Electronic device and camera unit

Abstract

To reduce a gap between an imaging direction of a camera and a sound collection direction of a microphone to enable efficient sound collection.SOLUTION: An electronic device includes: an enclosure equipped with a display; and a camera unit which is rotatably supported by the housing and provided along one edge part of the display. The camera unit includes: a housing supported in a manner that enables rotation relative to the housing; a camera module housed in the housing; and a microphone module housed in the housing. On an outer wall surface of the housing, a camera hole for transmitting light to the camera module and a first microphone hole which is provided so as to face in the same direction with the camera hole and used to collect sound in the microphone module are formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device equipped with a camera unit and to a camera unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic devices such as notebook PCs or tablet PCs include a camera and a microphone on the side of a display, for example (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-130992 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned camera is a so-called in-camera that is installed so as to be able to capture only the operator side using the electronic device. The microphone is also installed so as to face the operator side using the electronic device together with the camera.

[0005] Depending on the conditions of use of the electronic device, it may be desirable for the camera to be able to capture the image on the opposite side of the display, i.e., to be able to be used as a so-called out-camera. In this case, it is assumed to use a rotatable camera unit that is supported rotatably on the housing of the electronic device. If a rotatable camera unit is installed, the display angle and the camera angle can be adjusted separately, so that both easy-to-view display and good camera images can be achieved.

[0006] However, even when a camera with a rotating camera unit is used as an external camera, the microphone embedded in the housing still faces the front of the housing, which means that the microphone may not be able to efficiently pick up the voice of the person being photographed by the camera.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems with the conventional technology described above, and aims to provide an electronic device and a camera unit equipped with a camera unit that enables efficient sound collection by reducing the misalignment between the camera's shooting direction and the microphone's sound collection direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The electronic device of the first aspect of the present invention comprises a housing having a display mounted thereon, and a camera unit rotatably supported on the housing and arranged along one edge of the display, the camera unit comprising a housing rotatably supported relative to the housing, a camera module accommodated in the housing, and a microphone module accommodated in the housing, and an outer wall surface of the housing is formed with a camera hole for allowing light to pass through to the camera module, and a first microphone hole arranged facing in the same direction as the camera hole for collecting sound into the microphone module.

[0009] A camera unit according to a second aspect of the present invention is a camera unit to be attached to a housing of an electronic device, and comprises a housing having a rotating shaft portion rotatably supported relative to the housing, a camera module accommodated in the housing, and a microphone module accommodated in the housing, wherein an outer wall surface of the housing is formed with a camera hole for allowing light to pass through to the camera module, a first microphone hole arranged to face in the same direction as the camera hole for collecting sound into the microphone module, and a second microphone hole arranged to face in a direction different from the first microphone hole for collecting sound into the microphone module. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the above-described aspect of the present invention, the deviation between the shooting direction of the camera and the sound collection direction of the microphone can be reduced, enabling efficient sound collection. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electronic device according to an embodiment viewed from above. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the camera unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the camera unit attached to the cover member and its surroundings. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the cover member shown in FIG. 3 with a bezel member, a display, and a glass plate attached thereto. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A is an enlarged perspective view of one shaft portion and its surroundings. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the shaft portion shown in FIG. 5A in a state where a bearing part is connected thereto. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VIA-VIA in FIG. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the camera unit shown in FIG. 6A rotated 180 degrees. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIA-VIIA in FIG. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the camera unit shown in FIG. 7A rotated 180 degrees. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a camera unit according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a camera unit and an electronic device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] 1 is a plan view of an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment, seen from above. The electronic device 10 includes a system main body 12 and a cover body 14. The electronic device 10 of this embodiment is a clamshell-type notebook PC in which the system main body 12 and the cover body 14 are connected by a hinge 16 so as to be relatively rotatable. Electronic devices to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to notebook PCs, and examples include various information devices such as tablet PCs, smartphones, and portable game consoles.

[0014] The system main body 12 has a flat box-shaped housing. A keyboard 18 and a touch pad 19 are provided on the top surface of the system main body 12. Inside the system main body 12, various electronic components such as a board on which a CPU and the like are mounted, a storage device, a battery device, and an antenna are housed.

[0015] The cover 14 has a flat box-shaped housing 20 that is thinner than the system main body 12. The housing 20 has a display 22 and a camera unit 24 mounted thereon.

