ATTACHABLE SMARTPHONE CAMERA

• US 20140300809A1
• Filed: 04/09/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rui Pedro Oliveira
• Original Assignee: Rui Pedro Oliveira
• Inventors: Oliveira, Rui Pedro
• Granted Patent: US 9,503,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/376
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/684 performed by controlling the image sensor readout, e.g. by controlling the integration time
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein that generally involve a camera system including a high-quality lens which is selectively attachable to a mobile device, effectively replacing the mobile device'"'"'s integral lens. The attachable camera system can leverage existing features of the mobile device, such as the display, battery, storage, and sharing functions, allowing the camera system itself to be a relatively simple, lightweight, portable, and inexpensive device. The ability to selectively attach and detach the camera system from the mobile device allows the camera system to be removed when it is desired to maintain the mobile device'"'"'s favorable weight, size, and ergonomic characteristics. When high quality image or video capture or increased camera flexibility and functionality is desired, the camera system can be attached to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A camera system, comprising:

a camera housing;

a lens mounted in the housing and configured to direct light onto an image sensor disposed within the housing; and

a mobile device connector configured to mechanically and electrically couple the camera system to a mobile device;

wherein the camera system does not include a user interface.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera system does not include a power source and is instead configured to receive power through the connector from a mobile device when the camera system is coupled to the mobile device.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera system does not include a storage medium and is instead configured to transmit captured image data through the connector to a mobile device for storage on the mobile device when the camera system is coupled to the mobile device.

4. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera system does not include a shutter button or a display screen.

5. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises at least one of a micro-USB connector, a mini-USB connector, an Apple®

30-pin connector, an Apple®

Lightning port connector, and a jack connector.

6. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the image sensor has a resolution of at least about 10 megapixels.

7. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the lens has an adjustable focal length.

8. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the lens is positionable in at least a fully-retracted position and a fully-extended position.

9. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the lens has a mechanical shutter.

10. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the housing has a length of less than about six centimeters, a width of less than about six centimeters, and a depth of less than about two centimeters.

11. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising an external flash connector and an external flash configured to be electrically and mechanically coupled to the camera housing by the external flash connector.

12. The camera system of claim 11, wherein the external flash connector is disposed along an edge of the camera housing that is opposite from an edge of the camera housing along which the mobile device connector is disposed.

13. The camera system of claim 11, wherein the external flash connector is disposed along an edge of the camera housing that is adjacent to an edge of the camera housing along which the mobile device connector is disposed.

14. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising a cradle configured to receive at least a portion of a mobile device.

15. The camera system of claim 14, wherein the cradle comprises a base and four sidewalls that define a recess which is a substantial negative of at least a portion of a mobile device.

16. The camera system of claim 14, wherein the cradle is configured to receive at least a portion of a mobile device in an interference fit.

17. The camera system of claim 14, wherein the cradle is formed from an elastomeric material.

18. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising a platform formed on or attached to the camera housing and configured to abut a sidewall of a mobile device when the camera system is coupled to the mobile device.

19. The camera system of claim 18, wherein the platform includes one or more connection features configured to mechanically couple the camera system to a mobile device.

20. The camera system of claim 18, wherein the connection features include at least one of a magnet, a hook, a strap, and a screw.

21. A method of capturing image data, comprising:

coupling a camera system having a camera housing, a lens, an image sensor, and no user interface to a mobile device having a processor, a display screen, and an input device, the camera system being external to a housing of the mobile device;

launching a camera application on the mobile device to display on the display screen a control for adjusting a parameter of the camera system and a viewfinder comprising a real-time stream of images received by the image sensor through the lens;

actuating the control using the input device of the mobile device to cause the processor of the mobile device to send an instruction to the camera system to adjust the parameter; and

actuating a shutter control of the mobile device to cause the processor of the mobile device to send an instruction to the camera system to perform an image capture operation, said image capture operation comprising generating image data using the image sensor of the camera system and transmitting the generated image data to the mobile device for storage or processing.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of shutter speed, aperture size, zoom, focus, and flash setting.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the image data comprises at least one of still image data, video image data, and video audio data captured by a microphone.

24. A method of capturing image data using a camera system coupled to a mobile device, the camera system being external to a housing of the mobile device and having a camera housing, a lens, an image sensor, a lens controller, a connector, and no user interface, the mobile device having a processor, a display screen, and an input device, the method comprising:

using the processor of the mobile device, executing a camera application to display on the display screen of the mobile device one or more controls for adjusting parameters of the camera system;

using the processor of the mobile device, executing the camera application to display on the display screen of the mobile device a real-time stream of images captured by the image sensor through the lens and transmitted to the mobile device through the connector such that the display screen acts as a viewfinder for the camera system;

receiving, via the input device, a user instruction to adjust a parameter of the camera system;

sending an instruction to adjust the parameter of the camera system from the processor to the lens controller via the connector;

receiving, via the input device, a user instruction to perform an image capture operation;

sending an instruction to perform an image capture operation from the processor to the lens controller via the connector;

receiving, at the processor of the mobile device, image data captured through the lens by the image sensor of the camera system; and

storing the received image data in a storage unit of the mobile device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the image data comprises at least one of still image data, video image data, and video audio data captured by a microphone.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the display screen is a touch-enabled display and wherein the input device comprises a touch sensor of the touch-enabled display.

27. A method of capturing image data using a camera system attached to a mobile device, the camera system being external to a housing of the mobile device and having a camera housing, a lens, an image sensor, a processor, a connector, and no user interface, the mobile device having a display screen, the method comprising:

receiving, at the processor of the camera system, an instruction from the attached mobile device to adjust a parameter of the camera system;

in response to said instruction, adjusting the parameter of the camera system;

transmitting a real-time feed of images captured through the lens by the image sensor to the attached mobile device for display as a viewfinder on the display screen of the mobile device;

receiving, at the processor of the camera system, an instruction from the attached mobile device to perform an image capture operation;

in response to said instruction, performing an image capture operation using the lens and the image sensor; and

transmitting to the attached mobile device, via the connector, image data captured through the lens by the image sensor during the image capture operation.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the image data comprises at least one of still image data, video image data, and video audio data captured by a microphone.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of shutter speed, aperture size, zoom, focus, and flash setting.