Mobile Phone Shell Semi-Transparent Coating Obscures Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile electronic devices, such as mobile phones, have display screens that remain visible in sleep mode, affecting the visual appearance and are not desirable.

Innovation Solution

An outer shell design for mobile phones featuring a substrate with a semi-transparent coating and an opaque layer, where the semi-transparent coating has a transmittance rate of less than 12%, and a multi-color spray method to create a color gradient effect, ensuring the display screen is obscured when not in use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the display screen is made transparent or translucent to maintain visual appeal when inactive, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but the display content becomes visible in sleep mode causing visual distraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual appearance qualityVSAvoidvisual distraction from visible display in sleep mode

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a semi-transparent coating with specific transmittance characteristics (less than 12%) that changes the optical properties of the display screen. This coating allows the screen to maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance while effectively obscuring the display content when the device is in sleep mode, thus resolving the contradiction between visual appeal and visual distraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the transmittance parameter of the display screen by applying a semi-transparent coating with controlled optical properties. By adjusting the transmittance to less than 12%, the screen maintains visual appeal while preventing content visibility in sleep mode, thereby resolving the technical contradiction through parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a semi-transparent coating is applied to the substrate to obscure the display screen, then the visual distraction is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to additional coating layers and processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay screen visibility in sleep modeVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a substrate with a semi-transparent coating layer having specific transmittance properties. This composite material approach achieves the desired optical effect (obscuring display content while maintaining aesthetics) through material selection and layer design, rather than through complex multi-step manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Shape

If multiple paint coats of different colors are sprayed to create a color gradient effect, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but the manufacturing time and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor gradient aesthetic effectVSAvoidmanufacturing time for multi-coat spraying

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different paint coats to different sub-areas of the substrate to create a color gradient effect. By spraying the first coat to a first sub-area and the second coat to a second sub-area with overlap, the invention achieves aesthetic differentiation and color blending while optimizing the manufacturing process through localized application rather than requiring multiple complete coats of the entire surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively hides the display screen in sleep mode, enhancing the visual appeal of the mobile device by making it appear inactive when not in use.

Implementation Method 1

a semi-transparent coating formed on the substrate and an opaque layer partially formed on the opposite side from the semi-transparent coating. In one embodiment, the semi-transparent coating having a transmittance rate of less than 12%

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption and transmittance control: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

spraying a first coat of paint containing a first color to a first sub-area of the substrate, and spraying a second coat paint containing a second color, different from the first color, to a second sub-area of the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpray deposition: Spray

Data Source

PatentUS8084119B2Mobile phone shell and method of manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2011.12.27 BYD CO LTD

AI summary

An outer shell of a mobile phone, the outer shell comprises a substrate, a semi-transparent coating formed on the substrate, and an opaque layer partially formed on the opposite side from the semi-transparent coating, wherein the substrate includes at least two sub-areas, a first sub-area overlaps a second sub-area to form a first overlapping area showing a mixture of colors between a first color and a second color.