Camera Lens Shutter

DESCRIPTION:

The advance of modern technology has improved the quality of life for many people around the globe. Each advance is to the advantage of someone and many new products have come to the marketplace in recent years. The advent of computer technology has changed the way of life for many of the humans living on the planet. Computers can now do with precision many jobs that were considered hazardous or too tedious for humans to perform. Almost everyone who works in an office now works with a computer on a daily basis. Computers are also found outside and are used in various forms and by persons in diverse occupations performing different tasks. One of the most innovative and personal technological achievements in recent history is the introduction of the smart-phone and similar devices such as the iPad that change the way we conduct our personal lives.

One of the major issues concerning the new technologies of smart-phones and other computer-based devices is personal security. Unscrupulous people have discovered weaknesses in the systems that are designed for entertainment, productivity, and other uses of computer technology that people use in our daily lives. The persons taking advantage of faults and loopholes that are inevitably present in the devices are usually known as “Hackers.” The hacker’s sole purpose seems to be to disrupt the use of technology and create havoc among millions of computer and smart-phone users around the world. Responsible for programs that invade, disrupt or destroy data the hackers develop and deploy codes known as a “virus” into the software of operating devices. The offending coding is not only responsible for the destruction of software and data, but the process is also used to take command of computer devices and manipulate to do various tasks that are not under control of the user and owner of the device in question. In many cases, the user and owner of smart devices are not aware that there is anything erroneous happening with their device. The virus can be clandestine and conceal itself within the programming of the device so that there is no apparent indication that it is present. A common implementation of malicious coding is the appropriation of the built-in cameras to allow the hacker to see the user and owner through their device. The users of smart- device technology can never be one hundred percent sure that they are the only ones able to see through their devices. It is possible that someone else is spying on them whenever their devices are utilized.

The Camera Lens Shutter in an innovative and unique solution to the possibility of hackers appropriating and using the camera features of personal smart-devices. The Camera Lens Shutter is an external control for eliminating the threat of spying through malicious coding of smart-devices. The device functions as a case but with special provisions for obscuring the camera lenses when the camera application is activated. The device functions for both the forward facing lens and the reverse lens on the other side of the device. The Camera Lens Shutter gives the user control of when the camera lens opens or closes when the camera feature on the smart-device is in operation and activated. In addition to operating automatically by interfacing with the smart-device, the Camera Lens Shutter can also be operated manually by sliding the tab over the camera lens to completely obscure the lens on either side of the device. The Camera Lens Shutter will enhance the security of the user of any smart-device technology. The user will be one hundred percent sure that their privacy is not being violated by devious hacking into their smart-device.

SPECIFIC, UNIQUE FUNCTIONS OF INVENTION:

• Complete camera security from spying
• Operated either automatically or manually
• Improves security for smart-devices
• Available for most models of smart-phones and devices
• Small tabs on shutter allow the device to operated manually
• Interfaces with smart-device to control the camera lens opening
• Camera feature are made completely secure from hacking
• Activates with camera feature on smart-device
• Rugged case enclosure

PRODUCT COMPONENT CLARIFICATION:

The “Camera Lens Shutter” is an innovative cellular phone accessory product that has been designed to generate to shield the front and rear cameras on the phone while protecting the phone from drop shock damage. The molded plastic product is easy to fit over the cellular phone and provides protection from being dropped. The sliding lens cover also prevents any spying on the user through unknown access to the cameras on the cellular phone. The shields can easily be slid out of the way when the cameras are to be used and then slid back over the lenses to prevent unauthorized use.

Currently, the phone can be hacked and the hacker can use the phone’s electronics to spy on the user through either of the cameras. There is no convenient way to prevent this from occurring as the hacker can ‘lurk’ in the background and the typical user will not even know any spy action is transpiring.

