Abstract:
A method of illuminating an object associated with a portable electronic or computing device with a pass-thru illumination apparatus includes providing a pass-thru illumination apparatus including a first plug with a second port, a body connected to the first plug, and an illumination device attached to the body; plugging the first plug of the pass-thru illumination apparatus into a port of the electronic or computing device to power the illumination device with a power source of the electronic or computing device to illuminate an object associated with the electronic or computing device; and plugging a second plug of a peripheral into the second port of the pass-thru illumination apparatus to accomplish at least one of powering the peripheral and communicating the peripheral with the electronic or computing device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is in the field of lighting devices for portable electronic or computing devices.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Compact electronic devices with a viewing screen or keypads have become very common and quite popular. Such devices have been popular for a number of years in connection with hand-held, portable, battery-powered gaming devices. A well-known example of such a device, that has sold millions of units, is the GAME BOY™ device sold by Nintendo. More recently, other electronic devices have also included viewing screens, such as portable video cameras and cellular phones. And, of course, portable computers have long had viewing screens. Although the complexity and cost of such devices can vary greatly, it is common for such devices to use a generally flat, liquid crystal display screen.  
           [0003]    Flat, liquid crystal display screens work very well in a well-lit area. However, when such devices are used in dimly lit areas, or at night, it can be difficult, if not impossible, for a user to see anything in the viewing screen. This problem is magnified when such a screen is used in a device that is meant to be portable, and especially when it is a small device.  
           [0004]    If a portable device is sufficiently complex, and generally more expensive, such as a portable laptop computer, the device can include lighting within the actual device. An example of such lighting is a portable laptop computer with a backlit screen. However, this solution is not always economically practical, nor does it necessarily solve the problem in smaller devices. Also, if an electronic device does not have a viewing screen, then this option is not even available.  
           [0005]    To solve this problem, especially in connection with hand-held, portable, battery-powered gaming devices, a number of different solutions have been proposed. Such solutions have typically included add-on devices with their own source of electrical power. These devices can be designed to fit onto the electronic device or be designed for use in connection with the electronic device. However, because such devices use their own source of electrical power, they tend to be rather bulky and heavy. In addition, the second source of electrical power increases cost and creates the possibility of another source of power failure.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, there is a long felt need for a simple, economical, device that can illuminate portable electronic or computing devices without the drawbacks associated with prior illumination devices.  
           [0007]    A need also exists for a pass-thru illumination apparatus that not only illuminates objects associated with the portable electronic or computing device such as the screen, keyboard, paperwork, etc. but also allows peripherals to be attached to the portable electronic or computing device through the illumination apparatus.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    An aspect of the invention involves a method of illuminating an object associated with a portable electronic or computing device with a pass-thru illumination apparatus, the portable electronic or computing device including a first port in communication with a power source. The method includes providing a pass-thru illumination apparatus including a first plug with a second port, a body connected to the first plug, and an illumination device attached to the body; plugging the first plug of the pass-thru illumination apparatus into the first port of the electronic or computing device to power the illumination device with the power source of the electronic or computing device to illuminate an object associated with the electronic or computing device; and plugging a second plug of a peripheral into the second port of the pass-thru illumination apparatus to accomplish at least one of powering the peripheral and communicating the peripheral with the electronic or computing device.  
           [0009]    Another aspect of the invention involves a pass-thru illumination apparatus for illuminating an object associated with a portable electronic or computing device including a first port in communication with a power source. The pass-thru illumination apparatus includes a first plug to plug the pass-thru illumination apparatus into the first port of a portable electronic or computing device, the first plug having a second port to receive a second plug of a peripheral to accomplish at least one of powering the peripheral by the power source of the electronic or computing device and communicating the peripheral with the electronic or computing device; a body connected to the first plug; and an illumination device attached to the body to be powered by the electronic or computing device for illuminating an object associated with the electronic or computing device.  
           [0010]    A further aspect of the invention involves a method of using an adapter to interface a pass-thru illumination apparatus with a first port of a portable electronic or computing device. The method includes providing an adapter configured to mate at a first end with a first plug of a pass-thru illumination apparatus and configured to mate at a second end with a port of the portable electronic or computing device; connecting the first end of the adapter to the first plug of the pass-thru illumination apparatus; and connecting the second end of the adapter to the first port of the portable electronic or computing device.  
           [0011]    A further aspect of the invention involves a method of using an adapter to interface a peripheral with a port of a pass-thru illumination apparatus. The method includes providing an adapter configured to mate at a first end with a plug of a peripheral and configured to mate at a second end with a port of the pass-thru illumination apparatus; connecting the first end of the adapter to the plug of the peripheral; and connecting the second end of the adapter to the port of the pass-thru illumination apparatus.  
           [0012]    A still further aspect of the invention involves an adapter for interfacing a pass-thru illumination apparatus with a first port of a portable electronic or computing device. The adapter includes an adapter body including a first end configured to mate with a first plug of a pass-thru illumination apparatus and a second end configured to mate with a first port of the portable electronic or computing device.  
           [0013]    A yet further aspect of the invention involves an adapter for interfacing a pass-thru illumination apparatus with a plug of a peripheral. The adapter includes an adapter body including a first end configured to mate with the plug of the peripheral and a second end configured to mate with a port of a pass-thru illumination apparatus.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a pass-thru illumination apparatus shown in conjunction with a laptop computer and a peripheral keyboard.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pass-thru illumination apparatus shown in FIG. 2 in conjunction with a Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”) and a peripheral keyboard.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pass-thru illumination apparatus shown in FIG. 2 in conjunction with a pair of adapters that may be used with the pass-thru illumination apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates how a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used with a portable electronic game device, such as a GAME BOY™ device. Although this drawing depicts a portable electronic game device, the invention is adaptable to any portable electronic device that has a utility power jack in electrical connection with a power source, such as, but not by way of limitation, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), a digital camera, or a video camera.  
         [0019]    In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device  1  has a viewing screen  2 , a power source and a utility power jack. The power source and utility power jacks are not visible and are shown generally as  3  and  4 , because their location and configuration will vary depending upon the design of a given portable electronic device. The power source  3  may be self-contained, such as batteries in a battery compartment. The power source  3  may or may not be augmented by a plug-in capability to a non-portable power source, such as a wall outlet.  
         [0020]    The illumination apparatus, shown generally as  5 , includes a plug, shown generally as  6 , for plugging the illumination apparatus  5  into the utility power jack  4  of the electronic device  1 . The exact configuration of the plug  6  should be designed so as to mate with the utility power jack  4  and create a mechanical and electrical connection between the utility power jack  4  and the plug  6  when the apparatus  5  is plugged into the electronic device  1 .  
         [0021]    The illumination apparatus  5  also includes a body  7  and an illumination device  8 . The body  7  connects the illumination device  8  to the plug  6 , and the body is preferably comprised of a flexible arm. The illumination device  8  is electrically connected to the utility power jack  4  through the plug  6  and the body  7  so that the illumination device  8  is powered by the power source  2  when the illumination apparatus  5  is plugged into the electronic device  1 . The electrical connection between the illumination device  8  and the plug  6  can be by any suitable means, such as by a wire (not shown). It is especially preferred that the body  7  can be adjusted, when the apparatus  5  is plugged into the utility power jack  4 , to adjust the height and/or the angle of the illumination device  8  relative to the electronic device  1 .  
         [0022]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the illumination device  8  is comprised of a light emitting diode (“LED”)  9  housed in a case housing  10 . The housing  10  can also include suitable electronics, such as a resistor  11 , or a regulator (not shown) for varying the intensity of light given off by the LED. In an especially preferred embodiment, the LED  9  is a white light diode. The housing can also include additional features, such as a diffuser lens  9 , or a magnifier (not shown).  
         [0023]    When the plug  6  of the illumination apparatus  5  is plugged into the utility power jack  4  of the electronic device  1 , it necessarily occupies the connection that the utility power jack  4  would otherwise provide to a user of the electronic device  1 . Because a user of the electronic device  1  might need to connect some other device to the utility power jack  4 , it is especially preferred that the plug  6  be constructed so as to include a second utility power jack  12 . The second utility power jack  12  is adapted to receive a second plug and provide a mechanical and electrical connection for the second plug equivalent to that which is provided by the utility power jack  4 . Thus, the second utility power jack  12  will provide electrical communication for the second plug with the utility power jack  4  when the second plug is plugged into the plug  6  and the plug  6  is plugged into the utility power jack  4 .  
