Patent Abstract:
An application for a bezel with internal lighting includes at least one illuminated element situated behind a monitor/television bezel. The brightness and color of the illuminating elements and hence the bezel appearance are modified based upon either user preference or an internal or external parameters such as time, content being viewed, recording status, etc.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. application titled, “SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMBEDDING A DISPLAY IN A BEZEL,” which was filed on even date herewith; attorney docket number 90104 and inventors Kenneth Lowe, Matthew Blake McRae and John Schindler. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of display devices and more particularly to a system for illuminating the bezel of a display device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Monitor/television devices such as LCD or Plasma televisions have a bezel surrounding the actual display device (LCD panel, Plasma panel, CRT, etc). There have been many colors and varieties of bezels. Most bezels on current monitor/television products are black, while bezels on notebook computers and monitors are often colored to match the color of the shell of the notebook computer or monitor, sometimes white, black, dark blue, etc. 
         [0004]    There are many reasons for different bezel appearances. Some bezels reflect a trade dress of the manufacturer of the monitor/television, often having an embossed logo. Some bezels include a lighted word, usually the manufacturer&#39;s name such as, “Vizio.” Some bezels are colored to coordinate, or at least, not clash with their environment. For this reason, many current television manufacturers select a black color for their bezels, since black goes with many different environments. 
         [0005]    Another reason for different colored bezels is to reduce distraction away from the viewed picture, movie, text, etc. In some cases, a strongly contrasting bezel may lead to eye strain. This contrast issue is difficult to address with a fixed-color bezel, since it is difficult to predict what will be displayed in the display area of the monitor/television. For example, a light-colored bezel would blend well with text displayed on a white page but would not blend well with a movie, especially during scenes that are dark. Likewise, a dark or black colored bezel would blend well with the movie but would be distracting when viewing, for example, text on a white page. 
         [0006]    One solution is to provide a monitor or television with interchangeable bezels so that the end user is able to select a bezel from a limited set of colors such as black, white and silver. This helps blend the bezel with the environment, for example when the monitor/television is used in a modern-styled home with predominately white colors, the standard black bezel can be exchanged or covered with a white bezel. This solution does not provide for varying the bezel color/appearance with respect to variations of the displayed subject matter, does not provide indications of internal metadata or status and does not solve the problem of a varying environment such as daytime vs. nighttime viewing. Furthermore, this solution is limited to a small set of bezel colors. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a bezel that changes color based upon user control and/or internal or external data to match the environment and/or displayed content and/or information. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The present invention includes a bezel with internal lighting such that, the brightness and color of the bezel are modified based upon either user preference, external parameters (e.g., Internet data, data from other devices in the home, etc.) or internal parameters (e.g., time, content being viewed, etc.). 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, a bezel lighting system is disclosed. The bezel lighting system is mounted on a monitor/television and includes a bezel mounted on a periphery of a face of the monitor/television. The bezel surrounds a display panel and is made of a material capable of transmitting light from within the bezel to outside of the bezel. There is at least one illuminating element situated behind the bezel such that when any of the illuminating elements are energized to emit light, at least some of the light passes through the bezel. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a method of controlling a bezel lighting system is disclosed including providing the bezel lighting system mounted on a monitor/television. The bezel lighting system includes a bezel mounted on a periphery of a face of the monitor/television surrounding a display panel and made of a material capable of transmitting light from within the bezel to outside of the bezel. At least one illuminating element is situated behind the bezel such that when any of the at least one illuminating elements is energized to emit light, at least some of the light passes through the bezel. A processing element is interfaced to each of the at least one illuminating element. The processing element displays an on-screen display responsive to an input device (e.g., a remote control  111 ). A bezel lighting option is selected from the on-screen display by a user and responsive to the bezel lighting option, the processing element controls the brightness of each illuminating element the processing element takes off the on-screen display. