Method of attaching an auxiliary lens to a mobile telephone

• US 10,203,474 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Portero Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Portero Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: O'Neill, Patrick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hasan, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US15/485,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20170351056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 359811-827, 359748
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/001 Miniaturised objectives for electronic devices, e.g. portable telephones, webcams, PDAs, small digital cameras G02B23/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/02 Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + - in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/10 by adding a part, e.g. close-up attachment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/002 Mounting on the human body
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/14 adapted to interchange lenses G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lens component having one or more lenses attached to a retainer portion configured to removably attach to communication devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, media players, and the like. The retainer portion may be configured so as not to interfere with a user'"'"'s view of a display panel of the communication device. In some embodiments, a plurality of lenses may be provided, and the lenses may be removably attached to the retainer portion and may be interchangeable. A structure for providing a flash may also be provided. In some embodiments, additional features may be provided, such as attachment components to facilitate attachment to stability devices, such as tripods, and to user-wearable accessories.

Claims

1. A method of attaching an auxiliary lens system to a mobile telephone with an onboard camera and top and bottom edges, and first and second side edges, the method comprising:

obtaining an auxiliary lens system comprising a retainer portion and at least one lens, wherein the retainer portion comprises an interior channel with an upper interior region and a lateral interior region;

sliding the retainer portion onto a mobile telephone until at least a portion of the upper interior region of the retainer portion contacts the top edge of the mobile telephone and until at least a portion of the lateral interior region of the retainer portion contacts the first side edge of the mobile telephone such that the retainer portion is securely attached to the mobile telephone in a slide-resistant manner without requiring a dynamic screw and without requiring contact between the retainer portion and the second side edge of the mobile telephone; and

attaching the at least one lens to the retainer portion such that the at least one lens is configured to be positioned in optical communication with the onboard camera of the mobile telephone further comprising removing the at least one lens from the retainer portion and replacing it with a second lens.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second lens has at least one optical quality that is different from the replace lens.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second lens is a telephoto lens.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second lens is a wide-angle lens.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second lens is a microscopic lens.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of attaching the at least one lens to the retainer portion is performed before the step of sliding the retainer portion onto the mobile telephone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the upper interior region of the channel of the retainer portion comprises a groove configured to avoid interference with one or more external features on the mobile telephone when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile telephone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary lens system further comprises a plurality of lenses.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the retainer portion comprises a connector opening configured to attach to another device.

10. A method of enhancing an onboard camera of a communication device with an auxiliary device, the method comprising:

obtaining an auxiliary device, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a retainer portion and a lens portion movably coupled to the retainer portion, wherein the retainer portion is configured to removably attach to a communication device by covering a portion of a top edge of the communication device, wherein the top edge is located above the onboard camera;

positioning the auxiliary device onto a portion of the communication device including the onboard camera such that the retainer portion rests on a portion of the top edge of the communication device and the lens portion is positioned at least partially in front of the onboard camera, wherein the auxiliary device does not contact the second side edge of the mobile telephone; and

keeping the lens portion in a neutral position when the lens portion aligns with the onboard camera or adjusting the lens portion relative to the retainer portion when the lens portion does not align with the onboard camera.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the portion of the communication device including the onboard camera is a corner of the communication device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the retainer portion is held in place on the portion of the communication device by frictional forces.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the retainer portion further comprises a channel with a plurality of sidewalls, wherein the plurality of sidewalls expand and contract during the sliding step such that the retainer portion exerts a gripping force against the portion of the communication device including the onboard camera.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sidewalls comprise one or more flexible walls and one or more rigid walls, wherein the one or more flexible walls are temporarily widened during the sliding step and restored to an original position by the one or more rigid walls when the auxiliary device is in a final position on the communication device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein one or more of the plurality of sidewalls comprise a slide resistant material to enhance gripping of the retainer portion.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the retainer portion is less than a quarter the size of the communication device.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the retainer portion further comprises a channel with a plurality of sidewalls, and the sliding step further comprises aligning the channel with the top edge of the communication device and downwardly directing the retainer portion such that the top edge seats within the channel.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the lens portion further comprises a securing structure to hold one or more lenses in place with respect to the retainer portion, wherein the securing structure is coupled to the retainer portion and configured to move with respect to the retainer portion.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the lens portion comprises tilting the lens portion relative to the retainer portion.