Electronic device with variable appearance

• US 8,090,417 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Liang, Meng-Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, BRIAN K
• Application Number:
  US12/429,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20090270142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.8, 455/566, 455/575.1, 345/179, 345/184
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

An electronic device includes a printed circuit board and a casing. The printed circuit board is for storing an image. The casing secures the printed circuit board and displays the image all through its outer surface. The casing includes a touch panel and a display panel. The touch panel is transparent and is for sensing touch of users and generating control signals. The display panel is under the touch panel and is for displaying the image according to the control signals.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a printed circuit board having a memory for storing an image; and

a casing securing the printed circuit board and displaying the image on its outer surface, the casing comprising;

a transparent touch panel for sensing touch of users and generating control signals; and

a display panel under the touch panel and for displaying a user operation interface for providing a communication to facilitate operating the electronic device on a predetermined display area of the casing, and displaying the image on the casing surrounding the predetermined display area according to the control signals, wherein the displayed image acts as a frame for the user operation interface, and the frame is capable of being changed to change an appearance of the casing when the displayed image is varied according to the control signals.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a supporting layer under the display panel for supporting the touch panel and the display panel.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the supporting layer is made of rigid material.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is made of organic light-emitting diode.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display panel is composed of an array of light emitting diodes.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises an elliptic cylindrical plane and two parallel planes, and the parallel planes seal two ends of the elliptic cylindrical plane.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein a through hole is defined in a side of the elliptic cylindrical plane.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the casing further comprises a cable, and one end of the cable is connected to the printed circuit board, and the other end is connected to the touch panel and the display panel via the through hole.

9. A mobile phone comprising:

a printed circuit board having a memory for storing an image and performing communication functions;

an elliptic cylindrical plane surrounding the printed circuit board, the elliptic cylindrical plane comprising;

a transparent touch panel for sensing touch of users and generating control signals; and

a display panel under the touch panel and for displaying the image according to the control signals; and

two parallel planes sealing two open ends of the elliptic cylindrical plane and being combined with the elliptic cylindrical plane to secure the printed circuit board.

10. The mobile phone according to claim 9, wherein the display panel is made of organic light-emitting diode.

11. The mobile phone according to claim 9, further comprising a supporting panel under the display panel for supporting the touch panel and the display panel.

12. The mobile phone according to claim 9, wherein a through hole is defined in a side of the elliptic cylindrical plane.

13. The mobile phone according to claim 12, further comprising a cable wherein one end of the cable is connected to the printed circuit board, and the other end is connected to the touch panel and the display panel via the through hole.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a printed circuit board for providing information; and

a display panel electrically connecting to the circuit board, and acting as a casing of the electronic device for receiving the printed circuit board therein;

wherein the display panel displays a user operation interface for providing a communication to facilitate operating the electronic device on a first predetermined display area, and displays information provided by the printed circuit board on a second predetermined display area different from the first predetermined display area, an appearance of the casing of the electronic device is changeable according to different displayed information provided by the printed circuit board.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the display panel comprises a plurality of surfaces, the first predetermined display area is set on a first surface of the plurality of surface;

the second predetermined display area is set on at least one of the plurality of surface comprising the first surface, and surrounding the first predetermined area.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the first predetermined area and the second predetermined area on the first surface, and the first surface is flat panel.

17. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of surfaces further comprises two curved surfaces connecting to first opposite sides of the first surface, the second predetermined area is set on the curved surfaces and the first surface except the first predetermined area.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of surfaces further comprises two plane surfaces connecting to second opposite sides of the first surface, the first surface is rectangular, the curved surfaces and the plane surfaces respectively extend from four edges of the first surface in the same direction, and the curved surfaces and the plane surfaces connect each other to enclose the first surface;

the second predetermined area is set on the curved surfaces, the plane surfaces, and the first surface except the first predetermined area.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of surfaces further comprises a second surface opposite to the first surface, the curved surfaces and the plane surfaces connect the first surface and the second surface to form the casing of the electronic device, the curved surfaces, the plane surfaces, the second surface and the first surface except the first predetermined area combines to form the second predetermined area.