Keyboard illumination for computing devices having backlit displays

• US 6,950,087 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Knox, Andrew Ramsey, Longobardi, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jimmy H.
• Application Number:
  US09/949,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20020050975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-170, 345/102, 345/901
• US Class Current: 345/102
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for illumination of a keyboard in a computing device having a display contained in a portion of the computing device which is hingeably attached to a keyboard portion, the display having a backlight. The system comprises one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard and one or more light-conducting fibers for conducting light from the backlight of the backlit display to the one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard. The level of illumination is varied by means of the one or more light conducting fibers transmitting light through two portions of transparent material, the two portions of transparent material have an area of contact between them which may be varied. A color adjustment mechanism is also provided.

Claims

1. Apparatus for illumination of a keyboard in a computing device having a display contained in a portion of the computing device which is hingeably attached to a keyboard portion, the display having a backlight, the system comprising:

one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard;

one or more light-conducting fibers for conducting light from the backlight of the display to the one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard; and

a color adjustment mechanism having a prism for receiving light from the one or more light-conducting fibers and for splitting the received light according to the wavelength of the received light and a coupler for collecting all or a portion of the light split by the prism and for transmitting the collected light to one or more second light-conducting fibers wherein the prism is adapted to rotate in a cavity, and wherein the internal surface of the cavity has at least a portion coated with a light reflecting material.