Smartphone holder

Abstract

Smartphone holder, characterized by a holder for a smartphone and by a plurality of rotors arranged in the manner of a multicopter, each with a remote-controllable drive motor, the drive energy of which is provided by at least one battery or at least one rechargeable battery.

Description

The present invention relates to a smartphone holder with flight properties.The photographic quality of smartphone cameras has steadily increased over the years. It is now standard that one or more lenses of a main camera are arranged on the smartphone rear side, while a lens for a second camera is arranged on the front side equipped with a display, usually on the upper edge of the smartphone, which lens makes it possible for the user, when triggering the second camera, to see the image section that the second camera currently captures on the display of the smartphone facing it. So-called selfies are obtained, in which the user sets himself in the scene and then photographs himself. The camera quality of the second camera generally remains behind that of the main camera, not least for reasons of space, since the extent of the display should, if possible, be limited only insignificantly by the positioning of a camera lens on the same side of the smartphone.The recording possibilities with the second camera are not only limited qualitatively, but also practically limited in the case of selfie, since a minimum distance must be maintained between the user who wishes to photograph himself and the camera lens, on the one hand, in order to still achieve an adequate image sharpness, on the other hand, in order to be able to image an image section of sufficient size. The smartphone is usually held in front of its face by the user with the arm extended. Even in selfies in which the image section is intended to capture a plurality of persons, this approach comes to its limits since the arm length of the user limits the extent of the captured image section. To solve this problem, so-called selfie tickets have been developed, in which a smartphone holder for the relevant smartphone is equipped with a preferably telescopic rod. Some selfie tickets have a three-point stand in the manner of a camera stand at their end facing away from the smartphone holder and thus increase the possible uses. In addition, many selfietons are configured such that the camera of the smartphone recorded in the holder can be triggered via Bluetooth at the handle of the end of the selfieton facing away from the smartphone, and the length advantage of the rod thus comes to bear.A disadvantage of using a selfie stick is the length limitation, which is given by the rod length. In addition, as the rod length increases, it becomes more difficult to keep the rod still, so that a vibration-free pick-up is achieved. The patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 12,145,713 B2 already discloses a solution in which a smartphone camera is arranged separately from the remaining components of a smartphone in a flight device of flat design, which can be pushed into the smartphone and locked in a drawer-like manner when not in use. If a photograph is to be taken with the camera integrated into the flying device, the flying device is pulled out of the smartphone and made to fly by means of propellers, similar to a small camera drone. The remaining smartphone then serves as a remote control for the flying camera. This solution allows maximum flexibility in photography, but is also not free from drawbacks. The most serious is that a smartphone equipped in this way must be completely reconfigured and may not achieve the quantities that could allow an appropriate sales price. A technical disadvantage is that the flight device would have to be comparatively small and light. This could be accompanied by problems with flight stability, in particular outside closed rooms in windy weather conditions.The object therefore arises to obtain the advantages of a flight-suitable smartphone camera and selfie tickets without the need for redesign of the smartphone.This object is achieved by a smartphone holder according to claim 1, wherein advantageous embodiments result from the dependent claims.A smartphone holder is proposed, having a receptacle for a smartphone and having a plurality of rotors arranged in the manner of a multicopter, which each have a remotely controllable drive motor. Thus, in principle, smartphones of a wide variety of manufacturers can be introduced into the holder without the smartphones having to be changed constructively. For this purpose, the receptacle advantageously has at least one adjustable clamping jaw which can be adjusted to the dimensions of the respective smartphone, as is already known from smartphone holders for fastening to the inside of windshields of motor vehicles by means of a suction cup or for engaging in a ventilation outlet on the dashboard of motor vehicles or else from the selfie sticks already mentioned.The smartphone holder is preferably designed such that a first part has the receptacle for the smartphone and a second part has the rotors, wherein the first part is detachably connected to the second part. Thus, the first part can also be used without the rotors as a fixture that is not capable of flight and can then be made capable of flight by connecting to the second part. Advantageously, all rotors are powered jointly by one or more rechargeable batteries. In this case, the battery or the battery can be integrated into the smartphone holder as a separate component. In a preferred embodiment, the energy for the rotors is taken from the battery of the smartphone fixed in the receptacle, for example via an energy transmission device based on induction, as is already used, for example, to charge a further smartphone with a charged smartphone or to supply it with energy. In this paragraph and below, when the battery is mentioned, alternatively a battery is also meant.In principle, the receptacle for the battery for supplying energy to the rotors can be arranged both in the first and in the second part in a two-part variant of the smartphone holder. However, since the rotors are the most sensitive parts of the aircraft-compatible smartphone holder, it is advantageous to arrange the compartment for the rechargeable battery at the first part, which also has the receptacle for the smartphone. This is because the battery can preferably be removed for charging purposes and placed back into the battery compartment in a charged manner. It cannot be ruled out in this case that unintentional damage to the rotors occurs. The probability of such damage is effectively reduced if the battery is initially introduced into a compartment on the first part and only then is the connection established between the first and the second part carrying the rotors. If a device is present, by means of which the battery of the smartphone can be used for the provision of energy for the rotors, an additional battery compartment can be dispensed with. Whether the battery of the smartphone is used for the rotors or whether a separate battery is arranged on the first part, it is necessary in such an embodiment that an electrical connection is simultaneously produced during the connection of the first part to the second part. This is preferably effected via a latching connection with corresponding electrical contacts.Of course, in the case of a flying smartphone holder with a smartphone located in the receptacle, there is the risk of a crash, whether due to incorrect operation due to lack of energy, severe external influences, such as wind gusts, or for other reasons. It is therefore advantageous to equip the receptacle for the smartphone with cushioning elements which protect the smartphone from damage in the event of an impact. The part of the smartphone holder carrying the rotors should also preferably have cushioning elements which serve to protect the sensitive rotors.In order to be able to effectively start, land and control the smartphone holder, a remote control unit for the latter is required. The remote control unit is to be configured such that each rotor of the smartphone holder can be controlled separately and the respective rotational speed can be individually controlled. In addition, it is advantageous not to rely on a timer function for triggering the smartphone camera. This is preferably achieved by virtue of the remote control unit being configured such that it can be coupled to the smartphone in the smartphone holder, for example via Bluetooth, such that the camera functions of the smartphone can be triggered by means of the remote control unit.Simplified control of the smartphone holder can be realized if the remote control unit has a gyroscope. Its data can then be used to control the rotational speeds of the drive motors and thus also of the rotors. Thus, an intuitive control of the smartphone holder with the smartphone accommodated therein can be realized, in which the orientation of the remote control unit is transferred to the orientation of the smartphone holder by correspondingly adjusting the rotational speed of the rotors.In order to be able to check the respective current image section of the actuatable camera of the smartphone arranged in the flight-suitable smartphone holder, it is advantageous if the remote control unit itself has a display to which the image section is transmitted. Alternatively, a second smartphone with corresponding software can be used as a remote control unit for the smartphone holder.Compared to drones with camera equipment, the described smartphone holder offers the advantage that it can be provided cost-effectively, since no camera needs to be implemented, but rather can be used to access the already present camera of the smartphone to be introduced into the smartphone holder.Against the background that the development of rechargeable batteries points in the direction of a more and more increasing energy density per volume and also per weight, the achievable flight duration of the presented smartphone holder will increase over time and will additionally provide advance to a wide spread of such a device.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedU.S. Pat. No. 12,145,713 B2

