APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONFIGURING THE COLOR OF A MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE COVER

• US 20090231248A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Silvestri, Mark A., Dorff, Ted E.
• Application Number:
  US12/048,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20090231248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/83
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

Various embodiments for configuring the color of a mobile computing device cover are described. In one embodiment, a mobile computing device may comprise a cover including a light-emitting diode (LED) array comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The mobile computing device may include a processor comprising an application for receiving preferences from a user for illuminating the cover and an LED array control module to generate color control signals based on the preferences. The color control signals may control the amount of current and voltage supplied to individual LEDs of the LED array for achieving certain and relative intensities of light emitted by the LED array corresponding to a color selected from a plurality of available colors. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a cover including a light-emitting diode (LED) array comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs);

a processor comprising an application for receiving preferences from a user for illuminating the cover; and

an LED array control module to generate color control signals based on the preferences for controlling the amount of current and voltage supplied to individual LEDs of the LED array for achieving certain and relative intensities of light emitted by the LED array corresponding to a color selected from a plurality of available colors.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, the LED array comprising a red LED, a green LED, and blue LED.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises multiple LED arrays.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 3, wherein the multiple LED arrays are attached to a common set of connectors.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 1, the light-emitting diode array positioned within the cover between an inner layer and an outer layer, the outer layer comprising a semi-opaque material, and the inner layer comprising a reflective material.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a detachable battery cover.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the available colors comprise a set of colors based on an additive color model.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the preferences allow the user to select a color by one or more of selecting from a pick list, selecting from a palette, and inputting color values.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the preferences allow the user to select a visual effect.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the preference allow a user to configure the cover to illuminate in response to one or more user applications.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 9, where the cover is configured to illuminate based on an event associated with a user application.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors for causing the cover to illuminate in response to an environmental condition.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a LED driver for receiving the color control signals and for outputting regulated output voltage and current supplied by a power source to each of the LEDs of the LED array.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is associated with a single stock keeping unit (SKU).

15. A method comprising:

receiving preferences for illuminating the cover of a mobile computing device, the cover including a light-emitting diode (LED) array comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs); and

generating color control signals based on the preferences for controlling the amount of current and voltage supplied to individual LEDs of the LED array within the cover for achieving certain and relative intensities of light emitted by the LED array corresponding to a color selected from a plurality of available colors.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the light-emitting diode array is positioned within the cover between an inner layer and an outer layer, the outer layer comprising a semi-opaque material, and the inner layer comprising a reflective material.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the preferences allow the user to perform one or more of selecting a visual effect, configuring the cover to illuminate in response to one or more user applications, configuring the cover to illuminate based on an event associated with a user application, and configuring the cover to illuminate in response to an environmental condition.

18. A computer-readable storage medium comprising executable computer program instructions that when executed enable a computing system to:

receive preferences for illuminating the cover of a mobile computing device, the cover including a light-emitting diode (LED) array comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs); and

generate color control signals based on the preferences for controlling the amount of current and voltage supplied to individual LEDs of the LED array light within the cover for achieving certain and relative intensities of light emitted by the LED array corresponding to a color selected from a plurality of available colors.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the light-emitting diode array is positioned within the cover between an inner layer and an outer layer, the outer layer comprising a semi-opaque material, and the inner layer comprising a reflective material.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the preferences allow the user to perform one or more of selecting a visual effect, configuring the cover to illuminate in response to one or more user applications, configuring the cover to illuminate based on an event associated with a user application, and configuring the cover to illuminate in response to an environmental condition.