Apple Patents Illuminated Hardware Cases

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[citation][nom]stryk55[/nom]Geez people...use your heads! This isn't about blinky HDD or power lights!Looking at the diagram, the intent appears to be a system to create different effects based on information sent by the CPU i.e. coordination of WHAT the processor is doing with regards to the context of what information is being processed. They are trying to patent a hardware system that will/can utilize programming instruction to create and control lighting effects within the case of a PC.This is actually a clever idea, having your case change colors/illumination based on the context of what program you are running. Think about playing a game where your case actually provides you with in-game information, changing color to indicate certain events or as a warning system. It might be pretty neat!But it also might be dumb, and just a patent move. Still, remember to keep an open mind![/citation]
Like for example an old Asus G1 laptop than when it's playing a game, lighting on the lid of the laptop comes on?
 


You can easily mod your case to change the intensity of internal lighting instead of the LED indicator. How's that, for starters?
 
[citation][nom]istank[/nom]I have been doing this well before 1998. Its as simple as taping into a power source on a device and routing it through and LED and some plexiglass. You can even write a simple program to activate specific USB pins when an application is detected.[/citation]

That what I thought. I don't think it is anything new. I'm wondering if Apple filed for a patent simply because none existed.
 
[citation][nom]Vladislaus[/nom]Like for example an old Asus G1 laptop than when it's playing a game, lighting on the lid of the laptop comes on?[/citation]

I may have been misled by other user comments. Now that I have read your explanation it makes sense. The tabs in Internet explorer change color depending on the web page being viewed. Apple may be taking it a step further.
 

That's probably true. It's like the story of Edison's failures (I don't know if it's a true story or just meant to be inspiring for schoolchildren).

I doubt the following idea will see the light of day, for instance, at least in this form: Inductive Charging.
 

You've seen electronic devices change color based on whether you're playing a DVD or a game?
 
Im a bit confused. What exactly does it do? and how does it help the user?
 
[citation][nom]pokekevin[/nom]Im a bit confused. What exactly does it do? and how does it help the user?[/citation]
Read the article to find out. It doesn't "help" the user, but might provide a fun experience. Or maybe they will decide not to use it.
 
[citation][nom]jryan388[/nom]Why are all of the comments on the first page rated so high? It's not like it takes a brain to say what they said...[/citation]

If you read most of them, it looks like they didn't even read the article. Thumbs-up for anti-Apple sentiment as opposed to thoughts about the content of the article.
 
[citation][nom]Nim Chimpsky[/nom]You've seen electronic devices change color based on whether you're playing a DVD or a game?[/citation]
Like I previously stated the Asus G1 and G2 do, and I have my doubts that they are the only example.
 
[citation][nom]stryk55[/nom]Geez people...use your heads! This isn't about blinky HDD or power lights!Looking at the diagram, the intent appears to be a system to create different effects based on information sent by the CPU i.e. coordination of WHAT the processor is doing with regards to the context of what information is being processed. They are trying to patent a hardware system that will/can utilize programming instruction to create and control lighting effects within the case of a PC.This is actually a clever idea, having your case change colors/illumination based on the context of what program you are running. Think about playing a game where your case actually provides you with in-game information, changing color to indicate certain events or as a warning system. It might be pretty neat!But it also might be dumb, and just a patent move. Still, remember to keep an open mind![/citation]


As stated Audi does exactly this in the A8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC9SZSvlpMA
 
You guys are all talking about LED cases with windows, which is not what this patent is about. However, I do have an example of EXACTLY what apple is talking about. It is a custom Wii case that has LEDs that change color depending on how hot it is inside the case, which covers the "conveying information" part of the patent. Here is a link
 
I wonder if that is what Apple is really making their money or profits from these days. Taking all the companies that they can to court and going for compensation claims to make more money.
 
I've got something wrong with my browser I think, so I have to post another post up now. I think that Apple is making more profits from taking companies to court for compensation claims. That is one more reason for them to go to court after checking their patents.
 
I'll have to post another post now since my other posts did not go up. I think that Apple enjoys going to court over their patent rights, because they make most of their profits from compensation claims.
 
In other news, Apple sued all living Lions for patent infrigment of the name "Lion" used in the new iOS. Apple said they would sue all the big cats using Apple patented names within 2011.

More news at 11.
 
You think this is stupid, GM has over 500 patents on trunk locking mechanisms! Like anyone really would copy them...
 
The patent system was just reformed in the US to reflect 'first to patent' rights rather than 'first to invent'. So expect to see lots more of these!

I would be interested to see how this fits with Alienware AlienFX lighting.

I think it would be a big mistake for Apple to try and sue a company like Dell.
 
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