WO2018010849A1

WO2018010849A1 - Optical attachment for a portable electronic device

Info

Publication number: WO2018010849A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/025199
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Alistair THOMAS
Original assignee: Cupris Limited
Priority date: 2016-07-12
Filing date: 2017-07-11
Publication date: 2018-01-18
Also published as: GB201901909D0; GB2567118A; GB2552929A; GB201612103D0

Abstract

An optical attachment (59) that is fittable to a portable electronic device having a camera and a flash, the attachment comprising: a housing (61, 65, 69) defining a lower surface (73) configured to be proximate an electronic device when the optical attachment is fitted thereto, and an upper surface (63) that defines a port (71) through which light can travel; a lens holder (87) provided within said housing, said lens holder having a bore in which a lens (89) is located, the lens holder being configured to be proximate a camera port (77) in said lower surface (73) of the housing that is configured and arranged to be proximate to the camera of the portable electronic device when the optical attachment (59) is fitted thereto; a tubular cowl (91) extending from the lens holder and within said housing, the cowl (91) being operative to reduce the amount of light entering the camera from sources other than a subject being illuminated; and a solid lightguide (99) provided within said housing, the lightguide being configured to reflect light emitted by said flash so that said light extends from the port (71) in the upper surface (63) to illuminate a subject, the lightguide having tubular top (109) and mid (111) sections that cooperate to define a bore (121) in which a part of said cowl (93) is located, the lightguide (99) having a leg section (113) that extends from said mid-section (111), and a foot section (117) that extends from the leg section (113), the foot section (117) including a planar sole surface (119) configured to be proximate to a flash port (75) in the lower surface (73) of the housing, said flash port (75) being proximate the flash of the portable electronic device when the optical attachment (59) is fitted thereto, said top section (109) including an exit surface (123) remote from said mid section (111) that is configured and arranged to reduce the extent to which light emitted from the lightguide (99) is dispersed..

Description

OPTICAL ATTACHMENT FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Field

This invention relates to optical attachments for portable electronic devices, particularly but not exclusively mobile telephones that have an in-built camera and flash unit (often colloquially known as "camera phones"). In one illustrative implementation, the invention relates to medical attachments for portable electronic devices. In another illustrative implementation the invention relates to otoscope attachments for portable electronic devices, such as a camera phone (of which the iPhone™ smart phone is one illustrative example).

In the following description particular reference will be made to medical attachments for smart phones (in particular for the iPhone™ smart phone sold by Apple Inc), and the problems associated with such devices. It should be remembered, however, that this particular application is merely illustrative of many potential applications for the teachings of the present invention and thus should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way.

Background

Traditional otoscopes (such as the Keeler™ Standard™ 2.8V Otoscope available from Welco, Innovation Centre, 1 Devon Way, Longbridge Technology Park, Birmingham B31 2TS - see also: www.welco.co.uk) comprise a lens array through which a medical practitioner can look, a light source for illuminating the inside of a subject's ear, a shaped housing within which the lens array and light source are located, and a disposable speculum (often referred to as an "otoscope tip") that fits over the end of the housing. By means of such a device, a medical practitioner can look into the ear of a subject to check that the subject's ear is healthy. However, such devices do not enable the practitioner to store images of the subject's inner ear, and hence it is difficult for the practitioner to monitor the condition of the inner ear of a subject throughout successive consultations.

Digital video otoscopes have been developed to address this issue. For example, the "Digital Video Otoscope - Standard" product (available from Williams Medical Supplies Ltd, Craiglas House, The Maerdy Industrial Estate, Rhymney, Gwent NP22 5PY, see also: www.wms.co.uk) comprises a digital video camera that can be plugged into the USB port of a computer, and can be operated to provide a live video image (on the screen of the computer) of a subject's inner ear. Still images can be captured from the video feed and saved to the computer, thereby providing the practitioner with the ability to record images of a subject's inner ear over time. The practitioner is also readily able to send those images to another practitioner, for example for a second opinion regarding a subject's condition.

Digital video otoscopes are a useful development of traditional otoscopes, but as dedicated pieces of equipment they are relatively expensive devices to purchase.

A more recent development contemplates providing a digital otoscope that comprises a camera phone, and an otoscope attachment that can be clipped to the phone so that the camera of the phone can be used to image the inner ear of a subject.

An illustrative example of such an arrangement is disclosed in International PCT Patent Application No. WO2012/058641 (filed in the name of: The Regents of the University of California). Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the otoscope attachment 1 disclosed in this PCT application.

As shown, the attachment comprises a primary housing 3 that fits over the end of a camera phone 5 that houses the camera 7 and flash 9. The primary housing includes first and second passageways 1 1 , 13 that align with the camera 7 and flash 9 of the phone respectively, and couples to a secondary housing 15. The secondary housing 15 includes a lens 17 in a third passageway 19 that aligns with the first passageway 1 1 . A tubular cowl 21 extends from the third passageway and into an otoscope tip 23 that couples to the secondary housing 15. An optic fibre bundle 25 surrounds the cowl 21 and locates in a fourth passageway 27 in the secondary housing 15 that is aligned with the second passageway 13 in the primary housing 3.

As will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art, when the camera phone flash 9 is operated, light from the flash is gathered by the optic fibre bundle and emitted from the end of the fibre bundle surrounding the cowl. The light illuminates the ear of the subject, and light reflected from the inner ear travels through the otoscope tip 23, through the cowl 21 and lens 17, and into the camera 7 of the camera phone 5.

Whilst the arrangement proposed in this application functions adequately, a limitation is that it can only be used with one particular type of camera phone (in particular, the iPhone™ 4) as different types and models of camera phone have different arrangements of camera and flash (for example, the camera and flash of an iPhone™ 4 are in a different location to the camera and flash of an iPhone™ 5 or Android™ phone).

An associated consequence of this arrangement is that if the practitioner using this particular type of otoscope attachment should change their smart phone, then they will often have no option but to dispose of the entire otoscope attachment and purchase a replacement that is specifically designed for use with their new model of smart phone.

Another limitation of the arrangement proposed in this PCT application is that it is relatively difficult to properly assemble the optic fibre bundle 25 in the housing 15 so that it is both aligned with the cowl 21 and secured in the secondary housing 15. A consequence of this arrangement is that manufacture of these devices is relatively expensive and cumbersome. It is also the case that the inclusion of the optic fibre bundle guide greatly increases the manufacturing cost of the attachment.

To address these and other issues we have previously proposed to provide a lightguide module having the features of co-pending United Kingdom Patent Application no. GB1521020.6; the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as though they were reproduced verbatim herein.

The present invention also seeks to address the issues identified above, and to further improve and enhance the arrangements disclosed in our co-pending UK patent application.

Summary

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an optical attachment that is fittable to a portable electronic device having a camera and a flash, the attachment comprising: a housing defining a lower surface configured to be proximate an electronic device when the optical attachment is fitted thereto, and an upper surface that defines a port through which light can travel; a lens holder provided within said housing, said lens holder having a bore in which a lens is located, the lens holder being configured to be proximate a camera port in said lower surface of the housing that is configured and arranged to be proximate to the camera of the portable electronic device when the optical attachment is fitted thereto; a tubular cowl extending from the lens holder and within said housing, the cowl being operative to reduce the amount of light entering the camera from sources other than a subject being illuminated; and a solid lightguide provided within said housing, the lightguide being configured to reflect light emitted by said flash so that said light extends from the port in the upper surface to illuminate a subject, the lightguide having tubular top and mid sections that cooperate to define a bore in which a part of said cowl is located, the lightguide having a leg section that extends from said mid-section, and a foot section that extends from the leg section, the foot section including a planar sole surface configured to be proximate to a flash port in the lower surface of the housing, said flash port being proximate the flash of the portable electronic device when the optical attachment is fitted thereto, said top section including an exit surface remote from said mid section that is configured and arranged to reduce the extent to which light emitted from the lightguide is dispersed. An advantage of this arrangement, as compared with that disclosed in International PCT Patent Application No. WO2012/058641 is that by avoiding the use of optic fibres, the assembly of the lightguide is greatly facilitated and the lightguide itself is much less expensive to produce.

In envisaged arrangements said lightguide includes a leg section that extends at an angle to said mid section. The leg portion may be set at an angle of approximately 140 degrees to said mid section. The leg section may be generally rectangular in vertical cross-section. The leg section can increase in cross-sectional area as it extends towards the mid section. The leg section can extend towards said mid section at an angle of approximately 45^Q to the planar sole surface.

The planar sole surface may be configured so that light is substantially uniformally reflected by said lightguide irrespective of which part of said sole surface is illuminated by light from said flash. The planar sole surface may comprise a glow surface that is configured to emit light at least substantially uniformly over its entire surface area irrespective of where the planar sole surface is illuminated by the flash.

The planar sole surface may have a larger surface area than the flash of said portable electronic device.

The lightguide may be substantially transparent. The lightguide may be of plastics or glass.

The exit surface of said top section comprises a prism. The exit surface of said top section may comprise a serrated surface. The serrated surface may include a plurality of sawtooth formations. The sawtooth formations may include an inclined surface rising to meet a vertical surface. The inclined surface may be inclined at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the horizontal.

The housing upper surface may include a mount for a speculum, said upper surface port being provided in said mount.

The optical attachment may be configured to couple to a cover for the portable electronic device, the cover being fittable to a portable electronic device to couple the optical attachment to said device.

The optical attachment may include a first part of a two-part mounting mechanism, and said cover includes a second part of said two-part mounting mechanism. The optical attachment may be configured to be slideably engageable with a recess in said cover. The camera port and said flash port of said lower surface may be configured and arranged to be proximate a camera port and a flash port in said cover when the optical attachment is coupled thereto.

In another aspect the present invention relates to a cover for a portable electronic device, the cover being configured and arranged for use with an optical attachment according to any preceding claim.

Other features of these and other aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying claims, and elsewhere in the specification.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art iPhone™ otoscope attachment;

Figs. 2 and 3 are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of a cover that is attachable to a mobile telephone;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cover shown in Figs 2 and 3 in combination with an optical attachment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention ;

Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of the optical attachment shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the optical attachment shown in Fig. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is an bottom perspective view of the optical attachment shown in Figs. 4 to

6;

Figs. 8 and 9 are exploded side and front elevations of the optical attachment shown in Figs. 4 to 7;

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the optical attachment shown in Figs.

4 to 9;

Fig. 1 1 is a cross-sectional view along the line A— A of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a lightguide for the optical attachment of Figs. 4 to 1 1 ;

Fig. 13 is an underneath plan view of the lightguide shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the lightguide shown in Fig. 12;

Figs. 15 and 16 are front and rear perspective views, respectively, of the lightguide shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a top section of the lightguide along the line C— C of Fig. 16; and

Fig. 18 is a schematic representation of another lightguide.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

As mentioned above, in the following description particular reference will be made to medical attachments for smart phones (in particular for the iPhone™ smart phone sold by Apple Inc) or other hand-holdable electronic devices, and the problems associated with such attachments. It should be remembered, however, that this particular application is merely illustrative of many potential applications for the teachings of the present invention and thus the following detailed description should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way.

With the above caveat in mind, reference will now be made to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings in which there are depicted top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of a cover 31 that is attachable to a mobile telephone - in this particular example a cover for an iPhone™ 5 (not shown). The primary function of the cover 31 is to enable an optical attachment 59 (Fig. 4) to be coupled to the mobile telephone, and a secondary function of the cover 31 is that it protects the mobile telephone from damage, for example resulting from the user inadvertently dropping the telephone.

