Computer light adjustment

• US 8,531,386 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan, Ording, Bas, Christie, Greg, Chaudhri, Imran, Van Os, Marcel, King, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Pervan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/949,563
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 341 20- 23, 349 61- 62, 345/102, 345156-157, 345168-173, 345/207, 345901-905, 36167908-6792, 3616794-67945, 36167955-67956
• 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 an 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; 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 a material of 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 one of the light sources corresponds to a light panel of a 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 a display device, the base including the processor, the input/output controller, the one or more light sensors, and the one or more light sources.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is a handheld computer system.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the handheld computer system is a mobile phone.

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

determining an ambient light level, wherein determining the ambient light level includes measuring the ambient light level through a material of a housing of the notebook computer;

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

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.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

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

13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the illumination profiles include a formula or data table that includes the ambient light level as an input and the light intensity as an output.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 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.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the first light source is associated with a liquid crystal display and the second light source is associated with a keyboard.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 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.

17. A portable computer, comprising:

a base including a keyboard, the base also including an external member having a plurality of holes;

a lid pivotally mounted to the base, the lid including a display;

a light adjustment circuit having one or more light sensors configured to measure ambient light surrounding the portable computer, the measured ambient light being used by the portable computer to adjust the light intensity of one or more light sources associated with the portable computer, wherein at least one light sensor is disposed inside the base behind the holes, the holes being dimensioned to allow ambient light to reach the at least one light sensor disposed in the base; and

a light guide or light pipe configured to focus ambient light onto the at least one light sensor that is disposed inside the base behind the holes.

18. The portable computer as recited in claim 17 wherein an intensity of light emitted by the display is based on a level of ambient light measured by the light sensor.

19. The portable computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the keyboard is a backlit keyboard configured to emit light and wherein an intensity of light emitted by the backlit keyboard is based on a level of ambient light measured by the light sensor.

20. The portable computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the base further includes an indicator configured to emit light and wherein an intensity of light emitted by the indicator is based on a level of ambient light measured by the light sensor.

21. A portable computing device, comprising:

a processor configured to execute instructions and to carry out operations associated with the computing device;

one or more input/output devices coupled to the computing device;

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

one or more light sources configured to emit light around the computing device;

one or more light sensors configured to measure an ambient light level surrounding the computing device;

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 housing for enclosing various components of the computing device, 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 a material of the housing; and

a battery for supplying power to the components of the computing device.

22. The portable computing device of claim 21, wherein an intensity of light emitted by the input/output component is based on the ambient light level measured by the light sensor.

23. The portable computing device of claim 22, wherein the one or more input/output devices includes a display and the intensity of light emitted by the display is reduced when the ambient light level measured by the light sensor is low and wherein power consumption by the display from the battery is reduced when the intensity of light emitted by the display is reduced.

24. The portable computing device of claim 22, wherein the one or more input/output devices includes a backlit keyboard and the intensity of light emitted by the backlit keyboard is reduced when the ambient light level measured by the light sensor is high and wherein power consumption by the display from the battery is reduced when the intensity of light emitted by the backlit keyboard is reduced.

25. The portable computing device of claim 21, further comprising:

a control mechanism operatively coupled to first and second light sources and the light sensor and configured to adjust a level of output light from the first and second light sources based on a measured ambient light level surrounding the computing device.

26. The portable computing device of claim 21, wherein one of the light sources emits light for lighting up an indicator of the computing device.