Keyboard illumination for computing devices having backlit displays

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for illumination of a keyboard in a computing device having a display contained in a portion of the computing device which is hingeably attached to a keyboard portion, the display having a backlight. The system comprises one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard and one or more light-conducting fibers for conducting light from the backlight of the backlit display to the one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard. The level of illumination is varied by means of the one or more light conducting fibers transmitting light through two portions of transparent material, the two portions of transparent material have an area of contact between them which may be varied. A color adjustment mechanism is also provided.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a computing device including a display and a keyboard, the display including a backlight;    one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard;    one or more first light conducting fibers for conducting light from the backlight to a first transparent portion, the first transparent portion including a first light entry face and a first light exit face;    one or more second light conducting fibers for conducting light from a second transparent portion to the one or more translucent elements, the second transparent portion including a second light entry face and a second light exit face;    a resilient means to apply pressure such that the first light exit face and the second light entry face stay in contact with each other; and    an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a variable contact area, the variable contact area being the area that the first light exit face and the second light entry face are in contact with each other.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 wherein the first light conducting fibers are attached to the first light entry face;    wherein the second light conducting fibers are attached to the second light exit face; and    wherein the variable contact area corresponds to the amount of the light transferred from the first light entry face to the second light exit face.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein one of the one or more second light conducting fibers is adapted to provide the light from the second light exit face to a pointing device.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein one of the one or more second light conducting fibers is adapted to provide the light from the second light exit face to a manufacturer's logotype.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted to slide the first light exit face along the second light entry face, the sliding resulting in a change in the size of the variable contact area.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 wherein the resilient means applies the pressure so as to encourage the first transparent portion or the second transparent portion in a first direction; and    wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted to move the first transparent portion or the second transparent portion in a second direction that is opposite than the first direction.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein a user controlled force controls the adjustment mechanism for moving the first transparent portion or the second transparent portion.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the resilient means applies pressure to the first transparent portion and the second transparent portion.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the resilient means corresponds to a spring.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus comprising 
 a keyboard housed in a keyboard portion;    a display contained in a display portion which is hingeably attached to the keyboard portion, the display having a backlight;    one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard;    one or more light-conducting fibers for conducting light from the backlight of the display to the one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard;    wherein the level of illumination conducted from the backlight of the display to the one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard is variable and wherein the level of illumination is varied by means of the one or more light conducting fibers transmitting light through two portions of transparent material, the two portions of transparent material having a variable contact area between them; and    a resilient means to apply pressure to the two portions of transparent material.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the resilient means to apply pressure keeps a portion of the two portions of transparent material in contact with each other, the portion being the variable contact area.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising: 
 wherein an adjustment mechanism is adapted to slide one portion of the transparent material along the second portion of the transparent material, the sliding resulting in a change in the size of the variable contact area.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 wherein the resilient means applies the pressure so as to encourage one of the transparent portions in a first direction; and    wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted to move the one of the transparent portions in a second direction that is opposite than the first direction.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein one of light conducting fibers is adapted to provide the light from one of the transparent portions to a pointing device.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein one of the light conducting fibers is adapted to provide the light from one of the transparent portions to a manufacturer's logotype.  
     
     
         28 . An apparatus for illumination of a keyboard in a computing device having a display contained in a portion of the computing device which is hingeably attached to a keyboard portion, the display having a backlight, the apparatus comprising: 
 one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard;    one or more light-conducting fibers for conducting light from the backlight of the display to the one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard;    wherein the level of illumination conducted from the backlight of the display to the one or more translucent elements associated with the keyboard is variable and wherein the level of illumination is varied by means of the one or more light conducting fibers transmitting light through two portions of transparent material, the two portions of transparent material having a variable contact area between them; and    a resilient means to apply pressure to the two portions of transparent material.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the resilient means to apply pressure keeps a portion of the two portions of transparent material in contact with each other, the portion being the variable contact area.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 wherein an adjustment mechanism is adapted to slide one portion of the transparent material along the second portion of the transparent material, the sliding resulting in a change in the size of the variable contact area.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  further comprising: 
 wherein the resilient means applies the pressure so as to encourage one of the transparent portions in a first direction; and    wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted to move the one of the transparent portions in a second direction that is opposite than the first direction.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein one of the light conducting fibers is adapted to provide the light from one of the transparent portions to a pointing device.