Information display device

• US 10,283,084 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Inventors: Broadbent, Samuel Mark, Tattersfield, Andrew John Roy, Evans, Nicholas Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Ma, Calvin C
• Application Number:
  US14/785,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20160086577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 348158, 455566
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/045 Mounting of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/08 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits

Abstract

A portable information display device 1 is disclosed comprising an electronic display module 2 comprising a substantially rectangular display screen 6 and an optical element 14 arranged in front of the electronic display module to form a non-rectangular optical frame extending outside the rectangular display screen. Illuminating means 22, 34 behind the optical frame is arranged to illuminate at least one icon 8 defined by the optical element outside the rectangular display screen, and an electronic controller 24 for the illuminating means is arranged to selectively illuminate the at least one icon outside the rectangular display screen.

Claims

1. A portable information display device, comprising:

an electronic display module comprising;

a substantially rectangular display screen;

an optical element arranged in front of the electronic display module to form a non-rectangular optical frame extending outside the rectangular display screen, the optical element comprising at least one light diffusion layer having a non-zero transmittance of less than 100% located in front of the rectangular display screen so that a substantially uniform visual appearance is provided when the rectangular display screen is not illuminated, the substantially uniform visual appearance obscuring an outline of the display screen from view while the display screen is not illuminated;

one or more light sources arranged behind the optical frame to illuminate at least one icon defined by the optical element outside the rectangular display screen; and

an electronic controller for the one or more light sources that is arranged to selectively illuminate the at least one icon outside the rectangular display screen.

2. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical element defines a substantially circular optical frame.

3. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises an optical layer in which the at least one icon is defined as a transparent window within a background having zero transmittance.

4. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises an optical layer in which the outline of the rectangular display screen is defined as a transparent window within a background having zero transmittance.

5. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises an optical layer having a light diffusion area positioned over each icon.

6. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of icons are defined by the optical element outside the rectangular display screen.

7. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the electronic controller is arranged to selectively illuminate each one of the plurality of icons.

8. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the device comprises a plurality of light sources and each of the light sources is arranged to illuminate a respective icon.

9. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more light guides arranged to transmit light from each of the one or more light sources, separately to each icon.

10. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more light guides are integrated with a chassis mounting the electronic display module in the device.

11. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising touch-sensitive input device.

12. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a touch-sensitive user interface associated with each icon defined within the non-rectangular optical frame.

13. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the touch-sensitive interface is connected to the electronic controller for the illumination means.

14. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) antenna/receiver; and

a wireless telecommunications antenna/receiver.

15. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the GNSS antenna/receiver is integrated with a housing for the device.

16. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the wireless telecommunications antenna/receiver is integrated with a housing for the device.

17. A portable information display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rectangular display screen is a colour LCD panel.