LIGHT-EMITTING LOCK DEVICE CONTROL ELEMENT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20040061997A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Skinner, David N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,717,804 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/683
• 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675

Abstract

A lock device control element that emits light. The light emitting lock device control element may be used in combination with an electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing defining an exterior and including first and second housing members movable relative to one another between an open and a closed orientation; and

a lock device configured to lock the first and second housing members in the closed orientation and including a light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element associated with the exterior of the housing.

2. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a display carried by the first housing member; and

a keyboard carried by the second housing member.

3. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second housing members are pivotably secured to one another.

4. An electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing defines a forward end and a rear end, the first and second housing members are pivotably secured to one another at the rear end, and the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element is associated with the forward end.

5. An electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first housing member defines a top surface and a plurality of side surfaces and the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element is associated with the top surface.

6. An electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first housing member defines a top surface and a plurality of side surfaces and the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element is associated with one of the side surfaces.

7. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock device includes a latch.

8. An electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a latch receiving aperture is formed on of the first and second housing members and the latch carried by the other of the first and second housing members such that the latch extends through the latch receiving aperture when the first and second housing members are in the closed orientation.

9. An electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the latch is movable between a latch position and an unlatch position and is biased to the latch position.

10. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element is substantially translucent.

11. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a light source that directs light though the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element.

12. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a light source is carried with the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element.

13. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element is slidable.

14. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element is depressible.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing defining an exterior and including first and second housing members movable relative to one another between an open orientation and a closed orientation;

a lock device configured to lock the first and second housing members in the closed orientation and including a user-manipulatable lock device control element associated with the exterior of the housing; and

means for causing light to be emitted from the user-manipulatable lock device control element.

16. An electronic device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a display carried by the first housing member; and

a keyboard carried by the second housing member.

17. An electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first and second housing members are pivotably secured to one another.

18. An electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the lock device includes a latch.

19. An electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the user-manipulatable lock device control element is configured to allow light to pass therethrough and the means for causing light to be emitted emits light through the user-manipulatable lock device control element.

20. An electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the means for causing light to be emitted is carried with the user-manipulatable lock device control element.

21. An electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means for causing light to be emitted causes light to be emitted from the user-manipulatable lock device control element when the electronic device is operating.

22. An electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means for causing light to be emitted causes light to be emitted from the user-manipulatable lock device control element in pulses when the electronic device is operating in sleep mode.

23. An electronic device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a battery;

wherein the means for causing light to be emitted causes light to be emitted from the user-manipulatable lock device control element in a first color when the electronic device is operating and the battery is in a normal power state and causes light to be emitted from the user-manipulatable lock device control element in a second color when the electronic device is operating and the battery is in a low power state.

24. A method of operating an electronic device including a housing and a lock device with a lock device control element, the method comprising the step of:

emitting light from the lock device control element.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of emitting light from the lock device control element comprises emitting pulses of light from the lock device control element.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of emitting light from the lock device control element comprises emitting light continuously from the lock device control element when the electronic device is operating in a first mode and emitting pulses of light from the lock device control element when the electronic device is operating in a second mode.

27. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of emitting light from the lock device control element comprises emitting light of a first color from the lock device control element in response to a normal battery power state and emitting light from the lock device control element in a second color in response to a low battery power state.

28. A computer, comprising:

a main housing that defines top, bottom and side portions;

a processor located with the main housing;

a user interface associated with the top portion of the main housing;

a display housing that defines top, bottom and side portions;

a display associated with the bottom portion of the display housing;

a hinge that pivotably connects the main housing to the display housing such that the main housing and display housing are movable relative to one another between a closed orientation, where the top portion of the main housing abuts the bottom portion of the display housing, and an open orientation; and

a lock device, associated with the main housing and display housing, including a latch and a light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element.

29. A computer as claimed in claim 28, wherein

the main housing includes a latch receiving aperture;

the latch and light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element are operably connected, carried by the display housing, and movable between respective latch positions and an unlatch positions; and

the latch extends through the latch receiving aperture and engages the main housing when the display housing is in the closed orientation and the latch is the latch position.

30. A computer as claimed in claim 28, wherein

the display housing includes a latch;

and

the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element is configured to engage the latch and is movable between a latch position and an unlatch position.

31. A computer as claimed in claim 28, wherein the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element is configured to allow light to pass therethrough.

32. A computer as claimed in claim 28, wherein a light source is carried with the light emitting user-manipulatable lock device control element.