[0016] In the following, the housing 20 and the camera unit 24 will be described with the left-right direction referred to as the X1, X2 direction, the height direction referred to as the Y1, Y2 direction, and the thickness direction (depth direction) referred to as the Z1, Z2 direction, based on the direction in which the operator views the display 22 from the front. The X1, X2 directions may be collectively referred to as the X direction, and the Y1, Y2 directions and the Z1, Z2 directions may be similarly referred to as the Y direction and the Z direction.

[0017] The housing 20 is composed of a cover member 26 and a bezel member 28 (see also FIG. 6A).

[0018] The cover member 26 is a plate-like member that forms the rear surface (Z2 side surface) of the housing 20. The rear surface of the display 22 is supported by the inner surface of the cover member 26. The display 22 is made of liquid crystal or organic EL, and occupies most of the front surface of the lid body 14. The display 22 is installed so that a display surface 22a that displays images faces the front surface (Z1 side surface) of the housing 20. The bezel member 28 is a frame that surrounds the periphery of the display 22. The bezel member 28 is provided so as to surround the peripheral portion of the display surface 22a of the display 22. The bezel member 28 may be provided integrally with the cover member 26.

[0019] The outer peripheral side surface of the housing 20 is formed by a standing wall 29. The standing wall 29 is composed of a Z2 side portion standing in the Z1 direction from the outer peripheral edge of the cover member 26 and a Z1 side portion standing in the Z2 direction from the outer peripheral edge of the bezel member 28 (see also FIGS. 4 and 6A). The standing wall 29 may be provided on only one of the cover member 26 or the bezel member 28.

[0020] The standing wall 29 has a recessed portion 29a provided at approximately the center of a portion forming the Y1-side side surface of the housing 20. The recessed portion 29a is formed by recessing a portion of the standing wall 29 in a direction toward the Y1-side edge (edge ​​22b) of the display 22, that is, in the Y2 direction. The recessed portion 29a has a bottom wall 29a1 along the X direction close to the edge 22b of the display 22. The recessed portion 29a forms an installation space for the camera unit 24 with respect to the Y1-side edge of the housing 20. The camera unit 24 is installed in the recessed portion 29a, so that it is disposed along the edge 22b of the display 22 as if embedded in the bezel member 28.

[0021] The display surface 22a of the display 22 is covered with a glass plate 30 fixed to the Z1-side surface of the bezel member 28. The glass plate 30 covers the display surface 22a and forms most of the front surface of the housing 20. Instead of the glass plate 30, a decorative frame that covers only the surface of the bezel member 28 may be used.

[0022] Next, the camera unit 24 will be described.

[0023] The camera unit 24 is a rotating camera unit supported in a state in which it can rotate relatively around a rotation axis along the X direction with respect to the housing 20. The camera unit 24 can capture an image in any direction within a range of approximately 180 degrees from the front (Z1 direction) of the housing 20 to the rear (Z2 direction) of the housing 20 via the Y1 direction (see Figs. 6A and 6B). The camera unit 24 can adjust the angle separately from the angle adjustment of the display 22 by the hinge 16 of the cover 14. Therefore, the actual angle adjustment range of the camera unit 24 is a range larger than 180 degrees when combined with the angle adjustment range of the display 22 (for example, 180 degree range). In this way, the electronic device 10 can adjust the display angle and the camera angle separately, so that it is possible to achieve both easy viewing of the display and good camera image quality. The rotation range of the camera unit 24 may be less than 180 degrees or may be greater than 180 degrees.

[0024] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the camera unit 24. Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the camera unit 24 and its peripheral parts attached to the cover member 26. Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of the cover member 26 shown in Fig. 3 with the bezel member 28, the display 22, and the glass plate 30 attached thereto.

[0025] 2 to 4, camera unit 24 includes housing 32, a pair of bearing components 34, 35, a camera module 36, and a pair of microphone modules 38, 39. Below, unless otherwise specified, the structure, arrangement, and the like of the components of camera unit 24 will be described based on a position in which lens 36a of camera module 36 faces the front of housing 20 (Z1 direction), that is, a rotational position in which lens 36a faces the same direction as display surface 22a of display 22.

[0026] The housing 32 has a cylindrical main body 40 extending in the X direction, and a pair of shafts 41, 42 provided at both longitudinal ends of the main body 40. The housing 32 is a metal part made of, for example, aluminum or steel, but may also be a resin part.

