WO1997033268B1 - Light guide for a display or keyboard - Google Patents
Light guide for a display or keyboardInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997033268B1 WO1997033268B1 PCT/US1997/003747 US9703747W WO9733268B1 WO 1997033268 B1 WO1997033268 B1 WO 1997033268B1 US 9703747 W US9703747 W US 9703747W WO 9733268 B1 WO9733268 B1 WO 9733268B1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- light guide
- light
- recesses
- amended
- holes
- Prior art date
Links
Abstract
A light guide (10) for illuminating a display and/or a keyboard device is formed from translucent material as a planar element having a peripheral edge (24). A plurality of arcuately shaped light coupling recesses (150) are formed on one side to transmit light from light sources substantially uniformly into the light guide (10). A plurality of light reflecting recesses (60, 62) are formed in the peripheral edge (24) to reflect light at the edge back into the light guide (10) in a manner useful for illuminating the keys of the device.
Claims
AMENDED CLAIMS
[received by the International Bureau on 3 September 1998 (03.09.97);
original claims 5, 7 and 12-20 cancelled; original claims 1, 4, 6 and 8-10 amended; new claims 27 and 28 added; remaining claims unchanged (3 pages)}
1. (Amended) A light guide for illuminating a display or keyboard, comprising a substantially translucent element having a substantially rectangular shape wite end edges and side edges, and having an upper surface and a lower surface, a first portion of the light guide being a backing screen for a display and a second portion being a keyboard portion having a pluralty of keyholes, the light guide having a plurality of light coupling recesses formed on a first end edge adjacent to the first portion, the recesses being arcuately shaped to transmit light substantially uniformly into the light guide.
2. The light guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light voupling recesses are semicircularly shaped.
3. The light guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are formed as reflectively smooth surfaces to reflect light in the light guide back into the light guide.
4. (Amended) The light guide as claimed in claim 1. further having a plurality of reflective recesses formed on the side edges, wherein a portion of light transmitted to the peripheral edge is reilccted by the reflective recesses back into the light guide.
6. (Amended) The light guide as claimed in claim 4, wherein additional light reflecting recesses arc formed on a second end edge adjacent the keyhole portion.
8. (Amended) The light guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key holes have a frustoconical shape and are wider at the bottom surface than at the top surface. 9. (Amended) The Light guide as claimed in claim 4, wherein the light reflecting recesses are each positioned in alignment with a space between adjacent key holes.
10. (Amended) The light guide as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reflective recesses are V-shaped.
11. The light guide as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reflective recesses are arcuately shaped.
21. A light guide for illuminating a display and keyboard, comprising a substantially translucent element having an upper surface, a lower surface, and end and side peripheral edges, a first portion of the light guide adjacent to a first end edge comprising a backing screen for a display, and a second portion of the light guide having a plurality of holes for keys, the light guide having a plurality of light coupling recesses formed on a first of the end edges, the lighl coupling recesses being arcuatcly shaped to transmit lighl substantially uniformly into the light guide, and a plurality of light reflecting recesses positioned on the opposite end edge and the side edges.
22. The light guide as claimed in claim 21, wherein lhc light reflecting recesses are V-shapcd.
23. The light guide as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the light coupling recesses are scmi-circularly shaped.
24. The light guide as claimed in claim 21 , wherein die light reflecting recesses are each positioned in alignment with a space between adjacent key holes.
25. The light guide as claimed in claim 21, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are formed as reflectively smooth surfaces to reflect light in the light guide back into the light guide.
26. The light guide as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the key holes have a frustoconical shape and are wider at the bottom surface than at the top surface.
27. The light guide as claims in claim 1. wherein the keyholes are arranged in rows, and further comprising a plurality of light source holes in the second portion between the rows of keyholes.
28. The light guide as claims in claim 21, wherein the holes for keys are arranged in rows, and further comprising a plurality of light source holes in the second portion between the rows of holes.
Priority Applications (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| BR9707950A BR9707950A (en) | 1996-03-08 | 1997-03-06 | Light guide for illuminating a display or keyboard |
| AU20753/97A AU2075397A (en) | 1996-03-08 | 1997-03-06 | Light guide for a display or keyboard |
| EE9800280A EE03840B1 (en) | 1996-03-08 | 1997-03-06 | Light guide for display or keyboard |
| HK99105083.9A HK1020633B (en) | 1996-03-08 | 1997-03-06 | Light guide for illuminating a display and a keyboard |
| EP97908994A EP0885438B1 (en) | 1996-03-08 | 1997-03-06 | Light guide for a display or keyboard |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/610,602 US5746493A (en) | 1996-03-08 | 1996-03-08 | Light guide for a display or keyboard |
| US08/610,602 | 1996-03-08 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1997033268A1 WO1997033268A1 (en) | 1997-09-12 |
| WO1997033268B1 true WO1997033268B1 (en) | 1997-11-06 |
Family
ID=24445691
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US1997/003747 WO1997033268A1 (en) | 1996-03-08 | 1997-03-06 | Light guide for a display or keyboard |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5746493A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0885438B1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1146844C (en) |
| AR (1) | AR008367A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2075397A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9707950A (en) |
| EE (1) | EE03840B1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2163134T3 (en) |
| ID (1) | ID16466A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1997033268A1 (en) |
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| US7511701B2 (en) * | 2000-12-29 | 2009-03-31 | Vertu Limited | Casing having light guide with legends |
| JP2002217457A (en) * | 2001-01-12 | 2002-08-02 | Nec Corp | Mobile phone, and diffusing body and lighting system provided therein |
| US6561659B1 (en) * | 2001-11-15 | 2003-05-13 | Wintek Corporation | Photoconductor panel for lighting a keyboard |
| US6874926B2 (en) * | 2001-11-26 | 2005-04-05 | Nokia Corporation | Illumination system for an electronic device |
| US20030227766A1 (en) * | 2002-06-11 | 2003-12-11 | Hom Wayne C. | Keypad lighting system for a security system communication unit |
| US20040012730A1 (en) * | 2002-07-17 | 2004-01-22 | Long-Jyh Pan | Electrically shielding light guide for a liquid crystal display |
| US20050002170A1 (en) * | 2003-07-01 | 2005-01-06 | Jacobs Neal Kenneth | Electronic device remote control keypad back lighting light pipe |
| US20050073824A1 (en) * | 2003-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | Kuo Heng Sheng | Thin lighting panel with multiple visible regions |
| US20050073826A1 (en) * | 2003-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | Kuo Heng Sheng | Light guide plate with multiple visible regions |
| CN1322390C (en) * | 2004-04-01 | 2007-06-20 | 华硕电脑股份有限公司 | key device |
| TWI259313B (en) * | 2004-10-19 | 2006-08-01 | Ind Tech Res Inst | Light-guide plate and method for manufacturing thereof |
| CN2745289Y (en) * | 2004-11-04 | 2005-12-07 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | Light guide panel for handset keys |
| CN100376969C (en) * | 2005-06-03 | 2008-03-26 | 鸿富锦精密工业（深圳）有限公司 | Light guide element and backlight module using the light guide element |
| KR100658951B1 (en) * | 2005-07-12 | 2006-12-19 | 주식회사 엘에스텍 | Flexible Input Device Key Backlighting Device |
| CN1932556A (en) * | 2005-09-16 | 2007-03-21 | 鸿富锦精密工业（深圳）有限公司 | Light conducting plate and electronic products using the said plate |
| KR100735410B1 (en) * | 2005-11-17 | 2007-07-04 | 삼성전기주식회사 | LED lighting device with light guide plate for uniformly distributing incident light |
| US7629547B2 (en) * | 2006-04-24 | 2009-12-08 | Nokia Corporation | Illuminating of an electrical device |
| KR100676482B1 (en) * | 2006-06-10 | 2007-02-02 | 주식회사 케이비에프 | Mobile phone keypad light emitting assembly using light guide plate |
| US7825899B2 (en) * | 2006-07-18 | 2010-11-02 | Research In Motion Limited | Piano-style keypad employing a light guide |
| JP4668867B2 (en) * | 2006-08-09 | 2011-04-13 | 株式会社東海理化電機製作所 | Operating device |
| JP2008071630A (en) * | 2006-09-14 | 2008-03-27 | Tokai Rika Co Ltd | Operation device |
| TWM325684U (en) * | 2006-10-27 | 2008-01-11 | Lite On Technology Corp | Light-guide plate for pushbutton |
| US7650056B2 (en) * | 2006-11-17 | 2010-01-19 | Ichia Technologies, Inc. | Method for manufacturing a light-guiding plate and key module having the light-guiding plate |
| US7455416B2 (en) * | 2006-11-17 | 2008-11-25 | Ichia Technologies, Inc. | Light guide structure and keypad having the same |
| US7423229B2 (en) * | 2006-11-17 | 2008-09-09 | Ichia Technologies, Inc. | Light guiding plate and a keystroke module for use therewith |
| US20080117635A1 (en) * | 2006-11-17 | 2008-05-22 | Ko-Ju Chen | Multi-Layer Light Guiding Structure And Method For Using The Same |
| KR20080083975A (en) * | 2007-03-14 | 2008-09-19 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Waveguide and Keypad Assembly Using the Waveguide |
| CA2754426C (en) * | 2008-03-03 | 2016-07-26 | Abl Ip Holding, Llc | Optical system and method for managing brightness contrasts between high brightness light sources and surrounding surfaces |
| US10578789B2 (en) | 2008-03-03 | 2020-03-03 | Abl Ip Holding, Llc | Optical system and method for managing brightness contrasts between high brightness light sources and surrounding surfaces |
| DE102008053357B4 (en) * | 2008-10-27 | 2010-08-05 | Gigaset Communications Gmbh | Electrotechnical device with a lighting arrangement for illuminating a keyboard mat and a display module |
| WO2010056235A1 (en) * | 2008-11-11 | 2010-05-20 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Keyboard illumination apparatus and method |
| US8297829B2 (en) * | 2009-01-13 | 2012-10-30 | Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab | Mobile device with illumination |
| US8142036B2 (en) * | 2009-03-12 | 2012-03-27 | Avago Technologies Ecbu Ip (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. | Keypad device with light source and reflector |
| US8317384B2 (en) * | 2009-04-10 | 2012-11-27 | Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd. | Light guide film with cut lines, and optical keypad using such film |
| US8158900B2 (en) * | 2009-05-06 | 2012-04-17 | Nokia Corporation | Apparatus and method concerning modular keypad assembly |
| TWM373518U (en) * | 2009-06-25 | 2010-02-01 | Wistron Corp | Light guide plate and membrane keyboard having the light guide plate |
| US20110219648A1 (en) * | 2010-03-12 | 2011-09-15 | Trevor James | Led edge-lit signage utilizing digital print technology |
| US8556490B1 (en) * | 2010-07-01 | 2013-10-15 | Cooper Technologies Company | Systems, methods and devices for providing quantum dot lighting solutions |
| CN102338348A (en) * | 2010-07-21 | 2012-02-01 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | Light guide assembly |
| US20120314446A1 (en) * | 2011-06-09 | 2012-12-13 | Jeon Bae Kyung | Backlight pad for keypad assembly |
| US9223352B2 (en) * | 2012-06-08 | 2015-12-29 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with electromagnetic shielding |
| US9115865B1 (en) * | 2012-06-19 | 2015-08-25 | Forever Gifts, Inc. | Lighting device having light-distributing void |
| WO2014097058A2 (en) * | 2012-12-18 | 2014-06-26 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Product having a luminous surface provided by a light guide |
| EP3008553B1 (en) | 2013-06-12 | 2023-06-07 | Rohinni, Inc. | Keyboard backlighting with deposited light-generating sources |
| US10629393B2 (en) | 2016-01-15 | 2020-04-21 | Rohinni, LLC | Apparatus and method of backlighting through a cover on the apparatus |
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| US2699141A (en) * | 1950-11-24 | 1955-01-11 | Bendix Aviat Corp | Illuminated knob |
| US2900949A (en) * | 1956-10-04 | 1959-08-25 | Stephen D Baker | Elliptical reflector for instrument dials |
| US3774021A (en) * | 1972-05-25 | 1973-11-20 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Light emitting device |
| US3892959A (en) * | 1973-11-02 | 1975-07-01 | Gte Automatic Electric Lab Inc | Edge-lighted panel arrangement |
| US4124879A (en) * | 1977-05-20 | 1978-11-07 | Motorola, Inc. | Illumination apparatus for use in an illuminatable pushbutton keyset and the like |
| JPH01108501U (en) * | 1988-01-16 | 1989-07-21 | ||
| GB2235295B (en) * | 1989-08-24 | 1993-09-08 | Technophone Ltd | Light guide |
| US5083240A (en) * | 1989-08-24 | 1992-01-21 | Technophone Limited | Light guide |
| US5130897A (en) * | 1991-10-31 | 1992-07-14 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Light guide for a telephone dial |
| FI95177C (en) * | 1994-01-10 | 1995-12-27 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd | Equipped with an illuminated keyboard front panel for an electronic device |
| US5537300A (en) * | 1995-02-01 | 1996-07-16 | Kraco Enterprises, Inc. | Control panel |
-
1996
- 1996-03-08 US US08/610,602 patent/US5746493A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1997
- 1997-03-05 ID IDP970688A patent/ID16466A/en unknown
- 1997-03-05 AR ARP970100872A patent/AR008367A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1997-03-06 ES ES97908994T patent/ES2163134T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-03-06 BR BR9707950A patent/BR9707950A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1997-03-06 EP EP97908994A patent/EP0885438B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-03-06 WO PCT/US1997/003747 patent/WO1997033268A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1997-03-06 AU AU20753/97A patent/AU2075397A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-03-06 EE EE9800280A patent/EE03840B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1997-03-06 CN CNB971941912A patent/CN1146844C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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