Mobile device case for capturing digital images
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mobile camera system, comprising:
- a camera-enabled, mobile device;
including a miniature camera module embedded within the mobile device including a built-in lens and an image sensor for capturing digital images;
a mobile device processor configured for processing the digital images;
a mobile device display for viewing the digital images;
a case housing coupled around the camera-enabled mobile device, said case housing being configured with a center of gravity approximately at an image capture grip location of the case housing;
a lens attachment interface embedded within or integral with the case,an auxiliary lens coupled to the lens attachment interface and stably aligned along the optical path of the miniature camera module,wherein the lens attachment interface is configured to receive a micro-bayonet or other protrusion of said auxiliary lens that closes a circuit when said lens is attached; and
wherein said case housing has therein disposed a case processor and electrical circuit components that are configured to detect the presence of the auxiliary lens coupled stably in said optical alignment with said miniature camera module, and a case battery that is configured to power the mobile device when the mobile device is low on battery power or is out of battery power, andwherein the lens attachment interface defines a lens mount cavity that accommodates said micro-bayonet or other protrusion of said auxiliary lens, andwherein the lens attachment interface defines a flash cavity that permits a built-in flash of said mobile device to illuminate an object to be imaged without being blocked by the lens attachment interface, andwherein the lens attachment interface includes one or more detent lens coupling features for contacting said micro-bayonet or other protrusion of said auxiliary lens to close said circuit when said lens is attached.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device case for coupling around a mobile device that includes a miniature camera module has defined therein a lens attachment aperture shaped both to permit light from an object to be captured as a digital image to travel along the optical path of the miniature camera module to a built-in image sensor of the miniature camera module of the mobile device, and to facilitate stable coupling of an auxiliary lens in optical alignment with the miniature camera module. The case comprises electric circuit components positioned to balance an attached auxiliary lens approximately at a grip location.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mobile camera system, comprising:
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a camera-enabled, mobile device;
including a miniature camera module embedded within the mobile device including a built-in lens and an image sensor for capturing digital images;a mobile device processor configured for processing the digital images; a mobile device display for viewing the digital images; a case housing coupled around the camera-enabled mobile device, said case housing being configured with a center of gravity approximately at an image capture grip location of the case housing; a lens attachment interface embedded within or integral with the case, an auxiliary lens coupled to the lens attachment interface and stably aligned along the optical path of the miniature camera module, wherein the lens attachment interface is configured to receive a micro-bayonet or other protrusion of said auxiliary lens that closes a circuit when said lens is attached; and wherein said case housing has therein disposed a case processor and electrical circuit components that are configured to detect the presence of the auxiliary lens coupled stably in said optical alignment with said miniature camera module, and a case battery that is configured to power the mobile device when the mobile device is low on battery power or is out of battery power, and wherein the lens attachment interface defines a lens mount cavity that accommodates said micro-bayonet or other protrusion of said auxiliary lens, and wherein the lens attachment interface defines a flash cavity that permits a built-in flash of said mobile device to illuminate an object to be imaged without being blocked by the lens attachment interface, and wherein the lens attachment interface includes one or more detent lens coupling features for contacting said micro-bayonet or other protrusion of said auxiliary lens to close said circuit when said lens is attached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A mobile device case for coupling around a mobile device that includes a miniature camera module, comprising:
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a case housing configured for coupling around a camera-enabled mobile device, a lens attachment interface embedded within or integral with the case and configured for coupling an auxiliary lens stably in optical alignment with said miniature camera module with a center of gravity approximately at an image capture grip location of the case housing, wherein the lens attachment interface is configured to receive a micro-bayonet or other protrusion of said auxiliary lens that closes a circuit when said lens is attached; wherein said case housing has therein disposed a case processor and electrical circuitry that are configured to detect the presence of the auxiliary lens when said lens is coupled stably in said optical alignment with said miniature camera module, and a case battery that is configured to power the mobile device when the mobile device is low on battery power or is out of battery power, wherein the case is configured to define therein a lens attachment aperture shaped both to permit light from an object to be captured as a digital image to travel along the optical path of the miniature camera module to a built-in image sensor of the miniature camera module of the mobile device, and to facilitate said stable coupling of said auxiliary lens in optical alignment with said miniature camera module, and wherein the lens attachment interface defines a lens mount cavity that accommodates said micro-bayonet or other protrusion of said auxiliary lens, and wherein the lens attachment interface defines a flash cavity that permits a built-in flash of said mobile device to illuminate an object to be imaged without being blocked by the lens attachment interface, and wherein the lens attachment interface includes one or more detent lens coupling features for contacting said micro-bayonet or other protrusion of said auxiliary lens to close said circuit when said lens is attached. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification