KR20090012830A - Case of electric device using digital paper display and method for changing exterior of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A case of electronic device and a method thereof are provided to selectively display desired color, character, and picture etc by using an electronic paper including an electronic ink. An electronic device includes an electronic part and a case surrounding the electronic part. An electronic paper(15) is prepared in the case of the electronic part, and includes an ink changing arrangement in response to change of electric field supplied from outside. An electronic paper driving part(20) generates a signal for controlling arrangement of the electronic ink included in the electronic paper, and includes a memory(21), a pattern selection part(23), a display signal generation part(25), and a pattern generation part(27).

Description

CASE OF ELECTRIC DEVICE USING DIGITAL PAPER DISPLAY AND METHOD FOR CHANGING EXTERIOR OF THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a case of an electronic device, and more particularly, to a case of an electronic device including an electronic paper display having an electronic ink.

In recent years, the design of electronic devices has become an important criterion for selecting products of users. In particular, in the case of a portable electronic device such as a mobile communication terminal, an MP3 player, etc., since the user takes a lot of time to carry and use, the design occupies a large part in the criteria for selecting a product. However, in the conventional electronic device case, colors, patterns, pictures, etc. designed by the product designer are set as they are. Therefore, the user selects a product after many concerns about the design at the time of purchase of the product. When a user purchases a product, even if the user selects a product after much thought about the design, as the number and time of use of the electronic device by the user, the user may feel empirical in a design that remains the same. In addition, as the taste of the consumer changes over time or the design trend of the product changes, users are exemplified by a design that remains the same. In consideration of this, various methods for changing the appearance of the electronic device case have been attempted.

Figure 1 shows a mobile communication terminal that can replace the case cover according to the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile communication terminal includes a case 1 and a cover 3 that can be mounted to the outside of the case 1. The cover 3 may be provided in different colors, and the user may change the appearance of the mobile communication terminal by replacing the cover 3 according to taste.

However, the mobile communication terminal that can replace the case cover is implemented to change only the color of a specific part in the fixed design, it is difficult to apply a variety of designs desired by the user.

Accordingly, the user may attach a sticker of a pattern or picture desired by the user, or print and use the paint directly on the mobile communication terminal using a paint or the like (see FIG. 2). However, when a sticker is attached to the surface of the case or a paint is printed, a part of the sticker may fall off, or a portion of the printed paint 5 may be damaged, and the appearance of the case 1 may be messy. Occurs.

On the other hand, the recently introduced so-called digital paper display (DPD; Digital Paper Display) is much cheaper to produce compared to the conventional flat panel display device and can be driven with very little energy because no separate background lighting is required. In particular, in the case of the electronic paper having the electronic ink, only the process of aligning the ink requires power, so that the enemy can be driven by energy. In addition, these electronic papers are sharp and have a wide viewing angle, and most importantly, they can be repeatedly bent like paper without changing resolution and contrast, and thus are being applied to various fields.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described point, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic device having a case that can freely change its appearance according to a user's preference.

In addition, another object is to provide an electronic device that can display the schedule of the schedule management program mounted on the electronic device in conjunction with the appearance of the case.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention is an electronic device having an electronic device and a case surrounding the electronic device, the electronic device being provided in a case of the electronic device, and a change in an electric field applied from the outside. Corresponding to the electronic paper having an electronic ink for changing the arrangement thereof, and an electronic paper driver for generating a signal for controlling the arrangement of the electronic ink contained in the electronic paper.

The electronic paper is arranged between the upper electrode layer, the lower electrode layer having at least one electrode pattern, and the upper and lower electrode layers and the signal applied from the electronic paper driver changes its arrangement in response to the signal. It includes an electronic ink.

The electronic paper driver may include a memory for storing a plurality of patterns to be displayed on the electronic paper, a pattern selection unit for selecting any one of a plurality of patterns stored in the memory, and a pattern selected through the pattern selection unit. It includes a display signal generator for generating a signal to represent.

The pattern selector may select a pattern designated through an external input device or select a specific pattern according to a predetermined setting.

The predetermined setting may be a pattern differently designated corresponding to a predetermined time.

The specific pattern is a pattern indicating a schedule format in which any one or more selected from days, weeks, months, and years are combined, and the predetermined setting is any one selected from days, weeks, months, and years. It may be a setting designated to display the contents at a time corresponding to the contents of the schedule specified in the unit.

