Element Mapping to Control Illumination of a Device Shell

• US 20110175748A1
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Michael, John W., Bergstrom, Jonathan Richard, Giardini, Anthony, Lee, Jae Y., Small, Andrea, Chou, Joyce S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,860,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.55
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/00 Shades for light sources , i.e. lampshades for table, floor, wall or ceiling lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

An interactive electronic device shell and light source may enable personalization and increased functionality of an electronic device. The shell may at least partially cover a light source and attach to an electronic device. The shell includes at least some transparent or translucent portions (e.g., light stencils) that enable light from a matrix of the light source to emit through the shell, thus causing a display of light from the shell. In some aspects, the electronic device may be linked with the shell and/or the light source to control light emission through the shell. In various aspects, an illumined portion of the shell may have significance, such as revealing an artistic design or indicating a message based on activity of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of linking data to segments of a light source, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a segment from an interface, the segment corresponding to a portion of a design of a shell that is made visible by illumination of a light source that emits light through the shell;

displaying a menu of selectable elements to assign to the segment;

receiving a selection of an element to associate with the segment; and

assigning the element to the segment such that an occurrence of an event associated with the element initiates activation of the light source to illuminate the portion of the design that corresponds to the segment.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the interface is displayed by a primary display and the design is illuminated on a secondary display located on the shell.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising identifying the design based on data received that identifies at least one of the light source or the shell.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving a selection of a segment from an interface includes receiving a selection from predetermined segments that correspond to portions of the design.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving a selection of an element to associate with the segment includes:

receiving a first selection of a category of elements;

generating a list of elements based at least in part on the first selection; and

receiving a second selection to identify the element from the list of elements.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the element is associated with at least one of an event or a contact.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the element is an event associated with at least one of a voice message, a text message, a telephone call, or a social networking site.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection of an attribute of the design for association with the element, the attribute being part of the design that indicates an occurrence of the element.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the attribute is selected from at least one of a color or a position of the portion of the design.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving the selection of the segment is received from a touch interface proximate the light source.

11. A method of customizing a device, the method comprising:

associating an event with a lighting scheme of a light panel; and

controlling the light panel in response to occurrences of the event to implement the lighting scheme by;

activating a first portion of a light panel disposed between a shell and an electronic device, the activating including revealing a first portion of a design in the shell when light is emitted through the shell; and

activating a second portion of the light panel to reveal a second portion of the design in the shell that is different than the first portion of the design in response an additional occurrence of the event.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising receiving an assignment, via a light controller, to assign the event performed by an electronic device to cause the activating the first portion, the event including data associated with the event or a contact.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first portion is assigned to a contact associated with multiple user applications.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising identifying the light panel and shell upon attachment of the shell to the electronic device.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising receiving an identifier from the shell to configure at least one of a light panel controller or a user interface to operate using a design of the shell.

16. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, generates a user interface, comprising:

a segment selector to cause a display of a segment that corresponds to a portion of a design of a shell, the segment selector enabling selection of the segment to enable mapping of the segment to an element, the design configured for selective illumination by a light source such that the portion of the design corresponding to the segment is illuminated after occurrence of an activity associated with the element; and

an element selector to enable selection of the element for mapping the element to the segment that corresponds to the portion of the design of the shell.

17. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein the element is associated with at least one of an event or a contact.

18. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein the segment selector causes a display of predetermined selectable segments that correspond to portions of the design of the shell.

19. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein upon selection of the segment, the user interface transitions to the element selector.

20. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein upon selection of the element, the user interface transitions to the segment selector.

21. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein the element selector enables (1) selection of a category of elements, and (2) a selection of elements from a list of elements within a selected category of elements.

22. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the selective illumination includes an increase or decrease in brightness of light emitted from the light panel in response to an occurrence of the activity associate with the element.