Hand-held computers incorporating reduced area imaging devices

A PDA having capability for receiving and transmitting video and audio images between the PDA and a personal computer connected to a communications network, said PDA comprising:

• an image sensor lying in a first plane, and an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal;
• a first circuit board electrically communicating with said image sensor and separated from said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
• a camera module housing said image sensor;
• a transceiver/amplifier section electrically coupled to said first circuit board for transmitting, receiving, and amplifying video and audio signals;
• a digital signal processor electrically coupled to said first circuit board and said transceiver/amplifier section, said digital signal processor further conditioning said pre-video signal which is first conditioned by said first circuit board, and also for conditioning video and audio signals from said transceiver/amplifier section;
• a microphone electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for recording and receiving audio signals;
• a speaker electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for broadcasting audio signals;
• a video view screen attached to said PDA, said video view screen for selectively displaying images from said imaging device, and for selectively displaying video images received by said transceiver/amplifier section;
• a video switch communicating with said first circuit board and said digital signal processor for switching video images to be viewed on said video view screen;
• and
• a power supply mounted to said PDA for providing power thereto.

In a PDA having capability to transmit data between a personal computer connected to a communications network, the improvement comprising:

• a video system integral with said PDA for receiving and transmitting video images, and for viewing said images, said video system comprising:
• a camera module housing an image sensor therein, said image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, a first circuit board lying in a second plane and electrically coupled to said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels and circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
• and
• a video view screen attached to said PDA for viewing said video images, said video view screen communicating with said first circuit board.

In a PDA having capability to transmit data between a personal computer connected to a communications network, the improvement comprising:

• a video system integral with said PDA for receiving and transmitting video images, and for viewing said images, said video system comprising:
• a camera module housing an image sensor therein, said image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, circuitry means electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said circuitry means for timing and control being placed remote from said array of CMOS pixels on a second plane, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, a first circuit board lying in a third plane and electrically coupled to said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
• and
• a video view screen attached to said PDA for viewing said video images, said video view screen communicating with said first circuit board, and displaying video images processed by said first circuit board.

A PDA having capability for receiving and transmitting video and audio images between the PDA and a personal computer connected to a communications network, said PDA comprising:

• an image sensor lying in a first plane including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal;
• a first circuit board electrically communicating with said image sensor and separated from said image sensor, said first circuit board including circuitry means for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels and circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
• a camera module housing said image sensor;
• a transceiver/amplifier section electrically coupled to said first circuit board for transmitting, receiving, and amplifying video and audio signals;
• a digital signal processor electrically coupled to said first circuit board and said transceiver/amplifier section, said digital signal processor further conditioning said pre-video signal which is first conditioned by said first circuit board, and also for conditioning video and audio signals from said transceiver/amplifier section;
• a microphone electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for recording and receiving audio signals;
• a speaker electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for broadcasting audio signals;
• a video view screen attached to said PDA, said video view screen for selectively displaying images from said imaging device, and for selectively displaying video images received by said transceiver/amplifier section;
• a video switch communicating with said first circuit board and said digital signal processor for switching video images to be viewed on said video view screen;
• and
• a power supply mounted to said PDA for providing power thereto.

A PDA having capability for receiving and transmitting video and audio images between the PDA and a personal computer connected to a communications network, said PDA comprising:

• an image sensor lying in a first plane, and an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said circuitry means for timing and control being placed remote from said array of CMOS pixels on a second plane, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal;
• a first circuit board electrically coupled with said image sensor and lying in a third plane, said first circuit board including circuitry means for processing and converting said pre-video signal to a desired video format;
• a camera module housing said image sensor;
• a transceiver/amplifier section electrically coupled to said first circuit board for transmitting, receiving, and amplifying video and audio signals;
• a digital signal processor electrically coupled to said first circuit board and said transceiver/amplifier section, said digital signal processor further conditioning said pre-video signal which is first conditioned by said first circuit board, and also for conditioning video and audio signals from said transceiver/amplifier section;
• a microphone electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for recording and receiving audio signals;
• a speaker electrically communicating with said digital signal processor for broadcasting audio signals;
• a video view screen attached to said PDA, said video view screen for selectively displaying images from said imaging device, and for selectively displaying video images received by said transceiver/amplifier section;
• a video switch communicating with said first circuit board and said digital signal processor for switching video images to be viewed on said video view screen;
• and
• a power supply mounted to said PDA for providing power thereto.

In a method for conducting video conferencing communications through connection with a communications network, the improvement comprising the steps of:

• providing a camera module having an image sensor housed therein;
• providing a flexible cable for interconnecting the camera module to a PDA;
• displacing the camera module away from the PDA;
• pointing the camera module at a targeted object;
• and
• taking video images of the targeted object by the camera module for viewing on the PDA, and for transmission of the video images to the communications network.

In a PDA having capability for data exchange between a personal computer connected to a communications network, the improvement comprising:

• a camera module housing an image sensor therein, said camera module for producing video images of a targeted object;
• means for interconnecting said camera module to said PDA, said means for interconnecting including a flexible cable enabling said camera module to be selectively displaced at a location remote from said PDA;
• and
• a video view screen attached to said PDA for selectively viewing video images taken by said camera module, and for selectively viewing incoming video images received from the personal computer connected to the communications network.

In a PDA, the improvement comprising:

• a camera module housing an image sensor therein;
• circuitry means coupled to said image sensor for timing and control of said image sensor;
• circuitry means for processing images taken by said image sensor to create video signals of a desired video format;
• means for interconnecting said camera module to a housing of said PDA, said means for interconnecting including a flexible connection enabling said camera module to be selectively displaced at multiple angles from said housing by the user for pointing the camera module at a targeted object, and enabling said camera module to be retracted for movement back to said housing.