Electronic device and casing color changing method thereof

• US 8,648,691 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Zuo, Ziqiang, Wang, Shuqi, Yao, Lingling
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US13/259,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 340/4.31, 340/7.51, 340/7.55, 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 315/131, 315/132, 315/133, 362/183, 359/265, 359/267
• US Class Current: 340/4.31
• 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

Abstract

An electronic device and a method for changing housing colors thereof are provided. This electronic device comprises: a power supply, a display screen, a housing (7), a user operation interface (1), a master controller (3), and a control circuit (5), wherein the housing (7) is configured to have multiple independent color-variable units, and each color-variable unit, which is connected to the power supply, is made of electrochromic materials with capacity of memory respectively; the user operation interface (1) is configured to receive an instruction inputted by a user for selecting a housing pattern; the master controller (3), which is connected to the user operation interface, is configured to convert the selected housing pattern into a first control signaling, and then to output the first control signaling; and the control circuit (5), which is connected to the master controller (3), is configured to receive the first control signaling, and to convert the first control signaling into different voltage signals and to control each color-variable unit of the housing (7) to change the color. By adopting this electronic device and the method for changing housing colors thereof, the housing patterns of electronic devices can be changed by following users'"'"' demands, which improves users'"'"' experience.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising a power supply, a display screen, and a housing, wherein

the housing is configured to have multiple independent color-variable units, and each color-variable unit, which is connected to the power supply, is made of electrochromic materials with capacity of memory respectively;

and

the electronic device further comprises;

a user operation interface, configured to receive an instruction inputted by a user for selecting a housing pattern;

a master controller, which is connected to the user operation interface, configured to convert the selected housing pattern into a first control signaling, and then to output the first control signaling; and

a control circuit, which is connected to the master controller, configured to receive the first control signaling, and to convert the first control signaling into different voltage signals to control the each color-variable unit of the housing to change the color;

wherein the control circuit comprises;

a circuit for interface and decoding, configured to analyze the first control signaling from the master controller and to obtain an address and corresponding color information of the each color-variable unit;

a chip selection decoder, configured to output the color information of the each color-variable unit according to the address of the each color-variable unit; and

a decoder, which is connected to the each color-variable unit correspondingly, configured to decode the color information from the chip selection decoder and to convert the color information into the voltage signals, then to control an input voltage of the connected corresponding color-variable unit according to the voltage signals in order that the connected corresponding color-variable unit displays a color corresponding to the color information.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is connected to the master controller through a serial interface.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the each color-variable unit of the housing is made of at least two types of electrochromic materials.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises:

a timer, configured to control the master controller to output the first control signaling periodically according to a preset time.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the each color-variable unit of the housing is made of at least two types of electrochromic materials.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the user operation interface is further configured to instruct the display screen to display a screen pattern according to the instruction inputted by the user, wherein the housing pattern and the screen pattern are independent of each other, or are combined as a complete pattern;

and

the master controller is further configured to separate the screen pattern from the housing pattern, to convert the screen pattern into a second control signaling, and then to output the second control signaling; and

the electronic device further comprises;

a screen controlling circuit, which is connected to the master controller, configured to receive the second control signaling, and then to control the display screen to display the screen pattern according to the second control signaling.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the each color-variable unit of the housing is made of at least two types of electrochromic materials.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises:

a low dropout linear regulator, which is connected between the power supply and the each color-variable unit, configured to input multiple voltages into the each color-variable unit.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the each color-variable unit of the housing is made of at least two types of electrochromic materials.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the each color-variable unit of the housing is made of at least two types of electrochromic materials.

11. A method for changing housing colors of an electronic device, wherein the housing has multiple independent color-variable units, and each color-variable unit is made of electrochromic materials with capacity of memory respectively, the method comprises:

the electronic device receiving an instruction of a housing pattern selected by a user and converting the housing pattern into a control signaling; and

the electronic device converting the control signaling into different voltage signals and driving the each independent color-variable unit of the housing to change the color;

wherein the electronic device converting the control signaling into different voltage signals and driving the each independent color-variable unit of the housing to change the color comprises;

a circuit for interface and decoding of the electronic device analyzing the control signaling from a master controller of the electronic device and obtaining an address and corresponding color information of the each color-variable unit;

a chip selection decoder of the electronic device outputting the color information of the each color-variable unit according to the address of the each color-variable unit; and

a decoder of the electronic device, which is connected to the each color-variable unit correspondingly, decoding the color information from the chip selection decoder and converting the color information into the voltage signals, then controlling an input voltage of the connected corresponding color-variable unit according to the voltage signals in order that the connected corresponding color-variable unit displays a color corresponding to the color information.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein after driving the each independent color-variable unit of the housing to change the color, the method further comprises:

setting and starting a timer, and then when the timer arrives a preset duration, driving the each independent color-variable unit of the housing to change the color again according to the voltage signals.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

the electronic device receiving the pattern entered by users through an interface with the electronic device and storing the pattern to provide the user to select.