Computer Accessory Systems Illuminated With Addressable LEDs

Abstract

A peripheral, such as a cooling fan or LED strip, is illuminated with addressable LEDs, which allow interactive control of the LEDs from a connected controller to create variable lighting effects. The fan can receive power and control signals from a controller, such as a motherboard and associated microprocessor within a host electronic device. The controller output may be based upon event data received from a host electronic device, such as system or application information relayed by a driver installed in a personal computer. The lighting can, amongst other things, convey status of temperature, load, and/or access to components of a personal computer. The fan may also indicate, e.g., queued email or instant messages, by utilizing the LEDs to display associated lighting and effects.

1 . A computer peripheral for installation within a housing of a host computer, the computer peripheral comprising:
 a plurality of LEDs distributed on the computer peripheral for illuminating a portion within a housing of a host computer,   the plurality of LEDs being individually-addressable to receive signals from a controller driving time-variable individually-addressable illumination of each of the LEDs, based on a digital signal generated by a host computer central processing unit and transmitted to the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The computer peripheral of  claim 1 , in which the computer peripheral comprises a fan. 
     
     
         3 . The computer peripheral of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a frame having a central cavity; and   an impeller positioned within the central cavity and driven by an electric motor;   wherein:
 the controller comprises a fan controller; 
 the plurality of LEDs are positioned around the central cavity; and 
 the portion within a housing of the host computer illuminated by the LEDs comprises the impeller. 
   
     
     
         4 . The computer peripheral of  claim 1 , in which the computer peripheral comprises a LED strip. 
     
     
         5 . The computer peripheral of  claim 1 , in which the controller comprises a fan controller. 
     
     
         6 . The computer peripheral of  claim 5 , in which the controller further controls operating speed of one or more fans installed within the computer housing. 
     
     
         7 . The computer peripheral of  claim 5 , in which the controller further controls LED illumination of one or more fans installed within the computer housing. 
     
     
         8 . The computer peripheral of  claim 1 , in which the plurality of LEDs are equally spaced over a portion of the peripheral. 
     
     
         9 . The computer peripheral of  claim 1 , in which the plurality of LEDs are equally spaced around a periphery of the peripheral. 
     
     
         10 . The computer peripheral of  claim 1 , wherein the digital signal generated by a host computer central processing unit is generated via a TSR driver. 
     
     
         11 . The computer peripheral of  claim 10 , in which the host computer CPU executes one or more software applications controlling the TSR driver. 
     
     
         12 . A controller for installation as part of a host computer to control illumination of LEDs installed within a housing of the host computer, the controller comprising:
 a controller-CPU data interface in operable communication with a CPU of a host computer to receive event data generated by, and transmitted digitally from, the CPU;   A controller-LED communications interface providing lighting control signals to a peripheral within a housing of the host computer, the peripheral comprising a plurality of individually-addressable LEDs positioned for illuminating within said housing, the lighting control signals determined by the controller based on the event data from the host computer CPU and providing for time-variable, individually-addressable illumination of each LED.   
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is installed within a housing of the host computer. 
     
     
         14 . The controller of  claim 12 , in which the controller-CPU interface comprises a programming interface implemented at least in part via an application operating on the host computer CPU. 
     
     
         15 . The controller of  claim 14 , in which the programming interface is further implemented at least in part using the host computer CPU using a TSR driver. 
     
     
         16 . The controller of  claim 14 , in which the application comprises a game application. 
     
     
         17 . The controller of  claim 14 , in which the controller-CPU data interface conveys signals indicative of sound being generated by the host computer.