Electronic device
View Patent ↗An electronic device is disclosed and comprises: a display ( 5 ); a keypad ( 4,42 ); a light source ( 28 ) associated with the display ( 5 ); and a substrate ( 30 ) to receive the display ( 5 ) and the keypad ( 4 ) and having a wedge shaped portion formed from a light transmitting material in a region beneath the keypad ( 4 ) such that light emitted by the light source ( 28 ) is transmitted through the substrate ( 30 ) and is out-coupled from the substrate ( 30 ) via the wedge shaped portion to illuminate the keypad ( 4 ). The electronic device of the invention is preferably a mobile telephone ( 1 ).
1. An electronic device comprising:
a display;
a keypad;
a light source associated with the display; and
a substrate having an integrally formed wedge shaped portion, the display and the keypad being mounted on the substrate so that the wedge shaped portion is located in a region beneath the keypad such that light emitted by the light source is transmitted through the substrate and is out-coupled from the substrate via the wedge shaped portion through an air interface between the substrate and the keypad to illuminate the keypad; and wherein
the wedge shaped portion of the substrate interrally reflects at least some of the light incident on the air interface before being out coupled from the substrate.
2. An electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the substrate on which the keypad is mounted is substantially planar.
3. An electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein a portion of the underside of the substrate is inclined at an angle relative to the upper surface to form the wedge shaped portion of the substrate.
4. An electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein a substantially planar electrical contact sheet is disposed beneath the substrate a wedge shaped gap being formed between the wedge shaped portion of the substrate and the upper surface of the electrical contact sheet.
5. An electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the electronic device includes a retaining member to mount the display on the substrate.
6. An electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the upper surface of the electrical contact sheet is covered with a reflective material.
7. An electronic device according to claim 1 , comprising a mobile telecommunications device.
8. An electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein the upper surface of the electrical contact sheet is covered with a reflective material.
9. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein:
after internal reflection, the internally reflected light exceeds a critical angle within the wedge and passes through the air interface to illuminate the keypad.
10. An electronic device according to claim 2 wherein:
after internal reflection, the internally reflected light exceeds a critical angle within the wedge and passes through the air interface to illuminate the keypad.
11. An electronic device according to claim 3 wherein:
after internal reflection, the internally reflected light exceeds a critical angle within the wedge and passes through the air interface to illuminate the keypad.
12. An electronic device according to claim 4 wherein:
after internal reflection, the internally reflected light exceeds a critical angle within the wedge and passes through the air interface to illuminate the keypad.
13. An electronic device according to claim 5 wherein:
after internal reflection, the internally reflected light exceeds a critical angle within the wedge and passes through the air interface to illuminate the keypad.
14. An electronic device according to claim 6 wherein:
after internal reflection, the internally reflected light exceeds a critical angle within the wedge and passes through the air interface to illuminate the keypad.
15. An electronic device according to claim 7 wherein:
after internal reflection, the internally reflected light exceeds a critical angle within the wedge and passes through the air interface to illuminate the keypad.
16. An electronic device according to claim 8 wherein:
after internal reflection, the internally reflected light exceeds a critical angle within the wedge and passes through the air interface to illuminate the keypad.