GB2381986A

GB2381986A - Illuminated mobile telephone housing

Info

Publication number: GB2381986A
Application number: GB0123653A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nasar Ali
Original assignee: PLEXUM Ltd
Current assignee: PLEXUM Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-02
Filing date: 2001-10-02
Publication date: 2003-05-14
Also published as: GB0123653D0

Abstract

A mobile telephone apparatus 1 comprises a folding casing 3 which comprises at least an inner 11 and outer layer 10 wherein the inner layer 11 is at least partially transparent and wherein at least part of the outer layer 10 has one or more apertures coincident with a transparent portion of the inner layer 11; the apparatus further comprising a plurality of light scattering means 6 provided in the region of the transparent portion of, the inner layer 11; and a plurality of light emitters eg. LEDS for providing light to the light scattering means. In a further embodiment (fig 4) the light emitters may be illuminated keys beneath a sliding keyboard cover.

Description

MOBILE TELEPHONE APPARATUS This application relates to mobile telephone apparatus.

There are a limited number of types of mobile telephone available. Accordingly, invariably, at least two people in, for example, a work place or school, will have the same mobile telephone. This can lead to confusion with telephones mistakenly being swapped. In order to prevent this confusion some mobile telephones are manufactured so that a part of their standard casing, namely their fascia, can be removed and then replaced with-a stylised alternative.

These fascias can be removed and replaced relatively easily.

Accordingly, even though a distinctive fascia is on the telephone, if the telephone is stolen the fascia can be replaced with another fascia such that the previous owner would not know that the telephone belonged to them.

Further, when mobile telephones are placed in poorly lit areas, for example, in handbags, it is often difficult to locate them because the interior of the bag is dark and usually full of other articles. This can lead to a significant amount of searching having to take place when the telephone is required to make a call. When receiving a telephone call, such a delay in locating the telephone can result in the call being missed.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate personalisation of a mobile telephone, in particular the. casing thereof, so that the mobile telephone is instantly recognisable as that of its owner.

A further object of the present invention is to reduce the incentive for stealing a mobile telephone.

A-further object of the present invention is to provide a mobile telephone apparatus which facilitates it location.

According to the present invention there is provided a mobile telephone apparatus comprising a casing which comprises at least an inner and outer layer, wherein the inner layer is at least partially transparent, and wherein at least part of the outer layer has one or more apertures coincident with a transparent porticn of the inner layer; the apparatus further comprising a plurality of light scattering means provided in the region of the transparent portion of the inner layer; and a plurality of light emitters for providing light to the light scattering means.

More than one outer layer may be provided. In this event, the apertures must provide a pathway for light from the inner layer to the exterior of the telephone. In this connection, the telephone will be able to be seen in poorly lit places, such as handbags and at night.

The use of light scattering means will enhance the projection of light emitted from the light emitters such that it can be seen from many angles. Positioning the light scattering means in the region of the transparent portion of the inner layer will enhance projection of light from the plurality of light emitters through the casing.

The apertures can be configured and positioned to form a distinctive and/or unique pattern.

Preferably, a plurality of outer layers of differing colours are provided. These can be produced from plastics materials. In the present invention clear, white and black are considered to be colours along with all the other colours of the visible spectrum. In addition, one or more of the layers can be transparent. Accordingly, if apertures are provided in the various outer layers, different colours will be present on the outside of the casing.

In preferred embodiments the casing is produced from plastics material. In this connection, plastics material is relatively easy to form, it can be layered, and provides a relatively tough exterior.

Preferably the apertures are formed by removal of part of the outer layers. Removal of the layer (s) of plastics material can be by, for example, chemical etching or burning with a laser.

The exact method of such removal methods is known to those skilled in the art. The advantage of using chemical etching or laser burning over, for example, moulding is that a more unique and distinctive design can be readily produced.

Conveniently a pattern is formed by the apertures.

This pattern can be distinctive and individual to the proprietor of the telephone so that a telephone can be immediately identified by the proprietor. In addition or alternatively, the pattern can depict a well known logo or character so that the cover can be used as a promotional item.

Conveniently the apertures are provided in the part of the casing directly covering a keypad of the mobile telephone.

In preferred embodiments the plurality of light scattering means are light scattering crystals.

The light scattering crystals can be, for example any nonprecious or semi-precious stone.

Conveniently the plurality of light emitters are provided on a printed circuit board.

Use of a printed circuit board reduces the size and number of components, for example wires, that are present. In addition, printed circuit boards are cheap to make. Importantly printed circuit boards are relatively thin so they can be placed under the casing of the telephone without unduly increasing the volume of the telephone.

Conveniently the printed circuit board is provided adjacent the inner surface of the casing. Alternatively, the printed circuit board is provided under a keypad of the mobile telephone.

Mobile telephone casings differ in shape and configuration.

In this connection, the casing houses, among other things, the telephone display and the keypad. In some situations the casing may be hinged and the telephone display and the keypad can be housed on separate parts of the hinged casing.

Alternatively, the hinged part may act as a protective cover for the keypad. Accordingly, the positioning of the printed circuit board depends on the configuration of the casing.

Generally, if the casing is not hinged or the telephone display and the keypad are on separate parts of the hinged casing, then the printed circuit board will be provided adjacent the inner surface of the casing. If the casing is

hinged and the hinged part only acts as a protector for the keypad then the printed circuit board is preferably located under the keypad of the mobile telephone.

Preferably the light emitters are LEDs, in particular the LEDs can be super LEDs.

LEDs use a relatively small amount of energy, which is important because a mobile telephone only has a limited amount of battery power. Use of a super LED ensures that a significant amount of light is emitted.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises light emitter on and off means. Accordingly, the light emitters can be switched off to conserve battery power. Alternatively, or in addition the apparatus could be provided with means such as a light sensor, so the light emitters start to operate when light falls below a predetermined level (i. e. within a dark space such as a handbag). Alternatively, the light emitter could be arranged to operate when changes in light level are detected (e. g. when opening a handbag). Further means could be provided for switching the light emitters on when an incoming call or text message is received.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a mobile telephone casing, the method comprising : a) providing a casing comprising at least an inner and outer layer wherein the inner layer is at least partially transparent ; b) providing one or more apertures in the outer layer coincident with a transparent porrìn of tho inner ldYL ;

c) locating a plurality of light scattering means in the region of the transparent portion of the inner layer.

The above identified method will produce the casing used in the apparatus of the present invention.

Preferably the apertures are provided by removing at least the outer layer of the casing with a laser.

As explained previously, use of a laser allows unique and distinct patterns to be readily produced.

Conveniently the light scattering means are located by gluing.

In this connection, the light scattering means can be located by, for example, drilling a hole in the casing and setting the light scattering means therein. Thus ensuring that the light scattering means does not fall out of the hole.

In addition to the above, the telephone can be personalised by providing an LCD display comprising an internal circuit which will change the voltage running through the LCD each time the telephone casing is opened such that the LCD will display a different colour to the last time the telephone casing was opened.

The invention will now be described, by way of illustration only, with reference to the following examples and the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 shows a mobile telephone with a casing according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a printed circuit board for use in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of part of the casing of Figure 1 along line A-A.

Figure 4 shows a mobile telephone with another casing according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a mobile telephone 1 with an aerial 2 and a casing 3. The mobile telephone is of a hinged variety, where a keypad and display are folded away onto one another when the telephone is not in use, as shown. As shown in Figure 3, the casing 3 is produced from layers of plastics material. The outer layer of plastics material 10 is a different colour from the inner layer of plastics material 11, which in this example is clear transparent.

When unfolded, the casing 3 shows a display part 4, which houses the telephone display on the front face thereof (not shown) and a keypad part 5, which houses the keypad on the front face thereof (not shown). When the telephone 1 is not in use the display part 4 and the keypad part 5 rest together such that the telephone display and the keypad face each other.

A letter"A"has been burnt by a laser into the back face of the display part 4. As will be appreciated, any pattern, logo, letter or combination thereof can be provided. The outline 7 of the letter"A"has been made by burning with a laser the outer layer of the plastics material 10 so that the inner layer 11 is still present. Light scattering means 6 are

embedded in the inner layer 11. Th light mtrinj 'in',

6, which can be produced from glass, plastics material or crystalline structures, can be embedded at random or in a pattern.

