POP-UP STUDIO

Abstract

Provided are embodiments of portable devices that, when used with a digital camera device, e.g., mobile phone camera, can capture a high quality photograph of a printed photograph or a document, thereby reducing or eliminating reliance on expensive, bulky electrical equipment for post-processing or editing to correct lighting, reflection, and cropping. The device can include a box that can be made of cardboard; can be collapsed flat; can easily fit in a book bag, a brief case, or similar carrier; and is easy to ship. The device also could be fully assembled or molded of plastic, while still maintaining the function as a mobile studio.

Claims

1. A portable studio, comprising: a collapsible box having four side walls and a back wall; a hole for a camera lens positioned in a first wall of one of the four side walls; the back wall includes one or more flaps for opening and closing the box; and the box can be collapsed and folded flat.

2. The portable studio of claim 1, wherein the hole positioned in the first wall is sized to receive a camera lens of a camera device placed on the outside surface of the first wall.

3. The portable studio of claim 1, wherein the collapsible box is made of cardboard.

4. The portable studio of claim 1, wherein the collapsible box is made of plastic.

5. The portable studio of claim 1, wherein the collapsible box is collapsed to a flat position.

6. The portable studio of claim 1, wherein the collapsible box is portable.

7. The portable studio of claim 1, wherein an interior surface of each of the four side walls and an interior surface of the back wall are of flat white color.

8. The portable studio of claim 1, wherein the collapsible box further includes a guiding mark or marks positioned on an outside surface of the first wall.

9. The portable studio of claim 2, wherein the camera device is a digital camera.

10. The portable studio of claim 2, wherein the camera device is a mobile phone with a camera.

11. A portable studio, comprising: a fully assembled box having four side walls and a back wall; a hole for a camera lens positioned in a first wall of one of the four side walls; and the back wall includes one or more flaps for opening and closing the box.

12. The portable studio of claim 11, wherein the box is molded.

13. The portable studio of claim 11, wherein the hole positioned in the first wall is sized to receive a camera lens of a camera device placed on the outside surface of the first wall.

14. The portable studio of claim 11, wherein an interior surface of each of the four side walls and an interior surface of the back wall are of flat white color.

15. The portable studio of claim 11, wherein the box further includes a guiding mark or marks positioned on an outside surface of the first wall.

16. The portable studio of claim 13, wherein the camera device is a digital camera.

17. The portable studio of claim 13, wherein the camera device is a mobile phone with a camera.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0016] The details of the subject matter set forth herein, both as to its structure and operation, may be apparent by study of the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the subject matter. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely.

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary front view of the pop-up studio, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary perspective left front view of the pop-up studio of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary perspective top front view of the pop-up studio of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary perspective side view of the pop-up studio of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary top view of the pop-up studio of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary side view of the pop-up studio of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary rear view of the pop-up studio of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate exemplary operations of the pop-up studio of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary view of the pop-up studio of FIG. 1 being folded to a flat position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Before the present subject matter is described in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present disclosure will be limited only by the appended claims.

[0027] FIGS. 1-8 illustrate exemplary embodiments of a pop-up studio that can capture a high quality photograph of a printed photograph or a document, thereby reducing or eliminating reliance on post-processing or editing to correct framing, lighting and reflection. The pop-up studio can be collapsed flat, can easily fit in a book bag, a brief case, or similar carrier, and can be easy to ship.

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary front view of certain embodiments of a pop-up studio 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pop-up studio 100 may include a box 110 that may be made of cardboard. The box 110 may include four side walls 120, 130, 140 and 150. The back wall 160 may include flaps 162, 164 and 166. The box 110 does not have a front wall. The interior surface of the box 110 may be of flat white color, to limit reflection. The exterior of the box 100 includes an outline (not shown here, see FIGS. 2-4) to guide placement of a digital camera device on a surface of the box in line with a hole 132 for the camera lens. The hole 132 may be of various shapes and sizes.

[0029] FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary perspective left front view of the box 110 of the pop-up studio 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The (bottom) wall 150 may include a marker 142. In some exemplary operations, the marker 142 may guide a user to place an edge of an object, e.g., a photograph or a document against the marker 142 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0030] FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary perspective top front view of the box 110 of the pop-up studio 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary perspective side view of the box 110 of the pop-up studio 100, showing the box 110 standing up on the back wall 160, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary perspective top view of the box 110 of the pop-up studio 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the (top) wall 130 may include a guide marker 310 to guide a user to place a digital camera device for taking a photograph of the document or printed photograph placed inside the box 110 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary perspective side view of the box 110 of the pop-up studio 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the back wall 160 may be opened (or closed) using small flaps 162, 164, and large flap 166. Flap 166 may include small flap 168 used to hold flaps 162, 164, 166 in place when the wall 160 is in the closed position.

