HANDHELD MAGNIFICATION DEVICE WITH A TWO-CAMERA MODULE

• US 20140176767A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technologies Humanware Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Technologies Humanware Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Hamel, Pierre, Julien, Martin, Boutrouille, Francois, Sicard, Stephane, Auclair, Carle
• Granted Patent: US 8,913,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/240.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0464 capable of performing non-simultaneous scanning at more than one scanning station
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A handheld magnification device for displaying a magnified representation of an object in a see-through manner is provided. The handheld magnification device includes a casing and a first and a second camera both adapted to acquire an image of the object, and having respectively a first working range proximate the handheld magnification device and a second working range different from and extending beyond the first working range. The handheld magnification device also includes a distance-sensitive sensor for measuring a distance parameter representative of a distance between the object and the handheld magnification device, as well as a processing unit for automatically selecting, based on the distance parameter and the first and second working ranges, one of the first and second cameras as a selected camera. The handheld magnification device further includes a display for displaying the magnified representation of the object based on the image acquired by the selected camera.

Claims

20-1. The handheld magnification device according to claim 1, further comprising a pattern projection module comprising:

a laser source for generating a laser beam;

a diffractive optical element provided in a path of the laser beam and shaping the laser beam into a structured visible pattern;

a laser output on the camera face of the casing for projecting the structured visible pattern toward the object, thereby circumscribing at least partially an acquisition zone defining the image of the object to be acquired by the selected camera.