LENSES FOR COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• US 20130002939A1
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Portero Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Premier Systems USA Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neill, Patrick D
• Granted Patent: US 8,593,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/360
• 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 removably attachable auxiliary lens system for use with a mobile communication device for altering light received by an onboard camera of the mobile communication device, the lens system comprising:

a retainer portion configured to removably attach to a mobile communication device in a region of the mobile communication device positioned near an onboard camera of the mobile communication device; and

a lens attached to the retainer portion, the lens being configured to be tilted to permit the lens to move with respect to the retainer portion and with respect to the onboard camera of the mobile communication device, while the retainer portion remains attached to the mobile communication device, such that the tilting of the lens does not affect the attachment of the retainer portion to the mobile communication device.

2. The lens system of claim 1 in combination with a mobile communication device.

3. The lens system of claim 1 in combination with a mobile communication device with an onboard camera.

4. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the tilting of the lens occurs within the lens retainer.

5. The lens system of claim 4, wherein a void forms behind the lens when the lens is adjusted

6. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the tilting of the lens causes a displayed image to shift when the lens system is attached to a mobile communication device.

7. The lens system of claim 4, wherein the lens is attached to a lens holder that comprises a curved surface that contacts a curved surface on the retainer portion.

8. The lens system of claim 3, wherein the lens remains in a tilted position until moved to a new adjusted position.

9. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the tilting of the lens helps to correct misalignment between the lens and the onboard camera of the mobile communication device.

10. The lens system of claim 1, wherein the retainer portion does not move when the lens is tilted.

11. A lens system configured to be removably connected to a mobile communication device to alter light received by an onboard camera of the mobile communication device, the lens system comprising:

a retainer portion configured to be removably attached to a mobile communication device on an edge of the mobile communication device;

a plurality of lenses, each lens being adapted to attach to and detach from the same retainer portion, wherein the attachment of the lenses to the retainer portion and the detachment of the lenses from the retainer portion is independent of the attachment of the retainer portion to the mobile communication device.

12. The lens system of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of lenses produces a greater magnification of light than another of the plurality of lenses.

13. The lens system of claim 11, where one of the plurality of lenses is larger than another of the plurality of lenses.

14. The lens system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of lenses filters light.

15. A lens system configured to modify an image of light received by an onboard camera lens of a mobile communication device, the lens system comprising:

a retainer portion configured to be secured to a mobile communication device in a removable manner, the mobile communication device having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, and a front surface and a rear surface, the first and second edges of the mobile communication device being generally parallel to each other, and the third and fourth edges of the mobile communication device being generally parallel to each other, at least a portion of the retainer portion being removably positionable on the rear surface of the mobile communication device near an onboard camera of the mobile communication device and near a corner of the mobile communication device where the first and third edges of the mobile communication device converge, the retainer portion being removably positionable on said surface without requiring separate mounting structures affixed to the mobile communication device and without requiring contact between the retainer portion and the second or fourth edges of the mobile communication device; and

at least one lens attached to the retainer portion, the lens being configured to alter light received by the onboard camera of the mobile communication device.

16. The lens system of claim 15 in combination with the mobile communication device.

17. The lens system of claim 15 in combination with the mobile communication device and the onboard camera.

18. The lens system of claim 15, wherein the retainer portion comprises two sidewalls forming a channel.

19. The lens system of claim 18, wherein a distance between the sidewalls generally corresponds to a thickness of a portion of the corner of the mobile communication device.

20. The lens system of claim 19, wherein the sidewalls are configured to extend generally along at least a portion of the first and third edges of the mobile communication device.

21. The lens system of claim 20 in which the retainer portion is configured to be removably attachable to the mobile communication device by sliding the retainer portion over the corner region of the mobile communication device, such that a portion of the retainer portion is in contact with the front and rear surfaces of the mobile communication device after attachment of the lens system to the mobile communication device.

22. The lens system of claim 21 in combination with the mobile communication device.

23. The lens system of claim 15, wherein the lens is removably attached to the retainer portion.

24. The lens system of claim 23 comprising a plurality of lenses that are removably attachable to the retainer portion.

25. The lens system of claim 23, wherein two or more of the plurality of lenses have optical properties that differ from each other.