Active enclosure for computing device

• US 9,797,558 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan R., Hotelling, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US14/247,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20140218891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 315291, 315294, 315297, 315312, 362 84, 362 85, 362109
• 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. Apparatus, comprising:

a keyboard having a housing with at least one light passing wall;

a light source that generates light that passes through the light passing wall of the housing of the keyboard, wherein the light generated by the light source is adjustable between at least two nonzero intensity levels and at least two different colors; and

circuitry configured to generate a light control signal associated with a desired light intensity, wherein the light source produces light at an intensity level based at least partly on the light control signal, and wherein the circuitry is configured to adjust the light generated by the light source between the at least two different colors.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the light passing wall comprises an illuminable housing wall.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources and wherein each of the light sources is capable of producing a different color of light.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a red, a green, a blue and a white light emitting diode.

4. Apparatus, comprising:

a keyboard having a housing with at least one light passing wall;

a light source that generates light that passes through the light passing wall of the housing of the keyboard, wherein the light source is configured to emit light of at least two different brightness levels and at least two different colors, and wherein the light source comprises light emitting diodes each of which is selected from the group consisting of;

red, green, blue and white light emitting diodes; and

circuitry configured to adjust the light emitted by the light source between the at least two different brightness levels and the at least two different colors.

6. A keyboard, comprising:

a housing wall;

at least one light source that generates light of variable brightness and variable color, wherein the light generated by the at least one light source passes through the housing wall, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources, and wherein each of the light sources is capable of producing a different color of light; and

circuitry that is configured to vary the brightness and the color of the light generated by the at least one light source.

7. The keyboard as recited in claim 6, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises light emitting diodes each of which is selected from the group consisting of:

red, green, blue and white light emitting diodes.

8. The keyboard as recited in claim 6, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises a red, a green, a blue and a white light emitting diode.