Smartphone Binoculars with Side-Mounted Optics and Digital Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smartphone-binocular integrations are non-optimal due to the attachment of optical devices to the phone body, lacking elegance, capability, and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
Integration of binocular functionality directly into smartphones or their cases, utilizing electronic image sensors and displays, with optional wireless connection to smartphones for enhanced features, including image manipulation, storage, and communication, and providing touch-screen controls for user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If optical devices are attached to the phone body to create binoculars, then binocular functionality is achieved, but the solution becomes non-optimal in terms of elegance, capability, and ease of use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the binocular functionality with the smartphone by integrating image sensors, optical components, and display elements directly into the phone's housing. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate attached optical devices, achieving a unified device that combines binocular and smartphone functions while improving ease of use and reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The smartphone is designed to serve multiple functions: it operates as both a communication device and binoculars. The integration of dual image sensors, optical zoom capabilities, and stereoscopic display elements enables the phone to provide binocular functionality without requiring separate equipment, thereby enhancing versatility and ease of operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If binoculars are integrated directly into the smartphone, then elegance and capability are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The binocular integration is divided into distinct functional modules: image sensor assemblies, optical component housings, display element integrations, and processing units. Each module can be manufactured and tested separately before final assembly, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while achieving direct integration for elegance and capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electronic image sensors and displays are used instead of traditional optical components, then binocular functionality is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical optical systems with electronic image sensors and digital display elements. Instead of using purely optical paths for image transmission and processing, the system employs CMOS sensors, image processing circuits, and electronic display elements, thereby enhancing functionality through digital processing while managing complexity through integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables convenient and capable binocular functionality within smartphones or their cases, offering real-time motion imagery, auto focusing, and access to smartphone features, while maintaining privacy and battery efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Right and left image sensors convert the imagery gathered by the right and left image-gathering devices into electrical signals representative of the right and left imagery
Data Source
AI summary
Hand-held devices combine smartphones and electronic binoculars. In “in-phone” embodiments, binocular functionality is integrated directly into the housing or body of a smartphone modified in accordance with the invention, whereas, in “in-case” embodiments, the binoculars are integrated into a case to receive a smartphone which may be of conventional design. In either case, components within the phone may be used for image manipulation, image storage, and/or sending and receiving/streaming stereoscopic/3D motion imagery. The objective lenses for the binoculars are preferably supported on or in one of the longer side edges of the phone or case, whereas the display magnifying eyepieces are preferably associated with the opposing longer side edge of the phone or case. As such, in use, a user holds the phone or case in a generally horizontal plane during use as binoculars.