The apparatus may further include a pattern generator configured to edit an image stored therein or to receive a pattern from an external source, to generate a pattern that can be represented by electronic paper, and to store the generated pattern in the memory.

The pattern generator may receive a pattern from an external device connected through a wired / wireless communication network.

The electronic device may be a mobile communication terminal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of changing the appearance of an electronic device includes (a) an electronic device provided with an electronic paper having an electronic ink that changes its arrangement in response to a change in an electric field applied from the outside. Requesting a change of a pattern to be displayed on the electronic paper; (b) selecting a specific pattern among a plurality of patterns stored in the memory; and (c) displaying the electronic paper in response to the selected specific pattern. Generating a signal capable of generating a signal, (d) inputting the generated signal to the electronic paper, and (e) changing an arrangement of electronic ink included in the electronic paper corresponding to the input signal. And (f) maintaining the changed arrangement continuously until a new changed signal is input.

In step (a), a change of the pattern is requested from the outside through an external input device, and in response to the change of the pattern, a change of the pattern is requested. In step (b), a pattern designated through the external input device is selected.

In step (a), it is preferable to request a change of the pattern according to a predetermined setting, and in step (b), it is preferable to select a specific pattern in response to the predetermined setting.

Preferably, the predetermined setting is a predetermined time, and the specific pattern is preferably a pattern differently designated corresponding to the predetermined time.

The specific pattern is a pattern indicating a schedule format in which any one or more selected from days, weeks, months, and years are combined, and the predetermined setting is any one selected from days, weeks, months, and years. It may be a setting designated to display the contents at a time corresponding to the contents of the schedule specified in the unit.

The method may further include generating a pattern capable of editing an image stored therein or receiving a pattern from the outside and expressing the pattern with an electronic paper, and storing the generated pattern in the memory.

According to the present invention, the user can easily decorate by applying a variety of colors, patterns, pictures, etc. desired to the user's preference by using the electronic paper having an electronic ink to the case of the electronic device.

In a manner similar to a method of setting a standby screen of a general display provided in an electronic device, various colors, patterns, and pictures of the electronic device case may be selectively applied and displayed.

In addition, by automatically changing the appearance of the case in conjunction with the schedule of the schedule management program mounted on the electronic device, it is possible to display the event on the electronic device case to easily check the schedule even if the user does not directly check the display.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, specific details such as specific components are shown, which are provided to help a more general understanding of the present invention, and it is understood that these specific details may be changed or changed within the scope of the present invention. It is self-evident to those of ordinary knowledge in Esau.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a mobile communication terminal is illustrated as an electronic device, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and any electronic device may be applied as long as the electronic paper using an electronic ink can be driven.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device including a power source, a communication module, and an antenna required for driving the mobile communication terminal (hereinafter, the electronic device refers to all devices provided in a case of the mobile communication terminal). And a case surrounding the outside of the electronic device.

3 is a plan view of a case provided in a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figures 4a to 4c shows a cross section of a portion of the case. 3 and 4, the case provided in the mobile communication terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a body housing 10 and an electronic paper 15 coupled to the body housing 10.

The body housing 10 is located on the lower surface of the lower frame 13 having a space for accommodating the electronic paper 15 and the upper portion of the lower frame 13 to which the electronic paper 15 is coupled. And a protective plate 11 provided at (see 4a). The protective plate 11 is a plate for transferring the color emitted from the electronic paper 15 to the outside while protecting the surface of the electronic paper 15 without distortion, and may be made of a transparent and durable material against physical impact. .

Furthermore, although the body housing 10 has been illustrated to include a lower frame 13 and a protective plate 11, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the body housing 10 is provided with a protective plate 11 provided with a space for accommodating the electronic paper 15 without the lower frame 13 as shown in FIG. 4B, or a separate protective plate 11 as shown in FIG. 4C. It is also possible to consist of only the lower frame 13 without this.

Although, in the embodiment of the present invention, the protective plate 11 is illustrated to be transparent, the present invention is not limited to this, it is sufficient that the color emitted from the electronic paper 15 can be transmitted to the outside.

