WO2021262178A1

WO2021262178A1 - Computing devices with lighting rings

Info

Publication number: WO2021262178A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/039625
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yu Wei Lo; Yu Shu Wang; Ming-Hsin Liu; Ming-Fong CHOU
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2020-06-25
Filing date: 2020-06-25
Publication date: 2021-12-30

Abstract

An example computing device includes a base portion and a display portion, moveable relative to the base portion. The display portion includes a display device. A light sensing section is located in the base portion. A control section the computing device is to provide first information to a lighting controller, the first information to be based on light sensed by the light sensing section. A lighting ring is located around the display device, the lighting ring is to receive control 10 information from the lighting controller and emit light based on the control information. The control information is based on the first information.

Description

Computing Devices with Lighting Rings

BACKGROUND

[0001] Computing devices may be used for variety of purposes including video conferencing, recording or streaming video content, etc. Some computing devices may be adapted to provide improved performance or functionality in relation to particular purposes, while possibly still being suitable for other tasks.

[0002] Computing devices may include sensors to obtain information about the environment of the computing device. The computing device may modify an aspect of its operation in response to the environmental information to provide improved performance or convenience for a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] Examples are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1a illustrates an example of a computing device having a lighting ring.

Figure 1b illustrates an example of the computing device of Figure 1a in a laptop configuration.

Figures 2a to 2f show examples of lighting rings located around display devices.

Figures 3a and 3b show examples of the computing device of Figure 1a having an image capture device.

Figures 4a to 4d show examples of a computing device having a distance sensing section.

Figure 5 shows an example of a computing device having two light sensors.

Figures 6a and 6b show examples of the computing device of Figure 1a having a keyboard and a touchpad.

Figure 7a shows an example of a computing device having a lighting ring.

Figure 7b shows an example of the computing device of Figure 7a having first and second housings that are respective leaves of a laptop computer.

Figure 8 shows an example of the computing device of Figure 7a having a display device.

Figure 9 shows an example of the computing device of Figure 7a having an interface for sending data to a lighting controller.

Figure 10 shows an example of a method for controlling a lighting section.

Figure 11 shows a computer-readable medium suitable for causing a processor to perform the method of Figure 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0004] Figure 1a illustrates an example of a computing device 100. The computing device 100 may include a base portion 120 and a display portion 110. The base portion 120 and display portion 110 may be moveable relative to each other. For example, the display portion 110 and base portion 120 may be connected with each other by a moveable joint, such as a hinge. The base portion 120 and display portion 110 may be connected in a clamshell arrangement, for example when the computing device 100 is a laptop device, or a device that can be placed in a laptop configuration.

[0005] Figure 1b illustrates an example of the computing device 100 of Figure 1a in a laptop configuration.

[0006] The display portion 110 may include a display device 130. The display device 130 may provide visual output for viewing by a user. The display device 130 may be, or may include, a display screen, monitor, or display for example. In some arrangements, the display device 130 may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emiting Diode (LED) display, an electrophoretic display, etc.

[0007] A lighting ring 140 may be located around the display device 130. The lighting ring 140 may be arranged to emit light. The lighting ring 140 may surround (completely or partially) the display device 130. The lighting ring 140 may be suitable for illuminating an object or user in front of the display device 130 (e.g. in a position suitable for viewing the display device 130), The illumination may be suitable for capturing an image using an image capture device, such as a camera.

[0008] A light sensing section 150 may be provided in the base portion 120 of the computing device 100. The light sensing section 150 may include a light sensor 150b (e.g. an ambient light sensor) in the base portion 120. The light sensing section 150 may detect a property of incident light, such as illuminance or color temperature,

[0009] A control section 160 may provide first information to a lighting controller 170. The first information may be based on the light sensed by the tight sensing section 150 {e.g, based on a property of the light sensed by the light sensing section 150). The first information may be raw data, e.g, as reported by a light sensor 150b of the light sensing section 150, and the control section 160 may be responsible for routing the raw data to the lighting controller 170, In some examples, the first information may be information that is based on, or reflects, data reported by a light sensor 150b, and the control section 160 may produce, generate, or derive the first information based on light sensed by the light sensing section 150. in some examples the control section 160 may be included in the light sensing section 150. In some examples the control section 160 may be external to the light sensing section 150, or may be partially included in and partially external to the light sensing section 150, The control section 160 may be implemented in hardware, machine readable instructions, software, firmware, or a combination of these.

[0010] The computing device 100 may include a lighting controller 170. The lighting controller 170 may receive the first information from the control section 160 and provide control information to the lighting ring 140. The control information may be based on the first information. Lighting ring 140 may emit light based on the control information. For example, an illuminance, color, color temperature, or a combination thereof of the fight emitted by the lighting ring 140 may be controlled by the control Information. In some examples different portions or elements of the lighting ring 140 may be separately controlled by the control information, e.g, such that different portions of the fighting ring 140 may have different brightness, color, or color temperature. In some examples, the lighting controller 170 may set a parameter for controlling the lighting ring 140 based on the first information and may provide the parameter to the lighting ring 140 to control the light output by the lighting ring in accordance with the set parameter. In some examples an Application Programming Interface (API), Software Development Kit (SDK), or a combination thereof may be provided for control of the lighting ring 140 by the lighting controller 170, and the control information may be in accordance with the API.

[0011] In examples according to the arrangement of Figure la, the lighting ring 140 may be controlled to illuminate an object, such as a user in a position suitable for viewing the display device 130. For example, the display device 130 may have a viewing region, within which the display device 130 may be viewed (e.g, defined by viewing angles of the display device 130). The lighting ring 140 may have an illumination zone within which objects may be illuminated effectively (e.g. sufficient to allow capture of an image of an object within the illumination zone by an image capture device). A lighting ring 140 may provide more complete illumination, e.g. by eliminating or reducing shadows, compared to a point light source that illuminates an object from a single direction. Thus, when compared with a point light source, a lighting ring 140 may provide a more complete/detailed image (e.g. by reducing shadows) or may improve the appearance of a person or object, e.g. when viewed from the direction of the computing device 100, The viewing region of the display device 130 and the illumination zone of the lighting ring 140 may overlap.

[0012] illumination by the lighting ring 140 may be controlled taking Into account light sensed by the light sensing section 150, e.g. ambient light. As the light sensing section 150 may be in the base portion 120, in some examples the display portion 110 may be moved relative to the base portion 120 without changing an orientation of the light sensing section 150 or 'without changing a direction from the light sensing section 150 to external light sources around the computing device 100. For example, where the computing device 100 has, and is used in, a laptop configuration the user may move the display portion 110 relative to the base portion 120 to adjust a viewing angle of the display device 130. if the light sensing section 150 is located in the display portion 110, the direction to external light sources (e.g. relative to a normal direction of the light sensing section 150) will change as the display portion 110 is adjusted. This change in direction may lead to a significant reduction or increase in the defected light from the light source, due to a greater or smaller proportion of the light being incident on a sensing element (e.g. an active pixel area of a light sensor). A light sensor may effectively detect light in a range of incident angles, light that is incident outside this range of angles might not be accurately detected by the fight sensor. The light sensor may have a collection region, within which incident light is collected by the light sensor. The light sensor may include a iens to focus incident light on an active area of a light sensor. The iens may have an effective collection angle or collection region, incident light outside the collection angle or collection region may be focused off of the active area of a light sensor. This may occur as an incident angie of the light is increased away from a direction normal to the light sensor, for example. Positioning a tight sensing section 150 in a base portion 120 may lead to improved reliability of the light sensing compared with positioning a lighting sensing section in a display portion 110. The base portion 120 may be less likely than the display portion 110 to be adjusted during use in a manner that significantly changes a direction, or angle, between the base portion 120 and external light sources. Accordingly, locating the light sensing section 150 in the base portion 120 may provide more a reliable or consistent indication of ambient lighting conditions.

[0013] Providing the lighting ring 140 and light sensing section 150 in the computing device 100 may be more convenient for a user. For example, portability may be increased relative to an arrangement with separate elements, or a setup time may be reduced (e.g. by saving the time that would be expended in arranging the lighting ring 140 and light sensing section 150 for use). Furthermore, the relative locations of the lighting ring 140 and light sensing section 150 may be known, within limits based on the relative degrees of movement of the display portion 110 and the base portion 120. The knowledge of the relative iocations may allow improved reliability or reduced complexity in control of the lighting ring 140 in response to light sensed by the light sensing section 150. Providing the display device 130 and lighting ring 140 in the computing device 100 may avoid the display device 130 and lighting ring 140 obscuring each other; for example the display device 130 and lighting ring 140 may be arranged such that light from the lighting ring 140 is not occluded by the display device 130 and such that no portion of the display device 130 is behind the lighting ring 140 when the display device 130 is viewed within its normal viewing range.

[0014] As indicated previously, the computing device 100 may be a laptop computer. Other configurations and arrangements are possible. For example the computing device 100 may be a foidabie phone [e.g. a smartphone with a foldable display or a phone having a display on one leaf and a keypad or keyboard on the other leaf). The base portion 120 and display portion 110 may be respective leaves of a clamshell device.

[0015] The base portion 120 may be arranged or adapted to support the computing device 100 on a surface when the computing device 100 is in use. For example, the base portion 120 may have a substantially flat underside that is to face downward when the computing device 100 is in use, the underside may be suitable for resting on a horizontal surface to support the computing device 100 for use.

[0016] The lighting ring 140 may Include one or more lighting elements 143, 143₁ 143₃ 143₁₁...143_4n arranged on two or more sides of the display device 130. Figures 2a to 2f show examples of lighting rings 140 located around display devices 130. Figure 2a shows an example of a lighting ring 140 that surrounds, or encircles, (i.e. entirely surrounds or encircles) the display device 130, so as to be provided on all sides of the display device 130, The lighting ring 140 of Figure 2a has a plurality of lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n with a lighting element 143₁₁...143_4n disposed on each side of the display device 130. The example of Figure 2a shows three lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n on each side of the display device 130, but more or fewer lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n may be provided on each side. Figure 2a shows each side of the display device 130 having the same number of lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n, but different sides of the display device 130 may have different numbers of lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n than each other. Figure 2a shows a number of discrete lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n, on each side of the display device 130, The lighting ring 140 may include a LED, such as a surface- mounted device LED. in some examples. lighting element 143₁₁...143_4n may be an LED or a collection of LEDs, In some examples the lighting ring 140 may include a light guide, light pipe, or a combination thereof. In some examples, LED units having a number of different colored LEDs may be used (e.g. red, green and blue LEDs), the LED units may have an adjustable brightness. In some examples a LED unit may have a brightness adjustable up to a value in the range of 1,000 mcd to 2,000 mcd. For example the brightness may be controlled to take different values up to 1 ,500 mcd for a 1,500 mcd LED unit. In some examples, a LED unit may be capable of emitting light with a brightness of at least 1 ,000 mcd, or at least 1 ,500 mcl, or at least 2,000 mcl. The lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n may be circular, as shown in Figure 2a, or any other shape. The lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n of Figure 2a may be elongate, that is the lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n may have an aspect ratio that is not equal to one.

[0017] Figure 2b shows an example of a lighting ring 140 having a continuous lighting element 143 that surrounds, or encircles, the display device 130. The lighting element 143 may be an LED light strip, tor example.

[0018] Figure 2c shows an example of a lighting ring 140 around display device 130 that partially surrounds, or partially encircles, the display device 130. The lighting ring 140 of Figure 2c is provided on three sides of the display device 130. The lighting elements of Figure 2c are discrete lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n, as described in relation to Figure 2a. Figure 2d shows a similar arrangement to Figure 2c, in which the fighting ring 140 is disposed on three sides of the display device 130, but having a continuous lighting element, e.g. similar to that of Figure 2b,

[0019] Figures 2e and 2f illustrate examples of lighting rings 140 around display devices 130, where the lighting ring 140 is disposed on two sides of the display device 130. Figure 2e illustrates discrete lighting elements 143₁₁...143_4n, 143₃₁...143_3n, located on opposite (non- adjacent) sides of the display device 130. Figure 2f illustrates two continuous lighting elements 143₁ , 143₃ provided on opposite (non-adjacent) sides of the display device 130.

[0020] Other possibilities exist, in addition to the examples of Figures 2a to 2e. For example, discrete and continuous lighting elements 143, 143₁, 143₃, 143₁₁...143_4n may be combined or interchanged in the examples of Figures 2a to 2e.

[0021] The lighting ring 140, lighting elements 143, 143₁, 143₃, 143₁₁..143_4n, or a combination thereof may be provided with a diffuser or filter to control or modify the light output from the lighting ring 140/lighting elements 143, 143₁, 143₃, 143₁₁...143_4n.

[0022] Figures 2a to 2e illustrate a rectangular display device 130. However, these examples may be extended to display devices having other shapes.

[0023] The light sensing section 150 may include a light sensor 150b. For example, the light sensor may be, or include, a phototransistor, a photodiode, a photonic integrated circuit, etc.

The light sensor 150b may be in the base portion 120, This may provide reliable sensing by the light sensor 150b by making the orientation of the light sensor 150b independent of an angle between the base portion 120 and the display portion 110 (e.g. assuming that base portion 120 is moved, or changes orientation, less than the display portion 110 during use). In some examples the light sensor 150b may be arranged to be oriented upwards when the computing device 100 is in use; that is, the light sensor 150b may be arranged to receive, or detect, light from above the computing device 100. This may provide a more accurate or consistent indication of the ambient light, since in many situations the most significant light sources external to the computing device 100 will be positioned higher that the computing device 100. Thus, a light sensor 150b oriented upwards may be expected, in most use cases, to capture a larger portion of the ambient light than a light sensor oriented in other directions,

[0024] The control section 160 may be included in the base portion 120, the display portion 110, or some other part of the computing device. The control section 160 is shown in Figure 1 a as external to the light sensing section 150, but In some examples, the control section 160 may be included in the light sensing section 150. in some examples, the control section 160 does not modify data it receives that is indicative of a property of the sensed iight. In this case, the control section may route the data it receives to the lighting controller 170 as the first information, such that the content of the first information corresponds with the content of the received data indicating the property of the sensed light.

[0025] in some examples the control section 160 may receive data indicative of a property of sensed light and modify the data to generate the first information. The property of sensed light may be modified, for example by quantization, binning or conversion to fuzzy variables. This may reduce bandwidth and latency, and may permit simplification of algorithms that use the variables (e,g. algorithms to be performed by the lighting controller 170). in some examples the sensed property of the light may be converted according to a lookup table. Table 1 shows an example of possible conversions from detected values of ambient illuminance and color temperature to a fuzzy variable. An integer value may be assigned to represent a fuzzy variable, such that the first information may include the assigned integer. Table 1 indicates examples of octai values corresponding to the fuzzy values; the octal values may correspond to an assigned integer.

