Method for altering the appearance of liquid crystal displays using exchangable front polarizers

• US 20030017856A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Sahouani, Hassan, Kotchick, Keith M.
• Application Number:
  US09/885,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20030017856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate

Abstract

A method for changing the appearance of liquid crystal display modules by exchanging front polarizers is disclosed. Polarizers can be provided that are removably attachable to electronic devices for use as the front polarizers for the liquid crystal display modules included with the electronic devices. The front polarizers are removably attachable so that they can be interchanged to alter display appearance for aesthetics, optical performance and/or other characteristics. For example, differently colored front polarizers can be exchanged to coordinate the appearance of the display with an exchangeable face plate of the electronic device. This can allow users to customize the look of the display.

Claims

1. A method for altering the appearance of a liquid crystal display comprising:

providing an electronic device comprising a liquid crystal display comprising a display module and a first front polarizer separated from the display module and removably attached to the electronic device in a position so that a viewer can view the display module through the first front polarizer;

removing the first front polarizer from the electronic device; and

attaching a second front polarizer to the electronic device in the position, the second front polarizer yielding a different display appearance relative to the first front polarizer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a removable face plate.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising removing the removable face plate and replacing the removable face plate with another removable face plate.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the face plate includes the first front polarizer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a portable electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile phone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a handheld computer device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second front polarizer transmits a different color than the first front polarizer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second front polarizer has a transmission axis that is oriented differently from a transmission axis of the first front polarizer.

11. A method for stylizing a liquid crystal display module of an electronic device according to a user preference comprising:

determining a type of electronic device comprising a liquid crystal display module to be stylized from a menu of available electronic devices;

retrieving a menu of available makes and models of the determined electronic device;

determining a make and model of the determined electronic device from the menu of available makes and models;

retrieving a menu of available display appearances for the determined make and model of the determined electronic device;

determining a set of one or more desired display appearances from the menu of available display appearances;

correlating the determined desired display appearances with one or more articles comprising front polarizers capable of being attached to the determined make and model of the determined electronic device; and

offering the one or more articles for sale.

12. A method for marketing and distributing front polarizers for liquid crystal displays comprising

providing articles for sale, said articles comprising polarizers capable of being used as front polarizers for liquid crystal display modules;

and

adapting the articles for releasably attaching to one or more electronic devices, each device comprising a liquid crystal display module that does not include a front polarizers thereto,

wherein the act of releasably attaching one of said articles to one of said devices enables a viewer to view the display module of the device through the polarizer of the attached article,

and wherein said articles are commercially available having different front polarizers that yield different display appearances.