Wireless device lighting system

• US 20050017948A1
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Castaneda, Julio C., Rodriguez, Jose Felix, Walls, Erik J., Buczek, Jeffrey Michael, Nguyen, Bach L., Garcia, Humberto E., Simpson, Brian Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,193,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials

Abstract

A wireless device lighting system provides backlighting of a display (104) and/or a user interface (1526) of a wireless device (100). A user interface (1526) includes a plurality of buttons (112) for entering information and at least one multicolor LED for emitting light. The at least one multicolor LED is located behind the plurality of buttons (112). The user interface (1526) further includes a connector for connecting the user interface (1526) to the wireless device (100) and a circuit board for mounting the at least one multicolor LED and the connector. The user interface (1526) further includes a light pipe for allowing light emitted from the at least one multicolor LED to be emitted from the buttons (112), the light pipe located between the at least one multicolor LED and the buttons (112). The user interface (1526) further includes a selector for allowing a user to define a color of light for emission by the at least one multicolor LED.

Claims

1. An interface for coupling to a wireless device, comprising:

a plurality of buttons for entering information;

at least one multicolor LED for emitting light, the at least one multicolor LED located behind the plurality of buttons; and

a connector for connecting the interface to the wireless device.

2. The interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit board for mounting the at least one multicolor LED and the connector.

3. The interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a light pipe for allowing light emitted from the at least one multicolor LED to be emitted from the plurality of buttons, the light pipe located between the at least one multicolor LED and the plurality of buttons.

4. The interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a selector for allowing a user to define a color of light for emission by the at least one multicolor LED.

5. The interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of buttons comprises twelve buttons, the twelve buttons representing the twelve standard DTMF buttons.

6. The interface of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one multicolor LED comprises a tricolor LED for emitting any one of red light, green light, and blue light.

7. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless device interface for communication with a wireless network;

a user interface for coupling user input to the wireless device, the user interface including;

a plurality of buttons for receiving user input from a user;

at least one multicolor LED, being located behind the plurality of buttons, for emitting light that is visible from in front of the plurality of buttons; and

a connector for connecting the user interface to the wireless device.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the user interface further includes:

a circuit board for mounting the at least one multicolor LED and the connector;

a light pipe for allowing light emitted from the at least one multicolor LED to be emitted from the plurality of buttons, the light pipe located between the at least one multicolor LED and the plurality of buttons; and

a selector for allowing a user to define a color of light for emission by the at least one multicolor LED.

9. A light guide for use in a wireless device, comprising:

a first light conducting element for receiving light from a first set of at least one LED, the first set of at least one LED being integrally formed with the wireless device;

a second light conducting element for receiving light from a second set of at least one LED, the second set of at least one LED being detachably coupled with the wireless device; and

a third light conducting element for conducting light from the first set and the second set of at least one LED to backlight the LCD.

10. The light guide of claim 9, wherein the first light conducting element includes at least one rectangular-shaped elongated element having one end disposed adjacent to an LED of the first set of at least one LED.

11. The light guide of claim 10, wherein the second light conducting element includes at least one rectangular-shaped elongated element having one end disposed adjacent to an LED of the second set of at least one LED.

12. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless device interface for communication with a wireless network;

an LCD for displaying information;

a first set of at least one LED for backlighting the LCD, the first set of at least one LED being integrally formed with the wireless device;

a second set of at least one LED for backlighting the LCD, the second set of at least one LED being detachably coupled with the wireless devices;

a light guide for conducting light from the first set and the second set of at least one LED to backlight the LCD

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the light guide comprises:

a first light conducting element for receiving light from the first set of at least one LED;

a second light conducting element for receiving light from a second set of at least one LED; and

a third light conducting element for conducting light from the first set and the second set of at least one LED to backlight the LCD.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the first light conducting element includes at least one rectangular-shaped elongated element having one end disposed adjacent to an LED of the first set of at least one LED.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the second light conducting element includes at least one rectangular-shaped elongated element having one end disposed adjacent to an LED of the second set of at least one LED.

16. A light spreader for use in a wireless device, the light spreader comprising:

an LCD for displaying information;

at least one LED for backlighting the LCD, the at least one LED located at one end of the LCD and disposed so as to emit light towards the LCD;

a light reflecting element having a convex shape, the light reflecting element facing the at least one LED; and

a light reflecting element having a convex shape for dispersing light from the at least one LED to backlight the LCD, the light spreader located at a second end of the LCD.

17. The light spreader of claim 16, wherein the light reflecting element faces the at least one LED.

18. The light spreader of claim 16, wherein the light reflecting element comprises a mirror surface.

19. A wireless device, comprising:

a wireless device interface for communication with a wireless network;

an LCD for displaying information;

at least one LED for backlighting the LCD, the at least one LED located at a first end of the LCD and disposed so as to emit light towards the LCD; and

a light spreader having a convex shape for dispersing light from the at least one LED to backlight the LCD, the light spreader located at a second end of the LCD.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the light spreader faces the at least one LED.