[0004]

Claims

Smartphone holder, characterized bya receptacle for a smartphone and by a plurality of rotors arranged in the manner of a multicopter, each having a remotely controllable drive motor, the drive energy of which is provided by at least one battery or at least one rechargeable battery.The smartphone holder according to claim 1, characterized in that a first part comprises the receptacle and the rotors are arranged on a second part, which is detachably connected to the first part.Smartphone holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive motors are equipped with electrical connections for cable-bound and / or cable-free energy extraction from the rechargeable battery or the battery.Smartphone holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rechargeable battery is at the same time the rechargeable battery of the smartphone.Smartphone holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle has one or more clamping jaws which can be adjusted to different smartphone dimensions.Smartphone holder according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that at least the first part has cushioning elements which are provided for protecting the smartphone against damage in the event of an impact.Smartphone holder according to one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the first part has a compartment for the rechargeable battery or the battery.Smartphone holder according to one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the first part is connected to the second part via a latching connection which has an electrical connection between the rechargeable battery or the battery and the drive motors.Combination of a smartphone holder according to one of claims 1 to 8 and a remote control unit, characterised in that the rotational speed of each drive motor can be controlled separately by means of the remote control unit.Combination according to claim 9, characterized in that the remote control unit is configured to operate the camera functions of the smartphone.Combination according to either of Claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the remote control unit has a gyroscope, the data of which can be used to regulate the rotational speeds of the drive motors and thus an intuitive control of the smartphone holder with the smartphone accommodated therein is possible, in which the orientation of the remote control unit is transmitted to the orientation of the smartphone holder.Combination according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the remote control unit has a display to which the respectively current image section of the camera of the smartphone can be transmitted.