[0027] The main body 40 is a cylinder with a substantially circular outer periphery, and has an elongated space 40a extending along the axial direction (X direction) inside. The main body 40 may be a rectangular tube with a polygonal outer periphery, but is preferably cylindrical in order to reduce the effective outer diameter during rotation. A slightly recessed flat surface 40b is provided on the Z1 side surface of the main body 40. The flat surface 40b is a flat surface along the XY direction, and extends over substantially the entire length of the main body 40 in the longitudinal direction.

[0028] A camera hole 44 is formed through the plane 40b forming a part of the outer wall surface of the main body 40 at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction, and microphone holes 45a, 46a having a smaller diameter than the camera hole 44 are formed through the plane 40b near both ends in the longitudinal direction. A lens plate 48 that hides the camera hole 44 is fixed to the plane 40b with double-sided adhesive tape or the like. The lens plate 48 is, for example, a band-shaped glass plate. Holes 48a, 48b that communicate with the microphone holes 45a, 46a are formed near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lens plate 48. A rectangular long hole 48c is formed near the center of the lens plate 48. An operation knob 50a of a camera shutter 50 is inserted movably through the long hole 48c. The camera shutter 50 is sandwiched between the lens plate 48 and the plane 40b so as to be slidable in the X direction. The camera shutter 50 can be slid between an open position that opens the camera hole 44 and a closed position that closes it by operating the operation knob 50a in the X direction. The camera shutter 50 may be omitted.

[0029] A pair of microphone holes 45b, 46b are formed through the outer wall surface of the main body 40 on the Y2 side surface. The microphone holes 45b, 46b are small holes having the same diameter as the microphone holes 45a, 46a or slightly larger diameter. With respect to the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the main body 40 as a reference, the microphone hole 45b is located at approximately the same position as the microphone hole 45a, and the microphone hole 46b is located at approximately the same position as the microphone hole 46a. The axial direction (penetration direction) of the microphone holes 45b, 46b is perpendicular to the axial direction (penetration direction) of the microphone holes 45a, 46a. The microphone holes 45a, 45b communicate with the same microphone module 38 and can collect sound into the microphone module 38. The microphone holes 46a, 46b communicate with the same microphone module 39 and can collect sound into the microphone module 39.

[0030] The shaft portions 41, 42 are cylindrical bodies having a smaller diameter than the main body portion 40, and are arranged coaxially on the axis of the main body portion 40. One of the shaft portions 41 protrudes in the X2 direction from an end face 40c on one side (X2 side) in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 40. The other of the shaft portions 42 protrudes in the X1 direction from an end face 40d on the other side (X1 side) in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 40.

[0031] Fig. 5A is an enlarged perspective view of one shaft portion 41 and its surroundings, Fig. 5B is a perspective view of a state in which a bearing part 34 is connected to the shaft portion 41 shown in Fig. 5A.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5A, one shaft portion 41 is inserted into an axial hole 56a of the bearing part 34 so as to be rotatable relative to the shaft portion 36. The shaft portion 41, together with the bearing part 34, constitutes a rotation shaft portion 51 on the X2 side of the camera unit 24 (see FIG. 5B). The shaft portion 41 has a cable insertion hole 53 penetrating along the axial direction. The cable insertion hole 53 communicates with the space 40a of the main body portion 40. A cable 54 connected to the camera module 36 and the microphone modules 38, 39 is inserted into the cable insertion hole 53.

[0033] Shaft portion 41 is bifurcated by a cleft 55 extending axially from its tip. Cleft 55 is formed by a pair of slit-like notches located opposite each other in the circumferential direction of shaft portion 41. Cleft 55 enables shaft portion 41 to generate a diametrical biasing force F as indicated by the dashed-dotted arrow in FIG. 5A.

[0034] The shaft portion 41 is formed such that one portion divided by the crack 55 has a longer protruding length than the other portion. The tip of the one portion serves as a pair of stopper surfaces 55a, 55b each facing approximately in the Z1 direction. The stopper surfaces 55a, 55b are set at an angle slightly greater than 180 degrees between each other in the circumferential direction of the shaft portion 41. This allows the stopper surfaces 55a, 55b to engage a stopper piece 56b of the bearing component 34, which will be described later, within a rotation range of, for example, 180 degrees.

[0035] The other shaft portion 42 is inserted into the shaft hole 56a of the bearing part 35 so as to be capable of relative rotation. The shaft portion 42, together with the bearing part 35, constitutes the rotating shaft portion 52 on the X1 side of the camera unit 24. The shaft portion 42 may have the same configuration as the one shaft portion 41 described above, except that it is bilaterally symmetrical. Therefore, for the shaft portion 42, the same or similar components as those of the shaft portion 41 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. That is, the shaft portion 42 also has a cable insertion hole 53, a crack 55, and stopper surfaces 55a, 55b.

