Description Field of the art

The present invention operates in the field of electronic devices, in particular those adapted to take photographs and film videos. More in detail the present invention refers to a micro camera/video camera adapted to instantly share the captured images over existing online platforms, such as social networks.

Prior art

Today, social networks are increasingly widespread among individuals of all ages and social classes. In particular, these online platforms are widely used for sharing content such as photographs or videos from the personal life of the account holder.

Simultaneously with the diffusion of these social networks, a great development in the market of cameras and video cameras has been observed in recent years; such devices can now film events such as concerts, protests, sport competitions or simply that which occurs around the observer connected to the preferred social network (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.).

The speed of sharing seems to be the main characteristic on which all the software developers are aiming in order to extend the market thereof and the number of enrolled users thereof. However, such development is not suitably supported by technological instruments with which one commonly connects to the social network, i.e. tablets and smartphones.

More in detail, current practice provides that the user unlock his/her portable electronic device, select the App of the social network on which he/she intends to share the content, log in and, only subsequently, he/she can share the photograph or the video of interest.

For a quick sharing, therefore, it is necessary that the photograph or the video are situated in the memory of the electronic device of the user, with consequent risks of theft or drop of the electronic device itself.

Even if there are several international patents regarding cameras and video cameras which can resist impact and water, like the well-known "Go Pro" cameras (such as the patent recently filed, US9521398, owned by the same abovementioned company) which are typically used for the filming of extreme sports, there does not seem to be an instrument that allows an instantaneous sharing of the photograph or video content, solving the aforesaid problem of the loss of time in order to access the social network.

Object of the present invention is, therefore, that of proposing a new and innovative electronic device which allows the instantaneous sharing of images, both photographs and videos.

Description of the invention

According to the present invention, a portable electronic device is made that is adapted for the instantaneous sharing of the video or images content filmed/taken at the time of activation itself.

Said electronic sharing device is constituted by a cube with side comprised between 1 cm and 8 cm, preferably 4 cm, which advantageously can be easily preserved in one's pocket and always carried therewith.

Advantageously, this will also preferably be provided with a common coating on all sides thereof, made of any one material adapted to report the colors of the logo of the social network to which said device is connected. For example, if the social network preferred by the user is "Instagram", said coating will have gray/brown color, like the icon of the Instagram App.

Analogously, the blue coating will be associated with Facebook, yellow for Snapchat and so forth for any other existing social network.

Said electronic device, in order to solve the problem of the loss of time for loading images and videos live, advantageously has a common wireless connection device, preferably of Bluetooth type. By means of the activation of said Bluetooth, advantageously, it is possible to carry out, in a few seconds, the connection with one's own smartphone or tablet on which in turn the access has already been made with one's own credentials to the preferred social network.

At the time of loading a photograph or a video live, the user can advantageously press a power button preferably placed on the upper surface of the cube and aim the object of interest by means of the camera/video camera placed on the front surface of the cube.

Advantageously, in order to take a photograph it is necessary to press and subsequently release such power button once. In order to record a video the user must keep such button pressed for the entire duration of the video that he/she intends to load online. Such photograph or such video, by means of the Bluetooth and by means of the Internet connection of the smartphone or of the associated tablet, is instantaneously loaded on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat (and their possible functions such as, for example, Instagram Story) or any one other predefined social network.

Advantageously, after a predetermined time of inactivity, the sharing device is adapted to automatically turn off.

On the front surface of the cube, in addition to the camera/video camera, a microphone is also placed that is adapted to also record the audio data when the power button is pressed for a prolonged time for filming a video. Still on the same surface, a flash light is also placed, preferably provided with automatic activation when the environment is too dark to have a good photograph or filming result.

In a preferred version of the present invention, moreover, said camera/video camera can be advantageously provided with a common night vision system, such as a brightness amplifier or an infrared system, adapted to be automatically actuated when the environment is too dark to have a good photograph or video result.

On at least one of the lateral surfaces of the cube, moreover, at least one LED light is placed that is adapted to signal the sending of data underway towards the personal electronic device of the user connected via Bluetooth or another wireless local connection system.

