Patent Application
20080072315
The present invention will be more fully understood, and further features will become apparent, when reference is made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. The drawings are merely representative and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Like parts depicted in the drawings are referred to by the same reference numerals.
The following detailed description references the accompanying drawings which show some example embodiments of the invention. These example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, or structural changes made, such that the detailed description should not be considered as limiting the scope of the claims.
The portable computer security device 10 further includes an integrated circuit 18 (not visible in
In some embodiments, the magnifying lens 14 is a cylindrical lens that is embedded in the housing 12. As an example, the magnifying lens 14 may be molded into the housing 12 such that the magnifying lens 14 is integral with the housing 12.
The magnifying lens 14 may focus and/or magnify light from the LCD 16 toward a user of the portable security device 10. In some embodiments, the magnifying lens 14 may magnify the light from the LCD 16 by as much as 50%.
It should be noted that the magnifying lens 14 may be attached to the housing 12 in any manner that promotes alignment of the magnifying lens 14 with the LCD 16. The method of attachment between the magnifying lens 14 and the housing 12 will depend in large part on the materials that are used to form the magnifying lens 14 and the housing 12.
In addition, the size and type of magnifying lens 14 will be determined in part based on the degree of magnification that is desired for the LCD 16. As an example, the magnifying lens 14 may have a rectangular shape. Some example materials for the magnifying lens 14 include glass and plastic (e.g., a polycarbonate).
In the illustrated example embodiment, the housing 12 includes a cover 19 and a base 20 (only partially visible in
Although the magnifying lens 14 is shown as being part of the cover 19, it should be noted that embodiments are contemplated where the magnifying lens 14 is part of the base 20. In addition, the LCD 16 may be secured within the cover 19 or base 20 such that the magnifying lens 14 on the cover 19 is aligned with the LCD 16 when the base 20 is secured to the cover 19.
The cover 19 may be attached to the base 20 in any manner that is known now or discovered in the future. As an example, the cover 19 may be secured to the base 20 using an adhesive. The type of attachment between the cover 19 and the base 20 will depend in part on the structural design of the cover 19 and the base 20 (among other factors).
As shown most clearly in
The size and design of the cavity 22 and the LCD 16 will depend in part on the structural design of the cover 19 and the base 20 (among other factors). As an example, the LCD 16 and the cavity 22 may have a rectangular shape.
The portable computer security devices 10 described herein are relatively small yet include an LCD 16 which is readily observed by users of the portable security devices 10. The ability to readily observe the LCD 16 on the portable computer security devices 10 makes it is easier to utilize the portable computer security devices 10.
While the invention has been described in detail with respect to the specific aspects thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these aspects which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, which should be assessed accordingly to that of the appended claims.