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, an illuminated bezel is disclosed. The illuminated bezel is mounted on a periphery of a face of a monitor/television and the illuminated bezel is made of a material capable of transmitting light from within the illuminated bezel to outside of the bezel. There is at least one illuminating element situated behind the illuminated bezel. Each of the illuminating elements are situated such that when any of the illuminating elements are energized to emit light, at least some of the light passes through the illuminated bezel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a monitor/television with bezel of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a second plan view of a monitor/television with bezel of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view lengthwise of a typical bezel of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view side-wise of a typical bezel of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a first schematic view of a typical monitor/television of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a second schematic view of a typical monitor/television of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a first flow chart of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates a second flow chart of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  illustrates a plan view of a first typical on-screen display of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  illustrates a plan view of a second typical on-screen display of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. The bezel of the present invention is the facing surface surrounding an image producing surface such as an LCD panel, CRT, Plasma panel, OLED panel and the like. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a plan view of a monitor/television  5  with bezel  10  of the present invention will be described. The present invention is applicable to any display device that has a bezel such as a monitor/television  5 . Typically, the bezel  10  is situated around the peripheral edge of the display panel  12 , covering the frame and electronics  13  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the display panel  12 . For completeness, though not required in the present invention, the monitor/television is shown on a stand  14 . In this view, the bezel  10  is of a first color. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a second plan view of a monitor/television  5  with bezel  10  of the present invention will be described. The present invention is applicable to any display device that has a bezel such as a monitor/television  5 . Typically, the bezel  10  is situated around the peripheral edge of the display panel  12 , covering the frame and electronics  13  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the display panel  12 . Again, for completeness, though not required in the present invention, the monitor/television is shown on a stand  14 . In this view, the bezel  10  is of a second color. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view lengthwise of a typical bezel  10  of the present invention will be described. In this view, the top edge of the bezel  10  is visible as well as a surface  7  of the back housing of the monitor/display. Beneath or within the bezel  10  are one or more illuminating elements  20 . Such illuminating elements  20  are known in the art and include devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, OLEDs, etc. It is also known in the art how to arrange and filter such illuminating elements  20  such that by varying the intensity of individual illuminating elements  20 , multiple blended colors are achieved. For example, the illuminating elements  20  are red, green and blue LEDs or incandescent lamps with red, green or blue coatings. Such illuminating elements  20  are arranged in alteration such that when illuminated, their light mixes to create a mixed color output. Therefore, by illuminating one single illuminating element  20  (e.g., the red LED), the bezel color becomes that of the illuminated LED (e.g., red). By illuminating two illuminating elements  20  (e.g., the red LED and the blue LED), the bezel color becomes that of the illuminated LEDs combined (e.g., red and blue mixed become purple). Preferably, the surface of the bezel  10  is made of a translucent material or is made of a clear material and a diffuser layer covers the illuminating elements  20  to soften the light produced and better mix the colors. The LEDS, in some embodiments are single color LEDS and in other embodiments multiple color LEDS (e.g., red and green emitters in the same LED package). 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view side-wise of a typical bezel of the present invention will be described. In this view, the top edge of the bezel  10  is visible as well as a surface  7  of the back housing of the monitor/display. In current practice, the bezel covers the display panel frame  13  and as little of the active display area of the display panel  12  as possible. 
         [0028]    Beneath or within the bezel  10  are one or more illuminating elements  20 . Such illuminating elements are known in the art and include devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, OLEDs, etc. In this view, a diffuser  11  is present in between the illuminating elements  20  and the outer surface of the bezel  10 . The diffuser softens and mixes the light from the individual illuminating LEDs. In some embodiments, the illuminating elements  20  are mounted on a circuit board  21 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a first schematic view of a typical monitor/television of the present invention will be described. This figure is intended as a representative schematic of a typical monitor/television  5  and in practice, some elements are not present in some monitors/televisions  5  and/or additional elements are present in some monitors/televisions  5 . In this example, a display panel  12  is connected to a processing element  100 . The display panel  12  is representative of any known display panel including, but not limited to, LCD display panels, Plasma display panels, OLED display panels, LED display panels and cathode ray tubes (CRTs). 
         [0030]    The processing element  100  accepts video inputs and audio inputs selectively from a variety of sources including an internal television broadcast receiver  102 , High-definition Media Inputs (HDMI), USB ports and an analog-to-digital converter  104 . The analog-to-digital converter  104  accepts analog inputs from legacy video sources such as S-Video and Composite video and converts the analog video signal into a digital video signal before passing it to the processing element. The processing element controls the display of the video on the display panel  12 . 
