Accessories for mobile electronic devices

Abstract

Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a case for a mobile electronic device having an onboard camera lens. The case may be removably attachable by a user to the mobile electronic device or to a second case that is attached to the mobile electronic device. The case may provide components to improve or enhance photography functionality of the mobile electronic device, such as flash components or other illumination elements, diffuser components, auxiliary power sources, mounting regions for additional accessories, and the like.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A case configured to be removably attachable to a mobile electronic device, the case comprising:
 one or more illumination elements configured to emit light within at least a field of view of an onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device; and   a diffuser component configured to move, relative to the one or more illumination elements, from a first position in which the diffuser component alters light emitted by the one or more illumination elements, to a second position in which the diffuser component does not alter light emitted by the one or more illumination elements,   wherein the case is configured to be attached to and removed from the mobile electronic device by a user.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the diffuser component is at least partially opaque and at least partially translucent. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser component alters at least a portion of light emitted by the one or more illumination elements by at least one of: scattering, blocking, redirecting, or softening at least the portion of light. 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser component comprises at least first and second diffusion regions, and wherein the first diffusion region provides a greater degree of diffusion than the second diffusion region. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 4 , wherein the diffuser component is further configured to move to a third position relative to the one or more illumination elements, wherein the first diffusion region alters light emitted by the one or more illumination elements when the diffuser component is in the first position, and wherein the second diffusion region alters light emitted by the one or more illumination elements when the diffuser component is in the third position. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser component is configured to slide laterally with respect to the case between at least the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser component is configured to slide longitudinally with respect to the case between at least the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser component is coupled to a rotating member, and wherein rotation of the rotating member cases the diffuser component to move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more illumination elements comprise at least one light emitting diode or at least one xenon powered bulb. 
     
     
         10 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more illumination elements are configured to be replaceable by the user. 
     
     
         11 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising a positioning member to which the one or more illumination elements are coupled, wherein the positioning member is configured to move relative to the onboard camera of the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . A case configured to be removably attachable to a mobile electronic device, the case comprising:
 a diffuser component configured to move, relative to one or more illumination elements configured to emit light within at least a field of view of an onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device, from a first position in which the diffuser component alters light emitted by the one or more illumination elements, to a second position in which the diffuser component does not alter light emitted by the one or more illumination elements,   wherein the case is configured to be attached to and removed from the mobile electronic device by a user.   
     
     
         13 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein the mobile electronic device comprises the one or more illumination elements. 
     
     
         14 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein the case comprises the one or more illumination elements. 
     
     
         15 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the diffuser component is at least partially opaque and at least partially translucent. 
     
     
         16 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein the diffuser component alters at least a portion of light emitted by the one or more illumination elements by at least one of: scattering, blocking, redirecting, or softening at least the portion of light. 
     
     
         17 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein the diffuser component comprises at least first and second diffusion regions, and wherein the first diffusion region provides a greater degree of diffusion than the second diffusion region. 
     
     
         18 . The case of  claim 17 , wherein the diffuser component is further configured to move to a third position relative to the one or more illumination elements, wherein the first diffusion region alters light emitted by the one or more illumination elements when the diffuser component is in the first position, and wherein the second diffusion region alters light emitted by the one. 
     
     
         19 . The case of  claim 12 , further configured to be attached to and removed from a second protective case, wherein the second protective case is configured to be attached to and removed from the mobile electronic device by the user. 
     
     
         20 . The case of  claim 12 , further comprising an auxiliary power source, wherein the one or more illumination elements are powered by the auxiliary power source. 
     
     
         21 . The case of  claim 12 , further comprising an access region configured to permit use of the onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         22 . The case of  claim 12 , further comprising an access region configured to permit attachment of an auxiliary lens component to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         23 . The case of  claim 12 , further comprising a securement mechanism configured to secure the case to the mobile electronic device in a first position, wherein a user may cause the securement mechanism to move to a second position permitting detachment of the case from the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         24 . The case of  claim 23 , wherein the securement mechanism is biased to the first position. 
     
     
         25 . A method of manufacturing a removably attachable case for a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:
 providing one or more illumination elements configured to emit light within at least a field of view of an onboard camera lens of the mobile electronic device;   providing a diffuser component; and   coupling the one or more illumination elements and the diffuser component to the case, wherein the diffuser component is configured to move, relative to the one or more illumination elements, from a first position in which the diffuser component alters light emitted by the one or more illumination elements, to a second position in which the diffuser component does not alter light emitted by the one or more illumination elements,   wherein the case is configured to be attached to and removed from the mobile electronic device by a user.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the diffuser component comprises at least first and second diffusion regions, and wherein the first diffusion region provides a greater degree of diffusion than the second diffusion region. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising coupling the diffuser component to the case such that the diffuser component moves to a third position relative to the one or more illumination elements, wherein the first diffusion region alters light emitted by the one or more illumination elements when the diffuser component is in the first position, and wherein the second diffusion region alters light emitted by the one or more illumination elements when the diffuser component is in the third position. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising coupling the diffuser component to the case such that the diffuser component slides with respect to the one or more illumination elements between at least the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising coupling the diffuser component to a rotating member such that the diffuser component rotates with respect to the one or more illumination elements between at least the first position and the second position.