Portable desktop video magnifier camera

• US 10,348,942 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2015
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Murphy, Patrick, Conard, Todd, Davis, Bradley S., Rodriguez, Carlos M., Goldenberg, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Sullivan, Tyler W.
• Application Number:
  US14/830,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20160057322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 348 63, 348156
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2092 Details of a display terminals using a flat panel, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/003; specific for a CRT G09G1/165
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2096 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a flat panel suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/006; specific for a CRT G09G1/167
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable magnifier camera with both storage and deployed configurations. In the storage configuration, the entire assembly can be carried via an associated handle. The camera is designed to rest on a desktop, or other planar surface, in the deployed configuration. When deployed, a housing and camera arm are positioned in a cantilevered arrangement over top of an object to be viewed. A camera housing, with an associated camera, is pivotally connected to the camera arm and is positioned over the object upon the camera being placed into a deployed configuration.

Claims

1. A transportable video magnifier camera for table top use, the video magnifier camera adapted to display enlarged images of an object, the magnifier camera comprising in combination:

a base adapted to support the magnifier camera upon the table, the base having an upper surface for supporting the object to be viewed;

a housing pivotally connected to the base, the housing having a back wall and an internal compartment, a lighting panel within the internal compartment, the lighting panel functioning to illuminate the object to be viewed;

a flat panel monitor for displaying images of the object to be viewed, the monitor having a top edge, a bottom edge, and an intermediate extent therebetween, the monitor having front and back faces with a screen in the front face, the monitor including a bezel along the bottom edge with a series of rotatable and push button controls, the controls functioning to selectively vary brightness, magnification, and color contrast;

a self-view camera positioned within a top edge of the monitor;

a U-shaped monitor arm, the U-shaped arm having first and second ends, and an interior area, the first end being pivotally connected to the housing and the second end being pivotally connected to the intermediate extent of the monitor;

a camera pivotally connected to the monitor arm by way of a camera arm, the camera arm having a first orientation wherein it is disposed within the interior area of the U-shaped monitor arm and a second orientation wherein the camera arm is at an angle relative to the monitor arm;

the magnifier camera having a stowed orientation wherein the monitor arm and camera arm are folded into and in contact with the internal compartment of the housing and in facing relationship with the lighting panel, and wherein the back face of the monitor contacts and is in facing relationship with the camera arm and the screen contacts and is in facing relationship with the upper surface of the base, the magnifier camera also having a deployed orientation wherein the housing and monitor arm form an obtuse angle and the monitor is spaced from the base, the magnifier camera further including a self-view orientation wherein the housing and monitor arm form an acute angle and the monitor is positioned adjacent to the base.

2. A transportable magnifier camera comprising:

a base adapted to support the magnifier camera and an object to be viewed;

a housing pivotally connected to the base, the housing having a back wall and an interior compartment with a lighting panel;

a monitor for displaying images of the object to be viewed, the monitor including upper and lower edges and an intermediate extent therebetween;

a self-view camera positioned within the upper edge of the monitor;

a monitor arm having a first end pivotally connected to the housing and a second end pivotally connected to the intermediate extent of the monitor, the monitor arm including an interior area;

a camera pivotally connected to the magnifier camera by way of a camera arm;

the magnifier camera having a stowed orientation wherein the camera arm is positioned within and contacts the interior area and the monitor arm contacts and is within the interior compartment, and wherein the monitor contacts and is in facing relation to the base, the magnifier camera also having a deployed orientation wherein the housing and monitor arm form an obtuse angle and the monitor is spaced from the base, the magnifier camera further including a self-view orientation wherein the housing and monitor arm form an acute angle and the monitor is positioned adjacent to the base.

3. The magnifier camera as described in claim 2 wherein the monitor further includes a lower bezel with a series of rotatable and push button controls.

4. The magnifier camera as described in claim 3 wherein the controls function to selectively vary brightness, magnification, and color contrast.

5. The magnifier camera as described in claim 2 wherein the monitor arm is U-shaped, and wherein the camera has a first orientation wherein it is disposed within the interior area and a second orientation wherein the camera arm is at an angle relative to the monitor arm.

6. The magnifier camera as described in claim 2 wherein the lighting panel includes a sheet of reflective material and adjacent rows of light emitting diodes.