Communication Using Light-Emitting Device

• US 20090140960A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mahowald, Peter Henry
• Granted Patent: US 8,624,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/325 by lamps or LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/02 Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3208 organic, e.g. using organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for communicating information. An event is detected. A light effect is emitted in response to the detected event. The emitted light effect simulates the detected event or a sensory output associated with the detected event.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an event, wherein the event includes a sensory output associated with the event; and

in response to the detected event, emitting a light effect that simulates the sensory output.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated sensory output comprises an on-screen dynamic displayed on a display of a device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein emitting a light effect that simulates the on-screen dynamic comprises emitting a light effect whose intensity over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein emitting a light effect that simulates the on-screen dynamic comprises emitting a light effect whose color over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated sensory output comprises an audio output.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein emitting a light effect that simulates the audio output comprises emitting a light effect whose intensity over time simulates one or more characteristics of the audio output.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more characteristics of the audio output include one or more of amplitude and frequency.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein emitting a light effect that simulates the audio output comprises emitting a light effect whose color over time simulates one or more characteristics of the audio output.

9. A device, comprising:

a light emission module;

one or more processors;

a storage medium; and

instructions stored in the storage medium and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the instructions comprising instructions to;

detect an event, wherein the event includes a sensory output associated with the event; and

in response to the detected event, emit, using the light emission module, a light effect that simulates the sensory output.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a display device;

and

wherein the associated sensory output comprises an on-screen dynamic displayed on a display of a device.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising instructions to emit a light effect whose intensity over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.

12. The device of claim 10, further comprising instructions to emit a light effect whose color over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the associated sensory output comprises an audio output from the device.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising instructions to emit a light effect whose intensity over time simulates one or more characteristics of the audio output.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more characteristics of the audio output include one or more of amplitude and frequency.

16. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause a data processing apparatus comprising a light-emitting device to perform operations comprising:

detecting an event, wherein the event includes a sensory output associated with the event; and

in response to the detected event, emitting a light effect that simulates the sensory output.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the associated sensory output comprises an on-screen dynamic displayed on a display.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, further operable to cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising emitting a light effect whose intensity over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, further operable to cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising emitting a light effect whose color over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the associated sensory output comprises an audio output.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein emitting a light effect that simulates the audio output comprises emitting a light effect whose intensity over time simulates one or more characteristics of the audio output.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the one or more characteristics of the audio output include one or more of amplitude and frequency.

23. A system, comprising:

means for detecting an event, wherein the event includes a sensory output associated with the event; and

means for emitting, in response to the detected event, a light effect that simulates the sensory output.

24. A method comprising:

detecting an event; and

in response to the detected event, emitting a light effect that simulates the detected event.