Optical adapter device for a camera of a mobile device

Abstract

Optical adapter device (1) for a camera (110) of a mobile device (100), preferably a smartphone or a tablet, comprising a connection device (3) for detachable connection with the mobile device (100), a lens device (5) with a first optical axis (5a), wherein the lens device (5) can be positioned in front of a camera lens of the camera (110), a light guide device (9) with a light inlet (9b) with a second optical axis (9a), wherein the light inlet (9b) can be positioned in front of an illumination device (120) of the camera (110), wherein light from the illumination device (120) of the camera (110) can be directed onto an object to be imaged via the light guide device (9), and wherein the lens device (5) and the light guide device (9) are arranged in a housing device (11).wherein the housing assembly (11) is pivotably attached to the connecting device (3) via a pivot joint (13) with an axis of rotation (13a), wherein the axis of rotation (13a) of the pivot joint (13) is arranged parallel to the first and the second optical axes (5a, 9a), wherein the lens assembly (5) is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation (13a) at a first distance from the pivot joint (13) and / or wherein the light guide assembly (9) is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation (13a) at a second distance from the pivot joint (13).

Description

[0001] The present application relates to an optical adapter device for a camera of a mobile device.

[0002] Mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets, usually have a camera. Since the camera and the software used in the mobile device are now of very high quality, it makes sense to use the camera of the mobile device for various applications.

[0003] It has become apparent that the optics mounted on the camera of the mobile device are often unsuitable for the intended application. Therefore, optical adapter devices have been developed that place a type of lens in front of the optics of the camera of the mobile device, allowing, for example, longer focal lengths to be used.

[0004] Furthermore, mobile devices with cameras have been developed for medical applications, which also utilize optical adapter devices. For example, US 2013 / 0 083 185 A1 discloses an optical adapter device for a smartphone that can be attached to the smartphone. The adapter device is adapted to the corresponding smartphone and, via a light-guiding device, directs light from the camera's illumination device, the so-called LED flash, to the object to be imaged. Using this previously known optical adapter device, an ophthalmoscope, with which an ophthalmoscopy can be performed, can thus be created via a smartphone.

[0005] A disadvantage of the previously known optical adapter device is that it is adapted to a specific smartphone and can only be used with that smartphone. Since developments, especially in smartphones, are occurring at high speed, a new adapter device would have to be provided for each new smartphone model. Furthermore, the previously known optical adapter device is only suitable for smartphones with an illumination device. For smartphones without an illumination device, illumination would have to be provided in a complex manner via an external illumination device. Such external illumination devices are usually very heavy and cumbersome, at least if they are battery-operated.EP 3 311 222 B1 discloses an optical adapter device for a camera of a mobile device, wherein the optical adapter device can be detachably attached to the mobile device via a connecting device and has two independently pivotable and adjustable lenses and an illumination device.

[0006] One application for optical adapter devices that can be used as an ophthalmoscope is in space for eye examinations of astronauts. For such applications, external battery-powered illumination devices, for example, are unsuitable.

[0007] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an optical adapter device for a camera of a mobile device, which can be used flexibly with different mobile devices.

[0008] The invention is defined by the features of claim 1.

[0009] In the optical adapter device for a camera of a mobile device, preferably a smartphone or a tablet, with a connecting device for detachable connection to the mobile device, with a lens device with a first optical axis, wherein the lens device can be positioned in front of a camera lens of the camera, with a light guide device with a light inlet with a second optical axis, wherein the light inlet can be positioned in front of an illumination device of the camera, wherein light from the illumination device of the camera can be guided onto an object to be imaged via the light guide device, and wherein the lens device and the light guide device are arranged in a housing device, it is provided that the housing device is fastened to the connecting device via a rotary joint with a rotary axis,wherein the rotation axis of the rotary joint is arranged parallel to the first and second optical axes, wherein the lens device is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis at a first distance from the rotary joint and / or wherein the light-guiding device is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis at a second distance from the rotary joint.

