Television – Camera – system and detail – Support or housing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-28
2001-11-27
Garber, Wendy R. (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Support or housing
C348S014050, C348S211130, C348S552000, CD14S125000, CD14S317000, CD16S202000, CD16S208000, C248S918000, C345S215000, C358S909100, C396S428000, C396S429000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06323902
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information detecting apparatus attached to an information processing apparatus, such as a personal computer, word processor, portable information terminal, etc., and adapted to receive and deliver directional information, such as images, infrared rays, radio waves, etc., to the information processing apparatus, and an information processing system provided with the same.
Modern information detecting apparatuses of this type include, for example, a computer camera that is mounted on a personal computer and used to detect image information. The camera is attached to a side face of a display of the computer by means of clips or the like.
The computer camera is provided with a position adjustment mechanism for directing its image pickup portion toward a subject. The position adjustment mechanism may be formed of, for example, a tilting mechanism for rocking the image pickup portion of the camera back and forth or a panning mechanism for rocking the image pickup portion from side to side.
Generally-known cameras to be mounted on the display of a notebook-type personal computer are provided with a tilting or panning mechanism or an image pickup portion that is attached to a panning mechanism on the side of the computer by means of a tilting mechanism.
According to the conventional computer cameras that are furnished with only one of the adjustment mechanisms, tilting or panning, however, the direction of the image pickup portion can be adjusted only within a limited range, and the personal computer body and the display must be subjected to angle adjustment in order to project the subject accurately. Thus, adjusting operation is troublesome.
According to the cameras having the image pickup portion that is attached to the panning mechanism on the body side by means of the tilting mechanism, on the other hand, the adjustment range can be made wider than that for the cameras with only one of the adjustment mechanisms. Depending on the way of adjustment, in some cases, however, a part of the camera may run against the computer or overlap the screen of the display, thereby lowering the visibility of the display.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been contrived in consideration of these circumstances, and its object is to provide an information detecting apparatus, which ensures wide-range angle adjustment and can be securely prevented from interfering with an information processing apparatus, and an information processing system provided with the same.
In order to achieve the above object, an information detecting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a base portion, mounting means for mounting the base portion on an information processing apparatus, a first movable portion attached to the base portion so as to be rotatable around a first rotation axis perpendicular to an imaginary reference plane in contact with an optional portion of the outer surface of the information processing apparatus, with the base portion mounted on the information processing apparatus, and a second movable portion attached to the first movable portion so as to be rotatable around a second rotation axis substantially parallel to the imaginary reference plane and supporting information detecting means for detecting directional information.
The second movable portion has a size such that the distance between the second rotation axis and the outermost portion of the outer surface of the second movable portion with respect to the second rotation axis is shorter than the distance between the second rotation axis and the imaginary reference plane.
An alternative information detecting apparatus according to the invention comprises a base portion, a first movable portion attached to the base portion so as to be rotatable around a first rotation axis, a second movable portion attached to the first movable portion so as to be rotatable around a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis and supporting information detecting means for detecting directional information, and mounting means provided on the base portion for mounting the base portion on an information processing apparatus in a manner such that the first and second rotation axes extend at right angles and substantially parallel, respectively, to an optional portion of the outer surface of the information processing apparatus.
An information processing system according to the invention comprises an information processing apparatus including a substantially rectangular display unit, and an information detecting apparatus removably attached to the information processing apparatus. The information detecting apparatus includes a base portion, mounting means for mounting the base portion on the display unit, a first movable portion attached to the base portion so as to be rotatable around a first rotation axis perpendicular to an optional side face of the display unit, with the base portion mounted on the display unit, and a second movable portion attached to the first movable portion so as to be rotatable around a second rotation axis substantially parallel to the optional side face and supporting information detecting means for detecting directional information.
The second movable portion has a size such that the distance between the second rotation axis and the outermost portion of the outer surface of the second movable portion with respect to the second rotation axis is shorter than the distance between the second rotation axis and the optional side face.
Additional object and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The object and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
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Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Garber Wendy R.
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Vu Ngoc-Yen
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