Portable computer battery indicator

• US 9,147,915 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hendren, Keith J., Andre, Bartley K., Kerr, Duncan R., Stringer, Christopher, Coster, Daniel J., Ligtenberg, Chris, Brock, John, Wilson, Tom, Mathew, Dinesh, Degner, Brett W., Ponce, Tomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US13/372,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636.1, 320134-136
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/006 applied to portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 1/1656 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A portable computer may include battery indicator light structures. Battery status information in the portable computer may be presented to a user using an array of light-emitting diodes or other light emitters. Light-emitting diodes may be mounted on a printed circuit board. A stiffener may provide the printed circuit board with rigidity. The printed circuit board may include a connector that allows the board to be connected to a main logic board. A switch on the printed circuit board may be actuated by a power button on the portable computer. An opaque member with an array of holes may be used to reduce light bleed between adjacent light-emitting diodes. Diffusing plastic may be mounted within the array of holes. Bumps in the diffusing plastic may mate with corresponding holes on a portable computer housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing for the electronic device, wherein the housing includes a plurality of battery indicator light holes;

a battery indicator light subassembly having an array of battery indicator lights that are selectively illuminated to indicate battery charge status for the electronic device, each battery indicator light being aligned with a respective one of the plurality of battery indicator light holes; and

light diffusing plastic between the battery indicator light holes and the battery indicator lights.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein each of the battery indicator lights comprises a battery indicator light-emitting diode.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising transparent filler within the battery indicator light holes.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the transparent filler comprises ultraviolet cured epoxy and wherein the battery indicator light holes are less than 0.8 mm in diameter.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the battery indicator light holes are each disposed on a given surface of the housing, the electronic device further comprising:

a button operable to receive user input, wherein the button is disposed on the given surface of the housing, wherein the button is adjacent to at least one of the battery indicator light holes in the housing.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the battery indicator light holes are each disposed on a given surface of the housing, wherein the housing includes at least one additional hole in the given surface, and wherein the additional hole is not aligned with any of the battery indicator lights.

7. A portable computer, comprising:

a lower housing having opposing interior and exterior surfaces and a plurality of holes that extend from the interior surface to the exterior surface, wherein the plurality of holes includes a communication port hole and at least one battery indicator light hole;

an upper housing rotatably mounted to the lower housing; and

a battery indicator light subassembly having at least one battery indicator light that indicates battery charge status for the portable computer, the battery indicator light being aligned with the battery indicator light hole in the lower housing of the portable computer.

8. The portable computer defined in claim 7 wherein the battery indicator light comprises a battery indicator light-emitting diode.

9. The portable computer defined in claim 7 further comprising light diffusing plastic between the battery indicator light hole and the battery indicator light.

10. The portable computer defined in claim 7 further comprising transparent filler within the battery indicator light hole.

11. The portable computer defined in claim 10 wherein the transparent filler comprises ultraviolet cured epoxy and wherein the battery indicator light hole is less than 0.8 mm in diameter.

12. The portable computer defined in claim 7 wherein the battery indicator light hole is disposed on a given surface of the lower housing, the electronic device further comprising:

a button operable to receive user input, wherein the button is disposed on the given surface of the lower housing, wherein the button is adjacent to the battery indicator light hole in the lower housing.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the battery indicator light hole is disposed on a given surface of the lower housing, wherein the lower housing includes at least one additional hole in the given surface, and wherein the additional hole is not aligned with any battery indicator light.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing for the electronic device, wherein the housing includes at least one battery indicator light hole;

a battery mounted within the housing;

at least one battery indicator light that indicates battery charge status for the battery, the battery indicator light being aligned with the battery indicator light hole in the housing of the electronic device; and

a transparent filler within the battery indicator light hole, wherein the transparent filler comprises ultraviolet cured epoxy.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the battery indicator light comprises a battery indicator light-emitting diode.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 14 further comprising light diffusing plastic between the battery indicator light hole and the battery indicator light.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the battery indicator light hole is less than 0.8 mm in diameter.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the battery indicator light hole is disposed on a given surface of the housing, the electronic device further comprising:

a button operable to receive user input, wherein the button is disposed on the given surface of the housing, wherein the button is adjacent to the battery indicator light hole in the housing.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the battery indicator light hole is disposed on a given surface of the housing, wherein the housing includes at least one additional hole in the given surface, and wherein the additional hole is not aligned with any battery indicator light.

20. An electronic device, comprising:

a conductive housing for the electronic device, wherein the conductive housing includes an array of battery indicator light holes;

a keyboard mounted on a top wall of the conductive housing;

a battery mounted internally within the conductive housing; and

a battery indicator light subassembly having an array of battery indicator lights that are selectively illuminated to indicate battery charge status for the electronic device, each battery indicator light being aligned with a respective one of the battery indicator light holes, wherein the battery indicator light subassembly is disposed between the battery and the array of battery indicator light holes in the conductive housing.

21. The electronic device defined in claim 20 wherein the conductive housing comprises a bottom wall and side walls and wherein the array of battery indicator light holes is disposed on a portion of one of the side walls of the conductive housing.

22. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing for the electronic device, wherein the housing includes at least one battery indicator light hole;

a battery mounted within the housing;

at least one battery indicator light that indicates battery charge status for the battery, the battery indicator light being aligned with the battery indicator light hole in the housing of the electronic device;

a keyboard on a top surface of the housing; and

a touchpad adjacent to the keyboard on the top surface of the housing.

23. The electronic device defined in claim 22 wherein the battery does not form any exterior surfaces of the electronic device.

24. The electronic device defined in claim 23 wherein the housing comprises a bottom surface, and first, second, third, and fourth side surfaces and wherein the at least one battery indicator light hole is disposed on the first side surface of the housing.

25. The electronic device defined in claim 24 wherein the battery is disposed between the top and bottom surfaces, between the first and second side surfaces, and between the third and fourth side surfaces.