Computer peripheral device with detachable portion and light display

• US 6,005,700 A
• Filed: 06/26/1996
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aironet Wireless Communications, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Casto, Brian W., Pressler, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US08/670,610
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 359/172, 362/500, 362/282, 385/88, 385/89, 385/49, 235/492, 395/500, 395/282, 340/687
• US Class Current: 398/117
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment

Abstract

A peripheral device for a computer, including a first portion including electronic circuitry and a light source for emitting light; a second portion selectively detachable from the first portion, the second portion including a light transfer medium for directing light from one end of the light transfer medium to another end; and wherein the one end of the light transfer medium is optically aligned with the light source when the second portion is attached to the first portion, and the light transfer medium directs at least a fraction of the light emitted from the light source from the one end to the another end for display from the second portion.

Claims

1. A peripheral device for a computer, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including electronic circuitry and a light source for emitting light such that the first portion is operational in a first mode independent of the second portion, the light source providing a first display to a user indicative of an operational status of the peripheral device in the first mode;

the second portion being selectively detachable from the first portion, the second portion including a light transfer medium for directing light from one end of the light transfer medium to another end; and

wherein when the second portion is attached to the first portion the first portion is operational in a second mode in conjunction with the second portion, and wherein in the second mode the one end of the light transfer medium is optically aligned with the light source, and the light transfer medium directs at least a fraction of the light emitted from the light source from the one end to the another end for display from the second portion to provide a second display to the user indicative of an operational status of the peripheral device in the second mode.

2. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the light transfer medium comprises a light pipe.

3. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the light transfer medium comprises a fiber optic cable.

4. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a first housing having radio circuitry housed therein and the second portion comprises a second housing having an antenna stored therein, the antenna being selectively detachable from the radio circuitry.

5. The peripheral device of claim 4, wherein the at least a fraction of the light is displayed from the second portion when the radio circuitry is at least one of transmitting and receiving information.

6. The peripheral device of claim 4, wherein the at least a fraction of the light is displayed from the second portion when the radio circuitry is supplied with power.

7. The peripheral device of claim 6, wherein the peripheral device is a PCMCIA device.

8. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the one end of the light transfer medium substantially abuts the light source when the second portion is attached to the first portion.

9. The peripheral device of claim 8, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of light sources and the second portion comprises a plurality of corresponding light transfer mediums.

11. A peripheral device for a computer, comprising:

a card-like first portion and a card-like second portion, the card-like first portion having electronic circuitry and a connector operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry for connecting the first portion to the computer, and including a light source for emitting light such that the first portion is operational in a first mode independent of the second portion, the light source providing a first display to a user indicative of an operational status of the peripheral device in the first mode;

the card-like second portion including a light transfer medium for directing light from one end of the light transfer medium to another end, an edge of the second portion being selectively detachable from an edge of the first portion; and

wherein when the second portion is attached to the first portion the first portion is operational in a second mode in conjunction with the second portion, and wherein in the second mode the one end of the light transfer medium is optically aligned with the light source, and the light transfer medium directs at least a fraction of the light emitted from the light source from the one end to the another end for display from the second portion to provide a second display to the user indicative of an operational status of the peripheral device in the second mode.

12. The peripheral device of claim 11, wherein the light source and the end of the light transfer medium are located at the edge of the first portion and the second portion, respectively, and abut each other when the second portion is attached to the first portion.

13. The peripheral device of claim 12, wherein the other end of the light transfer medium is located toward another edge of the second portion which is opposite the edge at which the one end is located.

14. The peripheral device of claim 13, wherein the connector is located toward another edge of the first portion which is opposite the edge at which the light source is located.

15. The peripheral device of claim 11, wherein the light transfer medium comprises a light pipe.

16. The peripheral device of claim 11, wherein the light transfer medium comprises a fiber optic cable.

17. The peripheral device of claim 11, wherein the first portion comprises a first housing having radio circuitry housed therein and the second portion comprises a second housing having an antenna stored therein, the antenna being selectively detachable from the radio circuitry.

18. The peripheral device of claim 17, wherein the at least a fraction of the light is displayed from the second portion when the radio circuitry is at least one of transmitting and receiving information.

19. The peripheral device of claim 11, wherein the peripheral device is a PCMCIA device.

20. The peripheral device of claim 11, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.