Keypad light guide
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- an array of indicators capable of exposing readable information to an outside of said electronic device along a side of said electronic device;
a light source used for providing light to illuminate said array of indicators; and
a light guide installable between said light source and said array of indicators along said side of said electronic device, and capable of receiving said light from said light source and transmitting said light toward said array of indicators, said light guide comprising an array of apertures corresponding to said array of indicators in order for respectively accommodating said array of indicators therein, more than one aperture of said array of apertures configured to form at least one reflecting surface along a peripheral wall thereof so as to reflect said light inside said light guide from said light source toward other apertures of said array of apertures for illumination of said array of indicators therein.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light guide (20) for illuminating keys of a keyboard or keypad of a portable electronic device, includes an array of apertures (22) and a groove (21) at one end of the light guide. The apertures are configured to illuminate the keys via a light source (10). The light source is disposed adjacent to the groove. A peripheral wall around each aperture is configured partially as a reflecting surface, and partially as a transmitting surface. The reflecting angle of the reflecting surface is larger than a critical total internal reflection angle so as to transfer the light farther. The light guide has a desired uniform light by means of a light source. This provides the portable electronic device consuming little power.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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an array of indicators capable of exposing readable information to an outside of said electronic device along a side of said electronic device;
a light source used for providing light to illuminate said array of indicators; and
a light guide installable between said light source and said array of indicators along said side of said electronic device, and capable of receiving said light from said light source and transmitting said light toward said array of indicators, said light guide comprising an array of apertures corresponding to said array of indicators in order for respectively accommodating said array of indicators therein, more than one aperture of said array of apertures configured to form at least one reflecting surface along a peripheral wall thereof so as to reflect said light inside said light guide from said light source toward other apertures of said array of apertures for illumination of said array of indicators therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A light guide for illuminating keys of a keyboard or keypad of a portable electronic device, comprising:
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an array of apertures defined therein, and being configured to illuminate the keys via a light source;
a groove in one end of the light guide, for receiving light from the light source;
a plurality of recesses defined among any three or more of the apertures, each recess having a peripheral wall;
wherein the peripheral wall of each recesses functions as a reflecting surface, and as a transmitting surface;
a reflecting angle of the reflecting surfaces of each recess is greater than a critical total internal reflection angle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of manufacturing a light guide for contributing to illuminating an array of indicators, comprising the steps of:
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forming a base of a light guide from light-transmissible material;
forming an array of apertures in said base corresponding to arrangement of an array of indicators so that each aperture of said array of apertures is capable of accommodating a respective one of said array of indicators; and
reshaping at least one aperture of said array of apertures in order to create a reflecting surface along a periphery wall of said at least one aperture of said array of apertures. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification