Colored Morphing Apparatus for an Electronic Device

• US 20080316397A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Polak, Robert D., Emig, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,122,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/97
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133533 Colour selective polarisers G02F1/1347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133567 on the back side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133602 Direct backlight
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134327 Segmented, e.g. alpha numeric display
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13471 in which all the liquid crystal cells or layers remain transparent, e.g. FLC, ECB, DAP, HAN, TN, STN, SBE-LC cells G02F1/13475 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/002 replaceable; adaptable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/054 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/058 Optical grid, collimator or microlouver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A user interface (200) for a portable electronic device (100) is configured to transition from a first state to a second state to present a plurality of mode-based user actuation targets to a user. The user interface (200) includes a segmented electro-optical device (407) configured to open and close shutters, thereby revealing and hiding the user actuation targets. The user interface includes a first polarizer (401) disposed above the segmented electro-optical device (407) and a colored reflective polarizer (405) disposed beneath the segmented electro-optical device. The colored reflective polarizer (405), which may include a colored dichroic polarizer (601) and a reflective polarizer (602), causes the user interface (200) to exhibit a predetermined color.

Claims

1. A optical shutter assembly for a portable device configured to selectively present one of a plurality of keypad configurations to a user, the optical shutter assembly comprising:

a segmented electro-optical device;

a first polarizer disposed on a first side of the segmented electro-optical device; and

a colored reflective polarizer disposed on a second side of the segmented electro-optical device;

wherein the colored reflective polarizer is configured to reflect a predetermined color of light polarized along a first axis, and to transmit light polarized along a second axis.

2. The optical shutter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second polarizer disposed adjacent to the colored reflective polarizer and opposite the segmented electro-optical device, the second polarizer having a second polarizer transmission axis substantially aligned with a transmission axis of the first polarizer.

3. The optical shutter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a reflective light source disposed beneath the segmented electro-optical device, wherein the reflective light source is configured to project light through a segment of the segmented electro-optical device when the segment is in a translucent state.

4. The optical shutter assembly of claim 3, wherein reflective light source comprises an electroluminescent device and a reflector configured to reflect incident light.

5. The optical shutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the colored reflective polarizer comprises a colored dichroic polarizer configured to absorb light polarized along the first axis and to transmit light polarized along the second axis coupled to the segmented electro-optical device, and a reflective polarizer configured to reflect light polarized along the first axis and to transmit light polarized along the second axis coupled to the colored dichroic polarizer.

6. The optical shutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the segmented electro-optical device comprises a twisted nematic liquid crystal display configured to, in a first state, facilitate a reflection of the predetermined color from the colored reflective polarizer.

7. The optical shutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the segmented electro-optical device is configured to present the one of the plurality of keypad configurations by transitioning segments in a keypad region of the segmented electro-optical device from a state reflecting the predetermined color to a translucent state.

8. The optical shutter assembly of claim 7, further comprising a high-resolution display disposed beneath the optical shutter assembly in an area other than the keypad region.

9. The optical shutter assembly of claim 8, wherein the high-resolution display comprises a backlit liquid crystal display configured project light having an axis of polarization substantially aligned with the second axis.

10. The optical shutter assembly of claim 7, wherein the segmented electro-optical device comprises translucent electrodes coupled thereto and configured as predetermined segments, wherein the predetermined segments geometrically comprise at least a twelve-character telephone keypad.

11. A multimodal device comprising a dynamic user interface surface configured to reflect a predetermined color by way of a polarization dependent reflector configured to reflect a predetermined polarization of incident light when in a first state, and when in a second state to present one of a plurality of mode based keys to a user by selective actuation of an optical shutter device.

12. The multimodal device of claim 11, further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to detect proximity of an object within a predetermined distance of the multimodal device, wherein at least a portion of the dynamic user interface surface is configured to transition from the first state to the second state upon the capacitive sensor detecting the object.

13. The multimodal device of claim 11, further comprising a high resolution display disposed beneath the dynamic user interface surface, wherein the high resolution display is visible only when the multimodal device is in the second state.

14. The multimodal device of claim 11, wherein the one of the plurality of mode based keys comprise alphanumeric keys, a predetermined symbol keys, or combinations thereof.

15. The multimodal device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of mode based keys corresponds to a plurality of modes of operation of the multimodal device, wherein the plurality of modes of operation comprises one of a radiotelephone mode, a navigational mode, a gaming mode, a music player mode, a video player mode, a picture display mode, a text capture mode, a picture capture mode, or a video capture mode.

20. The multimodal device of claim 15, wherein the multimodal device comprises a radiotelephone.

16. A electronic device having a user interface for receiving a touch input, the user interface comprising:

a first polarizer cover layer;

a liquid crystal layer disposed beneath the first polarizer cover layer and between a first and second substrate to selectively alter a polarization of light transmitted therethrough;

a polarization dependent reflective layer disposed beneath the liquid crystal layer and configured to reflect a color of light of a first polarization and to transmit light of a second polarization; and

transparent electrodes disposed on one of the first or second substrate configured to present one of a plurality of keypad configurations to a user.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising an electroluminescent device having a plurality of selectively lightable segments configured to align with the transparent electrodes.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the transparent electrodes comprise selectively actuatable segments configured to create a plurality of user actuation targets by transitioning from a first state to a second state.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, further comprising a proximity detector configured to actuate the transparent electrodes.