[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary rear view of the box 110 of the pop-up studio 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the back wall 160 is opened (e.g., during set up, close down, or allowing more light into the inside of the box 110).

[0035] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate exemplary operations of the pop-up studio 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In some exemplary operations, the pop-up studio 100 may advantageously help a user to take a better picture of a printed photograph or document by (1) controlling the position of a digital camera device in relationship to the object, e.g., a printed photograph or document; (2) establishing a fixed distance between the digital camera device lens and the object, e.g., a printed photograph or document; (3) adjusting the lighting on such object; and (4) shielding the body of the camera such that it does not create a reflection (of the camera) in the resulting photograph of the object, e.g., a printed photograph or document.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a user may place an object, e.g., a printed photograph, inside the box 110, using the marker 142 for guidance. A digital camera device, e.g., a mobile phone with camera, may be placed on the top of the box 110, using the marker 310 for guidance. The camera lens of the digital camera device should be aligned with the hole 132 (not shown as it is covered by the phone), so that it can take a photograph of the object.

[0037] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary view of the pop-up studio 100 being folded to a flat position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the box of the pop-up studio measures 4 and inches high by 4 and inches wide by 7 inches long, as optimized for an iPhone 6 taking a photograph of a 4 inch by 6 inch printed photograph. In other embodiments, the box measurements can vary, as optimized for digital camera devices photographing printed photographs or documents of various sizes.

[0038] In some embodiments, one or more applications may be provided to work with the pop-up studio to provide the following functions: photograph effects, photograph storage, photograph organization, scrap-booking, and photograph sharing.

[0039] In other embodiments, one or more applications may be provided to work with the pop-up studio to provide the following functions: document assembly (multiple pages), document storage, document organization, document annotation, and document sharing. Other functions are also contemplated.

[0040] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications and equivalents are intended to be covered. For example, physical dimensions of the box 110 may be adjusted to accommodate different objects. A box 110 for taking photographs of documents may have larger dimensions than a box 110 for taking photographs of photographs. In another example, different types of back wall 160 flaps may be contemplated.

[0041] As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0042] In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of e.g., etc, and or indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation, unless otherwise noted. The use of including or includes means including, but not limited to, or includes, but not limited to, unless otherwise noted.

[0043] As used herein, the term and/or placed between a first entity and a second entity means one of (1) the first entity, (2) the second entity, and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entities listed with and/or should be construed in the same manner, i.e., one or more of the entities so conjoined. Other entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified by the and/or clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to A and/or B, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as comprising can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other entities). These entities may refer to elements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values, and the like.

[0044] The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present disclosure is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior disclosure. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.

[0045] It should be noted that all features, elements, components, functions, and steps described with respect to any embodiment provided herein are intended to be freely combinable and substitutable with those from any other embodiment. If a certain feature, element, component, function, or step is described with respect to only one embodiment, then it should be understood that that feature, element, component, function, or step can be used with every other embodiment described herein unless explicitly stated otherwise. This paragraph therefore serves as antecedent basis and written support for the introduction of claims, at any time, that combine features, elements, components, functions, and steps from different embodiments, or that substitute features, elements, components, functions, and steps from one embodiment with those of another, even if the following description does not explicitly state, in a particular instance, that such combinations or substitutions are possible. It is explicitly acknowledged that express recitation of every possible combination and substitution is overly burdensome, especially given that the permissibility of each and every such combination and substitution will be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art. In many instances entities are described herein as being coupled to other entities. It should be understood that the terms coupled and connected (or any of their forms) are used interchangeably herein and, in both cases, are generic to the direct coupling of two entities (without any non-negligible (e.g., parasitic) intervening entities) and the indirect coupling of two entities (with one or more non-negligible intervening entities). Where entities are shown as being directly coupled together, or described as coupled together without description of any intervening entity, it should be understood that those entities can be indirectly coupled together as well unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0046] While the embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that these embodiments are not to be limited to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, these embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit of the disclosure. Furthermore, any features, functions, steps, or elements of the embodiments may be recited in or added to the claims, as well as negative limitations that define the inventive scope of the claims by features, functions, steps, or elements that are not within that scope.