Light guide for a telephone dial
First Claim
1. A light guide for use in illuminating buttons of a telephone dial, the light guide comprising a generally planar structure with a plurality of apertures therein for receiving buttons that extend therethrough, the light guide further including at least one recess having an interior region for receiving a light source therein, each recess including sidewalls for surrounding the light source, at least one of the sidewalls being curved toward the interior of the recess for focusing more light in one direction than in another direction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved light guide for use in illuminating a telephone dial includes apertures through which individual buttons of a telephone dial extend. These buttons are used for dialing and are illuminated by one or more light sources that are positioned within recesses in the light guide. Each recess comprises four inwardly curved walls for directing light from the light source along two paths that are substantially perpendicular to each other. Additional openings within the light guide are designed to reflect light into areas of the dial needing more illumination, and the sides of the light guide are shaped to reflect additional light into those areas. The present invention directs light so efficiently that only two sources are needed to provide uniform illumination in standard telephone dials.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A light guide for use in illuminating buttons of a telephone dial, the light guide comprising a generally planar structure with a plurality of apertures therein for receiving buttons that extend therethrough, the light guide further including at least one recess having an interior region for receiving a light source therein, each recess including sidewalls for surrounding the light source, at least one of the sidewalls being curved toward the interior of the recess for focusing more light in one direction than in another direction.
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9. A telephone dial assembly comprising:
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a circuit board having one or more light sources mounted thereon; a plurality of button members, made from translucent material for use in dialing; and a transparent light guide having a plurality of apertures for receiving the button members that extend upwardly through the apertures, said apertures being arranged in any array of columns and rows, the light guide further including one or more recesses for individually receiving a light source, each recess comprising sidewalls for surrounding the light source, at least one of the sidewalls being curved toward the interior of the recess for focusing more light in one direction than in another direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An illuminated faceplate comprising a substantially planar sheet of transparent plastic having a top surface that is opaque except for a number of discrete regions which are illuminated with light from a lesser number of light sources, the faceplate further comprising:
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at least one recess in the thickness of the faceplate; and a light source fitted within each recess, said recess comprising four inwardly curved walls for directing light from the light source along two axes that are generally perpendicular to each other. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification