Lighting apparatus for a portable computer with illumination apertures

• US 5,815,225 A
• Filed: 01/22/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GROSS, ANITA P
• Application Number:
  US08/786,268
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 349/1, 349/58, 349/65, 362/31, 362/26, 361/681
• US Class Current: 349/65
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing

Abstract

A lap top computer system is provided having a light emitting device for illuminating a keyboard, and the surrounding work area. The apparatus operates to convey light from the liquid crystal display backlighting light source to the keyboard and work area utilizing light pipes. The light pipes transmit light from the backlighting system light source to lenses located on a surface of the computer body. The lenses are provided with adjustable doors covering the light source for varying the level of illumination.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus for illuminating a keyboard on a lap top computer, comprising:

a light source for backlighting a liquid crystal display screen, said light source including a light distribution medium;

a liquid crystal display case, the liquid crystal display case having at least one illumination aperture therein; and

a door member slidably mounted on said screen body for covering said illumination apertures, said door member being adjustably mounted thereon.

2. The lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp placed adjacent the light distribution medium.

3. The lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light distribution medium is a light pipe.

4. The lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination aperture is disposed below the liquid crystal display screen.

5. The lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination aperture is disposed on at least one side of the liquid crystal display screen.

6. The lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display case has a plurality of illumination apertures.

7. The lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination aperture has a lens disposed therein.

8. The lighting apparatus as recited in claim 7, the at least one illumination aperture and an outer surface of the corresponding lens having a square or rectangular shape.

9. The lighting apparatus as recited in claim 7, the at least one illumination aperture and an outer surface of the corresponding lens having a circular shape.

10. A lighting apparatus for illuminating a keyboard on a lap top computer, comprising:

a light source for backlighting a liquid crystal display screen, said light source comprising a cold cathode fluorescent lamp placed adjacent a light distribution medium;

a liquid crystal display case;

a liquid crystal display disposed within the liquid crystal display case;

the liquid crystal display case having four illumination apertures therein, two of the illumination apertures having a circular shape being disposed on each side of the liquid crystal display, two of the illumination apertures having a rectangular shape being disposed below said liquid crystal display;

four lenses disposed within said illumination apertures, said lenses for transmitting light from the light distribution medium through the illumination aperture; and

a door member slidably mounted on said screen body for covering said illumination apertures, said door member being adjustably mounted thereon.