VISION ADAPTER ATTACHABLE TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT HAS A CAMERA

Abstract

A vision adapter attachable to an electronic device (9) having a camera (10), characterized in that it comprises: a base (1) having a first surface (2) intended to rest on or face the surface of the electronic device (9) in which the camera (10) is located and in the vicinity of the camera (10); a fastening element (4) associated with the base (1) intended to fix the base (1) to said surface of the electronic device (9); and a mirror (3) attached to the base (1), wherein the mirror (3) is inclined with respect to the first surface (2) of the base (1) and is intended to face the camera (10).

Description

VISION ADAPTER ATTACHABLE TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT IT HAS A CAMERA OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vision adapter attachable to an electronic device equipped with a camera, such as a mobile phone or tablet. This adapter is intended to be fixed to the electronic device, with at least one part facing the camera, in order to modify the camera's view. The object of the invention relates to the incorporation of a base with a first surface supported or facing the surface of the electronic device and a mirror inclined with respect to the first surface, which is intended to face the camera, and, therefore, the camera visualizes in the mirror a direction of vision different from the direction perpendicular to the surface of the electronic device, thus facilitating the visualization of the object to be captured, indirectly, on the screen of the electronic device and directly by the user. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electronic devices used in workplaces, for example, have cameras to record videos or photographs of objects, such as items or products that need to be documented before being sold or served. These devices can be mobile phones or commercially available tablets, allowing for quick and easy use and eliminating the need to design specific devices for each work environment. Therefore, the electronic devices used are widely available in various forms, sizes, and configurations, and are generally marketed. For example, in restaurant kitchens, electronic devices with cameras are used to photograph prepared products. This requires the worker to adjust the device until the camera captures the desired image. Alternatively, electronic devices are positioned at an angle to a specific area where the camera is pointed. This is problematic because it forces work to stop to focus on the product and slows down the process if adjustments to the object's position are needed. One of the known problems is the difficulty of focusing the camera on the object to be captured, whether recorded or photographed, while needing to see it directly. This forces the user to reposition the electronic device so the camera focuses on the object, view it on the screen, or look behind the device to see or handle it directly. Therefore, while working with the electronic device and the object, the user needs to move around to view the object, either directly or indirectly. One solution is the development of complex, specialized electronic devices equipped with cameras at different viewing angles, such as devices with cameras around their perimeter. This allows the device to display the view from one or more cameras on its screen, enabling the worker to see both the object being captured and the camera's perspective indirectly. However, manufacturing and modifying electronic devices to accommodate cameras in different viewing directions is complex and expensive, as it involves customizing and special manufacturing of the electronic device, as well as incorporating multiple cameras that increase the product's price. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is a vision adapter attachable to an electronic device equipped with a camera. The adapter comprises a base for mounting on the electronic device and a mirror positioned to face the camera, thereby modifying the camera's view. The base has a first surface for resting on or facing the surface of the electronic device near the camera, and the adapter includes a fixing element associated with the base for securing it to the surface of the electronic device. This mirror is inclined with respect to the first surface and, consequently, with respect to the surface of the electronic device. The operating position is defined as the position in which the adapter is attached to the surface of the electronic device near the camera, such that the base is secured to the device's surface by the mounting element and the mirror faces the device's camera. In this operating position, the camera's field of view corresponds to the mirror's reflection; that is, the camera's field of view is perpendicular, or nearly perpendicular (depending on the mirror's angle), to the camera's front. The mirror is tilted relative to the first surface and can form an angle with it between 42° and 50°, thus allowing the camera to capture a field of view approximately 90° relative to the perpendicular to the surface of the electronic device. Tilts of less than 42° may show the electronic device within the field of view, while angles greater than 50° shift the field of view to a point far behind the device. The mirror can be tilted at an angle of 45°, producing a 90° field of view on the camera. Optionally, the mirror can be tilted at approximately 47°, positioning the subject slightly behind the electronic device or allowing for a slight tilt of the device relative to the table or floor on which it rests. This allows the subject to be