WO2016073993A1

WO2016073993A1 - Camera accessory for use with a mobile device

Info

Publication number: WO2016073993A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/059789
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel T. BULLOCK
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-11-09
Filing date: 2015-11-09
Publication date: 2016-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-09

Abstract

A new camera accessory for use with a computing device equipped with a display has a lens head, a gooseneck for coupling the lens head to a telescoping mechanism; the telescoping handle; and a means for connecting the telescoping handle to the computing device, whereby a cameraman can adequately position the lens head to receive desired images which are transmitted via the connecting means for display on the computing device.

Description

CAMERA ACCESSORY FOR USE WITH A MOBILE DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates generally to a camera accessory for use with a hand-held portable electronic device. More specifically, the camera accessory receives and transmits a picture to the portable device for viewing thereon.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Numerous devices have been used to support cameras and allow the cameras to be positioned above or to the side of a user at a distance beyond the reach of the user. Such devices may be designed to hold small electronic devices, such as bar code readers or telephones with photographic capability.

[0003] Smart phones and other portable electronic devices include cameras with at least the capability to capture still images, and many also are able to capture and record video.

However, numerous situations arise when it is desirable to use a smart phone or similar portable device for photography and/or videography, but the subject matter to be captured in images is not readily visible to the photographer or videographer. For example, it may be desirable to capture images of events occurring in front of a crowd, and if the smart phone operator is not at the front of the crowd, he or she may have to hold the phone above his or her head to obtain the images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A new camera accessory for use with a computing device equipped with a display has a lens head, a gooseneck for coupling the lens head to a telescoping mechanism; a telescoping handle; and a means for connecting the telescoping handle to the computing device, whereby a cameraman can adequately position the lens head to receive desired images which are transmitted via the connecting means for display on the computing device.

[0005] The camera accessory connects its telescoping handle to the computing device by a cable or a Bluetooth connection. The camera accessory's telescoping handle preferably has shutter and zoom controls. The gooseneck can be straight or capable of bending. The telescoping handle preferably holds a battery. The camera accessory can connect to a telephone, tablet computer, laptop or other computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, where:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded front perspective view of a mobile device and camera accessory in accordance with the present invention; and

[0008] FIG. 2 is a front schematic view of the device and camera of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] I have been in crowd situations where people lift their iPad devices and even laptops over their heads. I have not been able to see what is happening in front of the crowd. Even worse, my camera held aloft is often blocked by those large devices. This I cannot tell until the event is over. Only when the event has past can I see that all I obtained was an image of another' s device. The blockage of views has reached the point where users of larger devices are told they are forbidden to use them in certain situations. I searched for an off-the-shelf solution to these problems but could find none. I decided to address both problems: blockage of views and delay in viewing results until after the event has passed.

[0010] The present invention comprises a telescoping and/or goosenecked type of accessory for connecting a separate lensed device to a hand-held portable electronic device, such as a smart phone or other mobile device. The accessory allows a phone user to view objects for which direct visibility is limited, such as when a crowd is standing in front of the user or when it is desired to view confined spaces, such as behind an engine in a car, inside a vent, or behind heavy furniture fixtures. The optical path is entirely contained within the lens head, which is capable of converting images to electronic transmissions without displaying them thereon. The signals are transmitted from the lens head to the electronic handheld device, whereupon the signals can be displayed, recorded, retransmitted and otherwise processed using the capabilities of the mobile device.

[0011] One embodiment in accordance with the present invention of a camera accessory or lensed accessory 100 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A telescoping handle 102 is connected to an iPhone electronic phone 104 or other mobile device via a cable 106. Handle 102 includes a compartment (not shown) for a battery 108, as well as a shutter control 110 and a zoom control 112, as well as wiring (not shown) for connecting with the phone 104. A flexible gooseneck 114 connects the telescoping handle 102 to a lens head 116. Lens head 116 is a stripped down still camera, and it may also have the capability of shooting video. It may be desirable to have an on/off switch (not shown) on handle 102 or lens head 116 to turn the lens head 116 on and off, to start and stop video, or to take pictures. The invention also includes a new software application to enable the electronic device to process, display and store images in the electronic device after they are transmitted from the lens head 116. The handle 102 or the lens head 116 preferably contain a memory chip for retaining images and for buffering them when the transmission is too fast for direct transmission.

[0012] In other embodiments, the lens head 116 has a gooseneck 114 shown with flat surfaces; however, it can also be flexible, with a bendable design, such as a metal spiral. The telescoping mechanism 118 is a stepped structure which accepts the gooseneck 114. The telescoping handle 102 plugs directly into a phone or other mobile device, rather than via a cable. Alternatively both a mobile device and lensed device are integrated into a case or docking device.

[0013] The lensed accessory 100 of the present invention, when combined with a mobile device, serves to capture photographs and video from a position some distance from the user. As shown in Figs. 1-2, the flexible gooseneck 114 and telescoping mechanism 118 enable a user to position the lens head 116 above the user's head, such as to record images when the user' s direct view is blocked by a crowd; to record images to the side of the user; or to allow the user to see into confined spaces, such as behind an engine in a car, inside a vent, or behind heavy furniture or fixtures. [0014] Preferably the handle 102 is sufficiently long to position the lens head 116, not only above the head of the cameraman but also above other picture-capturing devices of other individuals. The length is adjustable, and can be based on what is actually transmitted from the lens head 116 and viewed on the mobile device. Such a maximum length is approximately 5-7 feet. The length is selected, based on a number of factors, including but not limited to weight, compactness, and even image wobble that is magnified by longer lengths.

[0015] The handle 102 and case of the lens head 116 are preferably made of lightweight materials including but not limited to metals such as aluminum, metal alloys and plastics.

[0016] Image wobble has been a problem with cameras from the start, but more recently an image stabilization corrective software program has been introduced to reduce blur from shaky images. Optionally, the lens head 116 is equipped with such a program or the image received from the lens head 116 is preferably processed through such a software program in the mobile device 104.

[0017] Communication between the mobile device and the lens head 116 may be via a wired connection, such as through gooseneck 114, handle 102 and cable 106 as shown in Figs. 1-2. Alternatively, images and video may be transmitted wirelessly, such as via Bluetooth or another suitable transmission protocol.

[0018] The control functions include on-off switch, telescoping, activating a motor, downloading memory, sending a wireless command and other guidance to the lens head 116. These control functions can be activated by any of a variety of methods including manual, mechanical, electrical, electronic, electromagnetic or optical methods.

[0019] Preferably, the lens head 116 and associated electronic circuitry are selected to balance the image resolution and the number of megapixels with the power that can readily be provided. It may be desirable to include flash functionality, such as with an LED flash device, with the flash light intensity balanced with the power available, either from an internal battery 108 or from the mobile device battery. It may also be desirable to incorporate a microphone into the lens head 116. [0020] The foregoing description is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and process shown and described above. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention.

[0021] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is hereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional application of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

[0022] Reference throughout this specification to an "embodiment," an "example" or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or combinations thereof described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus appearances of the phrases an "embodiment," and "example," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, to different embodiments, or to one or more of the figures. Additionally, reference to the words "embodiment," "example" or the like for two or more features, elements, etc., does not mean that the features are necessarily related, dissimilar, the same, etc.

[0023] Each statement of an embodiment or example is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodiment is identified as "another embodiment," the identified embodiment is independent of any other embodiments characterized by the language "another embodiment." The features, functions and the like described herein are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly. [0024] As used herein, "comprising," "including," "containing," "is," "are," "characterized by," and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional un-recited elements or method steps. "Comprising" is to be interpreted broadly and including the more restrictive terms "consisting of and "consisting essentially of."

[0025] Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but does not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0026] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

[0027] These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth.

Claims

1. A camera accessory for use with a computing device equipped with a display, the camera accessory comprising

a) a lens head;

b) a gooseneck for coupling the lens head to a telescoping mechanism;

c) the telescoping handle; and

d) a means for connecting the telescoping handle to the computing device, whereby a cameraman can adequately position the lens head to receive desired images which are transmitted via the connecting means for display on the computing device.

2. The camera accessory of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the telescoping

handle to the computing device comprises a cable.

3. The camera accessory of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the telescoping

handle to the computing device comprises a Bluetooth connection.

4. The camera accessory of claim 1 wherein the telescoping handle has shutter and zoom controls.

5. The camera accessory of claim 1 wherein the gooseneck is straight or capable of bending.

6. The camera accessory of claim 1 wherein the telescoping handle holds a battery.

7. The camera accessory of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a telephone, tablet computer, laptop or other type of computer.