JP6744875B2 - Jewel engraving viewer for personal communication equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for viewing jewels having an identification graphic or identification number engraved inside the surface.

It is known to inscribe microscopic or nano-inscription on the diamond surface using one of a number of known techniques such as plasma etching, ion beam or laser. The inscription is so small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye. Due to the difficulty of obtaining a proper viewing angle, it is almost impossible for an experienced jeweler to read the inscription even with a 10x magnifier. Engravings include identifying letters and numbers, such as identifying numbers, but traditionally these have lengths in the range of about 300 microns (micrometers) to 1200 microns. The inscription is generally engraved to a depth of about 10 to 80 nanometers. The difficulty of seeing inscriptions is magnified by the transparency of diamonds and other gemstones, but this property allows light to be generated during the engraving process, such as nano-inscribed polished surfaces and polished facets. It can penetrate both the peripheral surface of the gemstone.

Traditional methods of viewing inscriptions have used cameras with high magnification (eg, 65x) lenses and electronic displays to view minute inscriptions. Such systems are expensive, cumbersome, and complex to use, and many retailers and consumers do not have access to such equipment, which makes it difficult to see or use them. Because it is not possible, the significance of the inscription is reduced.

Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, are invented by the same inventor as the invention of the present application and belong to the same assignee. As described above, an inexpensive and more useful viewer (hereinafter referred to as a gemstone viewer) is disclosed by using the idea of spectrally reflecting light to illuminate the polished surface of diamond. The gem inscription viewer is useful, but lacks the convenience of having to look at the inscription every time, to remember later, for comparative analysis, or to send information, including images, to a remote location. Images cannot be recorded on.

The present invention aims to provide a solution to the above and other problems and to improve the structure and method described above.

US Pat. No. 7,468,786 US Pat. No. 8,035,807

The present invention provides a gemstone viewer that works with electronics that include a camera lens. In accordance with the present invention, a gemstone viewer includes a base with a built-in light source, a portal located on the bottom, one or more mirrors, a viewer lens, and a focusing glass or other optical. And a viewer lens disposed between the optically transparent structure and the camera lens. The optically clear structure and viewer lens allow the camera lens to properly focus on the gem surface through the viewer lens when the gem surface is placed against the optically clear structure. , Secured with sufficient spacing from each other. One or more mirrors are arranged to direct light emitted from the built-in light source and reflected back to the jewel surface to the camera lens.

In one embodiment, the base is removably secured to the electronic device. The removable retaining ring retains the optically transparent structure, which is arranged to receive the gemstone thereon. The present invention further comprises a retaining clip for securing the jewel to the optically transparent structure. The present invention further includes a cover provided corresponding to the base, and the viewer lens is connected to the cover. The built-in light source is powered by the battery. One or more mirrors are attached to the base. The cover is coupled to the base and an optically transparent structure connected to the cover.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent later.

The upper perspective view of the gem inscription viewer concerning this invention attached to Apple (trademark) of Apple (trademark) company. The lower perspective view of the gem engraving viewer of FIG. The disassembled perspective view of the gemstone inscription viewer of FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of the gemstone inscription viewer of FIG. 1 shown with a portion of the contour of the personal communication device. Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the gem inscription viewer taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4. The bottom view of the gemstone inscription viewer of FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the smartphone gemstone inscription viewer of FIG. 6, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6. Side view of the gem inscription viewer. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the gem inscription viewer of FIG. 8 taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a gem inscription viewer according to the present invention attached to an Apple iPhone. The perspective view which shows the arrangement washer which concerns on this invention attached to Apple's iPhone. FIG. 11 is another perspective view showing the gemstone engraving viewer of FIG. 10. The upper view which shows the gemstone inscription viewer of FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the gem inscription viewer of FIG. 10 taken generally along line 14-14 of FIG. 15 is another cross-sectional view of the gem inscription viewer of FIG. 10 taken generally along line 15-15 of FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the gemstone inscription viewer of FIG. 10 showing the arrangement directions of the lens and the mirror. The perspective view which shows the base of the gemstone inscription viewer of FIG. The top view of the base part of FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the base of FIG. 18 taken generally along line 19-19 of FIG. 18. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an optical image formed by a viewer showing an identification number.