positioned under the adapter or slightly offset from the electronic device, facilitating both direct and indirect viewing. Furthermore, the mirror can be attached to the base, with its edge closest to the first surface positioned perpendicular to it. This distance between the first surface and the mirror, when in use, allows for a separation between the mirror and the camera that prevents the edge or surface of the electronic device from being reflected in the mirror. Therefore, depending on the camera's position on the electronic device and its distance from the edge of the device, the mirror's tilt and / or the distance between the mirror and the first surface can be adjusted to achieve proper viewing. This height also facilitates cleaning and access to the mirror or camera without needing to remove the base. The adapter allows you to modify the viewing direction of the electronic device's camera, enabling you to capture and display on the device's screen a view perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the surface where the camera is located. This optimizes tasks involving electronic devices with cameras that require direct viewing of the object to be captured while simultaneously inputting data on the screen and viewing the object indirectly, such as in restoration work for documenting completed products. Specifically, the adapter is designed and optimized for electronic devices with at least one camera located on the side or near the edge. The vision adapter also allows the electronic device to be attached to a fixed or mobile structure, while the mirror changes the camera's viewing direction so that it can be photographed or recorded at an angle approximately perpendicular to the screen or surface of the electronic device on which the camera is mounted. This way, the worker positions the object to be captured within the camera's field of view, eliminating the need to move the electronic device to focus the camera on the object. Furthermore, it allows the use of any commonly used commercial electronic device. Furthermore, the mounting element can be adhesive tape, double-sided tape, a clip, or similar fasteners. This fastener allows the adapter to be attached either permanently or removably, enabling its use with different electronic devices or its replacement if damaged. Once the adapter is positioned on the electronic device, with the base secured and the mirror facing the camera, the camera's view corresponds to the mirror's tilt, making the view perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the camera's field of view. Optionally, the adapter can be placed on the back surface above the rear camera of the electronic device, that is, on the side opposite the screen. The surface finish of the back is suitable for attaching components, as it is made of plastic or metal. Attaching the mounting hardware to this back surface is easier and prevents the base from obstructing screen use. Alternatively, the adapter can also be placed on the surface of the electronic device where the screen is located, above the front camera, to modify the camera's field of view. For this purpose, the mounting element can be designed to be attached to the screen or its edge using an adhesive suitable for screen mounting without causing damage. The mounting element can also be attached to the edge of the electronic device, thus preventing the base from obstructing any part of the screen. When the fastening element is adhesive tape, this tape has a thickness that, when applied to the first surface and the surface of the electronic device, creates a separation between the two surfaces equal to the thickness of the fastening element. This prevents contact between the two surfaces and can provide cushioning between the base and the electronic device. On the other hand, the first surface may have a cavity that houses the fastening element. This cavity is shallower than the thickness of the fastening element and is designed to reduce the gap between the first surface and the surface of the electronic device. This cavity makes the adapter appear flush with the surface of the electronic device, improving its appearance and preventing dirt from getting between the first surface and the device. The mirror can be attached to the base on a second surface, which is inclined relative to the first surface. This allows the mirror to be fixed to the base at an angle to the first surface. This simplifies mirror positioning and allows the mirror to be lighter and thinner, since the base provides the structural support. Optionally, the base may comprise a rectangular prism defining the first surface and a triangular prism defining the second surface, with the triangular prism projected from the rectangular prism via a surface perpendicular to the first surface. This structure facilitates handling of the vision adapter and provides a rigid base that prevents bending of the mirror or its surfaces. Such a base can be a single 3D-printed piece without supports, simplifying adapter manufacturing and device assembly by attaching the mirror. Alternatively, the base can be a block with a defined first surface, to which the mirror is attached via a fitting or additional coupling element. In this way, the mirror can be attached to the base from one side, cantilevered out, allowing for a minimal base size. Optionally, the mirror can be a cardboard with a reflective coating, which is very inexpensive compared to glass mirrors, or a glass or reflective polymer mirror less than 1 mm thick, providing a clear image for the camera. The mirror can be replaced if it deteriorates, thus extending the life of the viewing adapter. Furthermore, the mirror can be flat to provide a clear and direct view, having a flat surface where the reflection occurs and being larger than the camera's field of view. Alternatively, the mirror can have a slight curvature that modifies the camera's view to magnify or reduce it, or improve focus. Therefore, the mirror can have a slight concavity or convexity, depending on the desired modification of the camera's view in each case. The vision adapter can be attached to any electronic device, regardless of the camera's position on its surface, since the base is fixed to the device's surface and the mirror reflects the image for any type of camera. Furthermore, depending on the device's position and the adapter's settings, an inverted image can be displayed on the screen. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of said description, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: Figure 1.- Shows a front view of a first embodiment. Figure 2.- Shows a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment. Figure 3.- Shows a perspective view in which the vision adapter is attached to an electronic device. Figure 4.- Shows a bottom perspective view and in use position on an electronic device. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The following describes a preferred embodiment of the vision adapter attachable to an electronic device (9) having a camera (10), which is the object of this invention. The adapter of the preferred embodiment comprises a base (1), a fixing element (4), and a mirror (3). The base (1) has a first surface (2) intended to rest on or face the surface of the electronic device (9) in which the camera (10) is located and in the vicinity of the camera (10). The fixing element (4) is associated with the base (1) and intended to fix the base (1) to said surface of the electronic device (9). Furthermore, the mirror (3) is inclined with respect to the first surface (2) of the base (1) and is intended to face the camera (10). Figure 1 shows a front view of the vision adapter according to a first embodiment, where the base (1) is fixed to the surface of the electronic device (9) by means of the fastening element (4). The electronic device (9) is any commercially available device having at least the camera (10) on one of its faces. The fastening element (4) is, for example, an adhesive strip that is fixed to the first surface (2) and to the surface of the electronic device (9), where the distance between the two surfaces is the thickness of the fastening element (4). Thus, the fastening element (4) is first fixed to the first surface (2), and subsequently, the base (1) is fixed to the surface of the electronic device (9) by means of said fastening element (4). The fixing element (4) fixes the base (1) in the vicinity of the camera (10), with the mirror (3) facing the camera (10) as it is attached to the base (1) and is inclined with respect to the first surface (2). The mirror (3) is attached to the base (1) at a height with respect to the first surface (2) that prevents, depending on the inclination of the mirror (3), the mirror (3) from reflecting the edge or surface of the electronic device (9) to the camera (10). The base (1) of the first embodiment is further provided with a second surface (5) that is inclined with respect to the first surface (2) where the mirror (3) is attached, and, therefore, the mirror (3) is inclined with respect to the surface of the electronic device (9). Thus, the camera (10) of the electronic device (9) is focused towards the mirror (3), which, due to the inclination of the mirror (3), shows the camera (10) a view different from the direction perpendicular to the surface of the electronic device (9). The mirror (3) also shows an inverted view to the camera (10), which is displayed directly on the screen or inverted by means of an electronic configuration of the electronic device (9). In Fig. 1, a dashed arrow shows the direction perpendicular to the surface of the electronic device (9), which is the camera's (10) viewing direction. The mirror (3) interrupts this camera's (10) viewing direction and deflects it at an angle corresponding to the mirror's (3) inclination with respect to the first surface (2). A dotted square shows the portion of the mirror (3) that the camera (10) views, which corresponds, for example, to a direction perpendicular to the displayed view. This dotted square is what is shown on the electronic device's screen. Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the downward perspective viewing adapter, in which the first surface (2) has a cavity (8) in which the fixing element (4) is housed, not shown in Fig. 2. In the second embodiment, the cavity (8) is approximately 2 cm wide by 2 cm long, where the fixing element (4) is fixed occupying said cavity, ensuring the fixing of the base (1) to the electronic device (9) with a sufficient amount of fixing element (4) to achieve a secure fixation. The cavity (8) is shallower than the thickness of the fastening element (4) and is intended to reduce the gap between the first surface (2) and the surface of the electronic device (9). Thus, in the second embodiment, the fastening element (4) is flush or nearly flush with the first surface (2) when fixed in the cavity (8). Therefore, the distance between the first surface (2) and the surface of the electronic device (9) is reduced compared to the distance shown in Fig. 1. In the second embodiment, the base (1) shown is longitudinal and consists of a rectangular prism (6) from which a triangular prism (7) projects. This triangular prism (7) has a second surface (5), which is completely covered by the mirror (3), allowing