Visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device

• US 7,463,163 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Yaz-Tzung
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/914,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/501, 340/815.45, 340/636.1, 713/340, 362362-365, 362/612, 362/577, 362/800, 315129-133, 455/556.2, 455/566, 4551151-1154, 455/158.4
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• 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 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling

Abstract

A visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device is proposed, which is designed for use with a computer platform for providing a visualized operating condition displaying function to the user, and which is characterized by the use of a specially-arranged light-emitting array module composed of a plurality of light-emitting units positioned at an easily-seen location on the external side of the computer platform, which can be activated to generate various forms of light-based signaling messages to indicate various operating conditions in the computer platform. By viewing the different patterns and colorizations of the light beams from the light-emitting array module, the user is able to know the various operating conditions in the computer platform and take early care on the computer platform in the event of an emergency condition in the computer platform.

Claims

1. A visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device for use with a computer platform equipped with a battery unit for providing a visualized operating condition displaying function;

the visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device comprising;

a light-emitting array module, which is composed of a plurality of light-emitting units arranged in an array pattern on the external side of the computer platform;

a power on/off status detecting module, detects whether the computer platform has been powered on; and

if yes, issues a power-on message;

a battery-power monitoring module, monitors the remaining power capacity of the battery unit to thereby generate a corresponding battery-power indication message indicative of the remaining power capacity of the battery unit;

a working-temperature monitoring module, monitors the current working temperature inside the computer platform to thereby generate a corresponding working-temperature indication message indicative of the detected working temperature level;

a first light control module, activates in response to the power-on message from the power on/off status detecting module to drive the light-emitting array module to emit lights in a first predetermined manner to serve as a first light-based signaling message used to indicate that the computer platform is currently powered on;

a second light control module, activates in response to the battery-power indication message from the battery-power monitoring module to drive the light-emitting array module to emit lights in a second predetermined manner to serve as a second light-based signaling message used to indicate the current level of remaining power capacity of the battery unit; and

a third light control module, activates in response to the working-temperature indication message from the working-temperature monitoring module to drive the light-emitting array module to emit lights in a third predetermined manner to serve as a third light-based signaling message used to indicate the current level of working temperature inside the computer platform.

2. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 1, wherein the computer platform is a notebook computer.

3. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 1, wherein the computer platform is a desktop computer.

4. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 1, wherein the computer platform is a tablet computer.

5. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 1, wherein the computer platform is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) unit.

6. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting units in the light-emitting array module are arranged in a circular array around a power switch on the computer platform.

7. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting units in the light-emitting array module are each a dual light-emitting diode.

8. A visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device for use with a computer platform for providing a visualized operating condition displaying function;

the visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device comprising;

a light-emitting array module, which is composed of a plurality of light-emitting units arranged in an array pattern on the external side of the computer platform;

a power on/off status detecting module, detects whether the computer platform has been powered on; and

if yes, issues a power-on message;

a working-temperature monitoring module, monitors the current working temperature inside the computer platform to thereby generate a corresponding working-temperature indication message indicative of the detected working temperature level;

a first light control module, activates in response to the power-on message from the power on/off status detecting module to drive the light-emitting array module to emit lights in a first predetermined manner to serve as a first light-based signaling message used to indicate that the computer platform is currently powered on; and

a second light control module, activates in response to the working-temperature indication message from the working-temperature monitoring module to drive the light-emitting array module to emit lights in a second predetermined manner to serve as a second light-based signaling message used to indicate the current level of working temperature inside the computer platform.

9. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 8, wherein the computer platform is a notebook computer.

10. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 8, wherein the computer platform is a desktop computer.

11. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 8, wherein the computer platform is a tablet computer.

12. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 8, wherein the computer platform is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) unit.

13. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 8, wherein the light-emitting units in the light-emitting array module are arranged in a circular array around a power switch on the computer platform.

14. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 8, wherein the light-emitting units in the light-emitting array module are each a dual light-emitting diode.

15. The visualized computer platform operating condition displaying device of claim 8, further comprising:

a battery-power monitoring module, monitors the remaining power capacity of the battery unit to thereby generate a corresponding battery-power indication message indicative of the remaining power capacity of the battery unit; and

a third light control module, activates in response to the battery-power indication message from the battery-power monitoring module to drive the light-emitting array module to emit lights in a third predetermined manner to serve as a third light-based signaling message used to indicate the current level of remaining power capacity of the battery unit.