Abstract:
A mobile device camera stand includes a flat, planar base comprising a platform for receiving a document, an adjustable shaft projecting from the base at a first end of the shaft, and a flat, planar cradle having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface connected to a second end of the shaft. The top surface of the cradle receives a mobile device having a camera, and the cradle includes a cutout such that the camera is placed on the cutout such that the cutout does not obstruct the camera, thereby enabling the camera to image the document.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application contains subject matter related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/095,422, filed on Dec. 22, 2014, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an elevated stand for a mobile device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Currently, most major financial institutions now offer mobile deposit services to their customers. The customer may take a picture of a check using his mobile device and a mobile banking application provided by his bank, and the bank completes the deposit based on information captured from the digital image of the check. The current problem with mobile deposit through personal smartphones/tablets is that customers have a hard time holding the phone at the right height, angle, and with the ideal background to take a picture of the check. Additionally, any slight movement or shakiness will delay the process or prevent the camera feature from working. As a result, mobile deposits may fail or take too long to process. 
         [0004]    These and other drawbacks exist. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0005]    Various example embodiments provide a stand for a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone or tablet). The stand includes a base, a shaft, and a top. The base is designed to receive a check. The base may include markers to indicate where the check should be placed, depending on the size of the check. The shaft projects vertically from the base to a given height. The shaft may comprise a telescopic arrangement to allow for the height of the shaft to be adjusted. The top rests on the end of the shaft opposite the base. The top may comprise a cradle with an opening in the middle. The phone may be placed on the cradle, with the camera portion facing through the opening. The cradle may include markers showing where to place the phone depending on make and model (e.g. iPhone vs. android). 
         [0006]    In this way, customers no longer have to estimate the correct height, angle, or background to take the picture of the check. Furthermore, the stand will hold the mobile device steady and prevent any shaking, which is a key factor in successfully completing the mobile deposit process. Additionally, picture taking time decreases due to the faster accuracy. As a result, overall effectiveness will increase. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several Figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0008]      FIGS. 1A-1D  depict a mobile device stand, according to an example embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a mobile device stand; according to an example embodiment of the disclosure; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts a mobile device stand having a top with an adjustable angle, according to an example embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    The following description is intended to convey a thorough understanding of the embodiments described by providing a number of specific example embodiments and details involving a mobile device stand. It should be appreciated, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to these specific embodiments and details, which are examples only. It is further understood that one possessing ordinary skill in the art, in light of known systems and methods, would appreciate the use of the invention for its intended purposes and benefits in any number of alternative embodiments, depending on specific design and other needs. As used herein, the term “mobile device” may include a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet computer, a cellphone, or other mobile communications device. The mobile device may include a camera and a mobile banking application. 
         [0012]      FIGS. 1A-1D  depict an example embodiment of a mobile device stand  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , stand  100  may comprise a base  110 , a shaft  120 , and a cradle  130 . In various embodiments, one or more components of stand  100  may be made of hard plastic and/or metal and/or any other suitable material to bear the weight of, for example, the mobile device and maintain structural integrity. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the base  110  may comprise a flat, rectangular-shaped piece which supports the shaft  120  and the other components of stand  100 . The shaft  120  may be fixed to the base  110  or detachable from the based  110 , for storage, for example. The shaft  120  also may collapse towards base  110  using, for example, a hinge-like structure. The base  110  may comprise a platform  112 . The platform  112  may include markings and/or an outline on its face showing where a check or other document should be placed by a user. The markings may be dimensioned to the size of a standard bank check. Although the disclosure uses a check as the document to be imaged, the invention applies to all types of documents to be imaged and/or scanned. Base  110  may further comprise an extension piece  114  which may be removeably attachable to one end of platform  112 . If a user wishes to place a larger check (or a larger document) that is too big for platform  112 , the user may attach extension piece  114  to the end of platform  112 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D . 
