English:
[0001] Electronic devices, such as laptop or notebook computers, are oftentimes utilized in dark environments, thereby making it difficult to view and/or utilize the device's working surface (e.g., the keyboard or touch pad). Lighting systems have been devised to facilitate use of electronic devices in dark environments; however, such systems are unable to adequately direct light to the desired location and are susceptible to damage for some types of electronic devices (e.g., when transitioning a notebook computer type of electronic device to a closed position).
[0002] FIGURE 1 is a diagram of a perspective view of an electronic device employing an illuminator to advantage;
[0003] FIGURE 2A is a diagram illustrating the illuminator in an extended position taken along the line 2 — 2 of FIGURE 1 ;
[0004] FIGURE 2B is a diagram illustrating the illuminator in a retracted position taken along the line 2 — 2 of FIGURE 1 ; and
[0005] FIGURE 3 is a diagram illustrating a locking mechanism for the illuminator of FIGURE 1.
[0006] Various embodiments and the advantages thereof are best understood by referring to FIGURES 1-3, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the drawing.
[0007] FIGURE 1 is a diagram of a perspective view of an electronic device 10 employing an embodiment of an illuminator 12 to advantage. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 , electronic device 10 comprises a laptop or notebook computer 14; however, it should be understood that electronic device 10 may comprise any type of electronic device such as, but not limited to, a tablet personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a desktop computer, a gaming device, a digital video disk (DVD) player, a radio, a television, a coffee maker, or any other type of portable or non-portable electronic device. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 , electronic device 10 comprises a display member 16 rotatably coupled to a base member 18 to enable variable positioning of display member 16 relative to base member 18. Display member 16 and base member 18 each comprise a housing 20 and 22, respectively, formed having a number of walls. For example, housing 20 comprises a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24, a front wall/bezel 26, a rear wall 28 and a pair of sidewalls 30 and 32 for receiving and/or supporting a display screen 44. Illuminator 12 comprises a light source to illuminate a working surface 46 of base member 18. For example, when electronic device 10 is utilized in dark environments, illuminator 12 is operable to illuminate a keyboard 48 and/or a touch pad 50 disposed on working surface 46 for viewing and use by an operator of electronic device 10.
[0008] In FIGURE 1 , illuminator 12 comprises a light assembly 13 having a housing 40 and a light source 60 (FIGURES 2A and 2B). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 , light assembly 13 is pivotably coupled to display member 16 and securable within housing 20 of display member 16 by a locking mechanism 42. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 , light assembly 13 is disposed on bezel 26 at a medial location above display screen 44; however, it should be understood that light assembly 13 may be otherwise located (e.g., at any other position on bezel 26 or on wall 22, 30 and/or 32). It should be understood that light assembly 13 may also be pivotably coupled to base member 18.
[0009] FIGURE 2A is a diagram illustrating illuminator 12 in an extended position taken along the line 2 — 2 of FIGURE 1. When in the extended orientation, housing 40 extends outwardly from display member 16 to expose light source 60 to illuminate working surface 46 (FIGURE 1 ). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2A, light source 60 comprises at least one light emitting diode disposed within housing 40; however, it should be understood that other types of light sources including, but not limited to, light bulbs, black light sources, etc., may be used.
[0011] FIGURE 2B is a diagram illustrating illumination device 12 in a retracted or stored position taken along the line 2 — 2 of FIGURE 1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2B, housing 40 is locatable within a recessed area 80 of display member 16. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2B, when illuminator 12 is configured in the retracted or stored position, a front surface 82 of housing 40 is flush (flush or substantially flush) with a forwardly facing surface of bezel 26. Accordingly, housing 40 is storable within recessed area 82 and thus within the profile of display member 16 to enable electronic device 10 to be configured in a closed position. As used herein, a "closed position" of electronic device 10 shall mean when display member 16 is located in a position substantially parallel and/or coplanar with base member 18 (FIGURE 1 ) such that display member 16 is disposed in contact with or directly adjacent to working surface 46 of electronic device 10. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, housing 40 may extend slightly outwardly from bezel 26 and/or housing 20 such that housing 40 is at least partially disposed within housing 20 in a retracted position.
[0012] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-2B, light assembly 13 is positionable in the extended position such that light source 60 is disposed at an angle θ relative to display member 16 to direct light to desired portions of working surface 46. In FIGURES 1-2B, light assembly 13 is pivotably coupled to housing 40 via a hinge 70 (FIGURES 2A and 2B) to facilitate pivotable movement between the extended and retracted positions. According to some embodiments, hinge 70 may be a ratchet-like hinge 70 so that light source 60 can be fixed or positioned in a plurality of different angular extended positions relative to display member 16 and/or working surface 46 to direct light to desired portions of working surface 46. In other embodiments, light assembly 13 may be configured to be located in two positions, namely, a fully extended position and a retracted or stored position.
[0013] According to some embodiments, housing 40 is automatically insertible within recessed area 80 in response to transitioning electronic device 10 to the closed position. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-2B, when transitioning electronic device 10 to the closed position, front surface 82 of housing 40 contacts and/or otherwise engages working surface 46 such that movement of display member 16 in the direction of arrow 84 (FIGURE 1 ) forces housing 40 into recessed area 82 (FIGURE 2B) for storage therein.
[0015] Further, according to some embodiments, light source 60 is automatically illuminated in response to illuminator 12 being in an extended position and automatically turned off in response to housing 40 being located in a stored or retracted position within recessed area 82 (e.g., in response to transitioning electronic device 10 to the closed position). Additionally and/or alternatively, light source 60 may be manually turned on and/or off by a user.

中文:
[0001]电子设备(例如膝上型计算机或笔记本计算机)经常在黑暗的环境中使用,从而使得难以观看和/或使用所述设备的工作表面(例如,键盘或触摸垫)。照明系统已经被设计成促进在黑暗环境中使用电子设备;但是,这种系统不能充分地将光引导到所需位置,并且对于某些类型的电子设备是容易受损的(例如,当将笔记本计算机类型的电子设备转换到闭合位置)。
[0002]图1是有利地采用照明器(illuminator)的电子设备的透视图的示图;
[0003]图2A是示出沿着图1中的线2-2所取的处于延伸位置的照明器的示图;
[0004]图2B是示出沿着图1中的线2-2所取的处于缩进位置的照明器的示图;以及
[0005]图3是示出用于图1中的照明器的锁定机构的示图。
[0006]通过参照图1-3,可以最好理解各种实施例以及优点,相同的附图标记用于图中相同和对应的部分。
[0007]图1是有利地使用照明器12的实施例的电子设备10的透视图的示图。在图1所示的实施例中,电子设备10包括膝上型计算机或笔记本计算机14;但是,应该明白电子设备10可以包括任何类型的电子设备,例如但不限于平板个人计算机,个人数字助理,台式计算机,游戏设备,数字视频盘(DVD)播放器,无线电设备,电视机,咖啡机,或任何其它类型的使携式或非便携式电子设备。在图1所示的实施例中,电子设备10包括显示构件16,其可旋转地耦合至基底构件18以便使得能够相对于基底构件18可变定位(variable positioning)显示构件16。显示构件16和基底构件18各自分别包含外壳20和22,所述外壳形成为具有若干壁。例如,外壳20包括顶壁22,底壁24,前壁/前盖(bezel)26,后壁28以及一对侧壁30和32用以容纳和/或支撑显示屏44。照明器12包括光源以照亮基底构件18的工作表面46。例如,当电子设备10在黑暗环境中使用时,照明器12可操作以照亮置于工作表面46上的键盘48和/或触摸垫50以便供电子设备10的操作者观看和使用。
[0008]在图1中,照明器12包括具有外壳40和光源60的光组件13(图2A和2B)。在图1所示的实施例中,光组件13枢轴地耦合至显示构件16,并且可通过锁定机构42固定在显示构件16的外壳20内。在图1所示的实施例中,光组件13在显示屏44上方的中间(medial)位置处置于前盖26上;但是,应该明白光组件13可以以其他方式定位(例如,在前盖26上的任何其它位置处或在壁22,30和/或32上)。应该明白光组件13也可以枢轴地耦合至基底构件18。
[0009]图2A是示出沿着图1中的线2-2所取的处于延伸位置的照明器12的示图。当处于所述延伸方位(orientation)时,外壳40从显示构件16向外延伸以便暴露光源60来照亮工作表面46(图1)。在图2A所示的实施例中,光源60包括至少一个置于外壳40内的发光二极管;但是,应该明白其它类型的光源(包括但不限于电灯泡,黑光源(black light source)等)可以被使用。
[0011]图2B是示出沿着图1中的线2-2所取的处于缩进或贮存位置的照明设备12的示图。在图2B所示的实施例中,外壳40可位于显示构件16的凹进区域80内。在图2B所示的实施例中,当照明器12被配置成处于所述缩进或贮存位置时,外壳40的前表面82与前盖26的面向前的表面齐平(齐平或基本齐平)。因此,外壳40可贮存在凹进区域82内,从而贮存在显示构件16的轮廓内以使得能够将电子设备10配置成处于闭合位置。此处使用的电子设备10的“闭合位置”是指当显示构件16位于与基底构件18(图1)基本平行和/或共面的位置使得显示构件16被设置成接触或紧邻电子设备10的工作表面46。但是,应该明白在一些实施例中,外壳40可以从前盖26和/或外壳20稍微向外延伸,从而使得外壳40在缩进位置时至少部分置于外壳20内。
[0012]在图1-2B所示的实施例中,光组件13可定位在延伸位置中,使得光源60被设置为相对于显示构件16成角度θ从而将光引导至工作表面46的所需部分。在图1-2B中,光组件13通过铰链70(图2A和2B)枢轴地耦合至外壳40以促进在延伸位置和缩进位置之间的枢轴移动。根据一些实施例,铰链70可以是棘轮状铰链70,使得光源60可以被固定或定位在相对于显示构件16和/或工作表面46的多个不同角度的延伸位置中以将光引导至工作表面46的所需部分。在其它实施例中,光组件13可被配置成位于两个位置中,即完全延伸位置和缩进或贮存位置。
[0013]根据一些实施例,外壳40响应于将电子设备10转换到闭合位置可自动插入到凹进区域80中。例如,在图1-2B所示的实施例中,当将电子设备10转换到所述闭合位置时,外壳40的前表面82接触工作表面46和/或以其它方式与工作表面46接合,从而显示构件16在箭头84(图1)方向上的移动迫使外壳40进入凹进区域80(图2B)以便贮存在其中。
[0015]此外,根据一些实施例,响应于照明器12处于延伸位置而自动点亮光源60,并且响应于外壳40位于凹进区域80内的贮存或缩进位置中(例如响应于将电子设备10转换到所述闭合位置)而自动关闭光源60。附加地和/或可替换地,光源60可以由用户人工地开启和/或关闭。