Patent Application
20100271760
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to multi-layer films, and particularly, to a colored multi-layer film, and an electronic device shell coated with the multi-layer film.
2. Description of Related Art
Colored shells are widely used in electronic devices, such as mobile phones. Currently, the coloration of such shells is usually produced by painting. However, many paints are not environmentally friendly. For example, some paints or by-products thereof can be harmful to humans. Furthermore, many painted surfaces are not wear-resistant and are easily scratched.
What is needed, therefore, is a film and an electronic device shell coated with the film, which can overcome the above-described shortcomings.
Many aspects of the present multi-layer film and electronic device shell can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present multi-layer film and electronic device shell. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views.
Various embodiments of the present multi-layer film and electronic device shell will now be described in detail below and with reference to the drawings. In this description, unless the context indicates otherwise, a reference to “light” includes a reference to a light beam or light beams.
Referring to
The top layer 140 and the bottom layer 120 are both metallic. The top layer 140 and the bottom layer 120 each can contain a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum, nickel, chromium, and alloy of the nickel and chromium. In the present embodiment, the top layer 140 and the bottom layer 120 contain different materials, and a reflection capability of the bottom layer 120 is greater than that of the top layer 140. Preferably, the top layer 140 is a reflective-transmissive layer, and the bottom layer 120 is a total-reflection layer. A thickness of the bottom layer 120 is greater than that of the top layer 140. In particular, a thickness of the top layer 140 can be in a range from 3 nanometers (nm) to 30 nm, and a thickness of the bottom layer 120 can be in a range from 5 nm to 200 nm.
The top layer 140 is capable of reflecting part of incident ambient light 160 (e.g., visible light which includes red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet lightwaves) to be a first reflected light L1, and allowing another part of the incident ambient light 160 to transmit therethrough. The bottom layer 120 is capable of reflecting part of the transmitted light (not labeled) to be a second reflected light L2. The first reflected light L1 and the second reflected light L2 are fundamentally derived from the same incident ambient light 160 on the multi-layer film 100, and thus have the possibility of interfering with each other.
The medium layer 130 is sandwiched between the top layer 140 and the bottom layer 120. The medium layer 130 is transparent, and contains a material selected from a group consisting of silicon dioxide (SiO2), titanium oxide (TiO2), niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and magnesium fluoride (MgF2). In certain embodiments, the medium layer 130 is made of the material selected from the group consisting of SiO2, TiO2, Nb2O5, Al2O3, and MgF2. A thickness of the medium layer 130 can be in a range from 50 nm to 1000 nm. The thickness of the medium layer 130 impacts a light path difference between the first reflected light L1 and the second reflected light L2. With this configuration, the medium layer 130 is capable of controlling the light path difference between the first reflected light L1 and the second reflected light L2, such that the first reflected light L1 and the second reflected light L2 interfere with each other on the multi-layer film 100 to produce a desired color appearance of the multi-layer film 100.
When the light path difference between the first reflected light L1 and the second reflected light L2 is an even multiple of half of a central wavelength of a particular color lightwave of visible light, that color lightwave is enhanced. Under this condition, the multi-layer film 100 (and also the entire multi-layer film structure) appears to have a color substantially that of the most enhanced color lightwave. In one example, among the color lightwaves of visible light, i.e., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, two of these color lightwaves may be enhanced. For instance, red and green lightwaves may both be enhanced. In such example, the multi-layer film 100 would appear to have a color comprised of a mixture of red and green; i.e., yellow. If the red lightwaves are enhanced more than the green lightwaves, the color has a tinge of red in it. If the green lightwaves are enhanced more than the red lightwaves, the color has a tinge of green in it.
In particular, when the medium layer 130 contains aluminum oxide, the relationship between the thickness of the medium layer 130 and the color appearance of the multi-layer 100 produced is generally as follows. When the thickness of the medium layer 130 is in a range from 195 nm to 215 nm, the color appearance of the multi-layer film 100 is substantially red. When the thickness of the medium layer 130 is in a range from 170 nm to 190 nm, the color appearance of the multi-layer film 100 is substantially orange. When the thickness of the medium layer 130 is in a range from 153 nm to 173 nm, the color appearance of the multi-layer film 100 is substantially yellow. When the thickness of the medium layer 130 is in a range from 448 nm to 468 nm, the color appearance of the multi-layer film 100 is substantially green. When the thickness of the medium layer 130 is in a range from 105 nm to 125 nm, the color appearance of the multi-layer film 100 is substantially blue. When the thickness of the medium layer 130 is in a range from 367 nm to 387 nm, the color appearance of the multi-layer film 100 is substantially violet.
Referring to
It is understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200910301839.8 | Apr 2009 | CN | national |
This application is related to commonly-assigned co-pending applications entitled, “MULTI-LAYER FILM STRUCTURE WITH MEDIUM LAYER,” (Atty. Docket No. US24328), and “MULTI-LAYER FILM AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE SHELL HAVING SAME,” (Atty. Docket No. US24658). The above-identified applications are filed simultaneously with the present application. The disclosures of the above identified applications are incorporated herein by reference.
