# US 9,521,225 B2 · Frame and app for smartphone for audio reading coded text

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- Number: US 9,521,225 B2
- Document ID: US9521225B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/631,944
- Filed: 2015-02-26
- Published: 2015-08-27
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-27
- Applicants: John R. Hattersley
- Inventors: John R. Hattersley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521225B2

## CPC

- H04M 1/04: Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
- H04M 1/72481: for visually impaired users
- H04M 1/72403: with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
- H04M 2250/52: including functional features of a camera
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A small fold-down optical frame holds a smart phone that is provided with reading software that enables those with vision impairment to be able to hear the written word as audible speech. The frame has a tray and a base and legs connecting them. The tray holds the smart phone and positions it so that its camera is placed directly over a coded symbol containing the content of the printed page. One corner of the base is shaped such that a vision-impaired person can place the frame, by feel or touch, at the proper location for the smart phone to pick up the coded symbol.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for optically reading coded symbols printed at a predetermined position on a printed page, comprising:
a smartphone including a case, a camera, a processing capability, and a capability of producing audible output;
a frame for holding the smartphone, which includes a tray into which the smartphone fits, the tray having a camera window corresponding to the position of the camera of the smartphone; a flat base for resting on the printed page, the base having an aperture therein to place on a coded symbol on the printed page; and retractable legs for allowing the base to collapse against the tray and allowing the base to extend so that the base spaces the tray a predetermined distance above the printed page, the base having a geometrically shaped means for assisting the user to locate the base on said printed page by touch to align the tray and said camera with the coded symbol; and
a software application program loaded onto the smartphone configured to permit the smartphone to decode the symbol and convert information decoded from the symbol to audible speech.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein said geometrically shaped means on said base includes a chamferred corner of said base.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein said tray includes a diffuse window alongside said camera window.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system according to claim 3, wherein said camera window includes a focusing lens to align with the camera of the phone and focus at the distance to the aperture on the base of the tray and thus to focus on the coded symbol.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein said aperture on said base is substantially coextensive with the coded symbol.