Systems and methods for color changing device and enclosure

• US 7,248,239 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Lys, Ihor A., Mueller, George G., Dowling, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene; Haissa
• Application Number:
  US10/913,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20050047132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 315/169.3, 315292-294, 315/297, 315/307, 315312-316, 315/362, 315/291, 315/300, 315/308, 315/169.1, 362/84, 362/227, 362/231, 362/234, 362/251, 362/311, 362/341, 362/800, 362/85, 313510-513, 313/503, 345 42- 46, 345/51, 345/214, 345/173, 345/175, 345/176, 345/183, 345 82- 84, 345168-170, 345/661, 345/905, 340/815.45, 340/815.49, 340/815.56, 340/815.65, 340/815.66
• US Class Current: 345/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A color-changing device which includes an enclosure at least a portion of which is material which is desired to change color. There is also included an illumination device, such as an LED or collection of LEDs which can illuminate the material. There can also be included a controller which can take some form of input, such as from a network, or a sensor, and can convert that input into a signal to control the illumination. There is also included a method for performing such color change.

Claims

1. A color-changing device, comprising:

an enclosure including at least a piece of material which is to be illuminated;

an illumination device, disposed within the enclosure, to illuminate said material, the illumination device capable of generating at least two colors; and

a controller configured to control the illumination device in response to information received over a network from an external source,

wherein the network includes the Internet, and wherein the controller is configured to control the illumination device based on the information received over the Internet.

2. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein said color-changing device is a computer.

3. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein said color-changing device includes one or more of the following:

a disk drive, a mouse, a pointing device, a printer, a scanner, a keyboard, a cable, a modem, a media player, a DVD player, a DVD recorder, a CD player, a CD recorder, a tape player, a tape recorder, a stereo receiver, a self contained stereo system, a television, a television remote control, a television peripheral, a cable TV decoder box, a projection system, a speaker, a landline telephone, a wireless telephone, a radio frequency (RF) transmission device, an RF communication device, a personal digital assistants (PDA) a toy, a watch, an appliance, a refrigerator, a stove, an oven, a dishwasher, a trash compactor, and a hand-held device.

4. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein said piece of material is at least one of transparent, semi-transparent and translucent.

5. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein said piece of material contains imperfections.

6. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein said illumination device includes an LED.

7. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein said illumination device includes a plurality of differently colored LEDs.

8. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein the illumination device is configured to project patterns or symbols on said enclosure.

9. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein the controller receives the information from a user of the color-changing device.

10. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to control said illumination device so as to indicate representations of multiple pieces of received information on different portions of said enclosure.

11. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein the network includes a wireless network.

12. The color-changing device of claim 11, wherein the illumination device includes at least one LED-based light source configured to generate the at least two colors.

13. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein the illumination device includes at least one LED-based light source configured to generate the at least two colors.

14. The color-changing device of claim 1, wherein the external source includes at least one sensing device, and wherein the controller is configured to control the illumination device in response to at least one signal provided by the at least one sensing device.

15. The color-changing device of claim 14, wherein the illumination device includes at least one LED-based light source configured to generate the at least two colors.

16. A method of changing the color of a device, the method comprising acts of:

receiving an input signal over a network from an external source;

generating a control signal in response to the input signal; and

illuminating at least a portion of the device with variable colored light, in response to the control signal,

wherein the act of receiving the input signal includes an act of receiving the input signal from the Internet.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the act of illuminating includes an act of controlling at least one LED-based light source so as to generate the variable colored light.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the act of receiving the input signal is accomplished though at least one of a sensor and a transducer.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the act of receiving the input signal is accomplished though a user interface.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the network is a wireless network.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the user interface is at least one of a switch, dial, button, key, and keyboard.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

23. A computer system having a first housing for enclosing at least one component of the computer system, and a second housing for enclosing a second component of the computer system, the first housing having a first light passing wall, the second housing having a second light passing wall, the computer system comprising:

a light source disposed inside the housing, the light source being configured to generate light;

a second light source disposed inside the second housing, the second light source being configured to generate light; and

a light controller operatively coupled to the light source, the light source controller being configured to control the light source so as to illuminate at least a portion of the light passing wall of the housing with the light generated by the light source, the light source being dedicated to illuminating the light passing wall.

