Optical adapters for mobile devices with a camera

• US 9,544,539 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kendyl A. Roman
• Original Assignee: Kendyl A. Roman
• Inventors: Roman, Kendyl A
• Primary Examiner(s): ZENATI, AMAL S
• Application Number:
  US13/969,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.08
• 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 19/0014 at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0076 for use with a detector G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/023 permitting adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Portable, mobile, lightweight, removable, low cost, easy to manufacture, easy to ship, easy to transport, easy to store, and easy to use optical adapters that provides an effective means of videoconferencing over a mobile phone or other mobile device with a camera. Embodiments include landscape and portrait adapters that can be easily applied, used and removed while maintaining a professional and aesthetic appearance. Small mirrors within the optical adapter allow light from the front of the mobile device to enter the adapter and be conditioned and redirected into the built-in lens of the camera on the back of the mobile device. Novel embodiments include a lens reverser and/or a re-lens. Optical adapters also provide for self-imaging or surveillance. Various protective cases and adapter embodiments are configured to match specific mobile devices.

Claims

1. An optical adapter configured to be selectively attachable to a mobile device having a camera,

the mobile device comprising:

i) a front comprising a display,

ii) a back comprising a built-in lens positioned over a camera chip sensor of the camera,

iii) a top edge,

iv) a side edge, and

v) a corner formed between the top edge and the side edge, the optical adapter comprising;

a) an adapter lens, and

b) a casing configured to clip on the mobile device and to position the adapter lens over the built-in lens,

wherein the casing comprises;

i) a back member configured to match the back of the mobile device, the back member attached to the adapter lens,

ii) a top edge member configured to match the top edge of the mobile device, the top edge member connected to the back member,

iii) a side edge member configured to match the side edge of the mobile device, the side edge member connected to the back member,

iv) a rounded corner member configured to match the corner of the mobile device, the corner member connected to the back member, and

v) a front member configured to match the front of the mobile device, the front member attached to at least one of the group of the top edge member, the side edge member, and the corner member,

wherein the adapter lens is configured to condition an image of light received by the camera to create a digital image,

wherein the casing is attached to the mobile device by clipping the casing over the entire rounded corner of the mobile device covering said corner from the back member to the front member, and

wherein the front member of the casing is configured such that all of the display is visible when the optical adapter is attached to the mobile device.

2. The optical adapter of claim 1 wherein the display of the mobile device is a touch display, and wherein the front member of the casing is configured such that all of the touch display is accessible via touch when the optical adapter is attached to the mobile device.

3. The optical adapter of claim 1,

wherein the built-in lens of the mobile device is located near the corner,

wherein the adapter lens is positioned near the corner member of the casing,

wherein the top member of the casing has a length that is less than a top length of the top edge, and

wherein the side member of the casing has a length that is less than a side length of the side edge.

4. The optical adapter of claim 3, wherein the mobile device is an iPhone-like device, and wherein the casing is configured to match a shape of the corner of the iPhone-like device.

5. The optical adapter of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is an iPhone, and wherein the casing is configured to match a shape of the corner of the iPhone.

6. The optical adapter of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is an iTouch, and wherein the casing is configured to match a shape of the corner of the iTouch.

7. The optical adapter of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a second side edge member and a second rounded corner member,

wherein the second side edge member is connected to the back member,

wherein the second rounded corner member is connected to the back member, the second rounded corner member configured to match a second corner of the mobile device,

wherein the casing is attached to the mobile device by clipping the casing over the corner and the second corner of the mobile device.

8. The optical adapter of claim 1, wherein the built-in lens of the mobile device is centered between the side edge and a parallel second side edge;

wherein the adapter lens is aligned over the centered built-in lens.

9. The optical adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a rigid housing, connected to the casing,

b) a first reflective surface, connected to the housing, positioned to reflect light coming from in front of the mobile device over one of the top edge and the side edge of the mobile device, and

c) a second reflective surface, connected to the housing, positioned to reflect light coming from the top reflective surface to the built-in lens,

whereby one or more objects located in the front of the mobile device, which is opposite from the back of the mobile device having the built-in lens, is captured by the camera chip sensor creating the digital image.

10. The optical adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a rigid housing, connected to the casing, and

b) a second adapter lens.

11. The optical adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a rigid housing, connected to the casing,

b) a second adapter lens, connected to the housing,

c) a first reflective surface, connected to the housing, positioned to reflect light coming from in front of the mobile device over one of the top edge and the side edge of the mobile device,

d) a second reflective surface, connected to the housing, positioned to reflect light coming from the top reflective surface to the built-in lens,

wherein the second adapter lens is configured to condition the image of light prior to the light passing to the adapter lens,

whereby one or more objects located in the front of the mobile device, which is opposite from the back of the mobile device having the built-in lens, is captured by the camera chip sensor creating the digital image.

12. The optical adapter of claim 1 wherein the optical adapter is rotated 180 degrees.

13. The optical adapter of claim 1 wherein the digital image is a still photograph.

14. The optical adapter of claim 1 wherein the digital image is a frame of a video.

15. A method of videoconferencing using the optical adapter of claim 9, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the optical adapter,

b) providing a computer program to be run on a processor in the mobile device,

c) executing the computer program to repeat the following substeps;

i) capturing a frame of video from the light originating from a person in front of the display of the mobile device,

ii) transmitting the frame of video over a network,

wherein the video being captured is displayed to the person on the display.

16. A method of manufacturing the optical adapter of claim 9, the method comprising the steps of:

a) shaping the casing to match a predetermined mobile device,

b) mounting the adapter lens in the casing,

c) mounting the first and second reflective surfaces in the rigid housing, and

d) removably attaching the rigid housing to the casing.

17. A method of manufacturing the optical adapter of claim 9, the method comprising the steps of:

a) shaping the casing to match a predetermined mobile device,

b) mounting the adapter lens and the first and second reflective surfaces in the casing.

18. A method of manufacturing the optical adapter of claim 10, the method comprising the steps of:

a) shaping the casing to match a predetermined mobile device,

b) mounting at least one of the lenses in the rigid housing, and

c) removably attaching the rigid housing to the casing.

19. The optical adapter of claim 1, wherein the casing is adjustable to clip over a corner of a plurality of mobile devices, forming an adjustable casing.

20. An optical adapter clip configured to be removable attached to a mobile device having a camera,

the mobile device comprising:

i) a front comprising a display,

ii) a back comprising a built-in lens positioned over a camera chip sensor of the camera, and

iii) a corner,

the optical adapter clip comprising a casing configured to clip on the mobile device and to position an optical element over the built-in lens of the mobile device, the casing comprising;

i) a back member configured to match the back of the mobile device,

ii) a rounded corner member configured to match the corner of the mobile device, the corner member connected to the back member,

iii) a front member configured to match the front of the mobile device, the front member attached to the corner member,

wherein the casing is configured to receive the optical element, the optical element being configured to condition an image of light received by the camera to create a digital image,

wherein the casing is attached to the mobile device by clipping the casing over the entire rounded corner of the mobile device covering said corner from the back member to the front member,

wherein the front member of the casing is configured such that all of the display is visible when the optical adapter is attached to the mobile device.