Information Presenting Device

• US 20080239696A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Klinghult, Gunnar, Kleverman, Mats
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/24
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/038 ambient light dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials

Abstract

The invention is directed towards an information presenting device and a portable electronic device including such an information presenting device. The information presenting device (16) comprises a first information layer (18) having a first information presentation structure (20) of photo chromatic material changing appearance when irradiated by light (28) of a specific wavelength, a second information layer (22) having a second information presentation structure (24), and a first light source (26) illuminating the second information layer for presenting the second information presentation structure, wherein the first information layer is of a material that is transparent for light emanating at least from the first light source when the first layer is not exposed to light of said specific wavelength.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. An information presenting device comprising:

a first information layer including a first information presentation structure of photo chromatic material configured to be in an activated state based on incident light of a first wavelength, wherein when in the activated state, the photo chromatic material to present the first information presentation structure, and when in a non-activated state, the first information presentation structure is not presented;

a second information layer including a second information presentation structure; and

a first light source to illuminate the second information layer to present the second information presentation structure via the first information layer, wherein the first information layer is configured to be transparent to light of a second wavelength from the first light source when the first information layer is in the non-activated state.

14. The information presenting device of claim 13, wherein the first information presentation structure is a first color when the first information layer is in the activated state and a second color when the first information layer is in the non-activated state, wherein the first color differs from the second color.

15. The information presenting device of claim 13, wherein the first information layer is transparent to light of the first wavelength.

16. The information presenting device of claim 15, further comprising:

a semi-reflective layer provided between the first information layer and the second information layer, semi-reflective layer being transparent to light from the second information layer and reflective to light from the first information layer.

17. The information presenting device of claim 13, wherein the first information layer is opaque to light of the first wavelength.

18. The information presenting device of claim 13, further comprising:

a second light source to illuminate, with light including light of the first wavelength, at least one information layer having an information presentation structure of photo chromatic material configured to change in appearance when irradiated by light of the first wavelength.

19. The information presenting device of claim 18, further comprising:

a third information presenting layer provided between the first and second information presenting layers and including a third information presentation structure of photo chromatic material configured to change in appearance when irradiated by light of the second wavelength.

20. The information presenting device of claim 13, wherein the information presenting device resides in at least one input key in a portable electronic device.

21. The information presenting device of claim 13, wherein the information presenting device is a display.

22. The information presenting device of claim 21, wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.

23. A portable electronic device including an information presenting device comprising:

a first information layer including a first information presentation structure of photo chromatic material configured to be in an activated state based on incident light of a first wavelength, wherein when in the activated state, the photo chromatic material to present the first information presentation structure, and when in a non-activated state, the first information presentation structure is not presented;

a second information layer including a second information presentation structure; and

a first light source to illuminate the second information layer to present the second information presentation structure via the first information layer, wherein the first information layer is configured to be transparent to light of a second wavelength from the first light source when the first information layer is in the non-activated state.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 23, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable communication device.

25. The portable electronic device of claim 23, wherein the portable electronic device is a cellular phone.