         [0031]    Audio emanates from either the broadcast receiver  102 , the legacy source (e.g., S-Video) or a discrete analog audio input (Audio-IN). If the audio source is digital, the processing element  100  routes the audio to a digital-to-analog converter  106  and then to an input of a multiplexer  108 . The multiplexer  108 , under control of the processing element  100 , selects one of the audio sources and routes the selected audio to the audio output and an internal audio amplifier  110 . The internal audio amplifier  110  amplifies the audio and delivers it to internal speakers  112 / 114 . 
         [0032]    The processing element  100  accepts commands from a remote control  111  through remote receiver  113 . Although IR is often used to communicate commands from the remote control  111  to the remote receiver  113 , any known wireless technology is anticipated for connecting the remote control  111  to the processing element  100  including, but not limited to, radio frequencies (e.g., Bluetooth), sound (e.g., ultrasonic) and other spectrums of light. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the wireless technology be either one way from the remote  111  to the receiver  113  or two way. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, a light sensor  105  is interfaced to the processing element  100 , for example, a photodiode. The light sensor  105  conveys a value representing the ambient light level in the vicinity of the front of the monitor/television  5 . This value is used, for example, to vary the brightness of the display  12  and/or the graphic display(s)  20  responsive to the ambient light present in front of the monitor/television  5 . 
         [0034]    The processing element  100  further controls the bezel illumination  20  through a bezel driver  118 . In this, serial or parallel outputs from the processing element  100  interface with a bezel illumination driver  118  which is connected to and controls the bezel illumination  20 . It is well known in the industry how to control light emission on devices such as described for the bezel illumination  20  and this is but an example of such. In some embodiments, the functionality of the bezel driver  118  is integrated into the processing element  100 . In some embodiments, the drivers  118  are integrated into the bezel illumination  20 . Any other known configuration is anticipated and functions within the present invention. It is well known how to control Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD), plasma displays, OLED displays, electronic paper, Light Emitting Diode (LED) arrays, etc. For example, if the bezel illumination  20  comprises an array of LEDS, the bezel driver  118 , in one embodiment, the bezel driver  118  uses pulse-width modulation to control the brightness or each group of LEDS (e.g., the wider the pulse width, the brighter that group of LEDS will shine). Alternately, in another embodiment, the bezel driver  118  controls the current flowing through the group of LEDS to control the brightness or each that group. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, the television/monitor  5  is connected to a network, such as the Internet or local area network. In these embodiments, a network interface  120  monitors the network and transfers data back and fourth between the processing element  100  and the network. In some embodiments, the network is a wired network such as an Ethernet network. In other embodiments, the network is wireless such as WiFi/802.11 and a wireless interface  122  is provided. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 5A , a second schematic view of a typical monitor/television of the present invention will be described. This figure is intended as another representative schematic of a typical monitor/television  5  and in practice, some elements are not present in some monitors/televisions  5  and/or additional elements are present in some monitors/televisions  5 . In this example, a display panel  12  is connected to a processing element  100 . The display panel  12  is representative of any known display panel including, but not limited to, LCD display panels, Plasma display panels, OLED display panels, LED display panels and cathode ray tubes (CRTs). 
         [0037]    The processing element  100  accepts video inputs and audio inputs selectively from a variety of sources including an internal television broadcast receiver  102 , High-definition Media Inputs (HDMI), USB ports and an analog-to-digital converter  104 . The analog-to-digital converter  104  accepts analog inputs from legacy video sources such as S-Video and Composite video and converts the analog video signal into a digital video signal before passing it to the processing element. The processing element controls the display of the video on the display panel  12 . 
         [0038]    Audio emanates from either the broadcast receiver  102 , the legacy source (e.g., S-Video) or a discrete analog audio input (Audio-IN). If the audio source is digital, the processing element  100  routes the audio to a digital-to-analog converter  106  and then to an input of a multiplexer  108 . The multiplexer  108 , under control of the processing element  100 , selects one of the audio sources and routes the selected audio to the audio output and an internal audio amplifier  110 . The internal audio amplifier  110  amplifies the audio and delivers it to internal speakers  112 / 114 . 
         [0039]    The processing element  100  accepts commands from a remote control  111  through remote receiver  113 . Although IR is often used to communicate commands from the remote control  111  to the remote receiver  113 , any known wireless technology is anticipated for connecting the remote control  111  to the processing element  100  including, but not limited to, radio frequencies (e.g., Bluetooth), sound (e.g., ultrasonic) and other spectrums of light. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the wireless technology be either one way from the remote  111  to the receiver  113  or two way. 
