Patent Abstract:
A computer system, a display system, a method of graphic illumination is provided to give a user an improved appearance, functionality, and aesthetics. A display system may comprise a housing, a light source, and a plurality of micro perforations. The housing may have an interior surface and an exterior surface. The light source may be located within the housing. The plurality of micro perforations may be disposed to extend from the interior surface to the exterior surface of the housing. The plurality of micro perforations may pass through the housing at different angles with respect to a plane of the exterior surface of the housing.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to display systems and, more specifically, to light-transmissive display systems that become visible when illuminated. 
     In the world of consumer electronic devices, there has been an ever-present demand for improved appearance, improved functionality, and improved aesthetics. Industrial design has become a highly skilled profession that focuses on fulfilling this need for enhanced consumer product appearance, functionality, and aesthetics. 
     Much of the aesthetic appeal of an electronic device or other consumer product may quickly be compromised if there are too many display elements, lights, and indicators, or if too much of the visible display area is occupied by display elements that are not needed or relevant at all times. When not needed, these “passive” or inactivated visual display elements may remain perceptible to the user, even though in the “off” state. This is not only displeasing from an aesthetic standpoint, but it can be an annoying distraction that interferes with the perception and understanding of other visual display elements that are of greater importance or should be observed at a given moment. 
     Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need to present displays, lights, and other visual indicators for a user in a manner that is readily understandable, yet uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a display system comprises a housing having an interior surface and an exterior surface; a light source located within the housing; and a plurality of micro perforations disposed to extend from the interior surface to the exterior surface of the housing, wherein the plurality of micro perforations pass through the housing at different angles with respect to a plane of the exterior surface of the housing. 
     In another aspect, an electronic computing apparatus comprises a plurality of micro perforations disposed to extend from an interior surface to an exterior surface of a housing of the electronic computing device, the plurality of micro perforations including at least a first set of micro perforations disposed at a first angle relative to an external plane of the housing, and a second set of micro perforations disposed at a second angle relative to the external plane of the housing. 
     In a further aspect, a mobile computing device comprises a computing device capable of receiving, processing, and outputting data; a plurality of keys having a key top coupled to the computing device and configured to generate touching signals; a plurality of micro perforations disposed to extend from an interior surface to an exterior surface of a key top on the keys; and a light source under each of the plurality of the key tops. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of a notebook personal computer according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 1B  is a close up view of a front cover of the notebook personal computer according to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1C  is a close up view of a part of a keyboard of the notebook personal computer according to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1D  is a close up view of a plurality of micro perforations on the front cover of the notebook personal computer according to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of a notebook personal computer according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional view of a back cover of the upper housing at one angle with a lower housing of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2C  is a cross sectional view of a back cover of the upper housing at another angle with a lower housing of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2D  is a cross sectional view of a back cover of the upper housing at yet another angle with a lower housing of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2E  is a plan view of an exterior surface of the back cover of the upper housing according to an exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2F  is a plan view of an exterior surface of the back cover of the upper housing according to another exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 2G  is a plan view of an exterior surface of the back cover of the upper housing according to yet another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles, since the scope of the embodiments is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
     Broadly, exemplary embodiments comprise an aesthetically pleasing visual display that may be backlit. More specifically, exemplary embodiments may provide visual displays that may include a micro perforated and backlit display having alternative display capabilities. Such displays may be used on electronic or other personal devices. A plurality of micro perforations may be arranged into an overall pattern. Each micro perforation may have a diameter of about 100 microns or less, which is not visible unless seen very closely. In some embodiments, a first set of micro perforations may be cut at a first angle through a back cover of a lid of a laptop computer, for example, and a second set of micro perforations may be cut at a second angle through the back cover. When a user opens the lid, a logo pattern at the back cover of the lid may change as light passing through the first set of micro perforations that may be visible at a first angle of the lid and light passing through the second set of micro perforations that may be visible at a second angle of the lid. In some embodiments, a plurality of micro perforations may be formed through a key top of a keyboard. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , a notebook PC  10  may comprise an upper housing  110 , such as a display unit, and a lower housing  120 , such as a system unit, for example. The upper housing  110  and the lower housing  120  may be connected via a linking member  122 , such as a hinge member. The notebook PC  10  may be a laptop computer system, such as one of the ThinkPad® series of personal computers sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville, N.C., or a workstation computer, such as the ThinkStation®, which is sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville, N.C. 
     The notebook PC  10  may include a processor (not shown) within the lower housing  120 . A liquid crystal display (LCD)  114 , which may be a touch sensitive screen, for example, may be disposed on a front cover  111  of the upper housing  110 . The liquid crystal display  114  may be coupled to be operable by the processor to display data to a user of the notebook PC  10 . 
     The upper housing  110  and the lower housing  120  may move pivotally around the linking member  122 . The upper housing  110  may be rotatable relative to the lower housing  120 . The lower housing  120  may include a top cover  126  and an input device, such as a keyboard  124 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , the top cover  126  may include a visual display, such as the Lenovo® logo  182  and ThinkPad® logo  192 . Although the visual display is in the form of a logo, it will be readily appreciated that a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and types of visual displays may be used, and that such displays may be logos, trademarks, texts, advertisements, or other general types of patterns or displays. An exemplary embodiment may be used for visual displays on other items, such as, cell phones, smart phones, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), or electronic dictionaries, for example. In addition, an exemplary embodiment may also be used for visual displays on other items that may not be electronic devices, as will be readily appreciated, and all such other users are specifically contemplated. 
