FR3055776A3 - CASE FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE WITH REMOVABLE CAMERA - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for a mobile phone case, characterized in that it comprises a case (1) for a mobile phone, a removable camera (2), a fastening system (7.a and 7.b). ) which allows the coupling of the camera (2) to the case (1) in a strong and stable manner, a connector for electronically connecting the case (1) to the mobile phone (3), a connector (6. a , 6. b) for electronically connecting the case (1) to the camera (2), and at least one electronic card (8) for controlling all the components integrated in the case (1) and the camera (2). ).

Description

CASE FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE WITH REMOVABLE CAMERA

The present invention aims at providing a smart phone with a case having oriented elements to allow the robust and stable coupling of a camera with a viewing angle greater than that of mobile phones, up to 360 ° at a vertical angle , which is removable and allows its use in different environments and situations, such as a sports camera. The invention is applicable to the field of production of cases for mobile phones and cameras with a field of view of up to 360 °, which are designed to be coupled to mobile phones.

Over the past decade, there has been a massive deployment of mobile devices on the market, such as smartphones and digital tablets, and more recently, cameras to record various sports activities. The massive interest in photography and recording has led to a significant increase in the quality of cameras embedded in smartphones, which has significantly reduced the difference with SLR cameras, and in the case of cameras sports there was an increase in the field of vision of these up to 360 ° using two wide-angle lenses and two optical sensors.

In the case of smart phone case devices that couple a camera, several devices with different characteristics can be found on the market.

The patent application US2016 / 0249038 may be considered as constituting the state of the art closest to the present invention, and it discloses a camera with a 360 ° angle of view, which transmits the images to the mobile phone and which allows to capture images in 3 dimensions.

The device mentioned above and the other cameras that can be attached to a mobile phone on the market have several disadvantages, such as: the majority of the couplings of the cameras to the phones is only achieved by means of the micro-USB or Lightning-type connector . This makes them very sensitive and they can be easily broken by a light shock or by the weight of the camera alone on the connector when it rests on a horizontal surface.

For the same reason as above, these solutions are not suitable for video or photo recording while playing sports, especially extreme sports, or in an aquatic environment, since they do not have a system. Robust grip for the camera to not fall or break, and do not allow coupling to another shock-resistant and submersible case. - Cameras that are paired and powered by the phone's battery have a significant limitation that is the recording autonomy, since the user always gives priority to the battery life for the use of the phone instead than the camera. In the case of cameras that have an integrated battery, they take up more space and are therefore less convenient to carry, and heavier, leading to a greater risk of breakage when they are connected to the mobile phone. Some cameras coupled to the mobile phone do not use the sensors of the mobile phone itself, such as a GPS, a gyroscope, an accelerometer or connectivity elements such as Wi-Fi or

Bluetooth, etc., but have these elements built into the camera, which increases the price of the product.

Regarding the disadvantages of the most common sports cameras on the market related to a camera coupled to the mobile phone, since they are not designed to be coupled with the mobile phone, we can emphasize the following: they do not allow the instant display of the image that is recorded, nor the performance data during a recording, while practicing a sport.

The transmission of images on social networks is not as fast or convenient as in the case of the camera coupled to the mobile phone, since access to applications is done directly from the mobile phone itself. Apart from the resolution of the above disadvantages, the present invention provides the following advantages: the provision of an additional battery in the case allows versatility because the user can use it both to make recordings and to extend the phone's battery life.

In the case of using the case with the camera of the submersible and shock-resistant type during the practice of sports, mainly aquatic, it allows to take pictures or record videos, as well as to listen to the music or talking on the phone, via wireless headphones. A lower cost, since they use the sensors that the mobile phone carries, such as a GPS, a gyroscope, an accelerometer and connectivity elements such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The Applicant of the present invention does not know the existence of mobile phone holster devices with cameras coupled with a large field of view of up to 360 °, which solve the above problems and anticipate the characteristics of the present invention. The present invention relates to a mobile phone case device with removable camera, which has features which make it possible to solve the problem mentioned above, allowing a more robust and stable attachment of the camera to the case, the coupling and the mobile phone battery power supply or an additional battery built into the mobile phone case and allowing the use of GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mobile phone sensors, all thanks to a double connectivity between the case and the phone, on the one hand, and between the case and the camera, on the other hand. For this purpose, according to the invention, this device may comprise a mobile phone protection case, with the following elements: - A robust fastener that allows the coupling of the removable camera.

A first connector of the Lightning type, micro-USB or the like, between the camera and the mobile phone case, to be able to supply energy, directly from the mobile phone or a battery integrated in the case, as well as for possible data transmission to the mobile phone and vice versa.

A second Lightning type connector, micro-USB or the like, to connect the case to the mobile phone, to be able to supply mobile phone energy to the camera or a battery integrated in the case to the camera or to the camera. mobile phone, as well as to obtain and transmit data from the camera to the mobile phone, and vice versa.