The present invention relates to a gemstone inscription viewer 10 for personal communication devices. The viewer 10 may be used with any smartphone, personal communication device, or personal productivity device 1 that has a built-in camera and a light source such as an LED to provide photographic lighting or "flash". While possible, the figures are shown in the form of an embodiment that is particularly adapted to Apple®'s iPhone®. The smartphone, personal communication device, or personal productivity device may also include a tablet computer such as Samsung's Galaxy' or Apple's iPad®. According to the present invention, the viewer 10 comprises a base 12 on the back side for receiving the corner of the personal communication device 1 comprising a camera lens and a light source. The base 12 may function similarly with other shapes, but this embodiment is shown schematically as square. In the present embodiment, the base 12 comprises an upper surface 14 and a lower surface 16 which are separated from each other by two adjacent side surfaces 18, which are preferably integrally formed, but may also be formed from multiple parts and assembled. Good. The base portion 12 is open on two adjacent side surfaces facing each other so as to match the thickness of the personal communication device 1 received on the two open side surfaces. Preferably, the upper surface 14 and the lower surface 16 of the base 12 and the two side surfaces 18, 20 of the base 12 are arranged at regular intervals so as to form a functional contact with the personal communication device 1, and thus the additional The viewer 10 is fixed to the personal communication device without using pressure or mechanical means. In another embodiment of the viewer 10, the base 12 is adapted to accept different models of smartphones and personal communication devices having camera lenses and light sources at different positions based on the arrangement of the devices within the personal communication device. Alternatively, another shape or size may be provided to orient the device.

In the present embodiment, the viewer main body 22 is shown to have a funnel shape, is attached to the lower surface 16, or is integrally formed with the lower surface 16, and extends in a direction away from the personal communication device 1. The viewer body 22 is a structure that is generally sized to accommodate the magnifying lens 24 at the height of the lower surface 16 and is coaxially juxtaposed with the lens 2 of the camera or the body of the personal communication device 1. But not in contact. Since the lower surface 16 is open, the light can pass through the magnifying lens 24 toward the camera lens 2 of the personal communication device 1 without being blocked. The magnifying lens 24 is a calibration lens that allows the object in the camera visual field of the personal communication device 1 to be visually magnified beyond the range of the camera lens of the personal communication device 1.

As shown in more detail in FIGS. 6-9, the opposite end of the viewer body 22 generally terminates in a plane that is not parallel to the plane of the magnifying lens, where the reticle 26 is removed. It is removably secured by a possible retaining ring 28. The reticle 26 and the magnifying lens 24 are arranged such that the camera of the personal communication device 1 passes through the magnifying lens and faces the outer surface of the jewel 3 on the upper surface of the viewer body, for example, the jewel 3 of FIG. 5, for example, the lower surface of the viewer body. The viewer bodies 22 are fixed at regular intervals from each other so that they can be properly focused on the surface of the diamond or the like. The optimum angle between the surface of the magnifying lens 24 and the surface of the focusing plate 26 depends on the focal length of the magnifying lens in relation to the position of the light source 4. In this embodiment, this angle is between about 5 and 25 degrees, and most preferably between about 13 and 16 degrees.

The lower surface 16 of the base 12 is provided with an opening 29 leading to the channel 30, whereby light from the light source 4 of the personal communication device 1 passes unimpeded through the channel 30 directed towards the focusing screen 26. can do. As described above, the focusing screen 26 receives the light beam (light beam path) in which the diamond 3 in contact with the focusing screen is incident from the light source 4, and reflects the optical line to the magnifying lens 24 toward the magnifying lens 24. It is arranged at an angle so as to return to the camera lens 2 of the personal communication device 1 through.

In another embodiment, the light path of the light source 4 is such that the light path from the light source passes through the magnifying lens to the surface of the diamond 3 and then reflects that light path towards the magnifying lens 24 and through the magnifying lens 24. It is oriented towards the magnifying lens so as to return to the camera lens 2 of the personal communication device 1. Such directed ray paths and required angles are disclosed in the above mentioned gemstone viewer patent document.

