Functional application of photochromic compound materials to products

• US 7,044,614 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2003
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nilsen, Ryan M., Gray, Robert C., Levy, Rami C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US10/666,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 405/43, 362/84, 362/109, 362/119, 362/253, 362/800, 362/806, 362/362, 362/34, 250/483.1
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/1656 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: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A device (50) capable of selectively altering its appearance can include a housing portion (64) of the device having at least one photochromic compound and an ultraviolet light source (60) forming a portion of the device for exposing the portion of the device having the photochromic compound to the ultraviolet light source. A reaction by the photochromic compound can provide or serve as a status indicator for the device. The device can be any number of devices such as a portable communication device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, a camera, a GPS device, a printer, a camcorder, a vehicle, a toy, a personal hygiene device, a watch, a calculator, and a writing instrument for example. The device can be formed so that reactions by the photochromic compounds within the device are controlled solely by the ultraviolet light sources (54 and 60) within the device.

Claims

1. A method of selectively altering the appearance of a device having at least one photochromic compound, comprising the steps of:

energizing an ultraviolet light source forming a portion of the device;

exposing at least a portion of the device having the at least one photochromic compound to the ultraviolet light source; and

causing the photochromic compound in the device to be immune from external ultraviolet sources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of energizing the ultraviolet light source comprises the step of providing power to an ultraviolet light emitting diode within the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of exposing further comprises the step of providing a status indication of a function within the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of varying an apparent intensity of the ultraviolet light source incident upon the portion or the device having the at least one photochromic compound.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step or varying comprises varying a duty-cycle to vary the apparent intensity of the ultraviolet light source and thereby varying the intensity of the color change.

6. The method claim 1, wherein the device has more than one photochromic compound and more than one ultraviolet light source tailored to cause each respective photochromic compounds to react, wherein the method further comprises energizing respective ultraviolet light sources to expose respective photochromic compounds to the respective ultraviolet light sources.

7. A device capable of selectively altering its appearance, comprising:

a housing portion of the device having at least one photochromic compound; and

an ultraviolet light source forming a portion of the device for exposing at least a portion of the device having the at least one photochromic compound to the ultraviolet light source;

wherein the device is arranged and constructed to have the photochromic compound in the device to be immune from external ultraviolet sources.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the ultraviolet light source is at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode comprises at least one UV-A LED and at least one UV-B LED.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a first portion having at least one photochromic compound substantially reactive the at least one UV-A LED and a second portion having at least one photochromic compound substantially reactive to the at least one UV-B LED.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the ultraviolet light source and a resulting reaction by the at least one photochromic compound provides a status indicator for the device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is selected from the group comprising a portable communication device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, a camera, a global positioning device, a printer, a camcorder, a vehicle, a toy, a personal hygiene device, a watch, a calculator, and a writing instrument.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the status indicator provides an indication of at least one among a charge status of a power source for the device, an in/out of range indication, an audio mode of device (silent/audible), a voice mail waiting indication, a message waiting indication, an active call indication, an identification of a certain person calling, an emergency/priority call indication, a device setting, mode or configuration (weekend, office, etc).

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the status indicator can vary the intensity of the color change of the photochromic compound by varying a duty cycle to vary an apparent intensity of the ultraviolet light source upon the photochromic compound.

15. The device of claim 14, where the status indicator provides an indication of at least one selected from the group comprising a volume level, a signal strength, a battery charge level, a number of missed calls, a number of voicemail messages waiting, a number of messages waiting, an ink level, a memory used level, a memory available, a number of pictures taken, a period of time left, a fuel level, and a distance traveled.

16. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is arranged and constructed so reactions by the photochromic compounds therein are controlled solely by the ultraviolet light sources within the device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the device further comprises materials that substantially block ultraviolet light from external sources to the device.

18. A device capable of altering its appearance, comprising:

a housing portion of the device having at least one photochromic compound;

at least one light sensor at least partially within the housing portion; and

an internal ultraviolet source for selectively changing the color of the housing portion;

wherein the device is arranged and constructed to have the photochromic compound in the device to be immune from external ultraviolet sources.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the housing portion comprises a function button that has a portion that changes color and further changes function in correspondence with a change in color.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the at least one light sensor enables the corresponding change in function with the change in color.

21. An electronic device, comprising

a housing;

a display lens and a plurality of buttons within apertures of the housing; and

at least one photochromic compound on at least one among the housing, the display lens and the plurality of buttons, wherein exposure to ultraviolet light causes the at least one photochromic compound to change color;

wherein the device is arranged and constructed to have the photochromic compound in the device to be immune from external ultraviolet sources.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the color change provides greater visibility to at least one among the plurality of buttons, writing on the buttons, the display lens, images on the display lens, and the housing.

23. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the color change provides less visibility to at least one among the plurality of buttons, writing on the buttons, the display lens, images on the display lens, and the housing.