The cover 31 defines a void 33 into which a telephone can be fitted. A base wall of the cover includes a first cut-out 35 that enables a user to access a headphone jack of the phone, and a second cut-out 37 that provides access to a charging port of the phone. The cover also includes a third cut-out 39 that aligns with a loudspeaker mounted within the telephone. A sidewall of the cover includes cut-outs 41 , 43, 45 that provide access, respectively, to "volume down", "volume up" and "silent" buttons on the phone, and a top wall of the cover includes another cut-out 47 that provides access to an on/off button of the phone. As will be appreciated, the cover is such that a telephone can still be used by a user when the cover is attached thereto. The cover 31 can be left on the telephone permanently (to act as a protector for the phone), or it may be undipped from the phone when the attachment is not in use.

The cover 31 also includes a recessed portion 49 that is sized to slidably accommodate the optical attachment 59 of the present invention. The recessed portion 49 includes a camera aperture 51 that aligns with the camera of the telephone when the cover is fitted thereto, and a flash aperture 53 that aligns with the flash of the telephone when the cover is fitted thereto. Opposite sidewalls of the recessed portion 49 each include a rail 55 (only one of which is visible) that cooperate with complementary grooves 57 (one of which is visible in Fig. 6) in the sidewalls of the optical attachment to couple the attachment to the cover, and hence to the telephone received within the recess 33.

As shown in Fig. 4, the optical attachment 59 can be slidably coupled and decoupled from the cover 31 to mount and dismount the optical attachment 59 to and from a telephone housed within the recess 33 of the cover 31 . Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the optical attachment 59 includes a main body 61 ; fashioned in the shape of a rounded rectangle; that has a planar upper surface 63 from which a generally frustoconical hollow speculum mount 65 projects. The speculum mount 65 includes, in this particular arrangement, a pair of peripheral grooves 67 (one of which is visible) with which complementary features of a known disposable speculum (not shown) can engage (in this particular case, in a twist-on, twist-off fashion) to couple the speculum to the optical attachment 59.

A skirt 69 that has a complementary shape to that of the recess 49 in the cover 31 (in this particular instance, a rounded rectangular shape) projects from a lower surface of the main body 61 . The skirt is configured to slide into (and out of) the recess 49 to engage (and disengage) the optical attachment with the cover 31 and hence with a telephone received therein. The skirt 69, main body 61 and speculum mount 65 cooperate to provide a housing for the optical components (some of which are visible in Fig. 5 through the open free end 71 of the speculum mount) of the optical attachment 59.

Referring now to Fig. 7, a lower surface 73 of the skirt 69 includes a flash port 75 and a camera port 77 that align, respectively, with the flash aperture 53 and camera aperture 51 of the cover 31 (and hence with the flash and camera of a telephone received within the cover) when the optical attachment 59 is slidably engaged therewith. The flash port comprises an aperture through which light may travel from the flash to the subject being imaged, and the camera port 77 comprises an aperture through which light may travel from the subject being imaged to the camera of the telephone held within the cover 31 .

As shown in Fig. 7, in a preferred implementation at least the flash port 75 is larger than the corresponding port in the cover, so that the optical attachment can accommodate different relative positions of flash and camera from one model of telephone to another. An advantage of this arrangement is that a given optical attachment, in one embodiment, can be used with different models of telephone simply by changing the cover to one that's appropriate for the particular model of telephone being used. Since the cover is a relatively inexpensive item, the fact that the user need not replace the optical attachment when they change their phone, greatly reduces the long term cost of ownership.

In a preferred implementation of the teachings of the invention, the optical attachment forms a close fit with the cover, and the cover forms a close fit with the phone (at least in the region of the optical attachment) to thereby mitigate problems associated with light leakage from the flash to the camera.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 there are depicted, respectively, an exploded side elevation, an exploded front elevation and an exploded front perspective view of the optical attachment that depict the internal components of the optical attachment.