24. A computer system having a housing for enclosing at least one component of the computer system, the housing having a light passing wall, the computer system comprising:

a light source disposed inside the housing, the light source being configured to generate light; and

a light controller operatively coupled to the light source, the light source controller being configured to control the light source so as to illuminate at least a portion of the light passing wall of the housing with the light generated by the light source to significantly alter an ornamental appearance of the light passing wall, the light source being dedicated to illuminating the light passing wall, and

wherein the housing further includes one or more opaque walls that cooperate with the one or more light passing walls to define the shape of the housing.

25. A general purpose computer, comprising:

a housing including one or more walls that define the outer peripheral form of the general purpose computer, one of the walls having an illuminable portion configured to allow the passage of light therein;

a controllable light emitting device enclosed by the housing, the light emitting device being configured to produce an adjustable light effect for colorizing or patternizing the illuminable portion to significantly alter an ornamental appearance of the illuminable portion; and

a processor enclosed by the housing, the processor being configured to at least partially control the operations of the general purpose computer.

26. A display for use with a general purpose computer, comprising

a housing including one or more walls that define the outer peripheral form of the display, one of the walls having an illuminable portion configured to allow the passage of light therein;

a controllable light arrangement enclosed by the housing, the light arrangement being configured to produce an adjustable light effect for colorizing or patternizing the illuminable portion; and

a display screen partially enclosed by the housing, the display screen being configured to display text or graphics via a graphical user interface.

27. A color-changing device, comprising:

an enclosure including at least a piece of material which is to be illuminated;

an illumination device, disposed within the enclosure, to illuminate said material, the illumination device capable of generating at least two colors; and

a controller configured to control the illumination device in response to information received over a network from an external source,

wherein the information includes at least one email message, and wherein the controller is configured to control the illumination device based on the at least one email message.

28. The color-changing device of claim 27, wherein the illumination device includes at least one LED-based light source configured to generate the at least two colors.

29. A color-changing device, comprising:

an enclosure including at least a piece of material which is to be illuminated;

an illumination device, disposed within the enclosure, to illuminate said material, the illumination device capable of generating at least two colors; and

a controller configured to control the illumination device in response to information received over a network from an external source,

wherein the information includes advertising information, and wherein the controller is configured to control the illumination device based on the advertising information.

30. The color-changing device of claim 29, wherein the illumination device includes at least one LED-based light source configured to generate the at least two colors.

31. A color-changing device, comprising:

an enclosure including at least a piece of material which is to be illuminated;

an illumination device, disposed within the enclosure, to illuminate said material, the illumination device capable of generating at least two colors; and

a controller configured to control the illumination device in response to information received over a network from an external source,

wherein the information includes economic information, and wherein the controller is configured to control the illumination device based on the economic information.

32. The color-changing device of claim 31, wherein the illumination device includes at least one LED-based light source configured to generate the at least two colors.

33. A method for changing the color of an enclosure, the method comprising acts of:

receiving information over a network from an external source; and

illuminating at least a portion of said enclosure with at least two colors, in response to the information,

wherein the network includes the Internet.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein, said act of illuminating is performed by at least one LED.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of illuminating includes an act of controlling a plurality of differently colored LEDs, in response to the information, to generate the at least two colors.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the external source includes at least one sensing device.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the act of illuminating includes an act of controlling at least one of at least two LEDs so as to vary the at least two colors in response to the information.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the network includes a wireless network.

39. A method for changing the color of an enclosure, the method comprising acts of:

receiving information over a network from an external source; and

illuminating at least a portion of said enclosure with at least two colors, in response to the information,

wherein the act of receiving information includes an act of receiving at least one email message.

