PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH AN INTEGRATED SWITCHABLE MIRROR

• US 20080186560A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, Nicole Jurie
• Granted Patent: US 7,679,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads

Abstract

Portable electronic devices with displays having switchable mirrors are described. The switchable mirror covers the display and is capable of switching from a transparent state to a reflecting state responsive to a switch in the portable electronic device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the display is switched off when the switchable mirror switches to its reflecting state. In another embodiment of the present invention, the switchable mirror is switched to its reflecting state when the portable electronic device is switched off.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing sized so that said electronic device is portable;

a display mounted in said housing, said display showing the state or operation of said portable electronic device; and

a switchable mirror covering said display and capable of switching from a transparent state to a reflecting state responsive to a switch in said portable electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said housing sized to be held in a person'"'"'s hand.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein said display is switched off when said switchable mirror switches to said reflecting state.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein said switchable mirror is switched to said reflecting state when said portable electronic device is switched off.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein said portable electronic device is selected from the group comprising cellular telephones, PDAs, music players, and GPS devices.

6. The electronic device system of claim 2 wherein said switchable mirror completely covers said display.

7. The electronic device system of claim 2 wherein said switchable mirror partially covers said display.

8. The electronic device system of claim 7 wherein said switchable mirror covers a center of said display with a margin of said display extending around said switchable mirror so that light from said display margin can illuminate a viewer of said switchable mirror.

9. The electronic device system of claim 2 wherein said switchable mirror is flat.

10. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein said switchable mirror includes a concave surface facing away from said display.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said portable electronic device comprise a laptop computer.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein said display is switched off when said switchable mirror switches to said reflecting state.

13. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein said switchable mirror is switched to said reflecting state when said portable electronic device is switched off.

14. The electronic device system of claim 11 wherein said switchable mirror completely covers said display.

15. The electronic device system of claim 11 wherein said switchable mirror partially covers said display.

16. The electronic device system of claim 15 wherein said switchable mirror covers a center of said display with a margin of said display extending around said switchable mirror so that light from said display margin can illuminate a viewer of said switchable mirror.

17. The electronic device system of claim 11 wherein said switchable mirror is flat.

18. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein said switchable mirror includes a concave surface facing away from said display.