The electronic paper 15 includes a pair of electrode layers spaced apart from each other, and an electronic ink interposed between the electrode layers and whose arrangement is changed through a signal applied to the electrode layers from the outside.

On the other hand, the electronic device provided in the body housing 10 includes a drive unit for driving the electronic paper (15).

5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic paper driver 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the electronic paper driver 20 includes a memory 21, a pattern selector 23, and a display signal generator 25.

The memory 21 contains patterns of various appearance designs that will represent the case appearance of the electronic device through the electronic paper 15. Here, the pattern may be a shape formed by combining one color or two or more colors.

The pattern selector 23 receives a request to change the pattern of the electronic paper through an external input device, reads the pattern stored in the memory 21, and transfers the pattern to the display signal generator 25. For example, the external input device 30 may be a button provided to change the pattern of the electronic paper 15 provided in the case. As the user operates the button, the pattern selector 23 may read the pattern stored in the memory 21 in real time and display the pattern on the electronic paper 15 through the display signal generator 25.

Although in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pattern selector 23 reads the pattern stored in the memory 21 in real time and displays it on the electronic paper 15 through the display signal generator 25. When the electronic paper is provided with a separate display, the pattern selector 23 may display a pattern to be expressed by the user through the electronic paper through the separate display.

Furthermore, the pattern selector 23 can also automatically select a specific pattern according to a predetermined setting. For example, the pattern selector 23 may provide an interface for receiving a predetermined setting to the user, and store the setting input through the interface. The predetermined setting may be a specific pattern designated at a predetermined time or place. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the first image a is displayed at 08:20, the second image b is displayed at 12:20, and the first image is set at 19:20. 3 may be defined to display the image (c). In addition, the predetermined setting may be set to change an image set in the appearance of the case at a specific time, such as setting an event setting such as an alarm and a wake-up call. Furthermore, the predetermined setting may be linked with a schedule management program mounted on the mobile communication terminal to display generation of an event determined by the user through an electronic paper.

The display signal generator 25 generates and transmits a signal for driving the electronic paper to a pair of electrode layers to display the pattern selected by the pattern selector 23 on the entire electronic paper. For example, the pair of electrode layers of the electronic paper 15 includes electrodes crossing each other, and the display signal generator 25 defines a point where the pair of electrode layers cross each other in a matrix. The display signal generator 25 transmits the driving signal to the electrode at the specific position based on the defined matrix. Accordingly, the arrangement of the electronic ink provided between the electrodes of the specific position is aligned, and the specific position displays the color according to the pattern.

Furthermore, the electronic paper driver 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a pattern generator 27 to generate a pattern to be expressed through the electronic paper. For example, when the electronic device stores an image in the internal memory, the pattern generator 27 may include an interface for editing an image stored in the electronic device. You can create a pattern. In addition, when the electronic device is implemented to communicate with other devices through a wired / wireless communication network, that is, the pattern generator 27 is a communication such as USB communication module, infrared communication module, mobile communication module, wired communication module In the case of including any one or two or more devices selected from the modules, the pattern generator 27 may receive a pattern of a form desired by a user from the outside. The pattern generator 27 may generate the electronic device itself or store the pattern received from the outside in the memory.

Hereinafter, a method of changing the appearance of an electronic device case by describing the operation of the electronic paper driver provided in the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the above-described components.

7 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a process of a method of changing an appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Since a separate signal for requesting a pattern is not input to the pattern selection unit 23 and a separate driving signal is not input to the electronic paper, the electronic paper maintains the arrangement of the electronic ink provided therein (100). Step-NO).

On the other hand, when a signal for requesting pattern selection is input to the pattern selector 23 (step 100-YES), the pattern selector 23 selects one specific pattern selected from the patterns stored in the memory 21 ( Step 200).

The pattern selector 23 may provide a user with an interface for selecting a pattern. Accordingly, the user may generate a signal for requesting a pattern change using the interface, and select one of the patterns stored in the memory 21 through the interface. For example, a pattern change button may be operated by operating a pattern change button provided outside the electronic device, or a pattern change may be requested through a menu screen provided through a display of the electronic device. In addition, the pattern selection unit 23 may request the change of the pattern according to a predetermined setting. For example, the pattern selector 23 may receive a specific pattern to be displayed at a specific time from the user, and upon reaching the specific time, request for a pattern change and select a specific pattern corresponding to the time. In addition, when the electronic device is equipped with a GPS, the pattern selector 23 may display a symbolic object, a person, a photo, etc. corresponding to the current location on the exterior by interworking with the GPS, or at a predetermined place from a user. When the corresponding specific pattern is received and the predetermined place is reached, the specific pattern may be displayed.

