Optical redirection adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017299951-A1
Application number	US-201715635597-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 28, 2017
Priority date	Feb 20, 2013
Publication date	Oct 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical redirection adapter for an electronic device having a camera includes a housing and an optical element. The optical element is attached to the housing and positioned such that, when the adapter is attached the electronic device, the optical element is positioned in the camera's field of view. The optical element reflects light in the camera's field of view from a redirection angle that is offset from the camera's field of view. The optical redirection adapter facilitates ergonomically sound use of the camera.

First claim

1 . A redirection adapter, comprising:
a housing having an opening to receive an electronic device; and an optical element attached to the housing, wherein the optical element is positioned either in a field of view of a camera or an illumination element of the electronic device, and the optical element either reflects light into the camera's field of view or reflects light from the illumination element from a redirection angle; and wherein the redirection angle is between about 45 degrees and about 115 degrees.

2 . The redirection adapter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the electronic device has an illumination element; the optical element comprises a combination of prisms, mirrors, and/or lenses; and the optical element is positioned such that, when the electronic device is in the opening, the optical element reflects light from the illumination element at the redirection angle.

3 . The redirection adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the redirection angle is approximately 90 degrees.

4 . The redirection adapter according to claim 1 , wherein, when the electronic device is in the opening, the optical element reflects light into the camera's field of view from a location along the electronic device's width that is different from the location of the camera's field of view along the electronic device's width.

5 . The redirection adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the optical element is positioned in the housing such that, when the electronic device is in the opening, the optical element is immediately adjacent the camera's external components.

6 . The redirection adapter according to claim 1 , wherein, when the electronic device is in the opening, the optical element reflects light into the camera's field of view from a redirection angle that is offset from the camera's field of view.

7 . The redirection adapter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the housing attaches to the electronic device via a friction fit between the housing and the electronic device; and the housing comprises a notch for adjusting the strength of the friction fit between the housing and the electronic device.

8 . The redirection adapter according to claim 1 , wherein, when the electronic device is in the opening, the optical element reflects light into the camera's field of view such that a reflected image is not flipped or rotated.

9 . A redirection adapter, comprising:
a housing having an opening to receive an electronic device; and an optical element attached to the housing, wherein the optical element is positioned either in a field of view of a camera or an illumination element of the electronic device, and the optical element either reflects light into the camera's field of view or reflects light from the illumination element from a redirection angle of between about 45 degrees and about 115 degrees; wherein the optical element comprises a combination of prisms, mirrors, and/or lenses.

10 . The redirection adapter according to claim 9 , wherein, when the electronic device is in the opening, the optical element reflects light into the camera's field of view from the center of the electronic device's width.

11 . The redirection adapter according to claim 9 , wherein:
the housing attaches to the electronic device via a friction fit between the housing and the electronic device; and the housing comprises a notch for adjusting the strength of the friction fit between the housing and the electronic device.

12 . The redirection adapter according to claim 9 , wherein the housing attaches to the electronic device via a positive latch.

13 . The redirection adapter according to claim 9 , comprising a rubber surface on the exterior of the housing.

14 . The redirection adapter according to claim 9 , wherein, when the electronic device is in the opening, the optical element reflects light into the camera's field of view such that a reflected image is not flipped or rotated.

15 . A redirection adapter, comprising:
a housing having an opening to receive an electronic device; and an optical element attached to the housing, wherein the optical element is positioned either in a field of view of a camera or an illumination element of the electronic device, and the optical element either reflects light into the camera's field of view or reflects light from the illumination element from a redirection angle of between about 60 degrees and 85 degrees.

16 . The redirection adapter according to claim 15 , wherein:
when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light into a field of view of a camera of the electronic device from a redirection angle that is offset from the camera's field of view; and when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light into the camera's field of view from a location along a width of the electronic device that is different from the location of the camera's field of view along the electronic device's width.

17 . The redirection adapter according to claim 15 , wherein, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light into a field of view of a camera of the electronic device from a redirection angle that is offset from the camera's field of view.

18 . The redirection adapter according to claim 15 , wherein the optical element is positioned in the housing such that, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element is immediately adjacent the illumination element.

19 . The redirection adapter according to claim 15 , wherein the optical element comprises a prism.

20 . The redirection adapter according to claim 15 , wherein the optical element comprises a mirror.

Assignees

• Hand Held Prod Inc

Inventors

• Anderson Donald

Classifications

• G03B17/565 Primary

  Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors · CPC title

• G03B17/17

  with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera · CPC title

• F21V7/0008

  providing for indirect lighting · CPC title

• G02B17/008

  Systems specially adapted to form image relays or chained systems · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title