PDT Magnifier Camera Illumination

Abstract

A device that enlarges text and images to enable a low vision person to see the text and images includes a hollow structure including a top housing and a bottom housing that are connected to one another. A camera aperture is formed in the bottom housing and a transparent light guide lens is disposed in closing relation to the camera aperture so that all light entering the camera aperture must first pass through the light guide lens. A cavity formed in the light guide lens is bounded by walls that are positioned at a critical angle. Light-emitting diodes are positioned at critical locations about the periphery of the light guide lens to illuminate the object being viewed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bottom housing;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior side of the novel light guide lens;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exterior side of the novel light guide lens;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1 and along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view depicting the light guide lens and the bottom housing when connected to one another, including an LED, the PCB, and the stiffener; and

FIG. 6A is a simple ray trace diagram indicating how light rays are affected by the mirror of the incorporated disclosure;

FIG. 6B is a raytrace diagram indicating the effectiveness of the angle a.; and

FIG. 6C is a raytrace diagram indicating how the novel positioning of LEDs relative to the novel structure of the optical light guide lens accomplishes the even illumination of the object being viewed.

Claims

1. A device that enlarges text and images to enable a low vision person to see said text and images, comprising: a hollow structure including a top housing and a bottom housing that are connected to one another;a camera aperture formed in said bottom housing;a transparent light guide lens disposed in closing relation to said camera aperture so that all light entering said camera aperture must first pass through said light guide lens;a cavity formed in an exterior surface of said light guide lens;said cavity defined at its periphery by a plurality of sidewalls that are inclined to reflect light at an optimal angle;a plurality of light-emitting diodes positioned about said light guide lens; whereby said text and images are well-illuminated.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a first undercut formed in a first end of said bottom housing adjacent a first edge of said camera aperture and a second undercut formed in a second end of said bottom housing adjacent a second edge of said camera aperture;said light guide lens having a first mounting flange at a first end thereof, a second mounting flange at a second end thereof, and a raised section between said first and second mounting flanges;said first undercut adapted to receive said first mounting flange, said first undercut defined by a first overhang, and said second undercut adapted to receive said second mounting flange, said second undercut defined by a second overhang;said first mounting flange having a length in excess of a depth of said first undercut so that a first space is created between said raised section of said light guide lens and said first overhang; andsaid second mounting flange having a length in excess of a depth of said second undercut so that a second space is created between said raised section of said light guide lens and said second overhang.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a printed circuit board disposed in overlying relation to an interior side of said light guide lens;said plurality of light-emitting diodes including a first pair of light-emitting diodes secured to a first end of said printed circuit board adjacent a first end of said camera aperture;said plurality of light-emitting diodes further including a second pair of light-emitting diodes secured to a second end of said printed circuit board adjacent a second end of said camera aperture.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising: said first pair of light-emitting diodes disposed in said first space on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said camera aperture; andsaid second pair of light-emitting diodes disposed in said second space on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of symmetry of said camera aperture.

5. The device of claim 2, further comprising: said inclined sidewalls being disposed at an angle of about one hundred thirty five degrees (1350) relative to said raised section.

6. The device of claim 3, further comprising: a window formed in said printed circuit board, substantially centrally thereof, to allow light to pass therethrough and hence through said raised section of said light guide lens.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising: a stiffener disposed in overlying relation to an exterior side of said printed circuit board, and a window formed in said stiffener, substantially centrally thereof, to allow light to pass therethrough and hence through said raised section of said light guide lens.

8. A generally flat, low profile device that enlarges text and images to enable a low vision person to see said text and images, comprising: a hollow structure including a top housing and a bottom housing that are connected to one another;a camera aperture formed in said bottom housing;said bottom housing adapted to contact an object to be viewed and to be supported by said object;said bottom housing adapted to be slidingly displaced during such contact with said object so that a user may move the device from one part of the object to another without lifting the device;a transparent light guide lens disposed in closing relation to said camera aperture so that all light entering said camera aperture must first pass through said light guide lens;a cavity formed in an exterior surface of said light guide lens;said cavity defined at its periphery by a plurality of sidewalls that are inclined to reflect light at an optimal angle;a plurality of light-emitting diodes positioned about said light guide lens; whereby said text and images are well-illuminated; andwhereby the device is supported by the object being viewed and may be moved to differing parts of said object without being lifted therefrom.