[0036] The cable insertion hole 53 may be formed in only one of the shaft portions 41, 42. However, providing the cable insertion hole 53 in both of the shaft portions 41, 42 has the advantage that each cable insertion hole 53 can be used when the number of cables 54 connected to the camera module 36 and the microphone modules 38, 39 is large or when the cables are thick.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 32 can have a structure in which a housing member 32A and a housing member 32B are connected together, the housing member 32A and the housing member 32B being split vertically along the axial direction.

[0038] When the XY plane passing through the axis of the housing 32 is used as a reference, the housing member 32A is approximately half of the housing 32 on the Z1 side, and the housing member 32B is approximately half of the housing 32 on the Z2 side. Therefore, the housing member 32A includes a body member 40A that forms approximately half of the Z1 side of the body portion 40, and shaft members 41A, 42A that form approximately half of the Z1 sides of the shaft portions 41, 42. The housing member 32B includes a body member 40B that forms approximately half of the Z2 side of the body portion 40, and shaft members 41B, 42B that form approximately half of the Z2 sides of the shaft portions 41, 42.

[0039] Camera module 36, microphone modules 38, 39, and a substrate 60, which will be described later, are fixed to, for example, main body member 40B. Shaft portion 41 is divided into shaft members 41A and 41B at a position where it passes through cleft 55. Shaft portion 42 is also divided into shaft members 42A and 42B at a position where it passes through cleft 55. Stopper surfaces 55a, 55b are provided on, for example, shaft members 41B, 42B.

[0040] The housing members 32A, 32B divided in this way can be connected using, for example, a pair of left and right sleeves 59, 59. The sleeves 59 are, for example, metal rings. The sleeves 59 are fitted onto the shaft portions 41, 42, respectively, so that the housing members 32A, 32B can be connected to each other without rattle with their divided end faces in close contact with each other. The sleeves 59 are press-fitted on the base side (end faces 40c, 40d side) of the bearing parts 34, 35 in the protruding direction of the shaft portions 41, 42. This improves the connection strength of the housing members 32A, 32B. In addition, the sleeves 59 are prevented from interfering with the generation of the biasing force F due to the cracks 55.

[0041] 2 to 5B, bearing parts 34, 35 respectively support shaft parts 41, 42 so as to be relatively rotatable, thereby forming rotation shaft parts 51, 52 of camera unit 24. Bearing parts 34, 35 also function as brackets for attaching camera unit 24 to housing 20 (cover member 26) (see FIG. 3).

[0042] One of the bearing components 34 has a cylindrical portion 56 in which a shaft hole 56a is formed, and a mounting portion 57. The bearing components 34 and 35 are metal components made of, for example, aluminum or steel, but may also be resin components.

[0043] The tube portion 56 is a portion that serves as a bearing for the shaft portion 41. The tube portion 56 is a cylindrical body, and an axial hole 56a penetrates along the axial direction (X direction). The shaft portion 41 is inserted into the axial hole 56a with almost no gap so as to be relatively rotatable. At this time, the shaft portion 41 can be connected to the axial hole 56a without rattle and so as to be able to slide and rotate smoothly due to a diametrical biasing force F generated by elastic deformation due to the crack 55. There is a predetermined sliding resistance between the axial hole 56a and the shaft portion 41, and this sliding resistance becomes a rotational torque of the camera unit 24 relative to the housing 20.

[0044] The cylindrical portion 56 is formed with a stopper piece 56b that protrudes inward from the Z2 side end of the inner circumferential surface of the shaft hole 56a. The stopper piece 56b can selectively come into contact with the stopper surfaces 55a, 55b of the shaft portion 41 when the shaft portion 41 rotates relative to the shaft hole 56a, and defines the rotatable range of the shaft portion 41. In this embodiment, the shaft portion 41 can rotate 180 degrees relative to the bearing component 34. The stopper piece 56b comes into contact with one stopper surface 55a at a rotation angle (0 degrees) at which the lens 36a faces the Z1 direction (see FIG. 5B), and comes into contact with the other stopper surface 55b at a rotation angle (180 degrees) at which the lens 36a faces the Z2 direction.