When a specific pattern is selected in step 200, the display signal generator 25 generates a driving signal of a matrix matching each pixel to be driven corresponding to the specific pattern so that the specific pattern can be represented on an electronic paper. (Step 300). Then, the generated driving signal is input to the electronic paper (step 400).

Then, a driving signal is applied to each pixel corresponding to the specific pattern, and the arrangement of the electronic ink included in the electronic paper is aligned (step 500). As the driving signals are applied to the plurality of pixels as described above, the appearance of the case including the electronic paper is changed to a pattern selected by the user.

The electronic ink provided in the electronic paper is instantaneously aligned by an electric field applied from the outside, and maintains the aligned arrangement as it is until another electric field is applied (step 600).

Furthermore, the display signal generator 25 may apply the driving signal only for the time required for the arrangement of the electronic ink to minimize the power consumed to drive the electronic paper.

As described above, according to the electronic device and the method of changing the external appearance of the electronic device provided with a case of the electronic device to which the electronic paper is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic paper having the electronic ink is adapted to the user's preference. Desired colors, patterns, and pictures can be easily applied to various cases of mobile communication terminals.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of setting a predetermined pattern on the appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 illustrates an event on a predetermined pattern set on the appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Is a flow chart showing the process in which the applied pattern is set.

First, a user receives schedule information including a schedule of a specific day and an event to be generated at a specific time using a schedule management program installed in the electronic device (eg, a mobile communication terminal) and inputs it into a memory of the electronic device. Save (131).

In operation 133, a user inputs whether the schedule information is applied to the electronic paper. When the user receives an input not to apply the schedule information to the electronic paper (133-NO), the electronic paper maintains the current pattern without changing the pattern (600). On the other hand, when receiving input from the user to apply the schedule information to the electronic paper (133-YES), the input schedule information is applied to the format of the schedule pattern (135). For example, the format of the schedule pattern is a pattern representing time in units of days, weeks, months, years, etc. The schedule information may be a specific day and an event to be performed at a specific time. That is, step 135 is a step of matching the received event with a format displayed in units of days, weeks, months, and years.

Next, a new pattern is generated by applying the input schedule information to a format of a schedule pattern (step 137). For example, the schedule pattern is a pattern for displaying a calendar on a monthly basis, and may be a pattern corresponding to a calendar including a date (eg, July 24, 2007) at a current time point, and the schedule information is a specific date (eg, It may be an event (Hong Gil-dong's birthday) designated on July 30, 2007). The new pattern in which the schedule information is applied to a format of a schedule pattern may be a pattern in which an event called Hong Gil-dong's birthday is displayed on July 30 of a calendar of July 2007.

In operation 137, when a new pattern is applied to which the schedule information is applied, the pattern selector 21 selects the generated pattern as a pattern to be applied to electronic paper (139). The 300, 400, 500, and 600 steps are sequentially performed to display the pattern through electronic paper.

Furthermore, when the schedule management program is driven while the electronic paper continuously maintains a specific pattern, when the event reaches a specified point in time, that is, on July 30 designated as 'Hong Gil Dong's birthday', the schedule management program is It generates an event called 'Hong Gil-dong's birthday (151-YES). Accordingly, the schedule management program requests the pattern selector 21 to change the pattern (153). In addition, the schedule management program transmits information to be displayed in response to the event to the pattern generation unit 27 and requests generation of the pattern. Accordingly, the pattern generation unit 27 applies information to be displayed in response to the event. The pattern is newly generated (155). Then, the pattern selector 21 selects the newly generated pattern 157 and displays information to be displayed in response to the event on the electronic paper in steps 300, 400, 500, and 600.

According to the case with the electronic paper according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, the color, pattern of the mobile communication terminal case in various ways similar to the method for setting the standby screen of the general display provided in the mobile communication terminal , Pictures can be applied selectively. In addition, the appearance of the case may be automatically changed in conjunction with the schedule of the schedule management program of the mobile communication terminal. As a result, an event that is limitedly displayed on the display of the mobile communication terminal is displayed on the case of the mobile communication terminal so that the user can easily check the schedule even if the user does not directly check the display.