Said cube is advantageously provided with a common rechargeable battery, preferably placed in the volume defined by the surfaces of the cube itself, adapted to be recharged preferably by means of a common wireless recharging system.

Advantageously, the sharing device of the present invention can have various possibilities of connection or reversible engagement with other supports, in a manner such that it can be easily transported and used in any situation. Preferably this will be provided, on at least one of the lateral surfaces of the cube, with at least one common key-holder ring and/or with at least one magnet and/or with at least one sucker and/or with at least one Velcro layer adapted to be reversibly engaged on any one surface on which a complementary Velcro layer has been arranged.

In a version of the present invention with more accessories, moreover, said cube is advantageously provided on its rear surface, i.e. that opposite the camera/video camera, with a common screen, preferably provided with LCD technology adapted to allow the user to view the contents that are being loaded online, possibly in order to correct the orientation of the device. Still in said multiple-accessory version, said sharing device is provided with a plurality of selection keys, each of which associated with a specific social network (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat), such that each time, by simply pressing one of said selection keys before taking the photograph or filming the video, the user can select the online platform on which he/she wishes to load the data. In such embodiment, finally, a loudspeaker is also preferably arranged, always at the rear surface of the cube, so that the user can review the previously loaded videos and be able to listen to the audio thereof.

The advantages of the present invention are evident in light of that stated above and in light of the following detailed description. First of all, the technical times for unlocking the personal electronic device and for accessing the social platform are eliminated. Secondly, all those risks such as theft, drop, loss or damage that exist for smartphones and tablets when used for a similar purpose are eliminated.

Finally, due to the reduced dimensions of the cube of the present invention, the present device is extremely easy to carry, being able to be connected to nearly any surface, by way of a non-limiting example, to a helmet, to a handbag, to a necklace, to a watch, etc. Description of the figures

The invention will be described hereinbelow in at least one preferred embodiment by way of an explanatory non-limiting example, with the aid of the enclosed figures, in which:

- FIGURE 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which the upper surface 10', the front surface 10" and one of the lateral surfaces 10"' of the cube 10 are seen. At the upper surface 10', the power button 1 is seen while the following are placed on the front surface 10": the camera/video camera 2, the flash 95 and the microphone 6. The LED light 5 is seen on the visible lateral surface 10"' while, with the dashed line and hence inside the volume of the cube 10, the battery 3 and the wireless local connection device 4 or Bluetooth are represented.

- FIGURE 2 illustrates the operation of the instantaneous sharing device, object of the present patent application. The cube 10 is seen which communicates with the personal electronic device 80 of the user by means of common wireless local connection means. It is also seen that the data is subsequently sent to at least one preferred social network 90-90'- 90" (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat) by using common wireless remote connection means 60, i.e. the Internet connection.

- FIGURE 3 shows the rear of the present cube 10 in which one sees the rear surface 10 ^lv provided with the screen 8, the loudspeaker 9 and with three selection keys 11-12-13 with which the user determines the platform on which he/she will load the data. On one of the lateral surfaces 10"', a key-holder ring 15 and a sucker 16 are placed, while the dashed line represents the position of a magnet 14 placed within the volume defined by the cube 10. Also in this figure, the power key 1 is visible, placed on the upper surface 10' of the cube 10.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention will now be illustrated merely as a non-limiting or non-binding example, with reference to the figures which illustrate several embodiments relative to the present inventive concept.

With reference to FIG. 3, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown which consists of the most complete version with accessories.

The invention consists of a cube-shaped device 10 with rounded edges and with side comprised between 1 cm and 8 cm, preferably 4 cm, constituted by an upper surface 10', a front surface 10", two lateral surfaces 10"', a rear surface 10 ^lv and a lower surface.

All said surfaces are provided with a coating layer 7, preferably with velvety finish and color that reflects the logo of the social network 90 preferred by the user. In the case of direct association with Instagram, therefore, the color of said coating 7 will be brown, blue for Facebook and yellow for Snapchat.