[0045] The mounting portion 57 is a plate piece in which approximately half of the Z2 side of the X2-side end face of the tube portion 56 is protruded in the X2 direction, then bent toward the Z1 side, and further bent toward the X2 side. The tip of the mounting portion 57 is formed of a flat plate along the XY direction, and a mounting hole 57a is formed penetrating the plate in the plate thickness direction (Z direction). For example, the arrangement of the mounting hole 57a in the Z direction approximately coincides with the axis of the shaft portion 41. This allows the bearing part 34 to have a thin structure in which the mounting portion 57 does not protrude in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the camera unit 24. A screw 58 for fixing the camera unit 24 to the housing 20 (cover member 26) is inserted into the mounting hole 57a (see FIG. 3).

[0046] The bearing component 34 has an axial hole 56a arranged coaxially with the cable insertion hole 53 of the shaft portion 41, and a gap G is formed between the cylindrical portion 56 and the mounting portion 57. The cable 54 can be pulled out from this gap G to the outside.

[0047] The other bearing part 35 may have the same configuration as the above-mentioned one bearing part 34 except that it is symmetrical. Therefore, for the bearing part 35, the same or similar components as those of the bearing part 34 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. That is, the bearing part 35 also has a cylindrical part 56 provided with a shaft hole 56a and a stopper piece 56b, and an attachment part 57 provided with an attachment hole 57a. The bearing part 35 also has a predetermined sliding resistance between the shaft hole 56a and the shaft part 42, and this sliding resistance becomes a rotation torque for the housing 20 of the camera unit 24. This sliding resistance may be set to occur only between the shaft part 41 and the bearing part 34 or between the shaft part 42 and the bearing part 35.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the camera module 36 is accommodated in the space 40a of the main body 40. The camera module 36 has a lens 36a for collecting light at the center and an image sensor 36b for converting light incident from the lens 36a into an electrical signal and transferring the data. The camera module 36 is, for example, a digital camera capable of taking moving images and still images. The camera module 36 is mounted on the Z1 side surface of the substrate 60. The substrate 60 has a horizontally long rectangular shape extending over substantially the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the space 40a. The substrate 60 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the housing 32 using a fastener such as a screw or a double-sided adhesive tape. The substrate 60 may be fixed to the housing 32 by, for example, sandwiching it between the main body members 40A and 40B without using these fasteners. The camera module 36 may further include an infrared camera (IRLED) that can be used for face recognition, an illuminance sensor that can detect the brightness of the surrounding environment, and the like.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the microphone modules 38 and 39 are housed in the space 40a of the main body 40 and mounted on the surface of the substrate 60 on the Z1 side.

[0050] One microphone module 38 is provided near the X2 side end of the substrate 60. The microphone module 38 has a microphone 38a and a microphone cover 38b (see also FIG. 7A). The microphone 38a is, for example, a MEMS microphone in which a MEMS chip having a diaphragm or an IC chip is shielded, and is mounted on the substrate 60. As shown in FIG. 7A, the microphone cover 38b is a rubber cover material that covers the microphone 38a with a cavity 38c formed around the microphone 38a. The microphone cover 38b is formed with a communication hole 38b1 that opens to the Z1 side surface and a communication hole 38b2 that opens to the Y2 side surface.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 7A, the main body 40 may have a plane 40e on the inner wall surface on the Z1 side located behind the plane 40b, and a plane 40f on the inner wall surface on the Y2 side perpendicular to the plane 40b. The microphone hole 45a is opened on the plane 40e, and the microphone hole 45b is opened on the plane 40f. The communication hole 38b1 communicates with the microphone hole 45a by having the opening edge portion in close contact with the plane 40e, thereby communicating the microphone hole 45a with the cavity 38c. The communication hole 38b2 communicates with the microphone hole 45b by having the opening edge portion in close contact with the plane 40f, thereby communicating the microphone hole 45b with the cavity 38c. Thus, the external sound that passes through the microphone holes 45a and 45b passes through the cavity 38c from the communication holes 38b1 and 38b2 and is smoothly collected by the microphone 38a.

[0052] The other microphone module 39 is provided near the X1 side end of the substrate 60. The microphone module 39 may have the same configuration as the above-mentioned one microphone module 38, except that it is symmetrical on the left and right. Therefore, for the microphone module 39, the same or similar components as those of the microphone module 38 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. That is, the microphone module 39 also has a microphone 38a, a microphone cover 38b, a cavity 38c, and communication holes 38b1, 38b2, and faces the flat surfaces 40e, 40f of the main body 40. The camera unit 24 may be equipped with only one of the microphone modules 38, 39, or may be equipped with three or more microphone modules.

