Devices and methods for changing the appearance of a mobile communications device

• US 8,385,980 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Causey, Mark Edward, Luu, Adrianne Binh, Andrus, Scott, Jones, Kevin Wray
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLEY, STEVEN SHAUN
• Application Number:
  US12/038,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20090215498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 341/23, 345/156, 345/168, 345/173
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate

Abstract

The present invention is a housing of a mobile communications device that is entirely covered in pixels. The pixels allow the appearance of the housing to be customized or changed as a user desires. The pixels can be part of an active matrix or passive matrix LCD display that comprises the entire housing. A logic unit on the device allows the appearance of the housing to be selected, created, or downloaded.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

an outer housing;

a key adjacent the outer housing;

a plurality of pixels covering the substantial entirety of the outer housing and the key;

a central processing unit (CPU) in communication with the plurality of pixels; and

a logic unit which controls the plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are adapted to change appearance when an electrical signal is sent to the plurality of pixels based upon operation of the logic unit, the logic unit causing the plurality of pixels to display an animated design in response to when the mobile device is placed in an open position;

display a function of the key using a portion of the plurality of pixels covering the key when the mobile device is placed in an open position; and

display a portion of the animated design using the portion of the plurality of pixels covering the key, such that the portion of the plurality of pixels covering the key follows the appearance of the animated design, when the mobile device ceases to be in use.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the communication between the CPU and the plurality of pixels is facilitated by a thin-film transistor.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein a battery of the mobile device is coupled to the back of the mobile device.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a transparent outer layer covering the plurality of pixels.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixels are part of a liquid crystal display (LCD).

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the LCD is an active matrix addressed display.

7. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the LCD is a passive matrix addressed display.

8. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the LCD is a zero power bi-stable LCD.

9. The mobile device of claim 5, further comprising a transparent outer layer covering the LCD.

10. A method of changing the appearance of a housing of a mobile communications device comprising:

running a program which controls a plurality of pixels on the housing and a key adjacent the housing, the plurality of pixels covering the substantial entirety of the housing and the key;

selecting a desired appearance from the program;

communicating the desired appearance to the plurality of pixels;

causing the plurality of pixels to display an animated design in response to when the mobile communication device is placed in an open position;

causing the plurality of pixels to display a function of the key using a portion of the plurality of pixels covering the key when the mobile device is placed in an open position; and

causing the plurality of pixels to display a portion of the animated design using the portion of the plurality of pixels covering the key, such that the portion of the plurality of pixels covering the key follows the appearance of the animated design, when the mobile device ceases to be in use.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selecting step further comprises:

selecting a desired category from a menu; and

selecting a desired appearance from a submenu in the desired category.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

downloading a file from the internet;

saving the file to the mobile device; and

allowing a user to access the file with the program.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of pixels are part a liquid crystal display (LCD).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the LCD is an active matrix addressed display.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the LCD is a passive matrix addressed display.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the LCD is a zero power bi-stable LCD.

17. A mobile device, comprising:

a power supply;

a phone portion comprising a first plurality of electronic components connected to the power supply;

a computer portion coupled to the phone portion comprising a second plurality of electronic components connected to the power supply;

a housing for the first and second pluralities of electronic components, said housing substantially entirely covered in a first liquid crystal display (LCD) connected to the power supply;

a key adjacent the housing substantially entirely covered in a second LCD; and

a logic unit on the computer portion, wherein the first and second LCDs are adapted to change appearance when an electrical signal is sent to the first and second LCDs based upon operation of the logic unit, the logic unit

causing the first LCD to display an animated design in response to when the mobile device is placed in an open position;

causing the second LCD to display a function of the key using the second LCD when the mobile device is placed in an open position; and

causing the second LCD to display a portion of the animated design using the second LCD, such that the second LCD follows the appearance of the animated design, when the mobile device ceases to be in use.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second LCDs is an active matrix addressed display.

19. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second LCDs is a passive matrix addressed display.

20. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second LCDs is a zero power bi-stable LCD.