder 110 located at the upper end 108
projects from the same side of the body 102 above the housing 104,
and is arranged to fit flush with the upper surface of the
projecting part of the housing 104. An earpiece housing a
loudspeaker 16 is located on the front surface of the body 102 in
the area of the upper end 108. The body 102 has a lower end 112 in
the area of which a mouthpiece housing a microphone 18 and control
buttons 114 are located.
[0031] The housing 104 is rotatable about an axis generally
perpendicular to the upper end 108 of the body 102, from a
protected position in which the camera is directed towards the
upper end 108 and the lens is hidden behind the shoulder 110,
clockwise (when viewed from the left side of the body 102) through
a position in which the camera is directed towards the front of the
body 102, a position in which the camera is directed towards the
lower end 112, and a position in which the camera is directed
towards the rear of the body 102. The housing is thus rotatable
through at least 270 degrees.
[0032] The shoulder 110 generally protects the housing 104, and in
particular acts as a rigidly mounted lens cap to protect the camera
lens 104 when the housing is rotated to the protected position,
which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. As further shown in
FIG. 3, the housing 104 also includes a frictional contact means
116, producing greater frictional force on manual manipulation than
the remainder of the housing 104, at the outer periphery of the
housing 104. The frictional contact means may for example be in the
form of a rubber o-ring securely held on the housing 104.
[0033] The rotation sensor 48 is capable of sensing when the
housing 104 is located in the protected position, in response to
which the processor 36 may automatically switch off the camera 24.
Similarly, when the housing 104 is rotated from the protected
position, the processor may automatically switch on the camera 24.
Furthermore, the rotation sensor 48 is capable of sensing when the
camera is directed towards the rear of the body portion, in
response to which the processor may initiate an image inversion, or
flip, to be carried out at the camera interface 44 or the video
codec 46 before the image is coded by the codec 46.
[0034] The invention is not limited in application to videophones.
Aspects of the invention may be implemented in other types of
portable devices, such as still and video cameras.
[0035] It is to be understood that the embodiments described above
are preferred embodiments only. Namely, various features may be
omitted, modified or substituted by equivalents without departing
from the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the
accompanying claims.
* * * * *