GB2549338A - Holding apparatus for electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A handgrip device couples to a camera head. A holder is configured to detachably hold a portable electronic device with a touch screen display such as a smartphone or a tablet to one side of the handgrip device such that the touch screen display lies within reach of the thumb of the same hand that grips the handgrip device. A hinge mechanism couples the holder to the handgrip device to let the portable electronic device tilt, swivel and rotate in plane. An extendable shaft adjacent the hinge mechanism can hold the device out to a larger distance. The camera head can couple to the handgrip with a coupling mechanism that lets the camera head turn, tilt and flip backwards. The handgrip device can contain rechargeable batteries to supply electric energy to the devices, and circuits to charge up the batteries from external source.

Description

Holding Apparatus for Electronic Device

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/321,196 filed on 11 April 2016.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The subject matter disclosed generally relates to a handgrip to support portable electronic device and camera. 2. Background Information

The smartphone, and likewise the tablet, has become very popular, in large part due to its touch screen display and software programs that make versatile use of the detection of touches and strokes of the thumb on the touch screen display. The digital camera is another electronic device that has become highly popular. Though the smartphone includes a camera, its capabilities are limited, especially in the aspects of (a) range of focal length, (b) lowlight sensitivity, and (c) resolution. Often, the avid photographer will not rely on the integrated camera on the smartphone but use a dedicated digital camera. More recently, a new type of camera has emerged that looks like a cylindrical barrel closed at its backend, with no handgrip nor display, and instead provides a holder on its back to hold the smartphone. The user will grip the barrel in one hand and operate the smartphone with the other hand touching the touch screen display on the smartphone to control the camera.

Summary of Invention A first aspect of invention is a handgrip member, preferably not longer than six inches or fifteen centimeters at its longest, more preferably not longer than five inches or twelve centimeters, that is coupled to a camera head and a holder member that releasably holds a portable electronic device that includes a touch screen display, the camera being coupled to be held to an opposite side from a hand that grips the handgrip member around a longitudinal axis, or being coupled to be held in front of the hand, or being coupled to be held at one end of the handgrip member near the thumb and the index finger and away from the little finger. The coupling to the camera head may be permanent. Alternatively, the coupling may be detachable by hand without hand tool. The detachable coupling may comprise a snap-fit joint. It may comprise a strap. It may comprise a fastener such as a screw or a loop-and-hoop fastener. The holder member is preferably coupled to one side of the handgrip member opposite to the palm of the hand. Alternatively, the holder member is coupled to one side of the camera instead. Preferably, the touch screen display is held within reach of distal pad of the thumb of the hand.

Preferably, the handgrip member includes a shutter release trigger mechanism that, when triggered, causes either or both of the camera and a camera integrated in the portable electronic device to take picture(s). In general, the trigger mechanism will detect a force on a surface a portion of the handgrip member exerted by the thumb or a finger. Preferably, the handgrip member includes an antenna to transmit a trigger radio signal to the camera and/or the portable electronic device in response to the triggering to cause the picture taking(s). The handgrip member may transmit such trigger signal to the portable electronic device by a pair of conductors in a cable that connects it to the handgrip member. The handgrip member may transmit such trigger signal to the camera by a pair of conductors in a cable that connects it to the handgrip member.

Preferably, the handgrip member comprises a battery compartment that houses at least one rechargeable battery. The at least one rechargeable battery altogether preferably stores not less than lOWh of energy. More preferably, the handgrip member includes a power management integrated circuit chip to charge the rechargeable batteries from an external source of electric energy. The energy from the external source of electricity can be received via a pair of conductors within a cable plugged into a receptacle found on the handgrip member. Alternatively, the transmission can happen wirelessly, such as by electromagnetic induction, into a coil in the handgrip member. The rechargeable battery provides electric energy to the camera and/or the portable electronic device. The battery compartment may be found in a battery enclosure that detachably couples to another member of the handgrip member to form the handgrip member.

Preferably, the holder member holds the portable electronic device to one side of the handgrip member with support from a hinge mechanism coupled to the handgrip member that permits the touch screen display to face in any one of a number of horizontal directions while the camera points in one horizontal direction.

Preferably, the holder member holds the portable electronic device to one side of the handgrip member with support from a hinge mechanism coupled to the handgrip member that permits the touch screen display to tilt up and/or down while the handgrip member is held fixed.

Preferably, a rotary mechanism joins the camera to the handgrip member and permits the camera to point in any one of a number of horizontal directions while the handgrip member is held fixed.

Preferably, a second hinge mechanism joins the camera to the handgrip member and permits the camera to tilt up and/or down and/or flip backwards while the handgrip member is held fixed.

Preferably, a slider track is provided longitudinally beside the handgrip member to permit the holder member to slide along and the holder member holds the portable electronic device to one side of the handgrip member with support from a hinge mechanism that permits the touch screen display to rotate in its own plane thereby changing between the landscape orientation and the portrait orientation relative to the handgrip member being held vertically. More preferably, the slider track is configured to be able to swivel around a longitudinal axis of the handgrip member.

Preferably, a slider track is provided on the holder member to permit the holder member to slide along with respect to the handgrip member.

Preferably, an extendable shaft couples the holder member to the handgrip member. More preferably, the holder member is capable of sliding in a longitudinal direction of the extendable shaft. A second aspect of invention is a handgrip member of the aforementioned dimension that is also a powerbank device that includes a coupling mechanism with which to couple itself to a camera at one end of its longitudinal axis or to one side from the longitudinal axis, and the handgrip member is also coupled to a holder member that releasably retains on its surface a portable electronic device that comprises a touch screen display. The powerbank device includes a rechargeable battery within its battery compartment and one or more power management integrated circuit chips to charge up the rechargeable battery with electric energy provided by an external source of electricity. The charging may be performed wireless by electromagnetic induction into a coil in the handgrip member as aforementioned. The charging may be performed over a pair of conductors connected to the powerbank device at one end and to the external source at the other end. The second aspect of invention may be augmented with any one or more of features from the first aspect of invention. A third aspect of invention is a handgrip member of the aforementioned dimension that is also a powerbank device that includes a coupling mechanism with which to couple itself to a camera at one end of its longitudinal axis or to one side from the longitudinal axis. The powerbank device includes a rechargeable battery within its battery compartment and one or more power management integrated circuits to charge up the rechargeable battery with electric energy provided by an external source of electricity. The charging may be performed wireless by electromagnetic induction as aforementioned. The charging may be performed over a pair of conductors connected to the powerbank device at one end and to the external source at the other end. The third aspect of invention may be augmented with any one or more of features from the first aspect of invention. A fourth aspect of invention is a handgrip member, of the aforementioned dimension, that also includes (A) a coupling mechanism with which to couple itself to a camera at one end of its longitudinal axis or to one side from the longitudinal axis, and (B) the aforementioned shutter release trigger mechanism. The handgrip member may further incorporate any one or more of the above features of the first and/or second aspects of invention, including the features to transmit the aforementioned trigger signal.

Below are separately listed items of invention. 1 A handheld apparatus, comprising a holder member that comprises a surface on which is releasably retained a first portable electronic device that comprises a touch screen display; and a handgrip member, the holder member being coupled to the handgrip member so as to have a position holding the first portable electronic device to one side of the handgrip member’s longitudinal axis such that, when a hand of a user grips the handgrip member from opposite to the one side, the touch screen display lies within reach of a distal pad of thumb of the hand, and, a camera head, coupled to the handgrip member and comprising: a camera lens with a front lens element or a lens mount to mount the camera lens; and an image sensor that comprises a pixel array of photodetectors, 2. The handheld apparatus of item 1, the handgrip member comprising: a battery compartment to hold at least one rechargeable battery; and, an integrated circuit chip with a pin connected to a positive terminal of the at least one rechargeable battery, and a first pair of conductors or a conductive coil to receive electric energy from an external source for storing in to the at least one rechargeable battery via the pin. +++++++++++++++++++++ 3. A handheld apparatus, comprising: a holder member, the holder member comprising a surface on which to detachably retain a first portable electronic device that comprises a touch screen display; and a handgrip member, the holder member being coupled to the handgrip member so as to have a position holding the first portable electronic device to one side of the handgrip member’s longitudinal axis such that, when a human hand grips the handgrip member from opposite to the one side, the touch screen display lies within reach of a distal pad of thumb of the hand, the handgrip member comprising: a battery compartment to hold at least one rechargeable battery; an integrated circuit chip with a pin connected to a positive terminal of the at least one rechargeable battery; and a first pair of conductors or a conductive coil to receive electric energy from an external source for storing in the at least one rechargeable battery via the pin. 4. The handheld apparatus of item 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a member of a coupling mechanism to detachably couple the handgrip member to a camera head, which comprises a camera lens and an image sensor that comprises a pixel array of photodetectors. +++++++++++++++++++++ 5. A handheld apparatus, comprising: a holder member, the holder member comprising a surface on which to detachably retain a first portable electronic device that comprises a touch screen display; and a handgrip member, the holder member being coupled to the handgrip member so as to have a position holding the first portable electronic device to one side of the handgrip member’s longitudinal axis such that, when a human hand grips the handgrip member from opposite to the one side, the touch screen display lies within reach of a distal pad of thumb of the hand, the handgrip member comprising: a member of a coupling mechanism to detachably couple a camera head, which comprises a camera lens and an image sensor that comprises a pixel array of photodetectors, to the handgrip member. +++++++++++++++++++++ 6. The handheld apparatus of item 1 or 4 or 5, wherein the camera head is held in front of the handgrip member, with a gap to accommodate fingers of the hand between the camera head and the handgrip member, or atop one end of the handgrip member, or to an opposite side of the handgrip member to palm of the hand. 7. The handheld apparatus of any one of items 1 and 4 to 6, wherein the camera head has a configuration in which the camera lens as the longitudinal axis of the handgrip extends vertically. 8. The handheld apparatus of any one of items 1 and 4 to 7, wherein the camera head is capable of pivoting around an axis that extends through the handgrip member. +++++++++++++++++++++ 9. The handheld apparatus of item 2 or 3 or 4, the battery compartment being housed within a battery enclosure that is detachably coupled to another member of the handgrip member. 10. The handheld apparatus of item 2 or 3 or 4, wherein the first pair of conductors is capable of alternately transmitting electric energy sourced from the at least one rechargeable battery to the camera head or the first portable electronic device. 11. The handheld apparatus of item 2 or 3 or 4, the handgrip member further comprising: a second pair of conductors through which electric energy sourced from the at least one rechargeable battery is transmitted to the first portable electronic device or the camera head. 12. The handheld apparatus of item 11, the handgrip member further comprising a third pair of conductors to conduct signals from the camera head or from the handgrip member to the first portable electronic device and/or vice versa. +++++++++++++++++++++ 13. The handheld apparatus of any one of items 1 to 12, further comprising: a hinge mechanism that firmly positions the holder member relative to the handgrip member and comprises at least one pair of surfaces to slide over each other to provide flexibility to permit the first portable electronic device, while being retained by the holder member, one or more of the following actions: to tilt upwards and downwards; and, to swivel horizontally, relative to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip member being vertical. 14. The handheld apparatus of item 13, further comprising: an extendable shaft that couples the holder member to the handgrip member and comprises a plurality of shaft segments, of which a segment is nearer to the holder member and another segment is nearer to the handgrip member and adjacent pairs are capable of sliding with respect to each other while remaining coupled thereby is capable of increasing its length to hold the holder member firmly at a extended distance from the hand. 15. The handheld apparatus of item 14, wherein the hinge mechanism is capable of sliding along the extendable shaft and permits the first portable electronic device to rotate within its own plane. 16. The handheld apparatus of item 13, further comprising: a slider track disposed on the handgrip member along which the hinge mechanism is able to slide, wherein the hinge mechanism permits the first portable electronic device to rotate within its own plane. 17. The handheld apparatus of item 14 or 15 or 16, the handgrip member further comprising: a first rotary member coupled between the handgrip member and the slider track or the extendable shaft to permit the slider track or the extendable shaft to revolve around the handgrip member. 18. The handheld apparatus of item 13, further comprising: a slider track disposed on the holder member along which the hinge mechanism is able to slide with respect to the holder member, wherein the hinge mechanism permits the first portable electronic device to rotate within its own plane. 19. The handheld apparatus of any one of items 13 to 18, the hinge mechanism comprising: a ball-and-socket joint comprising a socket and a ball in the socket with a post on the ball and a plurality of slots in the socket that can receive the post, the post and the socket being coupled to one and the other, respectively, of the handgrip member and the holder member thereby providing capability to swivel, to tilt, and to rotate in plane to the first portable electronic device. 20. The handheld apparatus of any one of items 13 to 18, the hinge mechanism comprising: a hinge at distal end of the hinge mechanism coupled in such a way that the holder member is capable of rotating about an axis of the hinge, or alternatively a pivot joint at proximal end of the hinge mechanism or along the hinge mechanism, to provide the tilting; a hinge joint to provide the swiveling·, and, a pivot joint coupled to the holder member to provide in-plane rotation. 21. The handheld apparatus any one of items 13 to 18, the hinge mechanism comprising: a gooseneck. 22. The handheld apparatus of item 21, the hinge mechanism that comprises the gooseneck further comprising: a tilt joint, either as a hinge joint coupling the holder member to the gooseneck at distal end of the gooseneck or as a pivot joint coupling the gooseneck at a proximal end of the gooseneck to the handgrip member to provide the tilting. +++++++++++++++++++++ 23. The handheld apparatus of any one of items 1 to 22 but 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a head coupling mechanism that couples the camera head to the handgrip member, allowing the head to tilt around an axis that is horizontal relative to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip member being vertical. 24. The handheld apparatus of any one of items 1 to 23 but 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a shutter release trigger mechanism that comprises a surface that, when depressed or otherwise mechanically and/or electronically responding to a finger or thumb, causes the pixel array within the camera head to capture an image. 25. The handheld apparatus of any one of items 1 to 23 but 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a shutter release trigger mechanism that comprises a surface that, when depressed or otherwise mechanically and/or electronically responding to a finger or thumb, causes a camera in the first portable electronic device to capture an image. 26. The handheld apparatus of any one of items 1 to 23 but 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a shutter release trigger mechanism that comprises a surface that, when depressed or otherwise mechanically and/or electronically responding to a finger or thumb, causes the pixel array within the camera head to capture a first image and a camera in the first portable electronic device to capture a second image concurrently. 27. The handheld apparatus of any one of the above items, the handgrip member further comprises: a focal length adjustment input mechanism disposed on or adjacent the first or second surface of the handgrip member that comprises a rotary element that when rotated causes a change of focal length in a camera lens of the camera head or of the camera in the first portable electronic device. 28. The handheld apparatus of any one of the above items, the handgrip member further comprises: a mode dial disposed on or adjacent the first or second surface of the handgrip member, that, when rotated to a position among a plurality of rotary positions, causes the camera head or the camera in the first portable electronic device to perform a function that corresponds to the position and not others among the plurality of rotary positions. ----------------###-------------------

