Lenses for communication devices

• US 9,335,509 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Portero Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Olloclip, LLC
• Inventors: O'Neill, Patrick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HASAN, MOHAMMED A
• Application Number:
  US14/331,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20140320987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 359811-827
• 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 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. A removable lens device for modifying an image of light received by an onboard camera of a mobile communication device, the removable lens device comprising:

a retainer portion with a first side and a second side, the retainer portion being configured to be removably attachable to a mobile communication device;

a first lens attached or attachable to the first side of the retainer portion; and

a second lens attached or attachable to the second side of the retainer portion;

the retainer portion being configured to position one of either the first lens or the second lens, when the lens is attached to the retainer portion, in a location generally in front of a corner region of a front face of the mobile communication device, so as to be generally aligned with an onboard camera of the mobile communication device, when the retainer portion is removably attached to the mobile communication device, and the retainer portion being configured to simultaneously position the other of either the first lens or the second lens, when the lens is attached to the retainer portion, in a location generally behind a rear face of the mobile communication device;

wherein the first and second lenses are not configured to be in optical communication with each other when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile communication device; and

wherein the locations of the first lens and the second lens with respect to the mobile communication device are configured to be generally switchable by detaching and separating the retainer portion from the mobile communication device, rotating the retainer portion about a generally vertical axis, and reattaching the retainer portion to the mobile communication device.

2. A combination of the removable lens device of claim 1 and the mobile communication device.

3. The removable lens device of claim 1, wherein the retainer portion is configured such that, when attached to the mobile communication device, the first and second lenses are both generally positioned along a single axis that is generally perpendicular to both the front and rear faces of the mobile communication device.

4. The removable lens device of claim 1, further comprising a groove on an underside configured to receive an edge of the mobile communication device.

5. The removable lens device of claim 4, wherein the groove is configured to extend less than the entire distance across a top edge of a mobile communication device when the lens device is attached to the mobile communication device.

6. The removable lens device of claim 1, wherein the first and second lenses are both configured to be near the same vertical edge of the mobile communication device when the lens device is attached to the mobile communication device.

7. An auxiliary lens device for modifying an image received by an onboard camera of a communication device, the auxiliary lens device comprising:

a retainer portion with a first side and a second side, the retainer portion being configured to be removably attachable to a communication device;

a first lens attached or attachable to the first side of the retainer portion; and

a second lens attached or attachable to the second side of the retainer portion;

the retainer portion being configured to position one of either the first lens or the second lens, when the lens is attached to the retainer portion, in a location in front of a front face of the communication device, so as to generally cover a front onboard camera lens of the communication device, when the retainer portion is removably attached to the communication device, and the retainer portion being configured to simultaneously position the other of either the first lens or the second lens, when the lens is attached to the retainer portion, in a location generally behind a rear face of the communication device

wherein the location of the first lens, when attached to the retainer portion, is switchable to the location of the second lens by removing the retainer portion from the communication device and reattaching the retainer portion in an opposite-facing orientation; and

wherein the lens in front of the front face of the communication device is in optical communication with the front onboard camera, when the retainer portion is removably attached to the communication device, and the lens behind the rear face of the communication device is not in optical communication with the front onboard camera, when the retainer portion is removably attached to the communication device.

8. The auxiliary lens device of claim 7, wherein the orientation of the auxiliary lens device is configured to be changed to generally switch the locations of the first and second lenses when attached to the communication device.

9. The auxiliary lens device of claim 8, wherein the removable lens device is also configured to be rotated about an axis that is generally perpendicular to an axis extending through a front face of either of the first and second lenses to generally switch the locations of the first and second lenses when attached to the communication device.

10. A combination of the auxiliary lens device of claim 7 and the communication device.

11. The auxiliary lens device of claim 7, wherein the retainer portion is configured such that, when attached to the communication device, the first and second lenses are both generally positioned along a single axis that is generally perpendicular to both the front and rear faces of the communication device.

12. The auxiliary lens device of claim 7, further comprising a groove on an underside configured to receive an edge of the communication device.

13. The auxiliary lens device of claim 12, wherein the groove is configured to extend partially across a top edge of a communication device when the auxiliary lens device is positioned on the communication device.

14. The lens device of claim 7, wherein the first and second lenses are both configured to be near the same vertical edge of the communication device and farther away from an opposing vertical edge of the communication device when the auxiliary lens device is positioned on the communication device.

15. A method of providing an auxiliary lens assembly for a communication device, the method comprising:

providing a first lens;

providing a second lens;

providing a retainer portion configured to receive the first and second lenses in respective different locations on the retainer portion so as to permit a user to contact an edge of a communication device with the retainer portion to position one of the lenses near an onboard camera on a first surface of the communication device while positioning the other of the lenses near a second surface of the communication device, such that the second lens is not in optical communication with the first lens, wherein the second surface of the communication device is generally opposite from the first surface of the communication device, and wherein the orientation of the first and second lenses are configured to be fixed with respect to the communication device while the lenses are attached to the retainer portion and while the retainer portion is attached to the communication device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second lenses are not in optical communication with each other when attached to the communication device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first surface is the front surface of the communication device and the second surface is the rear surface of the communication device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the retainer portion is configured to receive an edge of the communication device in a groove of the retainer portion to removably secure the retainer portion to the communication device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second lenses are configured to produce different optical effects.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the retainer portion is configured to attach on only one corner of the communication device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the retainer portion is configured to attach by a friction fit between the retainer portion and the corner of the communication device.

22. A method of attaching an auxiliary device to a mobile communication device, comprising the steps of:

obtaining an auxiliary device comprising a retainer portion with at least a front wall and a light-transmitting portion, a first optical portion configured to receive light on a fist side of the auxiliary device, and a second optical portion configured to receive light on a second side of the auxiliary device, the first and second sides being generally opposite from each other;

attaching and securing the retainer portion to the mobile communication device in a single motion near an onboard camera of the mobile communication device such that the retainer portion contacts at least two generally perpendicular sides of the mobile communication device in a corner region of the mobile communication device;

wherein the retainer portion is not required to contact additional sides of the mobile communication device in order to remain attached to the mobile communication device and wherein the orientation of the retainer portion does not change when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile communication device.