Table 1

[0026] An API or SDK may be provided for providing data from the light sensing section 150 to the lighting controller 170. The first information may be provided to the lighting controller 170 in a format consistent with the API. For example, the first information may be provided as fuzzy values via an SDK/API interface. This may simplify the use of data from the light sensing section 150.

[0027] Raw data from light sensor 150b or light sensing section 150 may be processed by an Embedded Controller (EC). For example the EC may produce a fuzzy value as shown in Table 1 based on the sensed light. In some examples the EC may form part of the control section 160,

[0028] The lighting controller 170 may receive the first information and control the lighting ring 140 based on the received information, In some examples the lighting controller 170 may set a control parameter of the lighting ring 140. A control parameter may, for example, indicate the brightness, color, or color temperature of the lighting ring 140 or of a portion (or element 143, 143₁ 143₃, 143₁₁...143_4n°) of the lighting ring 140,

[0029] In some examples, the control section 160 may operate in a polling mode. The lighting controller 170 may poll the control section 160 to obtain the first information. For example, the lighting controller 170 may send a polling signal to the control section 160, and in response the control section 160 may send the first information.

[0030] In some examples the control section 160 may operate in an interrupt mode. The controi section 160 may send the first information to the lighting controller 170 in response to a change in the first information (or in response to a significant change, such that minor variations or fluctuations do not result in the first information being sent). For example, when the first information is quantized, the first information may be sent to the lighting controller 170 when the quantized value of a parameter in the first information changes to a value different from its value in the most recently sent first information. In some examples, the first information may be sent when the quantized value has remained at a new value for more than a threshoid time to avoid repeated sending of the first information when a value oscillates close to a threshold between two quantized values. The interrupt mode, polling mode, or a combination thereof may be provided in accordance with an API, SDK, or a combination thereof. Operating in an interrupt mode may reduce ioad on a processor or may reduce power consumption.

[0031] In some examples the brightness of the lighting ring 140 may be controlled, based on a detected luminance of ambient light, to reduce shadows, improve the appearance of a user, or produce a particular lighting effect in some examples, the lighting ring 140 may be controlled to have a color temperature similar to a detected color temperature of ambient light, to provide uniform color balance. In some examples the lighting ring 140 may be controlled to have a warm color temperature to offset detected ambient light with a cool color temperature, in some examples a color temperature parameter may be determined and the color temperature of the lighting ring 140 may be set based on the color temperature parameter. For example, the color temperature parameter may be based on a product of the detected color temperature and the ambient illuminance. The detected color temperature may be measured as a fuzzy value, e.g. as shown in Table 1, by the light sensing section 150, and the ambient illuminance may be measured in Lux by the light sensing section 150. For example:

Color Temperature Parameter = Kelvin Color (fuzzy value) * Ambient Lux

The lighting ring 140 may be controlled based on the color temperature parameter. For example, the color temperature parameter may be mapped to a target output color temperature for the lighting ring 140 or may be mapped to a controi parameter that sets the coior temperature of the lighting ring 140, The mapping may be a function (e,g. a linear or non-linear function). The function may be monotonic. The mapping may be based on a lookup table. in some examples the controi parameter for the lighting ring 140 may be in the form of a quantized or fuzzy variable.

[0032] In some examples the lighting controller 170 may be in the base portion 120, the display portion 110, or partially in the base portion 120 and partially in the display portion 110, Further, the lighting controller 170 may be partially or entirely in another portion of the computing device 100, or partially or entirely in an external computing device.

[0033] in some examples the computing device 100 may include an image capture device, such as a camera. The image capture device may be suitable for capturing still or video images. The image capture device may be located in the display portion 110. Figures 3a and 3b show examples of the computing device of Figure 1a having an image capture device 310. Control elements, e.g, elements 160,or 170, or a combination thereof of Figure 1a, are illustrated as element 320 of Figure 3a and are shown in the base portion 120, but may be partially or entirety located elsewhere, such as in the display portion 110. Figure 3a shows an example of image capture device 310 between consecutive lighting elements 143_22, 143₂₃ of the lighting ring 140, such that the image capture device 310 is within a strip defined by the lighting ring 140. Figure 3b shows an example of an image capture device 310 within the inner edge of the lighting ring 140 (i.e. within a region enclosed, bounded or defined by the inner edge of the lighting ring 140). in some examples, the image capture device 310 may be located inside or behind the display device 130. The image capture device 310 may be provided in other locations in the display portion 110 or elsewhere in the computing device 100. in some examples, placing the image capture device 310 within the lighting ring 140, (e.g. within an inner edge of the lighting ring 140, such that the lighting ring 140 surrounds, or partially surrounds, the image capture device 310) may improve the effect of the lighting ring 140 as illumination may originate from around the image capture device 310. Placing the image capture device 310 behind, or close to, the display device 130 may aiiow a user to view the display device 130 while looking into (or almost looking into) the image capture device 310.

[0034] The image capture device 310 may have a field of view, such that objects within the field of view may be imaged by the image capture device 310, in some examples, the field of view may extend in front of the display device 130 of the computing device 100, such that a user viewing the display device 130 is within the field of view of the image capture device 310. The field of view of the image capture device 310 and the viewing region of the display device 130 may overlap.

[0035] The lighting ring 140 may be arranged to illuminate an object in the field of view of the image capture device 310. The fieid ot view of the image capture device 310 and an illumination zone of the lighting ring 140 may overlap. For example, the lighting ring 140 may be arranged to iiiuminate the object to enable image capture of the object in the fieid of view of the image capture device 310 when no other light source is present. For example, the lighting ring 140 may be capable of illuminating, for image capture, objects within a particular distance from the computing device 100. In some examples, the particular distance may be between 1 meter and 3 meters. For example, in some arrangements, the lighting ring 140 may be capable of illuminating an object, to enable image capture of the object, when the object is in the field of view of the image capture device 310 and when the object is within 2 meters of the computing device, even in the absence of an external light source, The lighting ring 140 may be controllable to emit light having a brightness up to an upper limit of brightness. For example, the lighting ring 140 may be controllable to emit light having a brightness of up to 16 candles (cd). For example, the lighting ring 140 may include 12 LEO units, with a LED unit having a brightness of 1,500 mcd (12 * 1,500 mcd = 18 cd). In some examples the lighting ring 140 may be controllable to emit light having a brightness up to at least 13 cd, or up to at least 18 cd, or up to at least 24 cd, or up to at least 30 cd. The lighting ring 140 may have an upper limit of brightness in the range 13 cd to 30 cd, or in the range of 18 cd to 24 cd. Some examples may have an upper limit outside of these ranges. In some examples the computing device 100 may be arranged to receive an input from an image capture device that is external to the computing device 100.

[0036] The lighting ring 140 may be controlled, based on the first information, to facilitate image capture of an object in the field of view of the image capture device 310, e.g. by providing sufficient illumination or improving a quality of ambient illumination for image capture by the image capture device 310. Thus, the control of the lighting ring 140 may be based on the ambient light to more accurately achieve a particular lighting condition for Image capture. For example, the user may select a desired or target lighting style or lighting effect for an image to be captured and the lighting ring 140 may be controlled, taking into account ambient light, to achieve the desired style or effect.

