Camera ring for smartphone case to reduce flash glare
View Patent ↗A case for portable electronic devices including smartphones includes a feature to prevent glare from a flash from affecting images and video captured by a camera lens. Smartphones have telephony, Internet connectivity, and camera and video features. Photos and video can be uploaded through the Internet or sent to other phones. A case has a hole for a camera flash of the smartphone to pass through. The edging of the hole is colored black or another dark color to prevent glare from appearing in the photos or video taken by the smartphone when using the camera flash.
1. A method comprising:
providing a base layer of a smartphone case, wherein the base layer has an interior side and an exterior side, and a base layer thickness is between the interior and exterior sides,
the base layer is rectangular, having a base layer length in a first direction and a base layer width in a second direction, and
the base layer length is longer than the base layer width;
providing sidewalls transverse to the base layer, wherein the sidewalls couple to the base layer at the exterior side, and extend toward and beyond the interior side;
forming a camera-flash opening in the base layer, wherein the opening extends from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer,
the camera-flash opening has an opening length in the first direction and an opening width in the second direction, and the opening width is longer than the opening length; and
coupling a black colored ring to the camera-flash opening, wherein a height of the black colored ring is at least the base layer thickness,
the ring comprises in the first direction, a ring inner length and ring outer length, and in the second direction, a ring inner width and ring outer width,
the ring inner width is longer than the ring inner length,
the ring outer width is greater than the ring inner width, and the ring outer length is greater than the ring inner length,
the ring inner width is less than the opening width, and the ring inner length is less than the opening length,
the ring inner width increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and
the ring inner length increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the base layer comprises polycarbonate, and the exterior side comprises at least one color different from the ring.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the base layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer on the interior side of the base layer.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the ring comprises polycarbonate.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the ring comprises a matte finish and the exterior side of the base layer comprises a glossy finish.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ring comprises an obround shape.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the ring comprises a teardrop shape.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the ring is flush with the exterior side of the base layer.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the rectangular base layer comprises rounded corners.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the ring outer width is greater than the opening width, and at least a portion of the ring outer length is greater than the opening length.
11. A method comprising:
providing a base layer of an electronic device case, wherein the base layer has an interior side and an exterior side, and a base layer thickness is between the interior and exterior sides,
the base layer is rectangular, and is oriented in a portrait orientation in a first direction and a landscape orientation in a second direction;
providing sidewalls transverse to the base layer, wherein the sidewalls couple to the base layer at sides of the base layer, and the sidewalls and interior side form a receptacle;
forming an opening in the base layer, wherein the opening extends from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer,
the opening has an opening length and opening width, the width being longer than the length, and
when the base layer is in the portrait orientation, the opening length is oriented in the first direction, the opening width is oriented in the second direction, and the opening is positioned in an upper half of the rectangular base layer; and
coupling a ring to the opening, wherein a height of the ring is at least the base layer thickness,
the ring comprises a ring inner length in the first direction and a ring inner width in the second direction,
the ring inner width is longer than the ring inner length,
a ring outer width decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer,
a ring outer length decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and
when the base layer is in the portrait orientation, the ring length is oriented in the first direction, the ring width is oriented in the second direction.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the ring inner width is less than the opening width, and the ring inner length is less than the opening length.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the ring has a ring outer width that is greater than the ring inner width, and the ring has a ring outer length that is greater than the ring inner length.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the ring inner width increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and the ring inner length increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the ring inner width is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and the ring inner length is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein an edging of the ring is rounded.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein a ring outer width is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and a ring outer length is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
18. The method of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of a ring outer width is greater than a minimum width of the opening width, and at least a portion of a ring outer length is greater than a minimum length of the opening.
19. The method of claim 11 wherein the exterior side of the base layer comprises a black color and the ring comprises a black color.
20. The method of claim 11 wherein the ring comprises a first color, the exterior side of the base layer comprises a second color, and the first color is darker than the second color.
21. The method of claim 11 wherein the ring comprises a first color, the exterior side of the base layer comprises a second color, and the first color is different from the second color.
