Housing for a computing device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An illuminable connector for use with a computer having a light source, said illuminating connector comprising:
- a connector configured to transmit signals to and from the computer; and
a light emitting enclosure having a light receiving area and an illuminating area, said light emitting enclosure being configured to direct light from the light source through said light emitting enclosure from the light receiving area to the illuminating area, and said light emitting enclosure being disposed around the outer periphery of said connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved housing for a computing device is disclosed. The improved housing is provided with one of an illuminable connector, a touch pad arrangement, and a palm rest stiffening plate. Normally, the illuminable connector and the touch pad arrangement are provided on external portions of a housing of the computing device such that they are available for user interaction. The palm rest stiffening plate is provided internal to a housing to provide stiffness or rigidity to a palm rest region of the housing.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An illuminable connector for use with a computer having a light source, said illuminating connector comprising:
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a connector configured to transmit signals to and from the computer; and
a light emitting enclosure having a light receiving area and an illuminating area, said light emitting enclosure being configured to direct light from the light source through said light emitting enclosure from the light receiving area to the illuminating area, and said light emitting enclosure being disposed around the outer periphery of said connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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7. A computer system, comprising:
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a light source;
a computer housing configured to enclose said light source, said computer housing having an outer peripheral surface; and
an illuminable connector provided at the outer peripheral surface of said computer housing, said illuminable connector including;
a connector configured to transmit signals to and from said computer system; and
a light emitting enclosure having a light receiving area and an illuminating area, said light emitting enclosure being configured to direct light from said light source through said light emitting enclosure from the light receiving area to the illuminating area, and said light emitting enclosure being disposed around the outer periphery of said connector. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 26, 27, 28)
wherein said connector is a socket, and wherein said light source is turned on when the socket is operatively connected to a mating plug. -
9. A computer system as recited in claim 7,
wherein said connector is a socket, and wherein said light source is turned off when the socket is operatively connected to a mating plug. -
10. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.
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11. A computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said light source is affixed within said computer housing relative to said illuminable connector.
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12. A computer system as recited in claim 11, wherein said light source is affixed to a printed circuit board utilized within said computer housing.
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26. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the light emitting enclosure includes a distal end, and wherein the distal end extends out relative to the outer peripheral surface of the computer housing.
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27. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the light emitting enclosure includes a distal end, and wherein the distal end is flush with the outer peripheral surface of the computer housing.
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28. An illuminable connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the light source is configured to transmit light external to the computer housing via the light emitting enclosure when an operative connection is made at the connector such that a computer operator is visually notified that a proper connection was made.
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13. A method for illuminating a translucent connector that is connected to an outer peripheral surface of a computer housing, the method comprising:
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transmitting light from a light source enclosed in the computer housing;
receiving the transmitted light at a light receiving portion of the translucent connector;
directing the transmitted light from the light receiving portion of the translucent connector through the translucent connector to an outer periphery of the translucent connector such that light is directed outward away from the outer periphery of the computer housing.
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Specification