Viewable surface having unnoticeable smudges

Abstract

A device ( 110, 151, 200 ) with a viewable surface ( 201 ) including a plurality of transparent pedestals ( 210 ) having a reflective material ( 406 ) disposed on its sides ( 408 ) make smudges forming thereon unnoticeable by taking advantage of optical characteristics including contrast and the user's visual acuity. The pedestals ( 210 ) generally have a width ( 412 ) of less than 50 microns, a height ( 414 ) equal to twice the width ( 412 ), and a spacing ( 416 ) between adjacent pedestals ( 210 ) equal to the width ( 412 ). The device ( 110, 151, 200 ) may be an electronic device, and more particularly a portable electronic device such as a cell phone.

1 . A device comprising:
 a background; and   a viewable surface comprising a plurality of reflectors disposed within a material and in a pattern and substantially orthogonal to the background.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of reflectors are spaced less than 100 microns from one another. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of reflectors have a height from the background of less than 200 microns. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of reflectors are spaced between 20.0 to 50.0 microns, with a height of twice the spacing. 
     
     
         5 . A device comprising:
 a viewable surface; and   a plurality of transparent pedestals having reflective sides disposed on the viewable surface.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein each of the pedestals comprises a width of less than 100.0 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein each of the pedestals comprises a height from the viewable surface of less than 200 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the spacing between adjacent pedestals is less than 100 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5  wherein each of the pedestals comprises a width in the range of 20.0 and 50.0 microns, each of the pedestals comprise a height of twice the width, and the spacing between adjacent pedestals is equal to the width. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 5  further comprising a transparent material disposed between reflective sides of adjacent pedestals. 
     
     
         11 . A device comprising:
 a housing comprising a viewable surface including a plurality of transparent pedestals having reflective sides disposed on the viewable surface; and   electronic circuitry disposed within the housing.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein each of the pedestals comprises a width of less than 100.0 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  wherein each of the pedestals comprises a height of less than 200 microns. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the spacing between adjacent pedestals is less than 100 microns. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11  wherein each of the pedestals comprises a width in the range of 20.0 and 50.0 microns, each of the pedestals comprise a height of twice the width, and the spacing between adjacent pedestals is equal to the width. 
     
     
         16 . A device comprising:
 a display comprising a transparent layer having a viewable surface;   electronic circuitry to present information to the display; and   a plurality of pedestals formed on the viewable surface, each of the pedestals comprising:
 a transparent material formed on the surface and having a first surface opposed to and substantially parallel to the viewable surface and at least a second surface substantially in a plane perpendicular to the viewable surface; and 
 a reflective material formed on the at least a second surface. 
   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein each of the pedestals comprises a width of less than 100.0 microns. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein each of the pedestals comprises a height of less than 200 microns. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the spacing between adjacent pedestals is less than 100 microns. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16  wherein each of the pedestals comprises a width in the range of 20.0 and 50.0 microns, each of the pedestals comprise a height of twice the width, and the spacing between adjacent pedestals is equal to the width.