Breathing status LED indicator
AssigneeApple Computer, Inc.
InventorsBrian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Stringer, Jory Bell, Christopher L. Capener
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Abstract
A new and improved status LED indicator provides a pleasing visual appeal. An embodiment of the present invention includes a sleep-mode indicator for laptop computers. The LED indicator is energized by pulse-width modulated electrical pulses. The effect of these pulses on the indicator varies in intensity and mimics a rhythm typical of breathing. It is another aspect of the invention to provide an electrical apparatus that generates a sleep-mode indicator blinking pattern based on a sinusoidal function using PWM (pulse width modulation) designs.
Claims10
A sleep mode indicator apparatus for a laptop computer, said apparatus indicating to users that said laptop computer being in sleep mode, said apparatus comprising:
- a CPU for causing said computer to enter into sleep mode;
- a micro-controller coupled to said CPU for computer operations during sleep mode;
- a LED circuit coupled to said micro-controller for generating electrical pulses to energize a LED indicator, said electrical pulses including a repetition of a series of PWM pulses occurring at a frequency, each pulse having an identical peak current level, said electrical pulses further including pulse Widths varying in accordance with a non-linear duty cycle function.
A status indicator apparatus for an electronic device, said apparatus indicating to users of said computer a certain status, said apparatus comprising:
- a micro-controller;
- and
- a LED circuit coupled to said micro-controller for generating electrical pulses to energize a LED indicator, said electrical pulses including a repetition of a series of PWM pulses occurring at a frequency, each pulse having an identical peak current level, said electrical pulses further including pulse widths varying in accordance with a non-linear duty cycle function, said non-linear function including a positively biased sinusoidal function having a quiet period during which the function value remains at zero.
A sleep mode indicator apparatus for a laptop computer, said apparatus indicating to users of said computer that it being in sleep mode, said apparatus comprising:
- a CPU for causing said computer to enter into sleep mode;
- a micro-controller coupled to said CPU for computer operations during sleep mode;
- a LED circuit coupled to said micro-controller for generating electrical pulses to energize a LED indicator, said electrical pulses including a repetition of a series of PWM pulses occurring at a frequency, said frequency ranging from 100 to 200 Hertz, each pulse having an identical peak current level, said electrical pulses further including pulse widths varying in accordance with a non-linear duty cycle function, said non-linear function including a positively biased sinusoidal function having a peak value less than 100% duty cycle, said sinusoidal function further including a quiet period during which the function value remains at zero.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.