Invisible, light-transmissive display system

• US 8,735,800 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Andre, Bartley K., Coster, Daniel, Howarth, Richard, de Iuliis, Daniele, Ive, Jonathan P., Kerr, Duncan, Khosla, Jivan Kumar, Nishibori, Shin, Rohrbach, Matthew, Satzger, Doug B., Seid, Calvin, Stringer, Christopher, Whang, Eugene, Zorkendorer, Rico
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn, Seung C
• Application Number:
  US12/973,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 250/227.26, 345/173, 428/690, 405/80
• US Class Current: 250/227.26
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/10 for personal use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/06 using individual cut-out symbols or cut-out silhouettes, e.g. perforated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. Substantially invisible holes penetrate through at least a portion of the light resistant material in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a light-transmissive system, comprising:

providing a material with a first surface and a second surface;

forming a pattern of a plurality of holes through the material between the first surface and the second surface, wherein at least a first hole of the plurality of holes is invisible; and

providing at least one light detector adjacent the pattern for detecting light transmitted through at least the first hole of the plurality of holes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is opaque.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting light through at least the first hole of the plurality of holes.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling with a microprocessor the transmission of light through at least the first hole of the plurality of holes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises at least one of an informational pattern, a logo, a control indication pattern, a status indication pattern, a directive pattern, and an artistic pattern.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one light source adjacent the pattern for transmitting light through at least the first hole of the plurality of holes.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a light-conductive filler into the plurality of holes.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler, wherein the filler comprises a colored dye.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering the color of light transmitted through the filler.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering the viewing angle of light transmitted through the filler.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler, and wherein the plurality of particles comprises reflective metallic particles.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler, and wherein the plurality of particles comprises silicon particles.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler, and wherein the plurality of particles comprises mica particles.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler, and wherein the plurality of particles comprises fluorescent particles.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler; and

curing the filler with heat.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler; and

curing the filler with ultraviolet light.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising filling at least the first hole with a light-conductive filler, wherein at least the first hole is light-transmissive, and wherein the filler prevents the degradation of the light-transmissivity of at least the first hole.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising texturing the first surface.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising texturing the first surface by at least one of burnishing, etching, sandblasting, anodizing, and engraving.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming comprises applying heat to the first surface, and wherein the heat discolors the first surface.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming comprises applying heat to the first surface, and wherein the heat burns the first surface.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a cavity into the second surface before forming the pattern.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming a cavity into the second surface before forming the pattern; and

positioning a structural plug in the cavity after forming the pattern.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a structural plug adjacent the second surface after forming the pattern.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming comprises at least one of laser drilling and laser machining.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming comprises at least one of electron beam machining and electro-discharge machining.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming comprises at least one of chemical milling and metal injection molding.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the size of the first hole at the first surface is smaller than resolvable by an unaided human eye.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the size of the first hole at the first surface is below the limit of resolution for the human eye.

32. A light-transmissive system, comprising:

a material having a first surface and a second surface;

a pattern of a plurality of holes formed through the material between the first surface and the second surface, wherein at least a first hole of the plurality of holes is invisible; and

a light-conductive filler in at least the first hole, wherein the light-conductive filler comprises at least one of;

a plurality of particles for altering the viewing angle of light transmitted through the filler;

reflective metallic particles;

silicon particles;

mica particles;

fluorescent particles;

light-conductive filler that is curable by heat; and

light-conductive filler that is curable by ultraviolet light.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is opaque.

34. The system of claim 32, further comprising at least one light source transmitting light through at least the first hole of the plurality of holes.

35. The system of claim 32, further comprising a microprocessor that controls the transmission of light through at least the first hole of the plurality of holes.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the pattern comprises at least one of an informational pattern, a logo, a control indication pattern, a status indication pattern, a directive pattern, and an artistic pattern.

37. The system of claim 32, further comprising at least one light source positioned adjacent the pattern for transmitting light through at least the first hole of the plurality of holes.

38. The system of claim 32, further comprising at least one light detector positioned adjacent the pattern for detecting light transmitted through at least the first hole of the plurality of holes.

39. The system of claim 32, wherein the light-conductive filler is disposed in each of the plurality of holes.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler comprises a colored dye.

41. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler.

42. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering the color of light transmitted through the filler.

43. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler comprises the plurality of particles for altering the viewing angle of light transmitted through the filler.

44. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler, and wherein the plurality of particles comprises the reflective metallic particles.

45. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler, and wherein the plurality of particles comprises the silicon particles.

46. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler, and wherein the plurality of particles comprises the mica particles.

47. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of particles for altering at least one quality of light transmitted through the filler, and wherein the plurality of particles comprises the fluorescent particles.

48. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler is curable by heat.

49. The system of claim 32, wherein the filler is curable by ultraviolet light.

50. The system of claim 32, wherein at least the first hole is light-transmissive, and wherein the filler prevents the degradation of the light-transmissivity of at least the first hole.

51. The system of claim 32, wherein the first surface is textured.

52. The system of claim 32, wherein the first surface is at least one of burnished, etched, sandblasted, anodized, and engraved.

53. The system of claim 32, wherein the first surface is discolored by heat.

54. The system of claim 32, wherein the first surface is burned.

55. The system of claim 32, further comprising a cavity formed into the second surface.

56. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

a cavity formed into the second surface; and

a structural plug positioned in the cavity adjacent the pattern.

57. The system of claim 32, further comprising a structural plug positioned adjacent the second surface at the pattern.

58. The system of claim 32, wherein the first hole is at least one of a laser drilled hole and a laser machined hole.

59. The system of claim 32, wherein the first hole is at least one of an electron beam machined hole and an electro-discharge machined hole.

60. The system of claim 32, wherein the first hole is at least one of a chemical milled hole and a metal injection molded hole.

61. The system of claim 32, wherein the size of the first hole at the first surface is smaller than resolvable by an unaided human eye.

62. The system of claim 32, wherein the size of the first hole at the first surface is below the limit of resolution for the human eye.