Method and apparatus for selectively backlighting a plurality of displays with a common light source

1. A method for optimizing back-lighting for a display in a multi-display electronic device, the method comprising:

emitting light waves from at least one light source, to a back surface of each display in a plurality of displays, thereby back-lighting the plurality of displays; and

selectively back-lighting at least one display of the plurality of displays;

wherein the selectively back-lighting comprises:

electrically shuttering opening at least a first bi-stable clear/reflective layer associated with at least a first display in the plurality of displays to be selectively back-lighted; and

electrically shuttering closed at least a second bi-stable clear/reflective layer associated with at least a second display in the plurality of displays for reflecting the emitted light waves.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying a voltage to the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer, thereby switching the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer from one of a clear state and a reflective state to one of the clear state and the reflective state, respectively.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer maintain one of a clear and reflective state until the voltage is applied to the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer, respectively.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer is deposited on a first surface of a light guide, the first surface of the light guide facing a back surface of the at least first display, and wherein the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer is deposited on a second surface of the light guide, the second surface of the light guide facing a back surface of the at least second display.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the light guide channels the light waves emitted by the at least one light source to the at least first display and the at least second display.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer comprises at least cholesteric material.

7. An electronic device comprising:

at least one light source;

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one light source;

a plurality of displays including at least a first display and a second display;

a back-lighting selecting means electrically coupled to the at least one light source and the controller for selectively shuttering at least one display of the plurality of displays at least one of open and closed; and

a light guide for channeling light emitted from the at least one light source to a back surface of each display of the plurality of displays.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising:

at least a first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and at least a second bi-stable clear/reflective layer, wherein the first bi-stable clear/reflective layer is deposited on a first surface of the light guide, the first surface of the light guide facing a back surface of the at least first display, and wherein the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer is deposited on a second surface of the light guide, the second surface of the light guide facing a back surface of the at least second display.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein at least one display of the plurality of displays is situated above another display of the plurality of displays.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein at least one display of the plurality of displays is situated opposite to another display of the plurality of displays.

11. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer are in opposite bi-stable modes.

12. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a two-way radio, a wireless device, a wireless messaging device, a personal digital assistant, and a multimedia player.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a power source for applying a voltage to the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer, thereby switching the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer from one of a clear state and a reflective state to one of the clear state and the reflective state, respectively.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer maintain one of the clear state and the reflective state until the voltage is applied to the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer, respectively.

15. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer comprises at least cholesteric material.

16. A wireless communications device comprising:

at least one wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting wireless communications;

at least one light source;

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one light source;

at least a first display electrically coupled to the controller;

at least a second display electrically coupled to the controller;

a back-lighting selecting means electrically coupled to the at least one light source and the controller for selectively shuttering at least one of the at least first display and the at least second display at least one of open and closed for selectively back-lighting at least one of the at least first display and the at least second display; and

a light guide for channeling light emitted from the at least one light source to a back surface of each display of the plurality of displays.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 16 , further comprising:

at least a first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and at least a second bi-stable clear/reflective layer, wherein the first bi-stable clear/reflective layer is deposited on a first surface of the light guide, the first surface of the light guide facing a back surface of the at least first display, and wherein the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer is deposited on a second surface of the light guide, the second surface of the light guide facing a back surface of the at least second display.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 17 , wherein the at least first bi-stable clear/reflective layer and the at least second bi-stable clear/reflective layer comprises at least cholesteric material.