Although the present invention has been described above by means of limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. For example, although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrates a mobile communication terminal as an electronic device, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is sufficient to be able to drive electronic paper using an electronic ink.

1 is an illustration of a mobile communication terminal that can replace the case cover according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is an illustration of a case of a mobile communication terminal is printed paint according to the prior art.

Figure 3 is an illustration of a case provided in a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4a to 4c are partial cross-sectional views showing a cross section of a part of the case provided in the mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic paper driver provided in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 6 is an exemplary view of the appearance changed by the predetermined setting in the case provided in the mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flow chart of a method for changing the appearance of the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flow chart of a method for setting a pattern (shcedule) in the appearance of the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of setting a pattern to which an event is applied to a predetermined pattern set in an appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG.

Claims (16)

In an electronic device having an electronic device and a case surrounding the electronic device, An electronic paper provided in a case of the electronic device, the electronic paper having an electronic ink for changing an arrangement in response to a change in an electric field applied from the outside; Electronic paper driving unit for generating a signal for controlling the arrangement of the electronic ink contained in the electronic paper. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic paper, An upper electrode layer, A lower electrode layer having at least one electrode pattern, And an electronic ink interposed between the upper and lower electrode layers, the electronic ink changing in response to the signal as the signal applied from the electronic paper driver changes. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic paper drive unit A memory for storing a plurality of patterns to be displayed on an electronic paper; A pattern selector which selects one selected pattern from among a plurality of patterns stored in the memory; And a display signal generator configured to generate a signal for expressing the pattern selected by the pattern selector as electronic paper. The method of claim 3, And the pattern selector selects a pattern designated through an external input device. The method of claim 3, And the pattern selector selects a specific pattern according to a predetermined setting. The method of claim 5, The predetermined setting is an electronic device, characterized in that each differently designated pattern corresponding to a predetermined time. The method of claim 5, The specific pattern is a pattern indicating a schedule format in which any one or two selected from day, week, month, and year are combined. And the predetermined setting is a setting designated to display the contents at a time corresponding to the contents of a schedule specified in any one unit selected from days, weeks, months, and years. The method of claim 3, And a pattern generation unit configured to edit an image stored therein or receive a pattern from the outside to generate a pattern that can be expressed as an electronic paper, and to store the generated pattern in the memory. The method of claim 8, The pattern generator is an electronic device, characterized in that for receiving a pattern from an external device connected via a wired / wireless communication network. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The electronic device, characterized in that the mobile communication terminal. (a) requesting a change of a pattern to be displayed on the electronic paper by an electronic device included in a case of an electronic paper having an electronic ink that changes its arrangement in response to a change in an electric field applied from the outside; (b) selecting a specific pattern among a plurality of patterns stored in the memory; (c) generating a signal that can be displayed through the electronic paper in response to the selected specific pattern; (d) inputting the generated signal into the electronic paper; (e) changing the arrangement of the electronic ink provided in the electronic paper in response to the input signal; (f) a method of altering the appearance of an electronic device, the method comprising continuously maintaining the altered arrangement until a new altered signal is input. The method of claim 11, In step (a), a request for a change of a pattern is received from an external device through an external input device. The step (b) is to change the appearance of the electronic device, characterized in that for selecting a pattern specified through the external input device. The method of claim 12, Step (a) is to request a change of the pattern according to a predetermined setting, The step (b) is to change the appearance of the electronic device, characterized in that for selecting a specific pattern in response to a predetermined setting. The method of claim 13, The predetermined setting is a predetermined time, The specific pattern is a method for changing the appearance of the electronic device, characterized in that each differently designated pattern corresponding to the predetermined time. The method of claim 14, The specific pattern is a pattern indicating a schedule format in which any one or two selected from day, week, month, and year are combined. And a predetermined setting is a setting designated to display the contents at a time corresponding to the contents of a schedule specified in any one unit selected from days, weeks, months, and years. The method of claim 11, Editing a stored image or receiving a pattern from the outside to generate a pattern that can be expressed as an electronic paper; And storing the generated pattern in the memory.

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