FUNCTIONAL APPLICATION OF PHOTOCHROMIC COMPOUND MATERIALS TO PRODUCTS

摘要

A device ( 50 ) capable of selectively altering its appearance can include a housing portion ( 64 ) of the device having at least one photochromic compound and an ultraviolet light source ( 60 ) forming a portion of the device for exposing the portion of the device having the photochromic compound to the ultraviolet light source. A reaction by the photochromic compound can provide or serve as a status indicator for the device. The device can be any number of devices such as a portable communication device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, a camera, a GPS device, a printer, a camcorder, a vehicle, a toy, a personal hygiene device, a watch, a calculator, and a writing instrument for example. The device can be formed so that reactions by the photochromic compounds within the device are controlled solely by the ultraviolet light sources ( 54 and 60 ) within the device.