AU2014266838B2

AU2014266838B2 - Image capturing

Info

Publication number: AU2014266838B2
Application number: AU2014266838A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Kininmonth Kane; Rafi Muller Leigh
Original assignee: Tyme Ltd
Current assignee: Tyme Ltd
Priority date: 2013-05-14
Filing date: 2014-05-14
Publication date: 2016-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2034-05-14
Also published as: CN105191274A; WO2014184749A3; PH12015501908A1; MY177575A; ZA201506038B; WO2014184749A2; AU2014266838A1; PH12015501908B1; AP2015008683A0

Abstract

This invention relates to image and biometric capturing. In particular, the invention relates to a mobile communications device mount and to a method of capturing images and biometric data with a mobile communication device. The mobile communications device accessory, includes a document receptacle shaped and dimensioned to hold a document in an imaging zone and a device mounting, shaped and dimensioned to receive a mobile communications device having a built in camera such that the built in camera is directed at the document receptacle imaging zone.

Description

IMAGE CAPTURING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to image and biometric capturing. In particular, the invention relates to a mobile communications device mount and to a method of capturing images and biometric data with a mobile communication device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various accessories for mobile telephones have been designed for numerous applications, such as covers for phones, desktop stands in which phones can be mounted for charging, vehicle mounts for mounting phones in vehicles, and the like.

However, none of the accessories retains the phone securely in predetermined positions and prevent phones from being removed from the mounts.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant, and/or combined with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

It is an object of the invention to provide an accessory which can be used in conjunction with a mobile telephone to provide functions aimed at capturing images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention provides a mobile communications device accessory, which includes: a document receptacle defining a base of the mobile communication accessory, the base shaped and dimensioned to hold a document in an imaging zone; a stand, connected to and extending from the base; and a device mounting connected to the stand, the device mounting shaped and dimensioned to receive a mobile communications device having a built in camera, the stand and device mounting adjustable to a deployed condition in which the stand and the device mounting are in a predefined position relative to the document receptacle such that in use the built in camera of the mobile communications device is directed at the document receptacle imaging zone.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of capturing images with a mobile communication device, the method including: deploying a mobile communications device accessory, according to the first aspect of the invention, with the mobile communications device directed at a document receptacle or a face imaging zone; and triggering a mobile communications device camera of a mobile communications device mounted onto the device mounting to capture an image of a document in the document receptacle or of a person's face present in the face imaging zone.

Also described herein is a mobile communications device accessory, which includes a document receptacle shaped and dimensioned to hold a document in an imaging zone; and a device mounting, shaped and dimensioned to receive a mobile communications device having a built in camera such that the built in camera is directed at the document receptacle imaging zone.

Any one of the device mounting and the document receptacle may be moveable relative to the other of the device mounting and the document receptacle such that the imaging zone is adjustable to cover other objects.

In one embodiment, the device mounting may be moveable away from the document receptacle imaging zone towards a face imaging zone located distal from the mobile communications device accessory.

The document receptacle may define a base of the mobile communications device accessory.

The mobile communications device accessory may include a stand attached to the document receptacle and to the device mounting for retaining the device mounting in a predefined position relative to the document receptacle. The stand may include bias means for urging any one or both of the document receptacle and the device mounting to a deployed condition in which a mobile communications device's camera is directed towards the document receptacle imaging zone.

The document receptacle, stand and device mounting may be foldable onto each other into a stowed condition. In particular the document receptacle, stand and device mounting may be foldable between a stowed condition in which the mobile communications device accessory is compact for transportation/storage and a deployed condition in which the mobile communications device accessory is ready for use.

In particular the document receptacle may define a first plane into which a document is receivable and the device mounting, when deployed, may define a second plane parallel to and spaced from the first plane. The stand may be elongate with one side that is hingedly connected to the document receptacle along a hinge axis running parallel to the first plane. The elongate stand may include a second side onto which the device mounting is hingedly connected along a second hinge axis running parallel to the first hinge axis.

