On-demand system for connector access independent of ambient light level

• US 20060044148A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, Lyle, Ruthie D., Daniels, Fonda J., Figgins, Timothy Earl
• Application Number:
  US10/933,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044148A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.100
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

A computer system includes a plurality of LEDs situated in correspondence to a plurality of connectors. System peripherals which connect to the plurality of connectors are outfitted to include a transponder having a unique RF ID tag The system further includes an RFID reader which detects an RF ID tag emitted by a proximate transponder when a user proceeds to plug-in a system peripheral outfitted with such transponder. The system further includes a light controller which selectively energizes the LEDs and provides a distinguishing energization signal to at least one but less than all of the LEDs based on the RF ID value. Preferably, the system processor oversees the selection.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of light sources each situated in correspondence to a plurality of connectors;

a wireless ID controller which detects an identifier emitted by a proximate wireless ID transponder; and

a light controller coupled to said wireless ID controller and to said plurality of light sources and which selectively energizes said plurality of light sources and provides a distinguishing energization signal to at least one but less than all of said plurality of light sources based on the value of the identifier detected by said wireless ID controller.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distinguishing energization signal is effective to energize the at least one light source while a remainder of light sources are turned off.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein a remainder of light sources which are other than the at least one light source are energized and wherein the distinguishing energization signal provided to the at least one light source is a signal selected from the group consisting of a flashing signal and a signal which causes light emission of a color that distinguishes from the remainder of light sources.

4. A method comprising:

detecting an identifier emitted by a proximate wireless ID transponder; and

distinguishably energizing at least one but less than all of a plurality of light sources each situated in correspondence to a plurality of connectors based on the value of the detected identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one light source is energized while a remainder of light sources are off.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein a remainder of light sources which are other than the at least one light source are energized and wherein a distinguishing energization signal is provided to the at least one light source, wherein the distinguishing energization signal is a signal selected from the group consisting of a flashing signal and a signal which causes light emission of a color that distinguishes from the remainder of light sources.

7. A product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code stored therein, the computer readable program code in said product being effective to;

detect an identifier emitted by a proximate wireless ID transponder; and

distinguishably energize at least one but less than all of a plurality of light sources each situated in correspondence to a plurality of connectors based on the value of the detected identifier.

8. The product of claim 7 wherein the at least one light source is energized while a remainder of light sources are off.

9. The product of claim 7 wherein the code is further effective to:

energize a remainder of light sources which are other than the at least one light source; and

provide a distinguishing energization signal to the at least one light source, wherein the distinguishing energization signal is a signal selected from the group consisting of a flashing signal and a signal which causes light emission of a color that distinguishes from the remainder of light sources.

10. Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of connectors;

a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) each situated in correspondence to a corresponding one of said plurality of connectors;

an RFID controller which polls for proximate RFID transponders and detects an RFID tag;

an LED controller coupled to said plurality of LEDs and which controllably energizes said plurality of LEDs; and

a processor coupled to said RFID controller and to said LED controller and which receives the detected RFID tag and passes control commands to said LED controller for selecting which LEDs to energize, the processor being effective to;

access relational data which correlates RFID tag values to specific ones of said plurality of LEDs; and

select which LEDs to energize as a function of the relational data and the value of the received RFID tag, wherein at least one but less than all of said plurality of LEDs are selected for energization.

11. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein said RFID controller polls for proximate RFID transponders and detects the RFID tag by energizing a surrounding area with RF energy and detecting the RFID tag emitted by the proximate RFID transponder.

12. Apparatus of claim 11 wherein the polling is periodic.

13. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein said RFID controller passes the RF ID tag to said processor by generating an interrupt to said processor in response to the detection.

14. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein the relational data includes:

ranges of RFID tag values which are associated with device types having specific connector requirements;

a list of connectors included in said apparatus; and

relational data which associates which LEDs correspond to which connectors.

15. Apparatus of claim 14 wherein the relational data further includes data which indicates which connectors are in use and wherein the selection is further a function of the data which indicates which connectors are in use.

16. A method comprising:

polling for proximate RFID transponders;

detecting an RFID tag;

accessing relational data which correlates RFID tag values to specific ones of a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) each situated in correspondence to a corresponding one of a plurality of connectors;

selecting which LEDs to energize as a function of the relational data and the value of the received RFID tag, wherein at least one but less than all of said plurality of LEDs are selected for energization; and

energizing the selected LEDs.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said polling for proximate RFID transponders and said detection of the RFID tag is performed by energizing a surrounding area with RF energy and detecting the RFID tag emitted by the proximate RFID transponder.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the polling is periodic.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the relational data includes:

ranges of RFID tag values which are associated with device types having specific connector requirements;

a list of connectors included in said apparatus; and

relational data which associates which LEDs correspond to which connectors.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the relational data further includes data which indicates which connectors are in use and wherein the selection is further a function of the data which indicates which connectors are in use.

21. A product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code stored therein, the computer readable program code in said product being effective to;

poll for proximate RFID transponders;

detect an RFID tag;

access relational data which correlates RFID tag values to specific ones of a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) each situated in correspondence to a corresponding one of a plurality of connectors;

select which LEDs to energize as a function of the relational data and the value of the received RFID tag, wherein at least one but less than all of the plurality of LEDs are selected for energization; and

energize the selected LEDs.