Imaging Apparatus

• US 20150332129A1
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard B. Murphy
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Murphy
• Inventors: Murphy, Richard B.
• Application Number:
  US14/712,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20150332129A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5846 using extracted text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10152 Varying illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30176 Document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00562 Supporting the apparatus as a whole, e.g. stands
• 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 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0422 Media holders, covers, supports, backgrounds; Arrangements to facilitate placing of the medium H04N2201/0406 - H04N2201/0412, H04N2201/0434 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0436 Scanning a picture-bearing surface lying face up on a support H04N2201/0434 takes precedence; using cylindrical picture bearing surfaces H04N1/06; with manual scanning H04N1/107

Abstract

The present invention provides a system to facilitate the imaging of objects using a portable computing device equipped with an imaging system invention providing a means to stably position a portable computing device in an elevated position above a surface to enable the rear facing camera of said device to image objects positioned thereunder. The invention further provides illumination systems and lenses to facilitate imaging.

Claims

1. An apparatus to facilitate imaging of objects by a portable imaging device (PID), said apparatus comprising:

(a) a platform, said platform having an upper and lower surface, said platform further providing a recess on its upper surface to reversible receive at least a portion of a PID, said PID having an image capture system comprising a rear-facing camera,

(b) said platform further providing an aperture extending from the face of said recess to through the lower surface of said platform, said aperture enabling the passage of light through the body of the platform to the rear facing camera of a PID, and

(c) one or more supports, said supports being operably associated with said platform to facilitate stable elevation of the platform above a surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an illumination source in association with the lower surface of said platform, said illumination source being in electrical communication with a power supply.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power supply is a battery provided in association with the platform.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus employs four supports in operable association with the platform.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus employs two supports in operable association with the platform.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus employs one support in operable association with the platform, said apparatus further comprising a base attached to the lower end of said support.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the support is extendible.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the extendible support is telescoping.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a lens stably and reversibly associated with the lower surface of the platform and concentric with the position of the camera aperture.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the recess is configured to receive an iPhone.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the iPhone is an iPhone 6.

15. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a lens stably and reversibly associated with the lower surface of the PID adapter and concentric with the position of the camera aperture.

12. An apparatus to facilitate imaging of objects by a portable imaging device (PID), said apparatus comprising:

(a) a platform, said platform having an upper and lower surface, said platform further providing a recess on its upper surface to reversibly receive at least a portion of a PID adapter,

(b) A PID adapter having an upper and lower surface the upper surface of said PID adapter providing a recess to receive at least a portion of a PID, said PID having an image capture system comprising a rear-facing camera,

(c) said PID adapter further providing an aperture extending from the face of said recess to through the lower surface of said PID adapter, said aperture enabling the passage of light through the body of the PID adapter to the rear facing camera of a PID, and

(d) one or more supports, said supports being operably associated with said platform to facilitate stable elevation of the platform above a surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an illumination source in electrical communication with a power supply.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the power supply is integral to the apparatus.