The “Camera Lens Shutter” resolves most of these problems by providing a physical shield over the camera lenses. This sliding plastic shield is easily manipulated by the user and will not slide back during normal use of the phone. This physical shield prevents anybody from using the cameras to spy upon the user. The user simply slides the shield back to the retracted position when the camera is to be used and then restores the shield to the covered position to make the phone ‘safe’ from visual spying.

The covers: The phone cover sections are injection molded from polycarbonate ABS plastic. This plastic is very durable, is highly resistant to drop shocks and ultraviolet degradation, is virtually impervious to household and beauty chemicals, and is typically used in this type of application. The plastic product can be supplied in almost any vivid color, texture, or pattern to match, complement or contrast with the user’s clothing, eyewear, or jewelry. The sections are molded in halves with openings for controls and charging cables and sliding shields to cover both the front and rear cameras. Each of these covers are product specific, fitting only one phone style and manufacturer. It is assumed that the sales kiosk will carry covers to fit the most popular phones and then several colors and patterns within each stocking style unit.

• The housings can be supplied in almost any vibrant color, so a distinctive color may be chosen to enhance the product recognition factor, which can dramatically improve the market adoption of the product.

It is assumed that the kiosk will carry about 20 of each cover with a wide variation in colors and patterns. Historically more popular by region colors and patterns will also be carried. Cases left over from previously popular phones will be displayed and often discounted to move the less popular stock. Here, as of March 2018, is a sample of the most popular according to typical electronic publications.

• Samsung Galaxy S9
• Samsung Galaxy S9+
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
• Asus Zenfone 5Z
• Sony Xperia XZ2
• Huawei Mate SE
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
• Apple iPhone X
• Apple iPhone 8
• Oppo A71
• Nokia 7 Plus

The Camera Lens Shutter is designed to be aesthetic and effective in the application. The relative ease of manufacture and the moderately inexpensive components provide good marketability for the manufacturer. The user benefits from improved protection from spying and drop damage, which should provide considerable market interest in the product.

The invention is illustrated in the following drawings of the essential points as explained to us in the documentation.

Drawing 1, Block 1: Camera Lens Shutter – Cover Installed On iPhone SE

(1) The 2-part molded plastic case snaps around the specific cellular smartphone, protecting it from drop shocks and the deployable camera shield protects from hacker’s spying on the user.

(2) The case has openings that are brand and type specific to allow complete usability while installed.

(3) The case has shutters that slide back and forth as required by the user to expose or shield the camera. There will be a shield for the front and back camera with openings to allow the use of all other functions while shielding the user from spying.

(4) The shutters have a raised button in the rear and front shutter, easily allowing the user to move them to expose the camera to be used.

(5) The shutters are snapped in place into the rear and front openings prior to being packaged for shipment.

(6) The plastic case can be supplied in various colors, textures, and patterns within each specific type and model so the user can complement, match, or contrast with their other accessories.

Drawing 1, Block 2: Camera Lens Shutter – Open For Photos And Closed For Protection

(7) The shutter rides in a recess that retains it is either location, front or rear.

(8) The shutter covers the front surface lens, which is centered on this phone, but is offset for the main, rear located camera.

Drawing 1, Block 3: Camera Lens Shutter – 2 Piece Drop Resistant Cover

(9) The case snaps together firmly but can be separated for cleaning, or substitution of another color or pattern case.

(10) The tabs fit into slots molded in the opposite case and are retained by the ‘V’ shaped tabs.

(11) The tabs have the compliance to release when a significant enough pressure is applied to separate the case. While the case cannot be separated by the force exerted upon it when dropped, it can be separated when the hands apply uniform force along the complete sides.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the above detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment developed herein, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This document has been prepared for the manufacturer’s elucidation. The manufacturer’s decision makers should consider this product for licensing (providing intellectual property protection for their sales of the product in return for a royalty payment for a period of years) or an outright purchase of the patent for a negotiated fee. The inventor and his team are standing by to consider offers for licensing or outright purchase of the patent.