[0010] The housing device can be pivoted relative to the connecting device via the pivot joint. If the lens device is arranged at a first distance from the pivot joint, the lens device is thus pivoted around the axis of rotation within a radius, so that an arrangement of the lens device in front of the camera lens of the camera is advantageously possible. If the light-guiding device is arranged at a second distance from the pivot joint, it can be pivoted in a similar manner so that it can be positioned accordingly in front of the lighting device of the camera. By pivoting the housing device, the optical adapter device according to the invention can be used with a variety of different mobile devices, since the lens device and / or the light-guiding device can be adapted to the position of the camera lens and / or the lighting device.In principle, the housing device can also be designed in several parts, wherein one housing part is provided for the lens device and one housing part is provided for the light-guiding device, wherein the housing parts can be pivoted independently of one another about the axis of rotation.

[0011] The first distance is measured between the first optical axis and the rotation axis in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. The second distance is measured in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis, from the second optical axis to the rotation axis. In principle, both the lens device and the light-guiding device can be spaced appropriately from the rotation axis.

[0012] However, it has been found that arranging the lens device coaxially with the axis of rotation is sufficient for flexible use of the optical adapter device, wherein the rotary joint has a rotary bearing surrounding an opening for the lens device. In other words: the housing device has an opening for the lens device, through which the light to be imaged can reach the lens device. The rotary bearing of the rotary joint is arranged around this opening. In this case, it can be provided that the second distance is adapted to a distance between a camera lens or the illumination device of the camera of a mobile device. After arranging the optical adapter device on the mobile device, wherein the lens device is arranged in front of the camera lens, the light inlet of the light guide device can be arranged in front of the illumination device by pivoting the housing device.

[0013] The optical adapter device can be primarily adapted for a specific smartphone or a specific tablet. However, due to the possibility of pivoting the housing device, the light inlet of the light-guiding device can be moved to different locations, so that the optical adapter device according to the invention can also be used with other smartphones in which the lighting device is arranged at a different location. For example, it can be provided that the light inlet is designed larger than a conventional lighting device of a mobile device. This allows the optical adapter device according to the invention to be used particularly flexibly, since the light-guiding device can also be positioned in front of lighting devices of a camera in which the distance between a camera lens and a lighting device varies.A light-guiding device can guide the light entering the illumination device, for example, via light guides, mirrors, or prisms. A beam splitter can also be provided, through which the light is directed toward the object to be imaged and which allows the imaged light to be transmitted from the object.

[0014] Due to the pivotable design of the housing device, the optical adapter device can also be used for applications in which it is not absolutely necessary to introduce the light from the illumination device, in which case the light inlet is pivoted away from the illumination device of the camera.

[0015] In principle, it can also be provided that the optical adapter device according to the invention has a light source that is arranged in the housing device, wherein the light from the light source can be directed onto an object to be imaged. The optical adapter device can therefore also be used with mobile devices that have no camera illumination device or have an insufficiently weak one. It can be provided that the light source radiates light into the light-guiding device. In other words: the light-guiding device can be used to guide the light from the light source onto the object to be imaged. The light-guiding device can therefore guide both light from the light source or, in the case of a mobile device with a camera illumination device, light from the illumination device.

[0016] The light source can be powered by an external power source, with a connecting device being connectable to the external power source. The connecting device can be, for example, a power line.

[0017] The light source can be an LED, for example.

[0018] For example, the connecting device can be adapted to a charging port of the mobile device. Such a charging port, for example, of the mobile device, can thus be used to supply power to the light source.

[0019] In the optical adapter device according to the invention, it can be provided that the connecting device has a clamping device for gripping around the mobile device. By means of a clamping device, the connecting device and thus the optical adapter device according to the invention can advantageously be detachably fastened to the mobile device. Furthermore, a clamping device can be achieved that the optical adapter device according to the invention can be arranged and fastened at different positions on a mobile device. For example, in the case of a mobile device in which the camera has a plurality of camera lenses, the optical adapter device can be arranged on one of the camera lenses, wherein the pivotable housing device allows the illumination device of the camera to be used independently of the camera lens.The optical adapter device according to the invention can also be easily attached to different mobile devices via the connecting device with a clamping device, since the connecting device can be easily clamped to the corresponding mobile device.

[0020] In the optical adapter device according to the invention, the lens device can be provided with at least one lens that is interchangeably mounted on a holder in the housing device. The interchangeable mounting of the lens in a holder of the housing device also has independent inventive significance and can be implemented with a rotary joint regardless of the design of the housing device.

