Patent Application
20100130271
Disclosed are slider form factor devices and methods of a slider form factor device configured for a morphing effect, and more particularly a device including a sliding body having a transparent member to transmit light therethrough from a display module of the main body.
The makers of mobile communication devices are increasingly adding functionality to their devices. For example, cellular telephones include features such as still and video cameras, video streaming and two-way video calling, email functionality, Internet browsers, music players, FM radios with stereo audio and organizers. While there is a trend toward the inclusion of more features and improvements for current features, there is also a trend toward smaller mobile communication devices. As mobile communication device technology has continued to improve, the devices have become increasingly smaller. Fewer and/or smaller hardware and software components are therefore desirable when adding new features and making improvements to the current features in the smaller devices. Fewer hardware components may provide a cost benefit to the consumer.
Manufacturers constantly strive to differentiate their products from those of others available in the same market. In the mobile communication device market a desirable design feature is a morphable, smart or stealth display, keypad, button, key or indicator which may be illuminated when a particular function, mode or application is active and otherwise darkened. To simplify a user interface of a device to include particular features of interest, a morphing effect typically blackens all or certain portions of a display, keypad, button, key or indicator, leaving illuminated those of interest.
A slider form factor device typically includes a main body, a sliding body slideably coupled to the main body, and a keypad module supported by the main body which is visible when the device is in the open position. It would be beneficial in a slider form factor mobile communication device to simplify the mechanical product layout to create more size compelling products.
Disclosed are slider form factor devices and methods of a slider form factor device having a transparent member supported by its sliding body, and a display module supported by its main body. The transparent member of the sliding body is on top of the display module of the main body when the device is in both the open position and in the closed position. The transparent member is configured to transmit light received from the display module therethrough. The transparent member provides a morphing effect as light emitted by the display module providing indicia is transmitted through the transparent member, the indicia exhibited through the transparent member changing from first indicia to different indicia depending upon the mode of the device.
The display module of the main body changes its exhibited indicia depending upon the position of the sliding body relative to the main body and/or the mode of the device. When the slider form factor device is in a closed position, the display module of the main body will exhibit first indicia so that the first indicia are visible through the transparent member. When the slider form factor device is in an open position and thus in a different mode, the display module of the main body will exhibit different indicia so that the different indicia are visible through the transparent member. In this way, the indicia of the transparent member on the sliding body morphs from first indicia to different indicia dependent upon whether the slider form factor device is in an open position or a closed position and/or dependent upon the mode of the device.
The display module of the main body is an input sensitive display module. In the open position of the device, the lower portion of the display module can exhibit a keypad for utilization of keypad input while the top portion of the display module can provide different indicia visible through the transparent member of the sliding body. The disclosed slider form factor device can enable a size and volume optimized product while simplifying at the same time the mechanical layout of the sliding components.
The instant disclosure is provided to explain in an enabling fashion the best modes of making and using various embodiments in accordance with the present invention. The disclosure is further offered to enhance an understanding and appreciation for the invention principles and advantages thereof, rather than to limit in any manner the invention. While the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described here, it is clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
It is understood that the use of relational terms, if any, such as first and second, up and down, and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.
Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inventive principles are best implemented with or in software programs or instructions and integrated circuits (ICs) such as application specific ICs. In the interest of brevity and minimization of any risk of obscuring the principles and concepts according to the present invention, discussion of such software and ICs, if any, is limited to the essentials with respect to the principles and concepts within the preferred embodiments.
The slider form factor device 102 includes a main body 108 and a sliding body 110 slideably coupled to the main body 108. A display module 112 is supported by the main body 110. The display module 112 can be an input sensitive display module. Any type of display module 112, such as polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), twisted neumatic (TN)or a basic liquid crystal display (LCD), is within the scope of this discussion. A transparent member 114 including an input sensitive layer 116 is supported by the sliding body 108. The transparent member 114 may be composed of glass or plastic, which may be transparent or substantially transparent, such as including a tint. The input sensitive layer 116 can be a capacitive layer or any other type of input sensitive material. The transparent member 114 is configured to transmit light from the input sensitive display module 112 therethrough.
The transparent member 114 contains substantially transparent components, including the input sensitive layer 116 attached on the rear part of the transparent member 114. The input sensitive layer 116 slides with the transparent member 116 which, as discussed, is supported by the sliding body 110. Indicia or an image depicted on the display module 112 is visible through the transparent member 114. To conserve energy in the closed position 104, the portion 120 of the display module 112 may emit light 118 so that light indicated by arrow 118 is viewable through the transparent member 114 however, the portion 122 may be unutilized.
Referring to
The transparent member 214 is configured to transmit light from the display module 212 therethrough. In the open position 206, indicia or an image depicted on the display module 212 is visible through the transparent member 214. The portion 222 of the display module 212 may emit light indicated by arrow 218 so that it is viewable through the transparent member 214. Portion 226 of the display module 212 may exhibit a keypad in the open position 226, as is discussed below.
In the open position 406, indicia 450, 452, 454, 456, 458, 460, 462 and 464 are depicted which may be, for example, navigation controls. Referring back to
As discussed, in moving the sliding body in the direction of arrow 424, the mode of the slider form factor device 402 can change. The indicia exhibited on the display module 412 can include two portions 422 and 426, the portion 422 viewable through the transparent member 414, and the now exposed portion 426 viewable directly. Moving the sliding member in the direction of arrow 424 can enable a mode change of the device 402 different from that of the device 302 (see
In the open position, the display module 412 is partially exposed. The exposed portion 426 can exhibit a keypad. The non-exposed portion 422 of the display module, as discussed above, can exhibit different indicia than when the device 402 is in the closed position 304 (see
While morphing typically utilizes a shutter mechanism, the disclosed morphing mechanism changes the indicia, rather than hiding non-utilized indicia. The layout of the disclosed slider form factor device can enable a size and volume optimized product while simplifying at the same time the mechanical layout of the sliding components. The sliding body may be thinner that a device with a shutter mechanism due to a reduction in the number of components to carry out the disclosed morphing effect.
This disclosure is intended to explain how to fashion and use various embodiments in accordance with the technology rather than to limit the true, intended, and fair scope and spirit thereof. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment(s) was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principle of the described technology and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims, as may be amended during the pendency of this application for patent, and all equivalents thereof, when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
