Lightweight, energy-efficient, detachable computer light

Abstract

A computer light for illuminating the computer keyboard or other items in low light environments includes a super bright white LED and a USB plug that enables it to be powered from USB connection ports. The computer light, when connected to a computer, is used by the computer to visually signal the occurrence of certain events selected by the computer, including sensing of an incoming e-mail message, an incoming internet telephone call, an incoming facsimile, and a certain network traffic level.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 702,382, filed Nov. 4, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 847,195, filed May 1, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,680,844, which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 207,446, filed May 30, 2002.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates generally to a computer light, and more particularly to a portable energy-efficient light that is compatible with a computer port such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port or the IEEE1394 (firewire) port. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] As computer use has increased over the years, computer use in low light environments has increased as well. In low light environments, the user is able to view the screen but oftentimes is unable to see the computer keyboard or view paper notes such as presentation notes or slides. This is inconvenient e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The invention provides a computer light that illuminates the computer keyboard or other items, such as a document that the computer user is working on, in low light environments. The computer light is lightweight and has a plug that is connectable to a computer port to draw power from the computer's power source. As a result, users of laptop computers may pack and carry around this device with their laptop computers without adding too much extra weight. The computer light is also energy-efficient so that it does not cause an unnecessary power drain on the power supply of the laptop computer. Furthermore, the computer light has an elongated neck that is flexible enough to allow the light head to be positioned with ease but stiff enough to allow the light head to assume a fixed position relative to the computer keyboard or other items when it is not being manipulated.

Problems solved by technology

In low light environments, the user is able to view the screen but oftentimes is unable to see the computer keyboard or view paper notes such as presentation notes or slides.

This is inconvenient even for skilled typists because some keys (e.g., arrow, function. and delete keys) are located on the outer edges of the keyboard and thus are hard to locate by feel.

At times, the user needs to look at the keyboard and locate the desired key before pressing it, but when there is little or no light for illuminating the keyboard, the user often resorts to guessing and presses the wrong key.

These devices are simply too bulky to be carried around and used in conjunction with laptop computers.

The weight that the portable light device and its power source add to the weight of the laptop computer and the laptop computer's power source is also a limiting factor.

For these and other reasons, portable light devices, although useful, have not yet become popular with laptop computer users and handy for desktop computer users.

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