The device mounting may be hinged along the second hinge axis between the document receptacle imaging zone and a face-imaging zone located in a third plane extending right angularly from any one of the first plane and the second plane.

The document receptacle may include a document insert. The document insert may be shaped and dimensioned to accept a document of a predefined size. The document insert may include index markings indicating the positions to which a document is to be aligned. The document insert may include a recess to accept a document of a particular size, such as an identity document, identity card, credit card, or the like.

The document receptacle may include a document-retaining device, such as a transparent cover, a document frame, or the like, for retaining the document in the document receptacle in position. The document-retaining device may include index markings for aligning the document in the document receptacle.

The device mounting may include securing means for mounting a mobile communications device securely onto the device mounting. The securing means may be in the form of a recess in the device mounting, matched to the size of the mobile communications device. The securing means may include a closure mountable onto the device mounting to secure the mobile communications device onto the device mounting. The closure may be mounted by means of secure mounting means, such as keyed fasteners, which cannot be opened without the aid of mechanical tools.

The device mounting may include an electrical device interface, connectable to an electrical interface of the device. For example, the electrical device interface may include a charging interface, a data interface, or the like.

The mobile communications device accessory may include a power supply, such as a battery, an external power supply interface, or the like, for powering a mobile communications device, connected to the electrical device interface when mounted onto the device mounting.

The mobile communications device accessory may include an external data interface connected to the electrical interface and connectable to external accessories such as printers and the like.

The mobile communications device accessory may include a biometric scanner, such as a retina scanner, a fingerprint scanner, or the like, for scanning biometric details of a person. The biometric scanner may be connected to the electrical device interface for communicating with a mobile communication device mounted into the device mounting. Conveniently, a fingerprint scanner may be integrated with the document receptacle, which defines a base of the mobile communications device accessory. In one embodiment a camera of a mobile communications device, mounted onto the device mounting may define a retina scanner, when a mobile communications device is loaded with appropriate software to facilitate retina scanning of an individual.

Also described herein is a method of capturing images with a mobile communication device, the method including deploying a mobile communications device accessory, as described, with the mobile communications device directed at any one of a document receptacle imaging zone and a face imaging zone; and triggering a mobile communications device camera of a mobile communications device mounted onto a device mounting.

The invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the following drawing.

DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a mobile communications device accessory in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a mobile communications device accessory in accordance with one aspect of the invention; and

Figure 3 shows yet another embodiment of a mobile communications device accessory in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Figures 1 to 3 show three different embodiments of mobile communications device accessories 10, 40, 70, in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

The mobile communications device accessories 10, 40, 70 include document receptacles 12, 42, 72 shaped and dimensioned to hold documents in document imaging zones defined by the document receptacles 12, 42, 72.

The mobile communications device accessories 10, 40, 70 further include device mountings 14, 44, 74 shaped and dimensioned to receive mobile communications devices (not shown), the mobile communications devices all having built-in cameras such that the built in cameras are directed at the document receptacle imaging zones 12, 42, 72.

The device mountings 14, 44, 74 and the document receptacles 12, 42, 72 are moveable relative to each other as can be seen in 10.1-10.4 and 40.1 40.4 such that the imaging zones are adjustable to cover other objects. In particular, as indicated by 10.4 and 40.4, it can be seen that a mobile communication device camera being exposed through apertures 14.1 and 44.1 are directed at an object spaced a distance from the mobile communication device accessories 10, 40. In use, this object may be the face of a person. In use, therefore device mountings 14, 44, 74 may be moveable away from the document receptacle imaging zones 12, 42 towards a face imaging zone (not numbered) located distal from the mobile communications device accessories 10, 40, 70.

As can be seen in the drawings, the document receptacles define bases of the mobile communications device accessories 10, 40, 70.

The mobile communications device accessories 10, 40, 70 include stands 16, 46, 76 attached to the document receptacles 12, 42, 72 and to the device mountings 14, 44, 74 for retaining the device mountings 14, 44, 74 in predefined positions relative to the document receptacles 12, 42, 72. The stands 16, 46, 76 include bias means for urging any one or both of the document receptacles 12, 42, 72 and the device mountings 14, 44, 74 to a deployed condition (10.3, 40.3, 70) in which a mobile communications device's cameras are directed towards the document receptacle imaging zones 12, 42, 72.

The document receptacles 12, 42, 72, stands 16, 46, 76 and device mountings 14, 44, 74 are foldable onto each other into a stowed condition 10.1, 40.1 (70.1 not shown) for transportation/storage and a deployed condition (10.3, 40.3, 70) in which the mobile communications device accessory is ready for use.

The document receptacles 12, 42, 72 define a first set of planes into which documents are receivable. The device mountings 14, 44, 74 defines a second set of planes parallel to and spaced from the first set of planes. The stands 16, 46, 76 are elongate with one of their sides 16.1, 46.1, 76.1 being hingedly connected to the document receptacles 12, 42, 72 along hinge axes 18, 48, 78 running parallel to the first set of planes. The elongate stands 16, 46, 76 include a set of second sides 16.2, 46.2, 76.2 opposed to the first set of sides 16.1, 46.1, 76.1 onto which the device mountings 14, 44, 74 are hingedly connected along a second set of hinge axes 20, 50, 80 running parallel to the first set of hinge axes 18, 48, 78.

The device mountings 14, 44, 76 are hingeable along the second set of hinge axes 20, 50, 80 between the document receptacle imaging zone and a face-imaging zone located in a third plane (not shown) extending right angularly from the second set of planes.

As can be seen in 70, the document receptacle 72 includes a document insert 72.1. The document insert 72.1 is shaped and dimensioned to accept a document of a predefined size. The document insert 72.1 includes index markings (not shown) indicating the positions to which a document is to be aligned. The document insert 72.1 includes a recess to accept a document (such as an identity document) of a particular size.

In another embodiment (not shown) the document receptacle may include a document-retaining device, such as a transparent cover, a document frame, or the like, for retaining the document in the document receptacle in position. The document-retaining device may include index markings for aligning the document in the document receptacle.

The device mounting 74 includes securing means in the form of a retaining plate 74.1 (closure) and a set of retaining screws 74.2 for mounting a mobile communications device (not shown) securely onto the device mounting 74. The securing means is in the form of a recess (not visible) in the device mounting, matched to the size of the mobile communications device.

In these embodiments the device mountings 14, 44, 74 all include electrical device interfaces (not shown), connectable to electrical interfaces of the devices.

In other embodiments, the mobile communications device accessories 10, 40, 70 includes power supplies, such as batteries and external power supply interfaces for powering mobile communication devices, connected to the electrical device interfaces when mounted onto the device mountings 14, 44, 74.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the mobile communications device accessory 70 includes biometric scanners in the form of fingerprint scanners 82, 84 for scanning fingerprints of a person. The fingerprint scanners 82, 84 are connected to the electrical device interface (not shown) for communicating with a mobile communication device mounted into the device mounting 74. As can be seen the fingerprint scanners 82, 84 are integrated with the document receptacle 72.

In another embodiment a camera of a mobile communications device, mounted onto the device mounting may define a retina scanner, when a mobile communications device is loaded with appropriate software to facilitate retina scanning of an individual.

Use of the mobile communications device accessories 10, 40, 70 defines a method of scanning an object, which method includes deploying a mobile communications device accessory, as described, with the mobile communications device directed at any one of a document receptacle imaging zone and a face imaging zone and triggering a mobile communications device camera of a mobile communications device mounted onto a device mounting to capture an image of an object, such as a document of a face of a person.