40. A method for changing the color of an enclosure, the method comprising acts of:

receiving information over a network from an external source; and

illuminating at least a portion of said enclosure with at least two colors, in response to the information,

wherein the act of receiving information includes an act of receiving advertising information.

41. A method for changing the color of an enclosure, the method comprising acts of:

receiving information over a network from an external source; and

illuminating at least a portion of said enclosure with at least two colors, in response to the information,

wherein the act of receiving information includes an act of receiving economic information.

42. An apparatus comprising:

a surface including at least a piece of material which is to be illuminated;

an illumination device, disposed proximate to the surface, to illuminate said material, the illumination device capable of generating at least two colors; and

a controller configured to control the illumination device in response to information received from the Internet, wherein the information includes at least one email message, and wherein the controller is configured to control the illumination device based on the at least one email message.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the illumination device includes at least one LED-based light source.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the at least one LED-based light source includes at least two LEDs capable of generating the at least two colors.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the surface forms part of an enclosure.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the illumination device is disposed within the enclosure.

47. An apparatus comprising:

a surface including at least a piece of material which is to be illuminated;

an illumination device, disposed proximate to the surface, to illuminate said material, the illumination device capable of generating at least two colors; and

a controller configured to control the illumination device in response to information received from the Internet, wherein the information includes advertising information, and wherein the controller is configured to control the illumination device based on the advertising information.

48. An apparatus comprising:

a surface including at least a piece of material which is to be illuminated;

an illumination device, disposed proximate to the surface, to illuminate said material, the illumination device capable of generating at least two colors; and

a controller configured to control the illumination device in response to information received from the Internet, wherein the information includes economic information, and wherein the controller is configured to control the illumination device based on the economic information.

49. A computer system having a housing for enclosing at least one component of the computer system, the housing having a light passing wall, the computer system comprising:

a light source disposed inside the housing, the light source being configured to generate light;

a light controller operatively coupled to the light source, the light source controller being configured to control the light source so as to illuminate at least a portion of the light passing wall of the housing with the light generated by the light source, the light source being dedicated to illuminating the light passing wall;

a processor configured to carry out operations associated with the computer system, the processor being operatively coupled to the light source controller;

a display;

a display controller operatively coupled to the processor and the display, the display controller being configured to process display commands to produce text or graphics on the display; and

an input/output controller operatively coupled to the processor, the input/output controller being configured to control interactions with one or more input/output devices that can be operatively coupled to the computer system.

50. A computing device, comprising:

an illuminable housing capable of being illuminated by light, the housing being configured to enclose internal components associated with the operation of the computing device; and

a controllable light emitting device disposed inside the illuminable housing, the light emitting device being configured to produce an adjustable light effect for colorizing or patternizing the illuminable housing in order to significantly alter the ornamental appearance of the housing of the computing device, the light emitting device including a light source configured to generate the light so as to illuminate the interior of the illuminable housing, the light illuminating an inner surface of a housing wall to effect an appearance change in an outer surface of the housing wall.

51. A computing device, comprising:

an illuminable housing capable of being illuminated by light, the housing being configured to enclose internal components associated with the operation of the computing device; and

a controllable light emitting device disposed inside the illuminable housing, the light emitting device being configured to produce an adjustable light effect for colorizing or patternizing the illuminable housing in order to significantly alter the ornamental appearance of the housing of the computing device, the light emitting device including a light source configured to generate the light so as to illuminate the interior of the illuminable housing, the light illuminating an inner edge of a housing wall to effect an appearance change in an outer edge of the housing wall.

52. A general purpose computer, comprising:

an illuminable housing capable of being illuminated by light; and

a controllable light emitting device disposed inside the illuminable housing, the light emitting device being configured to produce an adjustable light effect for colorizing or patternizing the illuminable housing in order to significantly alter the ornamental appearance of the housing of the general purpose computer.