[0037] By providing the image capture device 310 in computing device 100, portability and convenience may be increased. In addition, the relative locations of the image capture device 310, lighting ring 140, and light sensing section 150 may be known accurately, which may simplify the control of the lighting ring 140 (e.g, by allowing the Interaction between the components to be more accurately predicted), in some examples, providing the image capture device 310 in the computing device 100 may avoid occlusion of the image capture device 310 by other elements, such as the display device 130 and lighting ring 140, such that the display device 130 and lighting ring 140 are not in the field of view of the image capture device 310. Similarly, the image capture device 310 may be arranged such that the display device 130 and light from the lighting ring 140 are not blocked or occluded by the image capture device 310.

[0038] Figure 4a shows an example of a computing device similar to that of Figure 1a that includes a distance sensing section 410, The distance sensing section 410 of Figure 4a is shown as having portions in the display portion 110 and in the base portion 120, however, in some examples the distance sensing section 410 may be entirely within the display portion 110 or entirely within the base portion 120, or may be located, partially or entirely, elsewhere In the computing device 100, The distance sensing section 410 may have a distance sensor 410a in the display portion 110, in some examples the distance sensing portion may have a distance sensor 410b in the base portion 120. In some examples the distance sensing section 410 may have a distance sensor 410a in the display portion 110 and a distance sensor 410b in the base portion 120,

[0039] The distance sensor 410a, 410b may be, for example, an infrared (JR) distance sensor, an lR camera, an ultrasonic sensor, a Light Detection and Ranging (UD.AR) sensor, LED tirne- of-flight sensor, etc. The distance sensor 410a, 410b may have a detection zone, such that distances to objects in the detection zone may be determined by the distance sensor 410a, 410b.

[0040] Figure 4b shows an example of a computing device 100 having a distance sensor 410a in the display portion 110, The distance sensor 410a may be an iR camera, for example. The distance sensing section 410 may include additional distance sensors, either in the display portion 110 or the base portion 120. Distance sensor410a may be outside the perimeter of the lighting ring 140, as shown in Figure 4b. in other examples distance sensor 410a may be within the inner perimeter of the lighting ring 140. in some examples the distance sensor may be provided within a strip defined by the lighting ring 140; that is, between an inner and outer perimeter of the lighting ring 140.

[0041] Figure 4c shows an example of a computing device 100 having a distance sensor 410b in the base portion 120. The distance sensor 410b may be arranged to detect a distance to an object placed in front of the computing device 100, The distance sensor 410b may be oriented toward a user when the user is using the computing device 100 (e,g. when the user is in a viewing angle of the display device 130 or within a field of view of an image capture device 310 of the computing device 100). The detection zone of the distance sensor 410a, 410b and a viewing region of the display device 130 may overlap. The detection zone of the distance sensor 410a, 410b and a field of view of an image capture device 310 may overlap. The distance sensor 410a, 410b may be arranged to determine a distance to an object or user to be illuminated by the lighting ring 140. The detection zone of the distance sensor 410a, 410b may overlap with an illumination zone of the lighting ring 140. As described above in relation to Figure 1a, in some arrangements, in use, the display portion 110 may be adjusted by a user while the base portion 120 is kept substantially stationary. As a result a sensing direction (e.g. a direction normal to the sensor) of the distance sensor 410b located in the base portion 120 is less iikeiy to be changed during use than a distance sensor 410a in the dispiay portion 110. Accordingly, distance sensor 410b In the base portion 120 may provide a more consistent, reliable, or stable distance measurement than a distance sensor 410a located in the display portion 110.

[0042] In some examples a plurality of distance sensors 410a, 410b, possibly of different types, may be used in combination to determine a distance to a user or object. For example, an IR camera in the display portion 110 may be used as an sensor to provide or generate a 3D depth image to obtain initial depth/distance information, and an IR sensor in the base portion 120 may be used as a sensor to provide a more accurate or refined distance measurement, based on the depth map provided by the IR camera. [0043] Where more than one distance sensor 410a, 410b is provided, if one of the distance sensors 410a, 410b becomes obscured, the distance measurement may be based on the distance sensed by the other (unobscured) distance sensor 410a, 410b. In some examples, the distance measurements from two distance sensors 410a, 410b may be combined (e.g. by averaging) to obtain a distance measurement. The distance sensing section 410 may include two distance sensors 410b in the base portion 120, as shown in Figure 4d, for example. In this case the distance sensors 410b (individually or in combination) may provide improved consistency or accuracy when compared with distance sensors 410a in the display portion 110.

[0044] The distance sensing section 410 may provide second information based on the measured distance between the computing device 100 and an object (e.g. a user) in the field of view of the image capture device 310. The second information may correspond to raw data received from a distance sensor 410a, 410b, or may be indicative of a measured distance. For example, the second information may include a distance in predetenmined units, or a fuzzy parameter indicative of the distance. A fuzzy parameter may be determined using a look-up table, for example. An integer value may be used to represent the fuzzy parameter. Table 2 gives an example of a fuzzy variable, and corresponding octal integer values, describing the distance sensed by the distance sensing section 410.

Table 2

[0045] Quantizing the measured distance, binning the measured distance or converting the measured distance to fuzzy variables may reduce bandwidth and latency, and may permit simplification of algorithms that use the variables.

[0046] The second information may be generated by the distance sensing section 410 based on information from a distance sensor 410a_: 410b. in some examples the second information may be generated, routed or modified by the control section 160.

[0047] in some examples, the second information may be produced by an EC, based on the measured distance. The EC may form part of the control section 160. The second information may be sent according to a polling mode or an interrupt mode, as described in relation to the first information. An API, an SDK, or a combination thereof may be provided for communicating the second information. The second information may be provided by the control section 160 in accordance with the APS. For example, the second information may be provided as a fuzzy value via an SDK/API interface. This may simplify the use of data from the distance sensing section 410.

[0048] The second information may be provided to the lighting controller 170 and control of the lighting ring 140 may be based on the second information. For example, the lighting controller 170 may be arranged to increase a brightness of the lighting ring 140 with increasing detected distance to an object or user to be illumnated. In some examples a brightness parameter may be determined and the brightness of the lighting ring 140 set based on the brightness parameter. For example, the brightness parameter may be based on a product of the distance to the user and the ambient luminance. The distance may be measured as a fuzzy value, e.g. as shown in Table 2, by the distance sensing section 410, and the ambient illumination may be as measured by the fight sensing section 150 (e.g. measured in Lux), in some examples the product may also include the display device 130 brightness, e.g. a display panel backlight brightness. For example;

Brightness Parameter = Distance (fuzzy value) * Ambient Lux * Panel backlight

The lighting ring 140 may be controlled based on the brightness parameter. For example, the brightness parameter may be mapped to a target output brightness for the lighting ring 140 or may be mapped to a control parameter that sets the brightness of the lighting ring 140. The mapping may be a function (e.g. a linear or non-linear function). The function may be monotonic. The mapping may be based on a lookup table. In some examples the control parameter for the lighting ring 140 may be in the form of a quantized or fuzzy variable.

[0049] The panel backlight brightness may be measured, for example, as a pulse width modulation (PWM) duty cycle or in nit units (1 nt = 1 cd/m²). in some examples, the system Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) may read a panel ID to determine a panel vendor and type. A current brightness step may be determined for the panel; this may be provided by the operating system (OS), for example. Table 3 illustrates an example of panel brightness and associated step values for a 400 nt panel. The panel backlight may be measured in nits, for example, for the purpose of determining the brightness parameter.

