Adapter for charging and stabilizing cameras

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11867352-B2
Application number	US-202117317725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2021
Priority date	Aug 5, 2020
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

Adapters that can mount phones or other electronic devices on camera stabilizers, where the adapters are portable, can capable of charging, and can allow cameras on the phones to be easily leveled or adjusted to any orientation. An adapter can include a base portion having an opening, where a fastener in the opening can attach the adapter to a camera stabilizer, as well as an upright portion having an enclosure and a contacting surface. The enclosure can house a first magnet array for magnetically attracting a second magnet array in a phone, such that the phone can be readily mounted to a camera stabilizer. The enclosure can further house near-field communication circuits and components for identification. The upright portion and base portion can be connected by a fixed right angle or by a hinge, which can allow the adapter to fold into a more convenient form.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter comprising:
a lateral base portion, wherein the base portion includes an opening, wherein the opening is configured to provide an attachment to a camera stabilizer; and
an upright portion comprising:
a contacting surface for contacting an electronic device; and
an enclosure, the enclosure forming a ring around the contacting surface, the enclosure further forming sides and a back of the upright portion,

wherein the enclosure and the contacting surface enclose:
an attachment structure to attach the electronic device to the adapter; and
charging components to charge the electronic device.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the upright portion is attached to the base portion with a right-angle portion such that the upright portion is orthogonal to the base portion.

3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the upright portion is attached to the base portion with a hinge such that the upright portion is rotatable relative to the base portion.

4. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a near-field communication transmitter.

5. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the contacting surface provides a high-friction surface.

6. The adapter of claim 5 wherein the surface of the contacting surface is adhesive.

7. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure comprises a magnet array.

8. The adapter of claim 7 wherein the camera stabilizer is one of a tripod or a gimbal.

9. An adapter comprising:
a base portion forming a base; and
an upright portion attached to the base portion with a hinge such that the base portion is rotatable relative to the upright portion, the upright portion comprising:
a contacting surface for contacting an electronic device; and
an enclosure, the enclosure around the contacting surface, the enclosure further forming sides and a back of the upright portion,
wherein the enclosure and the contacting surface enclose an attachment feature.

10. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the upright portion includes a recess and the base portion is rotatable about the hinge such that the base portion fits in the recess.

11. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the base portion includes a receptacle for receiving power and the enclosure and the contacting surface further enclose a charging coil.

12. The adapter of claim 9 further comprising a near-field communication transmitter.

13. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the contacting surface provides a high-friction surface.

14. The adapter of claim 13 wherein the surface of the contacting surface is adhesive.

15. An adapter comprising:
a lateral base portion; and
an upright portion attached to the base portion with a right-angle portion such that the upright portion is orthogonal to the base portion, the upright portion comprising:
a contacting surface for contacting an electronic device; and
an enclosure, the enclosure around the contacting surface, the enclosure further forming sides and a back of the upright portion,

wherein the enclosure and the contacting surface enclose an attachment feature.

16. The adapter of claim 15 wherein the enclosure for the upright portion is formed with an enclosure for the base portion and the right-angle portion as a single piece.

17. The adapter of claim 15 wherein the attachment feature comprises a magnet array and the enclosure and the contacting surface further enclose a charging coil.

18. The adapter of claim 15 further comprising a near-field communication transmitter.

19. The adapter of claim 15 wherein the contacting surface provides a high-friction surface.

20. The adapter of claim 19 wherein the surface of the contacting surface is adhesive.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Rasmussen Timothy J
• Graham Christopher S
• Jol Eric S
• Oro Aaron A
• Daly Miranda L
• Kamei Ibuki

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16M13/02 Primary

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• G03B17/561

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• H02J7/0042

  Electricity · mapped topic