Computer light adjustment

• US 7,236,154 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan, Chaudhri, Imran, Christie, Greg, Ording, Bas, King, Nick, van Os, Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang; Regina
• Application Number:
  US10/402,311
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345168-173, 345/102, 345/207, 345901-905, 349 61- 62, 341 20- 23
• 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: G09G 2320/0633 by amplitude modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a light source configured to output light. The computing device also includes a light sensor configured to measure the level of light surrounding the computing device. The computing device further includes a control mechanism operatively coupled to the light source and light sensor and configured to adjust the level of output light based on the measured level of light surrounding the computing device.

Claims

1. A notebook computer, comprising:

a first light source configured to output light;

a second light source configured to output light;

a single light sensor arrangement including one or more light sensors configured to measure the level of light surrounding the notebook computer; and

a control mechanism operatively coupled to the light sources and light sensor and configured to separately adjust the level of output light of the light sources based on the same level of light that is measured via the single light sensor arrangement, wherein the control mechanism increases the level of output light of the first light source when the measured level of light surrounding the notebook computer is low and reduces the level of output light of the first light source when the measured level of light surrounding the notebook computer is high, and wherein the control mechanism decreases the level of output light of the second light source when the measured level of light surrounding the notebook computer is low, and increases the level of output light of the second light source when the measured level of light surrounding the notebook computer is high.

2. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the first light source illuminates a keyboard of the notebook computer and wherein the second light source illuminates a display of the notebook computer.

3. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the first light source illuminates an indicator, a button or a connector of the notebook computer and wherein the second light source illuminates a display of the notebook computer.

4. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the first light source is a light emitting diode.

5. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the light sensor is a photodiode, phototransistor or photoresistor.

6. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the light sensors are located at peripheral locations around a base of the notebook computer.

7. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein a light receiving means of the one or more light sensors is located on a mating surface of a base or lid of the notebook computer.

8. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the light sensor arrangement includes a pair of light sensors, each of which is disposed within the base of the notebook computer, and wherein the light sensors are position within a housing of the base, the light sensors being positioned proximate a plurality of openings disposed in the base so that they are capable of measuring ambient light located outside of the base.

9. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the light sensors are positioned entirely within a housing of the notebook computer.

10. The computer system as recited in claim 9 wherein the housing includes a plurality of openings and wherein the light sensor is disposed behind the openings, the openings being dimensioned to allow light to pass through the housing to the light sensor disposed therein.

11. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 wherein the light sensor is hidden from view inside the notebook computer.

12. The notebook computer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a light guide or lens configured to focus the ambient light onto the light sensor.

13. The computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein the light sensors are disposed entirely inside a housing of the notebook computer and wherein the light sensor arrangement further comprising a light pipe configured to direct ambient light from outside the housing to inside the housing towards the light sensor.

14. A method of illuminating multiple light sources associated with a notebook computer, comprising:

determining the ambient light level;

automatically adjusting the light intensity of a first light source of a first component of the notebook computer based on the ambient light level; and

automatically adjusting the light intensity of a second light source of a second component of the notebook computer based on the ambient light level;

storing a first illumination profile for the first light source, the first illumination profile defining a relationship between ambient light levels and the light intensity of the first light source; and

storing a second illumination profile for the second light source, the second illumination profile defining a relationship between the ambient light level and the light intensity of the second light source, the second illumination profile being different than the first illumination profile, and

wherein the light intensity of the first light source is adjusted according to the first illumination profile and wherein the light intensity of the second light source is adjusted according to the second illumination profile,

and wherein the light intensity of the first light source is reduced and the light intensity of the second light source is increased when the ambient light level is low.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein determining the ambient light level includes measuring the ambient light level with a light sensor.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the illumination profiles include a formula or data table that includes the ambient light level as an input and the intensity of light as an output.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the first light source is a light emitting diode of an indicator, and wherein the second light source is a light panel of a liquid crystal display.

18. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the first light source is associated with a liquid crystal display, and the second light source is associated with a keyboard.

19. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein determining the ambient light level includes measuring the ambient light level at two locations around the notebook computer, and averaging the results of the two measurements.

20. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein determining the ambient light level includes measuring the ambient light through a wall of the notebook computer.

21. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the light intensity of the light sources are reduced when the ambient light level is low.

22. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the light intensity of the light sources are increased when the ambient light level is low.

23. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the light intensity of the light sources are reduced when the ambient light level is high.

24. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the light intensity of the light sources are increased when the ambient light level is high.

25. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising:

automatically adjusting the light intensity of a third light source associated with the notebook computer based on the ambient light level.

26. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein each of the illumination profiles defines a plurality of different relationships, each of which is based on a different brightness level, and wherein the method fiber comprises designating a particular brightness level so that the relationship associated therewith is used to adjust the light intensity of the light sources.

