Apple files patent for a unique camera built into laptop

Posted by Dennis Sellers Sep 16, 2005 at 1:40am

On September 15, 2005, the US Patent & Trademark Office revealed Apple’s patent application 20050201047 entitled Camera Latch. The inventor listed is Christoph H. Krah for serial number 800166, originally filed March 12, 2004. In this report: Background and Summary of the Invention along with special sections entitled Specific Points of Interest and Symbol Illumination System.

The following Apple invention relates to a unique Camera that’s built right into a Laptop computer via a new latch. The patent states: The portable computer includes a base. The portable computer also includes a lid that pivots relative to the base. The portable computer further includes a latch including a data capture device such as a camera that is configured to secure the lid to the base.

To view all patent drawings with brief descriptions, see the accompanying article.

Background of the invention
The invention generally pertains to a laptop computer and more particularly to a camera latch that is incorporated into a laptop computer.

Laptop computers generally consist of a lid for housing a display screen such as an LCD and a base for housing various operational components such as a processor, a hard drive, a disk drive, a modem, a battery, etc. The base also typically carries several input devices including a keyboard, a track pad (or track stick), and various buttons. In most cases, the lid is hinged to the base so as to move the lid between a closed position, placing the lid against the base, and an open position, exposing the display screen and the input devices to the user.

Most portable computers require that the lid be securely attached to the base for transportation. As such, a locking mechanism is generally provided to secure the lid to the base when the lid is in the closed position. The locking mechanism typically includes a hook, which extends from the lid and which is configured for lockably engaging the base when the lid is in the closed position. The locking mechanism may also include a slide knob for slidably releasing the hook from the base so as to place the lid in the open position.

Various peripheral input output devices may be electrically connected to the laptop computer. The peripheral I/O devices may include memory, disk drives, keyboards, monitors, mice, printers, scanners, speakers and digital cameras. In most cases, the peripheral I/O devices are connected to laptop computer through wired connections using a serial, USB, or FireWire interface. In other cases, the peripheral I/O devices (as for example keyboards and mice) are connected to the laptop through wireless connections such as radio or Bluetooth.

Digital cameras, in particular, have become increasingly popular input devices. The digital camera records images in digital form and feeds the images to the laptop computer. The images may be downloaded into the laptop computer as they are recorded or they may be stored in the digital camera for downloading at a later time. Once in the computer, the images can be edited, copied, emailed, broadcasted, etc. Some examples of digital cameras include webcams, point and click cameras and camcorders. In all of these examples, the digital camera includes a sensor that converts light into electrical charges. The image sensor employed by most digital cameras is a charge coupled device (CCD), although complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) may also be used.

Digital cameras and more particularly webcams, whose output is primarily available for viewing over the Internet, may also be configured for video conferencing. Video conferencing generally refers to a live connection between two or more participants in separate locations for the purpose of audio and video communication. At its simplest, videoconferencing provides transmission of images and text between two locations. At its most sophisticated, it provides transmission of full motion video images and high quality audio between two or more locations.

Although current laptop designs work well, in many instances it would be desirable to provide laptops with improved and/or additional functionality while maintaining aesthetics and keeping with the current trend of smaller and more powerful laptops.

Summary of the invention
 
The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a portable computer. The portable computer includes a base. The portable computer also includes a lid that pivots relative to the base. The portable computer further includes a latch configured to secure the lid to the base. The latch include a data capture device such as a camera.

The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a laptop computer. The laptop computer includes a base containing a processor. The laptop computer also includes a lid pivotally coupled to the base. The lid contains a display operatively coupled the processor. The laptop computer further includes a latch pivotally coupled to the lid. The latch contains an electronic feature operatively coupled to the processor and a locking feature for lockably engaging the base.

The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a monitor. The monitor includes a display housing. The monitor also includes a display coupled to the display housing. The monitor also includes a camera coupled to the display housing.

Note: This application is cross referenced to related U.S. patent applications Numbers 10/652,157 and 10/651,918, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Specific points of interest

The following patent points relate directly to specifics found in the patent drawings.

Patent Point 95 in part: Applications beyond the laptop like TV

While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. For example, although the invention is primarily directed at a camera latch for a laptop computer, it should be noted that concepts disclosed herein may also be applied to other electronic devices, including but not limited to PDAs, music players, mobile phones and the like or I/O devices such as monitors, televisions and the like.

