Apparatus, systems and methods relating to improved lighting and notifications in a computing system

• US 20040240167A1
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Diebel, Markus, Ledbetter, Carl J., Kaneko, Steven T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/683
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for enabling an improved computing ecosystem are provided. In various embodiments, the invention includes an improved monitor stand, integrating and providing intelligence to a computing system regarding any of a handset, camera, monitor and keyboard. Additionally, a structure including a transparent or opaque layer and a lighting component can be employed with any computing device or peripheral in the computing system to convey a lighting scheme to a user based upon a state of or notification in the computing system.

Claims

1. A housing structure for a computing device or peripheral, including:

a core planar layer generally defining a first plane;

an outer planar layer, adjacent to the core planar layer, generally defining a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane; and

at least one light source substantially positioned at an edge of the core planar layer, such that light emanating from said at least one light source propagates through the outer planar layer substantially in the second plane.

2. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source propagates light through said outer planar layer according to a lighting scheme associated with a computing condition.

3. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the outer planar layer comprises translucent material.

4. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the outer planar layer comprises a gelatinous solid material.

5. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the outer planar layer comprises an opaque material.

6. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the core planar layer is visible through said outer planar layer.

7. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein the outer planar layer abuts said core planar layer.

8. A housing structure according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer between said core planar layer and said outer planar layer, adhering said outer planar layer to said core planar layer.

9. A housing structure according to claim 1, wherein said light emanating from said at least one light source propagating through the outer planar layer substantially in the direction of the second plane causes a lighting effect to be apparent in said outer planar layer whereby the intensity of light in the outer planar layer decreases with distance from the at least one light source.

10. A housing structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third interaction layer generally defining a third plane, at an angle to said first and second planes, having an edge connected to an edge of said core planar layer.

11. A housing structure according to claim 10, wherein the edge of said core planar layer connected to said third interaction layer is opposite the edge where the at least one light source is positioned.

12. A housing structure according to claim 10, wherein said core third interaction layer includes buttons of a keyboard.

13. A housing structure according to claim 10, wherein said third interaction layer includes buttons of a keyboard.

14. A housing structure according to claim 10, wherein said third interaction layer includes speakers.

15. A housing structure according to claim 10, wherein said third interaction layer includes a display of a monitor.

16. A housing structure according to claim 10, wherein said third interaction layer includes vent details.

17. A computing device or peripheral in a computing system, including:

a housing;

at least one lighting component integrated with the housing; and

an opaque or translucent layer on said housing, whereby the at least one lighting component propagates light through said opaque or translucent layer according to a lighting scheme associated with a condition in the computing system.

18. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein said condition is at least one of a state of the computing system and a notification received in the computing system.

19. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein the condition includes at least one of a state of the computing system, a state of a subsystem of the computing system, a power state, a notification from another person and a notification by the computing system, each of which has a lighting scheme associated therewith.

20. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 19, wherein the at least one state of the computing system includes a system standby mode, a system turned on mode, a system in use mode, a do not disturb system state and a system health state.

21. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 20, wherein a single command in the computing system places the computing system in the do not disturb system state.

22. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 20, wherein the computing system, when in the do not disturb state, at least one of automatically directs incoming voice calls to a voice mail inbox, automatically indicates that the user is unavailable for instant messaging (IM) discussions and automatically enables an email auto reply indicating unavailability.

23. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 20, wherein the computing system, when in the do not disturb state, is configurable to allow specified third parties to reach the user under specified circumstances.

24. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein when and how an associated lighting scheme occurs is configurable.

25. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein the light propagating from the at least one lighting component works in unison with the computing system, notifying the user of an alert.

26. A computing device ort peripheral according to claim 25, wherein the alert includes at least one of a printer out of paper alert, a printer jammed alert, a network connection interrupted alert, a software update alert, a user specified alert, a memory is full alert, a processor is slowing down alert, a virus alert, a hardware bug alert, a software bug alert, a disc defragmentation alert, an alert concerning whether the user should enable or disable macros and an alert that the computing system performing optimally.

27. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein the lighting scheme includes a predetermined pattern of at least one color.

28. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein the lighting scheme includes a predetermined pattern of lighting brightness or intensity.

29. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein a sound scheme is rendered in conjunction with the lighting scheme.

30. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein the computing device is at least one of a monitor, a central processing unit (CPU) epicenter, a mouse, a printer and a keyboard.

31. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein a change in condition in the computing system results in a switch from a first lighting scheme to a second lighting scheme.

32. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 31, wherein the second lighting scheme is associated with a different computing device or peripheral in the computing system.

33. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein said computing device is a monitor, and said opaque or translucent layer is a bezel of a screen of the monitor.

34. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 17, wherein said condition is based upon whether a task being performed is associated with a primary zone, a secondary zone or a tertiary zone of the computing system.

35. A computing device or peripheral according to claim 34, wherein said primary zone is the location for tasks requiring fine motor control, the secondary zone is the location for tasks requiring gross motor movement and the tertiary work zone is the location for infrequently performed tasks or actions.

36. A method for providing lighting on a housing of a computing device or peripheral in a computing system, comprising:

receiving indication that a condition has manifested in the computing system; and

lighting at least one light source integrated with the housing according to a lighting scheme associated with the condition, whereby the at least one light source propagates light through an opaque or translucent layer on the housing.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein said receiving includes receiving indication that at least one of a state of the computing system and a notification has manifested in the computing system.

38. A method according to claim 36, wherein the condition includes at least one of a state of the computing system, a state of a subsystem of the computing system, a power state, a notification from another person and a notification by the computing system, each of which has a lighting scheme associated therewith.

39. A method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one state of the computing system includes a system standby mode, a system turned on mode, a system in use mode, a do not disturb system state and a system health state.

40. A method according to claim 36, wherein said lighting includes configuring when and how an associated lighting scheme occurs.

41. A method according to claim 36, wherein said lighting includes notifying the user of an alert in the computing system.

42. A method according to claim 36, wherein said lighting according to a lighting schume includes lighting according to at least one of a predetermined pattern of at least one color, a predetermined pattern of lighting brightness or intensity, and providing a sound scheme with said lighting scheme.

43. A method according to claim 36, wherein said condition is based upon whether a task being performed is associated with a primary zone, a secondary zone or a tertiary zone of the computing system, wherein said primary zone is the location for tasks requiring fine motor control, the secondary zone is the location for tasks requiring gross motor movement and the tertiary work zone is the location for infrequently performed tasks or actions.

44. A computer readable medium comprising executable modules having computer executable instructions for providing lighting on a housing of a computing device or peripheral in a computing system, the modules comprising:

means for receiving indication that a condition has manifested in the computing system; and

means for lighting at least one light source integrated with the housing according to a lighting scheme associated with the condition, whereby the at least one light source propagates light through an opaque or translucent layer on the housing.

45. A computer readable medium according to claim 44, wherein said means for receiving includes means for receiving indication that at least one of a state of the computing system and a notification has manifested in the computing system.