Optical redirection adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9304376-B2
Application number	US-201313771508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2013
Priority date	Feb 20, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

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

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical redirection adapter for an electronic device having a camera, comprising:
a housing having an opening shaped to correspond to an outer shape of the electronic device for attaching to the electronic device; and
an optical element attached to the housing and positioned such that, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element is positioned in the camera's field of view;
wherein, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, 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; and
wherein, the housing attaches to the electronic device via a friction fit between the opening of the housing and the outer shape of the electronic device.

2. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the electronic device has an illumination element; and
the optical element is positioned such that, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light from the illumination element at the redirection angle.

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

4. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 1 , wherein, 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 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 optical redirection adapter according to claim 1 , 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 camera's external components.

6. The optical 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
wherein the housing comprises a notch for adjusting the strength of the friction fit between the housing and the electronic device.

7. An optical redirection adapter for an electronic device with a front including a height from a top to a bottom and a width from one side to another side, and having a camera, comprising:
a housing having an opening shaped to correspond to an outer shape of the electronic device for attaching to the electronic device; and
an optical element attached to the housing and positioned such that, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element is positioned in the camera's field of view;
wherein, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, 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; and
wherein, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light into the camera's field of view from the center of the electronic device's width.

8. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 7 , wherein:
the electronic device has an illumination element; and
the optical element is positioned such that, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light from the illumination element at the redirection angle.

9. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 7 , wherein the redirection angle is approximately 90 degrees.

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

11. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 7 , wherein the housing attaches to the electronic device via a positive latch.

12. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 7 , comprising a rubber surface on the exterior of the housing.

13. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 7 , wherein, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light into the camera's field of view such that a reflected image is not flipped or rotated.

14. An optical redirection adapter for an electronic device with a front including a height from a top to a bottom and a width from one side to another side, and having a camera, comprising:
a housing having an opening shaped to correspond to an outer shape of the electronic device for attaching to the electronic device; and
an optical element attached to the housing and positioned such that, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element is positioned in the camera's field of view;
wherein, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, 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; and
wherein, 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 the electronic device's width that is different from the location of the camera's field of view along the electronic device's width.

15. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 14 , wherein:
the electronic device has an illumination element; and
the optical element is positioned such that, when the adapter is attached to the electronic device, the optical element reflects light from the illumination element at the redirection angle.

16. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 14 , 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 camera's external components.

17. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 14 , wherein the optical element comprises a prism.

18. The optical redirection adapter according to claim 14 , 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

• 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

• G02B17/008

  Systems specially adapted to form image relays or chained systems · 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