     The Lenovo® logo  182  and the ThinkPad® logo  192  may comprise a pattern of numerous micro perforations  194  formed in the material of the top cover  126 . The Lenovo® logo  182  and the ThinkPad® logo  192  can be, for example, a micro perforated and backlit display having a different surface finish than the rest of top cover  126 . The backlit display may be illuminated by a light source  220  (shown in  FIG. 2B ), such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), disposed within the lower housing  120 , behind the micro perforations in the top cover  126 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, micro perforations formed in the top cover  126  for such a display may be small enough so that they cannot be readily distinguished from the base material surface by the naked human eye, but are large enough so that light may pass therethrough and be seen by the naked human eye when such light is provided behind the micro perforations. In general, such micro perforations may extend from one side of the base material to another side, such that light may pass therethrough. Such micro perforations may be about 50 microns or less in diameter, and typically about 20 to 30 microns in diameter. It is thought that a diameter of about 30 microns or less tends to result in such micro perforations being “invisible” to the naked eye for most observers. 
     Such micro perforation patterns may be formed on a surface of an opaque base object where the subject visual display is desired. Although metallic surfaces are used frequently, such as, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, copper, magnesium and the like, for example, other base objects that are readily amenable to the formation of such micro perforations may be used. 
     Micro perforations may be cut by lasers at slanted angles such that a user may see the Lenovo® logo  182 , but not the ThinkPad® logo  192  from a first direction  180 . In the same way, a user may see the ThinkPad® logo  192  but not the Lenovo® logo  182  from a second direction  190 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1C , the keyboard  124  may comprise a plurality of keys  128 . Each of keys  128  may have a key top  130  and side walls  132 . A plurality of the key tops  130  may be coupled to the notebook PC  10  to generate touching signals. An alphabet letter  134 , such as “Y”, may be formed by a pattern of micro perforations formed on the top cover  128 . Other characters, such as Japanese Hiragana or Katakana letters  136 , such as “           ”) may be formed by a pattern of micro perforations on the side walls  132  of the keys  128 . Under the key top  130 , there may exist a light source  220  (shown in  FIG. 2B ), such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), for example. The LEDs may be turned on by a user pushing a key or button on the keyboard  124 , or on some other place on the notebook  10 , to emit light rays through micro perforations so that users may see the Japanese Hiragana or Katakana letters when they want to input Japanese characters. In another exemplary embodiment, Japanese Hiragana or Katakana letters  136  may be disposed on the top cover  128  of the key top  130 .
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2B , the upper housing  110  of the notebook PC  10  may further include a back cover  210  and a backlight  220  for the LCD  114 . The back cover  210  may include an interior surface  240  and an exterior surface  230 . The upper housing  110  may comprise a plurality of micro perforations  212  disposed to extend from the interior surface  240  to the exterior surface  230 . The plurality of micro perforations  212  may be arranged into a plurality of patterns. The plurality of micro perforations  212  may be arranged at different angles with respect to the backlight  220  or a plane of the exterior surface  230  of the upper housing  110 . In other words, a first set of micro perforations may be disposed at a first angle relative to the plane of the exterior surface and a second set of micro perforations may be disposed at a second angle relative to the plane of the exterior surface. A third set of micro perforations may be disposed at a third angle relative to the external plane of the housing. Therefore, when viewed from a first viewing angle, the user may see, for example, light passing through the first set of micro perforations. When viewed from a second viewing angle, the user may see, for example, light passing through the second set of micro perforations. When viewed from a third viewing angle, the user may see, for example, light passing through the third set of micro perforations. 
     At least a portion of the plurality of micro perforations  212  may include one or more various translucent particles, such as resins  214 , for example. The resins  214  inside the micro perforations may be selected to have different optical characteristics such that, when the backlight  220  emits light rays through the resins inside each of micro perforations, users may see various colors of light rays coming out of the micro perforations. 
     In operation of an exemplary embodiment,  FIGS. 2B-2D  show the upper housing  110  being opened at different angles comparable to the lower housing  120 . A logo pattern  290  on the back cover  210  of the upper housing  110  may change in designs or colors when the user rotates the upper housing  110  relative to the lower housing  120 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2E-2G , an exemplary animation effect provided across the back cover  210  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A logo  290  may be positioned statically on the back cover  210 . As the back cover  210  is viewed at different angles by the viewer (for example as described with reference to  FIGS. 2B-2D ), a graphic (for example a stripe) may first back light an area of the back cover  210  including the logo  290  ( FIG. 2E ). As the viewing angle changes, the backlighting may move the graphic over the logo  290  ( FIG. 2F ) and may appear to move across the back cover  210  until the graphic is no longer on the logo  290  ( FIG. 2G ). 
     Although the use of a micro perforated and backlit display is quite aesthetically pleasing to a user, there is typically no perceptible display or item when the light source is turned off. Although this may be preferable for some applications, it may be desirable for the backlit display item to be seen in some way even when the light source is turned off. For example, a logo or other trademark may be an item that a manufacturer might want on display at all times. Of course, a wide variety of other instances may also exist, such as advertisements, disclaimers, and other texts, for example. In such instances, it is desirable that the micro perforated and backlit display have alternative display capabilities when the backlight source is turned off. For example, the resins  214  inside the micro perforations may be replaced by fluorescent or phosphorescent dyes that may glow in the dark. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relate to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6