Removable optical devices for mobile electronic devices

• US 9,195,023 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Portero Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Olloclip, LLC
• Inventors: O'Neill, Patrick D., Pak, Chong, Kong, Bobby, Nguyen, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US14/024,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20140071547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 359/827, 359/699, 359819-824, 359/694, 359/319, 359/808, 359/811, 359/815, 396/71, 396/722, 396/544, 396/89, 396/106.6, D16/101, D16/134, D16/136, D16/200, D16/207, D16/219, 348/345
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 15/10 by adding a part, e.g. close-up attachment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/14 adapted to interchange lenses G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/26 Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
• 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 an optical device with one or more optical components (e.g., lenses) attached to a retainer portion or clip. The optical device can be removably attached to mobile electronic 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 mobile device. The optical device may include one or more energy conveying paths to allow energy to be conveyed to and/or from various components of the mobile device, such as flashes or microphones. In some embodiments, additional features may be provided, such as optical components tilted to complement a tilt of an onboard camera of a mobile device, and structures or adapters to reduce friction or allow an optical device to be attached to mobile devices of varying thicknesses.

Claims

1. A removably attachable optical system for use with a mobile electronic device, the optical system comprising:

a mounting portion configured to be removably attachable to a mobile electronic device, the mounting portion comprising at least a first portion comprising a sidewall and a second portion comprising a second wall, the sidewall comprising a receiving region configured to receive an optical component, and the sidewall being configured to contact a continuous, smooth ring that surrounds an onboard camera of the mobile electronic device and that is permanently affixed to and protrudes rearwardly beyond a rear face of the mobile electronic device, the second portion being configured to contact at least a front face of the mobile electronic device and two generally perpendicular edges of the mobile electronic device, the sidewall comprising a connection structure comprising a protrusion or recess configured to provide a region of contact between the mounting portion and the ring on the mobile electronic device, the connection structure being sized differently from the receiving region, wherein the mounting portion is configured to secure the optical device to the mobile electronic device without obstructing a display on the front face of the mobile electronic device generally parallel with the rear face; and

the optical component being attachable or attached to the optical device, wherein the optical component is configured to modify an image of light received by an onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device.

2. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the second wall is configured to extend along the two generally perpendicular edges of the mobile electronic device.

3. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the connection structure comprises one of an adhesive, a magnet, or a suction cup.

4. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the second wall includes an upper wall.

5. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the protrusion or recess of the connection structure of the sidewall comprises a generally arcuate region.

6. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the sidewall comprises an energy conveying path.

7. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the optical component comprises one of a macro lens, a wide angle lens, a fisheye lens, a telephoto lens, or a lens filter.

8. The optical system of claim 1, wherein an optical axis of the optical component is tilted with respect to the rear face of the mobile electronic device.

9. The optical system of claim 8, wherein the tilt of the optical component corresponds to a tilt of the onboard camera lens with respect to the rear face of the mobile electronic device.

10. The combination of the optical system of claim 1 and the mobile electronic device.

11. A method of manufacturing an optical device for use in modifying light to be received by an onboard camera of a mobile electronic device having a rearwardly protruding ring that surrounds an onboard camera, the method of manufacturing the optical device comprising:

providing a mounting portion comprising a sidewall and an upper wall, the sidewall comprising a receiving region for receiving an optical component, and the sidewall being configured to closely or tightly contact a permanently attached, protruding ring of the mobile electronic device in a ring-receiving region that is different from the receiving region for receiving the optical component, the upper wall being configured to contact at least one of two generally perpendicular edges of the mobile electronic device, wherein the mounting portion comprises an attachment surface to secure the optical device to the mobile electronic device without obstructing a display on a front face of the mobile device generally parallel with the rear face; and

providing an optical component configured to modify an image of light received by an onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device, the optical component being configured to attach to the mounting portion.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the optical component is configured to be removably attachable to the mounting portion.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing an adapter component configured to be removably attachable to the mounting portion, the adapter component comprising two sidewalls forming a channel, wherein the channel generally corresponds to the width of a mobile electronic device.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises the step of providing the mobile electronic device.

15. An auxiliary optical system configured to be removably attachable to a mobile electronic device having on a rear side an onboard camera and a circular, continuous ring with a smooth outer circumference surrounding a circumference of the onboard camera on the mobile electronic device, the ring extending in a rearward direction beyond a rear face of the mobile electronic device, the auxiliary optical system comprising:

one or more optical components configured to receive light on a first side and to transmit light through to a second side to modify an image to be received by the onboard camera of the mobile electronic device; and

a mounting portion with a front side and a rear side, the mounting portion being attached or attachable to the one or more optical components, the mounting portion comprising a ring-receiving region on the rear side that is sufficiently large to receive the ring of the mobile electronic device in the ring-receiving region, such that the mounting portion is configured to fit tightly in a contacting relationship with the mobile device, thereby permitting the auxiliary optical system to be removably attachable with the mobile electronic device by way of the contact between the mounting portion and the mobile electronic device, wherein the one or more optical components are configured to be positioned in a generally co-axial and overlapping relationship with the onboard camera of the mobile electronic device when the mounting portion is attached to the mobile electronic device.

16. The combination of the auxiliary optical system of claim 15 and the mobile electronic device.

17. The auxiliary optical system of claim 15, wherein the mounting portion is not configured to clip over a side edge of the mobile electronic device.

18. The auxiliary optical system of claim 15, wherein the mounting portion is not configured to clip over a top edge of the mobile electronic device.

19. The auxiliary optical system of claim 15, wherein the mounting portion is not configured to contact a front side of the mobile electronic device opposite from the rear side of the mobile electronic device on which the onboard camera of the mobile electronic device is positioned.

20. The auxiliary optical system of claim 15, wherein the mounting portion is not configured to clip over any of a side edge or a top edge of the mobile electronic device and not configured to contact a front side of the mobile electronic device opposite from the rear side of the mobile electronic device.

21. The auxiliary optical system of claim 15, wherein the ring-receiving region is an aperture.

22. The auxiliary optical system of claim 21, wherein the aperture is circular.