Indicator device

• US 20040164873A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.), VPR Matrix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: VPR Matrix Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Steven K.
• Application Number:
  US10/372,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164873A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an indicator device that can provide a single output where, in the past, two or more indicator lights were needed. The indicator device works with an electronic device that has two or more binary components, each component having two binary states. Two or more indicator lights generate a light scheme that corresponds to the status of the states. A single output is created out of the light scheme in the form of an output light. For example, the indicator device includes a two or more light sources including a first light source coupled to the first component and a second light source coupled to the second component. The first light source generates a light when the first component is in the first binary state. Also, the first light source does not generate a light when the first component is in the second binary state. Further, the second light source generates a light when the first component is in the first binary state and the second component is in the first binary state. The indicator device also includes a light transmitter. The light transmitter is adapted to converge the generated light of the first and second light sources into a single visible output light when the first and second components are in their first binary states.

Claims

1. An indicator device suitable for use with an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a plurality of components including first and second components, wherein each component includes first and second binary states, the indicator device comprising:

a plurality of light sources including a first light source operably coupled to the first component and a second light source operably coupled to the second component;

wherein the first light source generates a light when the first component is in the first binary state, and the first light source does not generate a light when the first component is in the second binary state;

wherein the second light source generates a light when the first component is in the first binary state and the second component is in the first binary state;

a light transmitter, the light transmitter adapted to converge the generated light of the first and second light sources into a single visible output light when the first and second components are in their first binary states.

2. The indicator device of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is one of a computer and a computer peripheral.

3. The indicator device of claim 2 wherein the components are disk drive read/write-or-idle and power on/off.

4. The indicator device of claim 3 wherein in the first binary state for the power on/off component is power on.

5. The indicator device of claim 2 wherein the components are selected from the group consisting of disk drive write/not-write, disk drive read/not-read, disk drive idle/not-idle and power on/off.

6. The indicator device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of light sources are selected from the group consisting of light bulbs, light emitting diodes, lasers, and organic light-emitting displays.

7. The indicator device of claim 1 wherein the light transmitter is selected from the group consisting of prisms, diffusers, light guides, light pipes, optical film, and fiber optic articles.

8. The indicator device of claim 1 wherein the output light varies in at least one of color and intensity.

9. An indicator device, comprising:

a translucent prism having a pair of opposite sides each configured as a truncated sector, each truncated sector having a curvilinear edge and an opposite edge;

a light receiving end including a diffusely transmissive side coextensive with the curvilinear edges;

a light providing end including a light output side coextensive with the opposite edges, the generally light output side opposite the prism from the diffusely transmissive side;

a first light source disposed proximate the diffusely transmissive side, the first light source adapted to selectively generate a first light, wherein at least some of the light from the first light source enters the prism at the light receiving end; and

a second light source disposed proximate the diffusely transmissive side, the second light source adapted to selectively generate a second light, wherein at least some of the light from the second light source enters the prism at the light receiving end;

wherein at least some of the light entering the prism at the light receiving end exits the prism at the light providing end.

10. The indicator device of claim 9 wherein the prism is transparent.

11. The indicator device of claim 9 wherein the curvilinear edge is arcuate.

12. The indicator device of claim 9 wherein the opposite edge is linear and the light output side is generally planar.

13. An indicator device, suitable for use with an electronic device having first and second binary components, each binary component having two states, the indicator device comprising:

a translucent prism having a pair of opposite sides each configured as a truncated sector, each truncated sector having a curvilinear edge and an opposite linear edge;

a light receiving end including a diffusely transmissive side coextensive with the curvilinear edges, the diffusely transmissive side adapted to diffuse light entering the prism;

a light providing end including a generally planar side coextensive with the linear edges, the generally planar side opposite the prism from the diffusely transmissive side;

a first light source disposed proximate the diffusely transmissive side, the first light source adapted to be coupled to the first component and to generate a light when the first component is in one of the binary states, and to not generate a light when the first component is in the other of the binary states;

wherein at least some of the light from the first light source enters the prism at the light receiving end; and

a second light source disposed proximate the diffusely transmissive side, the second light source adapted to be operably coupled to the second component and to generate a light when the second component is in one of the binary states, and to not generate a light when the second component is in the other of the binary states;

wherein at least some of the light from the second light source enters the prism at the light receiving end; and

wherein at least some of the light entering the prism at the light receiving end exits the prism at the light providing end.

14. The indicator device of claim 13 wherein the prism is polycarbonate.

15. The indicator device of claim 13 wherein the prism is molded to from the diffusely transmissive side.

16. The indicator device of claim 13 wherein the first and second light sources are spaced apart from each other.

17. The indicator device of claim 13 wherein a logic device is interposed between the first and second components and the light sources.

18. An indicator device for an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a plurality of components, each component capable of a pair of binary states, the electronic device comprising:

means for generating a selected binary state for each of the plurality of components;

a plurality of light sources generating a light scheme corresponding to the selected binary states of the plurality of components; and

means for receiving the light scheme and providing a single output with an output light source, the single output corresponding with the light scheme.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 wherein the indicator device includes three light sources.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 wherein the three light sources include a green light source, a red light source and a blue light source.

21. The electronic device of claim 20 wherein the light scheme includes a red light from the red light source and a green light from a green light source, and the output corresponding with the light scheme is a yellow light.

22. A method of indicating functions of an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a plurality of components, each component capable of a pair of binary states, the method comprising:

selecting a binary state for each of the plurality of components;

using a plurality of light sources to generate a light scheme corresponding to the selected binary states of the plurality of components; and

providing a single output with an output light source, the single output corresponding with the light scheme.