22. An electronic device case comprising:
a base layer, wherein the base layer has an interior side and an exterior side, and a base layer thickness is between the interior and exterior sides,
the base layer is rectangular, having a base layer length in a first direction and a base layer width in a second direction,
the base layer length is longer than the base layer width, and
the base layer comprises a polycarbonate;
a camera-flash opening in the base layer, wherein the opening extends from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer,
the camera-flash opening has an opening length in the first direction and an opening width in the second direction, and the opening width is longer than the opening length; and
a black colored ring coupled to the camera-flash opening, wherein a height of the black colored ring is at least the base layer thickness,
the ring comprises in the first direction, a ring inner length and ring outer length, and in the second direction, a ring inner width and ring outer width,
the ring inner width is longer than the ring inner length,
the ring has an outer width that is greater than the inner width, and the ring has an outer length that is greater than the inner length,
the ring inner width is less than the opening width, and the ring inner length is less than the opening length,
the ring inner width increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer,
the ring inner length increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer,
the ring comprises a matte finish,
the ring is flush with the exterior side of the base layer, and
the exterior side comprises at least one color different from the ring.
23. The case of claim 22 wherein at least a portion of the ring outer width is greater than the opening width, and at least a portion of the ring outer length is greater than the opening length.
24. A case for an electronic device comprising:
a base layer comprising an interior side and an exterior side;
a camera-flash opening in the base layer extending from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, the opening comprising a minimum width longer than its minimum length; and
a ring, coupled in the camera-flash opening, comprising inner and outer perimeters, wherein the inner perimeter comprises an inner width greater than an inner length, the outer perimeter comprises an outer width greater than an outer length, the inner width is less than the outer width, and the inner length is less than the outer length,
the ring's width is aligned with the opening's width, and the ring's length is aligned with the opening's length,
at least a portion of the ring's outer length is greater than the opening's minimum length, and at least a portion of the ring's outer width is greater than the opening's minimum width,
at least a portion of a ring's outer width is less than or equal to the opening's minimum width,
at least a portion of a ring's outer length is less than or equal to the opening's minimum length,
the ring's inner width varies, increasing in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and
the ring's inner length varies, increasing in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
25. The case of claim 24 wherein at least a portion of the opening, between the interior and exterior sides of the base layer, comprises a length greater than the opening's minimum length and a width greater than the opening's minimum width.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein a color of the ring is black.
27. The method of claim 24 wherein the opening and ring are positioned on the base layer, against which a smartphone electronic device will rest against, so a camera lens and flash of the smartphone are exposed through the opening and ring.
28. A method comprising:
providing a base layer of an electronic device case, wherein the base layer has an interior side and an exterior side, and a base layer thickness is between the interior and exterior sides,
the base layer is rectangular, and is oriented in a portrait orientation in a first direction and a landscape orientation in a second direction;
providing sidewalls transverse to the base layer, wherein the sidewalls couple to the base layer at sides of the base layer, and the sidewalls and interior side form a receptacle;
forming an opening in the base layer, wherein the opening extends from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer,
the opening has an opening length and opening width, the width being longer than the length, and
when the base layer is in the portrait orientation, the opening length is oriented in the first direction, the opening width is oriented in the second direction, and the opening is positioned in an upper half of the rectangular base layer; and
coupling a ring to the opening, wherein a height of the ring is at least the base layer thickness,
the ring comprises a ring inner length in the first direction and a ring inner width in the second direction,
the ring inner width is longer than the ring inner length,
wherein the ring inner width increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer,
the ring inner length increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and
when the base layer is in the portrait orientation, the ring length is oriented in the first direction, the ring width is oriented in the second direction.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the ring inner width is less than the opening width, and the ring inner length is less than the opening length.
30. The method of claim 28 wherein the ring has a ring outer width that is greater than the ring inner width, and the ring has a ring outer length that is greater than the ring inner length.
31. The method of claim 28 wherein the ring inner width is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and the ring inner length is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
32. The method of claim 28 wherein an edging of the ring is rounded.
33. The method of claim 28 wherein a ring outer width is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and a ring outer length is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
34. The method of claim 28 wherein at least a portion of a ring outer width is greater than a minimum width of the opening width, and at least a portion of a ring outer length is greater than a minimum length of the opening.
35. The method of claim 28 wherein the exterior side of the base layer comprises a black color and the ring comprises a black color.
36. The method of claim 28 wherein the ring comprises a first color, the exterior side of the base layer comprises a second color, and the first color is darker than the second color.
37. The method of claim 28 wherein the ring comprises a first color, the exterior side of the base layer comprises a second color, and the first color is different from the second color.
38. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the ring outer length is greater than a minimum length of the camera-flash opening, and at least a portion of the ring outer width is greater than a minimum width of the camera-flash opening.
39. The method of claim 1 wherein the ring outer width is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and the ring outer length is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
40. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a first portion of the ring outer width is greater than the opening width, at least a first portion of the ring outer length is greater than the opening length, and
wherein at least a second portion of the ring outer width is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and at least a second portion of the ring outer length is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
41. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the ring outer width decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and at least a portion of the ring outer length decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
42. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a first portion of the ring outer length is greater than a minimum length of the camera-flash opening, and at least a first portion of the ring outer width is greater than a minimum width of the camera-flash opening,
at least a second portion of the ring outer width decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and at least a second portion of the ring outer length decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer,
the ring comprises a matte finish,
the base layer comprises polycarbonate, and
the exterior side of the base layer comprises at least one color different from the ring.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein the base layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer on the interior side of the base layer.
44. The method of claim 11 wherein the ring comprises a black color.
45. The method of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the ring outer width is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and at least a portion of the ring outer length is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
46. The method of claim 11 wherein in the portrait orientation a longest length of the base layer is along the first direction, and in the landscape orientation a longest length of the base layer is along the second direction.
47. The method of claim 11 wherein the opening and ring are positioned on the base layer, against which a smartphone electronic device will rest against when inserted in the receptacle, so a camera lens and flash of the smartphone are exposed through the opening and ring from the exterior side.
48. The method of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the ring outer length is greater than a minimum length of the camera-flash opening, and at least a first portion of the ring outer width is greater than a minimum width of the camera-flash opening,
the ring comprises a matte finish,
the base layer comprises polycarbonate, and
the exterior side of the base layer comprises at least one color different from the ring.
49. The method of claim 48 wherein at least a portion of the ring inner width increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and at least a portion of the ring inner length increases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and
the base layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer on the interior side of the base layer.
50. The case of claim 22 comprising:
a thermoplastic polymer, coupled to the interior side of the base layer.
51. The case of claim 22 wherein at least a portion of the ring outer length is greater than a minimum length of the camera-flash opening, and at least a portion of the ring outer width is greater than a minimum width of the camera-flash opening.
52. The case of claim 22 wherein at least a portion of the ring outer width is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and at least a portion of the ring outer length is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
53. The case of claim 22 wherein at least a first portion of the ring outer width is greater than the opening width, at least a first portion of the ring outer length is greater than the opening length, and
at least a second portion of the ring outer width is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and at least a second portion of the ring outer length is about constant in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
54. The case of claim 22 wherein at least a first portion of the ring outer length is greater than a minimum length of the camera-flash opening, and at least a first portion of the ring outer width is greater than a minimum width of the camera-flash opening, and
at least a second portion of the ring outer width decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and at least a second portion of the ring outer length decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
55. The case of claim 54 comprising:
a thermoplastic polymer, coupled to the interior side of the base layer.
56. The case of claim 24 wherein at least a portion of the ring's outer width decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer, and at least a portion of the ring's outer length decreases in a direction from the interior side to the exterior side of the base layer.
57. The case of claim 24 comprising:
a thermoplastic polymer, coupled to the interior side of the base layer,
wherein the ring comprises a black color,
the ring comprises a matte finish,
the base layer comprises a polycarbonate, and
the exterior side of the base layer comprises at least one color other than black.