Portable information terminal equipped with camera

Abstract

The information terminal body may be designed to foldably pivot a pair of flat cases each having a display unit through a hinge which is equipped with a photographing optical system for the camera function unit of which optical axis of lens is perpendicular to an axial center of the hinge. The display units display information from communication channels and images taken in by the camera. The cases may have the display units such that the display units face outside in a folded state. At least one of the two display units may be a finder for photographers, while the other may be a finder for the subject persons. The terminal is equipped with a shutter button and a terminal operation button. The terminal operation button works also as a shutter button. The information terminal is also equipped with a viewfinder for the camera lens system.

1 . A portable information terminal which comprises:
 a camera unit;   a shutter button for said camera;   a viewfinder of which optical axis is parallel to that of lens of said camera; and   a display unit for displaying information from transmission channels or image taken in by said camera,   wherein said lens and said viewfinder on the front side of said portable information terminal are directed to a subject and said display unit is placed on the rear side.   
     
     
         2 . The portable information terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said viewfinder is retractable; and   said viewfinder is positioned at an upper corner of the information terminal, while said shutter button is positioned at the another upper corner.