Selectively attachable and removable optical systems for mobile devices

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 potion a second optical component may be aligned with the onboard camera.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An optical device configured to be selectively attached to and removed from a mobile electronic device with an onboard camera positioned in an upper central region of the mobile electronic device, the optical device comprising:
 a retainer configured to be removably attachable to the mobile electronic device in multiple different orientations and multiple different locations on the mobile electronic device, the retainer comprising a body segment with a first face configured to be oriented toward a rear face of the mobile electronic device when the retainer is attached to the mobile electronic device and a second face configured to be oriented away from the rear face of the mobile electronic device when the retainer is attached to the mobile electronic device; and   multiple optical components that are attached or attachable to the body segment in different locations at the same time on the second face.   
     
     
         2 . A combination of the optical device of  claim 1  and the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The optical device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the optical components comprises a lens. 
     
     
         4 . The optical device of  claim 3 , wherein the lens is a zoom lens. 
     
     
         5 . The optical device of  claim 3 , wherein the lens is a magnifier lens. 
     
     
         6 . The optical device of  claim 3 , wherein the lens is a polarizer lens. 
     
     
         7 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the body segment is configured to be oriented in a diagonal direction in at least two different orientations when attached to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the body segment does not rotate when the retainer is attached to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is configured not to cover a corner region of the mobile electronic device when the retainer is attached to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer does not contact a corner region of the mobile electronic device when the retainer is attached to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . An optical system configured to be selectively attached to and removed from a mobile electronic device, the optical system comprising:
 a retainer portion configured to be removably attachable to the mobile electronic device in multiple different locations on the mobile electronic device, the retainer portion comprising at least one attachment structure and a mounting region with a first face configured to be oriented toward a rear face of the mobile electronic device when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile electronic device and a second face configured to be oriented away from the rear face of the mobile electronic device when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile electronic device; and   a plurality of optical components that are attached or attachable to the mounting region in different locations at the same time on the second face.   
     
     
         12 . The combination of the optical system of  claim 11  and the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The optical system of  claim 11  wherein the retainer portion comprises a plurality of attachment structures. 
     
     
         14 . The optical system of  claim 11  wherein the at least one attachment structure comprises a channel. 
     
     
         15 . The optical system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one attachment structure comprises a hooked portion. 
     
     
         16 . The optical system of  claim 11  wherein the at least one attachment structure comprises an arm. 
     
     
         17 . The optical system of  claim 15  wherein the hooked portion is configured to contact a front face of the mobile electronic device when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The optical system of  claim 13  wherein a first of the plurality of attachment structures is configured to contact a side portion of the mobile electronic device when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile electronic device and a second of the plurality of attachment structures is configured to contact a top portion of the mobile electronic device when the retainer portion is attached to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The optical system of  claim 18  wherein the orientation of the optical system can be switched by attaching the first of the plurality of attachment structures to the top portion of the mobile electronic device and by attaching the second of the plurality of attachment structures to the side portion of the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The optical system of  claim 19  wherein the attachment structures are hook-shaped.