As shown, the lower surface 73 of the optical attachment is provided by a tray portion 79 that carries the optical components of the optical attachment and is push- fitted into a recess in the skirt 69 to enclose the optical components within the optical attachment. The tray portion 79 includes upstanding rear 81 and side 83 barbed connectors that flex inwardly as the tray portion 79 is push-fitted into the skirt 69, and engage with complementary recesses within the main body 61 (one recess 85 that engages with the rear barbed connector 81 can be seen in Fig. 1 1 ) to fixedly couple the tray portion 79 to the main body 61 .

The tray portion includes an upstanding substantially circular wall 87 that surrounds the camera port 77 and functions as a holder for an inner lens 89. A generally frustoconical lens tube 91 fits (and more preferably locates) over the wall 87 to retain the inner lens in place. The lens tube includes a central bore 93 (Fig. 1 1 ) through which light can travel from the subject being imaged through the inner lens and thence to the camera of the telephone. In one envisaged implementation the internal walls of the lens tube 91 that define the bore 93 may be mirrored so as to improve light transmission therethrough. The lens tube is of an opaque (i.e. optically substantially non-transparent) material so as to prevent light leaking directly from the flash into the camera of the telephone. The lens tube also comprises upper 95 and lower 97 external shoulders that function as a support for a lightguide 99.

An outer lens 101 locates within a cavity in an upper end of the lens tube 91 . The outer lens includes a waisted portion 103 that is surrounded by a gasket 105 that functions as a support for an optically transparent cover plate 107. The waisted portion 103, gasket 105 and cover plate 107 co-operate to close the open end 71 of the speculum mount 65.

Fig. 1 1 is a cross-sectional view (along the line A— A of Fig. 4) showing the aforementioned components assembled together to form a finished optical attachment in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The lightguide 99 functions as a means to collect light emitted by the flash of the telephone and direct that light towards a subject being imaged (in the particular example, towards the inside of a subject's ear). The lightguide is of a material that is (at least substantially) optically transparent, for example of glass or - more preferably for ease of manufacture - of high-quality plastics (e.g. an of acrylic such as Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC)).

In general terms, and with particular reference to our co-pending application, the lightguide shown in Figs. 12 to 15 of the accompanying drawings has been designed to improve coupling between the lightguide of the optical attachment and the flash of the telephone, to increase light flux through the lightguide, and to reduce light divergence from the end of the lightguide.

Referring now to Figs. 12 to 17, the lightguide 99 comprises a tubular top section

109, a tubular mid section 1 1 1 , and a leg section 1 13 that extends at an angle from the tubular mid section 1 1 1 . The leg section includes a toe 1 15 that locates in a cooperating slot (not shown) in the tray portion 79 to locate the lightguide 99 within the optical attachment. A foot section 1 17 with a planar sole 1 19 extends from the leg section 1 15. As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, light entering the lightguide from the flash of a telephone is internally reflected within the light guide and directed towards and out of the top section 109 of the lightguide 99 to provide a beam of light for illuminating a subject to be imaged.

In one envisaged implementation the planar sole 1 19 is treated, for example frosted, so as to form a glow-surface that provides a substantially uniform level of light input (to the lightguide) across the face of the planar sole 1 19 of the lightguide 99 when illuminated by the flash of the telephone. In another envisaged implementation the planar sole 1 19 may simply comprise a transparent surface. In either event, the planar sole 1 19 is shaped and arranged to fit within (preferably to closely fit within) the flash port 75 of the lower surface 73 of the skirt 69.

The leg section 1 13 is generally rectangular in vertical cross-section (i.e. along the line B— B of Fig. 15), and increases in cross-sectional area as it extends from the toe 1 15 towards the tubular mid section 1 1 1 . In an envisaged implementation, the leg section 1 13 extends at an angle of approximately 45^Q to the planar sole 1 19.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 1 , the tubular mid section 1 1 1 and tubular top section

109 co-operate to define an internal bore 121 that is shaped and configured to accommodate the lens tube 91 . In an envisaged arrangement, the tubular mid section 1 1 1 is set at an angle of approximately 140^Q to the leg section 1 13.

