Interactive electronic device shell

• US 9,429,989 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• 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: Small, Andrea, Giardini, Anthony, Wolfe, Ryan, Chou, Joyce S., Lee, Jae Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US14/569,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 345/173, 455/567, 455/575.1, 379/428.01, 362/84
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 system comprising:

a telecommunications device comprising;

a transceiver to communicate wirelessly with at least one other device;

one or more processors to control at least the transceiver; and

a body to house at least the transceiver and the one or more processors; and

an illuminated shell, detachable from the telecommunications device, the illuminated shell comprising;

a light panel to cause selective illumination of lights based on signals from the telecommunications device, the light panel configured for placement proximate to a side of the body of the telecommunications device; and

a shell configured to couple to the body, the shell to at least partially cover the light panel such that light, when emitted by the light panel, passes through at least a portion of the shell, wherein the shell includes a plurality of portions that are independently made visible to a user when a corresponding portion of the lights is illuminated, an amount or a location of the portions that are illuminated indicating at least a quantity of messages available via the telecommunications device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the signals are associated with messages received from the at least one other device.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein receipt of a first type of the messages cause the light panel to illuminate a first portion of the lights and receipt of a second, different type of the messages cause the light panel to illuminate a second, different portion of the lights.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the light panel is configured to assign the first portion of the lights and the second portion of the lights based at least in part on received user input.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein various combinations of the plurality of portions create an artistic representation when illuminated by the corresponding portion of the lights.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the messages include at least messages directed to the telecommunications device and messages directed to a social network associated with the user.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the illuminated shell further comprises a light controller to direct the light panel to emit light based on the signals from the one or more processors of the telecommunications device.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein light controller is configured to implement user assignment of a first portion of the lights for association with a first type of message and a second portion of the lights for association with a second type of message.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the lights are configured to emit light to illuminate different amounts of corresponding areas of the shell based at least in part on the signals.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a light panel to receive signals from a telecommunications device and emit light outwards in different directions in response to at least some of the signals and in accordance with a user-customizable mapping of the signals to the different directions; and

a shell couple to a body of the telecommunication device, the shell having at least one portion that allows light to pass through the shell from the light panel located between the shell and the telecommunications device, wherein the shell includes a plurality of portions that are independently made visible to a user when a corresponding portion of lights is illuminated, an amount or a location of the portions that are illuminated indicating at least a quantity of messages available via the telecommunications device.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the signals correspond to messages available via the telecommunication device.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein receipt of a first type of the messages cause the light panel to illuminate a first portion of lights and receipt of a second, different type of the messages cause the light panel to illuminate a second, different portion of the lights.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein various combinations of the plurality of interconnected portions create an artistic representation when illuminated by corresponding light segments of the light panel.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the messages include at least messages directed to the telecommunications device and messages directed to a social network associated with the user.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a light source configured to selectively direct emission of light to different areas proximate to the light source, the light source to receive signals from a processor of a telecommunications device and, in response to the signals, to activate and deactivate the emission of light to the different areas based at least in part on a customizable assignment; and

a shell to cover the light source, the shell having a plurality of areas to receive the light emitted by the light source, each of the plurality of areas including different attributes that are visible when illuminated by the direct emission of light to a corresponding area, wherein the shell includes a plurality of portions that are independently made visible to a user when a corresponding portion of lights is illuminated indicating at least a quantity of messages available via the telecommunications device.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising a light controller to direct the light source to emit light to the different areas, wherein the light controller is programmable, based at least in part on received user input, to provide the customized assignment of the light to the different areas.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the light controller is configured to implement user assignment of a first light area with a first type of message that includes a text message and a second light area with a second type of message.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the signals are associated with the messages received by a telecommunications device.