Located between the back and front face of the display part 4, is among other things, a printed circuit board 20 with an array of LEDs 21. In the present embodiment, the LEDs are arranged to match the outline 7 of the letter"A"burnt in the plastics material. In other embodiments, the LEDs could be randomly placed or in another chosen configuration. The method of producing the printed circuit board will be known to those skilled in the art.

In use, the LEDs will emit a certain pattern of light depending upon the configuration of the internal circuit and the emitted light will be seen through the outline 7 of the letter"A". The light scattering means will assist to enhance the distribution of light from the LEDs. In this connection, even when the telephone is closed, such that the display part and the keypad part are resting together the casing of the telephone can be illuminated such that the telephone will be instantly recognisable even in the dark. In addition, due to the pattern burnt onto the cover the proprietor will automatically know that it is their telephone.

Figure 4 shows a mobile telephone 30 with an aerial 32 and a casing 33. The casing comprises a keypad cover 34 slidably received on a display and keypad part 35. The keypad cover 34 of the casing is produced from inner and outer layers of plastics material.

The keypad cover 34 has parts of its outer layer burnt away with a laser in a random pattern to produce apertures therein.

Light scattering means 36 are located in the inner layer in alignment with the burnt parts.

The display and keypad part 35 has, among other things, a pattern of keys 37 thereon. The keys 37 are produced from at least partially transparent plastics material. Located underneath the keys is a printed circuit board with a pattern of LEDs (not shown). The LEDs are set out randomly but may be formed in any suitable pattern as desired.

In use, the LEDs located under the keys will emit light. The light will pass through the keys and then through the light scattering means so that the light can be seen by the user when the keypad cover 34 is in place.

It will be understood that the embodiment illustrated shows applications of the invention only for the purposes of illustration. In practice the invention may be applied to many different configurations, the detailed embodiments being straightforward for those skilled in the art to implement.

The casing can be produced from materials other than plastics which can be formed into layers, for example metal.

More than two layers can be used to produce the casing. If each layer is a different colour then by removing one or more of the layers different colours will be present on the outer surface of the casing.

The layers of plastics material can be removed by any method known to those skilled in the art, for example, chemical etching. Alternatively, the pattern on the casing can be

produced during proin-of the caping-by using moulding

techniques.

The LEDs may emit light of any colour of the visual spectrum.

A An off and on switch can be provided so that the battery power of the telephone can be conserved. Alternatively or in addition, the LEDs can be switched on when an incoming call or text message is received or in response to light levels.

Claims

Claims 1. A mobile telephone apparatus comprising a casing which comprises at least an inner and outer layer wherein the inner layer is at least partially transparent and wherein at least part of the outer layer has one or more apertures coincident with a transparent portion of the inner layer; the apparatus further comprising a plurality of light scattering means provided in the region of the transparent portion of the inner layer; and a plurality of light emitters for providing light to the light scattering means.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a plurality of outer layers of differing colours.
3. An apparatus according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the casing is produced from plastics material.
4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apertures are formed by removal of part of the outer layer.
5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a pattern is formed by the apertures.
6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein apertures are provided in the part of the casing directly covering a keypad of the mobile telephone.
7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the plurality of light scattering means are light scattering crystals.

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8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the plurality of light emitters are provided on a printed circuit board.
9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the plurality of light emitters are provided under the keypad of the mobile telephone.
10. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the plurality of light emitters are provided adjacent the inner surface of the casing.
11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the light emitters are LEDs.
12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising light emitter on and off means.
13. An apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising a light sensor switch for the light emitters.
14. An apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising means for operating the light emitters in response to receiving an incoming call or text message to the mobile telephone.
15. A method of producing a mobile telephone casing, the method comprising: a) providing a casing comprising at least an inner and outer layer wherein the inner layer is at least partially transparent; b) making one or more apertures coincident with a transparent

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portion of the inner layer; c) locating a plurality of light scattering means in the region of the transparent portion of the inner layer.
16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the apertures are provided by removing at least the outer layer of the casing with a laser.
17. A method according to either claim 15 or 16 wherein the i. ight scattering means are located by gluing.
18. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.