At least one electronic card to perform the functions necessary for the correct operation of the device. Eventually, the case may contain the following:

A third connector type Lightning, micro-USB or the like, to be able to charge the mobile phone or a battery built into the case, with a cable in a socket.

An integrated battery to power the phone and the camera. - Additional position sensors on the mobile device, such as a gyroscope, an accelerometer, etc., as well as other electronic elements such as a wireless power system, a memory card and a Wi-Fi communication system -Fi.

Indicator lights to indicate the level of battery life, if it is integrated in the case.

An on / off button. The case can be thin or narrow type for sufficient protection against small drops and light shocks, making it possible to use it daily, or a thicker case, offering a better resistance and a better impermeability to be able to be used during sports practice. In both cases, the case will have some or all of the elements described above.

As for the camera, two variants or types can for example be envisaged, one with a sensor and a wide-angle lens or fish-eye with a higher field of vision, approximately 240 ° vertically, and a second one. camera option with two sensors and two wide-angle lenses of approximately 190 ° to capture an image up to 360 ° vertically.

It is envisaged to use an application or software platform, for the processing and display of the image on the phone itself, as well as performance data provided by the sensors of the phone.

The present invention thus relates to a device for a mobile phone case, characterized in that it comprises: a mobile phone case, a removable camera, an attachment system which allows the coupling of the removable camera to the mobile phone. in a sturdy and stable manner, a connector of the Lightning type, micro-USB or the like, for electronically connecting the case to the mobile phone and thus electrically powering the electronics of the case and the removable camera from the mobile phone, while allowing the transmission of data from the mobile phone to the case, and vice versa, a connector of the Lightning type, micro-USB or the like, for electronically connecting the case to the camera and thus electrically power the camera and allow the transmission of data from the camera to the case, and vice versa, and - at least one electronic card for controlling all the components integrated in the case and the camera.

The holster device may include a battery built into the holster to provide power to the camera and mobile phone.

The device may have an integrated connector type Lightning, micro-USB or the like to allow the charging of the mobile phone and / or, where appropriate, the battery built into the case, from a power outlet.

The device can have an integrated system that allows wireless charging of the battery.

The device may include integrated position and / or motion sensors, such as gyroscopes or accelerometers, as well as wireless transmission systems, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and a removable memory card for storing data. .

The removable camera may be at a wide-angle lens and an optical sensor, and be formed by a first end coupled to the upper end of the case, a second end spaced from the upper end of the case, and a curved or polygonal intermediate section communicating the first end and the second end of the camera, the second end being spaced apart from the upper lateral ends of a mobile phone inserted in the case while being positioned at an angle to the before the mobile phone, equal to the extreme angle of the lens, so as to prevent the mobile phone is visible on the image captured by the lens.

The camera can hold two wide-angle lenses and two optical sensors, and their positioning in the case is parallel to the vertical plane of the mobile phone inserted into the case, so that the fields of view of the two lenses overlap in the case. mobile phone plan.

In order to complete the description which is made and to facilitate understanding of the features of the invention, a set of drawings is appended to the present description, in which, with an illustrative and non-limiting character, the following elements have been represented: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the mobile phone case device with removable camera, according to the invention, with the mobile phone placed inside it and a large-scale camera. angle of 240 °; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the foregoing embodiment with the top cover open for inserting the mobile phone, the camera with the attachment system and the Lightning or micro-USB connector and a second similar connector on the lower part. the case to connect the mobile phone; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the clip of the holster for coupling the camera, the Lightning or micro-USB connectors of the camera and the holster and the integrated electronic card to the camera. inside of it; FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the degrees of inclination of the camera with respect to the mobile phone by 30 °, in the case of a 240 ° objective of field of view. vertical; - Figure 5 is an exploded view of a variant of the invention with a battery integrated in the case for powering the mobile phone and / or the removable camera; - Figure 6 is another variant of the invention, with a camera having two sensors and two lenses to obtain a field of view of 360 °; Figure 7 is another variant of the invention, with an impact and submersible holster having a camera, in this case a sensor and a wide-angle lens; and Figures 8 and 9 show another variant of the invention, with the camera placed on the lower part of the phone.

In a first preferred embodiment, the mobile phone case device with removable camera comprises a main case 1, in which a mobile phone 3 is introduced, comprising a removable camera 2 coupled by an anchor, located in the case. 7.a and in the camera in 7. b. This anchor is arranged to ensure a robust and stable attachment between the camera 2 and the mobile phone 3 so that it can be used as a sports camera. The case 1 has a series of connectors 4, 5 of the type

Lightning, micro-USB or similar, for the socket to charge the mobile phone 3 and / or the battery 12 of the case 1, to connect the mobile phone 3 to the case 1 and, therefore, to power the circuits of the case 1 and the camera 2 or the battery 12 integrated in the case 1, as well as to allow data transmission between the case 1 and the mobile phone 3, and vice versa, and a third connector for connect the camera to the case 6.a and 6.b, and to feed the camera 2 with the battery of the mobile phone 3 or the battery 12 integrated in the case 1, and be able to perform a data transmission.