Table 3

[0050] including the distance sensing section 410 in the computing device 100 may provide a convenient portable arrangement, or may aiiow for a quick setup time. The distance sensing section 410 may have a known spatial relationship relative to the other elements of the computing device 100 (e.g. the lighting ring 140, light sensing section 160, image capture device 310, display device 130, etc,). This may improve or simplify control of the lighting ring 140 based on a distance to a user.

[0051] In some examples the light sensing section 150 may include more than one light sensor 150b. Figure 5 shows an example of a computing device 100 having two light sensors 150b in the light sensing section 150. This may allow for improved or more reliable sensing of ambient light. The light property sensed by the light sensors 150b may be combined (e.g. by averaging) to more accurately reflect the property of the ambient light, if a light sensor 150b becomes obscured (e.g. covered), the ambient tight may be detected by another light sensor 150b.

[0052] to some examples the computing device 100 may also Include a light sensor in the display portion 110.

[0053] The computing device 100 may have a keyboard 610, a touchpad 615 (or trackpad), or a combination thereof. The keyboard 610, touchpad 615, or a combination thereof may be in the base portion 120, as shown in Figure 6a. The keyboard 610 may be a physical keyboard. The Example of figure 6a also shows two light sensors 150b and two distance sensors 410b in the base portion 120. Figure 6a also illustrates an image capture device 310 and a distance sensor 410b (e.g. an IR camera) in the display portion 110,

[0054] to some examples a touchscreen may be provided on the base portion 120 and the keyboard 610 may be an on-screen keyboard displayed on the touchscreen.

[0055] The light sensing section 150 may be positioned such that a user's hand is detectable by the light sensing section 150 when the user's hand is in a position to operate the keyboard 610. Thus, the computing device 100 may determine, based on the sensing by the light sensing section 150 if a user is using, or is about to use, the keyboard 610. The light sensing section 150 may include one or more light sensors 150b in the base portion 120 positioned relative to the keyboard 610 so as to detect a user's band when the keyboard 610 is operated by the hand, in some examples, the presence of a hand in a position to operate the keyboard 610 may be inferred from a dimming of incident fight due to a shadow of the user's hand. Providing two light sensors 150b in the base portion 120 may provide for more complete or reliable detection of a user's hand or hands. Further, in some examples, providing more than one light sensor 150b in the base portion 120 may allow a user's hand to be detected by a first light sensor 150b in the base portion 120, while a second light sensor 150b in the base portion 120 may detect ambient light without obstruction of the light by the user's hand, in some examples, two light sensors may be used in combination to determine z and x coordinates of a sensed object, such as a user's hand. Here, the z direction is a direction perpendicular to the surface of the light sensors (e,g. upward with respect to the computing device of Figure 6a) and the x direction is aiong a line from one sensor to the other.

[0056] In examples having a distance sensor 410b in the base portion 120, the distance sensor 410b may be positioned such that a user's hand may be detectable by the distance sensor 410b when the user's hand is in a position to operate the keyboard 610, The presence of a hand in a position to operate the keyboard 610 may be inferred from a detection, by the distance sensor 410b, of an object close to (i.e. within a threshold distance of) the base portion 120. For example, the presence of a user's hand in a position to operate the keyboard 610 may be inferred if the distance sensor 410b detects an object within a threshold distance that persists for a time period greater than a threshold time. Providing two distance sensors 410b in the base portion 120 may provide for more complete or reliable detection of a user's hand or hands. Further, in some examples, providing more than one distance sensor 410b in the base portion 120 may allow a user's hand to be detected by a first distance sensor 410b in the base portion 120, while a second distance sensor 410b in the base portion 120 may detect a distance to a user (e.g. the user's head or body) without obstruction by the user's hand, in some examples, two distance sensors 410b may determine y and x coordinates of a sensed object, such as a user's hand, Here , the y direction is a direction perpendicular to the surface of the light sensors {e.g, forward with respect to the computing device of Figure 6a) and the x direction is aiong a line from one sensor to the other, Where two light sensors 150b and two distance sensors 410b are provided, the x, y and z coordinates (in a coordinate system relative to the computing device) of an object may be determined from a combination of the data from the light sensors 150b and distance sensors 410b.

[0057] The computing device 100 may include a hand sensing section 620, The hand sensing section 620 may receive input from the light sensing section 150, the distance sensing section 410, or a combination thereof. The hand sensing section 620 may determine the presence or absence of a user^'s hand in a position to operate the keyboard 610 based on input from the light sensing section 150, the distance sensing section 410, or a combination thereof- in some examples input from the fight sensing section 150 and distance sensing section 410 may be combined to determine that a user's hand is in a position to operate the keyboard 610. For example, if at least one of the distance sensing section 410 or the light sensing section 150 indicates that a user's hand is in a position to operate the keyboard 610 the hand sensing section 620 may indicate that a user's hand has been detected. Alternatively, the hand sensing section 620 may indicate that a user's hand has been detected if both the distance sensing section 410 and the light sensing section 150 indicate detection of a user's hand, in some examples, the distance sensing section 410, light sensing section 150, or a combination thereof may indicate a likelihood, or degree of certainty, that a user's hand has been detected, and the hand sensing section 620 may indicate that a user's hand has been detected based on the likelihood/degrees of certainty . For example, based on a combination or aggregate of the likelihood/degrees of certainty (e,g. if a weighted sum of the degrees of certainty exceed a threshold value it may be determined that a user's hand has been detected),

[0058] In some examples, the lighting ring 140 may be controlled based on the detection of a user's hand in a position to operate the keyboard 610. In some examples the detection of a user's hand may be indicated to the lighting controller 170 and the lighting controller 170 may modify the control information to the lighting ring 140 in response to the indication. In some examples, in response to detection of a user's hand, the operation of the lighting ring 140 may be modified independent of the lighting controller 170. For example, the hand sensing section 620 may control the lighting ring 140 directly in response to a detection of the user's hand.

[0059] In some examples, in response to a detection of the users hand, the brightness (and possibly other settings) of the lighting ring 140 may be fixed at its current value, such that the brightness is not changed with changes in ambient light or distance to the user. This may avoid unwanted changes in the brightness of the lighting ring 140 when the user is operating the keyboard 610.

[0060] In some examples, the brightness of the lighting ring 140 may be reduced from its current value in response to a detection of the user's hand. This may make use of the display device 130 more comfortable for the user during typing.

[0061] Where the base portion 120 has a touchpad 615 in addition to or instead of a keyboard 610, a user's hand in a position to operate the touchpad 615 may be sensed as described above in relation to the keyboard 610. Further, the lighting ring 140 may be controlled in response to detection of a user's hand in a position to operate the touchpad 615, as described above in relation to a user's hand in a position to operate the keyboard 610.

[0062] Figure 6b shows an example of a computing device 100 according to Figure 6a, with additional detail In the lighting ring 140. The example of Figure 6b has discreet lighting elements 143₁₁...143_3n, The lighting elements 143₁₁...143_3n are disposed on three sides of the display device 130. in some examples four or more lighting elements 143₁₁...143_3n may be disposed on each of the three sides. The lighting elements 143₁₁...143_3n may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the display device 130, image capture device 310, or a combination thereof, which may simplify providing even lighting for image capture. In the example of Figure 6b, left and right sides of the display device 130 have the same number of lighting elements 143₁₁...143_1n,

143₃₁...143_3n (four elements on each side in the example of Figure 6b). In addition, lighting elements 143₂₁...143_2n may be located above the display device 130, along with the image capture device 310. The same number of the lighting elements 143₂₁.,.143_2n may be disposed on either side of the image capture device 310. in the example of Figure 6b, there are two lighting elements 143₂₁...143_2n on either side of the display device 130. Lighting element 143₁₁...143_4n may a LED unit able to output 1,500 mcd for example.

