Patent US7331724B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7331724B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera-equipped portable device
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 2004-01-19
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Granted: 2008-02-19
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Expires: 2024-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A portable device includes a camera section, a camera image display, a first case having a first surface having the display therein and a second surface opposite the first surface, a second case that can be positioned over the second surface of the first case, a rotation axis section supporting the second case to the first case rotatably about an axis perpendicular to the first surface of the first case, and a camera/display operation section. The camera section has an optical axis, and the rotation axis section accommodates the camera section so that the optical axis is parallel to the rotation axis. The operation section is on the first surface of the first case opposite an image-capturing direction of the rotation axis of the rotation axis section.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Hasegawa
- 👤 Susumu Otsuki
- 👤 Teruo Nanmoku
- 👤 Katsumasa Yamaguchi
- 👤 Toshiyuki Tsumura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0206; H04M1/0208; H04M1/0225; H04M1/0233; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04M1/0227; H04M1/0229; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/51; H04N23/53; H04N23/531; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/142; H04M1/021; H04M1/0241; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/52; H04N2007/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A portable device, comprising: a camera section having an optical axis and being capable of capturing an image of an object in an image-capturing direction parallel to the optical axis; a display capable of displaying the image captured by the camera section; a first case having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface having the display provided therein; a second case that can be positioned over the second surface of the first case; a rotation axis section supporting the second case to the first case rotatably about a rotation axis perpendicular to the first surface of the first case, the rotation axis section accommodating the camera section, the optical axis being parallel to the rotation axis, the image-capturing direction being directed from the first surface of the first case to the second surface of the first case; and an operation section configured to operate at least one of the camera section and the display, the operation section being provided at a portion of the first surface of the first case opposite to the image-capturing direction of the rotation axis of the rotation axis section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A portable device, comprising: a camera section having an optical axis and being capable of capturing an image of an object in an image-capturing direction parallel to the optical axis; a display capable of displaying the image captured by the camera section; a first case having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface having the display provided therein; a second case that can be positioned over the second surface of the first case; a rotation axis section supporting the second case to the first case rotatably about a rotation axis perpendicular to the first surface of the first case, the rotation axis section accommodating the camera section, the optical axis being parallel to the rotation axis, the image-capturing direction being directed from the first surface of the first case to the second surface of the first case; and an operation section configured to operate at least one of the camera section and the display, the operation section being provided at a portion of the first surface of the first case opposite to the image-capturing direction of the rotation axis of the rotation axis section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the camera section is fixed for the first case.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the camera section is fixed for the second case.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The portable device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a position detector for detecting a relative position of the second case with respect to the first case; and a controller for changing a display orientation of the display according to the detected relative position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the operation section includes a plurality of keys for operating at least one of the camera section and the display, the portable device further comprising: a position detector for detecting a relative position of the second case with respect to the first case; and a controller for allocating functions to the keys of the operation section according to the detected relative position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The portable device according to claim 1 , further comprising a stopper for stopping rotation of the second case against the first case at a predetermined angle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The portable device according to claim 1 , further comprising a stopper for stopping rotation of the second case relative to the first case at a plurality of predetermined angles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the second case in a direction substantially parallel to a rotation direction of the rotation axis is smaller than a width of the first case in the direction substantially parallel to the rotation direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the first case is placed in a direction substantially parallel to a rotation direction of the rotation axis, and the first case has a side surface having a recess formed therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The portable device according to claim 1 , further comprising a projection for providing a gap between the first case and the second case in a direction parallel to the rotation axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
A portable device comprising: a camera section having an optical axis and being capable of capturing an image of an object in an image-capturing direction parallel to the optical axis; a first case having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a second case that can be positioned over the second surface of the first case; and a hinge section supporting the second case to the first case rotatably about a first rotation axis perpendicular to the first surface of the first case and about a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis, the hinge section accommodating the camera section, the optical axis being parallel to the first rotation axis, and the image-capturing direction is directed from the first surface of the first case to the second surface of the first case.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
A portable device comprising: a camera section having an optical axis and being capable of capturing an image of an object in an image-capturing direction parallel to the optical axis; a first case having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a second case that can be positioned over the second surface of the first case; and a hinge section supporting the second case to the first case rotatably about a first rotation axis perpendicular to the first surface of the first case and about a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis, the hinge section accommodating the camera section, the optical axis being parallel to the first rotation axis, and the image-capturing direction is directed from the first surface of the first case to the second surface of the first case.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , further comprising an operation section for operating at least one of the camera section and the display, the operation section being provided at a portion of the first surface of the first case opposite to the image-capturing direction of the first rotation axis of the rotation axis section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , further comprising a display capable of displaying the image captured by the camera section, the display being provided at one of the first case and the second case.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The portable device according to claim 13 , further comprising: a position detector for detecting a relative position of the second case with respect to the first case; and a controller for changing a display orientation of the display according to the detected relative position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The portable device according to claim 13 , further comprising: a display selection switch; and a controller for changing an orientation of an image displayed on the display according to a state of the display selection switch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The portable device according to claim 13 , wherein the display is provided at a surface of the second case that can face the second surface of the first case.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The portable device according to claim 13 , further comprising a switch provided on the second case near the display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , further comprising a stopper for stopping rotation of the second case relative to the first case about the second rotation axis at a plurality of angles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , further comprising a stopper for stopping rotation of the second case relative to the first case about the first rotation axis at a plurality of angles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , further comprising a projection for providing a gap between the first case and the second case in a direction parallel to the first rotation axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , wherein the camera section is fixed for the second case.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , further comprising a switch provided at the first case, the switch being activated when the second case is placed over the second surface of the first case.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , wherein a width of the second case in a direction substantially parallel to a rotation direction of the first rotation axis is smaller than a width of the first case in the direction substantially parallel to the rotation direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , wherein the first case is placed in a direction substantially parallel to a rotation direction of the first rotation axis, and the first case has a side surface having a recess formed therein.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , further comprising a stopper for stopping rotation of the second case relative to the first case about the second rotation axis at a predetermined angle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The portable device according to claim 11 , further comprising a stopper for stopping rotation of the second case relative to the first case about the first rotation axis at a predetermined angle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-02-18 | 2011-08-20 | 2012-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-02-18 | 2015-08-20 | 2016-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-02-18 | 2019-08-20 | 2020-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |