Portable computer battery indicator

• US 9,985,323 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• 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 Robert, Stringer, Christopher J., Coster, Daniel J., Ligtenberg, Christiaan A., Brock, John, Wilson, Jr., Thomas W., Mathew, Dinesh C., Degner, Brett W., Ponce, Tomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alejandro, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US14/866,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20160087316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• 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. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing includes a battery indicator light hole and wherein the housing comprises aluminum;

a battery indicator light subassembly having a battery indicator light that is illuminated to indicate battery charge status for the electronic device and light diffusing material that receives light from the battery indicator light, wherein the light from the battery indicator light passes through the light diffusing material then the battery indicator light hole; and

transparent material positioned in the battery indicator light hole.

2. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the battery indicator light subassembly comprises an opaque member with an additional hole and wherein the light diffusing material is formed within the additional hole of the opaque member.

3. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the battery indicator light hole has a diameter less than 0.8 mm.

4. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the battery indicator light comprises a battery indicator light-emitting diode.

5. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, 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, and wherein the button is adjacent to the battery indicator light hole.

6. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the battery indicator light is part of an array of battery indicator lights that are selectively illuminated to indicate battery charge status for the electronic device, and wherein the battery indicator light hole is part of a plurality of battery indicator light holes with each battery indicator light hole being aligned with a respective battery indicator light.

7. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising a display.

8. The portable electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein the additional hole comprises flared features.

9. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an aluminum housing for the electronic device, wherein the aluminum housing includes a battery indicator light hole; and

a battery indicator light subassembly having a battery indicator light that is illuminated to indicate battery charge status for the electronic device, wherein the battery indicator light emits light that passes through the battery indicator light hole; and

transparent filler within the battery indicator light hole, wherein the transparent filler is contained entirely within the battery indicator light hole.

10. The portable electronic device defined in claim 9, further comprising:

light diffusing material positioned such that the light from the battery indicator light passes through the light diffusing plastic before passing through the transparent filler.

11. The portable electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the battery indicator light is part of an array of battery indicator lights that are selectively illuminated to indicate battery charge status for the electronic device, and wherein the battery indicator light hole is part of a plurality of battery indicator light holes with each battery indicator light hole being aligned with a respective battery indicator light.

12. The portable electronic device defined in claim 11, wherein the plurality of battery indicator light holes are each disposed on a given surface of the aluminum housing, wherein the aluminum 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.

13. The portable electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the battery indicator light subassembly further comprises a printed circuit board, and wherein the battery indicator light is positioned on the printed circuit board.

14. The portable electronic device defined in claim 13, further comprising a button mechanism formed on the printed circuit board.

15. The portable electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the transparent filler comprises an adhesive.

16. The portable electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the transparent filler comprises an ultraviolet-light-curable adhesive.

17. A portable electronic device, comprising:

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

a battery mounted within the housing;

a battery indicator light that indicates battery charge status for the electronic device;

a transparent filler contained entirely within the battery indicator light hole; and

light diffusing material formed separately from the transparent filler, wherein the light diffusing material is positioned between the battery indicator light hole and the battery indicator light and wherein light emitted from the battery indicator light passes through the light diffusing material and the transparent filler.

18. The portable electronic device defined in claim 17, wherein the battery indicator light hole has a diameter less than 0.8 mm.