Biometric and proximity sensor compatible protective case for mobile device
View Patent ↗A protective case can be used with a mobile device having front and back surfaces and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the mobile device having a screen on the front surface. The protective case can include a shell configured to engage and substantially surround at least three of the surfaces of the mobile device and preferably all or nearly all surfaces of the mobile device while still capable of allowing the user to functionally interact with biometric sensor (such as a fingerprint sensor) and/or not interfere with the intended functionality of the proximity sensors of the mobile device.
1. A protective case for a mobile device, the mobile device having one or more proximity sensors, the protective case comprising:
an enclosure configured to receive and retain the mobile device therein;
a panel attached to the enclosure and having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is more transparent than the second portion, the first portion having an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, said inner surface being configured to face and be in contact with a touchscreen display of said mobile device when said mobile device is received and retained within said enclosure and said outer surface being configured to face away from said mobile device when said mobile device is received and retained within said enclosure, said panel being configured to substantially cover one or more proximity sensors of the mobile device; and
a light absorbing region positioned on the panel and configured to reside above and surround the perimeter of one or more proximity sensors when the mobile device is received and retained within the enclosure to absorb light emitted from one or more proximity sensors.
2. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the light absorbing region is formed of a dark colored coating.
3. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said first portion is configured to reside over one or more proximity sensors on the mobile device.
4. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein said second portion is positioned around the perimeter regions of the panel.
5. The protective case of claim 4 , wherein said second portion includes a region that is configured to overlay a region between two of the proximity sensors on the mobile device.
6. The protective case of claim 1 , wherein the light absorbing region is secured to the panel with an adhesive.
7. The protective case of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface coupled to said panel, said user interface having a first region and a second region, wherein said first region is configured to be in contact with an electrode element of a biometric sensor of the mobile device when the touchscreen display of the mobile device is received and retained within the enclosure in contact with the first portion, and wherein said second region is configured to be depressible when the touchscreen display of the mobile device is received and retained within the enclosure in contact with the first portion, and wherein said user interface is comprised of a flexible polymer layer having an outer face and an opposing inner face and a second thickness defined between said outer and inner faces, and wherein said second thickness is dimensioned to be less than said first thickness.
8. A protective case for a mobile device, the mobile device having multiple proximity sensors, the protective case comprising:
an enclosure configured to reversibly receive and retain the mobile device therein;
a panel attached to the enclosure and having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is more transparent than the second portion and wherein the first portion having an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, said inner surface being configured to face and be in contact with a touchscreen display of said mobile device when said mobile device is received and retained within said enclosure and said outer surface being configured to face away from said mobile device when said mobile device is received and retained within said enclosure, said panel being configured to substantially cover one or more proximity sensors of the mobile device; and
a privacy layer positioned underneath the region of the panel and configured to overlay one or more proximity sensors when the mobile device is received and retained within the enclosure to absorb light emitted from the two of the multiple proximity sensors.
9. The protective case of claim 8 , wherein the privacy layer is secured to the panel.
10. The protective case of claim 9 , wherein the privacy layer is secured to the panel with an adhesive.
11. The protective case of claim 8 , wherein the privacy layer completely surrounds the perimeter of one or more underlying proximity sensors.
12. The protective case of claim 8 , wherein the privacy layer includes a polarizer element.
13. The protective case of claim 8 , further comprising:
a user interface coupled to said panel, said user interface having a first region and a second region, wherein said first region is configured to be in contact with an electrode element of a biometric sensor of the mobile device when the touchscreen display of the mobile device is received and retained within the enclosure in contact with the first portion, and wherein said second region is configured to be depressible when the touchscreen display of the mobile device is received and retained within the enclosure in contact with the first portion, and wherein said user interface is comprised of a flexible polymer layer having an outer face and an opposing inner face and a second thickness defined between said outer and inner faces, and wherein said second thickness is dimensioned to be less than said first thickness.