Optical redirection adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020192198-A1
Application number	US-202016800291-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 25, 2020
Priority date	Feb 20, 2013
Publication date	Jun 18, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical redirection adapter for an electronic device having a camera includes a housing. An 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 barcode reading adapter, comprising:
a barcode reader adapter housing having an opening to receive an electronic device; and an optical opening, wherein the optical opening is defined by the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the optical opening is aligned with a field of view of a camera of the electronic device such that light is reflected into the field of view of the camera through the optical opening via a redirection angle, wherein the redirection angle is between 45 degrees and 115 degrees.

2 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an optical element attached to the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the optical element is positioned such that, when the barcode reading adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light from an illumination element at the redirection angle.

3 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the optical opening is aligned with an illumination element of the electronic device such that light is reflected from the illumination element at the redirection angle.

4 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a laser aimer attached to the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the laser aimer is positioned such that a laser beam emitted by the laser aimer corresponds to an effective field of view of the camera.

5 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a laser aimer attached to the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the laser aimer is positioned such that a laser pattern emitted by the laser aimer corresponds to an effective field of view of the camera.

6 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the light is reflected through the optical opening by at least one of a prism, a mirror, or a lens.

7 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the light that is reflected into the field of view of the camera through the optical opening is from an effective field of view that extends horizontally to a length of a surface of the electronic device.

8 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the redirection angle is between 60 degrees and 85 degrees.

9 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the optical opening is aligned with both the field of view of the camera of the electronic device and an illumination element.

10 . A barcode reading adapter, comprising:
a barcode reader adapter housing having an opening to receive an electronic device, an optical opening, wherein the optical opening is defined by the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the optical opening is aligned with a field of view of a camera of the electronic device such that light is reflected into the field of view of the camera through the optical opening via a redirection angle, wherein the redirection angle is between 45 degrees and 115 degrees; and an aimer attached to the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the aimer is positioned such that a laser pattern emitted by the aimer corresponds to an effective field of view of the camera.

11 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 10 , wherein the light is reflected through the optical opening by at least one of a prism, a mirror, or a lens.

12 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 11 , wherein the light that is reflected into the field of view of the camera through the optical opening is from an effective field of view that extends horizontally to a length of a surface of the electronic device.

13 . A method of reading a barcode through a barcode reading adapter, comprising:
receiving an electronic device via an opening of a barcode reader adapter housing of the barcode reading adapter; and aligning an optical opening of the barcode reading adapter with a field of view of a camera of the electronic device such that light is reflected into the field of view of the camera through the optical opening via a redirection angle, wherein the redirection angle is between 45 degrees and 115 degrees.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the redirection angle is between 60 degrees and 85 degrees.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the barcode reader adapter housing is configured to emit light from an illumination element.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
attaching an optical element to the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the optical element is positioned such that, when the barcode reading adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light from the illumination element at the redirection angle.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
attaching a laser aimer to the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the laser aimer is positioned such that a laser beam emitted by the laser aimer corresponds to an effective field of view of the camera.

18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
attaching a laser aimer to the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the laser aimer is positioned such that a laser pattern emitted by the laser aimer corresponds to an effective field of view of the camera.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the light is reflected through the optical opening by at least one of a prism, a mirror, or a lens.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the light that is reflected into the field of view of the camera through the optical opening is from an effective field of view that extends horizontally to a length of a surface of the electronic device.

Assignees

• Hand Held Prod Inc

Inventors

• Anderson Donald

Classifications

• H04N23/55

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

• H04N23/75

  by influencing optical camera components · CPC title

• H04N23/69

  Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming · CPC title

• F21V7/0008

  providing for indirect lighting · CPC title

• G03B17/17

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