REMOVABLE OPTICAL DEVICES FOR MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20140071547A1
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Portero Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Premier Systems USA Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neill, Patrick D., Pak, Chong
• Granted Patent: US 9,195,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/827
• 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 15/10 by adding a part, e.g. close-up attachment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/14 adapted to interchange lenses G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/26 Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
• 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 an optical device with one or more optical components (e.g., lenses) attached to a retainer portion or clip. The optical device can be removably attached to mobile electronic 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 mobile device. The optical device may include one or more energy conveying paths to allow energy to be conveyed to and/or from various components of the mobile device, such as flashes or microphones. In some embodiments, additional features may be provided, such as optical components tilted to complement a tilt of an onboard camera of a mobile device, and structures or adapters to reduce friction or allow an optical device to be attached to mobile devices of varying thicknesses.

Claims

1. A removably attachable optical device for use with a mobile electronic device, the optical device comprising:

a mounting portion comprising a sidewall and an upper wall, the sidewall being configured to contact a rear face of a mobile electronic device, the upper wall being configured to contact two generally perpendicular edges of the mobile electronic device, wherein the mounting portion comprises an attachment surface to secure the optical device to the mobile electronic device without obstructing a front face of the mobile electronic device generally parallel with the rear face; and

an optical component attached to the optical device, wherein the optical component is configured to modify an image of light received by an onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device.

2. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is further configured to extend along the two generally perpendicular edges of the mobile electronic device,

3. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the attachment surface comprises one of an adhesive, a magnet, or a suction cup.

4. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the upper wall comprises the attachment surface.

5. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the sidewall comprises the attachment surface.

6. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the sidewall comprises an energy conveying path.

7. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the sidewall comprises an aperture configured to contact a protective structure of the mobile electronic device, the protective structure generally surrounding the onboard camera lens.

8. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the optical component comprises one of a macro lens, a wide angle lens, a fisheye lens, a telephoto lens, or a lens filter.

9. The optical device of claim 1, wherein an optical axis of the optical component is tilted with respect to the rear face of the mobile electronic device.

10. The optical device of claim 9, wherein the tilt of the optical component corresponds to a tilt of the onboard camera lens with respect to the rear face of the mobile electronic device.

11. An optical device configured to be removably connected to a mobile electronic device to alter light received by an onboard camera of the mobile electronic device, the optical device comprising:

a mounting portion comprising a sidewall and an upper wall, the sidewall contacting the mobile electronic device on a rear face, the upper wall contacting the mobile electronic device on two non-parallel sides, wherein the sidewall comprises an aperture and an energy conveying path separate from the aperture; and

an optical component attached to the sidewall, the optical component being configured to modify light received by an onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device via the aperture.

12. The optical device of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the energy conveying path overlaps at least a portion of an input component or output component of the mobile electronic device.

13. The optical device of claim 11, wherein the energy conveying path is configured to focus sound energy on a microphone of the mobile electronic device.

14. The optical device of claim 11, wherein an optical axis of the optical component is tilted with respect to the rear face of the mobile electronic device.

15. The optical device of claim 11, wherein the optical component is offset laterally with respect to the onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device.

16. The optical device of claim 11, wherein the sidewall comprises a protruding structure for reducing friction.

17. The optical device of claim 16, wherein the protruding structure comprises one of a ball bearing, a roller bearing, or a bump.

18. A method of manufacturing an optical device for use in modifying light to be received by an onboard camera of a mobile electronic device, the method of manufacturing the optical device comprising:

providing a mounting portion comprising a sidewall and an upper wall, the sidewall being configured to contact a rear face of the mobile electronic device, the upper wall being configured to contact two generally perpendicular edges of the mobile electronic device, wherein the mounting portion comprises an attachment surface to secure the optical device to the mobile electronic device without obstructing a front face of the mobile device generally parallel with the rear face;

providing an optical component configured to attach to the optical device, wherein the optical component is configured to modify an image of light received by an onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device; and

attaching the optical component to the mounting portion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein attaching the optical component to the mounting portion comprises removably attaching the optical component to the mounting portion.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing an adapter component configured to be removably attachable to the mounting portion, the adapter component comprising two sidewalls forming a channel, wherein the channel generally corresponds to the width of a mobile electronic device.