UNDERWATER IMAGE CAPTURE

• US 20070292118A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: TRAFF, Eva Matilda
• Application Number:
  US11/424,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20070292118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/25
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

A housing may include a first portion that includes a window configured to allow a lens to capture images viewed through the window, and a first mating surface. The housing may include a second portion that includes a second mating surface adapted to mate with the first mating surface to form a watertight seal, at least one button to provide a signal to a terminal supported in the second portion, and a receiving surface on an inner surface of the second portion adapted to receive an insert, where the insert is adapted to be removeably coupled to the receiving surface on a first side and to receive the terminal via a second side.

Claims

1. A housing, comprising:

a first portion, comprising;

a window configured to allow a lens to capture images viewed through the window, and

a first mating surface; and

a second portion, comprising;

a second mating surface adapted to mate with the first mating surface to form a watertight seal,

at least one button to provide a signal to a terminal supported in the second portion, and

a receiving surface on an inner surface of the second portion adapted to receive an insert, where the insert is adapted to be removeably coupled to the receiving surface on a first side and to receive the terminal via a second side.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises an image window to provide image information related to a user when the user faces an outer surface of the second portion.

3. The housing of claim 2, wherein the signal is produced in response to a user action.

4. The housing of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are used with the terminal to take a picture underwater when the first portion and the second portion are mated together.

5. The housing of claim 1, further comprising:

a cable to connect the at least one button to the terminal, where the cable is adapted to carry the signal.

6. The housing of claim 1, further comprising:

a latch to maintain the first portion and the second portion in a mated relationship.

7. The housing of claim 1, wherein the at least one button comprises a first button configured to turn on a camera included in the terminal and a second button configured to take a picture using the camera.

8. The housing of claim 1, wherein the watertight housing is adapted to accept any of a plurality of inserts, where the plurality of inserts are adapted to receive a plurality of terminals having different sizes or shapes associated therewith.

9. An insert, comprising:

an upper surface adapted to receive a terminal;

a supporting member adapted to maintain the terminal in a determined relationship with respect to the upper surface; and

a lower surface adapted to releasably couple with an inner surface of a watertight housing, where the watertight housing is adapted to allow the terminal to take a picture while the watertight housing is submerged.

10. The insert of claim 9, wherein the upper and lower surface form a receiving volume having a length varying from approximately 8 centimeters (cm) to 18 cm and a width varying from approximately 4 cm to 10 cm.

11. A housing, comprising:

a window to allow subject information to reach a lens of a terminal supported in the housing;

an insert supported via an inner surface of the housing, where the insert is adapted to receive the terminal and to maintain the terminal in a determined position with respect to the window;

at least one input device located on an outer surface of the housing;

a cable releasably coupled to the at least one input device via a first end and to the terminal via a second end, where the cable is adapted to pass a signal from the at least one input device to the terminal when the at least one input device is activated.

12. The housing of claim 11, wherein the insert is adapted to be releasably supported via the inner surface of the housing.

13. The housing of claim 11, wherein the cable is one of a plurality of cables that are adapted to connect the at least one input device to a plurality of different terminals.

14. The housing of claim 11, wherein the inner surface of the housing is further configured to support a plurality of inserts associated with a plurality of different terminals.

15. The underwater housing of claim 11, wherein the cable or the at least one input device allow the terminal to be remotely controlled.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving an insert adapted to support a terminal in a determined relationship with respect to an inner surface of an underwater housing;

receiving the terminal via the insert;

receiving a user input via a button while the underwater housing is substantially submerged;

sending a signal related to the user input to the terminal via a cable, where the signal causes the terminal to capture an image via a lens proximate to a window in the underwater housing; and

providing a representation of the captured image to the user through the underwater housing.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing the captured image in a memory in response to a second user input received via a second button.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining if water is present inside the underwater housing.

19. A device, comprising:

an enclosure configured to receive a mobile terminal, the enclosure forming a watertight seal; and

at least one input device located on an outer surface of the enclosure, the at least one input device being configured to transmit electrical signals to a camera function of the mobile terminal when activated by a user.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

an insert adapted to receive the mobile terminal, where the insert maintains the terminal in a determined relationship with respect to a window of the enclosure.