Configurable colored indicator on computing device
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsWilliam F. Richardson, Andrew Bowers, Neil Hendin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computing device includes a memory storing executable instructions, a processor configured to execute the instructions, a programmable display screen configured to display text-based information, and a multi-color indicator. The multi-color indicator is located on a surface of the computing device and includes a plurality of segments, each segment configured to display at least four different colors, where colors displayed by segments of the multi-color indicator are programmable, through execution of the instructions by the processor, to display non-text-based information.
Claims21
A computing device, comprising:
- a memory storing executable instructions;
- a processor configured to execute the instructions;
- a programmable display screen configured to display text-based information;
- and
- a multi-color indicator, located on a surface of the computing device, wherein the multi-color indicator includes a plurality of segments, each segment configured to display at least four different colors;
- and wherein colors displayed by segments of the multi-color indicator are programmable, through execution of the instructions by the processor, to display non-text-based information, and wherein the color, timing and brightness of light emitted from different ones of the plurality of segments are coordinated, through execution of the instructions by the processor, to display the non-text-based information.
A method of displaying non-text-based information via a multi-segment, multi-color indicator of a computing device located on a surface of the computing device that does not include a programmable display screen configured to display text-based information, the method comprising:
- receiving instructions from an application executing on the computing device, the instructions including instructions to control colors, timing and brightness of light emitted from different ones of the segments and to coordinate the control of the light emitted from the different segments to display the non-text-based information;
- applying the instructions to the indicator via an API;
- and
- in response to the application of the instruction, displaying, by the multi-segment, multi-color indicator, the non-text-based information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.