Light-guiding key structure with lateral light-guiding function

• US 20090091912A1
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Silitech Technology Company Limited (Silitech Holding Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silitech Technology Company Limited (Silitech Holding Limited)
• Inventors: Lee, Hsin-Chin
• Application Number:
  US11/905,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20090091912A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/30
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor

Abstract

A light-guiding key structure with lateral light-guiding function includes: at least one key module, a light-guiding element, and at least one light-emitting element. The at least one key module can be a key body or a key display. The light-guiding element is disposed over the at least one key module. The at least one light-emitting element is disposed beside one side of the light-guiding element. Therefore, when the at least one light-emitting element projects a light source to the light-guiding element, the light source is guided via the light-guiding element onto the at least one key module to illuminate the image on the at least one key module for user to watch the image.

Claims

1. A light-guiding key structure with lateral light-guiding function, comprising:

at least one key module;

a light-guiding element disposed over the at least one key module; and

at least one light-emitting element disposed beside one side of the light-guiding element;

whereby, when the at least one light-emitting element projects a light source to the light-guiding element, the light source is guided via the light-guiding element onto the at least one key module to illuminate images on the at least one key module for user to watch the images.

2. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one key module is an opaque.

3. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one key module is a capacitance key module or a keypad display.

4. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one key module is composed of a plurality of key bodies.

5. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one key module is composed of a plurality of key display.

6. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element abuts against a top surface of the at least one key module.

7. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element is separated from the at least one key module in a predetermined distance.

8. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light-transmitting material disposed beside or covered around the at least one light-emitting element for transmitting the light source from different directions into the light-guiding element, wherein the at least one light-emitting element is an LED or is composed of a plurality of LEDs.

9. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element is a light-guiding board.

10. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element includes a light-guiding board with a first refractive index, a plurality of micro concave grooves formed on a top surface of the light-guiding board, and a plurality of micro light-guiding bodies respectively filled into the micro concave grooves, and each micro light-guiding body has a second refractive index different from the first refractive index of the light-guiding board.

11. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element includes a light-guiding board with a first refractive index, a plurality of micro concave grooves formed on a bottom surface of the light-guiding board, and a plurality of micro light-guiding bodies respectively filled into the micro concave grooves, and each micro light-guiding body has a second refractive index different from the first refractive index of the light-guiding board.

12. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element includes a light-guiding board with a first refractive index, a plurality of micro concave grooves respectively formed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the light-guiding board, and a plurality of micro light-guiding bodies respectively filled into the micro concave grooves, and each micro light-guiding body has a second refractive index different from the first refractive index of the light-guiding board.

13. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element includes a light-guiding board, a plurality of micro concave grooves formed on a top surface of the light-guiding board, and a transparent protective layer formed on the top surface of the light-guiding board for covering the micro concave grooves.

14. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element includes a light-guiding board, a plurality of micro concave grooves formed on a bottom surface of the light-guiding board, and a transparent protective layer formed on the bottom surface of the light-guiding board for covering the micro concave grooves.

15. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element includes a light-guiding board, a plurality of micro concave grooves respectively formed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the light-guiding board, and a transparent protective layer respectively formed on the top surface and the bottom surface of the light-guiding board for covering the micro concave grooves.

16. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-guiding element includes a light-guiding board and a PBS (Polarizing Beam Splitter) module disposed in the light-guiding board.

17. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 16, wherein the PBS module is composed of a plurality of polarizing beam splitting prisms or polarizing beam splitting boards.

18. The light-guiding key structure as claimed in claim 17, wherein the polarizing beam splitting prisms or polarizing beam splitting boards slantwise face to the at least one light-emitting element and the at least one key module for reflecting S-polarization or P-polarization of the light source from the at least one light-emitting element to the at least one key module.