Flash isolation for device covers
View Patent ↗A cover for a camera device with a flash may incorporate a light absorbing isolation mechanism in areas near the flash and camera. In some cases, the isolation mechanism may be conformable to press against the camera device, or may come in partial contact or no contact with the device in the area of the flash and camera. The isolation mechanism may be formed as part of a cover, or may be a second component that may be added to a cover in various designs. The isolation mechanism may operate with devices that have a glass or other translucent outer case, as well as those devices without such an outer case.
1. A protective cover for an electronic device having a light capturing feature and a light emitting feature, the protective cover comprising:
a rear cover configured to be removably installed on the electronic device, the rear cover protecting at least a portion of the electronic device from damage when the rear cover is installed on the electronic device, the rear cover having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the rear cover formed to contour at least one surface of the electronic device;
a first opening in the rear cover that permits optical access to the light capturing feature of the electronic device when the protective cover is installed on the electronic device;
a second opening in the rear cover that permits optical access to the light emitting feature of the electronic device when the protective cover is installed on the electronic device; and
a light isolation mechanism mounted to the inner surface of the rear cover proximate the first and second openings, the light isolation mechanism comprising:
a camera opening aligned with the first opening in the rear cover; and
a flash opening aligned with the second opening in the rear cover,
wherein a portion of the light isolation mechanism is positioned between the camera opening and the flash opening, at least the portion of the light isolation mechanism extending in a thickness direction inward from the inner surface of the rear cover, an inner surface of the light isolation mechanism contacting a surface of the electronic device when the protective cover is installed on the electronic device, portions of the light isolation mechanism at edges of the flash opening blocking light emitted outward through the flash opening from reflecting off of the inner surface of the rear cover and reaching the light capturing feature when the protective cover is installed on the electronic device.
2. The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the light isolation mechanism comprises a conformable material.
3. The protective cover of claim 2 , wherein the conformable material is configured to be compressed between the rear cover of the protective cover and the surface of the electronic device when the protective cover is installed on the electronic device.
4. The protective cover of claim 2 , wherein the conformable material comprises felt, foam, or silicone.
5. The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the light isolation mechanism is configured to absorb light.
6. The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the light isolation mechanism is mounted to the inner surface of the rear cover using a pressure sensitive adhesive.
7. The protective cover of claim, wherein the light isolation mechanism comprises a material that acts as a gasket between the rear cover and the electronic device.
8. The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the light isolation mechanism is mounted to the inner surface of the rear cover by an overmolding process.
9. The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the camera opening in the light isolation mechanism is smaller than the first opening in the rear cover and the light isolation mechanism is at least partially visible through the first opening in the rear cover when the protective cover is installed on the electronic device, and wherein the camera opening of the light isolation mechanism is configured to limit incoming light reflected from a surface at the first opening from passing through the camera opening to the electronic device when the protective cover is installed on the electronic device.
10. The protective cover of claim 1 , wherein the flash opening in the light isolation mechanism is smaller than the second opening in the rear cover and the light isolation mechanism is at least partially visible through the second opening in the rear cover when the protective cover is installed on the electronic device, and wherein the flash opening is configured to limit the light emitted outward from reflecting off of or becoming discolored by a surface at the second opening in the rear cover.
11. The protective case of claim 1 , further comprising a first transparent cover over the first opening.
12. The protective case of claim 11 , wherein the protective case is waterproof.
13. The protective case of claim 1 , further comprising a second transparent cover over the second opening.
14. The protective case of claim 13 , wherein the protective case is waterproof.
15. A removable protective cover for encasing an electronic device, the protective cover comprising:
a rear cover formed to contours of a rear surface of the electronic device, the rear cover having one or more apertures corresponding with two or more light transmission elements of the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially encased within an interior portion of the protective cover; and
a light isolation mechanism affixed to an inner surface of the rear cover around a perimeter portion of the one or more apertures, the light isolation mechanism protruding in a thickness direction toward the interior portion of the protective cover and providing an inner surface at least a perimeter portion of which contacts the rear surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially encased within the interior portion of the protective cover, the light isolation mechanism including:
a first optical opening formed in the light isolation mechanism such that a portion of the light isolation mechanism at a perimeter of the first optical opening is exposed within a first aperture of the one or more apertures and formed to correspond with a light emitting element of the two or more light transmission elements, the exposed perimeter portion around the first optical opening being positioned to intercept at least a portion of light passing outward from within the interior portion of the protective cover, and
a second optical opening formed in the light isolation mechanism such that a portion of the light isolation mechanism at a perimeter of the second optical opening is exposed within either the first aperture or a second aperture of the one or more apertures and formed to correspond with a light capturing element of the two or more light transmission elements, the exposed perimeter portion around the second optical opening being positioned to intercept at least a portion of light passing toward the light capturing element.
16. A protective cover for an electronic device that has a camera and at least one flash, the protective cover comprising:
a removable rear shell portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a shell opening through which the camera and flash may operate when the electronic case is at least partially covered by the protective cover, the shell opening having a transparent cover that spans the shell opening at the outer surface of the rear shell portion;
a light isolating mechanism having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the light isolating mechanism being formed larger than a perimeter of the opening in the rear shell, at least a perimeter area of the first surface being affixed to the inner surface of the rear portion at a perimeter portion of the opening, the second surface formed to conform to the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective cover, the light isolating mechanism further comprising a camera opening and a flash opening positioned to correspond respectively with the camera and the flash of the electronic device when the electronic device is at least partially covered by the protective cover, a perimeter of at least one of the camera opening and the flash opening being visible through the transparent cover
17. The protective cover according to claim 16 , further comprising an adhesive, the adhesive affixing the first surface of the light isolating mechanism to the inner surface of the rear shell portion.
18. The protective cover according to claim 16 , wherein the opening in the rear shell is divided by a rib, forming a first shell opening and a second shell opening, a portion of material forming the light isolation mechanism, between the camera opening and flash opening, being adjacent beneath the rib, and the camera opening and flash opening being entirely visible in the first shell opening and the second shell opening, respectively.
19. The protective cover according to claim 18 , wherein the transparent cover covers both the first shell opening and the second shell opening.