DOCKING STATION FOR ANDROID CELLPHONE
First Claim
1. A smartphone docking station, comprising:
- a docking station comprising a main body, a battery, a lens, and an imaging sensor; and
a connector that mechanically and electrically connects the main body with a smartphone;
wherein when a smartphone is connected to the connector, a display screen of the smartphone functions as a viewfinder for playback display of imagery from the imaging sensor; and
wherein the docketing station is configured to operate as a handheld camcorder without being connected to the smartphone.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and computer program product for a smartphone docking station in digital camera and camcorder form factors. The docking station provides an attached smartphone a better lens, image sensor, and image stabilization system for capturing pictures and videos, as well as a more familiar and steady user gripping and aiming platform for such photography. Imagery and audio from the smartphone and docking station may be combined into three-dimensional stereo media. The docking station also provides additional battery, data processing, and buffer capacities for the smartphone, as well as an external connector for accessories such as lights and microphones. The smartphone may provide GPS and other data, and network connectivity that allows data that it and/or the docking station captures to be easily transferred to/from to the internet. The smartphone may be used as a display, and may be based on the Android™ operating system or other operating systems.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A smartphone docking station, comprising:
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a docking station comprising a main body, a battery, a lens, and an imaging sensor; and a connector that mechanically and electrically connects the main body with a smartphone; wherein when a smartphone is connected to the connector, a display screen of the smartphone functions as a viewfinder for playback display of imagery from the imaging sensor; and wherein the docketing station is configured to operate as a handheld camcorder without being connected to the smartphone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20)
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6. (canceled)
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9. A computer program product for operating a smartphone docking station, comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying non-transitory computer-executable program instructions thereon that, when executed, cause a computing device to:
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control sharing of electrical power between a smartphone and a smartphone docking station; control sharing of data between the smartphone and the docking station.
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10. A computer-implemented method for operating a smartphone docking station, comprising:
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detecting connection of a smartphone to a docking station comprising a main body, a battery, a lens, and an imaging sensor; and responsively sharing electrical power and data between the docking station and the smartphone, wherein the shared data is adapted to cause a display screen of the smartphone to function as a viewfinder for playback display of an imagery from the imaging sensor; and wherein the docketing station is configured to operate as a handheld camcorder without being connected to the smartphone. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17)
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15. (canceled)
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18. A system for enhancing smartphone capabilities, comprising:
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means for detecting connection of a smartphone to a docking station comprising a main body, a battery, a lens, and an imaging sensor; and means for responsively sharing electrical power and data between the docking station and the smartphone, wherein the shared data is adapted to cause a display screen of the smartphone to function as a viewfinder for playback display of imagery from the imaging sensor; and wherein the docketing station is configured to operate as a handheld camcorder without being connected to the smartphone.
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Specification