The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 14, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 05, 1997
Michael R. Flannery, Sioux City, IA (US);
Gateway, Inc., North Sioux City, SD (US);
Abstract
A display apparatus is provided having a back light generated by waste heat of a system. A thermally illuminated strip is disposed on a surface of the display apparatus. The system has heat generating components, such as a CPU, which produce excess waste heat. A heat pipe conveys the heat from the heat generating components to the thermally illuminated strip. Once the heat generating component warms up, the thermally illuminated strip is illuminated by the conveyed heat and provides back lighting for the display apparatus. Although several other applications are appropriate, one particular application for the display apparatus is for a status LCD within a computer.