[0021] By providing a holder in the housing device in which the lens is replaceably mounted, the lens can be advantageously exchanged. This allows, for example, replacement of the lens in the event of damage, or even the insertion of different lenses into the lens assembly of the optical adapter device according to the invention. This allows for particularly flexible application of the optical adapter device according to the invention.

[0022] In this case, it can be provided that a recess is formed in the housing device for storing at least one lens. Thus, a spare lens or a lens intended for replacement can be stored in the housing device.

[0023] The optical adapter device can thus advantageously be used in a mobile manner, since at least one additional lens, which is suitable for replacing the existing lens, can be carried in the optical adapter device.

[0024] The housing device can comprise a main housing part, which forms a receiving space for at least the lens device and the light-guiding device, and a cover. The main housing part and thus the receiving space can be closed by means of the cover. The receiving space can advantageously be opened by means of the cover, making it accessible. This advantageously makes the lens device and, for example, the lens held in the holder in the housing device accessible. For example, the recess for storing at least one lens can also be formed in the receiving space.

[0025] The cover may have the opening for the lens device, wherein the opening is arranged coaxially with the first optical axis, wherein a projecting edge surrounding the opening forms a bearing surface for the pivot bearing.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the following figures. Fig. 1a-c a first embodiment of an optical adapter device according to the invention is shown schematically in three different positions, in Fig. 2a,b the optical adapter device according to the invention is shown schematically in a state arranged on a mobile device, Fig. 3, a further embodiment of the optical adapter device according to the invention with connection device is shown schematically and in Fig. 4a,b,c the housing device of an optical adapter device according to the invention is shown schematically in the open and closed state.

[0027] In Fig. 1a-c, the optical adapter device 1 according to the invention is shown schematically in three different positions. The optical adapter device 1 can, as shown in Fig. 2a, can be releasably attached to a mobile device 100 and interact with a camera 110 of the mobile device 100. The optical adapter device 1 has a connecting device 3, by means of which the optical adapter device 1 can be releasably attached to the mobile device 100. The connecting device 3 is designed as a clamp that engages around the edge of the mobile device 100 and forms a clamping device 7, with which the connecting device 3 can be clamped to the mobile device 100.

[0028] The optical adapter device 1 according to the invention has a lens device 5 with a first optical axis 5a, and can be positioned in front of a camera lens of the camera 110. Furthermore, a light guide device 9 is provided, which has a Fig. 4c, which can be positioned in front of an illumination device 120 of the camera 110 of the mobile device 100.

[0029] The light entry of the light-guiding device 9 has a second optical axis 9a. The lens device 5 and the light-guiding device 9 are arranged in a housing device 11. The housing device 11 is pivotably attached to the connecting device 3 via a rotary joint 13, which has a rotation axis 13a. The housing device 11 can thus be pivoted about the rotation axis 13a, as indicated by the different positions in the Fig. 1-c is recognizable.

[0030] The housing device 11 forms an opening 11a for the lens device 5, as best seen from Fig. 4. A protruding edge 11b is formed around the opening 11a, which forms a bearing surface for a pivot bearing of the pivot joint 13.

[0031] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the lens device 5 is arranged coaxially with the rotary joint 13, so that the rotational axis 13a of the rotary joint and the first optical axis 5a of the lens device 5 are congruent. The light-guiding device 9 is arranged in an orthogonal direction to the rotational axis 13a at a distance from the rotary joint. As a result, the light-guiding device can be pivoted at a distance about the rotational axis 13a and thus advantageously positioned on the mobile device 100 in front of the illumination device 120, as shown in Fig. 2. In principle, it is also possible for the lens device 5 to be arranged at a distance from the rotation axis 13a.

[0032] The optical adapter device 1 can, in an embodiment shown for example in Fig. 3, have their own light source, so that the optical adapter device 1 can be operated with light from the illumination device 120 of the mobile device 100 or with light from their own light source. The light source can, for example, radiate light into the light-guiding device 9. Using the light from the light source or the light from the illumination device 120, light can be directed onto an object to be imaged when using the optical adapter device 1.

[0033] The light source can be powered by an external power source, wherein a connection device 15 in the form of a cable can be connected to the external power source. The external power source can, for example, be the charging port of the mobile device 100.

