Optical adapters for mobile devices with a camera

Abstract

Portable, mobile, lightweight, removable, low cost, easy to manufacture, easy to ship, easy to transport, easy to store, and easy to use optical adapters that provides an effective means of videoconferencing over a mobile phone or other mobile device with a camera. Embodiments include landscape and portrait adapters that can be easily applied, used and removed while maintaining a professional and aesthetic appearance. Small mirrors within the optical adapter allow light from the front of the mobile device to enter the adapter and be conditioned and redirected into the built-in lens of the camera on the back of the mobile device. Novel embodiments include a lens reverser and/or a re-lens. Optical adapters also provide for self-imaging or surveillance. Various protective cases and adapter embodiments are configured to match specific mobile devices.

1 . An optical adapter for use with a mobile device having a display on the front of the mobile device and a camera lens on the back of the mobile device, the optical adapter comprising,
 a) an top mirror positioned to reflect light coming from the front of the mobile device,   b) a bottom mirror positioned to reflect light coming from the top mirror to the camera lens, and   c) a housing enclosing the top mirror and the bottom mirror and holding the top mirror and the bottom mirror in place relative to each other a first predetermined top angle for the top mirror and a second predetermined angle for the bottom mirror,   wherein the bottom mirror about the same size as the camera lens,   wherein the top mirror is larger than the camera lens,   wherein the housing is configured to attach to the mobile device and position the optical adapter in a predetermined location relative to the camera lens,   whereby one or more objects located on the front side of the mobile device,   which is opposite from the side having the camera, lens is visually captured by a digital camera chip sensor in the mobile device creating a digital image.   
     
     
         2 . The optical adapter of  claim 1  wherein the digital image is a still photograph. 
     
     
         3 . The optical adapter of  claim 1  wherein the digital image is a frame of a video being captured. 
     
     
         4 . The optical adapter of  claim 3  wherein a plurality of video frames is captured as a video stream. 
     
     
         5 . The optical adapter of  claim 4  wherein the video stream is recorded on the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The optical adapter of  claim 4  wherein the video stream is transmitted from the mobile device over a network. 
     
     
         7 . The optical adapter of  claim 6  wherein the network is a mobile phone network. 
     
     
         8 . The optical adapter of  claim 6  wherein the network is connected to the Internet. 
     
     
         9 . The optical adapter of  claim 1  further comprising a lens reverser, wherein the housing is connected to the lens reverser and holds the lens reverser in place relative to the bottom mirror. 
     
     
         10 . The optical adapter of  claim 9  further comprising a re-lens, wherein the housing is connected to the re-lens and holds the re-lens in place relative to the top mirror. 
     
     
         11 . The optical adapter of  claim 1  wherein the second predetermined angle is 45 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The optical adapter of  claim 1  wherein the second predetermined angle is greater than 45 degrees,
 whereby the thickness of the housing is less than required if the second predetermined angle were 45 degrees. 
 
     
     
         13 . The optical adapter of  claim 1  wherein the top mirror is rectangular and a least a portion of the top mirror is forward of the camera lens, such that is over the top edge of the mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The optical adapter of  claim 9  wherein both the top mirror and the bottom mirror are rounded, such as an oval or a circle. 
     
     
         15 . The optical adapter of  claim 14  wherein the housing further comprises a tubular bore between the top mirror and the bottom mirror, and wherein the lumen of the tubular bore is the same size. 
     
     
         16 . The optical adapter of  claim 9  wherein the camera lens is centered horizontally in the back of the mobile device, and wherein the housing is configured to hold the top mirror over one of the top end of the mobile device, the left edge of the mobile device, or the right edge of the mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The optical adapter of  claim 15  wherein the ends of the housing are rounded and wherein the portion between the ends is convex away from the mobile device and flattened to match at least a portion of the back of the mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The optical adapter of  claim 17  wherein the housing is attached with a swivel attachment. 
     
     
         19 . The optical adapter of  claim 9  wherein the camera lens is in a corner in the back of the mobile device, and wherein the housing is configured to hold the top mirror over one of the top end of the mobile device or the edge of the mobile device closest to said corner. 
     
     
         20 . An optical adapter system comprising:
 a) the optical adapter of  claim 15 , and   b) a casing configured to cover the optical adapter at least a portion of the mobile device,   whereby the casing protects the optical adapter and the portion of the mobile device, and   whereby the casing holds the optical adapter in place.   
     
     
         21 . The optical adapter system of  claim 20  wherein the casing comprises one of:
 a) a horizontal casing, 
 b) a vertical casing, 
 c) a diagonal casing, and 
 d) a full casing. 
 
     
     
         22 . The optical adapter system of  claim 20  wherein the casing comprises an adjustable casing having:
 a) a movable arm having a thumb knob, and 
 b) a spring attached to the moveable arm a body of the casing, 
 wherein the body is configured to cover the optical adapter and to attach over at least one corner of the mobile device, 
 wherein the spring provides tension on the movable arm, 
 wherein the movable arm allows the system be applied over a plurality of different types of the mobile device or over a plurality of different covers or skins, 
 wherein the thumb knob allows the arm to be opened allowing the optical adapter system to be removed, 
 whereby the optical adapter system may be temporarily applied over one of the plurality of types or the plurality of covers or skins. 
 
     
     
         23 . A method of videoconferencing using a mobile device having a display on one side of the mobile device and having a camera lens on an opposite side as the display side, wherein the mobile device is configured to capture video from rays of light that enter the camera lens, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an optical adapter configured to mount on the mobile device, said optical adapter comprising:
 i) a re-lens configured to be in line with the camera lens, 
 ii) a top mirror positioned to reflect light coming from the display side of the mobile device, 
 iii) a bottom mirror positioned to reflect light coming from the top mirror to the camera lens through the re-lens, 
 iv) a housing enclosing the top mirror, the bottom mirror, and the re-lens, wherein the housing holds the top mirror, the bottom mirror, and the re-lens in place relative to each other, 
   b) providing a computer program to be run on a processor in the mobile device,   c) executing the computer program to repeat the following substeps:
 i) capturing a frame of video from the rays of light originating from a person on the display side of the mobile device, 
 ii) transmitting the frame of video over a network, 
   whereby the person views the video being captured on the display.   
     
     
         24 . A protective cover for a mobile device and an optical adapter,
 wherein the optical adapter is configured reflect light from a display side of the mobile device to a camera lens on the opposite side of the mobile device,   wherein the protective cover is configured to cover at least a portion of the mobile device, and   wherein the protective cover is further configured to cover the optical adapter.