Back to results
US 8,232,958 B2Granted
High-contrast backlight
AssigneeSony Mobile Communications Inc.
InventorWilliam H. Tolbert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device for providing a display having increased viewability are provided. The display assembly includes a backlight layer, an electrochromic layer formed over the backlight layer, a surface layer formed over the electrochromic layer and including at least one substantially translucent graphical element thereon, and a power supply. The electrochromic layer is switchable between a substantially transparent state and a substantially reflective state upon application of a switching voltage from the power supply, where the state being selected is based on a lighting condition of the display assembly.
Claims20
A display assembly, comprising:
- a backlight layer;
- an electrochromic layer formed over the backlight layer, where the electrochromic layer is switchable between a substantially transparent state and a substantially reflective state upon application of a switching voltage to the electrochromic layer;
- a surface layer formed over the electrochromic layer and including at least one substantially translucent graphical element thereon;
- a power supply;
- a light sensor;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- compare an amount of ambient light received by the light sensor with a predetermined threshold level;
- determine whether the amount of ambient light received by the light sensor meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold level;
- determine a current state of the electrochromic layer;
- and
- perform at least one of the following steps:
- in response to determining both the amount of ambient light received by the light sensor meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold level and the current state of the electrochromic layer is the substantially transparent state, initiate application of a first voltage to the electrochromic layer to switch the electrochromic layer to the substantially reflective state;
- and
- in response to determining both the amount of ambient light received by the light sensor does not meet or exceed the predetermined threshold level and the current state of the electrochromic layer is the substantially reflective state, initiate application of a second voltage to the electrochromic layer to switch the electrochromic layer to the substantially transparent state.
12 more elements
A device comprising:
- a keypad assembly;
- a light sensor;
- a processor;
- and
- a power supply,
- where the keypad assembly comprises:
- a surface layer including a plurality of substantially translucent graphical elements thereon,
- an electrochromic layer formed below the surface layer, and
- a backlighting assembly formed below the electrochromic layer,
- where the electrochromic layer is switchable between a substantially transparent state and a substantially reflective state upon a command from the processor to apply a switching voltage from the power supply to the electrochromic layer, the state being selected based on an ambient lighting condition of the device,
- where the processor is configured to:
- compare an amount of ambient light received by the light sensor with a predetermined threshold level;
- determine whether the amount of ambient light received by the light sensor meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold level;
- determine a current state of the electrochromic layer;
- and
- perform at least one of the following steps:
- in response to determining both the amount of ambient light received by the light sensor meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold level and the current state of the electrochromic layer is the substantially transparent state, initiate application of a first voltage to the electrochromic layer to switch the electrochromic layer to the substantially reflective state;
- and
- in response to determining both the amount of ambient light received by the light sensor does not meet or exceed the predetermined threshold level and the current state of the electrochromic layer is the substantially reflective state, initiate application of a second voltage to the electrochromic layer to switch the electrochromic layer to the substantially transparent state.
16 more elements
A method, comprising:
- comparing, by a light sensor associated with a display, an amount of ambient light received by the light sensor to a predetermined threshold level, where the display includes an electrochromic layer and a surface layer having a number of substantially translucent graphical elements formed thereon;
- determining whether the amount of ambient light received by the light sensor meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold level, where the display includes a surface layer having a number of substantially translucent graphical elements formed thereon and an electrochromic layer;
- determining a current state of an electrochromic layer associated with the display;
- and
- performing at least one of the following steps:
- in response to determining both the amount of ambient light received by the light sensor meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold level and the current state of the electrochromic layer is the substantially transparent state, initiating application of a first voltage to the electrochromic layer to switch the electrochromic layer to the substantially reflective state;
- and
- in response to determining both the amount of ambient light received by the light sensor does not meet or exceed the predetermined threshold level and the current state of the electrochromic layer is the substantially reflective state, initiating application of a second voltage to the electrochromic layer to switch the electrochromic layer to the substantially transparent state.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.