GB2381856A - Computer monitor with integral desk light - Google Patents

Abstract

A desk light 1 for illuminating workspace is built into a computer monitor casing 2 beneath the screen area 3 and the front panel monitor controls 4. Light source 1 casts light over workspace in front of and to the side of the monitor, alleviating the problems of glare or shadowing. The monitor power supply 5 may also provide power to the light source. The lighting unit power switch 6 is located on the monitor casing 2. The light may be turned on or off either using the switch 6, or by software running on the computer. Thus any power saving regime implemented on the computer system may also control the light source.

Description

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COMPUTER DESK-LIGHT This invention addresses aspects of the ergonomic challenges encountered when lighting personal computer workstations Personal computer monitors tend to dominate the workstation area and compromise the placement of desktop lighting. If light sources are placed behind the computer monitor, they cast shadows over the desktop and can glare the computer user. If light sources are placed above, to the side or in front of the monitor, they can glare the screen or the user, or both.

Accordingly, this invention relates to a desk-light built into the monitor, on or near the perimeter of the personal computer monitor screen area, so that light is cast over the workspace in front of and to the side of the monitor without glare.

A specific embodiment of this invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 shows a lighting-unit built into the underside of the shell casing of a computer monitor.

Figure 2 shows how the lighting-unit casts light over the workstation desktop without glaring the monitor or the user.

Referring to figure 1 the lighting-unit (1) is built into the computer monitor casing (2), beneath the screen area (3) and the front panel monitor controls (4). The monitor power supply (5) also provides power to the lighting-unit. The lighting unit power switch (6) is placed on the monitor shell casing. The pivot base (7) on which the monitor is raised positions the light source sufficiently high above the desk-space to obtain useful illumination.

Referring to figure 2 the lighting-unit (1) is oriented to cast a pool of light (8) downward and outward onto the desk-space (9), but not toward the user (10) sitting normally at the workstation.

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. A computer workstation light source fitted integrally to the computer monitor casing at or near the perimeter of the screen, so mitigating the shadow and glare problems of the conventional external desk-top lighting sources.
2. 2. The light source as claimed in claims 1 may be powered from the monitor power supply.
3. 3. The light source as claimed In claim 1 to 2 may be controlled by a switch mounted on the monitor casing.
4. 4. The light source as claimed in claim 1 to 3 may be controlled from software running in the computer, and may thus utilise any power-saving regime Implemented on the computer system.
5. 5. Any computer monitor light source substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.