12-19 further illustrate another gemstone viewer 150 embodiment according to the present invention. Unlike the above embodiment, which relies on a light source provided by the electronic communication device 1, the front camera of a typical tablet computer 152 does not include a light source. To overcome this limitation, the gemstone viewer 150 is equipped with an internal light source that provides the necessary illumination for the camera when taking useful pictures of the gemstone 3. Of course, this embodiment can be used with any camera that does not have a light source without departing from the invention.

Jewel viewer 150 comprises a base 154 powered by a battery 158 and having an internal light source 156 controlled by a switch 160. The base 154 further comprises a portal 162 that allows the front camera to look inside the jewelry viewer 150 when attached to a tablet computer. The base further comprises one or more mirrors 164 that direct light from the internal light source 156 to the jewel 3 and then towards the camera. As shown in FIG. 15, the built-in light source 156 includes a lamp 166 and a lamp housing 168. The lamp housing 168 includes an opening 169 that directs the focused light beam 170 toward one of the mirrors 164.

FIG. 16 shows a mirror 164 that directs light rays 170 from the parallel light path towards the jewel 3 and ultimately the orthogonal light path to allow the camera 151 or the naked eye of the equipment user to see the magnified and illuminated jewel. 1 shows one embodiment according to the present invention. As shown, the ray 170 impinges on a first mirror 164' that is positioned at a first angle from the horizon. The angle specified here is preferable for the present embodiment, but any angle may be used as long as the angle passes through the jewel 3 and the lens 174 and is finally correctly aligned in a straight line on the camera lens or the naked eye of the user. It can be used without departing from the invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the first angle is preferably 57.5 degrees so that the light rays make an angle of incidence of 25 degrees with the jewel. After exiting the jewel, the ray 170 passes through the lens 174 before hitting the second mirror 164″, which is positioned at an angle of about 63.6 degrees from the optical path. Finally, the light ray 170 is reflected by the second mirror 164″ and then impinges on a third mirror 164″″, which is arranged at an angle of approximately 51.1 degrees from the optical path.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gemstone viewer 150 is located on the front camera 151 of the tablet computer 152. As shown, the gem viewer 150 is aligned with the front camera using the placement washer 153. The placement washer 153 is removably secured to the tablet computer 152 such that the front camera 151 is centered inside the washer. The positioning washer 153 is removably secured to the tablet computer 152 using an adhesive or other suitable means. The gemstone viewer 150 includes a placement recess 155 that is aligned with the placement washer 153 and that adjusts the portal 162 coaxially with the front camera 151. The gemstone viewer 150 may also function without the placement washer 153, simply by manually placing the portal 162 on the front camera 151.

One of the advantages of this embodiment is that, in addition to being usable with a front camera 151 of an electronic communication device that does not have its own light source, the gem viewer 150 allows the user to look into the portal 162. Can also be used by. This eliminates the need for the user to carry a portable electronic device with the camera. In either case, the gemstone viewer 150 allows the front camera 151 or the naked eye of the user to read the inscription 202 (see FIG. 20) of the gemstone 3 that is invisible to the naked eye.

As shown in FIG. 13, the cover 172 is removably attached to the base 154. The cover 172 provides an enclosure that surrounds and protects the built-in light source 156 and the mirror 164. In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 15, the cover includes a lens 174 and a focusing screen 176 and may be any optically transparent structure. As with the embodiments described above, the reticle 176 and lens 174 are positioned so that the front camera of the tablet computer 152 can focus on the jewels located on the reticle.

The illustrated embodiment further comprises a jewel retaining clip 178 that secures the ring or loose gemstone 3 to the reticle 176. As shown, the gem retaining clip 178 is removably attached to the cover 172 to allow rings or gems of various sizes to be placed between the gem clip and the focusing screen 176. To secure the gem loose 3, the gem retaining clip 178 comprises a recess 180 to fit the bottom facet of the diamond. Of course, other recesses may be formed to fit the shape of another gem without departing from the invention.

The invention is capable of embodiments in many different forms, and the drawings and specification merely show some of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the drawings and the description should be understood as exemplifying the essence of the present invention. They are not intended to limit various aspects of the present invention to the illustrated embodiments. The intention of the drawings and specification is left to the following claims.

Claims (20)

A gem viewer that works with an electronic device that has a camera lens,
A base with a built-in light source and a portal located on the bottom surface;
One or more mirrors,
Viewer lens,
A focus plate, and said viewer lens is disposed between the focusing screen and the camera lens,
Wherein A focusing screen and the viewer lens, when the jewel surface is arranged to face the focusing plate, sufficiently apart from each other such that the camera lens is aligned properly focus on the gemstone surface through said viewer lens Be fixed by opening
The one or more mirrors are arranged to direct light emitted from the built-in light source and reflected back to the jewel surface to the camera lens. The jewelry viewer of claim 1, wherein the base is removably secured to the electronic device. The gemstone viewer, further comprising a removable retaining ring for fixing the focusing screen, the focusing screen is arranged to receive a jewel in the focusing screen, jewelry viewer according to claim 1 .. The gemstone viewer further comprises a jewel holding clip for securing a gemstone to said focusing plate, jewelry viewer according to claim 1. The gemstone viewer according to claim 1, wherein the gemstone viewer further includes a cover provided corresponding to the base, and the viewer lens is coupled to the cover. The gemstone viewer of claim 1, wherein the built-in light source is powered by a battery. The gemstone viewer of claim 1, wherein the one or more mirrors are attached to the base. The gemstone viewer according to claim 1, wherein the gemstone viewer further comprises a cover provided corresponding to the base, and the focusing screen is coupled to the cover. A gem viewer that works with an electronic device that has a camera lens,
A base and a portal disposed in the internal light source and the lower surface which is powered by a battery,
One or more mirrors attached to the base;
A reticle, a viewer lens disposed between the reticle and the camera lens,
The reticle and the viewer lens are sufficiently spaced from one another so that the camera lens can be properly focused on the jewel surface through the viewer lens when the jewel surface is positioned opposite the reticle. Be fixed by opening
Before SL one or more mirrors may be arranged light bounced to the jewelry surface exits from the internal light source to send to the camera lens, jewelry made of capital viewer. The gemstone viewer of claim 9, wherein the base is removably secured to the electronic device. The gemstone viewer further comprises a removable retaining ring for fixing the focusing screen, the focusing screen is arranged to receive a jewel on the focusing plate, jewelry viewer according to claim 9 .. The gemstone viewer further comprises a cover provided corresponding to the base, said viewer lens and said focusing plate being connected to the cover, and the jewelry surface is arranged to face the focusing plate 10. The gemstone viewer of claim 9 , wherein the camera lenses are secured at a sufficient distance from one another by the covers so that the camera lens is properly focused on the gemstone surface through the viewer lens. 13. The gemstone viewer of claim 12, wherein the cover further comprises a gemstone retaining clip for securing gemstones to the reticle. A jewelry viewer for use with an electronic device comprising a camera with a camera lens,
A base with a portal arranged on the underside,
A light source disposed in the base,
One or more mirrors disposed within the base,
A cover that can be fitted to the base,
A viewer lens installed in the viewer,
A reticle connected to the cover, and the viewer lens disposed between the reticle and the camera lens when the cover is disposed on the base,
The focusing plate and the viewer lens are sufficiently spaced from one another so that the camera lens can be properly focused on the gem surface through the viewer lens when the gem surface is positioned opposite the focusing plate. Fixed by opening
The one or more mirrors are arranged to direct light emitted from the light source and spectrally reflected to the gemstone to the camera lens. 15. The gemstone viewer of claim 14, wherein the base is removably secured to the electronic device. 15. The gemstone viewer of claim 14, wherein the gemstone viewer further comprises a removable retaining ring for securing the reticle. 15. The gem viewer of claim 14, wherein the cover further comprises a gem retaining clip for securing gems to the reticle. 15. The gemstone viewer of claim 14, wherein the viewer lens is coupled to the cover. 15. The gemstone viewer of claim 14, wherein the light source is battery powered. 15. The gemstone viewer of claim 14, wherein the one or more mirrors are attached to the base.

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