Patent Application
20150229747
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to mobile electronic device accessories and, more particularly, to a light accessory which enhances viewing of the screen of a mobile electronic device in direct sunlight.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of mobile electronic devices (or mobile computers), such as smartphones or tablet computers, is well known. Such devices typically utilize a display screen, such as a touch screen as a user interface for visual output and for manual input. Such screens customarily utilize display technology which provides its own light source, thereby enabling the screen to be easily viewed in many lighting scenarios ranging from complete darkness to fully lit rooms. A problem which still exists, however, is that the display screens on smartphones (or tablets) are typically very difficult to view in environments which include direct sunlight. Indeed, when in direct sunlight, smartphone screens in conventional configurations are often impossible to properly see. As the screen in such a device is often provides both the manual input and output, such a sunny environment often renders the device unusable. Thus, there remains a need for an integrated smartphone light accessory which would allow the screen of a smart phone to be viewable even in direct sunlight. It would be helpful if such an integrated smartphone light accessory employed a high capacity light emitting diode (“LED”) located within the phone to offset the light from the sun. It would be additionally desirable for such an integrated smartphone light accessory to be selectively deployed when desired by a user through a physical, manual actuator.
The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a smartphone light accessory adapted to be integrated on a smartphone, enabling use while in direct sunlight. The primary components of Applicant's integrated smartphone light accessory are an LED assembly defined by a lens, reflector, substrate, submount, junction, and chip. When in operation, the integrated smartphone light accessory allows light from a high capacity LED to be directed towards the screen of a smartphone to enable the screen to be viewed in sunlight. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by the screen configurations of the prior art are removed.
An integrated smartphone light accessory for enabling the screen of a smartphone to be viewed in the presence of substantially any amount ambient light, including direct sunlight. The integrated smartphone light accessory comprises four high capacity LED light assemblies disposed on the frame of a smartphone around the screen. While each LED light assembly is configured in a similar manner as conventional LED, the LED light assemblies of the present invention additionally includes an attached power source, a switch for manually activating the LED light, and an external adhesive for fastening the LED light assembly to the smartphone. The LED light assemblies are configured to be operated in pairs, whereby actuation of the switch on one LED light assembly causes that LED light assembly and a second LED light assembly to illuminate or turn off if it was illuminated when the switch was actuated. Because the high capacity lighting elements in the LED light assemblies are directed towards the screen, when illuminated, they provide sufficient illumination to counteract glare from ambient lighting sources, such as the sun, enabling the screen to be viewed.
It is an object of this invention to provide an integrated smartphone light accessory which would allow the screen of a smart phone to be viewable even in direct sunlight.
It is another object of this invention to provide an integrated smartphone light accessory which employs a high capacity LED located within the phone to offset the light from the sun.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an integrated smartphone light accessory able to be selectively deployed when desired by a user through a physical, manual actuator.
These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular
Referring now to
When the LED light assemblies 11 are illuminated, the high capacity lighting element is directed towards the screen 21 and provides sufficient illumination to counteract glare from ambient lighting sources, such as the sun, enabling the screen 21 to be viewed.
In an alternate embodiment, a second electrical connection wire 11b is provided to connect all four high capacity LED light assemblies 11 and enable them to be operated in concert through the actuation of the switch on any one LED light assembly 11.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