[0063] Figure 7a shows an example computing device 700. The computing device includes a first housing 710 and a second housing 720. The first housing 710 and second housing 720 are connected by a coupling portion 730 so as to be moveable relative to each other. The coupling portion 730 may be a hinge, for example.

[0064] The first housing 710 may include an image capture device 310, such as a camera.

The first housing 710 may include a lighting ring 140. The lighting ring 140 may be a ring light. The second housing 720 may include a keyboard 610 and a distance sensing section 410. The distance sensing section 410 may sense a distance to a user. For example, the distance sensing section 410 may determine a distance between the computing device 700 and a user when a user is within a field of view of the image capture device 310.

[0065] The image capture device 310 may be similar to the image capture device 310 described previously. The distance sensing section 410 may be similar to the previously described distance sensing sections 410. The keyboard 610 may be similar to the keyboards 610 described above. A touchpad 615, as described above, may be provided instead of, or in addition to, keyboard 610.

[0066] The lighting ring 140 may be an illumination source in the shape of a whole or partial loop. The loop may be circular, rectangular, or some other shape. The lighting ring 140 may be formed of discrete lighting elements or a continuous lighting element. The lighting ring 140 may be as described above. The lighting ring 140 may be arranged to illuminate a user that is sensed by the distance sensing section 410. The lighting ring 140 may be arranged to provide illumination in a region that overlaps a region within which a user or object is detectable by the distance sensing section 410.

[0067] in some examples, a user in the field of view of the Image capture device 310 may be detectable by the distance sensing section 410, and the lighting ring 140 may be controlled according to the sensed distance to the user. Accordingly, the illumination provided by the lighting ring 140 may be adjusted based on the sensed distance, which may lead to improved image capture by the image capture device 310,

[0068] Providing the image capture device 310, lighting ring 140, and distance sensing section 410 in the computing device 700 may improve portability and reduce or eliminate setup time for arranging these elements for use. As the image capture device 310, lighting ring 140, and distance sensing section 410 are included in the same device, their relative locations may be known, which may allow more reliable or simplified control of the lighting ring 140 for image capture based on the distance to the user. By providing these elements in the computing device 700, occlusion of any of the image capture device 310, lighting ring 140, and distance sensing section 410 by each other may be avoided.

[0069] When the computing device 700 is in use, the first housing 710 may be adjusted by a user to modify the field of view of the image capture device 310, for example, while the position of the second housing 720, the orientation of the second housing 720, or a combination thereof may be unchanged or changed sightly, in such cases, providing the distance sensing section 410 in the second housing 720 may allow for a more reliable, consistent, or stable evaluation of the distance to the user.

[0070] In some examples, the computing device 700 may be a clamshell device, and the first 710 and second 720 housings may be the shells of the device. The coupling portion 730 may be, or may include, a hinge, in some examples the coupling portion may include a bail joint, a pivot, etc. in some examples, the first housing 710 may include a display device 130 and may be a display portion 110. In some examples the second housing 720 may be a base portion 120,

[0071] Figure 7b shows an example of the computing device 700 in which the first 710 and second 720 housings are respective leaves of a laptop computer, or a device having a laptop- like configuration. In the example of Figure 7b, the coupling portion 730 may be a hinge,

[0072] A display device 130 may be provided in the computing device 700, The display device 130 may be positioned in the first housing 710, such that the lighting ring 140 surrounds or partially surrounds the display device 130, in a similar manner to that shown in Figure 2, for example. Figure 8 shows an example of a computing device 700 having a display device 130, including the display device 130 in the computing device 700 improves portability and also prevents the display device 130 from occluding other elements, and vice-versa. The lighting ring 140 may be arranged to illuminate a user within a view of the image capture device 310. In some examples the lighting ring 140 may be arranged to illuminate a user within the normal viewing range of the display device 130. [0073] The computing device 700 may indude an interface 910 for sending data to a lighting controller 170, as shown in Figure 9, The data sent to the lighting controller 170 may be based on, or indicative of, the sensed distance. The interface 910 may receive lighting control information from the lighting controller 170, the lighting controi information may be based on the data sent by the interface 910. The lighting ring 140 may be arranged to emit tight based on the lighting control information. For example, the interface 910 may provide the lighting controi information to the lighting ring 140 or to a lighting ring controller, where the lighting ring controller is arranged to controi illumination of the lighting ring 140 based on the lighting control information. The lighting ring controller may be implemented in hardware, machine readable instructions, software, firmware, or a combination of these. The lighting ring controller may be an embedded controlier or may be included in an embedded controller.

[0074] The interface 910 may be provided in any part or parts of the computing device 700. The lighting controller 170 may be located in any part or parts of the computing device 700, or may be external to the computing device 700.

[0075] In some examples the interface 910 may be arranged to pass data from the distance sensing section 410 to the lighting controller 170 without modification. In some examples the interface 910 may derive or generate the sent data (i.e. data to be sent to the lighting controller 170) based on the sensed distance to the user. For example, the interface may quantize or bin the sensed distance, or may convert the sensed distance into a fuzzy value. A lookup tabie may be used to convert the sensed distance to generate the sent data. For example, the sensed distance may be converted to an octal value indicative of a fuzzy value as shown in Table 2.

[0076] The lighting control information may indicate settings for the lighting ring 140 corresponding to a brightness, color, or color temperature of light to be emitted by the lighting ring 140. in some examples, the controi information may controi the whole lighting ring 140 uniformly or may controi portions or elements of the lighting ring 140 independently.

[0077] In some examples the lighting controller 170 may produce lighting control information to increase the brightness of the lighting ring 140 in response to an increase in detected distance to the user, in order to provide a consistent level of illumination at the location of the user as the user moves. Other possibilities exist for controlling the lighting ring 140 based on the detected distance.

[0078] In some examples the computing device 700 may include a light sensing section 150. The light sensing section 150 may be located in the second housing 720, and may sense a lighting condition. For example, the light sensing section 150 may sense a property of incident or ambient light, such as luminance, color, or color temperature. The light sensing section 150 may be similar to the light sensing sections 150 described above. [0079] By providing the light sensing section 150 in the second housing 720, an orientation of the light sensing section 150 is not dependent on an adjustment of the first housing 710 relative to the second housing 720, which may provide more consistent and reliable measurement of the fight.

[0080] Data from the light sensing section 150, indicative of the sensed property of light, may be provided to the interface 910. The sent data (sent from the interface 910 to the lighting controller 170) may be based, in part, on the data from the light sensing section 150, The lighting control information may be based on the sent data, and so the lighting control information may be generated by the lighting controller 170 based on the data from the light sensing section 150. For example, the lighting control information may control the lighting ring 140 to match a color temperature of ambient light, for example.

[0081] In some examples the interface 910 may be implemented as the control section 160 of Figure 1. in some examples the lighting controller 170 may be implemented as the lighting controller 170 of Figure 1.

[0082] In some examples, the distance sensing section 410 may include two distance sensing elements, e.g. two distance sensors 410b, as described previously.

