Electroluminescent apparatus for illuminating a portable electronic or computing device

• US 6,523,967 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tech Creative Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tech Creative Incorporated
• Inventors: Naghi, Herschel, Naghi, David, Hanscom, Eric A.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/847,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20020163797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/85, 362/109, 362/253, 362/812
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner

Abstract

An electroluminescent (“EL”) illumination apparatus for illuminating an object associated with a portable electronic or computing device having a port in electrical connection with at least one power source. The EL illumination apparatus includes at least one electroluminescent (EL) member to illuminate an object associated with the portable electronic or computing device, and a plug connected to at least one EL member for plugging the apparatus into the port of the portable electronic or computing device for powering at least one EL member by at least one power source. A method of using the apparatus includes plugging the plug of the EL apparatus into the port of the portable electronic or computing device, and lighting at least one EL member with the power source to illuminate the object associated with the portable electronic or computing device.

Claims

1. A method of illuminating an object associated with a portable electronic or computing device having a port in electrical connection with at least one power source, comprising:

providing an electroluminescent (EL) illumination apparatus comprising a plug for plugging the apparatus into the port and at least one EL member;

plugging the plug of the EL apparatus into the port of the portable electronic or computing device; and

lighting at least one EL member with the power source to illuminate an object associated with the portable electronic or computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic or computing device is a handheld video game device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic or computing device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

4. The method claim 1, wherein the plug has at least one port adapted to receive a second plug of an electronic or computing appliance, and the method further includes plugging the second plug of the electronic or computing appliance into at least one port of the plug to perform at least one of powering the appliance and communicating the device with the appliance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one EL member is bendable, and the method further includes bending at least one EL member at least partially around the device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein bending at least one EL member at least partially around the device retains the EL illumination apparatus to the device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic or computing device has a display screen, and at least one EL member includes a frame to house at least one EL member, and the method further including illuminating the screen of the device with at least one EL member in the frame.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic or computing device has a display screen, and the method further including illuminating the screen of the device with at least one EL member.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic or computing device has an input area to input information into the device, and the method further including illuminating the input area of the device with at least one EL member.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one EL member includes a sticky surface to stick at least one EL member to the device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the EL illumination apparatus includes a body connected to the plug and an illumination device connected to the body, the illumination device adapted to illuminate an object associated with the portable electronic or computing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the body includes at least one EL member.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one EL member at least partially surrounds the body.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the illumination device includes at least one EL member.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the illumination device includes at least one light emitting diode (“

LED”

).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one LED is at least one white LED.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one EL member includes multiple EL members, at least two of which are different colors.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one EL member includes multiple EL members, and the EL illumination apparatus further includes electronics to control said multiple EL members to perform a function from the group consisting of flashing the EL members, flashing the EL members simultaneously, flashing the EL members in a predetermined order, flashing the EL members in a random order, lighting the EL members in a predetermined order, lighting the EL members in a random order, and lighting the EL members in response to signals transmitted from the electronic or computing device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the illumination device includes a top portion with a translucent advertising mark, and the method further includes illuminating said translucent advertising mark with said illumination device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a sticker carries said translucent advertising mark.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the EL illumination apparatus further includes electronics to control illumination of said illumination device to perform a function from the group consisting of flashing the illumination device, flashing the illumination device in a predetermined order, flashing the illumination device in a random order, lighting the illumination device with different-colored lighting, and lighting the illumination device in response to signals transmitted from the electronic or computing device.

22. An electroluminescent illumination apparatus for illuminating an object associated with a portable electronic or computing device having a port in electrical connection with at least one power source, comprising:

at least one electroluminescent (EL) member to illuminate an object associated with a portable electronic or computing device;

a plug connected to at least one EL member for plugging the apparatus into the port of the portable electronic or computing device for powering at least one EL member by at least one power source.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the portable electronic or computing device is a handheld video game device.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the portable electronic or computing device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the plug has at least one port adapted to receive a second plug of an electronic or computing appliance to perform at least one of communicating the device with the electronic or computing appliance and powering the electronic or computing device with the power source.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one EL member is bendable.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one EL member retains the EL illumination apparatus to the device.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the portable electronic or computing device includes a display screen, and said apparatus further includes a frame to hold at least one EL member and mount to the device so that at least one EL member may illuminate the screen of the device.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the portable electronic or computing device has a display screen, and at least one EL member is adapted to illuminate the screen.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the portable electronic or computing device has an input area to input information into the device, and at least one EL member is adapted to illuminate the input area.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one EL member includes a sticky surface to stick at least one EL member to the device.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the EL illumination apparatus includes a body connected to the plug and an illumination device connected to the body, the illumination device is adapted to illuminate an object associated with the portable electronic or computing device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the body includes at least one EL member.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein at least one member at least partially surrounds the body.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the illumination device includes at least one EL member.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the illumination device includes at least one light emitting diode (“

LED”

).

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein at least one LED is at least one white LED.

38. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one EL member includes multiple EL members, at least two of which are different colors.

39. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one EL member includes multiple EL members, and the EL illumination apparatus further includes electronics to control said multiple EL members to perform a function from the group consisting of flashing the EL members, flashing the EL members simultaneously, flashing the EL members in a predetermined order, flashing the EL members in a random order, lighting the EL members in a predetermined order, lighting the EL members in a random order, and lighting the EL members in response to signals transmitted from the electronic or computing device.

40. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the illumination device includes a layer with a translucent advertising mark adapted to be illuminated by said illumination device.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said layer is a sticker that carries said translucent advertising mark.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the EL illumination apparatus further includes electronics to control illumination of said illumination device to perform a function from the group consisting of flashing the illumination device, flashing the illumination device in a predetermined order, flashing the illumination device in a random order, lighting the illumination device with different-colored lighting, and lighting the illumination device in response to signals transmitted from the electronic or computing device.

43. A method of illuminating an object associated with a portable electronic or computing device having a port in electrical connection with at least one power source, comprising:

providing an illumination apparatus including a plug to plug the apparatus into the port of the portable electronic or computing device, a body connected to the plug, and Ian illumination device connected to the plug, the illumination device including a top portion with a layer having a translucent advertising mark;

plugging the plug into the port of said electronic or computing device; and

illuminating said translucent advertising mark with said illumination device by supplying power to said illumination device from said power source.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said illumination device includes at least one LED.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein at least one LED includes at least one white LED.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein said illumination device includes at least one EL member.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the illumination apparatus further includes electronics to control illumination of said illumination device to perform a function from the group consisting of flashing the illumination device, flashing the illumination device in a predetermined order, flashing the illumination device in a random order, lighting the illumination device with different-colored lighting, and lighting the illumination device in response to signals transmitted from the electronic or computing device.

48. An adapter for a portable electronic or computing device having a first port in electrical connection with at least one power source, the first port including a top, bottom, left side, and right side, the adapter comprising:

an adapter body including a first plug with a top, bottom, left side, and right side with a geometry corresponding to the geometry of the top, bottom, left side, and right side of the first port of the portable electronic or computing device and adapted to mate therewith, a second port having a top, bottom, left side, and right side with a geometry corresponding to the geometry of the top, bottom, left side, and right side of the first port of the portable electronic or computing device and adapted to receive a second plug of an electronic or computing appliance, wherein said second port is oppositely oriented with respect to the first port when said first plug is plugged into the first port of the portable electronic or computing device.

49. The adapter of claim 48, wherein said second port is one of one or more ports of said adapter body.

50. A method of using an adapter with a portable electronic or computing device having a first port in electrical connection with at least one power source, the first port including a top, bottom, left side, and right side, the method comprising:

providing an adapter body including a first plug with a top, bottom, left side, and right side with a geometry corresponding to the geometry of the top, bottom, left side, and right side of the first port of the portable electronic or computing device and adapted to mate therewith, a second port having a top, bottom, left side, and right side with a geometry corresponding to the geometry of the top, bottom, left side, and right side of the first port of the portable electronic or computing device and adapted to receive a second plug of an electronic or computing appliance;

plugging said first plug of said adapter body into the first port of the portable electronic or computing device so that said second port is oppositely oriented with respect to the first port.

51. The method of claim 50, further including plugging a second plug of an electronic or computing appliance into said second port.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein said second port is one of one or more ports of said adapter body.

53. An adapter for use with a portable handheld video game device having a utility port in electrical connection with a power source, comprising:

an adapter body to couple the utility port of the portable handheld video game device with one or more accessories, the adapter bodying including a plug to couple with the utility port of the portable electronic or computing device and one or more ports to receive one or more plugs to couple the adapter body with one or more accessories.

54. The adapter of claim 53, further including one or more illumination devices carried by the adapter body and to be electrically connected to the utility port of the portable handheld video game device via at least the plug.

55. The adapter of claim 54, wherein the one or more illumination devices include one or more EL members.

56. The adapter of claim 53, wherein the one or more ports include a first port to receive a plug of an electronic or computing appliance and a second port to receive a plug of a connector cable for communicating the portable handheld video game device with another portable handheld video game device.

57. The adapter of claim 56, wherein the electronic or computing appliance is an illumination apparatus.

62. The method of claim 53, wherein the electronic or computing appliance is an illumination apparatus.

58. A method of using an adapter for a portable handheld video game device having a utility port in electrical connection with a power source, comprising:

providing an adapter having an adapter body to couple the utility port of the portable handheld video game device with one or more accessories, the adapter bodying including a plug to couple with the utility port of the portable electronic or computing device and one or more ports to receive one or more plugs to couple the adapter body with one or more accessories;

coupling the plug of the adapter with the utility port of the portable handheld video game device;

plugging the one or more plugs of the one or more accessories into the one or more ports of the adapter to couple the one or more accessories with the utility port of the portable handheld video game device.

59. The method of claim 58, further including one or more illumination devices carried by the adapter body and to be electrically connected to the utility port of the portable handheld video game device via at least the plug of the adapter.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the one or more illumination devices include one or more EL members.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein the one or more ports include a first port to receive a plug of an electronic or computing appliance and a second port to receive a plug of a connector cable for communicating the portable handheld video game device with another portable handheld video game device, and the method further includes plugging the plug of the electronic or computing appliance into the first port and plugging the plug of the connector cable into the second port.