Lightpipe with multiple projections

• US 7,209,627 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.), Green Key Technologies LLC (VoxSmart Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bui, An Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): HEALY, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US10/930,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 385/146, 385/901, 385/36, 385/129, 385/130, 385/131, 362/606, 362/607, 362/620
• US Class Current: 385/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• 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: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/305 being the ends of optical fibres G09F9/302 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A lightpipe includes at least first and second projections extending outwardly from the body of the lightpipe, where the first projection is opposite the second projection.

Claims

1. A visual display apparatus comprising:

a lightpipe having a body portion;

a first projection extending outwardly from the body portion;

a second projection extending outwardly from the body portion in a direction different from the first projection, the first and second projections having distal ends configured to produce different geometric illumination patterns;

the body portion comprising a first planar surface and second planar surface parallel to the first planar surface, the first and second projections extending from the first and second planar surfaces, respectively; and

at least the first planar surface includes a keying mechanism that assists in aligning the first projection with an aperture in a panel to which the lightpipe is mounted.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal ends are disposed to accommodate the transmission of light.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the keying mechanism comprises at least two spaced-apart recesses in the lightpipe body portion dimensioned to receive and align with two spaced-apart rods on the panel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second projections have a common centerline.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a panel with an aperture dimensioned to receive the first projection, and a source of light located to provide illumination into the lightpipe.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the source of light is mounted substantially adjacent a distal end of the second projection.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first and second projections have a common centerline.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the distal ends are disposed to accommodate the transmission of light.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the keying mechanism comprises at least two spaced-apart recesses in the lightpipe body portion dimensioned to receive two spaced-apart rods on the panel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least the surfaces of the body portion reflect internal light rays to reduce the loss of light.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the source of light comprises a light emitting diode.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the different geometric shapes comprise each projection having a different cross-sectional two dimensional shape.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body portion and projections are molded of the same material as a single unitary construction.

14. An electronic apparatus having a visual display comprising:

a panel with an aperture;

a lightpipe having a body portion;

a first projection extending outwardly from the body portion;

a second projection extending outwardly from the body portion in a direction opposite the first projection, the first and second projections having distal ends configured to produce different geometric illumination patterns;

means for mounting the lightpipe so that the first projection extends through the aperture;

source of light mounted adjacent the lightpipe so as to provide illumination into the lightpipe to cause at least a distal end of the first projection to emit light;

the body portion comprising a first planar surface and second planar surface parallel to the first planar surface, the first and second projections extending from the first and second planar surfaces, respectively; and

at least the first planar surface includes a keying mechanism that assists in aligning the first projection with an aperture in a panel to which the lightpipe is mounted.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the distal ends are disposed to accommodate the transmission of light.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the keying mechanism comprises at least two spaced-apart recesses in the lightpipe body portion dimensioned to receive and align with two spaced-apart rods on the panel.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first and second projections have a common centerline.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the source of light is mounted substantially adjacent a distal end of the second projection.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first and second projections have a common centerline.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least the surfaces of the body portion reflect internal light rays to reduce the loss of light.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the source of light comprises a light emitting diode.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the different geometric shapes comprise each projection having a different cross-sectional two dimensional shape.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the body portion and projections are molded of the same material as a single unitary construction.

24. A visual display apparatus comprising:

a lightpipe having a body portion;

at least first, second, third and fourth projections each extending outwardly from the body portion;

the second projection extending outwardly from the body portion in a direction opposite the first projection, the fourth projection extending outwardly from the body portion in a direction opposite the third projection, all of said projections each having different geometric shapes;

the body portion comprising a first planar surface and second planar surface parallel to the first planar surface, the first and second projections extending form the first and second planar surfaces, respectively, a third planar surface and fourth planar surface parallel to the third planar surface, the third and fourth projections extending from the third and fourth planar surfaces, respectively; and

at least the first planar surface includes a keying mechanism that assists in aligning the first projection with an aperture in a panel to which the lightpipe is mounted.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each of said projections have a distal end disposed to accommodate the transmission of light.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the keying mechanism comprises at least two spaced-apart recesses in the lightpipe body portion dimensioned to receive and align with two spaced-apart rods on the panel.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first and second projections have a first common centerline, and the third and fourth projections have a second common centerline.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the body portion and projections are molded of the same material as a single unitary construction.

29. A visual display apparatus comprising:

a lightpipe having a body portion;

a first means associated with the body for producing a first geometric illumination pattern in a first direction extending outwardly from the body portion; and

a second means associated with the body for producing a second geometric illumination pattern in a second direction extending outwardly from the body portion, the second direction being substantially orthogonal to the first direction;

the body portion comprising a first planar surface and second planar surface parallel to the first planar surface, the first and second means extending from the first and second planar surfaces respectively, and

at least the first planar surface includes a keying mechanism that assists in aligning the first means with an aperture in a panel which the lightpipe is mounted.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the first and second means each comprise a projection with a distal end disposed to accommodate the transmission of light.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the keying mechanism comprises at least two spaced-apart recesses in the lightpipe body portion dimensioned to receive and align with two spaced-apart rods on the panel.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the first and second means have a common centerline.