[0053] Next, the rotational operation of the camera unit 24 and its function and effect will be described.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 6A, in the 0 degree position where the lens 36a of the camera unit 24 faces the Z1 direction, the shooting direction of the camera module 36 faces substantially the same direction as the display surface 22a of the display 22. Therefore, the camera module 36 can be suitably used as an in-camera that shoots the operator side viewing the display 22 (see shooting direction C shown by the dashed line in the figure). Note that the camera unit 24 can also be adjusted to a more optimal shooting angle by slightly tilting it up and down with a fingertip from the 0 degree position. In other words, the camera unit 24 may be configured to allow angle adjustment by tilting it slightly downward from the 0 degree position, and the same applies to the 180 degree position shown in Fig. 6B.

[0055] 7A, in the 0 degree attitude, the microphone module 38 (39) has the microphone hole 45a (46a) facing substantially the same direction (Z1 direction) as the shooting direction of the camera module 36. In other words, the sound collection direction using the microphone hole 45a (46a) of the microphone module 38 (39) coincides with the shooting direction of the camera module 36 (see the sound collection direction S indicated by the dashed line in the figure). Therefore, the microphone module 38 (39) can efficiently collect the voice of the person being photographed by the camera module 36.

[0056] On the other hand, when the camera unit 24 is used as an in-camera in this way, as shown in FIG. 7A, another microphone hole 45b (46b) for collecting sound to the microphone module 38 (39) faces closely to the bottom wall 29a1 of the recessed portion 29a. That is, in the 0-degree position, the microphone hole 45b (46b) is blocked by the bottom wall 29a1, and almost no sound is collected. In this way, the electronic device 10 automatically blocks the microphone hole 45b (46b) that is not required when the electronic device 10 is in the in-camera mode. This can prevent the microphone hole 45b (46b) that is not used by the electronic device 10 from picking up ambient noise and improve the sound collection efficiency of the microphone hole 45a (46a). Note that such blocking of the microphone hole 45b (46b) can function sufficiently even if the axial direction of the microphone hole 45b (46b) is slightly deviated from the axial direction of the microphone hole 45a (46a), as well as when the axial direction of the microphone hole 45b (46b) is completely perpendicular to the axial direction of the microphone hole 45a (46a).

[0057] Camera unit 24 in such a 0 degree position can be easily rotated with a fingertip or the like. The 180 degree position shown in Figures 6B and 7B is a state in which camera unit 24 is rotated 180 degrees clockwise in the figures from the 0 degree position shown in Figures 6A and 7A. Of course, camera unit 24 can be set to any angle between the 0 degree position and the 180 degree position by the rotation torque generated at rotation shafts 51 and 52 to capture images and collect sound.

[0058] 6B, in the 180-degree attitude, the shooting direction of the camera module 36 faces substantially the opposite direction (Z2 direction) to the display surface 22a of the display 22. In other words, the camera module 36 can be suitably used as an out-camera that shoots an image on the opposite side to the operator who views the display 22 (see shooting direction C indicated by the dashed line in the figure).

[0059] 7B, in the 180-degree position, the microphone module 38 (39) has the microphone hole 45a (46a) facing substantially the same direction (Z2 direction) as the shooting direction of the camera module 36. In other words, the sound collection direction using the microphone hole 45a (46a) of the microphone module 38 (39) coincides with the shooting direction of the camera module 36 (see the sound collection direction S1 indicated by the dashed line in the figure). Therefore, the microphone module 38 (39) can efficiently collect the voice of the person being photographed by the camera module 36.

[0060] Furthermore, when the camera unit 24 is used as an out-camera, as shown in FIG. 7B, another microphone hole 45b (46b) for collecting sound to the microphone module 38 (39) is arranged facing the Y1 direction, which is midway between the operator's direction (Z1 direction) and the shooting direction (Z2 direction). In other words, the sound collection direction using the microphone hole 45b (46b) by the microphone module 38 (39) faces between the operator and the shooting direction (see the sound collection direction S2 shown by the dashed line in the figure). Therefore, the microphone module 38 (39) can also collect the voices of the operator and the surroundings through the microphone hole 45b (46b). As a result, for example, the conversation between the operator operating the electronic device 10 and another company in the shooting direction of the out-camera can be efficiently collected through the two microphone holes 45a (46a) and 45b (46b). The axial direction of the microphone holes 45b, 46b does not have to be perpendicular to the axial direction of the microphone holes 45a, 46a. For example, in FIG. 7B, the microphone hole 45b (46b) may face in an oblique direction halfway between the Y1 direction and the Z1 direction.

