SMARTPHONE SCANNER ADAPTER

• US 20140327815A1
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CVS Pharmacy Incorporated (CVS Health Corporation)
• Original Assignee: CVS Pharmacy Incorporated (CVS Health Corporation)
• Inventors: Auger, Raymond W.
• Application Number:
  US13/887,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20140327815A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/369
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10712 Fixed beam scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

A smartphone adapter for redirecting light to a camera mounted on a smartphone includes a housing, which includes (i) an aperture for receiving light reflected from a scannable symbol and (ii) a reflective surface for redirecting light received through the aperture to the smartphone camera, and a member for mechanically affixing the smartphone adapter to the smartphone.

Claims

1. A smartphone adapter for redirecting light to a lens within a smartphone, the smartphone adapter comprising:

a housing comprising;

i. an aperture for receiving light reflected from a symbol; and

ii. a reflective surface for redirecting light received through the aperture to the lens;

a member for coupling the smartphone adapter to the smartphone.

2. The smartphone adapter of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface redirects the light at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

3. The smartphone adapter of claim 1, wherein the symbol comprises a UPC.

4. The smartphone adapter of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises glass or plastic.

5. The smartphone adapter of claim 1, wherein the member comprises metal, plastic, or rubber.

6. A method for capturing an image comprising a symbol using a smartphone, the method comprising:

positioning a smartphone having a coupled adapter such that the long axis of the smartphone is approximately perpendicular to a surface comprising the symbol, wherein light reflected from the symbol is redirected after striking a reflective surface housed in the adapter to thereby strike a camera lens on the smartphone; and

capturing an image on the smartphone that includes the symbol.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising operating the smartphone to capture the image.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting the image or information related to the symbol to a remote computer.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the symbol comprises a UPC.

10. A system for reading a symbol, the system comprising:

a smartphone comprising a camera comprising a lens; and

a housing comprising;

i. an aperture for receiving light reflected from a symbol; and

ii. a reflective surface for redirecting light received through the aperture to the lens,

wherein the housing is coupled to the smartphone.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a member for coupling the smartphone adapter to the smartphone.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the member comprises metal, plastic, or rubber.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the reflective surface redirects the light at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the symbol comprises a UPC.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the reflective surface comprises glass or plastic.