Lenses for communication devices

• US 8,891,187 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2013
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Portero Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Olloclip, LLC
• Inventors: O'Neill, Patrick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HASAN, MOHAMMED A
• Application Number:
  US13/742,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20130135759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 359811-827
• US Class Current: 359/827
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/001 Miniaturised objectives for electronic devices, e.g. portable telephones, webcams, PDAs, small digital cameras G02B23/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/02 Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + - in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/10 by adding a part, e.g. close-up attachment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/002 Mounting on the human body
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/14 adapted to interchange lenses G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lens component having one or more lenses attached to a retainer portion configured to removably attach to communication devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, media players, and the like. The retainer portion may be configured so as not to interfere with a user'"'"'s view of a display panel of the communication device. In some embodiments, a plurality of lenses may be provided, and the lenses may be removably attached to the retainer portion and may be interchangeable. A structure for providing a flash may also be provided. In some embodiments, additional features may be provided, such as attachment components to facilitate attachment to stability devices, such as tripods, and to user-wearable accessories.

Claims

1. An optical attachment configured to modify an image of light received by an onboard camera lens of a mobile communication device, the optical attachment comprising:

a retainer portion configured to be secured to a mobile communication device in a removable manner, the mobile communication device having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, and a front surface and a rear surface, the first and second edges of the mobile communication device being generally parallel to each other, and the third and fourth edges of the mobile communication device being generally parallel to each other, with the rear surface of the mobile communication device being a surface that comprises a user-viewable display screen and the front surface of the mobile communication device being a surface that comprises an onboard camera,

the retainer portion comprising at least a front wall, and at least a portion of the retainer portion being configured to be removably positionable on the front surface of the mobile communication device near the onboard camera of the mobile communication device and near a corner of the mobile communication device where the first and third edges of the mobile communication device converge, the retainer portion being configured to be securely retained on the mobile communication device without requiring contact between the retainer portion and the second or fourth edges of the mobile communication device and without requiring a dynamic screw mount; and

at least one component attached or attachable to the retainer portion that is configured to receive, on the front surface of the mobile communication device, ambient light that is impinging upon the front surface of the mobile communication device, and that is configured to alter such light before the light is received by the onboard camera of the mobile communication device.

2. A combination of the optical attachment of claim 1 with the mobile communication device.

3. The optical attachment of claim 1 wherein the retainer portion is configured to be retained on the mobile communication device without requiring dynamic mounts.

4. The optical attachment of claim 1 wherein the retainer portion is configured to be securely retained on the mobile communication device by way of a friction fit.

5. The optical attachment of claim 4 wherein the friction fit is accomplished without requiring dynamic mounts on the optical attachment.

6. An optical attachment configured to be removably attached to a mobile communication device, the optical attachment comprising:

a retainer portion comprising at least a front portion, a top portion, and a side portion, the front portion being attached or attachable to an optical portion;

the retainer portion being configured to be removably attachable to a mobile communication device such that the top portion of the retainer portion is configured to contact a top edge of the mobile communication device along less than the entire length of the top edge, and the side portion of the retainer portion is configured to contact a side edge of the mobile communication device along less than the entire length of the side edge, the retainer portion being configured to resist sliding on the mobile communication device when attached and the retainer portion not requiring a dynamic screw mount to be able to securely retain the retainer portion on the mobile communication device;

wherein the optical portion comprises an optical region that, when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile communication device, is configured to receive ambient light in front of an onboard camera of the mobile communication device positioned in a corner region of the mobile communication device and to modify the ambient light.

7. The combination of the optical attachment of claim 6 and the mobile communication device.

8. The optical attachment of claim 6 wherein the front portion of the retainer portion is configured to contact a front portion of the mobile communication device.

9. The optical attachment of claim 6 wherein an outer surface shape of the top and side portions of the retainer portion generally matches the outer surface shape of the top and side edges of the mobile communication device to which the retainer portion is configured to attach.

10. An optical attachment configured to be removably attached to a mobile communication device, the optical attachment comprising:

a retainer portion comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, and a side portion, the front portion being attached or attachable to an optical portion, and the front, top, side, and rear portions being formed as a single unitary structure;

the retainer portion being configured to be removably attachable to a mobile communication device such that the top portion of the retainer portion is configured to contact a top edge of the mobile communication device along less than the entire length of the top edge, and the side portion of the retainer portion is configured to contact a side edge of the mobile communication device along less than the entire length of the side edge, the retainer portion being configured to resist sliding on the mobile communication device when attached;

wherein the optical portion comprises an optical region that, when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile communication device, is configured to receive ambient light in front of an onboard camera of the mobile communication device positioned in a corner region of the mobile communication device and to modify the ambient light.

11. The combination of the optical attachment of claim 10 and the mobile communication device.

12. The optical attachment of claim 10 wherein the front portion of the retainer portion is configured to contact a front portion of the mobile communication device.

13. The optical attachment of claim 12 wherein the rear portion of the retainer portion is configured to contact a rear portion of the mobile communication device.

14. The optical attachment of claim 10, wherein the retainer portion does not require a dynamic screw mount to be able to securely retain the retainer portion on the mobile communication device.

15. The optical attachment of claim 10 wherein an outer surface shape of the top and side portions of the retainer portion generally matches the outer surface shape of the top and side edges of the mobile communication device to which the retainer portion is configured to attach.