         [0013]    Platform  112  may include logos and engravings of a bank or financial institution (or any other entity). Platform  112  may include raised “rails” that run parallel to the length of platform  112  and are separated by a distance equal to the width of a standard check. In various embodiments, one corner of platform  112  that is closest to shaft  120  may have a raised slot for securing a corner of a check on platform  112 .  FIG. 1B  shows a front view of stand  100 ,  FIG. 1C  shows a side view of stand  100 , and  FIG. 1D  shows a top-down view of stand  100 . 
         [0014]    Shaft  120  may project vertically from base  110  and support cradle  130 . In various embodiments, shaft  120 , base  110 , and cradle  130  may be a single, unitary piece. In various embodiments, such as  FIGS. 1A-1D , shaft  120  may comprise lower shaft  122  and upper shaft  124 . Lower shaft  122  may be hollow and upper shaft  124  may telescopically fit in lower shaft  122 . Lower shaft  122  may be joined to base  110  at connection portion  116 . Connection portion  116  may be slightly raised from base  110 . Connection portion  116  may include a hinge connecting base  110  to shaft  120 , allowing shaft  120  to fold onto base  110 . 
         [0015]    Lower shaft  122  and upper shaft  124  may have a square cross-section. Lower shaft  122  and upper shaft  124  may have a circular cross-section. In various embodiments, lower shaft  122  and upper shaft  124  may include a pin  126 /hole  128  arrangement that allows a user to raise and lower upper shaft  124  to selectively adjust the height of cradle  130 . Upper shaft  124  may include multiple holes (e.g., holes  128   a - b  shown in  FIG. 1C ) in which pin  126  may rest. In various embodiments, upper shaft  124  may be press-fit inside lower shaft  122  and the height of cradle  130  may be continuously adjustable by a user. Other methods for selectively adjusting the height of cradle  130  may be used. 
         [0016]    The location of each of holes (or slots)  128   a - n  on upper shaft  124  may be based on the relative distance between cradle  130  and platform  112  when pin  126  is placed in a given hole. For larger checks (or documents) placed on platform  112 , cradle  130  may need to be raised to a greater height in order for a mobile device camera to be able to capture the entire document. Additionally, different mobile devices may have differing sizes and camera locations, leading to the need for more holes/slots for a user to select the height of cradle  130 . Each of the one or more holes  128   a - n  may be marked to include text describing the type of mobile device that requires the cradle  130  to be at a height associated with that hole and/or the size of the check or document that necessitates the cradle  130  being at a given height. 
         [0017]    In various embodiments, lower shaft  122  may include a motor that can automatically raise and lower upper shaft  124 . The motor may include discrete settings to adjust the position of upper shaft  124  relative to lower shaft  122 . The discrete settings may be based on the size of the mobile device being used, the make and model, the position of the camera on the mobile device, and/or the size of the check or document on platform  112 . The motor may include firmware and/or software and a wireless connection (e.g. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)), for example, that allows a mobile device to connect to the motor and control movement of, for example, shaft  120 . For example, an application executing on a mobile device may allow the mobile device to connect to the motor via Bluetooth and include remote controls to control the movement of the stand. In various embodiments, the motor could receive commands from the remote control (e.g., up/down) and move the stand accordingly. 
         [0018]    Cradle  130  may be a planar component that is affixed on one side to the end of upper shaft  124 . The connection between cradle  130  and upper shaft  124  may be hinged to allow cradle  130  to fold into shaft  120 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D , cradle  130  extends in a plane parallel to the plane for base  110 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D , one end of upper shaft  124  is affixed to the bottom of cradle  130 . In other embodiments, this connection may be hinged to allow cradle  130  to fold towards shaft  120 . For stand  100 , upper shaft  124  is orthogonal to the bottom surface of cradle  130 . 
         [0019]    Cradle  130  may comprise prongs  132   a  and  132   b  which project from one end of cradle  130 . Cradle  130  may comprise a backstop  134  at the opposite end. Backstop  134  may be a projection that is slightly raised from the top surface of cradle  130 . In various embodiments, the top surface of cradle  130  may comprise gripping material (e.g., a rubberized material). In various embodiments, the length of prongs  132   a  and  132   b  may be adjustable (e.g., using a telescopic arrangement). In various embodiments, the prongs  132   a  and  132   b  may project from slots in end of cradle  130  (opposite the backstop  134 ). The prongs  132   a  and  132   b  may slide in the slots and in this way the portions of prongs  132   a  and  132   b  that project from cradle  130  may be adjustable to accommodate larger mobile devices. 
         [0020]    Prongs  132   a  and  132   b  may be separated by width w. The width w between prongs  132   a  and  132   b  may be adjustable depending on the location of the camera on the mobile device and/or the size of the mobile device. 
         [0021]    In operation, a user may place a check (or document) on platform  112 . The user may then place a mobile device on cradle  130  so that the camera on the mobile device is pointed towards the check and sits in the space between prongs  132   a  and  132   b.  Prongs  132   a  and  132   b  and/or cradle  130  may include grooves or raised projections that define where the mobile device should be placed on the cradle. The gripping material on the top surface of cradle  130  may keep the mobile device from sliding. The end of the device opposite the camera may be abutted against the backstop  134 . The user may adjust the height of cradle  130  using the pin  126 /slot  128  arrangement on lower shaft  122  and upper shaft  124  based on the position of the camera on the mobile device, the size of the mobile device, and/or the size of the check on platform  112 . The user may turn on a banking application on the mobile device and use it to take a picture of the side of the check facing the camera. The banking application may automatically take the picture. The user may then flip over the check, and a second picture of the opposite side of the check may be taken. 
         [0022]    In various embodiments, the size of the platform  112  and extension piece  114  may be changed depending on the size of the document being placed on the platform  112  of stand  100 . A mobile device placed on stand  110  may be used as a copier and/or scanner for documents placed on the platform  112 . The user may set the height of cradle  130  and position the mobile device on cradle  130  so that it does not need to be moved as multiple documents of the same size may be “photocopied.” 
         [0023]    In various embodiments, stand  100  may include one or more lights on the underside of cradle  130 . The lights may include one or more light detection sensors. If the light sensors detect that the ambient light is too low, the lights may be automatically activated to illuminate the check on platform  112 . In various embodiments, backstop  134  may include a recharger that plugs into one end of the mobile device when the device is placed on cradle  130 . In various embodiments, cradle  130  may have one or more cameras built into the bottom of cradle  130 , facing platform  112 . The one or more cameras may be connected to a Blue-tooth enabled device on stand  100  which can transmit photos to a mobile device, thus eliminating the need for placing the mobile device on the cradle  130 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  depicts an embodiment of stand  200 . Stand  200  may include similar components as stand  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , stand  200  may include lower shaft  222 , which has an elbow joint connecting a first portion  221  and a second portion  223 . The first portion  221  may project from connection portion  216  at an obtuse angle relative to the platform  212 . In various embodiments, the angle may be 135°. The second portion  223  may project vertically at the elbow of lower shaft  222 . In this way, cradle  230  may not cast a shadow on platform  212 . As discussed above, a motor and corresponding remote control via a mobile device may be included. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of stand  300 . Stand  300  may include many of the same components as stand  100 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , stand  300  may include pivot  326  that connects upper shaft  324  to second portion  323  of lower shaft  322 . A user may be able to adjust the angle of cradle  330  relative to base  310  by pivoting upper shaft  324  about pivot  326 . The inside of pivot  326  may include notches to allow the user to selectively set the angle of cradle  330 . In this way, the user may adjust the angle of cradle  330  to accommodate a mobile device that may be too long for cradle  330  and/or a larger check or document on base  310 . 
         [0026]    In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have been described with references to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded as an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.