Docking station for android cellphone

• US 8,738,080 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nhiayi, Ly Kao
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US13/428,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20130252669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 4553431-3436, 455/41.2, 455/566, 455/571, 455/572, 455/573, 348/42, 348/47, 348/48, 348/308, 345/173, 345/419
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product for a smartphone docking station in digital camera and camcorder form factors. The docking station provides an attached smartphone a better lens, image sensor, and image stabilization system for capturing pictures and videos, as well as a more familiar and steady user gripping and aiming platform for such photography. Imagery and audio from the smartphone and docking station may be combined into three-dimensional stereo media. The docking station also provides additional battery, data processing, and buffer capacities for the smartphone, as well as an external connector for accessories such as lights and microphones. The smartphone may provide GPS and other data, and network connectivity that allows data that it and/or the docking station captures to be easily transferred to/from to the internet. The smartphone may be used as a display, and may be based on the Android™ operating system or other operating systems.

Claims

1. A smartphone docking station, comprising:

a docking station comprising a main body, a battery, a lens, and an imaging sensor; and

a connector that mechanically and electrically connects the main body with a smartphone;

wherein when a smartphone is connected to the connector, a display screen of the smartphone functions as a viewfinder for playback display of imagery from the imaging sensor;

wherein the docking station is configured to operate as a handheld camcorder without being connected to the smartphone;

wherein the smartphone further comprises a smartphone camera; and

wherein the imaging sensor of the docking station and the smartphone camera are configured to each capture an image from offset positions to form a stereo image.

2. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the docking station has one of a camcorder form factor and a camera form factor.

3. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the battery provides electrical power to the smartphone.

4. The docking station of claim 1 wherein image data is shared between the docking station and the smartphone.

5. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a memory, a microphone, an accessory attachment, a tripod mount, and a viewport for smartphone sensors.

6. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising an operating memory and a processor that executes an operating system including at least one of Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.

7. The docking station of claim 1 that combines at least one of image data and audio data captured by the docking station and the smartphone into stereo media.

8. A computer program product for operating a smartphone docking station, comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying non-transitory computer-executable program instructions thereon that, when executed, cause a computing device to:

control sharing of electrical power between a smartphone and a smartphone docking station;

control sharing of data between the smartphone and the docking station;

wherein when the smartphone is connected to the docking station, a display screen of the smartphone functions as a viewfinder for playback display of imagery from the imaging sensor;

wherein the smartphone further comprises a smartphone camera; and

wherein the imaging sensor of the docking station and the smartphone camera are configured to each capture an image from offset positions to form a stereo image.

9. A computer-implemented method for operating a smartphone docking station, comprising:

detecting connection of a smartphone to a docking station comprising a main body, a battery, a lens, and an imaging sensor; and

responsively sharing electrical power and data between the docking station and the smartphone,

wherein the shared data is adapted to cause a display screen of the smartphone to function as a viewfinder for playback display of an imagery from the imaging sensor;

wherein the docking station is configured to operate as a handheld camcorder without being connected to the smartphone; and

wherein the smartphone further comprises a smartphone camera; and

wherein the imaging sensor of the docking station and the smartphone camera are configured to each capture an image from offset positions to form a stereo image.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the docking station has one of a camcorder form factor and a camera form factor.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the battery provides electrical power to the smartphone.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein image data is shared between the docking station and the smartphone.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the docking station further comprises at least one of a memory, a microphone, an accessory attachment, a tripod mount, and a viewport for smartphone sensors.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the docking station further comprises an operating memory and a processor that executes an operating system including at least one of Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising combining at least one of image data and audio data captured by the docking station and the smartphone into stereo media.

16. A system for enhancing smartphone capabilities, comprising:

means for detecting connection of a smartphone to a docking station comprising a main body, a battery, a lens, and an imaging sensor; and

means for responsively sharing electrical power and data between the docking station and the smartphone,

wherein the shared data is adapted to cause a display screen of the smartphone to function as a viewfinder for playback display of imagery from the imaging sensor; and

wherein the docking station is configured to operate as a handheld camcorder without being connected to the smartphone; and

wherein the smartphone further comprises a smartphone camera; and

wherein the imaging sensor of the docking station and the smartphone camera are configured to each capture an image from offset positions to form a stereo image.