[0034] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the housing device 11 consists of a main housing part 11c and a cover 11d, which is detachably attached to the main housing part 11c. The main housing part 11c forms a receiving space 12 in which the lens device 5 and the light-guiding device 9 are received. The lens device 5 has at least one lens 6, which is exchangeably held in the housing device 11 on a holder 14. The lens 6 can thus be easily removed from the holder 14. Furthermore, a recess 17 is provided in the housing device 11, in which at least one lens 6 can be stored.

[0035] The housing device 11 and the connecting device 3 can be made of a plastic. For example, they can be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process, such as 3D printing.

[0036] The optical adapter device 1 according to the invention enables particularly flexible use with various mobile devices. In particular, the optical adapter device 1 can be advantageously used in space for ophthalmoscopy by using a corresponding mobile device 100 with the optical adapter device 1 to measure the eyes of astronauts.

[0037] The optical adapter device 1 according to the invention also offers adaptation to different mobile devices and is also very flexible in use, since, for example, the lenses of the lens device can be replaced. This allows for easy repair or adaptation of the lens device and various applications. List of reference symbols 1 optical adapter device 3 Connecting device 5 Lens device 5a first optical axis 6 lens 7 Clamping device 9 Light guide device 9a second optical axis 11 Housing equipment 11a Opening 11b Edge 11c Main housing part 11d lid 12 Recording room 13 Swivel joint 13a Rotation axis 14 Bracket 15 Connection device 17 Recess 100 mobile devices 110 Camera 120 lighting device

Claims

[1] An optical adapter device (1) for a camera (110) of a mobile device (100), preferably a smartphone or a tablet, comprising a connecting device (3) for detachable connection to the mobile device (100), comprising a lens device (5) having a first optical axis (5a), wherein the lens device (5) can be positioned in front of a camera lens of the camera (110), comprising a light-guiding device (9) having a light inlet (9b) having a second optical axis (9a), wherein the light inlet (9b) can be positioned in front of an illumination device (120) of the camera (110), wherein light from the illumination device (120) of the camera (110) can be guided onto an object to be imaged via the light-guiding device (9), and wherein the lens device (5) and the light-guiding device (9) are arranged in a housing device (11), characterized byin that the housing device (11) is pivotably fastened to the connecting device (3) via a rotary joint (13) having a rotary axis (13a), wherein the rotary axis (13a) of the rotary joint (13) is arranged parallel to the first and the second optical axes (5a, 9a), wherein the lens device (5) is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the rotary axis (13a) at a first distance from the rotary joint (13) and / or wherein the light-guiding device (9) is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the rotary axis (13a) at a second distance from the rotary joint (13). [2] Optical adapter device according to claim 1, characterized by that the first optical axis (5a) is congruent with the axis of rotation (13a), wherein the rotary joint (13) has a rotary bearing surrounding an opening (11a) in the housing device (11) for the lens device (5). [3] Optical adapter device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bya light source arranged in the housing device (11), wherein light from the light source can be directed onto an object to be imaged. [4] Optical adapter device according to claim 3, characterized by that the light source radiates light into the light guide device (9). [5] Optical adapter device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the light source can be supplied with power via an external power source, wherein a connection device (15) can be connected to the external power source. [6] Optical adapter device according to claim 5, characterized by that the connection device (15) is adapted to a charging port of the mobile device (100). [7] Optical adapter device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connecting device (3) has a clamping device (7) for gripping and clamping the mobile device (100). [8] Optical adapter device according to the preamble of claim 1 or any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the lens device (5) has at least one lens (6) which is exchangeably held in the housing device (11) on a holder (14). [9] Optical adapter device according to claim 8, characterized by that a recess (17) for storing at least one lens (6) is formed in the housing device (11). [10] Optical adapter device according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that the housing device (11) has a housing main part (11c) which forms a receiving space (12) for at least the lens device (5) and the light guide device (9), and a cover (11d). [11] Optical adapter device according to claim 11, characterized bythat the cover (11d) has the opening (11a) for the lens device (5), which is arranged coaxially with the first optical axis (5a), wherein a projecting edge (11b) surrounding the opening (11a) forms a bearing surface for the rotary bearing.

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