53. A computer system having a housing for enclosing at least one component of the computer system, the housing having a light passing wall, the computer system comprising:

a light source disposed inside the housing, the light source being configured to generate light, the light source not being a display; and

a light controller operatively coupled to the light source, the light source controller being configured to control the light source so as to illuminate at least a portion of the light passing wall of the housing with the light generated by the light source to significantly alter an ornamental appearance of the light passing wall, the light source being dedicated to illuminating the light passing wall.

54. A computer system having a housing for enclosing at least one component of the computer system, the housing having a light passing wall, the computer system comprising:

a light source disposed inside the housing, the light source being configured to generate light; and

a light controller disposed inside the housing and operatively coupled to the light source, the light source controller being configured to control the light source so as to illuminate at least a portion of the light passing wall of the housing with the light generated by the light source to significantly alter an ornamental appearance of the light passing wall, the light source being dedicated to illuminating the light passing wall.

55. A computer system having a housing for enclosing at least one component of the computer system, the housing having a light passing wall, the computer system comprising:

a light source disposed inside the housing, the light source being configured to generate light;

a light controller operatively coupled to the light source, the light source controller being configured to control the light source so as to illuminate at least a portion of the light passing wall of the housing with the light generated by the light source to significantly alter an ornamental appearance of the light passing wall, the light source being dedicated to illuminating the light passing wall; and

a processor being operatively coupled to the light source controller.

56. A computer system having a housing for enclosing at least one component of the computer system, the housing having a light passing wall, the computer system comprising:

a light source disposed inside the housing, the light source being configured to generate light;

a light controller operatively coupled to the light source, the light source controller being configured to control the light source so as to illuminate at least a portion of the light passing wall of the housing with the light generated by the light source to significantly alter an ornamental appearance of the light passing wall, the light source being dedicated to illuminating the light passing wall;

a display; and

a display controller configured to process display commands to produce text or graphics on the display.

57. A computer system having a housing for enclosing at least one component of the computer system, the housing having a light passing wall, the computer system comprising:

a light source disposed inside the housing, the light source being configured to generate light;

a light controller operatively coupled to the light source, the light source controller being configured to control the light source so as to illuminate at least a portion of the light passing wall of the housing with the light generated by the light source to significantly alter an ornamental appearance of the light passing wall, the light source being dedicated to illuminating the light passing wall; and

an input/output controller configured to control interactions with one or more input/output devices that can be operatively coupled to the computer system.

58. A color-changing device, comprising:

an enclosure including at least a piece of material which is to be illuminated; and

an illumination device, disposed within the enclosure, to illuminate said material, the illumination device capable of generating at least two colors,

wherein the illumination device is configured to illuminate the material based at least in part on at least one email message.

59. The color-changing device of claim 58, wherein said device is a computer.

60. A computing device comprising an enclosure having an illuminable wall in optical communication with a light source disposed inside the enclosure, and a control means for varying a characteristic or attribute of the light generated by the light source, said illuminable wall and said light source working together to emit a characteristic glow at a peripheral portion of said enclosure to significantly alter an ornamental appearance of the enclosure.

61. The computing device of claim 60, wherein the illuminable wall includes a light directing element configured to scatter light from the light source, the scattered light helping to form the characteristic glow.

62. The computing device of claim 61, wherein the light directing element is an additive disposed inside the illuminable wall.

63. The computing device of claim 61, wherein the light directing element is a coating applied to the illuminable wall.

64. The computing device of claim 61, wherein the light directing element is a textured surface of the illuminable wall.

65. The computing device of claim 60, wherein the characteristic glow is formed at an outer surface of the illuminable wall.

66. The computing device of claim 60, wherein the illuminable wall helps to structurally support the internal components of the computing device in their assembled position within the enclosure and wherein the illuminable wall is formed from a translucent or semi translucent material.

67. The computing device of claim 60, wherein the enclosure defines the outer peripheral form of the computing device.

68. The computing device of claim 60, wherein the characteristic glow is formed at an outer edge of the illuminable wall.