Light-transmitting pipe

• US 5,515,244 A
• Filed: 04/03/1995
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Chase, Steven B., Levins, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gromada, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Basichas, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US08/415,468
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 362/32, 362/26, 362/29, 362/31, 116/202, 116/DIG. 5, 116/DIG. 26, 116/DIG. 28
• US Class Current: 362/551
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64

Abstract

A light pipe for a personal computer transmits light from a lamp to an indicator window formed in the computer housing. The pipe is formed of a block of light-transmitting plastic material and includes a plurality of sections oriented perpendicular to one another. Light rays are reflected from each section to the next off an inclined light reflecting surface. One of the sections is of square cross section, and the next section is of non-square cross section. The light reflecting surface disposed at a junction between those two sections is of stepped configuration to form a series of sub-faces, each of which is inclined at a 45 degree angle relative to oncoming light rays for reflecting light across the entire cross section of the non-square section.

Claims

1. A light pipe for transmitting light from a light source to a window that is offset from the light source, the light pipe comprising a body of light-transmitting material including:

at least two light conducting sections oriented at an angle relative to one another, one of said sections located upstream of the other with reference to a direction of light travel, said downstream section having a different cross section than said upstream section; and

an inclined reflecting surface located at a junction between said upstream and downstream sections for reflecting light from said upstream section to said downstream section, said reflecting surface being of stepped configuration to define a plurality of individual reflecting sub-faces for reflecting light across substantially the entire cross section of said downstream section.

2. The light pipe according to claim 1 wherein each of said sub-faces is oriented at a 45 degree angle relative to oncoming light rays.

3. The light pipe according to claim 1 wherein said sub-faces are polished.

4. The light reflecting pipe according to claim 1 wherein said upstream and downstream sections are oriented perpendicular to one another.

5. The light pipe according to claim 1 wherein said upstream section is of square cross-sectional shape, said downstream section being of elongated rectangular cross section.

6. The light pipe according to claim 1 wherein said downstream section includes an additional light reflecting surface disposed at a junction between said downstream section and another section of said pipe, said additional light reflecting surface comprising a pair of portions inclined at different respective angles relative to oncoming light rays.

7. The light pipe according to claim 1 wherein said body is solid and formed of plastic.

8. A light pipe for transmitting light from a light source to a window which is offset from said light source, said light pipe comprising a solid body of light-transmitting plastic material including:

a first, second, third, and fourth sections for transmitting light rays, said second section oriented perpendicular to said first section, said third section oriented perpendicular to said second section, and said fourth section oriented perpendicular to said third section;

a first reflecting surface disposed at a downstream end of said first section, and being inclined at a 45 degree angle relative to oncoming light rays for reflecting the light rays toward a second reflecting surface located at an upstream end of said second section, said second reflecting surface oriented at a 45 degree angle relative to the oncoming light rays for deflecting the rays toward a third reflecting surface located at a downstream end of said second section, said second and third sections being of different cross sectional shapes;

said third reflecting surface being of stepped configuration to form a series of sub-faces, each sub-face oriented at a 45 degree angle relative to oncoming light rays to reflect light rays across substantially the entire cross section of said third section toward a fourth reflecting surface located at a downstream end of said third section, said third reflecting surface reflecting light toward said fourth section.

9. The light pipe according to claim 8 wherein said fourth light reflecting surface comprises first and second surface portions oriented at different angles relative to oncoming light rays.

10. A personal computer comprising a computer frame and an exterior housing mounted on said frame, a light source in said frame, an indicator window arranged in said housing in offset relationship to said light source, and a light pipe for transmitting light from said light source to said window, said light pipe comprising a body of light-transmitting material including at least two light transmitting sections oriented at an angle relative to one another, one of said sections located upstream of the other with reference to a direction of light travel, said downstream section having a different cross-sectional shape than said upstream section, and an inclined reflecting surface located at a junction between said upstream and downstream sections for reflecting light from said upstream section to said downstream section, said reflecting surface being of stepped configuration to define a plurality of individual reflecting sub-faces for reflecting light across substantially the entire cross section of said downstream section.

11. The personal computer according to claim 10 wherein each of said sub-faces is oriented at a 45 degree angle relative to oncoming light rays.

12. The personal computer according to claim 10 wherein said sub-faces are polished.

13. The personal computer according to claim 10 wherein said upstream section is of square cross-sectional shape, said downstream section being of elongated rectangular cross section.