Illumination device

Abstract

An illumination device generally has at least one light source and an attachment assembly that connects the light source to a computing device. The light source may be one or more LEDs or a light panel using electroluminescent lighting. The illumination device includes a power source coupled to the light source and a light control mechanism to change at least one of an operative state or an intensity of the light source. The illumination device may also be integrally connected to the computing device. A light cover is implemented to cover the light source and diffuse light emanating therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An illumination device capable of being removably coupled to a computing device, the illumination device comprising:
 a case sized to receive the computing device; and   at least one light source, the at least one light source being covered by at least one light cover at least partially disposed on at least one nontransparent portion of the case,   wherein the at least one light cover modifies an appearance of light produced by the at least one light source, the at least one light cover being at least one of transparent or translucent.   
     
     
         2 . The illumination device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one securement mechanism configured to retain the computing device in the receiving area. 
     
     
         3 . An illumination device of  claim 2 , wherein the case includes at least two at least partially separable sections configured to retain the computing device in the receiving area of the case. 
     
     
         4 . The illumination device of  claim 1 , further comprising a light control mechanism configured to change an operative state and/or an intensity of the at least one light source. 
     
     
         5 . The illumination device of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source operably coupled to the at least one light source. 
     
     
         6 . The illumination device of  claim 1 , further comprising an ambient light sensor, wherein the ambient light sensor automatically adjusts an intensity of the at least one light source based on an amount of ambient light received by the ambient light sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The illumination device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is connected to the computing device and controlled by the computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The illumination device of  claim 1 , further comprising an aperture, the aperture being substantially aligned with an image capturing mechanism of the computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The illumination device of  claim 1 , further comprising a charging port. 
     
     
         10 . The illumination device of  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises a front side and a back side opposite the front side, and the at least one light source is disposed on at least one of the front side or the back side of the case. 
     
     
         11 . The illumination device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes at least one front light source disposed in the front side of the case and at least one rear light source disposed in the back side of the case, and the at least one light cover includes at least one front light cover covering the at least one front light source and at least one rear light cover covering the at least one rear light source. 
     
     
         12 . An illumination device for a computing device, comprising:
 a case sized to removably receive the computing device in a receiving area defined by the case, the case including first and second side edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;   a first plurality of light sources comprising first and second groups of light sources, the first group of light sources positioned along the first side edge of the case and the second group of light sources positioned along the second side edge of the case;   a front light cover disposed over the first plurality of light sources and defining part of the first and second side edges of the case and including a side portion and front portion and the front light cover is configured so that the first plurality of light sources is operable to emit light through both the side portion and the front portion of the front light cover; and   a second plurality of light sources comprising first and second groups of light sources that are disposed at a back side of the case, and each group of light sources of the second plurality of light sources extends along a respective side edge of the case.   
     
     
         13 . The illumination device of  claim 12 , further comprising a first rear light cover disposed over the first group of light sources of the second plurality of light sources and a second rear light cover disposed over the second group of light sources of the second plurality of light sources. 
     
     
         14 . The illumination device of  claim 12 , further comprising a power sources operably coupled to the light sources. 
     
     
         15 . The illumination device of  claim 12 , further comprising a light control mechanism configured to change at least one of an operative state or an intensity of one or more of the light sources. 
     
     
         16 . The illumination device of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of the light sources is responsive to audio input. 
     
     
         17 . The illumination device of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one attachment assembly coupled to the illumination device and operable, when the computing device is positioned in the receiving area, to support the computing device and/or to couple the computing device to another object. 
     
     
         18 . The illumination device of  claim 12 , wherein the illumination device includes a sound amplification mechanism operable to increase sound output from the computing device. 
     
     
         19 . The illumination device of  claim 18 , wherein the case includes one or more apertures disposed on the case in at least one location corresponding to at least one sound output port of the computing device, the one or more apertures forming the sound amplification mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The illumination device of  claim 12 , wherein the case defines an aperture having a recess corresponding to an image capturing mechanism of the computing device, and the illumination device includes an attachment assembly coupled to the recess, the attachment assembly holding a cover and/or lens.