Referring now to Fig. 17 of the drawings, the tubular top section 109 includes an exit surface 123 that is configured and arranged to reduce the extent to which light emitted from the lightguide is dispersed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the exit surface 123 is serrated and includes a plurality of sawtooth shaped formations 125 that co-operate to form a prism which acts to redirect beams of light that are travelling within the lightguide in directions that are not parallel with a longitudinal axis of the mid and top sections of the lightguide, so that those lightbeams travel from the exit surface (and thence towards a subject being imaged) in directions that are more parallel to a longitudinal axis 127 of the mid and top sections 1 1 1 , 109 of the lightguide 99. In one envisaged implementation of the teachings of the invention, a plurality of the sawtooth formations 125 each includes an inclined surface that rises to meet a vertical surface, the inclined surface being set at an angle of approximately 30^Q to the horizontal. Preferably these inclined surfaces extend towards the toe 1 15 of the lightguide

As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, reducing the divergence of light emanating from the optical attachment causes a greater flux of light to extend from the tip of a speculum attached to the optical attachment, and thus enhances the imaging capability of the camera within the cover that the attachment is clipped to.

Referring to Fig. 18 of the drawings, there is depicted a schematic representation of another lightguide 129 that is identical in all respects to the lightguide of Figs. 12 to 17 except that the leg section 131 and foot section (and hence the planar sole 133) have been enlarged - illustrated by means of the dashed lines in Fig. 18 - in the direction of the toe 1 15 (Figs. 12 to 16) (it being appreciated that the flash port in the lower surface will be similarly enlarged). This arrangement enlarges the planar sole 133 (as compared with that of the lightguide 99 depicted in Figs. 12 to 16) so that the optical attachment can be used (with the appropriate cover) with a greater number of makes and model of telephone (it being appreciated that the distance between the camera and flash varies from make to make, and model to model). An advantage of this arrangement is that the optical attachment can be used (with a cover that's appropriate for a given make and model of phone) with a greater number of makes and models of telephone. Another advantage is that in the event that a user should change their phone (for example, if they should upgrade from an older model to a newer model) there is then a greater chance that to continue using the optical attachment they will only need to buy a new (and relatively inexpensive) cover.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the present invention provides an optical attachment that is significantly easier to assemble and manufacture than that depicted in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. As compared with that of our copending application, the attachment disclosed herein also provides an improved coupling between the lightguide of the optical attachment and the flash of the telephone, an increase in light flux through the lightguide, and a reduction in light divergence from the end of the lightguide.

It will also be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, whilst particular mention is made of camera-equipped mobile telephones, it will be apparent that the teachings of the invention may be employed with other camera equipped devices that may not include phone functionality (such as the iPod Touch™, for example). In addition, whilst mention is made herein of a flash and flash illumination, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that such devices may be configured to provide constant illumination, instead of flash illumination. As such, references to "flash illumination" should only be interpreted to mean illumination that comes from the flash component of a mobile telephone, irrespective of whether or not that flash component is set to "flash" or provide substantially constant .illumination. It is also the case that whilst the attachment disclosed herein is particularly designed for use as an otoscope, the principles of the present invention could readily be employed with other types of devices, for example an ophthalmoscope.

Although in all the embodiments described herein the optical attachment is coupled to a portable electronic device by means of a cover, skilled persons will appreciate that the attachment could be configured to attach directly to a suitable portable electronic device, and thus the following claims should not be construed as encompassing only those arrangements where an optical attachment couples to a cover that, in turn, couples to a portable electronic device. It will also be apparent that the cover need not be exactly as described herein. It may, for example, only cover part of the portable electronic device instead of covering substantially all of the rear of the device.