         [0040]    In some embodiments, a light sensor  105  is interfaced to the processing element  100 . The light sensor  105  conveys a value representing the ambient light level in the vicinity of the front of the monitor/television  5 . 
         [0041]    In this example, the processing element  100  further controls the bezel illumination  20  through a controller  117 . The controller  117  interfaces either directly to the bezel illumination  20  or through a bezel driver  118  to the bezel illumination  20 . In this, serial (e.g., I2C) or parallel outputs from the processing element  100  interface with the controller  117  which is connected to and controls the bezel illumination  20  either through dedicated drivers  118  or directly (not shown). It is well known in the industry how to control the elements of the bezel illumination  20  and this is but an example of such. In some embodiments, the controller  117 , bezel drivers  118  and bezel illumination  20  are powered by auxiliary power (power supplied when the television/monitor  5  is in standby mode). In these embodiments, the controller  117  continues to drive the bezel illumination  20 , even when the television/monitor  5  is in auxiliary mode (e.g., appears to be off). In some embodiments, the controller  117  and/or drivers  118  are integrated into the bezel illumination  20 . Any other known configuration is anticipated and functions within the present invention. It is well known how to control Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD), plasma displays, OLED displays, electronic paper, Light Emitting Diode (LED) arrays, etc. For example, if the bezel illumination  20  comprises an array of LEDS, the bezel driver  118 , in one embodiment, the bezel driver  118  uses pulse-width modulation to control the brightness or each group of LEDS (e.g., the wider the pulse width, the brighter that group of LEDS will shine). Alternately, in another embodiment, the bezel driver  118  controls the current flowing through the group of LEDS to control the brightness or each that group. 
         [0042]    In some embodiments, the television/monitor  5  is connected to a network, such as the Internet or local area network. In these embodiments, a network interface  120  monitors the network and transfers data back and fourth between the processing element  100  and the network. In some embodiments, the network is a wired network such as an Ethernet network. In other embodiments, the network is wireless such as WiFi/802.11 and a wireless interface  122  is provided. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a first flow chart of the present invention will be described. This is an exemplary program flow executed within the processing element  100  upon reception of a command  30  from the remote control  111 . The command  30  is tested to see if it is a bezel control  32 . If not, the existing processing continues as known in the art. If it is, the command  30  is tested to determine if it is a request to change the color  40  of the bezel  10 . If it is, in this example, an on screen display is presented to change the color  44 . Other methods are also anticipated to effect the color change such as sequencing through a series of colors, etc. 
         [0044]    If it isn&#39;t a request to change the color  40  of the bezel  10 , then the command  30  is tested to determine if it is a request to change the color pattern of the bezel  50 . If it is, in this example, an on screen display is presented to change the color pattern  54 . Other methods are also anticipated to effect the color change such as sequencing through a series of color patterns, etc. 
         [0045]    If it isn&#39;t a request to change the color pattern of the bezel  50 , then the command is tested to determine if it is a request to turn on meta-data  60 . If it is, in this example, a meta-data flag is set  64 . The use of this flag is described with  FIG. 7 . 
         [0046]    If it isn&#39;t a request to use meta-data  60 , then the command  30  is tested to determine if it is a request to turn off the bezel  70 . If it is, in this example, the bezel is turned off  74 . If it isn&#39;t a request to turn off the bezel  70 , processing continues. 
         [0047]    This is but one example of a program running in the processing element  100  that controls the color and or brightness of the bezel illumination  20 . Other methods, either more or less complicated are anticipated for monitoring various internal and external parameters and settings. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a second chart of the present invention will be described. This is an exemplary program flow executed within the processing element  100  periodically (e.g., at fixed intervals or at a particular instance such as during re-trace, etc.). First, the meta-data flag is tested to see if it is enabled  80 . If not enabled, the flow is done. If it is enabled  80 , the meta-flag is tested to determine which type of meta-data is to be used in controlling the bezel color  80 . For example, if the meta-data is set to use the current channel  82 , then the color of the bezel  10  is set based on the current channel being used  84 . For example, if the Discovery Channel is being watched, then the bezel  10  color is set to a first color (e.g., green) and if the Weather Channel is being watched, the bezel  10  color is set to a second color (e.g., blue). In this way, the viewer has information regarding which channel is being watched by the color of the bezel  10 , even when a commercial is playing. 