27. A computer system, comprising:

a processor configured to execute instructions and to carry out operations associated with the computer system;

an input/output controller operatively coupled to the processor and configured to control interactions with one or more input/output devices that are coupled to the computer system;

one or more light sources configured to emit light around the computer system;

one or more light sensors configured to measure the ambient light level surrounding the computer system;

a light controller operatively coupled to the processor and configured to process light information associated with the one or more light sensors and the one or more light sources;

a display device configured to display text and graphics;

a display controller operatively coupled to the processor and configured to process display commands to produce text and graphics on the display device; and

a program storage block operatively coupled to the processor and configured to store data being used by the computer system, the program storage block storing an illumination program for controlling how the one or more light sources are illuminated, the illumination program containing illumination profiles for each of the light sources of the computing system, the illumination profiles describing the relationship between the light output of the one or more light sources and the measured ambient light level, the illumination profiles being accessed through a light control menu, which is viewed on the display device as part of a graphical user interface,

wherein a first light source is configured to provide back lighting to a keyboard of the computer system, a second light source emits light for lighting up an indicator of the computer system and a third light source corresponds to a light panel associated with a liquid crystal display of the computer system.

28. A notebook computer, comprising:

a base including a keyboard, the base also including a speaker grill having a plurality of holes;

a lid pivotally mounted to the base, the lid including a display;

a light adjustment circuit having one or more list sensors configured to measure the ambient light surrounding the portable computer, the measured ambient light being used by the portable computer to adjust the light intensity of one or more light sources associated with the portable computer, wherein at least one light sensor is included in the base, and wherein the at least one light sensor is disposed inside the base behind the holes of the speaker grill, the holes being dimensioned to allow light to pass through the base to the at least one light sensor disposed therein.

29. The notebook computer as recited in claim 28 wherein the intensity of light emitted by the display is based on the level of ambient light measured by the light sensor.

30. The notebook computer as recited in claim 28 wherein the keyboard is a backlit keyboard configured to emit light and wherein the intensity of light emitted by the backlit keyboard is based on the level of ambient light measured by the light sensor.

31. The notebook computer as recited in claim 30 wherein the backlit keyboard consists of a keyboard and a light panel, the keyboard is configured to transmit light from the backside of the keyboard where the light panel is located to the opposite side where the keys of the keyboard are located.

32. The notebook computer as recited in claim 28 wherein the base further includes an indicator configured to emit light and wherein the intensity of light emitted by the indicator is based on the level of ambient light measured by the light sensor.

33. The notebook computer as recited in claim 28 wherein the light adjustment circuit includes a first light source for lighting up an indicator, a second light source for lighting up the keyboard and a third light source for lighting up the display.

34. The notebook computer as recited in claim 28 wherein the light adjustment circuit includes a pair of light sensors, each of which is disposed within the base of the notebook computer behind the holes of separate speaker grills.

35. The notebook computer as recited in claim 28 wherein one of the light sources is associated with the display and wherein the intensity of light emitted by the display is based on the level of ambient light measured by the light sensor.

36. A computing device, comprising:

a housing;

a first light source associated with an indicator of the computing device, the light source being capable of outputting light in order to illuminate the indicator of the computing device;

a second light source associated with an input device of the computing device, the light source being capable of outputting light in order to illuminate the input device of the computing device;

a third light source associated with an output device of the computing device, the light source being capable of outputting light in order to illuminate the output device of the computing device;

a light sensor hidden behind a wall of the housing and configured to measure the level of light surrounding the computing device; and

a control mechanism operatively coupled to the first, second and third light sources and the light sensor and configured to adjust the level of output light at each of the light sources based on the measured level of light surrounding the computing device.

37. A computing device, comprising:

a first light source capable of outputting light in order to illuminate a first component of the computing device, the first light source being associated with a display;

a second light source capable of outputting light in order to illuminate a second component of the computing device, the second component being distinct from the first component, the second light source being associated with a backlit keyboard; and

a light sensor configured to measure the level of light surrounding the computing device; and

a control mechanism operatively coupled to the first and second light sources and the light sensor and configured to adjust the level of out put light from the first and second light sources based on the measured level of light surrounding the computing device,

wherein the display is configured to present a display illumination graphical user interface corresponding to the first light source associated with the display and to preset a keyboard illumination graphical user interface corresponding to the second light source associated with the backlit keyboard, and

wherein the keyboard illumination graphical user interface comprises an illumination option and a time adjustment selector, the illumination option when enabled being configured to instruct the computing device to illuminate the second light source when the level of light surrounding the computing device is low, the time adjustment selector being configured to allow a user to select an amount of time the second light source stays on when the backlit keyboard is not in use.

38. A computing device, comprising:

a first light source capable of outputting light in order to illuminate a first component of the computing device, the first light source being associated with a display;

a second light source capable of outputting light in order to illuminate a second component of the computing device, the second component being distinct from the first component, the second light source being associated with a backlit keyboard; and

a light sensor configured to measure the level of light surrounding the computing device; and

a control mechanism operatively coupled to the first and second light sources and the light sensor and configured to adjust the level of out put light from the first and second light sources based on the measured level of light surrounding the computing device,

wherein the display is configured to present a display illumination graphical user interface corresponding to the first light source associated with the display and to present a keyboard illumination graphical user interface corresponding to the second list source associated with the backlit keyboard, and

wherein the display illumination graphical user interface comprises a light level adjustment option and a light adjustment selector, the light level adjustment option when enabled allows the computing device to automatically adjust the light intensity of the first light source based on the level of light surrounding the computing device, the light adjustment selector being configured to give a user the ability to designate the desired brightness of the illumination provided by the first light source.