[0061] As described above, camera unit 24 of the present embodiment includes housing 32 having main body portion 40 extending cylindrically, and camera module 36 housed in main body portion 40. Housing 32 has shaft portions 41, 42 formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction with a smaller diameter than main body portion 40. Camera unit 24 further includes bearing components 34, 35 provided with shaft holes 56a into which shaft portions 41, 42 are inserted so as to be rotatable relative to one another, and mounting portions 57 for mounting to housing 20.

[0062] In this way, the camera unit 24 supports the small-diameter shaft parts 41, 42 provided at both ends of the cylindrically extending main body part 40 with the bearing parts 34, 35, and can be fixed to the housing 20 of the electronic device 10 via the mounting parts 57 of the bearing parts 34, 35. Therefore, the structure of the rotating shaft parts 51, 52 of the camera unit 24 is simplified, and the thickness in the Z direction and the height in the Y direction can be reduced as much as possible. For example, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5B, the outer diameter of the camera unit 24 in the axial direction is all kept within the range of the outer diameter of the main body part 40. Therefore, the thickness and height of the camera unit 24 are suppressed, and the housing 20 of the electronic device 10 in which the camera unit 24 is mounted can also be made small and thin. In particular, the camera unit 24 is arranged together with the bezel member 28 along the edge part 22b of the display 22. Therefore, the electronic device 10 can narrow the width of the bezel member 28 surrounding the periphery of the display 22, and the appearance quality is improved.

[0063] The electronic device 10 of the present embodiment includes a housing 20 with a display 22 mounted thereon, and a camera unit 24 rotatably supported by the housing 20 and provided along the edge 22b of the display 22. The camera unit 24 includes a housing 32 rotatably supported by the housing 20, and a camera module 36 and a microphone module 38 (39) housed in the housing 32. The outer wall surface of the housing 32 is provided with a camera hole 44 for transmitting light to the camera module 36, and a microphone hole 45a (46a) provided to face the same direction as the camera hole 44 and for collecting sound into the microphone module 38 (39). Note that the camera hole 44 and the microphone hole 45a (46a) facing the same direction means that the axial directions of the camera hole 44 and the microphone hole 45a (46a) are completely aligned, and some deviation is permitted.

[0064] Therefore, when the electronic device 10 uses the camera unit 24 as an out-camera that captures an image in a direction different from the display surface 22a side, for example, in a direction 180 degrees opposite, the microphone hole 45a (46a) faces the same direction as the shooting direction of the camera module 36. This allows the microphone module 38 (39) to efficiently collect sounds such as the voice of the person being photographed by the camera module 36. In other words, it is possible to reduce the deviation between the shooting direction of the camera module 36 and the sound collection direction of the microphone module 38 (39), enabling efficient sound collection.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the camera unit 24 is provided on the outer wall surface of the housing 32 with a microphone hole 45b (46b) that faces in a different direction from the microphone hole 45a (46a) and is formed to collect sound into the microphone module 38 (39). This allows the camera unit 24 to efficiently collect not only the voice of the person being photographed when used as an out-camera, but also the voice of an operator viewing the display 22.

[0066] The camera unit 24 of this embodiment includes a housing 32 in which two separate housing members 32A and 32B are connected together. Therefore, the camera unit 24 allows the substrate 60 and the camera module 36 to be easily installed in the housing 32, and has high assembly efficiency. At this time, the housing members 32A and 32B can be joined by a sleeve 59 that is press-fitted into the shaft portions 41 and 42. This makes it easier and stronger to join the two separate housing members 32A and 32B in the camera unit 24. In addition, the sleeve 59 is more space efficient than joining the housing members 32A and 32B with screws or the like, and has almost no effect on the thickness or height of the camera unit 24.

[0067] The housing 32 may be configured in a manner other than using the vertically split housing members 32A, 32B shown in FIG.

[0068] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a camera unit 62 according to a modified example. In Fig. 8, the same reference symbols as those shown in Figs. 1 to 7 indicate the same or similar configurations, and therefore detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted as they have the same or similar functions and effects.

[0069] The camera unit 24 shown in FIG. 2 has a housing 32 formed by connecting vertically divided housing members 32A and 32B. In contrast, the camera unit 62 shown in FIG. 8 has a housing 64 having a different configuration from the housing 32. The housing 64 is formed by connecting a housing member 64A and a housing member 64B. One housing member 64A has a main body portion 40 and a shaft portion 42 integrally formed on an end face 40d of the main body portion 40. The space 40a is open at the X2 side end of the main body portion 40 of the housing member 64A, and no end face 40c is provided. The other housing member 64B has a shaft portion 41 protruding from the end face 40c and a fitting portion 65.

