Hinge device for camera-equipped mobile phones and mobile phone having such device

A hinge device for connecting a fold and a main body of a camera-equipped mobile phone to each other, comprising:

• a fixed hinge part provided at said main body;
• a rotary hinge part provided at said fold and hinged at both ends thereof to said fixed hinge part;
• an internal rotor provided in said rotary hinge part;
• a digital camera provided in said internal rotor;
• a motor provided in said fold to generate a rotating drive force;
• a first reduction gear assembly installed in said fold, and connected to said motor so as to transmit the rotating drive force of the motor while primarily lowering a rotating speed;
• a second reduction gear assembly connected to said first reduction gear assembly through a shaft, and installed in said rotary hinge part so as to transmit the rotating drive force of the motor while secondarily lowering the rotating speed;
• rotation stop means for stopping rotation of said internal rotor and rotating said rotary hinge part using the rotating drive force of the motor;
• power transmission means connected at both ends thereof to the second reduction gear assembly and the fixed hinge part, respectively, to selectively perform power transmission;
• and
• elastic support means for applying an elastic biasing force higher than the rotating drive force of the motor to the power transmission means, and allowing the power transmission means to disengage from the motor when an external force is applied to the fold.

A mobile phone comprising a hinge device having a fixed hinge part provided at a main body of the phone and a rotary hinge part provided at a fold of the phone, thus hinging the fold to the main body, said mobile phone comprising:

• an internal rotor provided in said rotary hinge part;
• a digital camera provided in said internal rotor;
• power generating means provided in said internal rotor to generate a rotating drive force;
• rotation stop means for stopping rotation of said internal rotor and rotating said rotary hinge part using the rotating drive force of the power generating means;
• power transmission means connected at both ends thereof to the power generating means and the fixed hinge part, respectively, to selectively perform power transmission;
• elastic support means for applying an elastic biasing force higher than the rotating drive force of the power generating means to the power transmission means, and allowing the power transmission means to disengage from the motor when an external force is applied to the fold;
• and
• signal output means for outputting an electric signal to the power generating means.

A mobile phone comprising a hinge device having a fixed hinge part provided at a main body of the phone and a rotary hinge part provided at a fold of the phone, thus hinging the fold to the main body, said mobile phone comprising:

• an internal rotor provided in said rotary hinge part;
• a motor provided in said fold to generate a rotating drive force;
• rotation stop means for stopping rotation of said internal rotor and rotating said rotary hinge part using the rotating drive force of the motor;
• a digital camera provided in said internal rotor;
• a reduction gear assembly used for transmitting the rotating drive force of the motor while lowering a rotating speed;
• power transmission means connected at both ends thereof to the reduction gear assembly and the fixed hinge part, respectively, to selectively perform power transmission;
• elastic support means for applying an elastic biasing force higher than the rotating drive force of the motor to the power transmission means, and allowing the power transmission means to disengage from the motor when an external force is applied to the fold;
• and
• signal output means for outputting an electric signal to the motor.