Computer light adjustment

• US 7,839,379 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan, Chaudhri, Imran, Christie, Greg, Ording, Bas, King, Nick, van Os, Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pervan; Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/737,121
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 341 20- 23, 349 61- 62, 345/102, 345156-157, 345168-173, 345/207, 345901-905
• US Class Current: 345/102
• 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: G09G 2320/0633 by amplitude modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a light source configured to output light. The computing device also includes a light sensor configured to measure the level of light surrounding the computing device. The computing device further includes a control mechanism operatively coupled to the light source and light sensor and configured to adjust the level of output light based on the measured level of light surrounding the computing device.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processor configured to execute instructions and to carry out operations associated with the computer system;

an input/output controller operatively coupled to the processor and configured to control interactions with one or more input/output devices that are coupled to the computer system;

one or more light sources configured to emit light around the computer system;

one or more light sensors configured to measure the ambient light level surrounding the computer system;

a light controller operatively coupled to the processor and configured to process light information associated with the one or more light sensors and the one or more light sources;

a display device configured to display text and graphics;

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

a program storage block operatively coupled to the processor and configured to store data being used by the computer system, the program storage block storing an illumination program for controlling how the one or more light sources are illuminated, the illumination program containing illumination profiles for each of the light sources of the computing system, the illumination profiles describing the relationship between the light output of the one or more light sources and the measured ambient light level, the illumination profiles being accessed through a light control menu, which is viewed on the display device as part of a graphical user interface; and

a housing for enclosing various components of the computer system, the housing having an outer peripheral surface, wherein at least one light sensor is positioned entirely within the outer peripheral surface of the housing such that the light sensor measures the ambient light level through the housing.

2. The computer system as recited in claim 1 further including an input/output device and a first light source associated with the input/output device.

3. The computer system as recited in claim 2 wherein the input/output device is a keyboard and the first light source is configured to provide back lighting to the keyboard.

4. The computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein a first light source emits light for lighting up an indicator of the computer system.

5. The computer system as recited in claim 4 wherein the indicator is a sleep indicator.

6. The computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein a first light source emits light for lighting up a keyboard and a second light source emits light for lighting up an indicator of the computer system.

7. The computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display, and wherein one of the light sources corresponds to a light panel of the liquid crystal display.

8. The computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein the computer system is integrated within a notebook computer, the notebook computer including a base and a lid that are pivotally mounted to one another, the lid including the display device, the base including the processor, the input/output controller, the one or more light sensors, the one or more light sources, and the program storage block.

9. The computer system as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the light sensors is positioned such that it measures the ambient light level through the housing at a mating surface of the base or lid of the notebook computer.

10. A computing device, comprising:

a first light source capable of outputting light in order to illuminate a first component of the computing device;

a second light source capable of outputting light in order to illuminate a second component of the computing device, the second component being distinct from the first component;

a light sensor configured to measure the level of light surrounding the computing device, wherein the computing device includes a computing device housing, and wherein the light sensor is enclosed by the computing device housing such that the light sensor measures the level of light surrounding the computing device through the computing device housing; and

a control mechanism operatively coupled to the first and second light sources and the light sensor and configured to adjust the level of out put light from the first and second light sources based on the measured level of light surrounding the computing device and first and second illumination profiles associated with the first and second light sources, the first illumination profile being different than the second illumination profile.

11. The computing device as recited in claim 10 wherein the first light source is associated with a display, and the second light source is associated with a backlit keyboard.

12. The computing device as recited in claim 11 wherein the display is configured to present a display illumination graphical user interface corresponding to the first light source associated with the display and to present a keyboard illumination graphical user interface corresponding to the second light source associated with the backlit keyboard.

13. The computing device as recited in claim 10, wherein the housing has an outer peripheral surface, the light sensor being positioned entirely within the outer peripheral surface of the housing such that the light sensor measures the level of light surrounding the computing device through the housing, the light sensor being attached to a printed circuit board disposed inside the housing.

14. The computing device as recited in claim 10 further comprising a program storage block containing a first illumination profile for the first light source, and a second illumination profile for the second light source, the second illumination profile being different than the first illumination profile, wherein the light intensity of the first light source is adjusted according to the first illumination profile and wherein the light intensity of the second light source is adjusted according to the second illumination profile.

15. The computing device as recited in claim 10, wherein the computing device is integrated within a notebook computer, the notebook computer including a base and a lid that are pivotally mounted to one another, and wherein at least one of the light sensors is positioned such that it measures the light level surrounding the computing device through the computing device housing at a mating surface of the base or lid of the notebook computer.

16. A method of illuminating multiple light sources associated with a notebook computer, comprising:

determining the ambient light level, wherein determining the ambient light level includes measuring the ambient light through a wall of the notebook computer;

automatically adjusting the light intensity of a first light source of a first component of the notebook computer based on the ambient light level;

automatically adjusting the light intensity of a second light source of a second component of the notebook computer based on the ambient light level;

storing a first illumination profile for the first light source, the first illumination profile defining a relationship between ambient light levels and the light intensity of the first light source; and

storing a second illumination profile for the second light source, the second illumination profile defining a relationship between the ambient light level and the light intensity of the second light source, the second illumination profile being different than the first illumination profile, and wherein the light intensity of the first light source is adjusted according to the first illumination profile and wherein the light intensity of the second light source is adjusted according to the second illumination profile.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein determining the ambient light level includes measuring the ambient light level with a light sensor.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the illumination profiles include a formula or data table that includes the ambient light level as an input and the intensity of light as an output.

19. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the first light source is a light emitting diode of an indicator, and wherein the second light source is a light panel of a liquid crystal display.

20. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the first light source is associated with a liquid crystal display and the second light source is associated with a keyboard.

21. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein determining the ambient light level includes measuring the ambient light level at two locations around the notebook computer, and averaging the results of the two measurements.

22. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the light intensity of the light sources are reduced when the ambient light level is low.

23. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the light intensity of the light sources are increased when the ambient light level is low.

24. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the light intensity of the light sources are reduced when the ambient light level is high.

25. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the light intensity of the light sources are increased when the ambient light level is high.

26. The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising:

automatically adjusting the light intensity of a third light source associated with the notebook computer based on the ambient light level.

27. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein each of the illumination profiles defines a plurality of different relationships, each of which is based on a different brightness level, and wherein the method further comprises designating a particular brightness level so that the relationship associated therewith is used to adjust the light intensity of the light sources.

28. A backlit keyboard in communication with a computing device, comprising:

a plurality of keys suitable for receiving user input commands;

a base plate onto which the plurality of keys are attached in such a manner as to be capable of moving up and down relative to the base plate, wherein at least a portion of the base plate allows light to be transmitted therethrough;

a light sensor configured to measure an ambient light level surrounding the computing device;

a light panel disposed behind the base plate, wherein light output from the light panel is transmitted through the base plate and further through the keyboard to the front of the keyboard; and

a housing enclosing the base plate, the light panel, and the light sensor, wherein the light sensor is configured to measure the ambient light level through the housing.

29. The backlit keyboard as recited in claim 28 further comprising:

a control mechanism operatively coupled to the light panel and light sensor and configured to adjust the level of light output from the light panel based on the measured level of ambient light surrounding the computing device, wherein the control mechanism increases the level of output light when the measured level of ambient light surrounding the computing device is low and wherein the control mechanism reduces the level of output light when the measured level of light surrounding the computing device.

30. The backlit keyboard as recited in claim 28, wherein the base plate includes a circuit layer that sends a signal to the computing device when a particular key is pressed down.

31. The backlit keyboard as recited in claim 28, wherein the light panel better defines the edge of the keys by illuminating the space between the keys.

32. The backlit keyboard as recited in claim 28, wherein the light panel provides illumination through the keys thereby illuminating only a legend on the keys.

33. The backlit keyboard as recited in claim 28, wherein the light panel is a plurality of light panels arranged to preferentially distribute light.

34. The backlit keyboard as recited in claim 28, wherein the light panel includes a plurality of optical fibers that are generally configured to allow light passing therethrough to escape through an outer surface of the optical fiber wherein each of the optical fibers is connected to a light source.

35. The backlit keyboard as recited in claim 34, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

36. The backlit keyboard as recited in claim 34, wherein the optical fibers are positioned adjacent one another in rows so as to form a sheet of optical fibers thereby distributing light in a planar manner.

37. The backlit keyboard as recited in claim 28, wherein at least the portion of the base plate that allows light to be transmitted therethrough is formed of a translucent material.