Mobile Device Case For Capturing Digital Images

An auxiliary optical assembly for a mobile device that includes a miniature camera module, comprising:

• a lens attachment interface comprising a mobile device case including a case housing that defines a lens attachment aperture and is configured for coupling around a periphery of a mobile device that includes a miniature camera module;
• and
• an auxiliary lens assembly that includes:
• a lens holder,
• an auxiliary lens coupled to the lens holder, and
• a coupling interface that is configured for coupling with the lens attachment interface when coupled to said mobile device that includes said miniature camera module;
• wherein the coupling interface is configured in accordance with said lens attachment interface to stably couple and align said auxiliary lens along the optical path of the miniature camera module;
• wherein the coupling interface is configured both to permit a light source of the miniature camera module of the mobile device to illuminate an object to be captured and to receive light reflected from the object as a digital image to travel along the optical path of the miniature camera module to a built-in image sensor of the miniature camera module of the mobile device,
• wherein the lens attachment interface comprises an interface detail co-molded with material forming the case and at least partially overlapping and defining said lens attachment aperture;
• wherein said case housing includes a case processor and electrical circuitry that are configured to detect the presence of the auxiliary lens when said lens is coupled stably in said optical alignment with said miniature camera module;
• and
• wherein said a case processor and electrical circuitry are disposed within said case housing such that a center of gravity is approximately balanced at an image capture grip location of the case housing when said auxiliary lens is coupled thereto.

An auxiliary optical assembly for a mobile device that includes a miniature camera module, comprising:

• a lens attachment interface comprising a mount plate that defines a lens attachment aperture and is configured to be adhesively or magnetically coupled to the back or inside of said mobile device that includes said miniature camera module;
• and
• an auxiliary lens assembly that includes:
• a lens holder,
• an auxiliary lens coupled to the lens holder, and
• a coupling interface that is configured for coupling with the lens attachment interface when coupled to said mobile device that includes said miniature camera module;
• wherein the coupling interface is configured in accordance with said lens attachment interface to stably couple and align said auxiliary lens along the optical path of the miniature camera module;
• wherein the coupling interface is configured both to permit a light source of the miniature camera module of the mobile device to illuminate an object to be captured and to receive light reflected from the object as a digital image to travel along the optical path of the miniature camera module to a built-in image sensor of the miniature camera module of the mobile device,
• wherein the lens attachment interface comprises an interface detail co-molded with material forming the mount plate and at least partially overlapping and defining said lens attachment aperture;
• wherein said mount plate includes a housing that contains a processor and electrical circuit components that are configured to detect the presence of the auxiliary lens when said lens is coupled stably in said optical alignment with said miniature camera module;
• and
• wherein said case processor and electrical circuit components are disposed within said mount plate such that a center of gravity is approximately balanced at an image capture location of the mobile device housing when said auxiliary lens is coupled thereto.