Accessory, electronic assembly and controlling method

• US 9,651,985 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Wildner, Bernhard, Shih, Wen-Yu, Barthelemy, Matthew John, Massucco, Michael Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kumar
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONYEKABA, AMY
• Application Number:
  US14/094,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20150153768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 4555758
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/022 Viewing apparatus G02B27/04, G02B27/06, G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

An accessory suitable for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a display area. The accessory includes a coupling portion and a cover portion. The coupling portion is suitable to be coupled to the electronic device. The cover portion is connected to the coupling portion and is suitable for covering the display area of the electronic device. The cover portion has a plurality of light-transmitting areas, and the light-transmitting areas are arranged on the display area in an array. An image generated by the display area is projected out of the cover portion through the light-transmitting areas. Moreover, an electronic assembly containing the electronic device and the accessory is also provided. Furthermore, a controlling method is also provided for controlling the electronic assembly.

Claims

1. An accessory for an electronic device, wherein the electronic device has an image display area and a distance sensor, the accessory comprising:

a removable housing having a coupling portion, a cover portion, and a linear segment spanning between the coupling portion and the cover portion;

the coupling portion being shaped to couple to a back side of the electronic device, the back side being opposite the display area; and

the cover portion being integrally formed with the coupling portion along the linear segment, the cover portion being movable about the linear segment with respect to the coupling portion between a closed position, at which the cover portion covers the image display area of the electronic device when the coupling portion is coupled to the electronic device, and an open position, at which the image display area is uncovered, wherein the cover portion has a plurality of light-transmitting areas, the plurality of light-transmitting areas are arranged on the display area in an array, an image generated by the display area is projected out of the cover portion through the plurality of light-transmitting areas;

wherein the cover portion has a distance sensing hole formed therethrough, the distance sensing hole being aligned with the distance sensor when the cover is in the closed position such that the distance sensor remains operative when the cover is in the closed position; and

wherein the image displayed by the display area is controlled, at least in part, by a position of the cover portion such that when the cover portion is in the closed position, the image output by the display area depicts a plurality of low-resolution blocks, the plurality of low-resolution blocks respectively correspond to the plurality of light-transmitting areas and are visible through the cover portion via the light-transmitting areas, with each of the low-resolution blocks containing a plurality of pixels, and when the cover portion is in the open position, the image generated by the display area is enabled to display at a higher resolution than the low-resolution blocks.

2. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein a maximum width of each of the light-transmitting areas is less than 3 millimeters.

3. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein a minimum width of each of the blocks is greater than the maximum width of each of the corresponding light-transmitting areas.

4. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the minimum width of each of the blocks is greater than a shortest distance between any two adjacent light-transmitting areas.

5. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible portion defining the linear segment coupling the cover portion to the coupling portion.

6. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling portion is concave and covers the back side of the electronic device to fix a location of the coupling portion relative to the electronic device.

7. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a magnetic coupling member, the coupling portion has another magnetic coupling member, and the magnetic coupling member and the other magnetic coupling member are magnetically attracted to each other to fix a location of the coupling portion relative to the electronic device.

8. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a magnetic attachment member, the cover portion has another magnetic attachment member, and the magnetic attachment member and the other magnetic attachment member are magnetically attracted to each other to fix a location of the cover portion relative to the display area.

9. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a pair of audio output areas, the cover portion covers the pair of audio output areas when in the closed position, the cover portion has a pair of audio output holes, and the pair of audio output holes respectively expose the pair of audio output areas.

10. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover portion has a plurality of through-holes to form the plurality of light-transmitting areas.

11. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the through-holes has a truncated pyramid shape.

12. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover portion has a plurality of through-holes and a plurality of light-transmitting bodies, and the plurality of light-transmitting bodies are respectively located inside the plurality of through-holes to form the plurality of light-transmitting areas.

13. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover portion has a first opaque layer, a second opaque layer, and a light-transmitting layer disposed between the first opaque layer and the second opaque layer, the first opaque layer has a plurality of first openings, the second opaque layer has a plurality of second openings, and the plurality of first openings are respectively aligned with the plurality of second openings to form the plurality of light-transmitting areas.

14. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-transmitting layer has a plurality of first columns and a plurality of second columns, the plurality of first columns are respectively extended to the plurality of first openings, and the plurality of second columns are respectively extended to the plurality of second openings.

15. An electronic assembly, comprising:

an electronic device having a display, a touch sensor, a distance sensor, and a display device having a display area, wherein the touch sensor is overlapped with the display area; and

an accessory comprising;

a removable housing having a coupling portion, a cover portion, and a linear segment spanning between the coupling portion and the cover portion;

the coupling portion being shaped to couple to a back side of the electronic device, the back side being opposite the display area; and

the cover portion being connected to the coupling portion such that the cover portion is movable between positions that alternately cover and expose the display area of the electronic device, wherein the cover portion has a plurality of light-transmitting areas, the plurality of light-transmitting areas are arranged on the display area in an array, and an image generated by the display area is projected out of the cover portion through the plurality of light-transmitting areas;

wherein the cover portion has a distance sensing hole formed therethrough, the distance sensing hole being aligned with the distance sensor when the cover portion covers the display area such that the distance sensor remains operative; and

wherein, in response to the distance sensor sensing an object approaching a threshold distance when the cover portion is closed, the image displayed by the display area is turned off.

16. The electronic assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the image displayed by the display area is controlled, at least in part, by a position of the cover portion such that when the cover portion is in the closed position, the image output by the display area depicts a plurality of low-resolution blocks, the plurality of low-resolution blocks respectively correspond to the plurality of light-transmitting areas and are visible through the cover portion via the light-transmitting areas, with each of the low-resolution blocks containing a plurality of pixels, and when the cover portion is in the open position, the image generated by the display area is enabled to display at a higher resolution than the low-resolution blocks.

17. A controlling method for controlling an electronic assembly, wherein the electronic assembly comprises an electronic device and an accessory, the electronic device has a display area, a distance sensor, and a touch sensor, the accessory has a cover portion, the cover portion has a plurality of light-transmitting areas arranged in an array, the cover portion is movable between a closed position, at which the display area is covered by the cover portion, and an open position, and the cover portion has a distance sensing hole formed therethrough, the distance sensing hole being aligned with the distance sensor when the cover is in the closed position, the controlling method comprises:

detecting an element on the cover portion with a first detection mechanism of the electronic device;

detecting a first event;

displaying a first image on the display area based on detection of the first event in response to determining that the cover portion moved from the open position to the closed position to cover the display area, the first image being projected out of the cover portion through the plurality of light-transmitting areas,

sensing with the distance sensor when the cover is in the closed position;

displaying a different image on the display area based on the first event in response to determining that the cover portion moved from the closed position to the open position such that the cover portion is not positioned to cover the display area;

detecting that the cover portion is in the closed position;

displaying an image on the display area in low resolution such that the image is visible through the plurality of light-transmitting areas;

sensing an object approaching a threshold distance from the electronic device when the cover portion is in the closed; and

discontinuing display of the image in response to the sensing of the object when the cover portion is closed.

18. The controlling method as claimed in claim 17, wherein when the first image is displayed on the display, a touch sensitivity of the touch sensor is increased.

19. The controlling method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the event comprises a pressing of a key of the electronic device.

20. The controlling method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the event comprises a touching of the touch sensor on the display.

21. The controlling method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the event comprises the electronic device receiving a notification.

22. The controlling method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

detecting a second event when the processing unit displays the first image on the display area according to the first event; and

turning off the display according to the second event.

23. The controlling method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second event comprises a pressing of the key or another key of the electronic device.

24. The controlling method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second event comprises the image displaying a preset time when the touch sensor is not touched.

25. The controlling method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

detecting a distance of an object with a second detection mechanism of the electronic device;

turning off the display when determining the distance of the object is less than a threshold value.