# US 6,851,819 B2 · Apparatus for illuminating a portable electronic or computing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,851,819 B2 - Document ID: US6851819B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/396,978 - Filed: 2003-03-24 - Published: 2003-09-18 - Granted: 2005-02-08 - Earliest claimed: 1999-06-11 - Assignees: Technology Creations, Inc.; Design Rite, LLC - Inventors: David Naghi; Gilbert Fregoso - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6851819B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/92: Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing - A63F 13/98: Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers - F21V 23/04: the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00) - F21V 33/0052: {Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor} - G02F 1/1336: {Illuminating devices} - G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations} - H04M 1/22: Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials - A63F 2300/204: the platform being a handheld device - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - Y10S 345/905: Display device with housing structure - Y10S 362/80: Light emitting diode - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract An illumination device that can use a white light diode in a flexible arm plugs into, and is powered through, a utility power jack of a portable computing device or a utility port of a portable computing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of using an apparatus with a handheld portable video game device having a utility port in electrical connection with a power source, comprising: providing an apparatus including a plug for plugging the apparatus into the utility port of the handheld portable video game device and an illumination device to be electrically connected to the utility port of the handheld portable video game device via at least the plug, the illumination device powered by the power source when the apparatus is plugged into the utility port; coupling the plug of the apparatus with the utility port of the handheld portable video game device; and powering the illumination device of the apparatus via the utility port and power source of the handheld portable video game device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the handheld portable video game device has a non-backlit display screen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the illumination device is a light emitting diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a second utility port to receive a second plug that is in electrical communication with the utility port when the second plug is plugged into the second utility port and the plug is plugged into the utility port, and the method further comprises coupling a second plug to the second utility port. ### Claim 5 An apparatus for use with a handheld portable video game device having a utility port in electrical connection with a power source, comprising: a plug for plugging the apparatus into the utility port of the handheld portable video game device; and an illumination device to be electrically connected to the utility port of the handheld portable video game device via at least the plug; wherein the illumination device is powered by the power source of the handheld portable video game device when the apparatus is plugged into the utility port of the handheld portable video game device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the handheld portable video game device has a non-backlit display screen and the illumination device illuminates the non-backlit display screen of the handheld portable video game device when the apparatus is plugged into the utility port of the handheld portable video game device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the illumination device is a light emitting diode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the apparatus includes a second utility port adapted to receive a second plug that is in electrical communication with the utility port when the second plug is plugged into the second utility port and the plug is plugged into the utility port.