Patent ID: 12228810

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to the figures, various embodiments of an image panel configured to display a composite image when illuminated by a backlight unit are provided. In embodiments, the image panel may be a decorative or architectural panel that displays a first image in ambient light and an image that is a composite of the first image and an underlying image when the panel is backlit. In embodiments, the image panel includes a first image layer disposed on a transparent substrate. Disposed on the first image layer is a diffuser layer configured to block the underlying image layer in ambient light. The underlying image is disposed on the diffuser layer and includes opaque regions and an image regions. When a backlight unit illuminates the underlying image layer, the first image is altered by changing color, adding effects to the image, and/or creating a new image. These effects are collectively referred to as a “composite image” because the image viewable to the user is a composite of the two image layers.

In a particular embodiment, the image panel is incorporated into an electronic device as, e.g., a back or side panel of the electronic device, and uses the backlight of the display unit to also illuminate the image panel. Thus, taking as an example a cellphone, the back panel of the phone may display a first image when the cellphone is in sleep mode, but upon activating the front display, the back panel will then display a composite image using the activated backlight unit. The concept applies to other electronic devices, especially other electronic devices that include displays and already incorporate a backlight, such as laptops, tablets, monitors, etc. These and other aspects and advantages will be described below and in relation to the figures. Embodiments of the image panel discussed herein are provided by way of example and not by way of limitation.

FIG.1is a schematic cross-sectional view of a decorative or architectural panel, which will be referred to as an image unit100. The image unit100includes an image panel102seated within a housing104. Also disposed within the housing104is a backlight unit106. The backlight unit106is positioned behind the image panel102. As will be discussed below, the image unit100may be incorporated into another structure (e.g., an architectural structure, such as a wall, floor, ceiling, door, etc.) or device (e.g., an electronic device, such as a cellphone, laptop, monitor, tablet, etc.). In embodiments, the backlight unit106is at least one of an incandescent lamp, an LED array, an electroluminescent panel, cold cathode fluorescent lamps, hot cathode fluorescent lamps, external electrode fluorescent lamps, or an active display unit (as discussed below). In embodiments, the backlight unit106is configured to provide 300 lumens to 350 lumens of illumination on the image panel102.

FIG.2depicts the structure of the image panel102. As can be seen inFIG.2, the image panel102includes a transparent substrate120, a first image layer121, a diffuser layer122, and a second image layer124. The second image layer124includes at least one opaque region126and at least one image region128.

In embodiments, the substrate120is a transparent glass or plastic. For example, suitable glass substrates120may include at least one of silicates, soda lime silicates, borosilicates, aluminosilicates, aluminoborosilicates, alkali aluminosilicates, and alkaline earth aluminosilicates, among others. Such glasses may be chemically or thermally strengthened. A commercially available glass suitable for use is the transparent substrate is Gorilla® glass (available from Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY). Suitable transparent plastic substrates120include polycarbonate or acrylic panels.

The substrate120has a first major surface130and a second major surface132. The first major surface130is on the opposite side of the substrate120from the second major surface132. In embodiments, the first major surface130is a viewing surface in that the first major surface is directed at a viewer. The second major surface132faces the backlight unit106(as shown inFIG.1). As will be discussed more fully below, the first image layer121is illuminated by ambient lighting such that the first image layer is seen by the viewer when the backlight unit106is inactive. When the backlight unit106is active, the second major surface132is illuminated causing the viewer to see a composite image of the first image layer121and the image regions of the second image layer124. The transparent substrate120has a thickness as defined by a distance between a first major surface130and a second major surface132of no more than 2 mm, no more than 0.7 mm, or no more than 0.55 mm. In embodiments, the transparent substrate120has a thickness of at least 0.1 mm, at least 0.2 mm, at least 0.3 mm, or at least 0.4 mm.

The first image layer121is disposed on the first major surface130or the second major surface132of the substrate120. In embodiments, the first image layer121is disposed on the second major surface132so that the substrate120is between the viewer and the first image layer121so as to protect the first image layer121from damage. The first image layer121can be applied on the substrate120in a variety of ways. In an embodiment, the first image layer121is printed on the substrate120using a technique such as inkjet printing, slot printing, screen printing, pad printing, or gravure printing, among others. In another embodiment, the first image layer121is a decal or transfer that is adhered to the substrate120. In embodiments, the first image layer121is semitransparent, having an optical density of 0.5 or less.

The diffuser layer122is disposed over the first image layer121and is designed to scatter and reflect light. In this way, the diffuser layer122enhances visibility of the first image layer121by reflecting ambient light passing through the semitransparent first image layer121. Additionally, the diffuser layer122scatters light, including light that passes through the first image layer121and diffuser layer122to effectively hide the image regions128of the second image layer124when the backlight unit106is not active. In embodiments, the diffuser layer122has an optical density of 1.0 to 2.0. In embodiments, the diffuser layer122is a layer of white material. In particular embodiments, the diffuser layer122is a white ink layer. Further, in embodiments, the diffuser layer122can be made up of multiple layers or applications of white material, such as a white ink, until the desired total optical density of the diffuser layer122is reached. In embodiments, the total optical density of the substrate120, first image layer121, and diffuser layer122is from 1.5 to 2.5.

The second image layer124is disposed over the diffuser layer122. As discussed above, the second image layer124includes one or more opaque regions126and one or more image regions128. The opaque regions126are designed to block light from the backlight unit106from shining through the first image layer121. Thus, the opaque regions126are made from a material configured to increase the overall optical density of the image panel to at least 3.0 in the opaque regions126. In an embodiment, the opaque regions126are a black ink layer. The image regions128are semitransparent like the first image layer121and have an optical density of 0.5 or less. In this way, light is configured to travel from the backlight unit106through the image panel106in the image regions128. Thus, the optical density of the image panel102in the image regions128is less than 3.0.

