Camera device

Abstract

An example device includes first and second cameras and a touchscreen user interface configured to concurrently display first and second buttons and a real time image captured by the selected one of the cameras. The first button is operable for selecting between the first and second cameras, and the second button is operable for taking a picture using the selected one of the cameras.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 a first housing having a horizontally long shape;   a second housing having a horizontally long shape, a long side of the second housing being connected to an upper long side of the first housing such that the first and second housings are foldable;   a first display section having a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the first housing which is a surface located inside when the first and second housings are folded;   a first imaging section provided in an outer surface of the second housing which is a surface located outside when the first and second housings are folded, and located at an end of the outer surface of the second housing which is opposite to a connection portion where the second housing is connected to the first housing;   a plurality of operation buttons provided on the inner surface of the first housing and on both sides of the display screen in a horizontal direction of the first housing; and   a touch panel provided on the display screen.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second display section provided in an inner surface of the second housing which is a surface located inside when the first and second housings are folded, wherein
 non-display-screen areas are provided on the inner surface of the second housing and on both sides of the second display section so as to have widths which are the same as those of areas on the inner surface of the first housing on which the plurality of operation buttons are provided.   
     
     
         3 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the second housing has a width which is the same as that of the first housing, and   the display screen of the first display section and a display screen of the second display section have the same widths as each other, and are provided in the same position in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         4 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a speaker provided inside each of the non-display-screen areas of the second housing. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the second display section displays an image taken by the first imaging section in real time, and   the first display section displays an operation screen for performing an operation with respect to the imaging apparatus.   
     
     
         6 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein when a real-time image taken by the first imaging section is displayed on the second display section, the first display section displays an image for performing an input with respect to the touch panel as the operation screen. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the first display section displays an image for editing with respect to a taken image. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second imaging section provided in an inner surface of the second housing which is located inside when the first and second housings are folded, and provided on a side closer to the connection portion of the first and second housings than a display screen of the second display section. 
     
     
         9 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an imaging instruction button located at a right end of the upper long side of the first housing for performing an instruction to store a taken image. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising two imaging instruction buttons located at ends of the upper long side of the first housing, respectively, for performing an instruction to store a taken image. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein weights of the first housing and components provided in the first housing are heavier than those of the second housing and components provided in the second housing. 
     
     
         12 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least a battery, a circuit substrate on which electronic components are mounted, and a connector for detachably connecting to a storage medium are provided in the first housing. 
     
     
         13 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second housing is capable of being opened and fixed with respect to the first housing at an angle smaller than 180 degrees.