IP Library Granted Patent US 8,724,021
Granted Patent B2
US 8,724,021 · App. 13/574,852 · Granted May 13, 2014

Portable electronic device

Inventors: Masashi Osaka (Yokohama, JP); Shouji Suzuki (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,724,021
App. No.
13/574,852
Granted
May 13, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to an aspect, a portable electronic device includes an imaging unit, a moving unit, and a control unit. The imaging unit images a subject in an imaging region. The moving unit changes orientation and/or a position of the portable electronic device. The control unit causes the moving unit to change the orientation and/or the position of the portable electronic device so as to move the imaging region of the imaging unit.

Claims (28)

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

an imaging unit for imaging a subject in an imaging region;

a moving unit for changing orientation and/or a position of the portable electronic device; and

a control unit for causing the moving unit to change the orientation and/or the position of the portable electronic device so as to move the imaging region of the imaging unit, wherein

the moving unit is configured to rotate the portable electronic device around a rotary axis along a direction perpendicular to a surface on which the portable electronic device is placed, wherein

the moving unit is configured to drive a rotor to rotate the portable electronic device, and wherein

the moving unit serves as an informing unit for performing information by driving the rotor to vibrate the portable electronic device, and

the control unit is configured to cause the moving unit to switch rotating direction of the rotor when the moving unit serves as the informing unit.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit for communicating with another device, wherein

the control unit is configured to cause the moving unit to drive the rotor when an incoming call is received by the communication unit.

3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a housing having a face to be opposed to the surface on which the portable electronic device is place; and

a projecting portion that projects from the face and serves as a center of rotation when the portable electronic device housing is rotated.

4. The portable electronic device according to claim 3 , further comprising a sound emitting unit for outputting sound, the sound emitting unit being arranged at a position facing a space between the surface on which the portable electronic device is placed and the face.

5. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising an attitude detecting sensor for detecting an attitude of the portable electronic device, wherein

the control unit is configured to control the moving unit to change the orientation and/or the position of the portable electronic device on the basis of the attitude of the portable electronic device detected by the attitude detecting sensor.

6. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control unit is configured to cause the imaging unit to image a

plurality of images while causing the moving unit to rotate the portable electronic device, and to combine the taken images to obtain an image wider than the imaging region.

7. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit for storing an image taken by the imaging unit, wherein

the control unit is configured to extract a subject from the image taken by the imaging unit, and to store the image taken by the imaging unit when the predetermined specific subject is extracted from the image.

8. The portable electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein

the control unit is configure to control the moving unit to change the orientation and/or the position of the portable electronic device on the basis of a position of the specific subject in the imaging region.

9. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control unit is configure to control the moving unit to change the orientation and/or the position of the portable electronic device such that an image of a region satisfying a predetermined condition is taken.

10. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a microphone for obtaining sound,

wherein

the control unit is configure to control the moving unit to change the orientation and/or the position of the portable electronic such that an image of a region from which the sound is emitted is taken.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2012
From: OSAKA, MASASHI; SUZUKI, SHOUJI
To: KYOCERA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028623/0015 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-014408 · Jan 26, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120293683A1 · Nov 22, 2012