Apple submits patent for "chameleonic" enclosure

Apple submitted a patent application in February to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a computer enclosure that changes color depending on user settings or the system's current state or system actions. As noted first by TMO, the "Active enclosure for computing device" features embedded LEDs that can be used to change the color of the computer housing. Dubbed a "chameleonic electronic device," the patent notes that the casing and multicolor LEDs could be uniquely positioned or the intensities changed to vary coloration, create an outward design (spots/stripes), make a portion of the housing "glow" or simply light the outline of the casing itself.

The patent goes on to add that settings for the LEDs can be user-configured and "may be viewed on a display screen as part of a GUI interface. The light control menu may include light control settings pertaining to the illumination characteristics. In fact, the light control menu may serve as a control panel for reviewing and/or customizing the light control settings, i.e., the user may quickly and conveniently review the light control settings and make changes thereto."



While several sample computer enclosures are illustrated in the patent's images, ranging from a plain box to the original CRT iMac and LCD iMac, no new enclosures are illustrated. In one illustration, however, several peripherals, including speakers, keyboard, mouse, and disk drive, appear to also employ the technology.

Filed under: Apple