Multiposition handheld electronic magnifier

• US 9,413,973 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: McDaniel, Jeffery, Rodriguez, Carlos M., Murphy, Patrick, Tunkis, Waldemar H., Conard, Todd, Goldenberg, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HANNETT, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US14/456,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20140347457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 magnification device for use by blind or low vision users, the device comprising:

a housing having a rear face with a camera and a front face with a screen adapted to display images taken by the camera, the housing storing an image processor and an image memory, the image processor being used to selectively enlarge the displayed images and change the color combinations associated with the displayed image, the displayed images being selectively stored within the image memory for later retrieval;

a handle pivotally connected to the housing, an opening formed within the handle whereby the camera can view images through the handle;

a battery positioned within the handle;

the handle having at least three discrete orientations relative to the camera, in the first orientation, the handle is positioned to be grasped by the user and the camera is positioned to view distant objects, in the second orientation, the handle is positioned as a stand for the housing and the object to be viewed is positioned in front of the camera, with the battery within the handle functioning as a counterweight, in the third orientation the housing and handle are brought into facing relation, the handle is positioned on top of the object being viewed and the object is displayed on the screen.

2. A magnification device for use by blind or low vision users, the device comprising:

a housing having a rear face with a camera and a front face with a screen adapted to display images taken by the camera, the housing storing a camera and an image processor, the image processor being used to selectively enlarge the displayed images;

a handle pivotally connected to the housing, an opening formed within the handle whereby the camera can view images through the handle;

a battery positioned within the handle;

the handle having at least two discrete orientations relative to the camera, in one orientation, the handle and battery together function as a stand for the housing and the object to be viewed is positioned in front of the camera, in another orientation the housing and handle are brought into facing relation, with the object being viewed displayed on the screen.

3. The magnification device as described in claim 2 wherein the handle has three different orientations, in the first orientation, the handle is positioned to be grasped by the user and the camera is positioned to view distant objects, in the second orientation, the handle is positioned as a stand for the housing and the object to be viewed is positioned in front of the camera, in the third orientation the handle is positioned on top of the object being viewed.

4. The magnification device as described in claim 2 wherein the image processor can selectively change the color combinations associated with the displayed image.

5. The magnification device as described in claim 2 wherein the housing further includes an image memory for selectively storing images for later retrieval.

6. The magnification device as described in claim 2 wherein the images are displayed on an external monitor.