[0083] In some examples the distance sensing section 410 may be positioned relative to the keyboard 610 such that a user's hand is detectable by the distance sensing section 410 when the user operates the keyboard 610, As described above, the control of the lighting ring 140 may be adjusted based on the detection of a user's hand close to the keyboard 610. For example, the distance sensing section 410 my indicate the detection of a user's hand to the interface 910, which may include this indication in the sent data, such that the lighting controller 170 may base the lighting control information on the indicated detection of the user's hand. In some examples, the indication of a detection of a user's hand may be provided to a lighting ring controller, and the lighting ring controller may modify the operation of the lighting ring 140, in some examples, the brightness of the lighting ring 140 may be fixed in response to detection of a user's hand, to prevent unwanted changes in the brightness of the lighting ring 140. In some examples the lighting ring 140 may be dimmed in response to detection of the user's hand. Other responses to the detection of the user's hand are possible.

[0084] In some examples a light sensing section 150 may be used instead of, or in addition to, the distance sensing section 410 to detect a users hand near to the keyboard 610.

[0085] In some examples, the computing device 700 may include additional distance sensors, light sensors, or a combination thereof. For example, computing device 700 may include an lR camera, and a distance to a user may be determined based on data from the distance sensing section and the iR camera. [0086] In some examples an object other than a user may be detected by the distance sensing section, and the lighting ring 140 may be arranged to illuminate the object as described above for a sensed user.

[0087] Figure 10 shows an example of a method 1000. The method 1000 may be a computer implemented method that may be performed by a processor of a computing device. In operation 1010 lighting Information may be received. The lighting Information may be based on a measurement by a light sensor of the computing device. The lighting information may be received by the processor by the processor reading a register or buffer into which the lighting information has been written, in some examples the processor may receive the lighting information via a data bus, etc. In operation 1020 distance information may be received. The distance Information may be based on a measurement by a distance sensor of the computing device. As with the lighting information, the distance information may be received via a memory register, buffer, data bus, etc. in operation 1030, a lighting section of the computing device may be controlled to illuminate an object detected by the distance sensor. The control of the lighting section may be based on the lighting information and the distance information, in some examples, the lighting section may be controlled to increase its brightness in response to an increase in the distance represented by the distance information. In some examples the lighting section may be controlled to output light having a color temperature that matches a color temperature of light detected by the light sensor. In some examples, the lighting section may be controlled to output fight having a warm color temperature to offset a cold color temperature detected by the light sensor. The processor may control the lighting section by setting a parameter of the lighting section based on an equation, an algorithm, a lookup table, etc. Controlling the lighting section may include outputting control information or a lighting parameter. The outputting may include writing the information or parameter to a memory register, buffer, etc,, or may include sending the information or parameter via a data bus, etc,

[0088] In some examples a color temperature parameter may be determined and the color temperature of the lighting section set based on the color temperature parameter. For example, the color temperature parameter may be based on a product of a detected color temperature and an ambient illuminance. The detected color temperature may be based on the received lighting information, possibly measured as a fuzzy value, as shown in Table 1, and the ambient illuminance may be based on the received lighting information, possibly measured in Lux. The lighting section may be controlled based on the color temperature parameter. For example, the color temperature parameter may be mapped to a target output color temperature for the lighting section or may be mapped to a control parameter that sets the color temperature of the lighting section. The mapping may be a function (e.g, a linear or non-linear function). The function may be monotonic. The mapping may be based on a lookup table. In some examples the control parameter for the lighting section may be in the form of a quantized or fuzzy variable.

[0089] In some examples a brightness parameter may be determined and the brightness of the lighting section based on the brightness parameter. For example, the brightness parameter may be a product of the received distance information and the ambient illuminance. The distance information may he measured as a fuzzy value, as shown in Table 2, and the ambient illuminance may be measured in lux. in some examples the product may also include the display device 130 brightness. The lighting section may be controlled based on the brightness parameter. For example, the brightness parameter may be mapped to a target output brightness for the lighting section or may be mapped to a control parameter that sets the brightness of the lighting section. The mapping may be a function (e.g. a linear or non-linear function). The function may be monotonia. The mapping may be based on a lookup table, in some examples the control parameter for the lighting section may be in the form of a quantized or fuzzy variable.

[0090] The lighting section may be disposed on two sides of a display screen of the computing device. In some examples the lighting section may be disposed on three or four sides of the display screen of the computing device. The display screen may be a display device 130, as described previously.

[0091] In some examples, the light sensor may be similar to light sensor 150b described previously. The distance sensor may be similar to distance sensors 410a or 410b, in some examples, the lighting section may be similar to the lighting ring 140 described above. For example, the lighting section may be similar to the lighting rings 140 illustrated in Figure 2. in some examples the lighting section may be controlled as described above, based on the distance information, the lighting information, or a combination thereof, in some examples the computing device may be configured as described previously,

[0092] In some examples the method may be carried on a computing device according to any of Figures 1 to 9. The processor may perform some or ail of the functionality, and so be included, or partially included, in the control section 160, lighting controller 117, interface 910, or a combination thereof. For example, the method may be performed in a lighting controlier 170 that receives lighting and distance information and provides an output to control a lighting section.

[0093] Figure 11 shows an example of a computer-readable medium 1100 having instructions for execution by a processor 1150. The instructions may include instructions 1110, 1120, 1130 to cause the processor to carry out the method of Figure 10. The instructions may include instructions 1110 to cause the processor 1150 to receive lighting information. The instructions may include instructions 1120 to cause the processor to receive distance information. The instructions may include instructions 1130 to control a lighting section to illuminate an object detected by the distance sensor, the control of the lighting section may he based on the lighting information and the distance information. The lighting section may be disposed on two sides of a display screen of the computing device. In some examples the lighting section may be disposed on three or four sides of the display screen of the computing device,

[0094] The computer-readable storage medium 1100 may be any electronic, magnetic, optical or other physical storage device that contains or stores executable instructions. Computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, Random Access Memory {RAM}, an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a storage drive, a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), and the like. As such, the computer-readabie storage medium 1100 can be non-transitory.

[0095] The processor may be, or include, a central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), EC, microprocessor suitable for retrieval and execution of instructions, electronic circuits configured to perform the operations of instructions 1110-1130, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the processor may include a plurality of processing elements.

[0096] In some examples the computing device may be a clamshell computing device. The lighting section may be disposed in a first leaf of the clamshell computing device. The light sensor, distance sensor, or a combination thereof may be included in a second leaf of the clamsheii computing device. This may aliow for adjustment of an angle of the lighting section with little or no adjustment of the orientation of the light sensor, distance sensor, or a combination thereof. This may improve stability of the sensing by the tight sensor, distance sensor, or a combination thereof. The first leaf and second leaf may correspond with a display portion 110 and base portion 120, respectively. The first leaf and second leaf may correspond with a first housing 710 and second housing 720, respectively.

[0097] The computing device may include an image capture section. The image capture section may be, or may include, an image capture device similar to the image capture device 310 described above. The computer-readable storage medium 1100 may include Instructions to cause the processor 1150 to cause the image capture section to capture an image of the illuminated object.

[0098] In some examples the computer-readable storage medium 1100 may include instructions to determine that a users hand is in proximity to the computing device. The determination may be made based on the received fighting information, the received distance information, or a combination thereof. The control of the lighting section may be based on the determination that a user's hand is {or is not) in proximity to the computing device. For example, as described above, a distance sensor, light sensor, or a combination thereof may be positioned to detect a user's hand in proximity to a keyboard 610 or touchpad 615 of the computing device. In some examples, the lighting section may be controlled to fix a setting (such as brightness) in response to detection of a user's hand. In some examples the lighting section may be controlled to reduce a brightness of the lighting section in response to detection of a user's hand. Other possible modes of control exist, and other properties of the light, such a color or color temperature, may be controlled based on the detection of the user's hand instead of, or in addition to, the brightness.

