Patent Application
20170010698
The invention relates to a combination of a camera and writing device, for instance, taking portraits.
Partly through the availability of smartphones with integrated cameras, and partly through the popularity of social media, a trend has been the taking of “selfie” images by a user, typically with the user and other individuals, a landmark or other distinctive scene in the image, for example, in the form or a portrait. The use of a smartphone alone requires that the user extends his or her arm holding the smartphone pointed toward the subjects to be captured in the image. To overcome the difficulty in capturing an image at arm's length, a variety of extension arms have become available that permit mounting the smartphone at one end and providing a handhold at the other end. One way of triggering the camera is to include a Bluetooth transmitter at the handhold end and using software in the smartphone to receive a trigger signal from the transmitter to cause the smartphone to capture the image.
There is a need for a less expensive less cumbersome approach for individuals to capture “selfie” images.
In a general aspect, a device for capturing “selfie” images is integrated into a writing device. The device includes an extendable (e.g., telescopic) section, such that when retracted the device is useful as a writing instrument (e.g., a pen, stylus, etc.), and when extended, provides a way of capturing selfie images, or other images that benefit from a point of view that is removed from the user beyond the user's reach. Advantages of one or more embodiments of the device include low cost, in some cases through the use of an optical trigger rather than more complex radio frequency (e.g., Bluetooth) transmission. Other advantages can include portability as a result of the device being integrated into a writing device, which is more compact than a smartphone.
In some examples, the device also includes components for one or more of digitally capturing hand writings, receiving voice commands, receiving voice for a phone call, reproducing voice with a miniature loud speaker, reproducing notifications of phone calls, text messages and reminder. In some examples, the device includes circuitry (e.g., a transmitter) for wirelessly connecting to a digital computing device (e.g., a laptop, smartphone, etc.).
Other advantages can include portability as a result of the device being integrated into a writing device, which is more compact than a smartphone.
Other advantages can include a convenience of rapid, instantaneous collection of all the notes on distributed on various sources such as notebooks, sheets of paper, napkins, smartphone, into a single storage.
Other advantages can include a convenience of rapid, instantaneous sharing of hand written and voice recorded notes in a real time with digital devices used by other people.
Other advantages can include allowing more straightforward access to certain functions of a digital computing device, by replacing a necessity of activating the phone and finding of a certain app by a simple, intuitive, short command. Such a straightforward access decreases a cost of switching from task to task for overload professionals routinely involved into business communication and planning, allows for shorter on-the-spot reaction to important events. It also allows them access to important notifications on the occasions, such as business meetings, where smartphone is not allowed.
In another aspect, in general, a device has a proximal section having a writing implement and a trigger. A distal section of the device has a camera and a trigger receiver coupled to the camera. The proximal section and the distal section are coupled by a hollow telescopic section coupling. This telescopic section allows transmission of a trigger signal from the trigger to the trigger receiver inside the telescopic section.
Aspects can include one or more of the following features.
The trigger comprises a push button on a surface of the proximal section.
The trigger comprises an optical transmitter, and the trigger receiver comprises an optical receiver. In some examples, the optical transmitter comprises a light emitting diode (LED). In some examples, the optical receiver comprises a digital luminescence sensor.
The distal section is pivotably coupled to the telescoping section. In some examples, the distal section is coupled to the telescoping section through a hinge portion.
The distal section further comprises a mirror. In yet another aspect of the invention, the distal section further comprises a mirror covered by a cover plate that rotates between a closed position and an open position.
The distal section comprises a mirror covered by a cover plate, and is in the open position when the plate is rotated away from the mirror.
The mirror is oriented at a position that is angled to the camera.
The mirror is oriented relative to the camera such that when the distal section is in a position angled to the proximal end when viewed from the proximal end and the mirror substantially shows the image to be photographed.
The proximal section includes a sensor (e.g., orientation sensor, one or more axis accelerometer, etc.) built in to measure movements of the writing component of the pen.
The device embodies “smart pen” or “digital pen” functionality, for example, using the orientation sensor or accelerometer to measure movement of the pen and to transmit raw or processed measurements to a computing device. In some examples, these measurements are sent in “real-time” (e.g., as a stream and/or with low delay), permitting graphical feedback of what the user writes, for example, displayed on a computing device screen.
The distal section comprises a data processing and storage unit coupled to the camera.
The distal section further comprises a data connector for transferring images from the processing and storage unit.
The distal section further comprises a data transceiver to transfer images from the data processing and storage unit wirelessly.
The device further comprises an autonomous secondary power source. In a certain aspect, the autonomous secondary power source is located in the proximal section of the device.
Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description, and from the claims.
Referring to
One feature of the embodiment is that the viewing direction of the camera 201 is adjustable so that when the device shown in
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In order for the user to know whether orientation of the camera captures the desired field of view, this embodiment does not necessarily provide an electronic “view finder” or “preview” of the image that will be acquired. Rather, an optical arrangement is used so that the user has a visual reference of the field of view of the camera. This optical arrangement uses a mirror 202. Referring to
Continuing to refer to
As introduced above, the proximal section includes a trigger 102, which is manually used by the user to trigger the camera to capture an image. Rather than using relatively expensive radio-frequency electronics for the trigger mechanism, this embodiment of the device uses an optical arrangement.
Continuing to refer to
The distal section 200 includes an optical receiver 352 (e.g., a photodiode or other light-sensitive device) that is coupled to a battery 354 and the camera 201. When the optical receiver 352 senses the optical signal that is emitted from the optical transmitter 342, the camera's electronics capture the image.
Referring to
Continuing to refer to
In the described embodiment, the device includes two batteries (e.g., removable and/or rechargeable batteries), one in the proximal section and one in the distal section. It should be understood that alternative embodiments may not require both batteries. For example, the optical transmitter may be powered by mechanical energy (e.g., a piezo-electric source coupled to the trigger, or electrical energy stored as a result of extending the telescopic section).
In describing alternate embodiments of the apparatus claimed, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. Thus, it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions.
In some embodiments, the device includes a “smart pen” or “digital pen” functionality, instead of or in addition to physical pen functionality (i.e., for marking paper). One way of implementing the smart pen functionality is to embed an orientation or an accelerometer (e.g., a three-axis linear accelerometer) in the proximal end of the device. In some examples, the sensor is used to infer the trajectory of the “writing” tip of the device (e.g., the writing or stylus tip), and the raw measurements or inferred trajectory is passed to a computing device, for example, via a wireless link in “real time”. The computing device then processes the received information, for example, to store or display the user's writing. In some examples, the smart pen input is stored in association with images captured in the device.
In some embodiments, the device includes audio input/output components. For example, these components are used to communicate audio with a smartphone over a wireless (e.g., Bluetooth) link allowing the user to conduct a telephone call.
In some embodiments, the device includes graphical output components, for example, an LCD display. For example, the graphical output provides text message notifications to the user.
It is further to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements.
