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:
Oct. 14, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 26, 2007
Seiji Motai, Sagamihara, JP;
Seiichi Idei, Machida, JP;
Taketoshi Kohno, Sagamihara, JP;
Noboru Aoyama, Sagamihara, JP;
Seiji Motai, Sagamihara, JP;
Seiichi Idei, Machida, JP;
Taketoshi Kohno, Sagamihara, JP;
Noboru Aoyama, Sagamihara, JP;
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a device for illuminating a keyboard or other portion of a PC main body unit of a portable computer (e.g., a convertible PC that can be used as a notebook PC or a tablet PC) by utilizing a center latch mechanism. An embodiment of the invention includes a latch provided in the vicinity of an upper edge of the cover unit, and a latch receiving portion provided in the main-body unit. When the cover unit is closed, the latch receiving portion is engaged with the latch to secure the main-body unit and the cover unit in a position where the cover unit is closed. A light source is embedded in the cover unit in the vicinity of the latch, and a light-reflecting surface provided on a surface of the latch so that, when the cover unit is open, light from the light source can be reflected to the keyboard to illuminate the keyboard.