Removable lenses for mobile electronic devices

Abstract

In some embodiments, an auxiliary optical system for a mobile electronic device has a mounting component that is configured to be selectively attachable and detachable from the mobile electronic device. The mounting component is configured to be coupled to and decoupled from a multi-lens component with a plurality of lenses. When the multi-lens component is coupled to the mounting component, the multi-lens component can be prevented from moving, such as sliding or rotating. In some embodiments, an auxiliary optical system for a mobile electronic device comprises a removable onboard camera lens or onboard camera of a mobile electronic device. The onboard lens or onboard camera can be removed and/or replaced with another onboard lens or onboard camera with different optical qualities.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A mobile electronic device configured to capture images, the mobile electronic device comprising:
 a housing comprising at least one substantially planar outer surface, wherein the substantially planar outer surface comprises an aperture through the substantially planar outer surface; and   a first removably attachable camera lens configured to be removably attached to the mobile device though the aperture, wherein the first removably attachable camera lens is removable and replaceable with a second removably attachable camera lens by a user of the mobile electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . A combination of the mobile device of  claim 1  and the second removably attachable camera lens. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile electronic device of Clam  1 , wherein at least one of the first or second removably attachable camera lenses comprises at least one of a magnifying lens, a wide-angle lens, or a polarizing lens. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first removably attachable camera lens is flush with or below the substantially planar outer surface when removably attached to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first removably attachable camera lens is coupled to a first camera, wherein the first camera is removed when the first removably attachable camera lens is removed by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first removably attachable camera lens is secured to the mobile electronic device by a retainer. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the retainer is integrated with the first removably attachable camera lens, and wherein a second retainer is integrated with the second removably attachable camera lens. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first removably attachable camera lens is removably attachable by the user with an attachment tool. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing a plurality of optical options for a user of a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:
 providing a mobile electronic device with a first onboard camera or a first onboard lens that is removable by a user through an aperture on a planar surface of the mobile electronic device;   providing one or more replacement onboard cameras or replacement onboard lenses that are configured to be inserted by a user through the aperture on the planar surface of the mobile electronic device and retained in position on the mobile electronic device;   wherein the first onboard camera or first onboard lens has one or more different optical features than the one or more replacement onboard cameras or replacement onboard lenses.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more replacement onboard cameras or lenses comprises at least one of a magnifying lens, a wide-angle lens, or a polarizing lens. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first onboard camera or first onboard lens is positioned flush with or below the outer surface when removably attached to the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first onboard lens is coupled to a first camera, wherein the first camera is removed when the first removably attachable camera lens is removed by the user. 
     
     
         13 . A method of changing one or more optical features of a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:
 obtaining a mobile electronic device;   removing a first onboard camera or a first onboard camera lens from a mobile electronic device without removing a panel of the mobile electronic device; and   replacing the first onboard camera or the first onboard camera lens with a second onboard camera or a second onboard camera lens, wherein the second onboard camera or the second onboard camera lens has one or more different optical characteristics than the first onboard camera or the first onboard camera lens.