Two-sided illumination device
View Patent ↗A two-sided illumination device including a printed wiring board, a first light source and first translucent member connected to a first side of the wiring board, and a second light source and second translucent member connected to a second side of the wiring board. The first translucent member is configured to transfer light from the first light source to a surface of the first translucent member, while the second translucent member is configured to transfer light from the second light source to a surface of the second translucent member. The illumination device is used for illuminating a user input region of an apparatus.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a printed wiring board comprising a first side and a second side;
a first light source connected to the first side of the printed wiring board;
a first translucent member connected to the printed wiring board, wherein the first translucent member is configured to transfer light from the first light source to a surface of the first translucent member;
a second light source connected to the second side of the printed wiring board; and
a second translucent member connected to the printed wiring board, wherein the second translucent member is configured to transfer light from the second light source to a surface of the second translucent member
wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer light from the first translucent member directly to the second translucent member through an opening in the printed wiring board.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first translucent member is attached to the first side of the printed wiring board.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second translucent member is attached to the second side of the printed wiring board.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first light source is attached to the first translucent member.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second light source is attached to the second translucent member.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first translucent member is a first lightguide, and wherein the second, translucent member is a second lightguide.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the printed wiring board is configured to separate light emitting from the first light source and the second light source.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first light source is attached to the first side of the printed wiring board, and wherein the second light source is attached to the second side of the printed wiring board.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first side of the printed wiring board is opposite the second side of the printed wiring board.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of the translucent members are configured to provide light to a user input region.
11. An apparatus comprising:
a housing section;
electronic circuitry mounted in the housing section;
a user input region connected to the housing section; and
an apparatus as in claim 1 mounted in the housing section proximate the user input region.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a housing section;
electronic circuitry mounted in the housing section;
a user input region connected to the housing section;
a first light source connected to a first lightguide, wherein the first lightguide is configured to deliver light from the first light source to the user input region;
a second light source connected to a second lightguide, wherein the second lightguide is configured to deliver light from the second light source to the same user input region; and
a printed wiring board between the first lightguide and the second lightguide, wherein the printed wiring board is configured to separate light emitting from the first light source and the second light source;
wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer light from the first lightguide directly to the second lightguide through an opening in the printed wiring board.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the opening is configured to allow passage of light from the second lightguide to the user input region.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first lightguide is configured to guide light from the second lightguide to the user input region.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first light source is a first light emitting diode, and wherein the second light source is a second light emitting diode.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the printed wiring board is a flexible printed wiring board.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first lightguide is configured to provide a first user input region configuration, wherein the second lightguide is configured to provide a second user input region configuration, wherein the first and the second user input region configurations comprise a numeric keypad layout and a QWERTY keypad layout.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the printed wiring board is between the first light source and the second light source.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first lightguide and the second lightguide each comprise a light permeable surface.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the light permeable surface of the second lightguide is adjacent the printed wiring board.
21. A method comprising:
providing a printed wiring board comprising a first side, a second side, and an opening;
connecting a first light source to the first side of the printed wiring board;
connecting a first translucent member to the printed wiring board, wherein the first translucent member is configured to transfer light from the first light source to a surface of the first translucent member;
connecting a second light source to the second side of the printed wiring board, wherein the second lightguide is proximate a user input region of a device; and
connecting a second translucent member to the printed wiring board, wherein the second translucent member is configured to transfer light from the second light source to a surface of the second translucent member
wherein the opening of the printed wiring board extends between the first translucent member and the second translucent member without another member therebetween, and wherein the device is configured to transfer light from the first translucent member directly to the second translucent member through the opening of the printed wiring board.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the connecting of the first translucent member to the printed wiring board further comprises attaching a first lightguide to the printed wiring board.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the connecting of the second translucent member to the printed wiring board further comprises attaching a second lightguide to the printed wiring board.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein the connecting of the first light source to the first side of the printed wiring board further comprises attaching a first light emitting diode to the first side of the printed wiring board.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the connecting of the second light source to the second side of the printed wiring board further comprises attaching a second light emitting diode to the second side of the printed wiring board.
26. A method comprising:
providing a housing section for a device;
installing electronic circuitry in the housing section;
connecting a user input region to the housing section;
connecting a first light source to a first lightguide, wherein the first lightguide is configured to deliver light in a first direction from the first light source to the user input region;
connecting a second light source to a second lightguide, wherein the second lightguide is configured to deliver light substantially in the first direction from the second light source to the user input region; and
providing a printed wiring board between the first lightguide and the second lightguide, wherein the printed wiring board is configured to separate light emitting from the first light source and the second light source;
wherein the device is configured to transfer light from the first lightguide directly to the second lightguide through an opening in the printed wiring board.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the connecting of the first light source to the first light guide and the connecting of the second light source to the second light guide further comprises connecting a first light emitting diode to the first light guide and connecting a second light emitting diode to the second light guide.
28. The method of claim 26 further comprising attaching the first light source to a first side of the printed wiring board and attaching the second light source to a second side of the printed wiring board.
29. The method of claim 26 further comprising attaching the first light guide to a first side of the printed wiring board.
30. The method of claim 29 further comprising attaching the second light guide to a second side of the printed wiring board.