Brief Description of The Drawings

Figures 1A to IB show elevation views of the first embodiment from its left and its front, respectively.

Figure 1C is an assembly diagram of the first embodiment.

Figures ID to IE show a first rotary member 45 (for swiveling hinge mechanism 5, holder member 3, and portable electronic device 2 together around handgrip member 4) and a second rotary member 47 (for turning camera head 6) in a released state and a locked state, respectively.

Figure IF shows the hinge mechanism 5 as comprising a holder pivot joint 53 (shown in elevation) and a tilt and swivel mechanism 50 (shown in perspective view) that comprises a tilt pivot joint 51 and a swivel hinge 52.

Figures 1G to II show the first embodiment being reconfigured from the state shown in Figure IB to three different states in which the handgrip member 4 is rotated to the left with respect to the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 and the camera head 6 is rotated with respect to the rest of the apparatus to point, respectively, to the right, the left, and behind.

Figures 1J to 1L show the first embodiment being reconfigured from the state shown in Figure IB to three different states in which the camera head 6 is rotated with respect to the rest of the apparatus to point, respectively, to the right, the left, and behind.

Figures 1M to IP show a sequence of manipulations to the first embodiment to reconfigure it from the state shown in Figure IB to the new state shown in Figure IP in which the portable electronic device 2 is folded onto the left side of the handgrip member and the camera head 6 is rotated to point to the right.

Figure 1M shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure IB followed by in-plane rotation by 90 degrees of angle of the portable electronic device 2 and the holder member 3 together on the holder pivot joint 53. In this state, the longitudinal directions of the portable electronic device 2 and the assembly of the handgrip member 4 and the camera head 6 are the same.

Figure IN shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure 1M is followed by sliding the portable electronic device 2, the hinge mechanism 5, and the holder member 3 together down along the handgrip slider track 44. This step results in the most overlap of the height of the portable electronic device 2 with the height of the assembly of the handgrip member 4 and the camera head 6.

Figure 10 shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure IN is followed by swiveling the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 together on the swivel joint 52 by 90 degrees of angle to place the back of the portable electronic device 2 as well as the rear surface 32 of the holder member 3 onto the left side of the handgrip member 4, resulting in a folded state.

Figure IP shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure 10 is followed by rotating the camera head 6 to point to the right. Now, the optical axis of the foremost lens 62 points into the page and the portable electronic device 2 is folded behind the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4. The touch screen display 22 faces in the opposite direction, which relative to the sheet is pointing out of the page. This configuration is good for storing away the whole apparatus when the camera lens 63 is retracted, as well as for holding the whole apparatus conveniently while manipulating the portable electronic device 2 with thumb alone or with fingers as well.

Figures IQ to IS show a sequence of manipulations to the first embodiment to reconfigure it from the state shown in Figure IB that is suitable for right-hand grip into the new state shown in Figure IS that is suitable for left-hand grip with the touch screen display 22 being positioned within reach of the left thumb.

Figure IQ shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure IB is followed by swiveling the hinge mechanism 5 by 180 degrees of angle to reach the other side of the handgrip member 4. Now, the touch screen display 22 faces in the same direction as the camera head 6 whereas the rear camera 22 of the portable electronic device 2 points in the opposite direction, i.e. towards the user. The apparatus is now ready for grip in the left hand, with its fingers on the second surface 43 at the front of the handgrip member 4 and the left thumb on the first surface 42 behind.

Figure 1R shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure IQ is followed by tilting the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 by 180 degrees of angle. The camera head 6 and the rear camera 22 of the portable electronic device 2 now both face in the same direction, and the touch screen display 22 now faces in the opposite direction, i.e. in the direction of the user.

Figure IS shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure 1R is followed by lowering the hinge mechanism 5 and the holder member 3 along the handgrip slider track 44. The handgrip member 4 is now good for holding in the left hand, with the touch screen display 22 positioned well within the reach of the left thumb.

Figures 2A to 2B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a second embodiment, in which a slider track 36 is provided on the holder member 3 in lieu of the slider track 44 provided on the handgrip member 4 as in the first embodiment, and the first rotary member 45 and the hinge mechanism 5 are together relocated to a lower portion of the handgrip member 4.

Figures 2C to 2D show a sequence of manipulations to the second embodiment to reconfigure it from the state shown in Figure 2B in which the portable electronic device 2 is disposed in landscape orientation to the state shown in Figure 2D in which the portable electronic device 2 is rotated by 90 degrees of angle into the portrait orientation, making it ready for folding onto the left side of the handgrip member 4 by a swivel action on the swivel joint 52.

Figure 2C shows the second embodiment after the state shown in Figure 2B is followed by sliding the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 together down relative to the holder pivot joint 53 as guided by the holder slider track 36, the portable electronic device 2 remaining in the landscape orientation.

Figure 2D shows the second embodiment after the state shown in Figure 2C is followed by rotating the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 together by 90 degrees of angle on the holder pivot joint 53 into the portrait orientation. From this state, the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 can subsequently be folded by a swivel action around the swivel joint 52 onto the left side of the handgrip member 4 to reach a state of maximal overlap of the height of the portable electronic device 2 with the height of the handgrip member 4 and the camera head 6 together.

Figures 3 A to 3B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a third embodiment as a pared-down version of the first embodiment by doing away with the first rotary member 45, with the result that the hinge mechanism 5, the holder member 3, and the portable electronic device 2 together are not able to swivel around to the right of the handgrip member 4.

Figures 3C to 3D show the second rotary member 47 (for turning camera head 6) in a released state and a locked state, respectively.

Figures 4A to 4B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a fourth embodiment as a pared-down version of the third embodiment by doing away with the slider track 44 and the holder pivot joint 53 and the hinge mechanism repositioned towards upper portion of the handgrip member 4.

Figures 5A to 5B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a fifth embodiment as a pared-down version of the fourth embodiment by doing away with the second rotary member 47, thereby doing away with the heading turning capability.

Figures 6A to 6B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a sixth embodiment as a pared-down version of the fourth embodiment by doing away with the swivel and tilt joint 50, thereby doing away with the ability of tilt and swivel the portable electronic device 2 thus keeping it to one side of the handgrip member 4.

Figures 6C to 6D show perspective views of two additional/altemative mechanisms for coupling the camera head 6 to the handgrip member to provide tilting of optical axis 41 of the camera head 6 relative to the normal to the touch screen display 22 of the portable electronic display 2 in substitution for the tilt function provided by the tilt joint 51 of the hinge mechanism 5.

Figure 6C shows a perspective view of a ball-and-socket joint 48 atop the handgrip member 4, comprising socket 484, ball 481 in the socket 484, mounting plate 483, and post 482 that connects the mounting plate 483 to the ball 481, the socket 484 defining a slot 485 within which the post 482 can swing to provide a tilt action for the camera head 6 mounted on the mounting plate 483 in addition to heading turning function that comes with rotating the ball 481 around the axis of the post 482.

Figure 6D shows a perspective view of a hinge joint 48’ atop the handgrip member 4, comprising the mounting plate 483, a hinge axle 486, the post 482 connecting the mounting plate 483 to one side of the hinge axle 486, and a pair of hinge stands 487 that pivotably hold the hinge axle 486 between them, the hinge joint 48’ providing for a tilt action for the camera head 6 mounted on the mounting plate 483 around the hinge axle 486.

Figures 7 A to 7B show sectional views of a stay-put gooseneck tubing, along its longitudinal axis, in its straight state and bent state, respectively.

Figure 7C shows perspective views of the stay-put gooseneck tubing in straight state and bent states.

Figure 7D shows perspective views of an alternative hinge mechanism in which a stay-put gooseneck tubing 528 replaces the shaft in the tilt pivot joint 51 and the portable electronic device 2 (shown schematically) is coupled to the gooseneck tubing 528 (through the holder member 3, not shown) and changes between the landscape orientation and the portrait orientation by the gooseneck tubing 528 changing between being straight and being bent.

Figure 7E shows the gooseneck tubing 528 pivoting in the tilt pivot joint 51 to provide the tilt action for the portable electronic device 2.

Figure 7F shows a modification from the hinge mechanism shown in Figure 7E by separating the tilt joint 51 from the swivel joint 52 and joining them together with the gooseneck tubing 528 and coupling the holder member 3 to the tilt joint 51 with an L-shaped shaft 529 that pivots in the tilt joint 51 to provide the tilt action.

Figures 8A to 8C and 9A to 9B shows various locking mechanisms that can be applied to various rotary members of diverse embodiments. Figures 8A to 8C show a spring loaded pin driven into/lifted out of indent(s) in a surface to perform latching/unlatching relative to an adjacent surface relative to which the pin is stationary except radially moving. Figures 9A to 9B show a cam to translate rotation of a lever to a linear motion of one surface onto/away from another surface to stop/permit their relative sliding over frictional force.

Figure 8A shows radial section views of the swivel hinge in its released state and locked states, respectively, cutting radially across the handgrip member slider rod 44 and the surrounding collar 521 of the swivel hinge 52, with indents 520 defined in the sides of the handgrip slider rod 44 in four quadrants and a radial pin 523 at one end of the lever 522 lodged in one of the indents 520 through an opening in the collar 521 in the locked state and withdrawn from the indent 520 in the released state.

Figure 8B shows section views of the swivel hinge in its released state and locked states, respectively, cutting along the longitudinal direction of the swivel hinge 52 and through the lever 522 and the radial pin 523.

Figure 8C shows a plan view of the lever 522 along with a pair of supporting posts 525 and a pair of torsion bars 524 that connects the pair of supporting posts 525 to the middle of the lever 522 to provide support and elastic torque to bias the lever 255 in the locked position.

