Active enclosure for computing device

• US 8,395,330 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan R., Hotelling, Steve P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US13/565,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20120293569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 222 Days
• Field of Search: 315/247, 315/250, 315/291, 315/294, 315/297, 315/307, 315/312, 362/26, 362/27, 362/29, 362/31, 362/99, 362/249, 362/561, 362/800, 362/812
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light device disposed inside the housing. The light device is configured to illuminate the illuminable portion.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

an illuminable housing having a translucent reduced thickness portion;

a processor configured to generate a light control signal associated with a desired light intensity; and

a light feature within the illuminable housing, the light feature operatively coupled to the processor, the light feature comprising;

one or more light emitting diodes for illuminating the illuminable housing; and

a light driver configured to convert the light control signal into a stable continuous current for driving the light emitting diode, a magnitude of the current being based at least in part on the light control signal and the magnitude of the current being proportional to a light intensity of the light emitting diode.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a separate light source for illuminating a display of the computer system, wherein the separate light source is separate from the one or more light emitting diodes of the light feature.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the light driver includes a PWM signal to voltage converter and a voltage to current converter.

4. The computer system as recited in claim 3, wherein the PWM signal has a duty cycle that changes in accordance with the desired light intensity of the LEDs, wherein the voltage changes in accordance with the duty cycle, and wherein the current changes in accordance with the voltage.

5. The computer system as recited in claim 3, wherein the processor includes a pulse width modulation unit having at least one channel with a programmable duty cycle that helps control the light intensity of the light emitting diode.

6. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the light emitting diodes is capable of producing a different color of light, an intensity of each of the light emitting diodes being adjusted in order to produce different light effects.

7. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes are selected from red, green, blue and white light emitting diodes, the intensity of each of the light emitting diodes being adjusted in order to produce a different color.

8. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light feature includes at least a red, green, blue and white light emitting diode.

9. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light feature includes a light driver for each light emitting diode.

10. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light feature includes a light driver for at least one light emitting diode and a light switch for at least one light emitting diode.

11. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the reduced thickness portion is part of an inner bezel of the housing.

12. The computer system as recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more light emitting diodes illuminate the reduced thickness portion to form an indicator image having a similar shape as a light receiving recess at the reduced thickness portion.

13. The computer system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an event monitor; and

a light effect manager operatively coupled to the event monitor, wherein the light effect manager is configured to direct light control signals to the light feature.

14. The computer system as recited in claim 13, wherein the light control signals are based on events tracked by the event monitor.

15. The computer system as recited in claim 14, wherein the light effect manager is configured to determine an illumination characteristic based on an event tracked by the event monitor and on predetermined configuration information.

16. A method of illuminating a housing, comprising:

generating a light control signal associated with a desired light intensity;

converting the light control signal into a voltage representative of the desired light intensity;

converting the voltage into a current representative of the desired light intensity, the current driving a light emitting diode so as to produce light; and

directing the light from the light emitting diode through a translucent reduced thickness portion of the housing such that an image is created at an outer surface of the housing.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the voltage is converted to a stable continuous current.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the light control signal is a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the PWM signal has a duty cycle that changes in accordance with the desired light intensity of the light emitting diode, wherein the voltage changes in accordance with the duty cycle, and wherein the current changes in accordance with the voltage.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the light intensity of the light emitting diode is controlled by a PWM unit having at least one channel with a programmable duty cycle.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the current drives a plurality of light emitting diodes, each of which is capable of producing a different color of light, the intensity of each of the light emitting diodes being adjusted in order to produce different light effects.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the light emitting diodes are selected from red, green, blue and white light emitting diodes, the intensity of each of the light emitting diodes being adjusted in order to produce a different color.

23. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

monitoring an event, wherein generating the light control signal is based on a monitored event, the light control signal being associated with an illumination characteristic and corresponding predetermined configuration information.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the predetermined configuration information is stored in a database.

25. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the image has a shape similar to that of a light receiving recess at the reduced thickness portion.