As with the first image layer121, the second image layer124can be applied on the diffuser layer122using the above described printing or image transfer techniques. Further, in embodiments, the second image layer124can be applied to the image panel106in one or two steps. In an embodiment, the opaque regions126are applied in a first step to create essentially a negative of the second image. Thereafter, the image regions124are applied in a second step. Alternatively, the image regions128could be applied first, followed by the opaque regions126. In another embodiment, the opaque regions126and the image regions128can be applied at the same time, e.g., by inkjet printing a continuous second image layer124.

FIGS.3A and3Bdepict an example of the image panel102converting from the first image140(FIG.3A) of the first image layer121to the composite image142(FIG.3B) of the first image layer121and image regions128. In this embodiment, the composite image142is one in which elements are added to the first image140. As shown schematically, the first image140consists of a shape in the center of the image panel102. When the image panel is illuminated by a backlight unit106, the image regions128add elements to the corners of the image panel102to create the composite image142.

FIGS.4A and4Bdepict another example of the image panel102converting from a first image140(FIG.4A) to a composite image142(FIG.4B). This example demonstrates a color change of the first image140. For example, the first image layer140is a first color (e.g., green) and the composite image142is a second color (e.g., orange). In order to arrive at the desired second color142, a simulation can be performed using color wheels printed on separate substrates. For example, a first substrate can include a first image layer121of a first color wheel with a diffuser layer122disposed thereover. On the second substrate, a second color wheel is printed as the second image layer124. Thereafter, a desired first color is selected and, having a desired second color in mind, the second color wheel on the second substrate is illuminated with a backlight and is rotated until the desired second color is illuminated at the location of the desired first color. In this way, the color of the image regions128of the second image layer124can be determined in order to produce the desired second color of the composite image142when mixed with the first color of the first image140.

In embodiments, the selection of the colors can further be facilitated using the CMYK color model, which is a subtractive color model, along with halftoning. In particular, the backlight unit106may emit white light, and the first image140may subtract a combination of cyan, magenta, or yellow from the light to produce the first color. The second color may thus be selected to subtract additional amounts of cyan, magenta, or yellow from the light to produce the second color.

Once the two colors for the first image layer121and the image regions128of the second image layer124are selected, the densities of the image layers121,124can be determined to produce the exact color desired when the image panel102is illuminated. In an embodiment, the first color is printed in varying densities horizontally or vertically across a first substrate, e.g., going from low density (10%) to high density (100%) in predetermined increments, and the diffuser layer is printed over the first color. The second color is then printed in the opposite direction (e.g., vertically if the first color is printed horizontally) across the second substrate. The substrates are then overlaid and placed over a backlight unit that illuminates the substrates, providing color mixing for the first and second colors at varying color densities.

Upon determining the colors for the first image layer121and the image regions128of the second image layer124, the layers121,122,124can be printed or applied on the substrate120of the image panel102.

FIGS.5A and5Bdepict an embodiment of creation of a new image as the composite image142(FIG.5B) from the first image140(FIG.5A). As shown inFIG.5A, the first image140is of a circle, and as shown inFIG.5B, the composite image142is of a square when the image panel102is illuminated by a backlight unit106.

The examples depicted inFIGS.3A-3B,4A-4B, and5A-5Bare simplistic in nature and are meant to illustrate different possibilities for producing composite images142. In practice, the composite image142may include combinations of two or more of the example transitions. For example, the first image shown inFIG.3Amay include a first color for the shape in the center of the image panel and a second color for the area surrounding the shape. Thus, when the image regions128are illuminated, the shapes in the corners will not only be shown but also be a combination of the underlying color of the image regions128and the surrounding color of the first image layer121. In such an embodiment, the composite image142would exhibit both additional elements and a color change (e.g., as shown schematically inFIGS.4A and4B). Similarly, the center shape ofFIG.3Acould also transform into a new image as demonstrated inFIG.5Bdepending on the particular configuration of the second image layer124.

FIG.6depicts an embodiment of the image unit100incorporated into an electronic device200as a back panel of the electronic device. InFIG.6, the electronic device200includes a display unit210disposed behind a cover glass220. The display unit210and cover glass220may have various intervening layers, such as touch-sensitive layers that provide touch functionality for interacting with the display unit210. In embodiments, the electronic device200is, e.g., a cellphone, a tablet, a laptop, or a monitor, among other possibilities. The display unit210may be any one of a light emitting diode (LED) display device, an organic LED (OLED) display device, quantum dot (QLED) display device, plasma display device, or liquid crystal display (LCD) device, among others. The display unit210may incorporate a backlight unit106in which case the image panel102and display unit210may be backlit by the same backlight unit106. In other embodiments, a separate backlight unit106is incorporated and faced rearward to provide backlighting for the image panel102.

In embodiments, electronic device200has a sleep mode or an off mode in which the display unit210and backlight106are not active. In this mode, the first image140of the image panel102will be seen by a user. When a user activates the electronic device200, the backlight unit106activates the display unit210and illuminates the image panel102to provide decorative or informational effect as the composite image142of the image panel102.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that any particular order be inferred. In addition, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more than one component or element, and is not intended to be construed as meaning only one.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed embodiments. Since modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the embodiments may occur to persons skilled in the art, the disclosed embodiments should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.