         [0049]    If the meta-data is not set to use the current channel  82 , the meta-flag is then tested to determine if the current outside weather is to be used in controlling the bezel color  86 . For example, if the meta-data is set to use the weather  86 , then the color of the bezel is set based on the current weather  88 . For example, if internal data to the processing element  100  indicates that it is sunny, the bezel color is set to a first color (e.g., yellow). If internal data to the processing element  100  indicates that it is rainy, the bezel color is set to a second color (e.g., gray). In this way, the viewer has information regarding the weather while watching their favorite program. 
         [0050]    If the meta-data is not set to use the weather  86 , the meta-flag is then tested to determine if the current time is to be used in controlling the bezel color  90 . For example, if the meta-data is set to use the current time  90 , then the color of the bezel is set based on the current time  92 . For example, if the current time indicates that it is morning, the bezel color is set to a first color (e.g., yellow). If current time indicates that it is night time, the bezel color is set to a second color (e.g., black or off). In this way, the bezel color varies with the time. 
         [0051]    Many types of dynamic and static data are anticipated to be used to control the bezel illumination  20 , including but not limited to, stock market, holidays, voicemail waiting, recording indication, favorite show starting, approach of a tornado or other storm, incoming messages, etc. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a plan view of a first typical on-screen display of the present invention will be described. Many user interfaces are known in the industry and the color selection user interface of  FIG. 8  is but one example. In this, the user is presented with a heading “Select Color”  120  along with a grid of possible colors  121 . In the grid of possible colors  121  are multiple color choices  123 , one of which is highlighted  122 . Using an input device, such as a television remote control, the user/viewer maneuvers the highlighting  122  to the color choice desired, and then selects the “DONE” feature  126 . Responsive to the “DONE” feature  126  being activated, the bezel is changed to the selected color. If, instead, the user/viewer wishes to turn off the bezel color, the user/viewer selects the “OFF” feature  124  and the bezel illumination is turned off. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a plan view of a second typical on-screen display of the present invention will be described. Many user interfaces are known in the industry and the meta-data selection user interface of  FIG. 9  is but one example. In this, the user is presented with a heading “Select Format:” 130  along with several choices  132 / 134 / 136 / 138 / 140 . The user/viewer maneuvers to the desired choice  132 / 134 / 136 / 138 / 140  using an input device such as the arrows on a television remote control  111 . Once at the desired choice  132 / 134 / 136 / 138 / 140 , the user/viewer selects that choice using, perhaps, the select key, then selects the “DONE” feature  142 , whereby the processing element  100  sets up the bezel illumination accordingly. For example, if “Fixed Brightness”  132  is selected, the bezel is set to a static level of brightness. If “Based on Time of Day”  134  is selected, the brightness is varied based upon an internal algorithm based upon the time-of-day. If “Based on Room Brightness”  136  is selected, the brightness of the bezel is varied responsive to the ambient light in front of the monitor/television  5 . If “Random”  138  is selected, the brightness is randomly set. If “Based on Content”  140  is selected, the brightness and color of the bezel is set by an algorithm that evaluates the predominant colors in the current image. Such algorithms are known. For example, a histogram of colors is used to determine the most prevalent color being displayed. 
         [0054]    Many types of dynamic and static data are anticipated to be used to control the bezel illumination  20 , including but not limited to, stock market, holidays, voicemail waiting, recording indication, favorite show starting, approach of a tornado or other storm, incoming messages, etc. The data that is portrayed on the bezel display  20  includes information, events, notifications, content data. The data or meta data is held or derived from within the television/monitor (e.g., current channel) or information from external sources such as the Internet, other devices, phone system, etc. Information includes data such as date, time etc. Events include data such as phone ringing, incoming message, etc). Notifications include data such as a favorite show is currently being received, new voicemail, etc. Content data includes data such as channel, show, etc. The data may come from within the TV, over a local area network, over a wide area network (e.g., Internet) or over a connection to a device that is connected to the television/monitor  5 . 
         [0055]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0056]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5