Patent ID: 7839379

Claim:
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; 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; and a housing for enclosing various components of the computer system, the housing having an outer peripheral surface, wherein at least one light sensor is positioned entirely within the outer peripheral surface of the housing such that the light sensor measures the ambient light level through the housing.