Multiposition handheld electronic magnifier

• US 8,804,031 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2012
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Carlos, Murphy, Patrick, Tunkis, Waldemar, Conard, Todd, Goldenberg, Michael, McDaniel, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): HANNETT, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US13/584,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20120307026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 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 23/84 for processing colour signals
• 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 magnifier to assist blind or low vision users in viewing objects, the magnifier comprising:

a housing, a camera positioned within the housing, a light source positioned adjacent the camera, a screen positioned within the front face, the screen selectively displaying objects viewed by the camera;

a handle pivotally connected to the housing, an opening and a light guide formed in the handle;

a light chamber formed within the handle;

whereby the handle can be folded onto the housing such that the camera is in registry with the handle opening, the light source is in registry with the light guide, and the light guide is in registry with the light chamber, thereby permitting objects to be viewed upon the screen with the handle and the housing brought together.

2. The magnifier as described in claim 1 wherein the light source is a pair of LEDs.

3. The magnifier as described in claim 1 wherein the light source is angled.

4. The magnifier as described in claim 1 wherein the handle houses a battery compartment.

5. The magnifier as described in claim 1 wherein the light chamber is formed from a light reflective material.

6. The magnifier as described in claim 1 wherein the light chamber includes an angled surface that is positioned immediately below the light source when the handle is folded onto the housing.

7. The magnifier as described in claim 1 wherein the magnifier has a first orientation wherein the housing and handle are in alignment, such that the handle can be held by a user to position the camera at a distance from an 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 housing and handle are brought together.

8. A handheld magnifier comprising:

a housing with front and back faces, the housing further including first and second ends and a midpoint therebetween, a camera positioned within the housing proximate the midpoint, a first light source positioned proximate the first end of the housing, a second light source position proximate the second end of the housing, an axis extending through the midpoint and perpendicular to the front and back faces, the first and second light sources being angled to direct light toward a focal point along the axis and below the back face, 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 first and second ends and a midpoint therebetween, an opening formed proximate to the midpoint, a first light guide formed proximate to the first end, a second light guide formed proximate to the second end;

a light chamber formed within the handle;

whereby the handle can be folded into facing relation with the back face of the housing such that the camera is in registry with the handle opening, and the first and second light guides are in registry with the first and second light sources.

9. A handheld magnifier comprising:

a housing, a camera positioned within the housing, a light source positioned adjacent the camera, a screen positioned within a front face, the screen selectively displaying objects viewed by the camera;

a handle pivotally connected to the housing, 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 a user to position the camera at a distance from an 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 housing and handle are brought together, such that the handle can be positioned over top of the object being viewed to permit the camera to view objects through the camera aperture and handle opening and display objects on the screen, and whereby light from the light source is directed into the light guide and into the light chamber to thereby illuminate the object being viewed.

10. The magnifier as described in claim 9 wherein the light chamber includes an angled surface that is positioned immediately below the light source when in the third orientation.