Segmented light guide
View Patent ↗An exemplary embodiment of a segmented light guide includes a light channeling layer having a plurality of regions, with multiple slits in the light channeling layer dividing neighboring regions. The segmented light guide also includes at least one light source associated with the light channeling layer.
1. A segmented light guide comprising:
a light channeling layer having a plurality of regions;
a plurality of slits in the light channeling layer dividing a first region from a second region, the first and second regions comprising neighboring regions in the light channeling layer;
a coating deposited on a surface of the light channeling layer adjacent the plurality of slits; and
at least one light source associated with said light channeling layer.
2. The segmented light guide of claim 1 , said at least one light source being located adjacent a surface of said light channeling layer and causing at least one distension in the light channeling layer so that the light channeling layer does not lie in a single flat plane.
3. The segmented light guide of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slits comprises a line of alternating slits between the first and second regions, the line of alternating slits comprising a series of single slits and double slits in succession.
4. The segmented light guide of claim 3 , wherein the first region and the second region are at least partially connected by a plurality of paths through the line of alternating slits.
5. The segmented light guide of claim 3 , wherein the line of alternating slits forms a plurality of optical baffles between the first and second regions in the light channeling layer.
6. The segmented light guide of claim 1 , wherein the coating is printed onto the surface of the light channeling layer.
7. A segmented light guide comprising:
a light channeling layer having a plurality of regions;
at least one slit in the light channeling layer dividing one of said plurality of regions from a neighboring one of said plurality of regions;
a coating deposited on said light channeling layer adjacent said at least one slit; and
at least one light source associated with said light channeling layer.
8. The segmented light guide of claim 7 , wherein the coating comprises a flexible material adhered to a surface of the light channeling layer.
9. The segmented light guide of claim 7 , wherein the coating comprises a substantially opaque material.
10. The segmented light guide of claim 7 , wherein the coating overlaps the at least one slit to contact portions of the light channeling layer on either side of the at least one slit.
11. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a first area to be illuminated;
a second area to be illuminated;
a segmented light guide having a first region adjacent said first area and a second region adjacent said second area, said segmented light guide comprising a substantially transparent sheet having a plurality of slits between said first region and said second region and;
a coating deposited on said segmented light guide adjacent the plurality of slits.
12. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , said segmented light guide further comprising a first light source associated with said first region and a second light source associated with said second region, whereby said first area and said second area may be independently illuminated by said first light source and said second light source.
13. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the coating is deposited on an upper surface and a lower surface of the segmented light guide adjacent the plurality of slits.
14. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the coating comprises a flexible material that remains substantially attached to the light channeling layer when the light channeling layer does not lie flat in a single plane in the portable electronic device.
15. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the coating is substantially opaque.
16. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of slits between the first region and the second region form a plurality of optical baffles between the first region and the second region.
17. The portable electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the first region and the second region are at least partially connected by a path in the light channeling layer through the plurality of optical baffles.
18. The portable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of slits comprise at least two slits that lie alongside each other along at least a portion of a boundary between the first and the second regions.