Patent Publication Number: US-2017353636-A1

Title: Tri-lens image capturing device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to image capturing devices and more particularly pertains to a new image capturing device for obtaining images in up to a 360 degree field of view. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a camera that has a housing and a fixed lens. A right side lens and a left side lens are operationally coupled to the camera. The right side lens is positioned on a right side of the housing. The left side lens is positioned on a left side of the housing. A control panel is positioned on the housing and is operationally coupled to the camera, the right side lens and the left side lens. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric perspective view of a tri-lens image capturing device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new image capturing device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the tri-lens image capturing device  10  generally comprises a camera  12  that has a housing  14 . A monitor  16  is coupled to the housing  14 . Preferably, the monitor  16  is hingedly coupled to a top  18  of the housing  14 . A display  20  is coupled to the housing  14 , preferably to a left side  22  of the housing  14 . A fixed lens  24  is positioned in a front  26  of the housing  14 . A power module  28  is position in and coupled to the housing  14 . The power module  28  comprises at least one battery. An access panel  30  is positioned in a bottom  32  of the housing  14  proximate to the power module  28 . 
     A right side lens  34  and a left side lens  36  are operationally coupled to the camera  12 . The right side lens  34  is positioned on a right side  38  of the housing  14 . The left side lens  36  is positioned on the left side  22  of the housing  14 . Preferably, the right side lens  34  is positioned on the right side  38  of the housing  14  proximate to the front  26 , and the left side lens  36  is positioned on the left side  22  of the housing  14  proximate to the front  26 . The right side lens  34  and the left side lens  22  are rotationally attached to the housing  14 . Preferably, the right side lens  34  and the left side lens  36  are both hingedly and rotationally attached to the housing  14 . A handle  40  is positioned on the housing  14 , preferably on the right side  38  of the housing  14  and proximate to a back  42  of the housing  14 . The handle  40  may be a strap handle  44 . A control panel  46  is positioned on the housing  14  and is operationally coupled to the camera  12 , the right side lens  34  and the left side lens  36 . The control panel  46  is positioned on the housing  14  proximate to the back  42  of the housing  14 . The improvement is the right side lens  34  and the left side lens  36 . The right side lens  34  and the left side lens  36  are positioned relative to the fixed lens  24  to allow the user to capture still and video images in a 360 field of view. 
     In use, the right side lens  34  and the left side lens  36  are positioned to capture still and video images that, in combination with the images captured by the front lens  24 , comprise up to a 360 degree field of view. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.