Retractable rotatable camera module for mobile communication device and method of operation thereof

Abstract

A mobile communication device and a camera module are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the mobile communication device includes: (1) a main body having attaching means for attaching a camera module, the attaching means comprising means for automatically moving the camera module from the retracted position to the exposed position employing electrical energy and (2) a camera module having complementary attaching means to the main body, such that the camera module is movable with respect to the main body from a retracted position to an exposed position, is wholly detachable from the mobile communication device and is rotatable in the exposed position about at least one axis of rotation.

1 . A mobile communication device, comprising:
 a main body having attaching means for attaching a camera module, said attaching means comprising means for automatically moving said camera module from said retracted position to said exposed position employing electrical energy; and   a camera module having complementary attaching means to said main body, such that said camera module is movable with respect to said main body from a retracted position to an exposed position, is wholly detachable from said mobile communication device and is rotatable in said exposed position about at least one axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said attaching means of said main body comprises means for rotating said camera module in said exposed position about at least one axis of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising means for detecting a position of said camera module relative to said main body. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 3  wherein said means for detecting is an electronic detector. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 3  further comprising a memory with at least one stored program and a microprocessor by which said program can be executed, said program automatically configuring a display of said mobile communication device for one of digital photography and video telephony based on said detected position, wherein said automatically configuring includes determining a pixel resolution for said display. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said program activates a power supply to said camera module. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said camera module is rotatable at least from a front side position to a back side position in said exposed position. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 7  wherein said display is configured for said digital photography when said camera is detected in said back side position and configured for said video telephony when said camera is detected in said front side position. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 8  wherein said video telephony is video conferencing. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said program automatically configures said mobile communication device for video recording based of said position. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said program automatically configures said mobile communication device for applications based on said detected position, wherein said applications are programmed by a user of said mobile communication device. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one axis of rotation is essentially perpendicular to a direction said camera module moves with respect to said main body. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said camera module is rotatable about at least two axes of rotation in said exposed position. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile communication device as recited in  claim 13  wherein said two axes of rotation are essentially perpendicular. 
     
     
         15 . A camera module, comprising:
 attaching means for attaching said camera module to complementary attaching means of a mobile communication device; and   a camera, coupled to said attaching means, said camera movable with respect to a main body of said mobile communication device from a retracted position to an exposed position and rotatable in said exposed position about at least one axis of rotation, said attaching means allowing said camera module to be wholly detachable from said mobile communication device.