It will also be appreciated that the grooves 67 provided on the outside of the speculum mount 65 are configured for use with the most common speculums in use. If a particular speculum has a different coupling mechanism, then the exterior of the speculum mount can be appropriately configured to co-operate with that coupling mechanism.

Lastly, it should also be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features herein disclosed.

Claims

1 . An optical attachment that is fittable to a portable electronic device having a camera and a flash, the attachment comprising:

a housing defining a lower surface configured to be proximate an electronic device when the optical attachment is fitted thereto, and an upper surface that defines a port through which light can travel;

a lens holder provided within said housing, said lens holder having a bore in which a lens is located, the lens holder being configured to be proximate a camera port in said lower surface of the housing that is configured and arranged to be proximate to the camera of the portable electronic device when the optical attachment is fitted thereto; a tubular cowl extending from the lens holder and within said housing, the cowl being operative to reduce the amount of light entering the camera from sources other than a subject being illuminated; and

a solid lightguide provided within said housing, the lightguide being configured to reflect light emitted by said flash so that said light extends from the port in the upper surface to illuminate a subject, the lightguide having tubular top and mid sections that cooperate to define a bore in which a part of said cowl is located, the lightguide having a leg section that extends from said mid-section, and a foot section that extends from the leg section, the foot section including a planar sole surface configured to be proximate to a flash port in the lower surface of the housing, said flash port being proximate the flash of the portable electronic device when the optical attachment is fitted thereto, said top section including an exit surface remote from said mid section that is configured and arranged to reduce the extent to which light emitted from the lightguide is dispersed.

2. An optical attachment according to Claim 1 , wherein said lightguide includes a leg section that extends at an angle to said mid section.

3. An optical attachment according to Claim 2, wherein said leg portion is set at an angle of approximately 140 degrees to said mid section.

4. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said leg section is generally rectangular in vertical cross-section.

5. An optical attachment according to Claim 4, wherein said leg section increases in cross-sectional area as it extends towards the mid section.

6. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said leg section extends towards said mid section at an angle of approximately 45^Q to the planar sole surface.

7. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said planar sole surface is configured so that light is substantially uniformally reflected by said lightguide irrespective of which part of said sole surface is illuminated by light from said flash.

8. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said planar sole surface comprises a glow surface that is configured to emit light at least substantially uniformly over its entire surface area irrespective of where the planar sole surface is illuminated by the flash.

9. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said planar sole surface has a larger surface area than the flash of said portable electronic device.

10. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said lightguide is substantially transparent.

1 1 . An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said lightguide is of plastics or glass.

12. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim wherein said exit surface of said top section comprises a prism.

13. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said exit surface of said top section comprises a serrated surface.

14. An optical attachment according to Claim 13, wherein said serrated surface includes a plurality of sawtooth formations.

15. An optical attachment according to Claim 14, wherein said sawtooth formations include an inclined surface rising to meet a vertical surface.

16. An optical attachment according to Claim 15, wherein said inclined surface is inclined at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the horizontal.

17. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said housing upper surface includes a mount for a speculum, said upper surface port being provided in said mount.

18. An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said optical attachment is configured to couple to a cover for the portable electronic device, the cover being fittable to a portable electronic device to couple the optical attachment to said device.

19. An optical attachment according to Claim 18, wherein said optical attachment includes a first part of a two-part mounting mechanism, and said cover includes a second part of said two-part mounting mechanism.

20. An optical attachment according to Claim 18 or 19, wherein said optical attachment is configured to be slideably engageable with a recess in said cover.

21 . An optical attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein said camera port and said flash port of said lower surface are configured and arranged to be proximate a camera port and a flash port in said cover when the optical attachment is coupled thereto.

22. A cover for a portable electronic device, the cover being configured and arranged for use with an optical attachment according to any preceding claim.

23. An optical attachment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figs. 4 to 18 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A cover for a portable electronic device, the cover being configured for use with an optical attachment according to any preceding claim, the cover being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.