Multiposition handheld electronic magnifier

• US 8,264,598 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Carlos M., Murphy, Patrick, Tunkis, Waldemar, Conard, Todd, Goldenberg, Michael, McDaniel, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): HANNETT, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US12/478,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20100073545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/005 with means for adjusting the magnifying glass or the object viewed G02B25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/563 Camera grips, handles means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• 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 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/64 Circuits for processing colour signals H04N9/77 takes precedence; camera processing pipelines for processing colour signals H04N23/84

Abstract

Disclosed is a magnifier for use by blind or low vision users. The magnifier includes a camera, such as a CMOS image sensor, that displays enlarged images upon a screen for easy viewing. The magnifier further includes a handle that is pivotally interconnected to a housing to allow for handheld use in a variety of different configurations.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic magnifier to assist blind or low vision users in viewing objects, the magnifier comprising:

a housing having a front face, a back face, and a peripheral edge therebetween, a camera positioned within the housing, a camera aperture formed within the back face and in alignment with the camera, an LCD screen recessed within the front face, the LCD screen selectively displaying objects viewed by the camera, a series of controls adjacent to the LCD screen, a pair of LEDs positioned upon the back face, the LEDs being angled inwardly towards a focal point;

a handle pivotally connected to the housing, the handle having a front face, a back face, and a peripheral edge therebetween, an aperture and a pair of light guides formed within the back face, an opening formed within the front face, the aperture and opening being in alignment, a battery door within the back face;

a light chamber formed within the handle, the light chamber having a color that promotes light reflection and further including angled surfaces positioned immediately below the light guides, a pair of battery compartments positioned adjacent to the light chamber, whereby the battery door can be removed to gain access to the battery compartments;

the magnifier having a first orientation wherein the housing and handle are in alignment, such that the handle can be held by the user to position the camera at a distance from the object being viewed, the magnifier having a second orientation wherein the handle and housing are angularly related, such that the handle can be positioned upon a surface and objects can be placed in front of the camera, the magnifier having a third orientation wherein the back faces of the housing and handle are brought together, such that the handle can be positioned over top of the object being viewed;

whereby the third orientation permits the camera to view objects through the apertures and the opening, and directs light from the LEDs, through the light guides, into the light chamber, and out through the opening to thereby illuminate the object being viewed.

2. A handheld magnifier to assist blind or low vision users in viewing objects, the magnifier comprising:

a housing having a front face, a back face, and a peripheral edge therebetween, a camera positioned within the housing, a camera aperture formed within the back face and in alignment with the camera, a light source positioned adjacent the camera aperture, a screen positioned within the front face, the screen selectively displaying objects viewed by the camera;

a handle pivotally connected to the housing, the handle having a front face, a back face, and a peripheral edge therebetween, an opening and a light guide formed in the handle;

a light chamber formed within the handle;

the magnifier having a first orientation wherein the housing and handle are in alignment, such that the handle can be held by the user to position the camera at a distance from the object being viewed, the magnifier having a second orientation wherein the handle and housing are angularly related, such that the handle can be positioned upon a surface and objects can be placed in front of the camera, the magnifier having a third orientation wherein the back faces of the housing and handle are brought together, such that the handle can be positioned over top of the object being viewed;

whereby the third orientation permits the camera to view objects through the camera aperture and handle opening, and whereby light from the light source is direct into the light guide and into the light chamber to thereby illuminate the object being viewed.

3. The magnifier as described in claim 2 wherein the light source is a pair of LEDs.

4. The magnifier as described in claim 2 wherein the light source is angled.

5. The magnifier as described in claim 2 wherein the handle houses a battery compartment.

6. The magnifier as described in claim 2 wherein the light chamber is formed from a light reflective material.

7. The magnifier as described in claim 2 wherein the light chamber includes an angled surface that is positioned immediately below the light guide when in the third orientation.