GB2495561A

GB2495561A - A cellular telephone case with mount for an optical equipment coupler

Info

Publication number: GB2495561A
Application number: GB1117899.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rajeev Vedantham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-15
Filing date: 2011-10-15
Publication date: 2013-04-17
Also published as: GB201117899D0

Abstract

There is provided a case 1 for a cellular telephone with a camera and camera display facility having a back and sides, wherein the back has a mount for an optical equipment coupler 2, and the sides hold the telephone.Â Aspects of the invention include the mount including an attachment or connection mechanism such as a screw thread. Typically, a coupler 2 will be threaded onto the mount. The coupler may be a standard c-mount (camera mount) adaptor to a scope b-cup 4. The phone may be used to help with medical procedures and to gain medical or technical advice from a skilled remote third party. The camera facility combines with smartphone connectivity to allow a user to view down a fibre optic tube and transmit this view to a remote location. The optical equipment 3 may be an endoscope, boroscope or other scope. The cellular telephone may be a smartphone or mobile phone and allows internet connectivity.

Description

A CASE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a provided a case, more particularly a case for a camera phone.

Background and Prior Art

Increasing miniaturisation of devices has combined with telephony networks that are cellular and wireless to mean that citizens many countries may have access to mobile telephony connections even before or without fixed line telephony networks.

Given the increasing ubiquity of mobile telephones, throughout the world many of these telephones serve more than one purpose.

For example, smart phones are mobile telephones or phones that may allow internet access and photography, amongst other features, and many users are increasingly dependent on them In countries that have rural populations without access to urban centres and facilities in particular for example these phones can provide access to many vital services. An increasing trend has been a use of phones to help with medical procedures and medical or technical advice from a skilled remote third party.

Frequently, in order to help with such matters an endoscope or boroscope or other scope may also be used.

An endoscope in particular consists of: a flexible or rigid tube, with a light that illuminates what the doctor wants to examine delivered via an optical fibre system, a lens system that transmits an image to the viewer, and another channel to allow the entry of medical instruments or manipulators.

Standardised c/mount (camera mount) compatibility typically applies to all scopes which may then be interfaced to mobile video or digital recording systems by use of a bespoke coupling and/or adaptor or coupler.

Varying scopes have varying coupling andlor viewing parts, known as B-cup sockets, relating to particularities of the scope.

The use of endoscopes, in endoscopy, has many benefits in many difficult and different medical and non-medical arenas such as tight access engineering tasks.

Where there is a requirement for skilled personnel on hand, even with the presence of an available scope, in many situations and geographic locations success cannot always be taken for granted due to lack or inapplicability of mobile video or digital recording systems with which to relay scope images.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a case for a cellular telephone with a camera and camera display facility having a back and sides, wherein the back has a mount for an optical equipment coupler, and the sides hold the telephone.

According to this aspect therefore the case includes a mount which in use allows the camera facility to view and record images, preferably through optical intubation of images, preferably moving images typically into fibre-optic cabling, and preferably using an existing endoscope, boroscope or other image handling equipment that is available independently.

In preferred embodiments the mount may attach to a standard c-mount coupler.

Further embodiments may have the c-mount coupler incorporated into the case to become part of the mount, such as to ensure that a scope b-cup viewing eyepiece or socket is connected to the case directly.

The preferred embodiments however permit the case's use with varying b-cups and standard couplers as used with cameras, According to a second aspect of the present invention using internet connectivity permits digital file-keeping and remote file organisation, allowing instantaneous transfer and recordal of information into client of other files, held at a remote server where information is uploaded directly.

In preferred embodiments therefore the camera facility combines with Smartphone connectivity combines to allow a user to view down a fibre optic tube and transmit this view to a remote location.

In preferred embodiments it may be possible for the user to light the tube, or direct light along the tube. This may be a feature of the case, the telephone, the mount or scope.

It is envisaged that this may be by coordination or cooperation with an external light source, as may be in standard use, or the camera flash or other light source provided through the telephone.

Cooperation may comprise a feed, lens, cover or other means by which to divert the light source into the tube.

Further embodiments may include integral lighting such as in the mount and/or endoscope. Such embodiments or others may have electrical provision, such as by internal wiring within the case.

According to a third aspect of the present invention all preferred embodiments have magnification, in particular the camera's digital or optical zoom.

The zoom function enables the user to adjust image size without requiring additional optics.

Ideally the case provides a rigid base for the mount, and in turn the coupler where appropriate, in order that a scope as attached will be ideally secure and not liable to movement, displacement or breakage.

The case is ideally formed of a durable plastics material, such as polymer, in a format familiar to the telephone; having the mount centred around the camera's lens. Ideally therefore different embodiments are constructed in reference to phone materials.

The material is ideally lightweight, washable and sterilisable and in total the case in use allows a simple and cost-effective alternative to standalone conventional video equipment, as well as permitting direct uploads to internet file management systems.

The mount in preferred embodiments includes an attachment or connection mechanism such as a screw thread and/or male and female connector pieces.

Typically a coupler will be threaded onto the mount.

A standard endoscope may be included or be separate at manufacture and/or retail.

For example in preferred mass manufacture embodiments of the case according to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is claimed a tripartite construction model and method of a telephone with camera, coupler and scope; wherein said scope and coupler may be detached from the case and be separately available and/or independently provided, and said coupler may be a standard c-mount adaptor to an scope b-cup as appropriate and tailored to fit appropriate models.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the case, with a mount and a rigid endoscope or boroscope. And

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the case, with a mount and flexible I fibreoptic endoscope or boroscope.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured and preferred embodiment of the case can be used for camera phones in particular those that have zoom function, and is primarily an adaptor that couples the phone to an endoscope, flexible fiberoptic scope, fiberoptic laryngoscope; rigid endoscope, nasal endoscope, cystoscopes, or other visual scope for different applications eg. microscopy, telescopy where there are three standard barrel sizes of eyepieces,. 2 inch, 1.25 inch, 0.965 inch, and hence mounts are envisaged to be available to fit these sizes.

This may be by provision of additional or alternative couplers (2) or in further embodiments by adjustment to the case (1). Separate couplers (2) allow a use of a variety of scopes (3).

The case is made of a light but strong material that can be easily cleaned and sterilised. This should be strong enough to hold the weight of the phone and also withstand frequent mounting and un-mounting.

The pictured and preferred embodiments of the case have a female mount for a c-mount being linch in diameter, and 32TP1, and centred around the camera's lens.

In some embodiments there may be provided a way to incorporate rotationlswivel of the port (rotation 360 degrees, with a swivel of 0 to approximately 30-45 degrees) making it easier to view images. The swivel port may also incorporate a flexible fibreoptic cable in order to have a good range of swivel.

The mount in preferred embodiments accepts standard endoscope to camera mounts or couplers in case the user should choose to use his pre-existing coupler.

In preferred embodiments the case comes with a phone-endoscope mount that, on one end has a male connector or C-mount to connect to the case, while the other end accepts the standard or B-cup eyepiece of endoscopes.

The mushroom shaped B-cup eyepiece (4) is held in place by a flange and three nylon screws (5). In further embodiments a type of spring loaded mechanisms may be used.

Each case is primarily designed for a particular telephone although multi-telephone embodiments may have a movable female port along more than one axis.

Ideally at retail the case is provided with three mounts for endoscope/boroscope, astronomical telescope and microscope eyepieces (three standard sizes).

Ideally as pictured and in use distance between the camera lens and eyepiece lens within the B-cup should be as close as possible without compromising on stability and strength.