Figure 9A shows section view of the tilt pivot hinge 51 in its released state and locked state, respectively, cutting longitudinally along the axis of pivoting, with a cam 517 (supported by post 518 affixed to collar 516 of the tilt pivot hinge 51) driven by means of lever 515 to urge a piston 510 against the shaft 513 in the locked position.

Figure 9B shows section views of the holder pivot joint 53 in its released state and locked state, respectively, cutting along the axis of pivoting, with a cam 535 (supported by post 537 that extends across outer plate 531 of the holder pivot joint 53 and rear plate 36 of the holder member 3 through openings in both plates to affix itself to inner plate 533 of the holder pivot joint 53) driven by means of lever 532 to drive outer plate 531 and the inner plate 533 towards each other to clamp the rear plate of the holder member 3 in the locked position.

Figure 9C shows section views of holder lock 35 in its released state and locked state, respectively, with a cam 352 driven by means of lever 351 to rotate around axle 352 affixed to holder hook 34 to clamp the portable electronic device in place against the back 32 of the holder member 3.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the tilt pivot hinge 51 with an L-shaped shaft 529 that has one arm 513 inserted into a hole 514 in the collar 521 of the pivot hinge 51 and another arm extending to couple to the holder 3.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a pivot joint that can be used in lieu of the holder pivot joint 53 shown in Figure 9B, especially where the holder slider track 36 is not used, to provide in-plane rotation for the holder member 3 to switch between the landscape and the portrait orientations of the portable electronic device 2.

Figure 12 shows sketches in perspective view of the released state and the locked state of a ball-and-socket joint - comprising ball 551, socket 552, post 513 affixed to the ball 551, and lock lever 551 - that can be used in place of the hinge mechanism 5 to provide two or all three of the swivel, tilt, and in-plane rotation (for switching between the landscape and the portrait orientations) for the portable electronic device 2, with one pair 553 (as shown) or two crossed pairs (not shown) of opposite notches in the socket to provide one or two additional degrees of rotary motion to the ball 551 in addition to the 360 degrees of rotation around the axis of the post 513 by letting the post 513 swing into the notches.

Figures 13 A to 13B show elevation views from the left and the front, respectively, of a seventh embodiment as a modification from the first embodiment as shown in Figures 1A to IB by holding the camera head 6 in front of the handgrip member 4 by means of a bridge 64 that couples the two together while leaving a gap between the camera head 6 and the second surface 43 for fingers of the hand.

Figures 14A to 14F (8th embodiment) show an eighth embodiment in various configurations.

Figures 14A shows plan view of the eighth embodiment, with the camera head 6 coupled laterally to one side from the handgrip member 4 and its handgrip axis and the swivel-and-tilt joint 50 affixed at the back between the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4 to hold the portable electronic device 2 within reach of the thumb while the hand, wrapping around the handgrip axis 41, holds the handgrip member 4 in its grip.

Figures 14B to 14C show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of the eight embodiment, showing the holder slider track 36 in the back of the holder member 3 and holder pivot joint 53 that permits the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 together to rotate in its plane and slide in the longitudinal direction of the holder slider track 36.

Figure 14D shows the eight embodiment after the state shown in Figure 14C followed by sliding the portable electronic device 2 and the holder member 3 together upwards on the holder pivot joint 53 and then tilting them together forward by the shaft 513 in the hole 514 of the swivel-and-tilt joint 50.

Figures 14E to 14F shows plan view and elevation view from the left of the eight embodiment after the state shown in Figure 14D followed by pivoting the camera head by 180 degrees of angle around a pivot joint (not shown) that couples the camera head 6 laterally to the side of the handgrip member 4, thereby reconfiguring the apparatus to take picture of the user in a selfie.

Figures 15A to 15B show elevation views from the left and the front, respectively, of a ninth embodiment as a modification from the fourth embodiment by attaching the hinge mechanism 5 to one side of the camera head 6 instead of the handgrip member 4.

Figure 16A shows pinout of a USB 3.1 Type-C plug.

Figure 16B shows a perspective view of a USB 3.1 Type-C receptacle.

Figure 16C shows pinout of a USB Micro-AB receptacle and a USB Micro-B receptacle.

Figure 16D shows pinout of a USB Micro-A plug and a USB Micro-B plug.

Figures 17A and 17B show see-through plan view and elevation view from the front of the handgrip member of the eighth embodiment, showing a battery compartment within the handgrip member and rechargeable batteries inside the battery compartment.

Figure 17C shows a bottom view of the handgrip member of the eighth embodiment with receptacle connectors and insets showing the pinouts of the receptacle connectors.

Figure 18 shows perspective view of a flat flexible cable (FFC) with five copper conductors embedded in polyester film to connect electronic components in the camera head to the power management integrated circuit chips in the handgrip member and the receptacle on same.

Figure 19 shows perspective views of the camera head and the rotary member onto which the camera head couples, showing a pair of mating receptacle and plug, with insets showing pinouts of both.

Figure 20 shows a lens mount in the front of the camera head and an image sensor in the cavity behind the lens mount.

Figure 21 is a block diagram of an integrated circuit chip with a BAT pin connected to a positive terminal of a rechargeable battery, a VBUS pin connected to receive input current charging current, and a SYS pin to output current to loads.

Figures 22A and 22B show elevation views from the left of a tenth embodiment, as a modification from the eighth embodiment by replacing the short shaft of swivel joint with an extendable shaft and anchoring the extendable shaft at the bottom between the handgrip member and the camera head, with the extendable shaft fully retracted and fully extended, respectively.

Figure 23 A and 23B show elevation views from the front of an eleventh embodiment, (the best mode) as a modification from the first embodiment by replacing the slider shaft of the swivel joint with an extendable shaft and anchoring the extendable shaft at the bottom with a bridge to the first rotary member, now relocated to lower end of the handgrip member, with the extendable shaft fully retracted and fully extended, respectively.

Detailed Description

Having to simultaneously carry two devices can be inconvenient, and they need both hands to operate even as the smartphone is mounted behind the barrel-like camera. Adding to this, a user often has to carry a powerbank, which is a device that includes (i) rechargeable batteries to charge up the other devices, and (ii) charger circuits to charge up the batteries from an external source such as an AC-to-DC converter. When the battery within any one of those two devices is depleted of electric energy, the user has to have on-hand all three devices - the smartphone, the camera, and the powerbank. There are circumstances that holding any two of them goes beyond inconvenience to become impossible, as when one hand is being engaged in doing something else unrelated, such as holding up a young child or baby or signaling by hand to another person who is part of the scene of the picture. The present inventor recognizes this difficulty and sets out to solve various problems that underlie the unwieldiness of carrying and using these devices. "fit is an objective of the inventor to provide a compact handheld apparatus so that a camera and a portable electronic device — such as a smartphone or a tablet — can simultaneously be held in one hand. It is a further objective that both devices can be operated individually in ways they have been without aid from another apparatus. The portable electronic device comprises a touch screen display — which is both a display and an input device that takes user inputs by sensing patterns and locations of touches and strokes by the thumb or any finger (i.e. any one of the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger, and does not include the thumb) on itself —, an antenna, a microphone, a speaker, a nonvolatile memory, and a microprocessor that executes instructions retrieved from the nonvolatile memory, including instructions that causes the microprocessor to respond in predetermined ways to the touches and/or strokes by the thumb or one or more fingers to the touch screen display. The portable electronic device is preferably not thicker than 1cm. The portable electronic device may include a nonvolatile memory, as is included in a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, that encodes user’s wireless mobile telephony subscriber data used to identify and authenticate subscribers on wireless mobile telephony networks, such as a unique serial number.-fit is a further objective that the camera be detached from the assembly by the hand without use of hand tool. + It is a further objective that the same hand can operate both devices concurrently while holding them. + It is a further objective that the same hand at the same time can hold a powerbank also. The power bank is an enclosure that houses one or more rechargeable batteries together with power management circuits to charge the rechargeable batteries from an external source of electric energy. The electric energy can be received via a pair of conductor in a receptacle on the exterior of the enclosure when a cable connects the receptacle to the external source. The electric energy can alternatively be receive by electromagnetic induction using a coil in the powerbank when the external source generates an alternating magnetic field that penetrates the coil and creates an alternating current that runs through the coil. The powerbank provides electric energy to the camera and/or the portable electronic device. -fit is a further objective that the touch screen display can face in any one of a number of different horizontal directions — such as all four quadrants, or at least including a 180 degree turn — while the camera points in one horizontal direction, -fit is a further objective that the camera can point in any one of a number of different directions horizontally while the hand holding the entire assembly maintains the same posture and direction, -fit is a further objective that the touch screen display can tilt up or down or flip backwards while the camera points horizontally, -fit is a further objective that the portable electronic device can be folded beside the camera and the powerbank to minimize space, -fit is a further objective that the entire assembly can be swapped from one hand to the other while the portable electronic device and the camera are being held together as one. -fit is a further objective that both the camera and a second camera integrated in the portable electronic device can take pictures simultaneously with one signaling from the user holding the entire assembly. The signaling from the user includes pressing a depressible surface such as a button with a finger or the thumb. The signaling can include other means of input sensing to detect movement of the thumb or any finger.

It is an objective of the inventor to provide an apparatus that comprises a powerbank to which the portable electronic device and the camera can be firmly attached and held in position, all in one hand, while being charged up, and detached easily without use of hand tools such as the screwdriver and/or the wrench, -fit is a further objective for the apparatus to incorporate any of the above further objectives.

Figures 1A to IB show elevation views of a first embodiment from its left and its front, respectively. A camera head 6 is affixed atop a handgrip member 4. A holder member 3 is coupled to one side of the handgrip member 4 by a hinge mechanism 5. The holder member 3 can hold a portable electronic device 2 onto its front surface 31.

The camera head 6 comprises a camera lens 63 that includes a foremost lens element 62 out in front, with its optical axis 61. The camera head 6 houses an image sensor chip 68 (see Figure 20) that includes a pixel array 681 of photodetectors to detect images in the light that passes through the foremost lens element 62 and to generate signals that encode the images. The camera head 6 may house a separate integrated circuit chip to convert analog signals that encode the images into digital. The camera lens 63 may be detached from the camera head 6 and re-mounted onto the camera head 6 at a lens mount (see Figure 20) in the front of the camera head 6.

Figure 1C is an assembly diagram of the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 1C, the camera head 6 is coupled to the handgrip member 4 through a second rotary member 47 that is mounted on the handgrip member 4 and kept in place to rotate by a screw 474 is inserted through washer 475 and a hole 473 in the rotary member 47 to be fastened in a threaded hole 456 in the top of the handgrip member 4. The camera head 6 is detachably secured to the top surface of the second rotary member 47 by a releasable coupling mechanism, for example as shown here a pair of elastic hooks 471 under the camera head 6 that are inserted into a pair of arced, elongated mating keyholes 476 atop the second rotary member 47. The hooks 471 and the mating keyholes 476 can, for example, be configured into a pair of snap-fit joints such that, upon the insertion followed by twisting the camera around, the hooks 471 will latch into locked positions within the respective mating holes 476 and, thereafter, will disengage only upon application of a torque above a threshold in the opposite direction. Typically, the hooks are made of a material, such as plastic, that have some elasticity. As an alternative design, the hooks 471 may be defined at the top of the rotary member 47 whereas the mating holes 473 in the bottom side of the camera head 6. As another alternative design, the hooks 471 may be part of a securing mechanism, such as a strap that straps around the camera head 1 around the optical axis 61, with the hooks 471 defined in the bottom of a plate strapped below the camera head 61 by the strap. The top surface of the plate may be shaped to follow the shape under the camera head 6 to provide a good fit between the plate and the camera head so that, when strapped together, they become immobile in relation to each other.

The second rotary member 47 provides the means to turn the camera head 6 on the handgrip member 4. To secure the second rotary member 47 and the camera head 6 in any particular rotary position, a rotation lock mechanism may provided, such as shown in Figures ID and IE. As shown in Figure ID, in the outer peripheral surface of the second rotary member 47 are defined a number of notches 472. A wedge 453 is provided at one end of a swing arm 452 that pivots around a pivot 455 at opposite end of the swing arm 452. Together, the wedge 453, the swing arm 452, and the pivot 455 constitute a locking lever 451. In the release state, as shown in Figure ID, the wedge 453 is not engaged in any of the notches 472. In Figure IE, which shows the locked state, the wedge 453 has been swung into one of the notches 472, thus preventing the second rotary member 47 from rotating. There can be as many notches are desired. For example, four notches can be defined in the peripheral surface of the second rotary member 47 with one in each quadrant to provide for four mutually perpendicular orientations of the optical axis 61 of the camera head 6.

Other mechanisms to firmly but adjustably hold the rotary position can be used instead. For example, instead of using a locking mechanism that employs a dedicated locking lever such as lever 451, again a snap-fit latching mechanism comprising a firm yet elastic member, such as an arm section, can be employed such that at any of the possible locking positions the elastic member snaps into a latching position and thereafter only upon applying a torque or a force beyond a threshold will the latch be overcome and the rotary member 47 becomes free to rotate again. More specifically, the arm section can be thin metal or plastic plate affixed to the bottom of the rotary member 47 at one end and free at the other end with a small protrusion at the free end towards the top surface of the handgrip member 4 with which the bottom surface of the rotary member 47 mate, and the mating surface at the top of handgrip member 4 defining a number of shallow recesses (or dimples) into which the small protrusion will fall when the rotation bring them together. In this example, the elasticity is provided by the elasticity in the bending of the metal or plastic plate.

In general, a latch relies on forces perpendicular to two contacting surfaces pushing against each other to prevent one from moving over the other. Further alternatives can use mechanism outside of latching to retain the firm but yet adjustable rotary position. Using frictional force is another way. Frictional retention relies on forces parallel to two contacting surfaces pulling them back against any force applies to slide one surface over the other. For example, the contacting surfaces between the rotary member 47 and the handgrip member 4 can be made highly frictional so that by the force of friction alone the rotary member 47 is held in position on the handgrip member 4 and only by application of a torque beyond a threshold can the rotary member 47 become free to rotate. The frictional forces between the surfaces can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the contact between the two contacting surfaces, such as using a set screw that translates rotation of the screw into a linear motion perpendicular to the contacting surfaces, or a cam that translates rotation into the linear motion.

Other mechanisms to releasably lock the rotary position of the camera head 6 can be employed. It can be based on the elastic force against resilient, elastic deformation of mutually contacting surfaces, as when the opposing surfaces have recesses and protrusions that fit into one another in one relative position between the opposing surfaces and, to slide into a new position where such fit happens again between the opposing surfaces, a force has to be applied to cause the surface to deform slightly to let them slide over each other until they slip into the new position. In general, a locking mechanism based on the force against resilient, elastic deformation of two opposing surfaces that slide over each other may be used in any joint in any of the embodiments as its locking mechanism.

The handgrip member 4 defines a first surface 42 in its back and a second surface 43 in its front for handgrip. When the user’s hand is wrapped around handgrip axis 42, the thumb will rest on the first surface 42, and at least two fingers can rest on the second surface 43. The second surface 43 can be shaped to enhance the grip. For example, the second surface 43 can define a number of shallow protrusions. The second surface 43 may be shaped to have recesses to receive each of the fingers separately. The second surface 43 can define a number of highly frictional patches of surfaces using materials such as rubber A camera shutter release button 461 may be provide on the handgrip member 4 within reach of the thumb or any of the fingers when the hand so grips the handgrip member 4. The camera shutter release 461 may cause a trigger signal to be transmitted to the camera head 6 when depressed to cause the pixel array to take a picture. The trigger signal may be transmitted wirelessly from the handgrip member 4 to the camera head 6 by means of an antenna (not shown) on or inside the handgrip member 4, or it may be transmitted there via a pair of conductors (described below). The same button 461 may trigger a camera in the portable electronic device 2 such as the rear camera 22 to capture a picture by causing the same trigger signal or a separate second trigger signal to be transmitted to the portable electronic device 2 either wirelessly or via a pair of conductors. The depressed button 461 may cause both cameras to take pictures concurrently by sending trigger signals to both cameras when the button 461 is depressed.

One or more dials or levers, e g. zoom lever 463 for user to communicate a request for change in focal length in the camera lens 63, may be provided on the sides of the handgrip member 4 to receive user commands directed to the camera head 6 and/or the portable electronic device 2. The corresponding signals may be transmitted to the camera head 6 via two or more conductors or wirelessly using an antenna (not shown) on or within the handgrip member 4, and likewise to the portable electronic device 2.

Figure 1A shows the portable electronic device 2 (shown in dash line) being held by the holder 3 on its front surface 31. The portable electronic device 2 has a rear camera 22 on its back and a touch screen display 21 on its front (see Figure 1G). The holder 3 may employ sidewalls 33 and hook 34 to keep the portable electronic device 2 in its hold, and a lock 35 (see Figure 1G), which will be described below with reference to Figure 9C, to firmly retain the portable electronic device 2 on the front surface 31.

The holder with a surface on which the portable electronic device 2 is releasably attached is not limited to the implementation shown here, as other means known or conceivable for releasably locking two opposite surfaces can be used just as well. For example, the holder can be a plate with an embedded magnet, while the portable electronic device 2 can have a magnetically active plate (such as one made of steel) attached to its back, such that when the portable electronic device 2 is placed on a surface on the holder the magnetic force between the magnet and the magnetically active plate will hold the portable electronic device 2 on the surface. As another example, a hook-and-loop fastener (such as Velcro™) can be employed to releasably fasten the back surface of the portable electronic device 2 to the front surface of the holder. As yet another example, the portable electronic device 2 can be clad in a case that exposes the touch screen display 21 and the rear camera 22 and defines a slot in its back, and the holder defines a pair of adjacent firm but elastic hooks on its front surface. When being inserted into the slot, the hooks flex towards each other and then spring back when their hooked tips pass through the slot to catch the slot from behind. Thus the pair of elastic hooks forms a snap-fit joint with the slot to retain the portable electronic device 2 on the front surface of the holder up to a certain force of removal. As still yet another example, rivet snap fasteners like those in common use as buttons on upholstery, bags, and raincoats can be used, with sockets affixed on the back of the case and studs affixed on the front surface of the holder, or vice versa. Yet another example is where a holder has a movable, spring loaded sidewall 33 on one lateral side of the portable electronic device 2 to drive the latter against the inside surface of another wall 33 of the holder on the opposite side of the portable electronic device 2 so that frictional forces between surfaces of the sidewalls 33 and the opposing surfaces of the portable electronic device 2 keep it securely in place. As a final example, the holder can define a tab and the back of the case defines a matching pocket into which the tab will fit snugly, so that when the tab has been inserted into pocket the frictional force between the pocket and the tab will keep the portable electronic device 2 in position relative to the holder. To further secure the tab in the pocket, a stud can be incorporated on the tab and a corresponding hole defined on the outward skin of the pocket such that when the tab is inserted into the matched position in the pocket the stud will protrude through the hole. For easy but safe removal, the stud can be biased by a spring mechanism such as a plastic arm section so that only by pressing down on the stud will the stud retreat from the hole in the pocket to allow the tab to be withdrawn from the pocket.

The holder member 3 is coupled to one side of the handgrip member 4 by a hinge mechanism 5 to hold it firmly in place relative to the handgrip member 4 and still retains degrees of freedom of rotation. A hinge mechanism in general comprises at least one pair of surfaces to slide over each other without the respective bodies on which the surfaces are defined moving apart from each other. Examples include a collar that fits snugly but rotatably around a round shaft to allow their mutually opposing surfaces to slide over each other. Another example is a pair of a round rod and a triangular rod coiled together to form a gooseneck tube, their adjacent surfaces able to slide over each other slightly thereby allow the gooseneck tube to bent but with friction to retain the bent shape. Another example is a ball-and-socket joint in which a ball can rotate in the socket, with the inner surface of the socket and the outer surface of the ball forming the opposing surfaces. Another example is a pair of disks sandwiching a plate, the two disks being rigidly joined by a shaft that extends through a hole in the plate, in which two inside facing surfaces of the two disks, one from each disk, slide over two outwardly facing surfaces of the plate. In most cases, the surfaces can be locked and released by a locking mechanism, for example latching, which includes snap-fit latches, or for example by adjustment of friction between the surfaces, or for example by force of elasticity against resilient, elastic deformation of one or both of the surfaces. In the last example, the surfaces can define a number of recesses, preferably shallow, and a number of shallow protrusions that mutually fit, and the two surfaces are held together under force but the surface(s) can deform slightly under a shearing force beyond a threshold and slip out of the engaging recess(es) and over into adjacent recess(es) upon which the surface(s) recover in shape.

The hinge mechanism 5 of this embodiment comprises a holder pivot joint 53, a tilt pivot joint 51, and a swivel joint 52, to provide three degrees of freedom of rotation, namely rotation within the plane of the portable electronic device 2, tilting the plane of the touch screen display 21 to face up or down relative to the vertically held handgrip member 4 and/or to flip backwards, and swiveling the portable electronic device 2 horizontally around a vertical shaft 44 affixed to the side of the handgrip member 4.

Figure IF shows the hinge mechanism 5 as comprising the holder pivot joint 53 (shown in elevation) and a swivel-and-tilt mechanism 50 (shown in perspective view) that comprises the tilt pivot joint 51 and the swivel hinge 52. The swivel joint 52 comprises a round, cylindrical collar 521, which defines a round hole through which the round shaft 44 fits snugly, and a spring-loaded lock lever 522 that when depressed releases the swivel joint to freely pivot around the shaft 44 and to slide along the length of the shaft 44. When the lever 52 is released, the lock engages and the swivel joint 52 is fixed in position relative to the shaft 44.

The tilt joint 51 is joined to a side of the swivel collar 521 and oriented perpendicular to the swivel joint 52. Like the swivel joint 52, it comprises a collar 51, which defines a round hole to let a round shaft 513 fit in snugly, and a lock lever 515 that when depressed releases the shaft 513 to freely pivot but when released causes the shaft 513 to lock in position in the tilt collar 51. Finally, the round shaft 513 is extended around a 90-degree bent to a perpendicular arm section 519 at the end of which is affixed the holder pivot joint 53 having axis of rotation extending in the same direction as the perpendicular arm section 519.

Figure 10 is another perspective view of the tilt pivot joint 51 and L-shaped arm 529 comprising the shaft 513 that pivots within the tilt joint collar 521 and the perpendicular arm section 513 that extends towards the holder member 3.

Figure 9A shows the cam-and-piston locking mechanism of the tilt pivot joint 51. The tilt lock mechanism comprises (a) a piston 510 that moves in an opening in the collar 516 towards/away from the portion of the shaft 513 within the collar 516, (b) a post 518 that supports an axle 511 at one end and is joined to the collar 510 at the other, (c) the lever 515, and (d) an oval shaped cam 517 rigidly joined to the lever 515 that together rotates around the axle 511. The axle 511 is off-centered on the cam 517 along the long axis of the oval shape, and the longitudinal axis of the lever 515 making slightly more than 90 degrees of angle with the long axis of the oval shape. When the lever 515 is perpendicular to the shaft 513, the long axis is almost parallel to the axis of the shaft 513 and away from the piston 510, such that the piston 510 has the most room to play along the opening. When the lever 515 is turned all the way to press against the collar 516, the long axis of the oval shape of the cam 517 has just passed slightly beyond the perpendicular direction to the shaft 513, such that the piston 510 becomes forced against the shaft 513 and the shaft 513 in turn is forced against the collar 516 on its inside surface on the opposite side from the piston 510. The frictional force between the collar 516 and the shaft 513 locks the shaft 513 to the collar 516. In this position, because the cam 517 has rotated passed the perpendicular position to the shaft 513, it will take a torque beyond a threshold to rotate the cam 517 in the reverse direction pass the perpendicular position to release the lock.

The holder pivot joint 53, as shown in Figure 9B, employs a cam-and-clamp locking mechanism that comprises (a) an outer plate 531, to which the perpendicular arm section 519 (not shown) to the round shaft 513 is rigidly joined perpendicularly, (b) an inner plate 533 within a cavity in the back of the holder member 3 behind rear surface 32 of the holder member, (c) a post 537 joined to the center of the inner plate 533 at one end and extending perpendicularly thereto through a hole in the rear surface 32 of the holder member 3 and an corresponding hole in the outer plate 531 and therebeyond forms a 90 degree of angle bent outside the cavity to define a an opposite end, (d) a lever 532, (e) an oval shape cam 535 rigidly joined to the lever 532 and coupled to the opposite end of the post 537 by an axle 536. When the lever 532 is turned from its vertical (released) position to horizontal (locked) position, the farthest point on the periphery of the cam 535 brushes passed outer surface of the outer plate 531 and the place on the periphery of the oval shape that makes final contact with the axle has lesser distance from the axle 536. The post 537 is made of a firm yet elastic material, such as plastic, so as to be a little flexed when the farthest portion on the periphery of the cam 535 from the axle 536 simultaneously pushes the outer plate 531 against the back surface 32 of the holder member 3 and pull the inner plate 533 against the inside surface of the holder’s rear plate 36 behind the rear surface 32. When the farthest point has rotated further on and the final resting position on the periphery of the cam 535 is closer to the axle 536 again, a reverse torque will need to be applied on the lever 532 in the opposite direction in order rotate the lever 532 out of the horizontal position. Thus the clamp 53 maintains the lock in this locked position, in which both the inner plate 533 and the outer plate 531 are pressed onto this portion 36 of the rear plate of the holder member 4 and keep them in this position.

As mentioned above in connection with the holder member 3, a holder lock 35 is provided on the hook 34 to releasably hold the portable electronic device 2 down against the front surface 31 of the holder member 3. Figure 9C shows section views of the holder lock 35 in its release state and locked state, respectively, with (a) the lever 351, (b) a cam 352 joined to the lever 351, and (c) an axle 353 affixed to the holder hook 34 around which the lever 351 and the cam 353 together can rotate. As above, (1) the cam takes an oval shape, (2) the hook 34 is firm but elastic, (3) the long axis of the oval shape makes an angle with the longitudinal axis of the lever 351 that is slightly larger than 90 degrees, and (4) when the farthest point on the periphery of the cam 352 is vertically below the axle 353 it contacts the front surface of the portable electronic device 2 with a force and this forces flexes the hook 34 a little. When the lever is down flat on the front surface of the portable electronic device 2, the farthest point of the periphery of the cam 352 from the axle 353 would have just swung passed the normal to the front surface of the portable electronic device but the periphery still presses down on the front surface of the portable electronic device 2, but with lesser force. In order to release the lock, a reverse torque will need to be applied to overcome the difference between these two magnitudes of the force. Thus a releasable lock is formed.

In general, the cam can be round instead of oval, as long as the axle is not at the cam’s center of circle.

Other than where a slider track is used on the back of the holder member 3 as in the second embodiment described below with reference to Figures 2A to 2B, the holder pivot joint 53 can be implemented as a pivot joint similar to the tilt pivot joint as shown in Figure 11 instead of the clamp shown in Figure 9B. Here, the perpendicular arm section 519 is round and fits snugly within a round hole in the collar to rotate, the collar being rigidly joined to the back of the holder member 3, and a lever is provided to lock/release the position of the collar in relation to the perpendicular arm section 519. The locking mechanism can be based on friction, such as between a piston driven by the lever onto the perpendicular arm section 519 in the collar. Or it can be based on latching, such as a pin that lodges into one of a number of recesses in the periphery of the perpendicular arm section 519 in the collar. Or it can be based on the elastic force against resilient, elastic deformation of mutually contacting surfaces, as when the opposing surfaces have recesses and protrusions that fit into one another in one relative position between the opposing surfaces and, to slide into a new position where such fit happens again between the opposing surfaces, a force has to be applied to cause the surface to deform slightly to let them slide over each other until they slip into the new position. In general, a locking mechanism based on the force against resilient, elastic deformation of two opposing surfaces that slide over each other may be used in any joint in any of the embodiments as its locking mechanism.

The handgrip member 4 has a vertical slider track 44. The slider track 44 may be in the form of a round shaft on which the swivel-and-tilt hinge 50 can slide up and down when the swivel lock lever 522 is in the release position. As will be shown below in relation to Figures 1M to IP, this vertical sliding capability in conjunction with the in-plane rotation function and the swivel function allows the portable electronic device 2 to be rotated into the portrait position and folded onto the left side of the handgrip member 4. In this portrait position, the longitudinal direction of the portable electronic device 2 and the longitudinal direction of the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4 together are parallel, which takes up the smallest volume and facilitates putting into a small space, for example a pant pocket, while remaining as one.

An alternative to the round shaft for the handgrip slider track 44 is a vertical groove (not shown) in the side of the handgrip member 4 and a short round vertical stud that slidably and snugly fits into the groove, with a horizontal arm section that rigidly connects the stud on its side to one member - either the collar or the shaft - of a swivel joint. A separate lock/release lever will provide the locking/release of the vertical position of the stud along the groove using any one of the locking mechanisms known to the art, such as any one type disclosed herein, for example the clamp. A further alternative is to form the groove not in the side of the handgrip member 4 but in a vertical rod coupled to the side that takes the place of the round vertical shaft 44.

Referring to Figures 1A to 1C again, the vertical shaft 44 is coupled to a side from the handgrip member 4 by a rotary member 45, which is free to rotate on the handgrip member 4 when the dual locking wedge 451 is in the release position but locked in position when the wedge 451 falls into one of a number of notches in the periphery of the first rotary member 45, as shown in Figure IE. The first rotary member 45 thus provides for lockably swiveling the hinge mechanism 5, the holder member 3, and the portable electronic device 2 together around the handgrip member 4. As the description below based on Figures IQ to IS will show, the rotary member 45 facilitates swapping hands on the handgrip member 4. Here, the dual locking wedge 451 controls locking/release of both the first and second rotary members 45, 47, thus delivering economy of operation.

Figure 8A to 8C illustrates a rocker-arm-and-pin locking mechanism employed on the swivel joint 52. Figure 8 A shows radial section views of the swivel hinge joint 52 in its released state and locked states, respectively, cutting radially across (a) the handgrip slider shaft 44, (b) the collar 521 of the swivel hinge joint 52, with indents 520 defined in the sides of the handgrip slider rod 44 in four quadrants, and (c) a pin 523 defined at one end of the lever 522. The pin 523 is lodged in one of the indents 520 through an opening in the collar 521 in the locked state but withdrawn from the indent 520 in the released state.

Figure 8B shows section views of the swivel hinge joint 52 in its released state and locked states, respectively, cutting along the longitudinal direction of the handgrip slider shaft 44 through the lever 522 and the pin 523. The lever 522 comprises two arm sections angled at slightly less than 180 degrees of angle to each other and joined in the middle of the lever 522. One of the arm sections has the pin 523 joined to itself at the opposite end from the support bar 524. Figure 8C shows a plan view of the lever 522 along with a pair of supporting posts 525 and a pair of torsion bars 524 made of elastic material (e.g. plastic) that connects the pair of supporting posts 525 to the middle of the lever 522 to provide support and elastic torque to bias the lever 255 in the locked position in which the arm section bearing the pin lies flat on the outer surface of the collar 521 whereas the other arm section perks up a little to form an acute angle with the outer surface of the collar 521. When a torque is applied to the lever to overcome the torsion torque that arises from twisting the torsion bar, as when a finger presses the far end of the other arm section down, the arm section bearing the pin 522 lifts up and with it the pin 522, thus freeing collar 521 to slide and rotate on the shaft 44.

This mechanism is an example of the general spring-loaded pin and matching recess mechanism in which a pin is driven by force of spring into a recess to establish latching.

As alternative to the rocker-arm-and-pin locking mechanism as described above in respect of Figure 8 A, the cam-and-piston locking mechanism disclosed in relation to Figure 9A for use on the tilt pivot joint 51 can be used on the swivel joint 52 as well.

Figures 1G to II show the first embodiment being reconfigured from the state shown in Figure IB to three different states in which (a) the handgrip member 4 is rotated on the swivel hinge joint 52 to the left horizontally with respect to the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2, and (b) the camera head 6 is rotated by the rotary member 47 with respect to the rest of the assembly horizontally to point, respectively, to the right, the left, and behind. As seen in the drawings, the rear camera 22 of the portable electronic device 2 points into the page, the touch screen display 21 peers out of the page, and the handgrip member 4 is orientated to the left of the page. Figure II, in particular, shows a configuration in which both the camera head 6 and the touch screen display 21 are orientated in the same direction, which is suitable for taking selfies, i.e. pictures of the user holding the handgrip member 4 along with his/her companions next to him/herself. In all three configurations, the right thumb is able to reach the touch screen display 21 to operate any application software that runs on the portable electronic device 2, such as one(s) that control/communicate with the camera head 6. The other two configurations, shown in Figures IF and 1G, are suitable for taking pictures to the left and right, respectively, of the user holding the handgrip member 4, as when one holds the camera head 6 out of the car window to shoot pictures of the scene ahead or behind the car while looking at the pictures displayed on the touch screen display 21 from within the car, instead of sticking out the arm, the head, and the shoulder outside the window, which can be risky (e g. in the Savannah). As seen in these drawings, the portable electronic device 2 has its back held against the front surface 31 of the holder 3 by holder lock 35 under two lock levers 351.

As seen above, the head turning and the display folding are facilitated by the rotary member 47 and the swivel joint 52.

Figures 1J to 1L show the first embodiment being reconfigured from the state shown in Figure IB to three different states in which the camera head 6 is rotated along with the second rotary member 47 with respect to the rest of the apparatus to point, respectively, to the right, the left, and behind. In particular, the configuration shown in Figure 1L, in which both the camera head 6 and the touch screen display 21 are directed to the same direction, i.e. into the page, is suitable for taking selfies.

The difference in usage between the three configurations here from those three display in Figures 1G to II is that here the right wrist can be held straight comfortably when the camera head 6 is held out with the arm fully stretched but when the camera head 6 is held close will have to bend outwards, which is less comfortable, whereas the previous three configurations require the wrist to bend inwards if the arm is fully stretched but if the camera head 6 is held closer to the chest the wrist can be kept straight and comfortable. So, each offers a better comfort depending on whether the camera head 6 is held close (Figures 1G to II) or far (Figures 1J to 1L).

As seen above, the head turning is facilitated by the rotary member 47.

Figures 1M to IP show a sequence of manipulations to the first embodiment to reconfigure it from the state shown in Figure IB to the new state shown in Figure IP in which the back of the portable electronic device 2 is overlaps the left side of the handgrip member 4 and the camera head 6 is rotated to point to the right. In the folded configuration, shown in Figure IP, the assembly can be held comfortably in the hand with the thumb still able to maneuver over the touch screen display 21, or be stored away in a pouch in whole, ready to be taken out for immediate deployment without having to remove and subsequently reattach the portable electronic device 2.

Figure 1M shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure IB followed by in-plane rotation by 90 degrees of angle of the portable electronic device 2 and the holder member 3 together on the holder pivot joint 53 to the portrait orientation. In this state, the longitudinal directions of the portable electronic device 2 and the assembly of the handgrip member 4 and the camera head 6 are about the same. The bottom of the portable electronic device 2, however, is not near the bottom of the handgrip member 4.

Figure IN shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure 1M is followed by sliding the portable electronic device 2, the hinge mechanism 5, and the holder member 3 together down along the handgrip slider track 44. This step results in the most overlap of the height of the portable electronic device 2 with the combined height of the assembly of the handgrip member 4 and the camera head 6. Now, the bottom of the portable electronic device 2 is about flush with the bottom of the handgrip member 4. But the whole assembly is in a fully open configuration, taking up much area.

Figure 10 shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure IN is followed by swiveling the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 together on the swivel joint 52 horizontally by 90 degrees of angle to place the back of the portable electronic device 2 as well as the rear surface 32 of the holder member 3 onto the left side of the handgrip member 4, resulting in a space-saving folded state.

Figure IP shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure 10 is followed by rotating the camera head 6 to point to the right relative to the handgrip member 4. Now, the optical axis of the foremost lens 62 points into the page and the portable electronic device 2 is folded behind the camera head 6. The touch screen display 22 faces in the opposite direction, which is pointing out of the page. This configuration is good for storing away the whole assembly as one when the camera lens 63 is retracted, as well as for holding the whole assembly conveniently while continue to be able to maneuver the right thumb over the touch screen display 21 of the portable electronic device 2. The turning of the camera head 6 can precede the folding step shown in Figure 10 or even before the in-plane rotation step shown in Figure 1M.

As seen above, the folding sequence is facilitated by the holder pivot joint 53, the swivel joint 52, the handgrip slider track 44, and the rotary member 47.

Figures IQ to IS show a sequence of manipulations to the first embodiment to reconfigure it from the state shown in Figure IB that is suitable for right-hand grip into the new state shown in Figure IS that is suitable for left-hand grip, with the touch screen display 22 being positioned within reach of the left thumb.

Figure IQ shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure IB is followed by swiveling the hinge mechanism 5 horizontally by 180 degrees of angle by the rotary member 45 to reach the right side of the handgrip member 4. The apparatus is now ready for grip in the left hand, with the left thumb on the first surface 42 behind the handgrip member 4 and its fingers on the second surface 43 at the front. However, the touch screen display 21 faces in the same direction as the camera head 6 and the shutter release button 461.

Incidentally, this configuration is rather suitable for taking selfie with the right hand, with the right thumb in comfortable position to operate the shutter release button 461.

Figure 1R shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure IQ is followed by flipping back the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 together by 180 degrees of angle on the tilt pivot joint 51. Now the touch screen display 22 faces in the opposite direction, i .e. in the direction of the user, which is good. But the touch screen display 21 is at higher height than the left thumb, which is not the most comfortable position to maneuver the left thumb over the display 21.

Figure IS shows the first embodiment after the state shown in Figure 1R is followed by lowering the hinge mechanism 5 and the holder member 3 together down along the handgrip slider track 44. The touch screen display 22 now positions itself well within the reach of the left thumb, and the whole assembly now well suited to be held and operated in the left hand.

As seen above, the hand-swap sequence in Figures IQ to IS is facilitated by the rotary member 45, the tilt hinge 51, and the handgrip slider track 44.

Figures 2A to 2B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a second embodiment, in which a slider track 36 provided on the holder member 3 replaces the slider track 44 provided on the handgrip member 4 in the first embodiment, and the first rotary member 45 and the hinge mechanism 5 are together relocated to a lower end portion of the handgrip member 4. The swivel joint 52 now swivels on a short shaft (joined to the rotary member 45 by bridge 440) instead of the long slider shaft 44. The slider track 36 on the back of the holder member 3 may be a slot along which the post 537 of the clamp of the holder pivot joint 53 can slide when the lock is released by lever 532. Alternatively, the holder slider track 36 may be a shaft and the holder pivot joint 53 be coupled to the holder slider shaft by a joint and a lock assembly just like the swivel joint 53.

Figures 2C to 2D demonstrate a sequence of manipulations to the second embodiment to reconfigure it from the state shown in Figure 2B in which the portable electronic device 2 is found in the landscape orientation to the state shown in Figure 2D in which the portable electronic device 2 has been rotated by 90 degrees of angle into the portrait orientation, making it ready to be folded onto the left side of the handgrip member 4 by a swivel action on the swivel joint 52.

Figure 2C shows the second embodiment after the state shown in Figure 2B is followed by sliding the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 down together relative to the holder pivot joint 53 under the guidance provided by the holder slider slot 36 with the portable electronic device 2 remaining in the landscape orientation.

Figure 2D shows the second embodiment after the state shown in Figure 2C is followed by rotating the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 together by 90 degrees of angle on the holder pivot joint 53 into the portrait orientation. From this state, the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 can subsequently be folded by a swivel action around the swivel joint 52 onto the left side of the handgrip member 4 to reach a state in which: (a) there is maximal overlap of the height of the portable electronic device 2 with the height of the handgrip member 4 and the camera head 6 together, and (b) the bottom of the portable electronic device is flush with the bottom of the handgrip member 4.

As seen above, the landscape-to-portrait in-plane rotation sequence in Figures 2C to 2D is facilitated by the holder pivot joint 53 and the holder slider slot 36.

Figures 2E to 2G demonstrate a sequence of manipulations to the second embodiment to reconfigure it from the state shown in Figure 2B, which is suitable for right-hand hold, to the state shown in Figure 2G that is suitable for left-hand hold.

Figure 2E shows the second embodiment after the state shown in Figure 2B is followed by rotating the hinge mechanism 5, the holder member 3, and the portable electronic device 2 together from the left of the handgrip member 4 to its right. However, the touch screen display 21 now faces in the same direction as the camera head 6 and the shutter release button 461. Incidentally, this arrangement is rather suitable for taking selfie using the right hand, with the right thumb able to comfortably operate the shutter release button 461.

Figure 2F shows the second embodiment after the state shown in Figure 2E is followed by lowering the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 together with the post 537 sliding down along the slot 36.

Figure 2G shows the second embodiment after the state shown in Figure 2F is followed by flipping back the holder member 3 and the portable electronic device 2 together on the tilt pivot joint 51 by 180 degrees of angle of rotation so that now the portable electronic device 2 has its back to where the camera head 6 is pointing and the shutter release button 461 is facing (i.e. out of the page) whereas the touch screen display 21 faces in the opposite direction (i.e. into the page). The touch screen display 21 is now where the left thumb can reach when the left hand grips the handgrip member 4 with fingers on the front surface 43.

As seen above, the hand swap sequence in Figures 2E to 2G is facilitated by the rotary member 45 and the holder slider slot 36.

Figures 3 A to 3B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a third embodiment as a pared-down version of the first embodiment by doing away with the first rotary member 45, with the result that the hinge mechanism 5, the holder member 3, and the portable electronic device 2 together are not able to swivel around to the right of the handgrip member 4 but fixed to one side of the handgrip member 4. Nevertheless, the entire assembly can be operated using the left hand, as the camera head 6 is able to rotate by 180 degrees of angle, and the shutter release button 461 can be operated by the left thumb comfortably.

Figures 3C to 3D show the second rotary member 47 (for turning camera head 6) in a released state and a locked state, respectively, using a single wedge 457 (instead of dual wedge 451 that locks two rotary members 45, 47 simultaneously) that lodges into one of the notches 454 in the periphery of the rotary member 47 to lock it. The same single wedge 457 is used in two places to lock the first and second rotary members 45, 47 separately as these are not together as in the first embodiment but widely separated.

Figures 4A to 4B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a fourth embodiment as a pared-down version of the third embodiment by doing away with the handgrip slider track 44 and the holder pivot joint 53. The swivel-and-tilt joint 50 is repositioned towards top end portion of the handgrip member 4. Thus the fourth embodiment retains the capability to swivel and tilt the portable electronic device 2 and to turn the camera head 6.

Figures 5 A to 5B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a fifth embodiment as a pared-down version of the fourth embodiment by doing away with the second rotary member 47, thereby doing away with the camera-head turning capability but retaining the capability to swivel and tilt the portable electronic device 2.

Figures 6A to 6B show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of a sixth embodiment as a pared-down version of the fourth embodiment by doing away with the swivel and tilt joint 50, thereby doing away with the ability to tilt and swivel the portable electronic device 2 thus holding it rigidly to one side of the handgrip member 4 but retains the camera-head turning capability.

Figures 6C to 6D show perspective views of two additional or alternative mechanisms for coupling the camera head 6 to the handgrip member 4. They add the capability to tilt the optical axis 41 of the camera head 6 (hereinafter “camera head tilt”) relative to the normal to the touch screen display 22 of the portable electronic display 2, and can be deployed in substitution for the tilt function provided by the tilt joint 51 of the hinge mechanism 5 or in addition thereto. For example, either can be added to the sixth embodiment to emulate the display tilt function with the camera head tilt function.

Figure 6C shows a perspective view of a ball-and-socket joint 48 atop the handgrip member 4, comprising (a) socket 484, (b) ball 481 in the socket 484, (c) mounting plate 483 for the camera head 6 to mount on, and (d) post 482 that rigidly couples the mounting plate 483 to the ball 481. The socket 484 defines a slot 485 within which the post 482 can swing to provide a tilt action for the camera head 6 mounted on the mounting plate 483. In addition, by rotating around the axis of the round post 482, the ball 481 provides the head turning function.

Figure 6D shows a perspective view of a hinge joint 48’ atop the handgrip member 4, comprising (a) the mounting plate 483, (b) a hinge axle 486, (c) the post 482 rigidly coupling the mounting plate 483 to one side of the hinge axle 486, and (d) a pair of hinge stands 487 that pivotably hold the hinge axle 486 between the. For the camera head 6 mounted on the mounting plate 483, the hinge joint 48’ provides for camera head tilt action around the hinge axle 486.

The camera head tilt function provided by a camera head tilt mechanism as exemplified by the alternatives displayed in Figures 6C to 6D can be used in conjunction with a stay-put gooseneck tubing, discussed below with respect to Figures 7 A to 7D, to provide the full set of swivel, tilt, and in-plane rotation.

Figures 7A to 7B show section views of a stay-put gooseneck tubing in its straight state and bent state, respectively, along its longitudinal axis. Figure 7C shows perspective views of the stay-put gooseneck tubing in straight state and bent states. The stay-put gooseneck tubing is made of a pair of a triangular rod and a round rod coiled to form a tube. Both rods are made of elastic material(s), such as plastic and metal. When being bent, adjacent surfaces of adjacent round rod and triangular rod slide over each other. When left alone, the gooseneck tubing retains its bent shape due to frictional force between the adjacent round and triangular rods. For a given length of the tubing, the gooseneck is able to bear weight up to a given amount until the frictional force is overcome.

Figure 7D shows a perspective view of an alternative implementation of the hinge mechanism 5 that couples the holder member 3 to the handgrip member 4 in which: (a) a stay-put gooseneck tubing 528 replaces the shaft 513 in the tilt pivot joint 51 and (b) the portable electronic device 2 (shown schematically) is coupled to the gooseneck tubing 528 (through the holder member 3, not shown). Rotation of the portable electronic device 2 from the landscape orientation to the portrait orientation is provided by bending a distal section (“distal” as in relation to the handgrip member 4) of the gooseneck tubing 528 upwards. Thereafter, the horizontal proximal section of the tubing 528 can be bent backwards (not shown) into a horizontal L-shape so that the portrait oriented portable electronic device 2 swivels to overlap its back onto the left side of the handgrip member 4. Thus, the gooseneck tubing 528 is capable of providing both the swivel and the in-plane rotation for the portable electronic device 2 to substitute for both the swivel joint 52 and the holder pivot joint 53 at once. The swivel joint 52 shown in Figures 7D and 7E may be retained if the handgrip slider rod 44 is in use, but can be done away with an in alternative build that has no handgrip slider rod 44 but instead the tilt pivot joint 51 is coupled directly to the side of the handgrip member 4. Figure 7E shows the gooseneck tubing 528 pivoting in the tilt pivot joint 51 to provide the tilt action for the portable electronic device 2.

Figure 7F shows a modification from the gooseneck-based hinge mechanism shown in Figures 7D and 7E by (a) separating the tilt pivot joint 51 from the swivel joint 52 and rejoining them to distal and proximal ends, respectively, of the gooseneck tubing 528 and (b) coupling the holder member 3 to the tilt joint 51 with an L-shaped shaft 529 that pivots in the tilt joint 51 to provide the tilt action. Again, as before, the swivel joint 52 can be done away with in an alternative build that has no handgrip slider track 44 but instead has the gooseneck tubing 528 coupled directly to the side of the handgrip member 4.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a pivot joint that can be used in lieu of the holder pivot joint 53 shown in Figure 9B, where the holder slider track 36 is not used, to provide in-plane rotation for the holder member 3 to switch between the landscape and the portrait orientations of the portable electronic device 2.

Figure 12 shows sketches in perspective view of the released state and the locked state of a ball-and-socket joint - comprising (a) a ball 551, (b) a socket 552, (c) the post 513 rigidly joined to the ball 551, and (d) a lock lever 554 - that can be used as the hinge mechanism 5 in lieu of the swivel hinge joint 52, the tilt pivot joint 51, and the holder pivot joint 53 to provide two or all three of the swivel, tilt, and in-plane rotation (for switching between the landscape and the portrait orientations) for the portable electronic device 2, with one pair (as shown) or two crossed pairs (not shown) of opposite slots 553 in the socket to receive the post 513 and thereby to provide one or two additional degrees of rotary motion to the ball 551 in addition to the 360 degrees of rotation around the axis of the post 513. One pair of the slots will provide the swivel, while the other pair provides the in-plane rotation between the landscape and the portrait orientations. As the locking mechanism, any friction-based locking mechanism, such as the cam-and-piston mechanism shown in Figure 9A, can be used. Alternatively, the locking mechanism can be a latching mechanism, such as the latching rocker-arm-and-pin mechanism shown in Figures 8A to 8C can be used in conjunction with a number of recesses in the surface of the ball anyone in which the pin can lodge to cause locking. Further alternatively, instead of locking mechanism, the exterior surface of the ball and the mating surface on the interior of the socket can have a number of mating protrusions and recesses, one or the other or both being resiliently deformable. Between one orientation of the post 513 in which a number of the protrusions and the recesses fit into each other and an adjacent orientation of the post 513 into which a number of the protrusions and the recesses fit into each other again, the deformation can be forced under sufficient torque beyond a threshold so as to permit the ball 551 to rotate from one orientation into the other orientation.

Figures 13 A to 13B show elevation views from the left and the front, respectively, of a seventh embodiment as a modification from the first embodiment shown in Figures 1A to IB by holding the camera head 6 in front of the handgrip member 4 by means of a camera bridge 64 that couples the two together while leaving a gap between the camera head 6 and the second surface 43 on the front of the handgrip member 4 to accommodate fingers of the hand. Here, the camera head 6, the camera bridge 64, and the rotary member 47 together can turn to the left or right on the handgrip unit 4 as one unit. Alternatively, the rotary member 47 can be relocated to couple the camera head 6 to the camera bridge 64 so that the camera head 6 but not the camera bridge 64 can turn relative to the handgrip member 4. The camera head 6 can be joined to the camera bridge 64 by the snap-fit latch mechanism as shown in Figure 1C or any alternative coupling mechanism such as ones discussed above in connection with this snap-fit mechanism. Likewise the camera bridge 64 may be coupled to the rotary member 47 or instead directly to the top of the handgrip member 4 where the rotary member 47 is relocated to the front portion of the bridge 64 to couple to the camera 6.

Figures 14A to 14F show an eighth embodiment in various configurations. Figures 14A shows a plan view of the eighth embodiment, with the camera head 6 coupled laterally to one side from the handgrip member 4 and its handgrip axis 41 (shown penetrating into the page) and the swivel-and-tilt joint 50 affixed at the back between the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4 to hold the portable electronic device 2 within reach of the thumb when the hand, wrapping around the handgrip axis 41, holds the handgrip member 4 in its grip.

Figures 14B to 14C show elevation views from the front and the left, respectively, of the eight embodiment, showing the holder slider track 36 in the back of the holder member 3 and the holder pivot joint 53 that permits the portable electronic device 2 (in the hold of the holder member 3) to rotate in its plane and to slide in the longitudinal direction of the holder slider track 36.

Figure 14D shows the eight embodiment after the state shown in Figure 14C followed by sliding the portable electronic device 2 and the holder member 3 together upwards on the holder pivot joint 53 as guided by the holder slot 36 and then tilting them forward together, with the shaft 513 rotating in the receiving hole 514 of the swivel-and-tilt joint 50.

Figures 14E to 14F shows plan view and elevation view from the left, respectively, of the eight embodiment after the state shown in Figure 14D followed by pivoting the camera head by 180 degrees of angle around a horizontal pivot joint (not shown) that couples the camera head 6 laterally to the side of the handgrip member 4, thereby reconfiguring the apparatus to take picture of the user in a selfie mode.

Figures 15A to 15B show elevation views from the left and the front, respectively, of a ninth embodiment as a modification from the fourth embodiment by attaching the hinge mechanism 5 to one side of the camera head 6 instead of the handgrip member 4. +++++++++++++++++++

Electrical Connectivity & Power Delivery

Figure 20 shows a lens mount 67 in the front of the camera head 6 and an image sensor 68 (with a pixel array 681 comprising an array of photodetectors) in a cavity 672 behind the lens mount 67. In any of the embodiments, the camera 6 may be an interchangeable lens camera, with the camera lens 63 attached via a mating mechanism called a lens mount 67, e.g. the bayonet mount, for removal by hand without hand tool. Figure 20 shows an example of a bayonet mount, though other types of camera mounts can be used. In a bayonet mount, a ring constitutes a mating surface, with tabs 671 and gaps therebetween defined around its interior periphery. A corresponding ring on the back of the camera lens 63 constitutes a matching mating surface, with tabs around its exterior periphery to match the gaps of the lens mount 67. To couple the camera lens 63 to the camera head 6 at the lens mount 67, the back of the camera lens 63 is first aligned, with its tabs to the lens mount’s gaps, and inserted, and then the camera lens 63 is rotated to slide the camera lens’ tabs behind the lens mount’s tabs 671 until a spring-loaded pin (not shown) in the lens mount 67 snaps into a recess in the back of the camera lens 63 to lock it in position. To release the camera lens 63, one holds down a lever (not shown) to pull the pin back, and then rotates the camera lens 63 in the opposite direction and then pulls it out.

Referring to Figures 17A and 17B, the handgrip member 4 may include a battery compartment 49 that houses one or more rechargeable batteries 491. The rechargeable batteries 491 preferably together hold not less than lOWh, which is equivalent to 2,000 mAh at 5V output, more preferably not less than 30Wh, which is equivalent to 6,000 mAh at 5V output. The rechargeable batteries 491 may supply electric energy to the camera head 6. The electric energy may be provided to power the image sensor 68 in the camera head 6, and/or to power one or more integrated circuit chips that actuate one or more lens elements on the interior of the camera lens 63 such as to adjust its focal length and/or to adjust focusing of images on the pixel array 681 of the image sensor 68. The rechargeable batteries 491 may supply electric energy to power the portable electronic device 2.

The battery compartment 49 may be within a battery enclosure that is detachably coupled to the remaining portion of the handgrip member 4 to form the handgrip member 4.

Referring to Figures 17B and 17C, the assembly of the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4 may include a receptacle connector 81 (e.g. USB Type-C receptacle as shown in Figures 16B and 17C) that includes a plurality of conductors including one pair of conductors 8111, 8112 (VBUS, GND) to transmit electric energy from the rechargeable battery 491 to an external device connected to the receptacle connector 81 via a cable 812 (e.g. a USB 2.0 Type-C cable), such as the portable electronic device 2, as shown in Figure 1A. The cable 812 is furnished with a distal plug 813 (e.g. USB Type-C plug, shown in Figure 16A) that includes a corresponding pair of conductors 8131, 8132, that each connect via respective conductors in the cable 812 to the respective conductors 8111, 8112 in the receptacle connector 81, into a mating receptacle connector 23 (e.g. USB Type-C receptacle) on the portable electronic device 2.

The receptacle connector 81 may further include a second pair of conductors 8113, 8114 (DPI, DN1) to transmit and receive data signals and/or control signals to and from the separate device, as for example in accordance with the USB 2.0 standard. Alternatively, a transmit pair 8115, 8116 (TX1+, TX1-) and a receive pair 8117, 8118 (RX1+, RX1-) of conductors may be used to perform dedicated transmission and reception, respectively, of such signals, as for example according to the USB 3.1 standard where the cable 812 is a full-featured USB Type-C cable. Corresponding conductors 8133, 8134 (DPI, DN1), 8135, 8136 (TX1+, TX1-), and 8137, 8138 (RX1+, RX1-) connected thereto respectively are found in the plug 813. See Figures 16A and 16B for identification of signal on the conductors in the plug and receptacle connectors, respectively, for USB Type-C connectivity. Different types of cables with different formats (for example, USB micro-B, USB Type-C, or Lightning™) of the plug 23 at the distal end of the cable 812 may be used to match the format of the receptacle connector 23 on the portable electronic device 2.

In an alternative implementation, the cable 812 may be directly joined to a side of the assembly of the camera 6 and the handgrip member 4, thus saving cost and adds convenience (e.g. preventing loss of the cable) by doing away with the receptacle connector 81 and the mating plug (at the proximal end of the cable 812) that plugs into it. A disadvantage is that the format of the plug 813 at the distal end of the cable 812 will have to be fixed.

The receptacle connector 81 may be connected to an outside source of electric energy (e g. a DC power source such as an AC-to-DC adapter or a charging USB port in a computer) to receive electric energy to charge up the rechargeable batteries 491 via the pair of conductors 8111, 8112 in the receptacle 81 and a corresponding pair of conductors in the plug 813 at the distal end of the cable 812. As above, the cable 812 may be joined to a side wall of the assembly of the camera head 6 so as to do away with the receptacle 81 and a plug at the proximal end of the cable to plug into the receptacle 81. The plug 813 at the distal end of the cable 812 will plug into a mating receptacle connector (e.g. a USB Type-C receptacle) in the external source of electric energy.

Through the same receptacle connector 81, the rechargeable batteries 491 may alternate between charging up through the receptacle connector 81 from the outside source of electric energy and supplying charge to the portable electronic device 2 by use of power management integrated circuit chips (not shown) including power P-FETs and buck-boost converter ICs to switch the direction of flow of current in/out of the positive terminals 492 of the rechargeable batteries 491 and to translate between different voltages levels. Such power management integrated chips are available from several integrated circuit manufacturers.

Although Figures 1A and 17A to 17C show that the receptacle connector 81 resides on the handgrip member 4, it can reside on a side or on the back of the camera head 6 instead.

Referring to Figures 17B and 17C, the assembly of the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4 may include a second connector 84, which includes a pair of conductors 8411, 8412 (VBUS, GND). The second connector 84 can be of the same format as the first connector 81 or otherwise of a different format (e.g. USB micro-AB) having a different number of conductors and/or geometry. The second connector 84 can be used to connect to an external source of electric energy to receive electric energy to charge up the rechargeable batteries 491 via a pair of conductors 8411, 8412 in the second receptacle 84. The second receptacle 84 may be used to connect to the receptacle 23 on the portable electronic device 2 by a suitable a cable (e.g. USB micro-AB to micro-B cable).

Referring to Figure 18, a pair of conductors 4931, 4932 may be provided in/on the handgrip member 4 to transmit electric energy sourced from the rechargeable batteries 491 to electronic components in the camera head 6, such as the image sensor 68 that captures images and/or one or more integrated circuit chips inside or outside of the camera lens 63 to move one or more lens elements of the camera lens 63. Two or more conductors 4933, 4934 may be provided in/on the handgrip member 4 to transmit/receive data/control signals between the electronic components in the camera head 6 to/from one or both of the receptacle connectors 81, 84. A number of all these energy/data/control conductors can be collected together in a cable 493, such as the very common flat flexible cable (FFC) or flat printed cable (FPC) that comprises flat copper conductors laminated between a pair of flexible insulation layers made of flexible insulating material such as polyester. This approach is appropriate where the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4 are integrally formed or if they are undetachably joined together by hinge mechanism such as ball-and-socket joint. In the latter case, the cable can be threaded through cavity defined within the interior of the hinge mechanism as to be unexposed to the outside.

Where the camera head 6 is detachably coupled to the handgrip member 4, such as by means of snap-fit latch 471 and keyhole 476 to which it is to mate as illustrated in Figure 1C, a pair of mating receptacle connector 66 and plug 478 may be provided in the mating surfaces 65, 477 of the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 6 to line up and plug together when the camera head 6 is being attached to the handgrip member 4 such that their corresponding conductors line up and contact each other to form electrical connections from one to the other.

Referring to Figure 19, for example, the receptacle 66 may be built into a mating surface 65 of the camera head 6 (e.g. in the bottom surface of the camera head 6 shown in Figure 1C) and the plug 478 built into a mating surface 477 of the handgrip member 4 (e.g. in the top side of the rotary member 47), both mating surfaces coming together when the camera head 6 is attached to the handgrip member 4. The mating surface 65 of the camera head 6 is rotatable with respect to the hooks 471 affixed to an adjacent surface that is stationary with respect to the rest of the camera head 6. This rotation ability accommodates twisting the camera head 6, after the connector 66 and the plug 478 have mated, to snap the hooks 471 into latching positions. The conductors in the receptacle 66 and the plug 478 are respectively connected by cables, each comprising a number of conductors to connect to the respective destinations behind them (i.e. the electronic components in the camera head 6 and the power management integrated circuit chip in the handgrip member 4 respectively) to transmit electric energy and/or data/control signals between corresponding destinations at distal ends of the two cables. A pair of conductors 661, 662 in the receptacle connector 66 carries the positive supply voltage and the ground, respectively, and a corresponding pair of conductor 4781, 4782 in the plug 478 that mate with the conductors 661, 662 carries the positive supply voltage and the ground, respectively, to deliver electric energy from the rechargeable batteries 491 in the battery compartment 49 towards the electronic components in the camera head 6 such as the image sensor 68 and the integrated circuit chips in the camera head 6 or those inside the camera lens that move lens element(s). A pair of conductors 663, 664 in the receptacle 66 carries the data and control signals, and likewise a pair of conductors 4783, 4784 in the plug 478 that mates with the pair of conductors 663, 664.

Alternatively, the receptacle 66 and the plug 478 may be built in and coupled, respectively, to outer, non-mating surfaces of the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4. The plug 478 may be joined by a cable directly to an outer surface of either one of the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4, while the mating receptacle, which can be the receptacle 84 or the dedicated receptacle 66, is built into an outer surface of the other one of the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4.

Further alternatively, a pair of receptacles for connecting the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 6 electrically by cable may be built into non-contacting outside surfaces of the respective units. For example, for the eighth embodiment shown in Figure 14A and its handgrip member 4 shown by itself in Figures 17A to 17C, a cable may be plugged into the second receptacle 84 in the bottom surface of the handgrip member 4 while the distal end of the cable will plug into the receptacle connector 66 (not shown), now relocated to the bottom of the camera head 6 just below the middle of the camera lens 63 instead of between the camera head 6 and the handgrip member 4.

Figure 21 is a block diagram of an integrated circuit chip 83 with a BAT pin 831 connected to a positive terminal 492 of a rechargeable battery 491, a VBUS pin connected to receive input current charging current, and a SYS pin to output current to loads such as the portable electronic device 2 and/or the camera head 6 to power the image sensor 68 and or integrated circuit chip(s) within the camera lens 63. The integrated circuit chip 83 may comprise a power field effect transistor (not shown) to control flow of current into/out of the BAT pin 831. When the external source is not available, such as when it is not connected to one or both of the receptacles 81, 84, or alternating voltage and/or current is not detected in the induction coil, electric energy is sourced from the rechargeable batteries 491 and current flows out of the positive terminal 492 of the rechargeable batteries 491 and either flows into the BAT pin 831 of the integrated circuit chip 83 and out of the SYS pin 832 to the load or flows through another integrated circuit chip (not shown) to reach the load. When the external source is available, current flows into the VBUS pin 833 and out of the BAT pin 831 and then into the positive terminal 492 of the rechargeable batteries 491 to charge them up.

The integrated circuit chip 83 can have a pin (not shown) connected to a capacitor or inductor, and may perform on/off switching to block/conduct current that flows into/out of the pin from the inductor during conversion from one voltage level to another, such as from the voltage level on the BAT pin to the voltage level on the SYS pin, or from the voltage level on the VBUS pin to the voltage level on the BAT pin or vice versa, or from the voltage level on the VBUS pin to the voltage level on the SYS pin.

Figures 22A and 22B show elevation views from the left of a tenth embodiment, as a modification from the eighth embodiment by replacing the short shaft of the tilt-and-swivel joint 50 with an extendable shaft 44’ and relocating the bridge 440 to anchor the extendable shaft 44’ to the bottom between the handgrip member 4 and the camera head 6, with the extendable shaft 44’ in states of being fully retracted and fully extended, respectively. The extendable shaft 44’ provides the function of the selfie stick to firmly hold the portable electronic device 2 at a larger distance from the handgrip member 4.

The extendable shaft 44’ may comprise a plurality of shaft segments 441, 442, 443, 444. Distal shaft segment 441 is nearest to the holder member, while proximal shaft segment 442 is nearest to the handgrip member 4. The other segments 443, 444 can retract into the proximal shaft segment 442 to form the fully retracted state. When the camera head 6 is detached, the whole assembly functions like a selfie stick and a powerbank in one unit. The pair of conductors to transmit electric energy source from the rechargeable batteries 491 to the portable electronic device 2 may be threaded through the interior of the extendable shaft 44’. When fully retracted, the tilt-and-swivel joint 50 may slide between and along the distal shaft segment 441 and the proximal shaft segment 442.

Figures 23 A and 23B show elevation views from the front of an eleventh embodiment, (the best mode) as a modification from the first embodiment by replacing the slider shaft 44 with the extendable shaft 44’ and with a bridge 440 anchoring the extendable shaft 44’ at the bottom to the first rotary member 45, now relocated to lower end portion of the handgrip member, with the extendable shaft 44’ being in states of being fully retracted and fully extended, respectively. This embodiment achieves all the aforesaid objectives.

Claims (28)

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A handheld apparatus, comprising: a holder means for releasably retaininga first portable electronic device that comprises a touch screen display; and a handgrip member, the holder means being coupled to the handgrip member so as to have a position holding the first portable electronic device to one side of the handgrip member’s longitudinal axis such that, when a hand of a user grips the handgrip member from opposite to the one side, the touch screen display lies within reach of a distal pad of thumb of the hand, and, a camera head, coupled to the handgrip member and comprising: a camera lens with a front lens element or a lens mount to mount the camera lens', and an image sensor that comprises a pixel array of photodetectors.

2. The handheld apparatus of claim 1, the handgrip member comprising: a battery compartment to hold at least one rechargeable battery; and, an integrated circuit chip with a pin connected to a positive terminal of the at least one rechargeable battery; and a first pair of conductors or a conductive coil to receive electric energy from an external source for storing in to the at least one rechargeable battery via the pin. +++++++++++++++++++++

3. A handheld apparatus, comprising: a holder means for releasably retaininga first portable electronic device that comprises a touch screen display; and a handgrip member, the holder means being coupled to the handgrip member so as to have a position holding the first portable electronic device to one side of the handgrip member’s longitudinal axis such that, when a human hand grips the handgrip member from opposite to the one side, the touch screen display lies within reach of a distal pad of thumb of the hand, the handgrip member comprising: a battery compartment to hold at least one rechargeable battery; an integrated circuit chip with a pin connected to a positive terminal of the at least one rechargeable battery; and a first pair of conductors or a conductive coil to receive electric energy from an external source for storing in the at least one rechargeable battery via the pin.

4. The handheld apparatus of claim 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a member of a coupling means for detachably coupling a camera head to the handgrip member, the camera head comprising a camera lens and an image sensor that comprises a pixel array of photodetectors. +++++++++++++++++++++

5. A handheld apparatus, comprising: a holder means for releasably retaininga first portable electronic device that comprises a touch screen display; and a handgrip member, the holder means being coupled to the handgrip member so as to have a position holding the first portable electronic device to one side of the handgrip member’s longitudinal axis such that, when a human hand grips the handgrip member from opposite to the one side, the touch screen display lies within reach of a distal pad of thumb of the hand, the handgrip member comprising: a member of a coupling means for detachably coupling a camera head to the handgrip member, the camera head comprising a camera lens and an image sensor that comprises a pixel array of photodetectors. +++++++++++++++++++++

6. The handheld apparatus of claim 1 or 4 or 5, wherein the camera head is held in front of the handgrip member, with a gap to accommodate fingers of the hand between the camera head and the handgrip member, or atop one end of the handgrip member, or to an opposite side of the handgrip member to palm of the hand.

7. The handheld apparatus of any one of claims 1 and 4 to 6, wherein the camera head has a configuration in which the camera lens as the longitudinal axis of the handgrip extends vertically.

8. The handheld apparatus of any one of claims 1 and 4 to 7, wherein the camera head is capable of pivoting around an axis that extends through the handgrip member. +++++++++++++++++++++

9. The handheld apparatus of claim 2 or 3 or 4, the battery compartment being housed within a battery enclosure that is detachably coupled to another member of the handgrip member.

10. The handheld apparatus of claim 2 or 3 or 4, wherein the first pair of conductors is capable of alternately transmitting electric energy sourced from the at least one rechargeable battery to the camera head or the first portable electronic device.

11. The handheld apparatus of claim 2 or 3 or 4, the handgrip member further comprising: a second pair of conductors through which electric energy sourced from the at least one rechargeable battery is transmitted to the first portable electronic device or the camera head.

12. The handheld apparatus of claim 11, the handgrip member further comprising a third pair of conductors to conduct signals from the camera head or from the handgrip member to the first portable electronic device and/or vice versa.

13. The handheld apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising: a hinge means for firmly positioning the holder means relative to the handgrip member while permitting the first portable electronic device, while being retained by the holder means, one or more of the following actions: to tilt upwards and downwards; and, to swivel horizontally, relative to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip member being vertical.

14. The handheld apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: an extendable shaft that couples the holder means to the handgrip member and comprises a plurality of shaft segments, of which a segment is nearer to the holder means and another segment is nearer to the handgrip member and adjacent pairs are capable of sliding with respect to each other while remaining coupled thereby is capable of increasing its length to hold the holder means firmly at a extended distance from the hand.

15. The handheld apparatus of claim 14, wherein the hinge means is capable of sliding along the extendable shaft and is also for permitting the first portable electronic device to rotate within its own plane.

16. The handheld apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a slider track means disposed on the handgrip member for permitting the hinge means to slide along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip member, wherein the hinge means is also for permitting the first portable electronic device to rotate within its own plane.

17. The handheld apparatus of claim 14 or 15 or 16, the handgrip member further comprising: a first rotary means coupled between the handgrip member and the slider track or the extendable shaft permitting the slider track or the extendable shaft to revolve around the handgrip member.

18. The handheld apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a slider track means disposed on the holder means for permitting the hinge means to slide from one edge of the first portable electronic device to its opposite edge, wherein the hinge means is also for permitting the first portable electronic device to rotate within its own plane.

19. The handheld apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 18, the hinge means comprising: a ball-and-socket joint comprising a socket and a ball in the socket with a post on the ball and a plurality of slots in the socket that can receive the post, the post and the socket being coupled to one and the other, respectively, of the handgrip member and the holder means thereby providing capability to swivel, to tilt, and to rotate in plane to the first portable electronic device.

20. The handheld apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 18, the hinge means comprising: a hinge at distal end of the hinge means coupled in such a way that the holder means is capable of rotating about an axis of the hinge, or alternatively a pivot joint at proximal end of the hinge means or along the hinge means, to provide the tilting', a hinge joint to provide the swiveling', and, a pivot joint coupled to the holder means to provide in-plane rotation.

21. The handheld apparatus any one of claims 13 to 18, the hinge means comprising: a gooseneck.

22. The handheld apparatus of claim 21, the hinge means that comprises the gooseneck further comprising: a tilt joint, either as a hinge joint coupling the holder means to the gooseneck at distal end of the gooseneck or as a pivot joint coupling the gooseneck at a proximal end of the gooseneck to the handgrip member to provide the tilting.

23. The handheld apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 22 but 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a head coupling means for coupling the camera head to the handgrip member while allowing the head to tilt around an axis that is horizontal relative to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip member being vertical.

24. The handheld apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 23 but 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a shutter release trigger means for, when depressed or otherwise mechanically and/or electronically responding to a finger or thumb, causing the pixel array within the camera head to capture an image.

25. The handheld apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 23 but 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a shutter release trigger means for, when depressed or otherwise mechanically and/or electronically responding to a finger or thumb, causing a camera in the first portable electronic device to capture an image.

26. The handheld apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 23 but 3, the handgrip member further comprising: a shutter release trigger means for, when depressed or otherwise mechanically and/or electronically responding to a finger or thumb, causing the pixel array within the camera head to capture a first image and a camera in the first portable electronic device to capture a second image concurrently.

27. The handheld apparatus of any one of the above claims, the handgrip member further comprises: a focal length adjustment input means disposed on or adjacent the first or second surface of the handgrip member for responding to a motion of a finger or thumb and by causing a change of focal length in a camera lens of the camera head or of the camera in the first portable electronic device.

28. The handheld apparatus of any one of the above claims, the handgrip member further comprises: a mode selection means disposed on or adjacent the first or second surface of the handgrip member, for responding to a detection of a selection among several choices by finger or thumb by causing the camera head or the camera in the first portable electronic device to perform a corresponding function but not others among the several choices. ----------------###-------------------