Illumination device

• US 9,086,610 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Case-Mate, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Glow Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Shoemake, Allan, Winter, William, Fernandez, Juan, McGrath, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Breval, Elmito
• Application Number:
  US13/758,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/00 Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

The current invention discloses an illumination device that may be attached to a computing device and provide a light source for a video call, video conference, or a picture capturing process. The illumination device comprises a light source, a power connector, and an attachment assembly that connects that light source to the computing device. The light source maybe a plurality of LEDs or a light panel using electroluminescent lighting. The illumination device may further comprise an external power source and a switch. The illumination device may also be integrally connected to the computing device and uses the power source of the computing device and being controlled by buttons or switches of the computing device. The illumination device may also provide additional signals for incoming calls or ongoing calls by displaying different light intensity, pattern, or color.

Claims

1. An illumination device attached to a computing device, comprising:

a plurality of light sources operably coupled to one another,

wherein an operative state of the plurality of light sources is controlled by a switch, and

wherein each of the plurality of light sources is capable of being independently controlled by the switch;

an attachment assembly comprising a unitary case capable of removably coupling the plurality of light sources to the computing device,

wherein the unitary case has a recess sized to receive the computing device therein, and

wherein the attachment assembly is disposed wholly along a periphery of the computing device;

an external power source operably coupled to the plurality of light sources; and

a plurality of light covers with at least one of the plurality of light covers being capable of covering or uncovering each of the plurality of light sources,

wherein the plurality of light covers modify an appearance of light emanating from the plurality of LEDs.

2. The illumination device as claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources is a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The illumination device as claim 2, wherein the LEDs emit lights having a luminous intensity and the luminous intensity is adjustable.

4. The illumination device as claim 3, further comprising a switch to adjust the viewing angle of the LEDs.

5. The illumination device as claim 2, wherein the LEDs emit light having adjustable viewing angle.

6. The illumination device as claim 1, further comprising a power connector,

wherein the power connector connects the plurality of light sources to a power source integral to the computing device.

7. The illumination device as claim 1, wherein the external power source is a battery.

8. The illumination device as claim 1, wherein the light source is connected to the computing device so that the light source is controlled by a switch integral to the computing device.

9. The illumination device as claim 8, wherein the switch integral to the computing device is capable of adjusting the viewing angle of the LEDs.

10. The illumination device as claim 1, further comprising an ambient light sensor,

wherein the light sensor is disposed on the attachment assembly.

11. The illumination device as claim 10, wherein the ambient light sensor is used to detect and measure ambient light and viewing angle of the light source is adjusted according to the measurement of the ambient light sensor.

12. The illumination device as claim 1, further comprising a computing device dock, wherein the dock is connected to the unitary case and the computing device is connected to the dock.

13. The illumination device as claim 12, wherein the computing device has a display screen defining a front side and a front camera on the front side, wherein the LEDs may emit light to illuminate a user of the computing device when the user is in proximity of the front camera.

14. The illumination device as claim 13, wherein the illumination device illuminates a user when a video call is being conducted with the computing device.

15. The illumination device as claim 14, wherein the user of the computing device has a face and the user may see an image captured by the front camera on the display screen of the computing device, wherein the illumination device is used to illuminate the face of the user.

16. The illumination device as claim 15, wherein the computing device is used to initiate or receive calls, the LEDs light up or flash when there is an incoming call or when a call is being made.

17. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the light source is a light panel emitting electroluminescent light.

18. The illumination device of claim 17, wherein the electroluminescent light uses algae-based materials.

19. The illumination device of claim 18, wherein the light panel encircles a front screen of the handheld computing device.

20. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the attachment assembly is a snap in attachment assembly.

21. The illumination device of claim 20 wherein the snap in attachment assembly is capable of being readily removed from and applied to the computing device.

22. An illumination device attached to a computing device, comprising:

a plurality of light sources operably coupled to one another,

wherein an operative state of the plurality of light sources is controlled by a switch, and

wherein each of the plurality of light sources is capable of being independently controlled by the switch;

an attachment assembly comprising a unitary case capable of removably coupling the plurality of light sources to the computing device,

wherein the unitary case has a recess sized to receive the computing device therein, and

wherein the attachment assembly is disposed wholly along a periphery of the computing device;

an external power source operably coupled to the plurality of light sources;

an ambient light sensor disposed on the attachment assembly

a wheel disposed on the attachment assembly; and

a plurality of light covers with at least one of the plurality of light covers being capable of covering or uncovering each of the plurality of light sources,

wherein the plurality of light covers modify an appearance of light emanating from the plurality of LEDs.

23. The illumination device of claim 22 wherein the plurality of light covers diffuse light from the LEDs.

24. The illumination device of claim 22 wherein the wheel enables rotation of at least one of the plurality of LEDs.

25. The illumination device of claim 22 wherein the plurality of light sources are surface mounted LEDs.

26. The illumination device of claim 22 wherein the computing device is a mobile computing device.

27. The illumination device of claim 26 wherein the mobile computing device is a cellular phone or tablet.

28. The illumination device of claim 25 wherein the surface mounted LEDs are strip mounted surface LEDs.

29. The illumination device of claim 22 wherein the plurality of light covers diffuses light from the LEDs.

30. An illumination device attached to a mobile computing device, comprising:

a plurality of surface mounted light emitting diodes operably coupled to one another,

wherein an operative state of the plurality of surface mounted light emitting diodes is controlled by a switch, and

wherein each of the plurality of surface mounted light emitting diodes is capable of being independently controlled by the switch;

a snap in attachment assembly comprising a unitary case capable of removably coupling the plurality of light sources to the mobile computing device,

wherein the unitary case has a recess sized to receive the computing device therein, and

wherein the snap in attachment assembly is disposed wholly along a periphery of the computing device;

an external power source operably coupled to the plurality of light sources;

an ambient light sensor disposed on the attachment assembly;

a rotatable wheel disposed on the attachment assembly,

wherein the rotatable wheel is capable of causing rotation of the plurality of surface mounted light emitting diodes when rotated; and

a plurality of light covers with at least one of the plurality of light covers being capable of covering or uncovering each of the plurality of light sources,

wherein the plurality of light covers modify an appearance of light emanating from the plurality of LEDs by diffusing the light.