         [0024]    The present invention is also adaptable to a portable computing device with a display screen that is not illuminated by the portable computing device. In such an embodiment, the illumination apparatus is plugged into a utility port of the computing device in electrical connection with a power source instead of the utility power jack  4  of the electronic device  1 . In such a device, the utility port can be any port that allows connection of additional products or communication devices, or cables, or any additional accessory or product. The illumination apparatus can have a second utility port adapted to receive a second plug that is in electrical communication with the utility port when the second plug is plugged into the plug and the plus is plugged into the utility port. In all other respects, the structure and function of the illumination apparatus would be the same as for the illumination apparatus  5  described above in connection with electronic device  1 .  
         [0025]    With reference to FIGS.  2 - 4 , a pass-thru illumination apparatus  20  constructed in accordance with an additional embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with a laptop or notebook computer  22 . The illumination apparatus  20  is similar to the illumination apparatus  5  shown in FIG. 1, except the illumination apparatus  20  includes an oval, UFO-shaped light or case housing  24 , a helical bendable wire body  28 , and a pass-thru plug member  32 . The light housing  24  houses a light source, preferably at least one white LED. The pass-thru plug member  32  includes a first plug  34  on a flat side  35  of the plug member  32  and a second jack or port  36  on an opposite, tapered side  38  of the plug member  32 . A support flange  40  may extend from the flat side  35  of the plug member  32 .  
         [0026]    In use, the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20  is plugged into the laptop computer  22  by plugging the first plug  34  of the apparatus  20  into a serial port or first port of the laptop computer  22 . The support flange  40  helps to secure the apparatus to the laptop computer  22 . A first adapter  42  may be used to interface the first plug  34  with the serial port of the laptop computer  22  if the first plug  34  is not sized to mate with the serial port. The adapter  42  includes an adapter body having a first end configured to mate with the first plug  34  of the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20  and a second end configured to mate with the serial port or first port of the laptop computer  22 . The pass-thru illumination apparatus  20  may include different configuration plugs  34  and/or may be used with a variety of different configuration adapters  42 , e.g., a family of different configuration adapters, to ensure communication of the apparatus  20  with laptop computers  22  having different configuration ports. The illumination apparatus  20  draws power through the serial port of the laptop computer  22  to power and illuminate the light source in the light housing  24 .  
         [0027]    A peripheral such as a keyboard  44  may connect with the laptop computer  22  through the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20 . This may be accomplished by plugging a keyboard or second plug  46  at the end of a keyboard cord  48  into the second port  36  of the plug member  32 . A second adapter  50  may be used to interface the keyboard plug  46  with the second port  36  of the plug member  32  if the second port  36  is not configured to mate with the keyboard plug  46 . The adapter  50  includes an adapter body having a first end configured to mate with the second plug  46  of the peripheral  44  and a second end configured to mate with the second port  36  of the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20 . The pass-thru illumination apparatus  20  may include different configuration ports  36  and/or may be used with a variety of different configuration adapters  50 , e.g., a family of different configuration adapters, to ensure communication of peripherals with different configuration plugs with the apparatus  20 .  
         [0028]    The keyboard  44  may draw power and/or communicate with the laptop computer  22  through the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20 . The bendable body  28  may be bent to a desired orientation for ideal lighting of any object(s) associated with the laptop computer  22 , e.g., laptop screen  52 , laptop keyboard  54 , peripheral keyboard  44 , other peripheral(s), reading materials. Also, if the bendable body  28  becomes uncoiled, the bendable body  28  can be reshaped into a coil by bending and wrapping the body  28  around a pen, pencil, or similar instrument and removed.  
         [0029]    Likewise, with reference specifically to FIG. 3, the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20  may be plugged into a port of a Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”)  56  and a peripheral, e.g., keyboard  44 , may be powered by and/or communicate with the PDA  56  via the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20 . Similar to the laptop example illustrated in FIG. 2, the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20  may be bent to a desired orientation for ideal lighting of any object(s) associated with the PDA  56 , e.g., PDA screen  58 , keypad  60 , peripheral keyboard  44 , other peripheral(s), reading materials.  
         [0030]    Similarly, the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20  may be plugged into ports of other electronic or computing devices and peripherals may be powered by and/or communicate with the electronic or computing devices via the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20 . The illumination apparatus  20  is then used to illuminate any object(s) associated with the electronic or computing device. Examples of other electronic or computing devices that the pass-thru illumination apparatus  20  may be used with include, but not by way of limitation, remote controls, internet phones, cell phones, non-backlit or insufficiently lit handheld video game devices, calculators, portable electronics with a display or keyboard, and other hand-held devices.  
         [0031]    It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that still further changes and modifications in the actual concepts described herein can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.