Furthermore, in some cases, it may be desirable to reverse the automatic positioning of the latch relative to the base once the latch is placed in the home position and the lid is opened in order to ensure that the line of sight of the camera is directed at the user.
It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations and permutations.

Patent Point 45 in part: Microphone and streaming video

In the case of audio data, the data capture device 132 may include a microphone and in the case of image data the data capture device 132 may include a camera. The camera may be configured to produce a single image, images at intervals or a live video stream. In some cases, the data capture device 132 combines a camera and one or more microphones into a single unit. In other cases, the data capture device 132 only includes one of these components. By way of example, the camera may include image sensors such as charge coupled device (CCD) or complimentary oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and optics such as lenses, splitters, filters and the like. In addition, the microphone may include diaphragms, amplifiers, digital signal processors (DSP), etc.

Patent Points 47 & 57 in part: Pivotal latch for video conferencing

In order to make the data capture device 132 more user friendly, the latch 122 may be configured to move relative to the lid 104 rather than being fixed thereto. By way of example, the latch 122 may pivot, swivel and/or translate relative to the lid 104 so that the position of the data capture device 132 can be adjusted. The pivot action, (as shown by arrow 134), allows the latch 122 to rotate forwards and backwards, the swivel action (as shown by arrow 136) allows the latch 122 to rotate side to side, and the translating action (as shown by arrows 138 and 140) allows the latch 122 to slide up and down or side to side, respectively. These types of motions may be particularly useful when using a data capture device such as a camera during video conferencing.

By providing a pivoting action, the position of the latch 164 may be adjusted to place the latch 164 within the cut out 166 when the lid 154 is closed or being closed and to place the latch 166 in multiple camera viewing positions when the lid 154 is opened. For example, during a videoconference, the user can adjust the latch position to place the line of sight 192 of the camera 184 on the user.

Patent Point 48 in part: Latch with LCD and/or wireless transceivers

The latch may additionally include a small LCD so that the user can view the images stored in the memory module. In cases such as these, the latch 122 may include a connector that operatively couples with a connector located in the docking station 142. In a similar vein, the latch 122 and docking station 142 may include wireless transceivers based on FM, RF, Bluetooth, 802.11, UWB (ultra wide band), IR, magnetic link (induction) and/or the like.

Patent Point 49 in part: Power/Sleep indicator in latch
In another embodiment, the latch 122 is configured to carry one or more indicators 148 for alerting a user to a particular status or a change in status of the portable computer 100. By integrating an indicator into the latch, the other surfaces of the laptop can be preserved, i.e., adding an indicator does not compromise the surfaces of the base or lid. For example, latch 122 may include a power/sleep indicator that alerts a user as to when the computer 100 is on/off or in a sleep mode.

Patent Point 51: Applicable to IBM compatible or Apple laptops
It is contemplated that the portable computer 100 can be lap top computer such as an IBM compatible computer or an Apple compatible computer. By way of example, the Apple compatible computer may include different models such as the iBook, or Titanium models, which are manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, California.

Symbol illumination system

The latch 164 is also configured to carry a symbol illumination system. The symbol illumination system operates to illuminate a symbol 196 on an illuminable portion of the latch housing 186 using light provided by a light source. The symbol 196 may be widely varied. For example, the symbol 196 may be one or more characters, letters or numbers; a simple shape such a circle, rectangle, square, triangle, etc., or it may be a more complex shape such as, icon, logo, etc. In one configuration, the symbol 196 is an Apple corresponding to the Apple logo used by Apple Computer of Cupertino, California. The location of the symbol 196 can also be widely varied. For example, it can be positioned on any surface of the latch 164. In the illustrated embodiment, the symbol 196 is placed on the backside 168 of the latch 164 so that it can be seen by the user when the latch 164 is positioned within the cut out 166.

The symbol illumination system may be widely varied. By way of example, the light source may be one or more light emitting diodes (LED), LCD panels, light emitting semiconductor dies, lasers, incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent light bulbs, neon tubes, and the like that produce white or colored light. The light source may even correspond to the LCD 160 contained within the lid 154. For example, the backlighting from the LCD panel may be used to illuminate the illuminable portion. Furthermore, the illuminable portion may be a clear or translucent portion of the latch housing 186 or it may be provided by a separate piece of clear or translucent material that is inserted and affixed within an opening in the (translucent or non-translucent) housing. By way of example, the illuminable portion may be formed from glass or plastic materials such as polycarbonate, acrylic and the like. The illuminable portion may include a light diffusing means or color filtering means located either internal or external to the illuminable portion. As should be appreciated, the light diffusing means scatters the transmitted light to produce a characteristic glow that emanates from the outer surface of the illuminable portion, and the color filtering means allows certain colors to pass through thereby causing the illumination portion to exude a certain color.

