Computer light adjustment

• US 9,788,392 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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): Taningco, Alexander H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garcia, Christian L
• Application Number:
  US14/636,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 315158, 315307, 315149, 250205, 250214 AL, 362276
• 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 handheld electronic device, comprising:

a light source;

a light sensor;

a light controller configured to process light information associated with the light sensor and the light source;

a housing that encloses the light source, the light sensor, and the light controller, wherein the housing includes an opening and wherein the light sensor directly overlaps the opening and is configured to detect light through the opening; and

an output device that conveys signals to a user through the opening.

2. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a portion of a display.

3. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.

4. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the light sensor comprises an ambient light sensor.

5. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 4 further comprising a light guide configured to focus ambient light onto the ambient light sensor.

6. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the output device comprises a speaker and the opening comprises a hole in a speaker grill over the speaker.

7. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein an intensity of the light source is adjusted based on data gathered by the light sensor.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a light source;

an ambient light sensor;

a housing in which the light source and the ambient light sensor are mounted, wherein the housing includes a speaker opening and wherein the ambient light sensor receives ambient light through the speaker opening; and

a processor that provides control signals to the light source based on ambient light measurements from the ambient light sensor.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the light source comprises a status indicator.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the light source comprises a light source associated with a display.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 8 further comprising a light guide that distributes ambient light to the ambient light sensor.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the ambient light sensor directly overlaps the speaker opening.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a light source;

a light sensor;

a housing in which the processor, the light source, and the light sensor are mounted, wherein the housing includes an opening and wherein the light sensor is configured to detect light through the opening; and

an electronic component that transmits signals through the opening, wherein the opening directly overlaps the light sensor.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the processor controls a brightness of the light source based on a measured output from the light sensor.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the light source provides backlight for a keyboard.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of optical fibers.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the keyboard comprises keys and wherein the light source illuminates an area around each of the keys.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the keyboard comprises keys and wherein the light source provides illumination through each of keys.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 19 further comprising a mask layer positioned between the keyboard and the light source, wherein the mask layer has openings through which light is transmitted.