[0099] In sorne examples the distance sensor, light sensor, or a combination thereof of the computing device may be positioned, or located, within the computing device as described previously.

[00100] In some examples the instructions may cause the processor to poll a component of the computing device (such as a control section 160 or interface 910) for fighting information, distance information, or a combination thereof, and the information may be provided in response to the polling. In some examples the instructions may cause the processor to receive interrupts when the lighting information, distance information, or a combination thereof changes or undergoes a significant change, A significant change may be, for example, a change exceeding a threshold amount or a change of a quantized value in the information. In some examples a change is deemed significant if the amount of change satisfies a condition for a threshold amount of time (e.g. the change in value remains above a threshold amount for a threshold time, or the quantized value changes and does not change back to its previous value within a threshold time),

[00101] In some examples the computer-readabie storage medium may be included in, or usable with, the arrangements of Figures 1 to 9.

[00102] In some examples the computing device may have other components, such as a communication section for wired or wireless communication with other devices. For example a communication section may include a WiFi module, a Bluetooth module, an Ethernet port, a USB port, etc,

[00103] Some examples may provide a convenient and user-friendly device for capturing still images or video content. For example, suitable for capturing video for streaming via the Internet. Providing a lighting ring 140, and adjusting it based on sensed information from the environment (e.g, a distance to a user, ambient light, or a combination thereof) may allow the user to produce a video with high-quaiity lighting. The use of a lighting ring 140 may improve the appearance of the user in the captured video by reducing or eliminating shadows,

[00104] In some examples an API may be provided for interacting with the lighting section, lighting ring 140, light sensing section 150, distance sensing section 410, etc. This may facilitate the development and use of software (e.g. third-party software) to control the lighting ring 140 based on the sensed light/distance. This may lead to increased flexibility and user choice.

[00105] in some examples information on sensed light, distance, or a combination thereof (e.g. first Information, second information, sent data, etc.) may be provided to a second computing device of a second user, acting as a host or director. The control information, lighting control information, etc. may be produced or determined In the second computing device based on the provided sensor information, possibly with input from the second user. The control information may then be provided to the first device {e.g. via contral section 160, interface 910, communication section, or a combination thereof) to control the lighting section, lighting ring 140, etc. Accordingly, the lighting controller 170 may be external to, or partially external to, the computing device 100, 700.

[00106] Various sections and controllers described herein may be implemented in hardware, machine readable instructions, software, firmware, or a combination of these. In some examples, the various sections may include overlapping physical or software components of the computing device . For example, some operations of the control section 160 may be performed in hardware elements of the light sensing section 150, e.g. where the light sensing section includes an EC associated with a light sensor for producing the first information,

[00107] In some examples, processing to be performed by the light sensing section, control section, and lighting ring may be carried out in one or more embedded controllers. In some examples, the light sensing section, control section, lighting ring, or a combination thereof may be implemented in a hardware layer of the computing device.

[00108] As used herein, a basic input/output system (BIOS) refers to hardware or hardware and instructions to initialize, control, or operate a computing device prior to execution of an operating system (OS) of the computing device. Instructions included within a BIOS may be software, firmware, microcode, or other programming that defines or controls functionality or operation of a BIOS. In one example, a BIOS may be implemented using instructions, such as platform firmware of a computing device, executable by a processor. A BIOS may operate or execute prior to the execution of the OS of a computing device. A BIOS may initialize, control, or operate components such as hardware components of a computing device and may load or boot the OS of computing device.

[00109] In some examples, a BIOS may provide or establish an interface between hardware devices or platform firmware of the computing device and an OS of the computing device, via which the OS of the computing device may control or operate hardware devices or platform firmware of the computing device. In some examples, a BIOS may implement the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) specification or another specification or standard for initializing, controlling, or operating a computing device. [00110] Some of all of the various sections and controllers described herein may communicate with the OS or software of the computing device via a BIOS of the computing device.

[00111] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise”, “contain", “include”, and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers or operations. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context implies otherwise. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context implies otherwise, [00112] Features, integers, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and aii of the operations of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features or operations are mutually exclusive. Examples are not restricted to the details of any foregoing examples. The Examples may extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the operations of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising: a base portion; a display portion, moveable relative to the base portion, the display portion including a display device; a iight sensing section located in the base portion, a control section to provide first information to a lighting controller, the first information based on tight sensed by the light sensing section; and a lighting ring located around the display device, the lighting ring to receive control information from the lighting controller and emit light based on the control information, the controi information based on the first information,

2. The computing device of claim 1 , comprising a camera located in the display portion, wherein the lighting ring is to iuminate an object within a field of view of the camera,

3. The computing device of claim 2. further comprising a distance sensing section including: a distance sensor, a distance sensor in the base portion, an infrared camera in the display portion, or a combination thereof; wherein; the distance sensing section is to provide second information indicative of a distance between the computing device and the object within the field of view of the camera, and the control information is based on the second information.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the light sensing section comprises two light sensing elements.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a keyboard or touchpad in the base portion, and wherein; the light sensing section is positioned relative to the keyboard or touchpad such that a user's hand is detectable by the iight sensing section when the user operates the keyboard or touchpad, and the lighting controller to controi the lighting ring based on the detection of the user's hand.

6. A computing device comprising: a first housing having an image capture device; a second housing having a keyboard and a distance sensing section to sense a distance to a user; a coupling portion to connect the first housing and the second housing such that the first housing and the second housing are moveable relative to each other; and a ring light in the first housing, the ring light to illuminate the user based on the sensed distance.

7. The computing device of claim 6, further comprising: a display in the first housing; wherein the ring light surrounds or partially surrounds the display, the ring light to illuminate the user when the user is within a view of the image capture device or within a viewing angle of the display,

8. The computing device of claim 6, further comprising; an interface, the interface to send data to a lighting controller, the sent data based on the sensed distance; and the interface to receive lighting control information from the lighting controller, the lighting control information based on the sent data, wherein the ring light to emit light based on the lighting control information,

9. The computing device of claim 8, further comprising: a light sensing section located in the second housing, the light sensing section to sense a lighting condition, wherein the sent data is based on the sensed distance and the sensed lighting condition.

10. The computing device of claim 6, wherein: the distance sensing section comprises two distance sensing elements; or the distance sensing section is positioned relative to the keyboard such that a user's hand is detectable by the distance sensing section when the user operates the keyboard.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed cause a processor of a computing device to; receive lighting information based on a measurement by a light sensor of the computing device; receive distance information based on a measurement by a distance sensor of the computing device; and control a lighting section of the computing device to illuminate an object detected by the distance sensor, the control of the lighting section based on the lighting information and the distance information, the lighting section disposed on two sides of a display screen of the computing device,

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed further cause the processor to: determine, based on the lighting information, the distance information, or a combination thereof, that a user's hand is in proximity to the computing device; and control the lighting section based on the determination that a user's hand is in proximity to the computing device,

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is a clamshell computing device, the lighting section is disposed in a first leaf of the ciamshei computing device, and the light sensor, the distance sensor, or a combination thereof is disposed in a second ieaf of the clamshell computing device.

14 The non-transitory computer-readabie storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed further cause the processor to; cause an image capture section of the computing device to capture an image of the illuminated object.

15, The non-transitory computer-readabie storage medium of ciaim 12, wherein the lighting section is disposed on three or four sides of a display screen of the computing device.