ACTIVE ENCLOSURE FOR COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20090040748A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: KERR, Duncan
• Granted Patent: US 7,728,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light emitting device disposed inside the housing. The light emitting device is configured to produce a light effect that alters the ornamental appearance of the computing device.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

an illuminable housing capable of being illuminated by light, the housing being configured to enclose, cover and protect internal components associated with the operation of the computing device; and

a controllable light emitting device disposed inside the illuminable housing, the light emitting device being configured to produce an adjustable light effect for colorizing or patternizing the illuminable housing in order to significantly alter the ornamental appearance of the housing of the computing device, the light emitting device including a light source configured to generate the light so as to illuminate the interior of the illuminable housing, the light illuminating an inner surface or edge of a housing wall to effect an appearance change in an outer surface of the housing wall.

2. The computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

3. The computing device as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are integrated into a light emitting diode array.

4. The computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitting device includes a plurality of light sources dispersed at different locations within the illuminable housing, each of the light sources being configured to selectively illuminate a different portion of the illuminable housing.

5. The computing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of light sources are positioned around a display of the computing device.

6. The computing device as recited in claim 1, further including a light pipe or light guide for distributing the light to locations within the illuminable housing.

7. The computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitting device further comprises a light source controller in communication with the light source, said light source controller being configured to process light commands to produce the light in a controlled manner via the light source.

8. The computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing wall includes a light diffusing element configured to scatter light from the light source, the scattered light helping to form a characteristic glow at the outer periphery of the housing wall when the light is transmitted through the housing wall.

9. The computing device as recited in claim 8, wherein the light diffusing element is one or more of the group consisting of:

an additive disposed inside the illuminable wall, a coating applied to the illuminable wall and a textured surface of the illuminable wall.

10. A general purpose computer, comprising:

a housing having an illuminable portion capable of being illuminated by light; and

a controllable light emitting device disposed inside and in optical communication with the illuminable portion of the housing, the light emitting device being configured to produce an adjustable light effect that provides illumination for colorizing or patternizing the illuminable portion of the housing in order to significantly alter the ornamental appearance of the housing of the general purpose computer.

11. The general purpose computer as recited in claim 10, wherein the general purpose computer is a desktop computer or a laptop computer.

12. The general purpose computer as recited in claim 10, further comprising a processor that is coupled to the light emitting device and further configured to control the light emitting device so as to produce a dynamic light effect.

13. The general purpose computer as recited in claim 10, wherein the illuminable portion constitutes a substantial portion of the entire housing.

14. The general purpose computer as recited in claim 13, wherein the area of the illuminable portion is substantially larger than any of buttons, connectors or indicators located on the housing.

15. A computer system having a housing for enclosing at least one component of the computer system, the housing having a light passing wall, the computer system comprising:

a light source disposed inside the housing, the light source being configured to generate light for the computer system; and

a light controller operatively coupled to the light source, the light source controller being configured to control the light source so as to illuminate at least a portion of the light passing wall of the housing with the light generated by the light source, the light source being dedicated to illuminating the light passing wall.

16. The computer system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a processor configured to carry out operations associated with the computer system, the processor being operatively coupled to the light source controller.

17. The computer system as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a display that is internally or externally positioned relative to the housing, the display being configured to present text or graphics for the computer system; and

a display controller operatively coupled to the display and configured to process display commands to produce text or graphics on the display.

18. The computer system as recited in claim 15, further comprising an input/output controller configured to control interactions with one or more input/output devices that can be operatively coupled to the computer system.

19. The computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein the housing further includes one or more opaque walls that cooperate with the one or more light passing walls to define the shape of the housing.