Finally, the case 1 has an electronic card 8 with all the components and circuit necessary for proper operation of the system.

The removable camera 2 comprises a connector of the Lightning type, micro-USB or similar 6.b at the bottom for a connection to the case 1 and to allow powering the camera 2, as well as the transmission of data between the camera 2 and the case 1 and the mobile phone 3, and vice versa.

Regarding the design of the camera 2 with a wide-angle lens 17 and an optical sensor 18, said assembly will be formed by: - a tubular body having a first end 9 coupled to the case 1, a second end 11 spaced from the upper end of the case 1 and forming, with the front face of the mobile phone 3, an angle (a), in this case an angle of 30 degrees, and a curved or polygonal intermediate section 10 communicating the first end 9 and the second end 11 of the tubular body; a wide angle lens, mounted on the second end 11 of the tubular body, with a vertical viewing angle of more than 200 ° over its entire periphery and 360 ° horizontally.

The positioning of said camera 2 in the case 1 is made at an angle (a) relative to the mobile phone 3, so as to allow appropriate capture of the image with the wide-angle lens 17 without the mobile phone 3 is visible on the captured image. At the same time, the baseline of the second end 11 maintains a spacing with the case 1 of the mobile phone 3 a few centimeters from its lateral upper edge according to the position of the camera 2, whereby, therefore, the mobile phone 3 does not block the field of view of the lens 17. This placement also allows a comfortable viewing of the screen of the mobile phone 3 while an automatic picture is made.

In the case of the camera 2 with two lenses 19.a and 19.b and two optical sensors 20.a and 20.b for a field of view of 360 ° vertically, the position of the camera 2 will be entirely parallel to the vertical plane of the mobile phone 3, so that the two fields of vision overlap in the plane of the mobile phone 3.

In a second preferred embodiment, the mobile phone case device with removable camera comprises a battery 12 integrated in the case 1 to provide a better autonomy for the camera 2 and the mobile phone 3.

In this case, the case 1 comprises, on its outer side, a start button 13 and battery life indicator lights 14.

In a third preferred embodiment, the connectors 6.a, 6.b and the anchorage 7.a, 7.b of the camera 2 to the case 1 are placed in the lower part of the mobile phone and can shorten the distance for the circuits at the Lightning connector, micro-USB or similar 6.a and 6.b that connect to the mobile phone 3.

There can be provided an integrated system that allows wireless charging of the battery.

The holster device may include integrated position and / or motion sensors 16, such as gyroscopes or accelerometers, as well as wireless transmission systems, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and a removable memory card for data storage.

In view of the sufficient description of the nature of the invention and of a preferred embodiment, it is emphasized that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements described can be modified while remaining within the scope of the present invention. the present invention.

Claims (7)

1 - Device for a mobile phone case, characterized in that it comprises: a case (1) for a mobile phone, a removable camera (2), a fastening system (7.a and 7.b) which allows the coupling of the removable camera (2) to the case (1) in a strong and stable manner, a connector (5) of the Lightning type, micro-USB or the like, for electronically connecting the case (1) to mobile phone (3) and thus electrically powering the electronics of the case (1) and the removable camera (2) from the mobile phone (3), while allowing the data transmission of the mobile phone (3) to the case (1), and vice versa, a connector (6.a, 6.b) of the Lightning type, micro-USB or the like, for electronically connecting the case (1) to the camera (2) and thus electrically powering the camera (2) and allow the transmission of data from the camera (2) to the case (1), and vice versa, and at least one electronic card (8) for the control of all the components integrated in the case (1) and the camera (2). 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a battery (12) integrated in the case (1) for supplying energy to the camera (2) and the mobile phone (3). 3 - Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it has an integrated connector (4) of the type Lightning, micro-USB or the like to allow the charging of the mobile phone (3) and / or , if necessary, the battery (12) integrated in the case (1), from a power outlet. 4 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it has a system (15) integrated which allows the wireless charging of the battery. 5 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises integrated position and / or motion sensors (16), such as gyroscopes or accelerometers, as well as transmission systems wireless, of the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth type, and a removable memory card for storing data. 6 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the removable camera (2) is at a wide-angle lens (17) and an optical sensor (18), and is formed by a first end (9) coupled to the upper end of the case (1), a second end (11) spaced from the upper end of the case (1), and a curved or polygonal intermediate section (10) communicating the first end (9) and the second end (11) of the camera (2), the second end (11) being spaced from the upper lateral ends of a mobile phone (3) inserted into the case (1) while being positioned at an angle (a) with respect to the front of the mobile phone (3), equal to the extreme angle of the objective (17), so as to prevent the mobile phone (3) from being visible on the image captured by the lens (17). 7 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the camera (2) contains two wide-angle lenses (19.a and 19.b) and two optical sensors (20.a and 20. b), and their positioning in the case (1) is parallel to the vertical plane of the mobile phone (3) introduced into the case (1), so that the fields of view of the two objectives (19.a and 19 .b) overlap in the plane of the mobile phone (3).