Optical redirection adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023023494-A1
Application number	US-202217938506-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 6, 2022
Priority date	Feb 20, 2013
Publication date	Jan 26, 2023
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 defining an opening to receive an electronic device and at least one access opening; an optical element attached to the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein the optical element is aligned with a field of view of a camera of the electronic device, and wherein the optical element reflects light into the field of view of the camera at a redirection angle that is offset from the field of view of the camera such that a reflected image is not flipped or rotated.

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

3 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the barcode reader adapter housing further comprises an optical opening 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 collimating lens attached to the optical element.

5 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , wherein at least one feature on an exterior surface of the electronic device comprises one of a speaker, a microphone, and an external button.

6 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the barcode reader adapter housing further comprises an optical opening and 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 barcode reader adapter housing further comprises an optical opening, and 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 45 degrees and 115 degrees.

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

10 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an aimer attached to the barcode reader adapter housing, wherein at least one of a beam and a pattern emitted by the aimer corresponds to the field of view of the camera.

11 . The barcode reading adapter according to claim 10 , wherein the barcode reader adapter housing further comprises an optical opening, and 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 element of the barcode reading adapter with a field of view of a camera of the electronic device, wherein the optical element reflects light into the field of view of the camera at a redirection angle that is offset from the field of view of the camera such that a reflected image is not flipped or rotated.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the redirection angle is between 45 degrees and 115 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 , wherein the electronic device comprises the illumination element, wherein the barcode reader adapter housing further comprises an optical opening, and wherein the optical element is positioned within the optical opening such that, when the barcode reading adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light from the illumination element of the electronic device at the redirection angle through the optical opening.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
attaching a collimating lens to the optical element of the barcode reader adapter housing.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one feature on an exterior surface of the electronic device comprises one of a speaker, a microphone, and an external button.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the barcode reader adapter housing further comprises an optical opening, and 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 barcode reader adapter housing further comprises an optical opening, and 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

• G02B17/008

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

• H04N5/238

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/2254

  Electricity · mapped topic

• F21V7/0008

  providing for indirect lighting · CPC title

• G03B17/565 Primary

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