[0070] The fitting portion 65 is a cylinder protruding in the X1 direction from the rear surface of the flange-shaped portion on the shaft portion 41 side where the end face 40c is formed. The fitting portion 65 can be fitted by press-fitting into the opening of the X2 side end of the main body portion 40 of the housing member 64A. A hole portion 65a that communicates the cable insertion hole 53 of the shaft portion 41 and the space 40a of the main body portion 40 penetrates the fitting portion 65 along the axial direction. A flat surface 65b that abuts against the flat surface 40e of the main body portion 40 to prevent the housing member 64B from rotating relative to the housing member 64A is formed on the Z1 side surface of the fitting portion 65. A support plate 66 extending in the X1 direction is integrally formed with the fitting portion 65. The support plate 66 is a strip-shaped plate that is disposed in the space 40a at a position closer to the Z2 side and extends in the X direction. The Z1 side surface of the support plate 66 supports the board 60 on which the camera module 36 and the microphone modules 38, 39 are mounted.

[0071] In this type of camera unit 62, the support plate 66 to which the substrate 60 is attached is inserted into the space 40a, and the fitting portion 65 is fitted into the X2 side end portion of the housing member 64A. This allows the housing member 64B to be connected to the housing member 64A, and a camera unit 62 similar to the camera unit 24 described above can be configured. Also, by attaching the substrate 60 and the like to the support plate 66, the camera module 36 and the microphone modules 38, 39 can be easily installed, and they can also be easily fixed to the main body 40. In this way, the divided structures shown in Figures 2 and 8 have been exemplified in consideration of the assembly efficiency of the housings 32, 64, but it goes without saying that the housing structure is not limited to these.

[0072] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can of course be freely modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10 Electronic equipment 20. Cabinet 22 Display 24,62 Camera unit 29a Concave part 32,64 Housing 34,35 Bearing parts 36 Camera Module 38,39 Microphone module 40 Main body 41,42 Shaft section 45a, 45b, 46a, 46b Microphone holes 51,52 Rotating shaft 53 Cable insertion hole 55 Crack 57 Mounting part 60 Substrates

Claims

1. An electronic device, A case equipped with a display, a camera unit rotatably supported by the housing and provided along one edge of the display; Equipped with The camera unit includes: a housing supported rotatably relative to the enclosure; a camera module accommodated in the housing; a microphone module accommodated in the housing; Equipped with The outer wall surface of the housing is provided with: a camera hole for transmitting light to the camera module; a first microphone hole for collecting sound into the microphone module, the first microphone hole being provided so as to face the same direction as the camera hole; is formed 1. An electronic device comprising:

2. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, The housing further has a second microphone hole formed on an outer wall surface thereof, the second microphone hole being oriented in a direction different from that of the first microphone hole and adapted to collect sound into the microphone module.

1. An electronic device comprising:

3. 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, The axial direction of the second microphone hole is perpendicular to the axial direction of the first microphone hole.

1. An electronic device comprising:

4. 4. The electronic device according to claim 3, The housing includes: A vertical wall forming an outer periphery side surface; a recessed portion in which a part of the standing wall is recessed toward one edge of the display to form an installation space for the camera unit; having When the camera unit is set to a rotation position in which at least the camera hole and the first microphone hole are oriented in the same direction as the display direction of the display, the second microphone hole is adjacent to and faces a wall surface of the recessed portion.

1. An electronic device comprising:

5. A camera unit to be attached to a housing of an electronic device, a housing having a rotation shaft portion rotatably supported relative to the casing; a camera module accommodated in the housing; a microphone module accommodated in the housing; Equipped with The outer wall surface of the housing is provided with: a camera hole for transmitting light to the camera module; a first microphone hole for collecting sound into the microphone module, the first microphone hole being provided so as to face the same direction as the camera hole; a second microphone hole provided in a direction different from that of the first microphone hole for collecting sound into the microphone module; is formed A camera unit characterized by:

6. 6. The camera unit according to claim 5, The axial direction of the second microphone hole is perpendicular to the axial direction of the first microphone hole. A camera unit characterized by:

7. 7. A camera unit according to claim 5 or 6, The first microphone hole and the second microphone hole are in communication with the same microphone module. A camera unit characterized by:

Images