for easy placement of the base (1) when the mirror (3) is facing the camera (10). In this embodiment, for example, the base (1) is manufactured additively as a single piece without supports, and the mirror (3) is flat. The mirror (3) and the first surface (2) form an angle between 42° and 50°, for example, an approximate angle of 47°, where the first surface (2) of the base (1) is flat and parallel to the surface of the electronic device (9) and the mirror (3) is attached to the base (1). If the inclination of the mirror (3) is equal to 45°, the camera (10) displays a direction perpendicular to the side of the electronic device (9). If the inclination of the mirror (3) is less than 45°, the camera (10) displays a direction slightly inclined towards the face of the screen of the electronic device (9), while if the inclination is greater than 45°, the direction is inclined towards the face opposite the screen of the electronic device (9). Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the vision adapter attached to the electronic device (9) in its operating position, and an object to be captured located beneath the electronic device (9). The display of the electronic device (9) shows the view captured by the camera (10), where the camera's viewing direction (10) is approximately perpendicular to the surface of the electronic device (9). The camera (10) displays the reflection from the mirror (3) that corresponds to the direction shown in dashed lines. Thus, the camera (10) captures a view approximately perpendicular to the perimeter of the electronic device (9) due to the mirror (3). Since the object to be captured is located in the viewing direction of the mirror (3), the worker simultaneously views both the screen of the electronic device (9) and the object to be captured. Figure 3 schematically illustrates the worker's viewing directions using dotted lines extending from the screen and the object to be captured. For example, in food processing, the vision adapter allows a worker to directly view the finished product, which is the object to be captured, while the adapter modifies the camera's view (10) to display a top-down view of the finished product, which can then be recorded on the electronic device (9). According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the electronic device (9) is fixed to the wall by means of a movable arm. When the object to be captured passes by or is positioned below the electronic device (9), as shown, the camera (10) captures the object due to the vision adapter. In this way, the electronic device (9) with the vision adapter can be parallel to the wall or any other surface without needing to be tilted for the camera (10) to focus on the object. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the vision adapter in its operating position, where dashed lines indicate the camera's viewing direction (10). Thus, the camera's viewing direction (10) is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the surface of the electronic device (9), capturing the image reflected in the mirror (3). This adapter is mounted in different positions on the electronic device (9) to reflect different viewing directions for the camera (10), depending on the need or the location of the object to be captured. The mirror (3) is flat and less than 1 mm thick, and is selected from cardboard with a reflective coating, a reflective polymer less than 1 mm thick, or glass less than 1 mm thick with a reflective coating intended to reflect light. This mirror (3) is attached to the base (1), for example, by adhesive, and is intended to be replaceable if necessary. In some embodiments, the adapter base (1) is manufactured additively without supports in a single piece for quick and easy production with a lightweight design. In other embodiments not shown, the base (1) has the triangular prism (7) attached or fitted into the rectangular prism (6), allowing for piecemeal manufacturing and subsequent assembly of the base (2).

Claims

1. A vision adapter attachable to an electronic device (9) having a camera (10), characterized in that it comprises: a base (1) having a first surface (2) intended to rest on or face the surface of the electronic device (9) in which the camera (10) is located and in the vicinity of the camera (10); a fastening element (4) associated with the base (1) intended to fix the base (1) to said surface of the electronic device (9); and a mirror (3) attached to the base (1), wherein the mirror (3) is inclined with respect to the first surface (2) of the base (1) and is intended to face the camera (10).

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the mirror (3) is inclined at an angle between 42° and 50° with respect to the first surface (2).

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the fastening element (4) is an adhesive strip affixed to the first surface (2). 4.The adapter of claim 3, wherein the first surface (2) has a cavity (8) in which the fastening element (4) is fixed, and wherein the depth of the cavity (8) is less than the thickness of the adhesive tape.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the mirror (3) is selected from cardboard with a reflective coating, a reflective polymer less than 1 mm thick, and glass less than 1 mm thick with a reflective coating.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the base (1) is a monoblock comprising: - a rectangular prism (6) in which the first surface (2) is defined, and - a triangular prism (7) projected from a surface perpendicular to the first surface (2) of the rectangular prism (6), and wherein the mirror (3) is attached to a surface of the triangular prism (7).