Flash Insert For Mobile Phone Case

Abstract

A case, for an electronic device such as a mobile phone, containing an insert located near a camera, still image recorder, or video recorder and a flash of the device is disclosed. The placement, material, color, and properties of the insert helps reduce and/or eliminate problems associated with the case affecting the resultant flash/light from the camera causing and adding erroneous colors, effects, and information on the resulting pictures, images, sensors, or videos.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A case for a mobile device, the mobile device including a camera having a lens, the case comprising:
 a jacket which is separate and removable from the mobile device, the jacket including an opening and being configured for covering a portion of an outer surface of the mobile device when the mobile device is arranged in the case; and   an insert which is arranged in the opening, the insert comprising an inner surface defining an aperture and being attached to the jacket when the jacket is separate from the mobile device,   wherein the insert is configured to surround the lens of the camera of the mobile device so that the lens is exposed by the aperture of the insert when the mobile device is arranged in the case.   
     
     
         22 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 21 , wherein a color of the inner surface of the insert is predominantly neutral. 
     
     
         23 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 22 , wherein the neutral color is in gray scale. 
     
     
         24 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 22 , wherein the inner surface of the insert is absorptive, in terms of a reflection of light by the inner surface. 
     
     
         25 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 21 , the mobile device further including a flash unit, wherein the inner surface of the insert is absorptive, in terms of a reflection by the inner surface of light emitted by the flash unit of the mobile device when the mobile device is arranged in the case. 
     
     
         26 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 21 , wherein the inner surface of the insert is flat. 
     
     
         27 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 21 , wherein the inner surface of the insert is coarse or rough. 
     
     
         28 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 21 , wherein the insert comprises a layer selected from the group consisting of a coating layer, a film layer, and a paint layer. 
     
     
         29 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 21 , wherein the inner surface of the insert is sloped inwardly with respect to an axis defined by the aperture. 
     
     
         30 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 29 , wherein a portion of the case other than the insert is a non-neutral color. 
     
     
         31 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 29 , the camera further including a flash unit, wherein the inner surface of the insert is sloped inwardly such that light is emitted by the flash unit of the mobile device outside a field of view of the camera of the mobile device. 
     
     
         32 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 21 , the camera including a flash unit, wherein the insert is configured to surround the flash unit. 
     
     
         33 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 21 , the camera further including a flash unit, wherein the inner surface of the insert is sloped, concave, or convex so that light emitted by the flash unit strikes the inner surface and is reflected outside a capture area of the camera lens of the mobile device. 
     
     
         34 . A case for a mobile device, the mobile device including a camera having a lens, the case comprising:
 a jacket which is separate and removable from the mobile device, the jacket including an opening and being configured for covering a portion of an outer surface of the mobile device when the mobile device is arranged in the case; and   a coating which is applied onto the jacket around the opening and is configured to surround the lens of the mobile device whereby the lens is exposed by the opening when the mobile device is arranged in the case.   
     
     
         35 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 34 , wherein the coating comprises a layer selected from the group consisting of a coating layer, a film layer, and a paint layer. 
     
     
         36 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 34 , wherein the coating is dyed, silkscreened, sublimated, or hydropainted onto the jacket. 
     
     
         37 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 34 , the camera further including a flash unit, wherein the coating is configured for redirecting light emitted by the flash unit of the mobile device outside a field of view of the camera of the mobile device. 
     
     
         38 . The case for a mobile device according to  claim 34 , the camera further including a flash unit, wherein the coating is configured to surround the flash unit.