Multicolor lighting system

• US 8,398,287 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2012
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pance, Aleksandar, Kerr, Duncan, Bilbrey, Brett, Culbert, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US13/424,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20120176773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 315/169.4, 315/184, 315/291, 315/294, 315/312, 315/324, 362/601, 362/606, 362610-613, 362/615, 345/83, 345/102, 345/690
• US Class Current: 362/606
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/005 using light guides light guides specially adapted for lighting devices G02B6/0001
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/17 forming a single encapsulated light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0076 Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A multicolor light source including a first light source operably to emit a first light of a first color and a second light source operably to emit a second light of a second color. The multicolor light source also includes a first wave guide optically connected to the first light source and a second wave guide optically coupled to the second light source and to the first wave guide. The combination of the first wave guide and the second wave guide couples the first light to the second light to create an outputted light having at least one aspect, other than hue, different from the first light and the second light.

Claims

1. A multicolor light source, comprising:

a first light source operable to emit a first light of a first color;

a second light source operable to emit a second light of a second color;

a first wave guide optically connected to the first light source; and

a second wave guide optically connected to the second light source and the first wave guide, wherein

the combination of the first wave guide and the second wave guide operably couple the first light to the second light, thereby creating an outputted light having at least one aspect, other than hue, different from the first light and second light, wherein the operably coupling comprises one of;

scattering the first light and the second light in a predetermined pattern to increase a visually-perceived uniformity of a combined color of the outputted light;

or

focusing the first light and the second light in a predetermined pattern to increase a visually-perceived separation of colors of the outputted light.

2. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein:

the second light source is a white light emitting diode; and

the first light source is a multicolor light emitting diode.

3. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the first light source is an organic light emitting diode.

4. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the first light source comprises:

a first LED operable to emit light of a first color;

a second LED operable to emit light of a second color; and

a third LED operable to emit light of a third color.

5. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect is a tint.

6. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect is a brightness.

7. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources illuminate a portion of a display device.

8. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second light sources backlight a portion of a computing input device.

9. A keyboard for an electronic device comprising:

at least one light source package including

a first light source operable to emit a first light of a first color;

a first wave guide optically coupled to the first light source; and

a second wave guide operably connected to the first wave guide and optically coupled to a second light source; and

at least one key optically coupled to the light source package;

wherein

the at least one light source package is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the at least one key or a perimeter thereof; and

the combination of the first wave guide and the second wave guide operably couples the first light to the second light, thereby creating an outputted light having at least one aspect, other than hue, different from the first light and the second light, wherein the operably coupling comprises one of;

scattering the first light and the second light in a predetermined pattern to increase a visually-perceived uniformity of a combined color of the outputted light;

or

focusing the first light and the second light in a predetermined pattern to increase a visually-perceived separation of colors of the outputted light.

10. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the second light source is spatially separated from the at least one light source package.

11. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein the at least one light package comprises at least three light packages and the second light source is in optical communication with the second wave guide of each of the at least three light packages.

12. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein the second light sources increases a brightness of the outputted light as compared to a brightness of the first light source.

13. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the second light forms a part of the at least one light source package.

14. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein:

the first wave guide includes a first ramp-shaped section; and

the second wave guide includes a second ramp-shaped.

15. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein the first wave guide is located above the second wave guide and the second wave guide is configured to transmit light through the first wave guide.

16. A light package comprising:

a first light source configured to emit a first color light;

a first light guide optically coupled to the first light source;

a second light guide operably connected to the first light guide and optically coupled to a second light source configured to emit a second color of light;

wherein

the first light guide and the second light guide combine the first color light and the second color light, creating an emitted light having at least one aspect, other than hue, different from the first light and the second light, wherein the combining comprises one of;

scattering the first light and the second light in a predetermined pattern to increase a visually-perceived uniformity of a combined color of the outputted light;

or

focusing the first light and the second light in a predetermined pattern to increase a visually-perceived separation of colors of the outputted light.

17. The light package of claim 16, further comprising the second light source.

18. The light package of claim 16, wherein the second color of light is white and the first color of light is a color other than white.

19. The light package of claim 16, wherein

the first light guide includes a first ramp-shaped section;

and

the second light guide includes a second ramp-shaped section.

20. The light package of claim 19, wherein the first light guide is positioned over and substantially adjacent to the second light guide and the second light guide is configured to transmit light through the first light guide.