Multifunctional portable electronic device

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to portable electronic devices, and more particularly to a multifunctional portable electronic device, which provides a user with not only voice communications, but also image communications or picture-taking functions.

2. Prior Art

Multifunctional portable personal communication devices, such as mobile phones with video cameras and mobile phones with still cameras, are very popular in current days, since they provide users not only with voice communications, but also image communications, or at least provide the users with picture-taking functions.

However, these existing multifunctional portable personal communication devices, for example, the mobile phones with cameras, have a number of problems. Referring to FIG. 4 , a mobile phone 2 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,915 comprises a display 20 and an enclosure 22 . The display 20 is connected with the enclosure 22 by a pivot 24 so that the display 20 can rotate with respect to the enclosure 22 . The pivot 24 comprises a bushing 26 , which contains a miniature video camera 28 . The user can preview pictures of him/herself and shown on the display 20 when taking pictures. However, a user can not preview pictures when taking pictures of other objects other than himself, since the video camera 28 and the display 20 point in the same direction.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,950 discloses a personal communication device, which provides the user with both voice communications and a picture-taking functions. Referring to FIG. 5 , the communication device 1 comprises a display 10 , a camera 12 , a clip-on enclosure 14 , and an adjustment thumbwheel 16 connected to the clip-on enclosure 14 . The clip-on enclosure 14 cooperates with the thumbwheel 16 , allowing the camera 12 to be adjusted to various working positions by rotating the thumbwheel 16 . When the user wants to take pictures of himself/herself, images can be previewed through the display 10 , since the display 10 and the camera are normally positioned in the same plane. When the user wants to photograph other objects, the camera 12 can be adjusted by the thumbwheel 16 to point away from a top end of the communication device 1 preview images shown on the display 10 when photographing objects other than the user. However, the electrical connection between the camera 12 and the communication device 1 is vulnerable to disconnection since the camera 12 has to be frequently adjusted from one position to another. In addition, the design of the communication device 1 is quite complicated and the manufacturing cost is high.

WO 01/31893A1 patent application discloses a mobile phone having both a first camera and a second camera. The second camera has a capturing direction essentially different from the capturing direction of the first camera. This invention also solves the problems of previewing either the user or objects other than the user. However, this mobile phone is also too complicated and has a very high manufacturing cost, since it has two cameras.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional portable electronic device, which provides a convenient photographic preview function for the user, for use both when photographing the user and when photographing other objects.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional portable electronic device, which has a simple structure and has low manufacturing cost.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a multifunctional portable electronic device of the present invention includes a base cover, a flip cover pivotally connected with the base cover, and a camera mounted in the flip cover. A vision window is defined through the flip cover adjacent to the camera. A display is defined on an inner face of the base cover. The vision window is positioned at a location corresponding to the display when the electronic device is in a closed position. The user can preview images of him or her on the display as captured by the camera when the electronic device is in the closed position. When the electronic device is in an open position, the user can preview images of other objects on the display as captured by the camera. The portable electronic device of the present invention provides the user with a very convenient preview function before taking pictures, using a simple structure and a low manufacturing cost.

FIG. 1 is a front, right perspective view of a mobile phone with a camera in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the mobile phone is in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mobile phone of the FIG. 1 , in which the mobile phone is in an open position;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the mobile phone of the FIG. 1 , also in an open position and viewed from a different angle;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a personal communication device of the prior art; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portable electronic device of the prior art.

Referring to FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3 , a foldable mobile phone 3 will be taken here as an example to disclose details of a multifunctional portable electronic device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone 3 comprises a base cover 32 , a flip cover 30 , and a digital camera 36 mounted on the flip cover 30 .

The base cover 32 comprises an inner face 320 and an outer face 322 . A plurality of key buttons (not labeled) protrudes from a lower portion of the inner face 320 . A rectangular display 34 for showing messages or images is defined on an upper portion of the inner face 320 , adjacent to the key buttons. The base cover 32 receives a main circuit board (not shown) for controlling operations of the mobile phone 3 . The main circuit board and other structures of the base cover 32 are similar to those in traditional foldable mobile phones. A shutter button 325 protrudes from a right side (not labeled) of the base cover 32 , and is electrically connected with the main circuit board.

The flip cover 30 is pivotally connected with the base cover 32 by a hinge (not shown) at top ends of both the flip cover 30 and the base cover 32 . When the flip cover 30 is upwardly turned, the mobile phone 3 is in an open position. When the flip cover 30 is folded downwardly, the mobile phone 3 is in a closed position. The flip cover 30 comprises an outer face 302 and an inner face 300 . The flip cover 30 receives a flexible printed circuit board (not shown) therein to be electrically connected with the main printed circuit board in the base cover 32 . A vision window 304 is defined through the flip cover 30 for exposing the display 34 to view, when the mobile phone 3 in the closed position. The vision window 304 is located at a position corresponding to the display 34 , and has a size identical with that of the display 34 . Preferably, the vision window 304 is covered by transparent material, such as glass, polycarbonate, or other material, for esthetical consideration of the mobile phone 3 .

The digital camera 36 is built inside the flip cover 30 in a conventional way, with a lens (not labeled) thereof exposed to an outside of the outer face 302 of the flip cover 30 . The digital camera 36 is electrically connected with the flexible printed circuit board in the flip cover 30 . Accordingly, the digital camera 36 is electrically connected with the main circuit board in the base cover 32 . Signals from the digital camera 36 can thus be processed by the main circuit board.

To take pictures of the user, the mobile phone 3 is used in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 1 . The user confronts the camera 36 , and can preview the image shown on the display 34 through the vision window 304 , since the camera 36 and the display 34 face in the same direction. When the user is satisfied with the image, he or she can press the shutter button 325 , and the photograph is thus taken. When the user wants to take pictures of objects other than himself or herself, he or she can turn the flip cover 30 upwardly so that the mobile phone 3 is in the open position, as shown in FIG. 3 . Then, the camera 36 points toward objects which are to be photographed, and the user can directly preview an image on the display 34 . Satisfactory pictures or images are thus obtained using the mobile phone 3 .

Compared with other mobile phones with cameras in the prior art, the mobile phone 3 provides the user with a very convenient preview function for use prior to taking pictures, either of the mobile phone user or of other objects. The mobile phone 3 is relatively simple in structure, and has a lower manufacturing cost, since the mobile phone 3 uses the vision window 304 instead of other additional components, such as a second camera.

It is believed that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.