Housing for a computing device

• US 7,443,388 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Novak, Chris J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANKAR, VIJAY
• Application Number:
  US11/169,608
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 345 76- 85, 345/169, 345173-178, 362/26, 362/85, 362/95, 362/253, 178 1801- 1808
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

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.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a housing that encloses internally various electronic components that provide computing operations to the computing device;

a pair of light emitting diodes disposed inside the housing and configured to illuminate an outer surface of the housing; and

a translucent region provided at the outer surface of the housing, the translucent region including a light receiving area and an illumination area, the translucent portion being configured to direct light from the pair of light emitting diodes through the translucent portion from the light receiving area to the illuminating area, the illuminating area forming a surface portion of the outer surface of the housing that is luminous when the pair of light emitting diodes are providing light internal to the housing.

2. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the light receiving area is substantially adjacent to the pair of light emitting diodes to efficiently couple light from the light emitting diodes to the light receiving area.

3. The computing device as recited in claim 1 further including a light directing area arranged to direct the transmitted light from the light receiving area to the illuminating area.

4. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the light directing area includes a reflecting surface that reflects the transmitted light from the light receiving area towards the illuminating area.

5. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the reflecting surface is disposed internal to the translucent portion.

6. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the reflecting surface is disposed external to the translucent portion.

7. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the surface portion is planar.

8. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the surface portion is non-planar.

9. The computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the pair of light emitting diodes are affixed to a printed circuit board that is provided within the housing.

10. A method for illuminating a computer housing, comprising:

transmitting light from a pair of light emitting diodes enclosed in the computer housing;

receiving the transmitted light at a light receiving portion of the computer housing;

directing the transmitted light from the light receiving portion of the computer housing to the outer periphery of the computer housing such that light is made to illuminate the computer housing.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the light receiving portion is substantially adjacent to the pair of light emitting diodes to efficiently couple light from the light emitting diodes to the light receiving portion.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the computer housing further includes a light directing area, the method further comprising

directing the transmitted light from the light receiving area to the illuminating area by the light directing area.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the light directing area includes a reflecting surface, the method further comprising:

reflecting the transmitted light from the light receiving area towards the illuminating area by the reflecting surface.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the reflecting surface is disposed internal to the translucent portion.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the reflecting surface is disposed external to the translucent portion.

16. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the pair of light emitting diodes are affixed to a printed circuit board that is provided within the housing.

19. Computer program product as recited in claim 11 wherein the computer housing further includes a light directing area, the computer program product further comprising

computer code for directing the transmitted light from the light receiving area to the illuminating area by the light directing area.

20. Computer program product as recited in claim 19 wherein the light directing area includes a reflecting surface, the computer program product further comprising:

computer code for reflecting the transmitted light from the light receiving area towards the illuminating area by the reflecting surface.

21. Computer program product as recited in claim 20 wherein the reflecting surface is disposed internal to the translucent portion.

22. Computer program product as recited in claim 21 wherein the reflecting surface is disposed external to the translucent portion.

17. Computer program product for illuminating a computer housing, comprising:

computer code for transmitting light from a pair of light emitting diodes enclosed in the computer housing;

computer code for receiving the transmitted light at a light receiving portion of the computer housing;

computer code for directing the transmitted light from the light receiving portion of the computer housing to the outer periphery of the computer housing such that light is made to illuminate the computer housing; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

18. Computer program product as recited in claim 17 wherein the light receiving portion is substantially adjacent to the pair of light emitting diodes to efficiently couple light from the light emitting diodes to the light receiving portion.

23. Computer program product as recited in claim 17 wherein the pair of light emitting diodes are affixed to a printed circuit board that is provided within the housing.