In the simpler versions of the present invention, each cube 10 is previously associated with only one social network 90 from among those existing. In the preferred version, however, it is possible to be connected, with the modes described hereinbelow, with a plurality of social networks 90, 90', 90" (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat) or possible function such as Instagram Story, in which the user is registered.

Each cube 10, independent of the embodiment version, is provided with a common rechargeable battery 3 placed within the volume of the cube 10 itself and, preferably, rechargeable by means of a wireless system, e.g. induction system.

Such battery 3 is adapted to power supply all the other components, which are: a common wireless local connection system 4, preferably with Bluetooth technology; a camera/video camera 2 with relative flash light 95 with automatic activation, placed at the front surface 10' and at least one microphone 6 placed on the same surface. Such battery 3, in addition, also power supplies a common light 5, preferably LED, which will be placed on one of the lateral surfaces 10"' of the cube 10.

In the preferred version, such battery 3 also power supplies a screen 8 and a loudspeaker 9 which are placed at the rear surface 10 ^lv , of the cube 10. These serve to allow the user to verify the correctness of the framing of the camera/video camera 2 placed on the opposite surface of the cube 10, and to be able to listen to the audio of the captured videos.

In order to perform its function, and hence to allow the sharing in real time of the images captured by said camera/video camera 2, it is necessary to have the vicinity of the personal electronic device 80 of the user and it is also necessary that, on said electronic device 80, both the wireless local connection (Bluetooth) which allows the communication with the cube 10, and the Internet connection 40, which allows sending data to the preset social network 90, are activated.

If circumstances were verified which the user wished to immortalize and immediately share, in real time, on the pre-selected social network 90, whether Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat, it will be sufficient for the user to turn on the device, object of the present invention, by means of the power button 1 placed on the upper surface 10' of the cube 10. At this point, the camera/video camera 2, the microphone 6 and the wireless local connection system 4 are activated and the connection is established with the electronic device 80, in turn connected to the Internet 40. By pressing once and immediately releasing said power button 1, the user takes a photograph which is immediately loaded onto the preset social network 90. By pressing said power button 1 for a prolonged time, instead, the user starts filming, both video and audio, by means of said microphone 6, of a video which will last up to the moment of release of the power button 1. During this period of time in which the filming takes place, said LED light 5 will be adapted to be turned on or flash in order to signal the correct sending of the data to the electronic device 80 and, consequently, the correct sharing in real time of the filmed images on the social network 90.

If the surrounding environment is too dark to have a good photograph or video result, the front surface 10" is provided with a common flash light 95, adapted to be automatically turned on at the time of pressing the activation button 1 in order to take a photograph or film a video.

In an even more advanced version of the present invention, moreover, said camera/video camera 2 is provided with a common night vision system, or a brightness amplifier or an infrared system or a mixed system, adapted to allow displaying the captured images even in a very dark environment.

The need to preset the social network 90 on which the images are to be shared does not exist in the preferred embodiment of the invention, in which a plurality of selection keys 11, 12, 13 placed at the rear surface 10 ^lv of the cube 10, each of which associated with only one social network 90 (Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat), allow the user at any time to select on which of the plurality of preset social networks 90-90 '-90" he/she wishes to share the contents.

The various embodiment possibilities for the cube 10 of the present invention also comprise a multiplicity of options regarding the systems and mechanisms of connection to other objects or surfaces, in order to be able to easily adapt to each situation and context.

A common magnet 14 can be arranged, placed within the volume of the cube 10, in order to be able to adhere in a stable and reversible manner to any one metal surface. A common key- holder ring 15 can be connected, by means of a common small chain or other similar connection devices. Preferably, at least one sucker 16 can be arranged on at least one of the lateral surfaces 10"', in order to connect said cube 10, in a stable and reversible manner, to any smooth surface. At least one portion of any one surface of said cube 10 can be arranged with a Velcro layer, such that it can be connected, always in a stable but reversible manner, with a surface or an object on which a complementary Velcro layer has been arranged.

Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions and variations can be made to the invention described up to now which are obvious for a man skilled in the art, without departing from the protective scope provided by the enclosed claims.