Thin form factor computer card
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsMichael E. Pierce, John A. Horn, Duncan D. MacGregor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A right-angle surface-mounted light-emitting diode is mounted on a printed circuit board within a thin form factor computer cartridge. The LED is mounted, inside the cartridge assembly, close to, and facing toward, the opaque edge of the cartridge. The edge of the cartridge frame has a small diameter hole, through which a clear light-transmitting material is installed. This light-transmitting material forms a light pipe which conducts the light emanating from the LED out of the card.
Claims20
In a computer cartridge having a small opaque display area, said display area containing a hole, and an indicator, said indicator indicating whether a first or second status exists, said indicator comprising:
- a light source having a first state where substantially no light is emitted from said light source and a second state where a first intensity level of light is emitted from said light source;
- means for controlling said light source, coupled to said light source, said means for controlling said light source placing said light source in said first state to indicate said first status and placing said light source in said second state to indicate said second status;
- an optical waveguide means, coupled between said light source and said small display area, said optical waveguide means projecting through said hole and transmitting said light emitted from said light source to said small display area, when said small display area is viewed and said first state exists, said optical waveguide means not transmitting light and appearing to be opaque.
In a computer cartridge having a small opaque display area containing a hole and a printed circuit board coupled perpendicularly to said display area, and an indicator, said indicator indicating whether a first or second status exists, said indicator comprising:
- a light-emitting diode (LED), coupled to said printed circuit board and having a first state where substantially no light is emitted from said LED and a second state where a first intensity level of light is emitted from said LED, said LED emitting light in a direction which is substantially parallel to said printed circuit board surface;
- means for controlling said LED, coupled to said LED, said means for controlling said LED placing said LED in said first state to indicate said first status and placing said LED in said second state to indicate said second status;
- a light pipe, coupled between said LED and said display area, said light pipe projecting through said hole and transmitting said light emitted from said LED to said small display area such that when said display area is viewed and said first state exists, said light pipe does not transmit said light and appears to be opaque.
In a computer cartridge having a small opaque display area containing a hole and a printed circuit board coupled perpendicularly to said display area, a method for indicating whether a first or second status exists, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a light source, coupled to said mounting surface and having a first state where substantially no light is emitted from said light source and a second state where a first intensity level of light is emitted from said light source;
- providing a light pipe, coupled between said light source and said display area, said light pipe projecting through said hole and transmitting said light emitted form said light source to said small display area such that when said display are is viewed and said first state exists, said light pipe does not transmit said light and appears to be opaque;
- controlling said light source using a means for controlling said light source, coupled to said light source, said means for controlling said light source placing said light source in said first state to indicate said first status and placing said light source in said second state to indicate said second status.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.