Methods and apparatuses using control indicators for data processing systems

• US 20060158446A1
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Gong, Brian Huppi, Christoph H. Krah, Duncan R. Kerr, Michael Culbert, Richard D. Cappels
• Original Assignee: Andrew Gong, Brian Huppi, Christoph H. Krah, Duncan R. Kerr, Michael Culbert, Richard D. Cappels
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan R., Culbert, Michael, Huppi, Brian Q., Krah, Christoph H., Gong, Andrew, Cappels, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,936,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/18 Modifications for indicating state of switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides

Abstract

A control indication assembly. A first control mounted on a surface of a computer is coupled to a first sensor, to a first sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to the first control when a user-touch occurs to the first sensor, and to a first indicator to indicate an occurrence of said user-touch. A second control mounted on a surface of a display which is coupled to the computer is coupled to a second sensor, to a second sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to said second control when said user-touch occurs to the display, and to a second indicator to indicate an occurrence of the user-touch. The first and second control are configured such that the first and second indicator are synchronized to exhibit identical behaviors when the user-touch occurs to either the first control or the second control.

Claims

1. A control indication assembly comprising:

a first control mounted on a surface of a computer, said first control coupled to a first sensor, to a first sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to said first control when a user-touch occurs to said first sensor, and to a first indicator to indicate an occurrence of said user-touch;

a second control mounted on a surface of a display, said display coupled to said computer, said second control coupled to a second sensor, to a second sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to said second control when said user-touch occurs to said display, and to a second indicator to indicate an occurrence of said user-touch; and

said first control and said second control are configured such that said first indicator and said second indicator are synchronized to exhibit identical behaviors when said user-touch occurs to at least one of said first control and said second control.

2. A control indication assembly as in claim 1 wherein said first control further including a first electrical switch to change said computer system from one state to another state and wherein said second control further including a second electrical switch to change said display from a one state to another second state.

3. A control indication assembly as in claim 2 wherein said first electrical switch and said second electrical switch change both said computer system and said display from one state to another state when a user-touch occurs to one of said first sensor and said second sensor.

4. A control indication assembly as in claim 3 wherein a state of said computer system and said display is at least one of a run mode, a sleep mode and a shutdown-mode.

5. A control indication assembly as in claim 4 wherein said first indicator and said second indicator exhibit short flashes of bright intensities and fade to dimmer intensities when said user-touch occurs to one of said first sensor and said second sensor.

6. A control indication assembly as in claim 5 wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are proximity sensors such that said bright intensities of said first indicator and said second indicator intensify as a user performing said user-touch gets closer and within a predetermined sensing range of at least one of said first control and said second control.

7. A control indication assembly as in claim 6 wherein said predetermined sensing range is about two-inches.

8. A control indication assembly as in claim 7 wherein said first control and said second control are triggered when one of said first sensor and said second sensor is touched, said first control and said second control cannot be so triggered again until the touched sensor being released.

9. A control indication assembly as in claim 8 wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are capacitive sensors.

10. A control indication assembly as in claim 9 further comprising:

a first light pipe disposed about said first indicator, said first light pipe located in a proximity with said first sensor, said first light pipe to guide the illumination direction of said first indicator; and

a second light pipe disposed about said second indicator, said second light pipe located in a proximity with said second sensor, said second light pipe to guide the illumination direction of said second indicator.

11. A control indication assembly as in claim 10 wherein said first indicator and said second indicator exhibit one of a repetitive rhythmic pattern and a synchronized repetitive rhythmic pattern of intensities changing from bright to dim when at least one of said computer system and said display are in sleep mode.

12. A control indication assembly as in claim 11 wherein said first indicator is a first white LED and said second indicator is a second white LED.

13. A control indication assembly as in claim 12 wherein said first sensor is a first button assembly and said second sensor is a second button assembly.

14. A method for generating a data processing system, said method comprising:

sensing a user proximity to a switch of said data processing system prior to said user causing an action through activation of said switch; and

responding to said sensing with an indicator of said data processing system, wherein said indicator indicates said user proximity and wherein said activation of said switch places said data processing system in at least one of (a) an one state, (b) an off state, and (c) a reduce power consumption state.

15. A method for operating a data processing system, said method comprising:

receiving a reference signal;

comparing said reference signal with a signal derived from a sensor which is designed to receive input from a user; and

controlling a presentation of an indicator in response to said comparing.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein said reference signal is a reference pulse width modulated (PWM) signal.

17. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

modulating said reference signal with said signal.

18. A method as in claim 15 wherein said controlling comprises driving said indicator with said reference signal if said comparing produces a first result.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said controlling comprises driving said indicator with said reference signal modulated with said signal if said comparing produces a second result.

20. A method as in claim 15 wherein said sensor comprises a capacitive sensor and said input from said user is a finger touch.

21. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

filtering a sensor signal from said sensor to derive said signal.

22. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

filtering a sensor signal from said sensor to provide a filtered sensor signal and converting said filtered sensor signal to a pulse width modulation signal to provide said signal.

23. A method as in claim 15 further comprising:

interrupting periodically a processor and causing said processor to perform said comparing.

24. A data processing system comprising:

a reference signal generator;

a processor coupled to said reference signal generator;

a sensor coupled to said processor; and

an indicator coupled to said processor, wherein said processor compares said reference signal with a signal derived from said sensor and controls a presentation of an indicator in response to the comparison of said reference signal with said signal.

25. A data processing system as in claim 24 wherein said sensor senses a finger touch and said indicator emits light.

26. A data processing system as in claim 24 further comprising:

a main processor;

memory coupled to said main processor;

a bus coupled to said memory and said main processor;

a display coupled to said main processor; and

wherein said processor is coupled to said main processor through said bus.

27. A data processing system as in claim 26 further comprising:

a further processor coupled to said main processor;

a further indicator coupled to said further processor; and

wherein said further indicator is disposed on a first housing and said indicator is disposed on a second housing which houses said display.

28. A data processing system as in claim 27 wherein said processor and said further processor synchronize presentations of said indicator and said further indicator during at least one mode of operation of said data processing system.

29. A data processing system as in claim 28 wherein said at least one mode comprises a sleep mode.

30. A data processing system as in claim 29 wherein at least one of said indicators presents a short flash of light when turning on said data processing system and then presents a lower intensity of light which is less bright than said short flash.

31. A method of operating a data processing system having a processor, memory coupled to a bus which is coupled to said processor, and a display, said method comprising:

receiving an input to a sensor;

displaying for a period of time light from an indicator at a first intensity of light in response to said receiving said input; and

displaying, after said period of time, light from said indicator at a second intensity of light which is less than said first intensity.

32. A method as in claim 31 wherein said sensor is a capacitive sensor which senses a finger input and said indicator is an LED.

33. A method as in claim 32 wherein said indicator is a white LED.

34. A method as in claim 31 wherein said input causes said data processing system to be turned on and said second intensity indicates that said data processing system is operating at a first power consumption level.

35. A method as in claim 34 wherein said indicator repetitively displays fluctuating light intensity when said data processing system is operating at a second power consumption level which is less than said first power consumption level.