The light source is typically placed inside the latch housing 186 behind the illuminable portion so that the illuminable portion can be illuminated thereby creating the symbol (e.g., lit up). Generally speaking, a symbol image is formed at the outer surface of the illuminable portion, and may even glow, when light is made incident on the inner surface of illuminable portion via the light source. In cases where the light source cannot be placed behind the illuminable portion, a light directing element such as a light pipe or light guide can be used to direct the light from the light source to the illuminable portion. The light directing element may be a separate component or it may be integral with the illuminable portion. The symbol illumination system may additionally include a masking element for helping produce the desired symbol shape. The masking element generally includes an opening corresponding to the symbol image to be illuminated.

The light source of the symbol illumination system is typically controlled by the control electronics stored in the base of the laptop 150 so as to produce a symbol light effect having specific characteristics or attributes. For example, the light may be used to exhibit a behavior that reflects the desires or moods of the user, that reflects inputs or outputs for the laptop computer 150, or that reacts to tasks or events associated with operation of the laptop computer 150. In most cases, illumination processing includes monitoring events associated with the laptop computer 150 (e.g., software or hardware) and controlling the light source based on the monitored events so as to indicate a status corresponding to the monitored event. The events being monitored are generally identified by an operating system or a microprocessor utilized within the laptop computer 150. The events can take many forms such as operating system events or microprocessor events. By way of example, the events may relate to signals, conditions or status of the laptop computer 150 and/or to any devices or systems attached thereto (e.g., i/o devices, internet, etc.). The light source may be controlled in a manner that produces different symbol light effects for different events. For example, the light source may be configured to blink, ebb or produce different colors depending on the events that occurred. The light source may produce a red blinking light when a first event has been implemented, and solid blue light when a second event has been implemented. .

The illumination characteristics and their associated with specific events may be stored in a database. Illumination characteristics generally refer to how a light source is illuminated to produce a visual effect (e.g., which lights are operated, how long the light sources are operated, what color the light source output, etc.). The illumination characteristics stored in the database may be accessed by a user through a light control menu, which may be viewed on the LCD as part of a GUI interface. The light control menu may serve as a control panel for reviewing and/or customizing the illumination characteristics, i.e., the user may quickly and conveniently review the illumination characteristics and make changes thereto. Once the user saves the changes, the modified illumination characteristics will be employed to handle future illumination processing.

Is this hot or what!
Having a camera for stills or video conferencing built right into a laptop is long over due. In order for iChat AV to be ubiquitous, Apple has to provide this built-in feature on all their laptops. In addition, the fact that the camera will also be considered for other applications is very interesting, especially for the iPod, standard monitors and yes even televisions.

The unit’s ability to use a functional illumination system to provide users with various status conditions could be interesting. When the unit is closed, the latch could be assigned a color LED scheme that could notify you that that new email has arrived or that someone is urgently trying to reach you via iChat AV for a work related brainstorming session or urgent problem. I’m sure that you could think of other unique applications here.

The fact that a wireless antenna could be hidden within the latch is rather esthetically and technically brilliant on Apple’s part. We expect no less, of course. 

Ever since I saw a Sony notebook incorporate a camera, I knew this was going to be the next wave for notebooks. Now with next generation Wi-Fi and Wireless WiMAX on the horizon for 2007/2008, the timing of this patent is just right. It’s really iChat AV anywhere, anytime that will make this feature a to-die-for feature. It’ll be a drool machine function everyone will want. In the end, I think this is a phenomenal patent. And now it’s time to hear from you. Thumbs up or thumbs down, you be the judge.

Cheers.

News2Me (neo@macscimumnews.com)

Don’t ignore the possible benefits of computer training when planning a future in computers—many kinds of computer training are available and worthwhile.

Advanced Search

Article Information

Comment on this Article Print this Article Email this Article Digg This

Contributor

Recent Articles

Hotel München