Integrated light-guide and dome-sheet for keyboard illumination
First Claim
1. A light guide for use in a hand-held electronic device having an electronic circuit, a plurality of keys to allow a user to input signals to the electronic device via the electronic circuit, and a light source capable of providing light to illuminate the device, said light guide comprising:
- an optically transparent sheet, disposed adjacent to the electronic circuit, the sheet having a substantially even thickness defined by a first boundary interface, and a second boundary interface, the second boundary interface facing the electronic circuit, the sheet having an edge joining the first boundary interface and the second boundary interface, wherein the sheet comprises a plurality of dome-shaped sections for use as a plurality of touch members defining the keys and wherein the sheet is adapted to receive at least a portion of the light provided by the light source through the edge so as to allow the received light to propagate in the sheet including the dome-shaped sections between the first and second boundary interfaces, and wherein the sheet has a plurality of light escapement surfaces disposed at the touch members to allow a portion of the light received through the edge to escape from the sheet for illuminating the keys.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated light guide for use in an electronic device having a plurality of key buttons to allow a user to input signals in the device, the light guide having a plurality of domes used as touch areas of the key buttons and a plurality of light escapement areas disposed at the domes. When coupled to a light source, a portion of the light received by the light guide from the light source escapes from the light escapement areas to illuminate the key buttons. Preferably, each dome has one or more electrically conducting patches provided under the dome such that when a touch area is pushed by the user, these patches are caused to interact with an electronic circuit placed under the light guide for activating a key.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A light guide for use in a hand-held electronic device having an electronic circuit, a plurality of keys to allow a user to input signals to the electronic device via the electronic circuit, and a light source capable of providing light to illuminate the device, said light guide comprising:
an optically transparent sheet, disposed adjacent to the electronic circuit, the sheet having a substantially even thickness defined by a first boundary interface, and a second boundary interface, the second boundary interface facing the electronic circuit, the sheet having an edge joining the first boundary interface and the second boundary interface, wherein the sheet comprises a plurality of dome-shaped sections for use as a plurality of touch members defining the keys and wherein the sheet is adapted to receive at least a portion of the light provided by the light source through the edge so as to allow the received light to propagate in the sheet including the dome-shaped sections between the first and second boundary interfaces, and wherein the sheet has a plurality of light escapement surfaces disposed at the touch members to allow a portion of the light received through the edge to escape from the sheet for illuminating the keys. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A hand-held electronic device having an electronic circuit, a plurality of keys to allow a user to input signals to the electronic device via the electronic circuit, and a light source capable of providing light to illuminate the device, said hand-held electronic device composes:
a light guide coupled to the light source to receive light provided by the light source, wherein the light guide comprises an optically transparent sheet, disposed adjacent to the electronic circuit, the sheet having a substantially even thickness defined by a first boundary interface and a second boundary interface, the second boundary interface facing the electronic circuit, the sheet having an edge joining the first boundary interface and the second boundary interface, and wherein the transparent sheet comprises a plurality of dome-shaped sections for use as a plurality of touch members defining the keys and the sheet is adapted to receive at least a portion of the light provided by the light source through the edge so as to allow the received light to propagate in the sheet including the dome-shaped sections between the first and second boundary interfaces, and wherein the sheet has a plurality of light escapement surfaces disposed at the touch members to allow part of the light received through the edge to escape from the sheet for illuminating the keys. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of illumination for use in a hand-held electronic device having an electronic circuit, a plurality of keys for allowing a user to input signals to the electronic device via the electronic circuit, and a light source capable of providing light to illuminate the electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:
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disposing an optically transparent sheet adjacent to the electronic circuit, the sheet having a substantially even thickness defined by a first boundary interface and a second boundary interface, the second boundary interface facing the electronic circuit, the sheet having an edge joining the first boundary interface and the second boundary interface, wherein the sheet comprises a plurality of dome-shaped sections for use as a plurality of touch members defining keys;
optically coupling the sheet to the light source to receive a portion of the light provided by the light source through the edge; and
providing a plurality of light escapement surfaces at the touch members to allow part of the light received through the edge to escape from the sheet for illuminating the keys. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification