Scanning of objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11320723-B2
Application number	US-201716479618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2017
Priority date	Sep 11, 2017
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to scanning of objects. A device enabling scanning of objects includes an imaging unit to scan objects and a supporting unit to support the imaging unit on an electronic device. The supporting unit includes a supporting leg that forms a rotatable joint with the imaging unit to enable the imaging unit to fold over the supporting leg. The supporting unit also includes a coupling unit to detachably couple the device to the electronic device.

First claim

We claim:

1. A device comprising:
an imaging unit to scan objects; and
a supporting unit to support the imaging unit on an electronic device, the supporting unit comprising:
a supporting leg forming a rotatable joint with the imaging unit to enable the imaging unit to fold over the supporting leg, wherein the supporting leg comprises a cleft to accommodate a connector of a cable to retain the cable when the device is in a folded position; and
a coupling unit to detachably couple the device to the electronic device.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the supporting leg is rotatably coupled to the coupling unit.

3. The device of claim 2 , comprising a ball attached to the supporting leg and a socket attached to the coupling unit, wherein the ball fits into the socket to form a rotatable coupling between the supporting leg and the coupling unit.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein to detachably couple the device to the electronic device, the coupling unit comprises a magnet to be magnetically coupled to a plate attached to the electronic device.

5. A camera assembly comprising:
an imaging unit to scan objects;
a supporting leg coupled to the imaging unit through a hinge joint, wherein the coupling between the supporting leg and the imaging unit allows folding of the imaging unit over the supporting leg; and
a coupling unit to magnetically and detachably couple the camera assembly to an electronic device, the coupling unit comprising a depression to accommodate a portion of the imaging unit when the imaging unit is folded.

6. The camera assembly of claim 5 , comprising a ball and socket joint between the supporting leg and the coupling unit.

7. The camera assembly of claim 5 , wherein the portion of the imaging unit to be accommodated in the depression comprises at least a part of a head portion of the imaging unit, wherein the head portion of the imaging unit comprises cameras.

8. The camera assembly of claim 7 , wherein the imaging unit comprises a leg portion that is connected to the hinge joint at one end and to the head portion at another end.

9. The camera assembly of claim 8 , wherein the leg portion comprises a first base portion away from the hinge joint for accommodating the head portion, wherein the first base portion has a larger width than a remainder of the leg portion to accommodate the head portion, and wherein the first base portion is at an angle lesser than 180° relative to the remainder of the leg portion.

10. The camera assembly of claim 5 , wherein the supporting leg comprises a second base portion to which the coupling unit is coupled, wherein the second base portion is at an angle lesser than 180° relative to a remainder of the supporting leg.

11. The camera assembly of claim 5 , wherein the imaging unit comprises at least one of a three-dimensional (3D) camera and a two-dimensional (2D) camera.

12. A device comprising:
an imaging unit to scan objects;
a supporting leg coupled to the imaging unit through a hinge joint, the hinge joint facilitating the imaging unit to rotate about the hinge joint; and
a ball attached to the supporting leg, the ball to be fitted into a socket on a coupling unit to form a ball and socket joint between the supporting leg and the coupling unit.

13. The device of claim 12 , comprising the coupling unit, wherein the coupling unit comprises a face having a magnet to form a magnetic coupling with a plate attached to an electronic device and a rear side comprising the socket.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the supporting leg comprises a second base portion to which the coupling unit is coupled, wherein the second base portion comprises a cleft on one side, and wherein the cleft comprises a step on its ends and a gap between the steps to accommodate a connector of a cable.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Ding Danny
• Cheng Frank
• Nguyen Thien Greg Ngoc

Classifications

• H04N23/50

  Constructional details · CPC title

• G03B17/561 Primary

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• H04N1/19594

  using a television camera or a still video camera · CPC title

• F16C11/06

  Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints (universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16) · CPC title

• F16M11/10

  around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title