US6697117B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folded compact image capture apparatus
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1998-12-22
•
Granted: 2004-02-24
•
Expires: 2018-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A digital still camera includes a main body; a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel coupled rotatably to an end portion of the main body of the camera in such a manner that a display portion thereof faces said main body; and a lens housing inserted rotatably and independently into a space formed in a portion where the main body and the LCD panel are coupled.
Inventors
- 👤 Ji-yun Park
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0206; H04M1/0208; H04M1/0214; H04M1/0216; H04M1/0218; G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00281; H04N1/00307; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/51; H04M1/026; H04M1/0264; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/52; H04N2101/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
An image capture apparatus, comprising: a main member having an inner face and a cover face opposite said inner face; a display support member having a front face and a back face opposite said front face, a display screen being disposed on said front face, said display support member and said main member being rotatably coupled together at a coupling end such that at least one of said display support member and said main member is rotatable so as to allow said image capture apparatus to be in a folded position, in which said inner face and said front face oppose each other in substantially parallel planes, and in an unfolded position, in which said cover face and said back face are angled relative to each other; and a lens housing having enclosed therein a lens for capturing an image of an object, said lens housing being rotatable independently of the rotation of at least one of said main member and said display support member so as to allow said lens to be visibly exposed when said image capture apparatus is in said folded position, wherein: said lens housing is disposed in a cut-out portion formed in both said main body member and said display member, and said cut-out portion is located in proximity of said coupling end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
An image capture apparatus, comprising: a main member having an inner face and a cover face opposite said inner face; a display support member having a front face and a back face opposite said front face, a display screen being disposed on said front face, said display support member and said main member being rotatably coupled together at a coupling end such that at least one of said display support member and said main member is rotatable so as to allow said image capture apparatus to be in a folded position, in which said inner face and said front face oppose each other in substantially parallel planes, and in an unfolded position, in which said cover face and said back face are angled relative to each other; and a lens housing having enclosed therein a lens for capturing an image of an object, said lens housing being rotatable independently of the rotation of at least one of said main member and said display support member so as to allow said lens to be visibly exposed when said image capture apparatus is in said folded position, wherein: said lens housing is disposed in a cut-out portion formed in both said main body member and said display member, and said cut-out portion is located in proximity of said coupling end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The image capture apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: said main member includes at least one operation key disposed thereon for controlling said image capture apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
235 words
An image capture apparatus, comprising: a main member having an inner face and a cover face opposite said inner face; a display support member having a front face and a back face opposite said front face, a display screen being disposed on said front face, said display support member and said main member being rotatably coupled together at a coupling end such that at least one of said display support member and said main member is rotatable so as to allow said image capture apparatus to be in a folded position, in which said inner face and said front face oppose each other in substantially parallel planes, and in an unfolded position, in which said cover face and said back face are angled relative to each other; and a lens housing having enclosed therein a lens for capturing an image of an object, said lens housing being rotatable independently of the rotation of at least one of said main member and said display support member so as to allow said lens to be visibly exposed when said image capture apparatus is in said folded position wherein: said main member includes at least one operation key disposed thereon for controlling said image capture apparatus, said lens housing is disposed in a cut-out portion formed in both said main body member and said display member, and said cut-out portion is located in proximity of said coupling end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
235 words
An image capture apparatus, comprising: a main member having an inner face and a cover face opposite said inner face; a display support member having a front face and a back face opposite said front face, a display screen being disposed on said front face, said display support member and said main member being rotatably coupled together at a coupling end such that at least one of said display support member and said main member is rotatable so as to allow said image capture apparatus to be in a folded position, in which said inner face and said front face oppose each other in substantially parallel planes, and in an unfolded position, in which said cover face and said back face are angled relative to each other; and a lens housing having enclosed therein a lens for capturing an image of an object, said lens housing being rotatable independently of the rotation of at least one of said main member and said display support member so as to allow said lens to be visibly exposed when said image capture apparatus is in said folded position wherein: said main member includes at least one operation key disposed thereon for controlling said image capture apparatus, said lens housing is disposed in a cut-out portion formed in both said main body member and said display member, and said cut-out portion is located in proximity of said coupling end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The image capture apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein: said coupling end comprises at least one hinge, which includes a coupling pin, said lens housing being fixedly mounted on, and thereby rotating together with, said coupling pin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The image capture apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein: said coupling pin includes a protrusion portion that extends outwardly beyond an edge of said main member, said protrusion portion comprising a manual rotation unit to rotate the lens housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image capture apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein: said lens housing has a round shape, said cut-out portion being a first semicircular recess formed in said main member and a second semicircular recess formed in said display support member.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus, comprising: a first portion, comprising: a front face, and a back face; a second portion, comprising: a front face, a display on the front face of the second portion, and a back face; a lens; a housing to house the lens, the housing being inserted in a cutout extending from the front to the back faces of both of the first portion and the second portion; and a hinge between the first and second portions and attached to the housing to allow independent rotation of the housing relative to the first and second portions, the cutout accommodating the lens housing and not the hinge.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus, comprising: a first portion, comprising: a front face, and a back face; a second portion, comprising: a front face, a display on the front face of the second portion, and a back face; a lens; a housing to house the lens, the housing being inserted in a cutout extending from the front to the back faces of both of the first portion and the second portion; and a hinge between the first and second portions and attached to the housing to allow independent rotation of the housing relative to the first and second portions, the cutout accommodating the lens housing and not the hinge.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus, comprising: a first portion, comprising: a front face, and a back face; a second portion, comprising: a front face, a display on the front face of the second portion, and a back face; a lens; a housing to house the lens, the housing being inserted in a cutout extending from the front to the back faces of both the first portion and the second portion; and a rotating unit to allow independent rotation of the housing relative to the first and second portions, the cutout accommodating the housing and not the rotating unit, wherein the rotating unit is not within the cutout.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus, comprising: a first portion, comprising: a front face, and a back face; a second portion, comprising: a front face, a display on the front face of the second portion, and a back face; a lens; a housing to house the lens, the housing being inserted in a cutout extending from the front to the back faces of both the first portion and the second portion; and a rotating unit to allow independent rotation of the housing relative to the first and second portions, the cutout accommodating the housing and not the rotating unit, wherein the rotating unit is not within the cutout.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the rotating unit is a hinge.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus, comprising: a first portion, comprising: a front face, and a back face; a second portion, comprising: a front face, a display on the front face of the second portion, and a back face; a lens; a housing to house the lens, the housing being inserted in a cutout extending from the front to the back faces of both the first portion and the second portion; and a rotating unit to allow independent rotation of the housing relative to the first and second portions, the cutout accommodating the housing and not the rotating unit, wherein the rotating unit is between the first and second portions.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus, comprising: a first portion, comprising: a front face, and a back face; a second portion, comprising: a front face, a display on the front face of the second portion, and a back face; a lens; a housing to house the lens, the housing being inserted in a cutout extending from the front to the back faces of both the first portion and the second portion; and a rotating unit to allow independent rotation of the housing relative to the first and second portions, the cutout accommodating the housing and not the rotating unit, wherein the rotating unit is between the first and second portions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5491507A
Cited
US5898600A
Cited
US5903706A
Cited
US6141052A
Cited
US6445417B1
Cited
JPH1065780A
Cited
USD401577S
Cited
US6069648A
Cited
US6466202B1
Cited
US6473631B1
Cited
EP1267576A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-02-23 | 2007-08-25 | 2008-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-23 | 2011-08-25 | 2012-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-02-23 | 2015-08-25 | 2016-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |