A phone-like device whose shutter button controls either its own camera or an attached camera
This patent covers a communication device that includes its own image sensor and a physical operation member (for example a shutter button) that changes function depending on whether a separate image capturing device is attached. When no external camera is attached the button fires the device's own camera; when an attachable camera is connected the same button sends a capture command to that attached camera over a communication interface. The target users are people who pair a compact camera module or camera accessory with a smartphone-like host and want a physical shutter control.
(57) What the patent covered
The independent claim required a device with (1) an image capturing unit, (2) a controller, (3) a first communication interface to talk with an attachable image capturing device that can be mounted using an attachment member, and (4) a predetermined physical operation unit; the controller must switch the operation unit in a first state to trigger the device's own image capturing unit and in a second state (when the external camera is attached) to transmit a capture instruction via the first communication interface to the attached image capturing device.
The distinctive part: The button (predetermined operation unit) is explicitly repurposed by the controller so the same physical control either triggers the host camera or remotely commands an attached camera depending on attachment state.
Novelty 3/5. At filing time phones and cameras already supported remote shuttering and live view over wireless links, but this patent focused on reassigning an existing physical control on the host to become a remote-capture command when a camera module is mounted.
Making it
injection-molded plastic body, stamped or molded button, populated PCBs (SMT), mechanical assembly and testing
Materials: plastic housing (ABS or polycarbonate), metal or plastic push button, standard camera sensor module (CMOS), PCB with wireless or wired communication components
Manufacturability 4/5. Simple electromechanical parts and PCBs plus assembly; adds a docking/attachment interface and firmware to remap the button but no exotic manufacturing.
Is anyone buying?
We haven't run a demand check on this one yet. Shoppers would likely search for smartphone camera shutter button, external camera attachment remote shutter, phone with attachable camera module; the links on the right open those searches.
Who buys it: mobile photographers and users of modular phone-camera accessories
Sourcing
Factories already list this kind of product on supplier marketplaces, at about $0.69–$2.80 per unit. Listings are generic Bluetooth remote shutter accessories for smartphones; none explicitly claim a programmable shutter that switches between the device's own camera and an attached external camera, but they cover similar shutter-control functionality and OEM/Private Label options are typical in these marketplaces.
- Shenzhen Yaika Electronic Co., Ltd. · Alibaba.com · MOQ 20 pieces$2.40-2.80
- Shaoxing Tuoyuan Digital Technology Co., Ltd. · Alibaba.com · MOQ 10 pieces$0.70-0.94
- Ningbo Yeti Electric Appliance Co., Ltd. · Alibaba.com · MOQ 100 pieces$0.69-0.99
Supplier prices come from public listings found with a web search and are usually quoted before customization, shipping and duties, so use them to judge whether a product is worth a quote request.
Before you make it
We didn't find any related continuation or divisional patents still in force, although that doesn't rule out design patents, trademarks or unrelated patents covering the same product.
No legal advice: the patent has lapsed; practical risks are firmware complexity for reliable handover and crowded space of existing phone-camera accessories.
Owners occasionally revive lapsed patents (about 1.5% are), and this page is a research lead rather than legal advice, so get a freedom-to-operate opinion before you manufacture anything.