The inventor is of the opinion that the invention provides a new mobile communications device accessory and a new method of scanning an object which is of particular use in the industry.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 · A mobile communications device accessory, which includes a document receptacle defining a base of the mobile communication accessory, the base shaped and dimensioned to hold a document in an imaging zone; a stand, connected to and extending from the base; and a device mounting connected to the stand, the device mounting shaped and dimensioned to receive a mobile communications device having a built in camera, the stand and device mounting adjustable to a deployed condition in which the stand and the device mounting are in a predefined position relative to the document receptacle such that in use the built in camera of the mobile communications device is directed at the document receptacle imaging zone.
2. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the device mounting is moveable away from the deployed condition towards a position in which the built in camera of the mobile communications device is directed, in use, at a face imaging zone located distal from the mobile communications device accessory.
3. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the stand includes bias means for urging the document receptacle and the device mounting to the deployed condition.
4. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the document receptacle, the stand and the device mounting are foldable onto each other into a stowed condition in which the mobile communications device accessory is compact for transportation and storage.
5. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 4, in which the document receptacle defines a first plane into which a document is receivable and the device mounting, when in the deployed condition, defines a second plane parallel to and spaced from the first plane.
6. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 5, in which the stand is elongate with one side that is hingedly connected to the document receptacle along a first hinge axis running parallel to the first plane and a second side onto which the device mounting is hingedly connected along a second hinge axis running parallel to the first hinge axis.
7. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 6, in which the device mounting is hingeableabout the second hinge axis between the deployed condition and a position where the device mounting is directed to a face-imaging zone located in a third plane extending right angularly from any one of the first plane and the second plane.
8. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 7, in which the document receptacle, the stand and the device mounting are foldable about the first- and second hinge axes onto each other into the stowed condition.
9. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the document receptacle includes a document insert.
10. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 9, in which the document insert is shaped and dimensioned to accept a document of a predefined size.
11. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 9, in which the document insert includes index markings indicating the positions to which a document is to be aligned.
12. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 9, in which the document insert includes a recess to accept a document of a particular size.
13. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, in which the document receptacle includes a document-retaining device, for retaining the document in position in the document receptacle.
14. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 13, in which the document-retaining device is in the form of any of a transparent cover and a document frame.
15. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 14, in which the document-retaining device includes index markings for aligning the document in the document receptacle.
16- The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the device mounting includes securing means for mounting a mobile communications device securely onto the device mounting.
17. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 16, in which the securing means is in the form of a recess in the device mounting, matched to the size of the mobile communications device.
18. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 17, in which the securing means includes a closure mountable onto the device mounting to secure the mobile communications device onto the device mounting.
19. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 18, in which the closure is mounted by means of secure mounting means in the form of keyed fasteners, which cannot be opened without the aid of mechanical tools.
20. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the device mounting includes an electrical device interface, connectable to an electrical interface of the mobile communications device.
21. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 20, in which the electrical device interface includes any one or both of a charging interface and a data interface.
22. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 21, which includes a power supply, in the form of any one of a battery and an external power supply interface, for powering a mobile communications device, connected to the electrical device interface when mounted onto the device mounting.
23. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 22, which includes an external data interface connected to the electrical device interface and connectable to external accessories such as printers and the like.
24. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 1, which includes a biometric scanner in the form of a retina scanner or a fingerprint scanner, for scanning biometric characteristics from the body of a person.
25. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 24, in which the biometric scanner is connected to an electrical device interface of the device mounting for communicating with a mobile communication device mounted into the device mounting.
26. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 24, in which the fingerprint scanner is integrated with the document receptacle, which defines a base of the mobile communications device accessory.
27. The mobile communications device accessory as claimed in claim 24, in which a camera of a mobile communications device, mounted onto the device mounting defines the retina scanner, when the mobile communications device is loaded with appropriate software to facilitate retina scanning of an individual.
28. A method of capturing images with a mobile communication device, the method including deploying a mobile communications device accessory, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 27, with the mobile communications device directed at a document receptacle or a face imaging zone; and triggering a mobile communications device camera of a mobile communications device mounted onto the device mounting to capture an image of a document in the document receptacle or of a person's face present in the face imaging zone.