TRANSPARENT LIGHT GUIDE

• US 20150049505A1
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Morrill, Benjamin E., Wang, Zongkai, Lee, Yu-San, Tsui, Chun-Chao, Van Slyke, Tyler H.
• Application Number:
  US14/323,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20150049505A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/603
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• 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: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/30 Illumination of dials or hands dials in general G04B19/06; moving indicating means with numbers or hands, in general G04B19/20; arrangements for indicating different local apparent times by means of a globe illuminated from inside G04B19/22; continuous indication of the time by non-electric light sources G04B25/00, e.g. by electric lamps G04C17/02; illumination by electric lamps which function at fixed times or periodically G04C19/02; illuminated panels G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/04 Mounting of electronic components

Abstract

A light guide for illuminating a mobile electronic device display. The light guide includes a light source, a light guide panel element having a light input surface located to receive light and a light output surface located proximate to a display active area, and a light guide ring surrounding the light guide panel element and having at least one end located proximate to the light source. The light guide ring may be shaped such that a significant portion of light enters the end(s) of the light guide ring and moves through it around the light guide panel element. A portion of the light moves into the light input surface of the light guide panel element and is redirected out the light output surface toward the display, thereby illuminating it the display with increased efficiency and uniformity. The light guide panel element may be transparent and positioned above or below the display.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a display having a display active area;

a light guide operable to illuminate the display active area, the light guide including—

a light source;

a light guide panel element having a light input surface to receive light and a light output surface located proximate to the display active area; and

a light guide ring shaped to substantially surround the light guide panel element and having at least one end located proximate to the light source;

wherein the light guide ring is shaped such that a significant portion of light from the light source enters the end of the light guide ring and moves through the light guide ring around the light guide panel element, and

wherein at least a portion of the light moving through the light guide ring moves into the light input surface of the light guide panel element and is redirected out the light output surface toward the display active area.

2. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light guide panel element is transparent.

3. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light guide ring guides at least some of the light in one direction around the light guide panel element.

4. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light guide ring guides the light in opposite directions around the light guide panel element.

5. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light guide ring has an overall shape that is substantially annular.

6. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light guide ring has an overall shape that is substantially polygonal.

7. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light guide ring has a cross-sectional area that is larger at the end located proximate to the light source.

8. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the light guide ring has a greater height at the end located proximate to the light source than other portions of the light guide ring.

9. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light guide ring includes a plurality of relief structures on a surface is the opposite to the light input surface of the light guide panel element and operable to facilitate movement of the light into the light input surface of the light guide panel element.

10. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the spacing of the relief structures is largest near the end located proximate to the light source.

11. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, further including a gap between the light source and the light guide ring.

12. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light guide panel element is positioned above the display.

13. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a covering component, wherein the light guide is positioned below the covering component.

14. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light guide panel element is positioned below the display.

15. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light input surface is a side surface of the light guide panel element and the light output surface is an upper or lower surface of the light guide panel element.

16. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a display having a display active area;

a light guide operable to illuminate the display active area, the light guide including—

a light source;

a transparent light guide panel element having a light input surface to receive light, a light output surface located proximate to the display active area, and a plurality of microstructures; and

a light guide ring shaped to substantially surround the light guide panel element and having an end located proximate to the light source;

wherein the light guide ring is shaped such that a significant portion of light from the light source enters the end of the light guide ring and moves in one direction through the light guide ring around the light guide panel element, and

wherein at least a portion of the light moving through the light guide ring moves into the light input surface of the light guide panel element and the microstructures redirect the light out the light output surface toward the display active area.

17. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the light guide ring has a cross-sectional area that is larger at the end located proximate to the light source.

18. The mobile electronic device as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a covering component positioned above the light guide panel element and the light guide panel element is positioned above the display.

20. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a display having a display active area;

a light guide operable to illuminate the display active area, the light guide including—

a light source;

a transparent light guide panel element having a light input surface to receive light, a light output surface located proximate to the display active area, and a plurality of microstructures; and

a light guide ring shaped to substantially surround the light guide panel element and having first and second ends located proximate to the light source;

wherein the light guide ring is shaped such that a significant portion of light from the light source enters the first and second ends of the light guide ring and moves in opposite directions through the light guide ring around the light guide panel element, and

wherein at least a portion of the light moving through the light guide ring moves into the light input surface of the light guide panel element and the microstructures redirect the light out the light output surface toward the display active area with a low angle of incidence.