Display housing for computing device

• US 7,460,362 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lam, Lawrence, Bell, Jory, Stringer, Chris J., Riccomini, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US11/198,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/681, 361/683, 362/28, 362/29, 362/362, 362/632, 362/633, 362/154
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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

Abstract

A personal computing device is disclosed. The personal computing device includes a housing having a translucent portion. The housing encloses internally various components that provide computing operations for the personal computing device. The personal computing device also includes a light source disposed inside the housing. The light source is configured to produce light inside the housing so as to illuminate at least a portion of the translucent portion. The illumination of the translucent portion affecting the appearance of the housing in a non trivial manner.

Claims

1. A personal computing device, comprising:

a housing having a translucent portion, the housing enclosing internally various components that provide computing operations for the personal computing device;

a light source disposed inside the housing, said light source being configured to produce light inside said housing so as to illuminate at least a portion of said translucent portion, the illumination of the translucent portion affecting the appearance of the housing in a non trivial manner; and

a foam stiffener provided internal to the housing so as to substantially fill unused space internal to the housing, thereby providing stiffness to the housing, the foam stiffener including an opening for allowing light to pass from the light source to the translucent portion of the housing.

2. The personal computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the computing device is a personal computer.

3. The personal computing device as recited in claim 2 wherein the personal computer is a portable computer having a lid and a base.

4. The personal computing device as recited in claim 3 wherein the light source is a flat panel display and wherein the illuminable housing member is associated with the lid of the portable computer.

5. The personal computing device as recited in claim 4 further including a frame attached to the housing and supporting the flat panel display with dimensional stability, the frame being coupled to the base via a hinge.

6. The personal computing device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a light directing system configured to direct the light from the light source to the illuminable housing member of the housing.

7. The personal computing device as recited in claim 6 wherein the light directing system includes a light guide that receives a portion of the light from the light source, and directs the received light to the illuminable housing member for illumination thereof.

8. The personal computing device as recited in claim 7 wherein the light guide is a light pipe.

9. The personal computing device as recited in claim 7 wherein the light guide is an opening disposed between the light source and the illuminable housing member.

10. The personal computing device as recited in claim 6 wherein the light directing system includes a reflector that reflects a portion of the light from the light source to the illuminable housing member for illumination thereof.

11. The personal computing device as recited claim 1 in further including an antenna, said antenna being configured to transmit or receive RF signals, said housing being configured to enclose said antenna such that said antenna is entirely contained internal to said housing and is operable while being internal to said housing without having to extend any portion of said antenna outside said housing, the antenna being largely unnoticeable to the untrained observer from the exterior of the housing.

12. A personal computing device, comprising:

a housing formed with an illuminable housing member, the illuminable housing member enclosing various internal components that provide computing operations for the personal computing device, wherein the housing provides a uniform, clean look and masks out any undesirable appearance of said various internal components; and

a light source disposed inside the housing, said light source being configured to produce light inside said housing so as to indirectly illuminate at least a portion of said housing member, the illumination of the illuminable housing member by the light source and not the light source itself affecting the outer surface appearance of the illuminable housing member in a non trivial manner.

13. The personal computing device as recited in claim 12 wherein the computing device is a personal computer.

14. The personal computing device as recited in claim 13 wherein the personal computer is a portable computer having a lid and a base.

15. The personal computing device as recited in claim 14 wherein the light source is a flat panel display and wherein the illuminable housing member is associated with the lid of the portable computer.

16. The personal computing device as recited in claim 15 further including a frame attached to the housing and supporting the flat panel display with dimensional stability, the frame being coupled to the base via a hinge.

17. The personal computing device as recited in claim 12 further comprising a light directing system configured to direct the light from the light source to the illuminable housing member of the housing.

18. The personal computing device as recited in claim 17 wherein the light directing system includes a light guide that receives a portion of the light from the light source, and directs the received light to the illuminable housing member for illumination thereof.

19. The personal computing device as recited in claim 18 wherein the light guide is a light pipe.

20. The personal computing device as recited in claim 18 wherein the light guide is an opening disposed between the light source and the illuminable housing member.

21. The personal computing device as recited in claim 17 wherein the light directing system includes a reflector that reflects a portion of the light from the light source to the illuminable housing member for illumination thereof.

22. The personal computing device as recited in claim 12 further including a foam stiffener provided internal to the housing so as to substantially fill unused space internal to the housing, thereby providing stiffness to the housing, the foam stiffener including an opening for allowing light to pass from the light source to the translucent portion of the housing.

23. The personal computing device as recited in claim 12 further including an antenna, said antenna being configured to transmit or receive RF signals, said housing being configured to enclose said antenna such that said antenna is entirely contained internal to said housing and is operable while being internal to said housing without having to extend any portion of said antenna outside said housing, the antenna being largely unnoticeable to the untrained observer from the exterior of the housing.

24. A consumer electronic product, comprising:

a housing including one or more walls that define an outer peripheral form of the consumer electronic product and that enclose and structurally support various internal functional components associated with operating the consumer electronic product, at least one of the walls having an illuminable portion, wherein the housing provides a uniform, clean look and masks out any undesirable appearance of said various internal functional components; and

a light source disposed within the housing and configured to generate light inside the housing so as to illuminate only the illuminable portion of the housing, the light illuminating an inner surface of the illuminable portion of the housing to effect an appearance change at an outer surface of the illuminable portion of the housing.

25. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 24 wherein the consumer electronic product is a computer, and further comprising one or more computer components disposed inside the housing.

26. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 25 wherein the light scattering element is embodied as a light diffuser provided between the light source and the illuminable portion of the housing.

27. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 24 wherein the consumer electronic product is an output device, and further comprising one or more output components disposed inside the housing.

28. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 24 wherein the output device is a computer monitor, and wherein the output components are a display.

29. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 24 wherein the illuminable portion includes a light scattering element configured to scatter light from the light source, the scattered light helping to form a characteristic glow at a peripheral portion of the illuminable portion.

30. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 24 wherein the light source is not seen through the illuminable portion of the housing.

31. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 24 wherein the illuminable portion is not a display area of the consumer electronic product.

32. A portable computing device, comprising:

an enclosure having an illuminable portion in optical communication with a light source disposed inside the enclosure, said enclosure and said light source working together to emit a characteristic glow at a peripheral portion of said enclosure;

a light directing system configured to direct the light from the light source to the illuminable portion of the enclosure; and

a light scattering element configured to scatter light from the light source, the scattered light helping to form the characteristic glow.

33. The portable computing device as recited in claim 32 wherein the enclosure defines an outer peripheral form of the computing device, and structurally supports internally various components associated with operating the computing device.

34. The portable computing device as recited in claim 32 wherein the illuminable portion is formed from a translucent or semi-translucent material.

35. The portable computing device as recited in claim 34 wherein the illuminable portion is formed from polycarbonate.

36. The portable computing device as recited in claim 32 wherein the illuminable portion forms a significant portion of the enclosure.

37. The portable computing device as recited in claim 32 wherein the illuminable portion forms the entire enclosure.