Image redirection system for mobile devices

Abstract

An image redirection system having a case that includes a body configured to removably attach to a mobile device, and an optical housing on the body, the optical housing configured to position one or more optical elements over the mobile device lens and flash unit when the case is attached to the mobile device. The optical housing is configured to enable one-handed operation such that a user can deploy and retract the optical housing with only one digit of a hand that holds the case and enable operation of the camera with another finger or thumb of the holding hand.

1 . A case for a mobile device having a camera with a lens and a flash unit, the case comprising:
 a body configured to removably attach to the mobile device;   at least one optical element configured to redirect light; and   an optical housing on the body, the optical housing configured to enclose the at least one optical element and to selectively move the at least one optical element between a first position in which the at least one optical element is positioned over the mobile device lens and a second position in which the at least one optical is not positioned over the mobile device lens when the case is attached to the mobile device to redirect light from outside the optical housing to the camera lens.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the optical housing comprises a projection configured to enable a user to grasp the camera with only one hand and to manipulate the camera and the optical element with a single digit of the one hand that holds the case. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the at least one optical element is configured to alter the image projected on the lens for a photo imaging effect. 
     
     
         4 . A case for a mobile device having a camera with a lens and a flash unit, the case comprising:
 at least one optical element configured to redirect light, the at least one optical element configured to optically isolate the camera lens and the flash unit on the mobile device; and   an optical housing configured to enclose the at least one optical element and to selectively position the at least one optical element over the mobile device lens to redirect light from outside the optical housing to the camera lens.   
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 4  wherein the at least one optical element comprises a first optical element configured to refract light entering the lens at an angle in the range from about 1 degree to and including 90 degrees and a second optical element configured to refract light leaving the optical housing from a flash unit at an angle in the range from about 1 degree to and including 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 4  wherein the optical housing comprises a projection configured to enable a user to grasp the camera with only one hand and to manipulate the camera and the optical element with a single digit of the one hand that holds the case. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 4  wherein the optical housing has a sliding mechanism configured to enable the user's digit to slide the optical element into a first position over the camera lens and into a second position that is not over the camera lens. 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 7 , comprising an alignment controller configured to align the optical housing by forcing the optical housing into the first position or the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 5 , comprising a body configured to be removably attached to the mobile device, and wherein the optical housing is attached to the body and configured to be removable from the body for storage, portability or reconfiguration. 
     
     
         10 . The case of  claim 9  wherein the body and the optical housing are sized and shaped to have a low profile in which the optical housing has a height in the range of 9-14 mm. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for a mobile device having a camera with a lens and flash unit, the apparatus comprising:
 a body configured to removably attach to the mobile device;   a housing on the body and configured to allow light to pass from an exterior of the apparatus to the lens; and   an optical element associated with the housing and configured to redirect light from the exterior of the housing to the lens of the mobile device and to optically isolate the camera lens and the flash unit on the mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the housing is contoured and includes side walls and a top wall coupled to the side walls, the top wall of the contoured housing is convex and sized and shaped to receive only the single digit of the user's hand, and the optical housing is configured to be manipulated by the single digit of the user's hand while holding the apparatus to change an orientation of the optical element with respect to the mobile device camera lens. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the contoured housing has a sliding mechanism configured to enable the user's digit to slide the optical element into the first position over the camera lens and into the second position in which the optical element is not over the camera lens. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the contoured housing is configured to be removed from the body for storage, portability or reconfiguration. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the optical element is configured to be moved between a first position in which the optical element is positioned over the lens and a second position in which the optical element is not positioned over the lens. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a mobile device having a camera, a lens and a flash unit; and   a case comprising:
 a body configured to removably attach to the mobile device; 
 at least one optical element; and 
 an optical housing on the body and configured to change a position of the at least one optical element between a first position in which the at least one optical element is positioned over the mobile device lens and a second position in which the at least one optical element is not positioned over the mobile device lens when the case is attached to the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the optical housing further comprises a projection configured to enable a user to hold the camera with a single hand and to manipulate the camera and the optical element with a single digit of the single hand that holds the case. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one optical element is configured to optically isolate the camera lens and the flash unit on the mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one optical element is configured to have an adjustable orientation between the at least one optical element and the mobile device camera lens that can be adjusted by the digit of the user's hand while holding the case. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the optical housing has a sliding mechanism configured to enable the user's digit to slide the at least one optical element into the first position over the camera lens and into the second position in which the optical element is not over the camera lens while the user's hand is holding the housing.