Patent Publication Number: US-2007103762-A1

Title: Portable communication device with changeable color cueing

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention generally relates to portable communication devices, and more particularly to a portable communication device which changes color for the purpose of cueing a user.  
     BACKGROUND  
      With the development of wireless communication and information processing technologies, portable communication devices such as mobile phones are now in widespread use. These portable communication devices enable users to enjoy high technology services anytime and anywhere. In addition, at present many manufacturers make multifunctional portable communication devices such as mobile phones incorporating cameras, thus creating even greater demand for more flexible technologies.  
      Currently, the portable communication device provides a variety of means for notifying (cueing) the user of a new incoming call or message. For example, the portable communication device may sound a ring tone, play music, or vibrate. However, when the user is in a meeting or on a noisy street, he/she may not hear the ring tone or music. In addition, when the portable communication device is not beside the user&#39;s body, he/she may not feel the vibration. Furthermore, sounding the ring tone, playing music and vibrating to cue the user all demand a large amount of power, thus causing greater electricity consumption.  
      Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved portable communication device which overcome the above-mentioned problems.  
     SUMMARY  
      A portable communication device according to one embodiment is provided. The portable communication device includes a main body, an electrically conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer. The main body has an outer surface. The electrically conductive layer is coated onto the outer surface of the main body. The electrochromic layer contains an electrochromic material. The electrochromic layer is coated onto the electrically conductive layer, and is electrically connected with the main body across the electrically conductive layer.  
      Other novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Many aspects of the portable communication device 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 portable communication device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a mobile phone in accordance with a first embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged, schematic, partially cross-sectional view of the mobile phone shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of electrical relationships between certain components of the mobile phone;  
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a preferred operation of the mobile phone shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic, partially cross-sectional view of a mobile phone in accordance with a second embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring now to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 1  shows a mobile phone/portable communication device  100  according to a first embodiment of the present portable communication device with changeable color cueing. The mobile phone  100  is taken here as an exemplary application. Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the mobile phone  100  includes a main body  10 , an electrically conductive layer  20 , and an electrochromic layer  30 . The electrically conductive layer  20  and the electrochromic layer  30  are coated onto the main body  10  one on top of the other in that order, and the electrochromic layer  30  is electrically connected with the main body  10  across the electrically conductive layer  20 , so as to allow color-change of the main body  10 .  
      The main body  10  includes a display portion  12  and a plurality of keys  14 . A user controls some functions of the mobile phone  100 , for example acknowledging incoming calls or sending messages, by using the keys  14 . Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the main body  10  further includes main circuitry  16  and a voltage-supplying device  18 . The main circuitry  16  is configured for providing controlling operations for the mobile phone  100 . The voltage-supplying device  18  is configured for supplying different voltages to the electrochromic layer  30 . The voltage-supplying device  18  is electronically connected with the main circuitry  16 .  
      The electrically conductive layer  20  contains indium tin oxide to form transparent sheet electrodes. The electrically conductive layer  20  is configured for electrical conduction between the voltage-supplying device  18  and the electrochromic layer  30 . The electrically conductive layer  20  may be coated onto a section of an outer surface of the main body  10 , for example, between the keys  14 , or be coated onto the whole outer surface of the main body  10 .  
      The electrochromic layer  30  contains an electrochromic material, which is transparent and colorless. The electrochromic layer  30  is coated onto the electrically conductive layer  20  by using, for example, spraying, printing or plating. The electrochromic layer  30  is electrically connected with the voltage-supplying device  18  of the main body  10  across the electrically conductive layer  20 . The electrochromic layer  30  changes color, for example, from transparent to colored, when a slight voltage is applied. Reversing or neutralizing the voltage causes the electrochromic layer  30  to return to its original color. With different voltages, different colors of the electrochromic layer  30  can be acheived. For example, when supplying a voltage in the range from 1 volt to 2 volts, a navy blue color may be achieved. Thus, the mobile phone  100  can be given a color-change function. The user can open/close the color-change function by using the keys  14  to open/close the voltage-supplying device  18 .  
      The user can program the mobile phone  100  so that pre-identified callers (or senders) can be assigned a particular voltage. The function of cueing the user of the source of incoming calls via the color of the mobile phone  100  is thus enabled.  
      In the following description, it will be assumed that any incoming call (or message) is from a pre-identified caller (or sender), and not from a previously unknown caller (or sender). Referring also to  FIG. 4 , when an incoming call arrives at the mobile phone  100 , the color of the mobile phone  100  is changed as follows. First, in step S 401 , the main circuitry  16  determines whether there is an incoming call. If there is no incoming call, the procedure is ended. If there is an incoming call, in step S 402 , the main circuitry  16  identifies who the caller is. Then in step S 403 , the main circuitry  16  activates the voltage-supplying device  18  to supply a voltage associated with the caller. Next, in step S 404 , the voltage supplied by the voltage-supplying device  18  is applied across the electrically conductive layer  20 , and an electrical current flows to the electrochromic layer  30 , thus, the color of the mobile phone  100  is changed. Then, in step S 405 , the main circuitry  16  determines whether there is a signal or answering message which indicates that the user has acknowledged the incoming call. If the user has not acknowledged the incoming call, the procedure returns to step S 403 . If the user has acknowledged the incoming call, in step S 406 , the main circuitry  16  deactivates the voltage-supplying device  18 , and there is no electrical current to flow to the electrochromic layer  30 . Thus, in step S 407 , the mobile phone  100  returns to its original color and the procedure is ended. In other words, until the user acknowledges the incoming call, the voltage-supplying device  18  remains activated by the main circuitry  16  of the mobile phone  100 , so that the color of the electrochromic layer  30  is changed for the user to be successfully cued to the incoming call.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , a mobile phone  200  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The mobile phone  200  of the second embodiment is similar to the mobile phone  100  of the first embodiment, except that the mobile phone  200  further includes a surface paint layer  40  coated onto the electrochromic layer  30 . The surface paint layer  40  is transparent and colorless, for enhancing luster and brightness of an outer surface of the mobile phone  200 .  
      Compared with a typical mobile phone, the present mobile phone  100  has the following advantages. Firstly, when an incoming call arrives at the mobile phone  100 , the electrochromic layer  30  of the mobile phone  100  changes color so as to cue the user. Secondly, when an incoming call arrives at the mobile phone  100 , the user can tell who the caller is according to the color of the mobile phone  100 . Finally, the electrochromic layer  30  changes color when a slight voltage is applied, thereby saving electricity.  
      It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.