Attachment for a personal communication device
AssigneeBubblepix Limited
InventorThomas Alexander Lawton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A personal communication device, such as a smartphone handset (1) comprises a main body (2) incorporating a camera (4) having a lens (5). An attachment (6) for the personal communication device is detachably mountable to the main body (2) by means of a cover (8). The attachment (6) also comprises an optical device (7) arranged to reflect light into the lens from a panoramic field of view. The optical device (7) includes a convex mirror (9), which preferably reflects light from a 360° field of view into the camera (4). Such an arrangement enables the user to completely capture an image of his surroundings, so that the image is an objective record of a moment in time as experienced by the user. The invention is more portable and versatile than previous arrangements.
Claims14
An attachment for a personal communication device comprising a main body incorporating a camera, the attachment comprising an optical device arranged to be detachably mountable to the main body in a fixed relationship with respect to the lens of the camera, the optical device being arranged to reflect light into the lens from a panoramic field of view, wherein the attachment comprises a housing for the optical device and a cover which is detachably mountable to at least a portion of the main body of the personal communication device and wherein the housing is detachably mountable to the cover, the optical device comprises a light capturing device in the housing, and the optical device is adjustable between an operating position and a stored position by relative movement between the light capturing device and a portion of the housing.
A combination of a personal communication device having a main body incorporating a camera, with an attachment;
- the attachment comprising an optical device arranged to be detachably mountable to the main body in a fixed relationship with respect to a lens of the camera, the optical device being arranged to reflect light into the lens of the camera from a panoramic field of view, wherein the attachment comprises a housing for the optical device and a cover which is detachably mountable to at least a portion of the main body of the portable communication device and wherein the housing is detachably mountable to the cover, the optical device comprises a light capturing device in the housing, and the optical device is adjustable between an operating position and a stored position by relative movement between the light capturing device and a portion of the housing.
A method of recording a panoramic image of a scene, comprising the steps of:
- attaching an optical device to a personal communication device having a camera such that the optical device has a fixed relationship with respect to a lens of the camera, the optical device being arranged to reflect light into the lens of the camera from a panoramic field of view, wherein the optical device is housed in a housing which is detachably mountable to a detachably mountable cover for the portable communication device, wherein the optical device comprises a light capturing device in the housing, and the optical device is adjustable between an operating position and a stored position by relative movement between the light capturing device and a portion of the housing;
- and
- sensing and recording an image of the panoramic field of view by means of the camera.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.