Method for improving IR transmissions from a PC keyboard

• US 6,307,499 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1997
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Crisler, Curtis L., Williamson, Ralph K.
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS JR, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US08/829,367
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/31, 341/176, 345/166, 345/168, 345/170, 345/175, 345/158, 359/142, 359/146, 340/825.72, 400/472
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission

Abstract

A wireless communication device includes a housing, a user input device mounted in the housing, and a number of LEDs located so as to produce light from the housing, wherein at least two of the LEDs are located an appreciable distance apart from each other on the housing.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a housing;

said housing mounting plurality of spaced apart LEDs and a user input device comprising a computer keyboard including user operable input keys operable to cause each of said plurality of LEDs to emit a coded instruction characteristic of an operated key, said housing including a keyboard and a support surface, spaced apart elongated edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface, and spaced apart side edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface and between said elongated edge surfaces,

each of the plurality of LEDs spaced apart along one of said elongated edge surfaces and located to produce and to direct light away from said one elongated edge surface of said housing along a unique central axis of light propagation;

wherein at least two of said plurality of LEDs are angularly positioned with respect to said housing such that the central axis of light propagation associated with each of the at least two of said plurality of LEDs (a) divergent from each other and from said side edge surfaces, and (b) are inclined downwardly from said support surface when positioned horizontally.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of LEDs has a central axis of light propagation, and wherein the axes of at least two of said plurality of LEDs are not co-planar.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the light produced from said plurality of LEDs is in the infrared range.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein the housing has a bottom surface and wherein the central axes of at least two of said plurality of LEDs is displaced downward about 15°

from said bottom surface and about 45°

from the central axis of a third of said plurality of LEDs; and

wherein the third of said plurality of LEDs has a central axis parallel to said bottom surface of said housing.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of LEDs at least three in number.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein each of said plurality LED has a central axis of light propagation and wherein the axes of at least two of said plurality of LEDs are not co-planar.

7. A device as in claim 6 wherein the housing has a bottom surface and wherein the central axes of at least two of said plurality of LEDs is displaced downward about 15°

from said bottom surface.

8. A device as in claim 6 wherein the housing has a bottom surface and wherein the central axes of at least two of said plurality of LEDs is displaced downward about 15°

from said bottom surface and wherein the central axes of said at least two of said plurality of LEDs are displaced about 45°

from the central axis of a third of said plurality of LEDs.

9. A wireless communication device comprising:

a housing comprising a computer keyboard and a support surface, spaced apart elongated edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface, and spaced apart side edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface and between said elongated edge surfaces;

said housing mounting a plurality of LEDs spaced apart along one of said elongated edge surfaces, said computer keyboard including user operable input keys operable to cause each of said plurality of LEDs to emit a coded instruction characteristic of an operated key, each of the plurality of LEDs located to produce and to direct light away from said one elongated edge surface of said housing along a unique central axis of light propagation;

wherein two of said plurality of LEDs are positioned on opposite sides of a third one of said plurality of LEDs along said one elongated edge surface, said two LEDs angularly positioned with respect to said housing such that the central axis of light propagation associated with each of said two LEDs (a) is divergent at an acute angle from a respective one of said side edge surfaces and (b) is inclined at an acute angle downward from said support surface when positioned horizontally.

10. A wireless communication device comprising:

a housing comprising a computer keyboard and a support surface, spaced apart elongated edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface, and spaced apart side edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface and between said elongated edge surfaces;

said housing mounting a plurality of LEDs spaced apart along one of said elongated edge surfaces, said computer keyboard including user operable input keys operable to cause each of said plurality of LEDs to emit a coded instruction characteristic of an operated key, each of the plurality of LEDs located to produce and to direct light away from said one elongated edge surface of said housing along a unique central axis of light propagation;

wherein two of said plurality of LEDs are positioned near respective ones of said side edge surfaces on either side of a third one of said plurality of LEDs, such that with said support surface positioned horizontally, the central axes of light propagation associated with said two LEDs (a) are divergent from each other with respect to a vertical plane located between them, and (b) are inclined downwardly at an acute angle.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said two LEDs are positioned at transitions between said one elongated edge surface and said side edge surfaces.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said elongated edge surfaces and said side edge surfaces together define a curvilinear perimeter of said housing.

13. A wireless communication device comprising:

a housing comprising a computer keyboard and a support surface, spaced apart elongated edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface, and spaced apart side edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface and between said elongated edge surfaces;

said housing mounting a plurality of LEDs spaced apart along one of said elongated edge surfaces, said computer keyboard including user operable input keys operable to cause each of said plurality of LEDs to emit a coded instruction characteristic of an operated key, each of the plurality of LEDs located to produce and to direct light away from said one elongated edge surface of said housing along a unique central axis of light propagation;

wherein two of said plurality of LEDs are positioned near respective ones of said side edge surfaces on either side of a third one of said plurality of LEDs, such that the central axes of light propagation associated with said two LEDs (a) are divergent from each other and from the central axis of light propagation associated with the third LED to direct light outwardly of the respective side edge surfaces of the housing, and (b) are inclined downwardly at an acute angle when said support surface is positioned horizontally.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said elongated edge surfaces and said side edge surfaces together define a curvilinear perimeter of said housing, and wherein said two LEDs are positioned at transitions between said one elongated edge surface and said side edge surfaces.

15. A wireless communication device comprising:

a housing comprising a computer keyboard and a support surface, spaced apart elongated edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface, and spaced apart side edge surfaces extending between said keyboard and said support surface and between said elongated edge surfaces;

said housing mounting a plurality of LEDs spaced apart along one of said elongated edge surfaces, said computer keyboard including user operable input keys operable to cause each of said plurality of LEDs to emit a coded instruction characteristic of an operated key;

each of the plurality of LEDs located to produce and to direct light away from said one elongated edge surface of said housing along a unique central axis of light propagation;

wherein two of said plurality of LEDs are positioned near respective ones of said side edge surfaces on either side of a third one of said plurality of LEDs, such that the central axes of light propagation associated with said two LEDs (a) are divergent from each other and by and by an angle of about 45°

from the central axis of light propagation associated with the third LED to direct light outwardly of the respective side edge surfaces of the housing, and (b) are inclined downwardly by an angle of about 15°

when said support surface is positioned horizontally.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said elongated edge surfaces and said side edge surfaces together define a curvilinear perimeter of said housing, and wherein said two LEDs are positioned at transitions between said one elongated edge surface and said side edge surfaces.