Patent Application
20050163310
1. Field
The present disclosure is directed to communication device keypad illumination. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to illumination of a cellular phone numeric keypad.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, mobile communication devices, such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants, and the like, allow users to engage in voice and other communications in a variety of settings. Because of this versatility, a user may desire to engage in a communication in a setting with low light. For example, a user may wish to place a call in the outdoors at night or in some other low light setting. To allow a user to see a keypad of a mobile communication device in a low light setting, many mobile communication devices use keypad backlighting techniques. For example, a mobile communication device may use a transparent keypad with a light source behind the keypad to illuminate the keypad. To adequately and evenly illuminate all of the keys on the keypad, the mobile communication device must contain numerous light sources and/or light guides.
Unfortunately, these light sources and light guides take up precious space within the mobile communication device. This can be especially problematic due to the desire to reduce the size of a mobile communication device while increasing its functionality. Furthermore, backlit keypads create the additional problem of limiting materials used for the keypad to transparent and semi-transparent materials.
Thus, there is a need for improved mobile communication device keypad illumination.
The embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the following figures, wherein like numerals designate like elements, and wherein:
The disclosure provides for communication device keypad illumination. According to one embodiment the present disclosure provides a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device can include a housing, a mobile communication device numeric keypad coupled to the housing, the mobile communication device numeric keypad having an external visible portion. The mobile communication device can also include a light source coupled to the housing, the light source dedicated to direct light substantially at the external visible portion of the mobile communication device numeric keypad to illuminate the mobile communication device numeric keypad. The mobile communication device numeric keypad can have a ultraviolet reactive portion and the light source can be an ultraviolet light source. The ultraviolet reactive portion can include a fluorescent dye coupled to the mobile communication device numeric keypad. The mobile communication device can also include a first housing, a hinge coupled to the first housing, and a second housing coupled to the hinge, where the mobile communication device numeric keypad can be coupled to the first housing and the light source can be coupled to the second housing. The mobile communication device can further include a display coupled to the second housing and a speaker coupled to the second housing. The light source can be an incandescent light source or a light emitting diode light source.
The mobile communication device can additionally include a reflective ring coupled to the housing, the reflective ring substantially surrounding the mobile communication device numeric keypad. The reflective ring can be configured to reflect light from the light source onto the mobile communication device numeric keypad. The reflective ring can cover the light source.
The mobile communication device numeric keypad can be an opaque mobile communication device numeric keypad. The mobile communication device can also include a first housing, a hinge section coupled to the first housing, the hinge section including a pivot housing, and a second housing coupled to the hinge section where the mobile communication device numeric keypad is coupled to the first housing and the light source is coupled to the pivot housing.
The mobile communication device can further include a first housing, a hinge section coupled to the first housing, the hinge section including a pivot housing, and a second housing coupled to the hinge section, the second housing including a second housing hinge section including the light source, the second housing hinge section configured to expose the light source to an external portion of the mobile communication device when the first housing is closed against the second housing. The light source can include a laser pointer.
According to another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cellular phone. The cellular phone can include a housing, a cellular phone numeric keypad coupled to the housing, the cellular phone numeric keypad having an external visible portion, the external visible portion including an ultraviolet reactive portion, and an ultraviolet light source coupled to the housing, the ultraviolet light source dedicated to direct light substantially directly at the external visible portion of the cellular phone numeric keypad to illuminate the cellular phone numeric keypad. The ultraviolet reactive portion can include a fluorescent dye coupled to the cellular phone numeric keypad. The cellular phone can also include a first housing, a hinge coupled to the first housing, and a second housing coupled to the hinge, where the cellular phone numeric keypad is coupled to the first housing and the ultraviolet light source is coupled to the second housing. The cellular phone can additionally include a display coupled to the second housing and a speaker coupled to the second housing. The ultraviolet light source can be an incandescent ultraviolet light source or a light emitting diode ultraviolet light source. The cellular phone can further include a reflective ring coupled to the housing, the reflective ring substantially surrounding the cellular phone numeric keypad, the reflective ring configured to reflect light from the ultraviolet light source onto a face of the cellular phone numeric keypad. The cellular phone numeric keypad can include a substantially opaque cellular phone numeric keypad. The cellular phone can also include a first housing, a hinge coupled to the first housing, and a second housing coupled to the hinge, where the cellular phone numeric keypad can be coupled to the first housing and the ultraviolet light source can be coupled to the hinge. The ultraviolet light source can be configured to emit light at a wavelength from substantially 380 nm to substantially 405 nm.
According to another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cellular phone. The cellular phone can include a housing, a display coupled to the housing, a controller coupled to the display, and an opaque cellular phone numeric keypad coupled to the housing and the controller, the opaque cellular phone numeric keypad including an external visible portion, the external visible portion comprising an ultraviolet reactive portion including a fluorescent dye. The cellular phone can also include an ultraviolet light source coupled to the controller and coupled to the housing, the ultraviolet light source dedicated to direct light substantially at the external visible portion of the opaque cellular phone numeric keypad to illuminate the opaque cellular phone numeric keypad. The controller can be configured to control the operation of the ultraviolet light source.
The light source 130 can be located anywhere on the mobile communication device 110 where it can provide light to the face of the keypad 120. According to this embodiment, the light source 130 can be located on the second housing 114 below the display 150. As another example, the light source 130 can be located below the display of a unitary housing candy-bar style phone. The light source 130 can be a light emitting diode, an incandescent light source, a fiber optic output coupled to a display light source, or any other useful light source. The light source 130 can utilize lightguiding features to distribute substantially all of the light 170 to the keypad 120. For example, the light source 130 can employ reflectors, diffusers, and the like to distribute substantially all of the light 170 to the keypad 120. The light source may be any useful color light source, such as red, white, green, blue, or the like. The keypad 120 can be a substantially opaque keypad and may include printed graphics or laser etchings that can produce sufficient contrast for viewing the keypad 120 in low light conditions. Additionally, the light source 130 can be an ultraviolet light source such as a blacklight, a dark purple light source, or the like. For example, the light source 130 can supply light at a wavelength from substantially 380 nm to substantially 405 nm. Thus, the keypad 120 may employ an ultraviolet reactive portion such as fluorescent dye inks that respond to the ultraviolet radiation and produce a glowing effect for readability in low light conditions. The keypad 120 may also employ a phosphorescent portion. For example, the keypad may use an ink that continues to glow after being briefly illuminated by the light source 130. The hinge section 140 can provide a pivot for the first housing 112 and the second housing 114 when opening and closing the mobile communication device 100. The controller 180 can be included within the housing 110 and thus, may not be visible.
In operation, the controller 180 controls the operations of the mobile communication device 100. For example, the controller 180 can control the transmission and reception of signals by the mobile communication device 100 on a wireless network. The controller 180 can also receive input signals from the keypad 120. The controller 180 can additionally control the operation of the light source 130. In particular, the controller 180 can enable the light source 180 to direct light 170 substantially at the keypad 120.
The operations of this invention are preferably implemented on a programmed processor. However, the controller 180 may also be implemented on a general purpose or special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a hardware electronic or logic circuit such as a discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device such as a PLD, PLA, FPGA or PAL, or the like. In general, any device on which resides a finite state machine capable of implementing the operations disclosed may be used to implement the processor functions of this invention.
While this invention has been described with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, various components of the embodiments may be interchanged, added, or substituted in the other embodiments. Also, all of the elements of each figure are not necessary for operation of the disclosed embodiments. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art of the disclosed embodiments would be enabled to make and use the invention by simply employing the elements of the independent claims. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
