Selectively attachable and removable optical systems for mobile devices
First Claim
1. An optical system configured to be selectively attachable and removable from a mobile electronic device, the optical system comprising:
- a plurality of optical components; and
a rigid retainer comprising first and second ends, the first and second ends each comprising a hooked portion that is configured to securely receive a portion of an upper edge or a side edge of the mobile electronic device, the retainer configured to receive the plurality of optical components on a first face of the retainer such that a first of the plurality of optical components is positioned at a different location on the first face of the retainer than a second of the plurality of optical components;
wherein the retainer is configured to removably attach to a mobile electronic device having an onboard camera positioned in a central region of the mobile electronic device, the retainer being configured to position a first of the plurality of optical components in general alignment with the onboard camera, when the first end is attached along an upper edge of the mobile electronic device and the second end is attached along a first lateral edge of the mobile electronic device, and the retainer being configured to position a second of the plurality of optical components in general alignment with the onboard camera, when the second end is attached along an upper edge of the mobile electronic device and the first end is attached along a second lateral edge of the mobile electronic device that is generally opposite from and generally parallel with the first lateral edge of the mobile electronic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to an optical system having multiple (e.g., two or more) optical components attached to a retainer portion, and the retainer portion may be removably attached to mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, media players, and the like. In some embodiments, the optical components may be permanently or removably attached to the same face of the retainer portion. The optical system may be oriented in at least two different positions with respect to a mobile electronic device. In a first position, a first optical component may be generally aligned with an onboard camera of the mobile electronic device, and in a second position a second optical component may be aligned with the onboard camera.
97 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical system configured to be selectively attachable and removable from a mobile electronic device, the optical system comprising:
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a plurality of optical components; and a rigid retainer comprising first and second ends, the first and second ends each comprising a hooked portion that is configured to securely receive a portion of an upper edge or a side edge of the mobile electronic device, the retainer configured to receive the plurality of optical components on a first face of the retainer such that a first of the plurality of optical components is positioned at a different location on the first face of the retainer than a second of the plurality of optical components; wherein the retainer is configured to removably attach to a mobile electronic device having an onboard camera positioned in a central region of the mobile electronic device, the retainer being configured to position a first of the plurality of optical components in general alignment with the onboard camera, when the first end is attached along an upper edge of the mobile electronic device and the second end is attached along a first lateral edge of the mobile electronic device, and the retainer being configured to position a second of the plurality of optical components in general alignment with the onboard camera, when the second end is attached along an upper edge of the mobile electronic device and the first end is attached along a second lateral edge of the mobile electronic device that is generally opposite from and generally parallel with the first lateral edge of the mobile electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An optical system configured to removably attach to a mobile electronic device with an onboard camera located in an upper central region of the mobile electronic device, the optical system comprising:
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at least two optical components; and a rigid retainer that permits bending when the optical system is attached to the mobile electronic device, the retainer being configured to receive the optical components in different locations on the retainer, the retainer being removably attachable to the mobile electronic device in a first attachment configuration by attaching the retainer to a top edge of the mobile electronic device and by attaching the retainer to a first lateral edge of the mobile electronic device, and in a second configuration by attaching the retainer to the top edge of the mobile electronic device and by attaching the retainer to a second lateral edge of the mobile electronic device that is generally opposite from the first lateral edge of the mobile electronic device; wherein in the first and second configurations the retainer is configured not to contact the regions of the mobile electronic device where the top edge of the mobile electronic device and the first lateral edge of the mobile electronic device converge or where the top edge of the mobile electronic device and the second lateral edge of the mobile electronic device converge. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of removably attaching an optical system to a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:
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attaching a retainer to a mobile electronic device with an onboard camera of the mobile electronic device located in an upper central region of the mobile electronic device, the retainer comprising at least one hooked portion that extends over an edge of the mobile electronic device and at least two optical components attached or attachable to the retainer at respective different locations on a first side of the retainer at the same time, switching the retainer between at least two positions when attached to the mobile electronic device by attaching the retainer and the at least two optical components to a first side of the mobile device in a first orientation, removing the retainer and the at least two optical components from the first side of the mobile electronic device, changing the orientation of the retainer with respect to the mobile device, and reattaching the retainer and the at least two optical components to the first side of the mobile electronic device in a second orientation, without changing the orientation of the optical components with respect to the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification