System, device and method for capturing an image of multiple views of an object

A device for capturing a plurality of views of an object with a camera, comprising:

• a housing having a cavity;
• a plurality of mirrors in the cavity configured to reflect the plurality of views of the object towards the camera, thereby allowing the camera to capture a single image of the plurality of views, which include first and second side views;
• and
• a slot in the housing communicating with the cavity and adapted to accept the object,
• wherein the housing comprises an adjustable portion containing at least one of the plurality of mirrors and adapted to stabilize the object when at least part of the object is directed into the slot.

A system for capturing multiple views of an object, comprising:

• a housing having a cavity;
• a slot in the housing communicating with the cavity and adapted to receive the object;
• a camera having a lens;
• an aperture in the housing to enable the lens of the camera to communicate with the cavity;
• alignment structure on an exterior portion of the housing to align the lens of the camera with the aperture;
• a light source;
• and
• a plurality of mirrors in the cavity configured to reflect at least three views of the object towards the camera, thereby allowing the camera to capture a single image of the at least three views, which include first and second side views.

A system for capturing multiple views of an object, comprising:

• a housing having a cavity;
• a slot in the housing communicating with the cavity and adapted to receive the object;
• an adjustable portion containing at least one of the plurality of mirrors and adapted to stabilize the object when the object is directed into the slot;
• a camera;
• a light source;
• and
• a plurality of mirrors in the housing configured to reflect a plurality of views of the object towards the camera, thereby allowing the camera to capture a single image of the plurality of views, which include first and second side views.

A method of capturing multiple views of an object using a housing comprising a cavity, the cavity including a plurality of mirrors therein, the method comprising:

• aligning a lens of a camera to communicate with an aperture in the housing using alignment structure positioned on an exterior portion of the housing;
• receiving at least a portion of the object into a slot in the housing communicating with the cavity;
• reflecting a single image with the plurality of mirrors towards the camera communicating with the cavity, the single image comprising at least three views of the object, which include first and second side views;
• and
• capturing the single image with the camera.

A method of capturing multiple views of an object using a housing comprising a cavity, the cavity including a plurality of mirrors therein, the method comprising:

• receiving at least a portion of the object into a slot communicating with the cavity, wherein the slot is formed at least in part by an adjustable portion that includes at least one mirror, the slot being adjustable to stabilize the object in the slot;
• reflecting a single image towards a camera with the plurality of mirrors, the single image comprising a plurality of views of the object, which include first and second side views;
• and
• capturing the single image with the camera.

A method of reproducing a key using a camera phone, comprising:

• aligning a lens of the camera phone to communicate with an aperture in a housing of a device using alignment structure positioned on an exterior portion of the housing;
• capturing a single image of a plurality of views of the key, which include first and second side views;
• transforming the single image into data representing the single image using software in the camera phone;
• sending the data to first and second machining devices;
• machining a key blank corresponding with the key using the first machining device;
• and
• machining the key blank to reproduce a copy of the key with the second machining device.

A system for reproducing a key, comprising:

• a housing having a cavity;
• a slot in the housing communicating with the cavity and adapted to receive at least a portion of the key;
• alignment structure located on an exterior of the housing;
• a plurality of mirrors in the cavity configured to reflect a plurality of views of the object towards an aperture in the housing,
• a camera phone, further comprising:
• a camera communicating with the aperture operative to capture a single image of the plurality of views, which include first and second side views,
• a storage device operative to store the single image captured by the camera;
• and
• software communicating with storage device and adapted to transform the single image into data representing the single image;
• a first key manufacturing device communicating with the camera phone to receive the data, the data useable by the first key manufacturing device to produce a key blank;
• and
• a second key manufacturing device communicating the camera phone to receive the data, the data useable by the second key manufacturing device to produce a copy of the key from the key blank.