Light indication showing functional status or operational condition through light-transmissible enclosure case

• US 6,492,908 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheng, Bruce C. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/413,113
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.73, 340/815.45, 340/815.47, 340/815.55, 340/525, 362/800, 361/681, 361/583, 361/679, 379/428, 379/440, 455/90
• US Class Current: 340/815.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613

Abstract

The present invention discloses a personal computer that has circuit elements enclosed in a light transmissible case. The personal computer further includes a visible light enclosed in the light-transmissible case for providing indication of various functional statuses of the personal computer through the light transmissible case. In a preferred embodiment, the personal computer further includes a light controller for controlling the visible light for providing a plurality of visible light signals for indicating various functional statuses of the personal computer. In another preferred embodiment, the light controller further includes a light intensity controller for controlling an intensity of the visible light for indicating various functional statuses of the personal computer. In another preferred embodiment, the light controller further includes a light flash-pattern controller for controlling a flash-pattern of the visible light for indicating various functional statuses of the personal computer. In another preferred embodiment, the light controller further includes a color controller for controlling a color of the visible light for indicating various functional statuses of the personal computer.

Claims

1. A personal computer having circuit elements disposed on a circuit support structure comprising:

a light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer; and

a visible light enclosed in said light-transmissible case disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for providing indication of various functional statuses of said personal computer related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

2. The personal computer of claim 1 further comprising:

a light control means for controlling said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for providing a plurality of visible light signals for indicating various functional statuses whereby said signals are visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

3. The personal computer of claim 2 wherein:

said light control means further includes a light intensity control means for controlling an intensity of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for indicating various functional statuses whereby said intensity is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

4. The personal computer of claim 2 wherein:

said light control means further includes a light flash-pattern control means for controlling a flash-pattern of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for indicating various functional statuses whereby said flash-pattern is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

5. The personal computer of claim 2 wherein:

said light control means further includes a color control means for controlling a color of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for indicating various functional statuses whereby said color is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

6. The personal computer of claim 1 wherein:

said circuit support structure further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) for supporting said circuit elements enclosed in said light-transmissible case and said visible light is disposed on said PCB near and electrically connected to said circuit elements for providing indication of various functional statuses whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

7. The personal computer of claim 1 further comprising:

a packaged electronic component including said circuit elements enclosed in said light-transmissible case and said visible light is disposed on said packaged electronic component for providing indication of various functional statuses related to said packaged electronic component whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

8. An electronic device having circuit elements disposed on a circuit support structure further comprising:

a light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device;

a visible light enclosed in said light-transmissible case disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for providing indication of various functional statuses of said electronic device related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 further comprising:

a light control means for controlling said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for providing a plurality of visible light signals for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said signals are visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 wherein:

said light control means further includes a light intensity control means for controlling an intensity of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said intensity is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 wherein:

said light control means further includes a light flash-pattern control means for controlling a flash-pattern of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said flash-pattern is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 wherein:

said light control means further includes a color control means for controlling a color of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said color is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein:

said circuit support structure further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) for supporting said circuit elements enclosed in said light-transmissible case and said visible light is disposed on said PCB for providing an indication of various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 8 further comprising:

a packaged electronic component including said circuit elements enclosed in said light-transmissible case and said visible light is disposed on said packaged electronic component for providing an indication of various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

15. A networked data handling system having circuit elements disposed on a circuit support structure further comprising:

a light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said network data handling system; and

a visible light enclosed in said light-transmissible case disposed on said circuit support structure and connected to said circuit elements for providing indication of various functional statuses of said network data handling system related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said network data handling system.

16. The networked data handling system of claim 15 further comprising:

a light control means for controlling said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for providing a plurality of visible light signals for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said signals are visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said networked data handling system.

17. The networked data handling system of claim 16 wherein:

said light control means further includes a light intensity control means for controlling an intensity of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said intensity is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said networked data handling system.

18. The networked data handling system of claim 16 wherein:

said light control means further includes a light flash-pattern control means for controlling a flash-pattern of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said flash-pattern is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said networked data handling system.

19. The networked data handling system of claim 16 wherein:

said light control means further includes a color control means for controlling a color of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and electrically connected to said circuit elements for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said color is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said networked data handling system.

20. The networked data handling system of claim 15 wherein:

said circuit support structure further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) for supporting said circuit elements enclosed in said light-transmissible case and said visible light is disposed on said PCB for providing an indication of various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said networked data handling system.

21. The networked data handling system of claim 15 further comprising:

a packaged electronic component including said circuit elements enclosed in said light-transmissible case and said visible light is disposed on said packaged electronic component for providing an indication of various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said networked data handling system.

22. The networked data handling system of claim 15 further comprising:

a network means for inputting signals to said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure and connected to said circuit elements for providing a plurality of visible light signals for indicating various functional statuses of a network connected to said networked data handling system whereby said signals are visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said networked data handling system.

23. A method for configuring a personal computer having a plurality of circuit elements disposed on a circuit support structure comprising:

a) enclosing said plurality of circuit elements in a light transmissible case; and

b) disposing a visible light inside said light-transmissible case on said circuit support structure for connecting to said circuit elements for providing an indication of various functional statuses of said personal computer related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

c) providing a light control means for controlling said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure for providing a plurality of visible light signals for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said signals are visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein:

said step of providing said light control means further includes a step of providing a light intensity control means for controlling an intensity of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said intensity is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein:

said step of providing said light control means further includes a step of providing a light flash-pattern control means for controlling a flash-pattern of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said flash pattern is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein:

said step of providing said light control means further includes a step of providing a color control means for controlling a color of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said color is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

providing a printed circuit board (PCB) for disposing and supporting said circuit elements enclosed in said light-transmissible case and disposing said visible light on said PCB for providing an indication of various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

packaging said circuit elements as a packaged electronic component and enclosing said electronic component in said light-transmissible case and disposing said visible light on said packaged electronic component for providing an indication of various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said personal computer.

30. A method for configuring a electronic device having a plurality of circuit elements disposed on a circuit support structure comprising:

a) enclosing said plurality of circuit elements in a light transmissible case; and

b) disposing a visible light inside said light-transmissible case on said circuit support structure and connecting to said circuit elements for providing an indication of various functional statuses of said electronic device related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

c) providing a light control means for controlling said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure for providing a plurality of visible light signals for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said signals are visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein:

said step of providing said light control means further includes a step of providing a light intensity control means for controlling an intensity of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said intensity is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein:

said step of providing said light control means further includes a step of providing a light flash-pattern control means for controlling a flash-pattern of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said flash-pattern is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein:

said step of providing said light control means further includes a step of providing a color control means for controlling a color of said visible light disposed on said circuit support structure for indicating various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said color is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

35. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

providing a printed circuit board (PCB) for disposing and supporting said circuit elements enclosed in said light-transmissible case and disposing said visible light on said PCB for providing an indication of various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.

36. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

packaging said circuit elements as a packaged electronic component and enclosing said packaged electronic component in said light-transmissible case and disposing said visible light on said packaged electronic component for providing an indication of various functional statuses related to said circuit elements whereby said indication is visible through said light-transmissible case enclosing said circuit elements of said electronic device.