Component illumination apparatus, systems, and electronic devices and methods of manufacturing and using same
View Patent ↗Apparatus for illuminating one or more components of an electronic device having a visual display (e.g., a backlit display), such as one or more keys of keyboards, one or more interface ports, or one or more external surfaces are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a component illumination apparatus has a visual display and a light guide optically coupled to the visual display and that is adapted to illuminate one or more components external to the visual display. Methods of component illumination and illumination systems are described, as are other embodiments.
1. A component illumination apparatus, comprising:
a visual display including display assembly, a backlight source, a backlit receiver configured to receive light from the backlight source, and a reflector; and
a light guide optically coupled to the visual display and to the backlit receiver, the light guide positioned between the reflector and the display assembly, and extending from the visual display and adapted to illuminate one or more components external to the visual display.
2. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a sheet of transparent material.
3. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a sheet sandwiched into the visual display between the backlit receiver and a diffuser.
4. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a sheet received between the backlit receiver and the display assembly.
5. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a transparent sheet received proximate to a diffuser of a backlit visual display.
6. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a sheet received between the backlight receiver and a diffuser of the display assembly, and the reflector is positioned on a side of the backlit receiver that is opposite the light guide.
7. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a sheet of polycarbonate, acetate, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or Polysulfone material.
8. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a sheet having a thickness of between about 0.1 mm and about 5 mm.
9. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a sheet having:
a sandwiched portion sandwiched in the visual display, and
a extending portion extending laterally beyond the visual display.
10. The component illumination apparatus of claim 9 wherein the extending portion of the light guide comprises one or more holes formed therein.
11. The component illumination apparatus of claim 9 wherein the extending portion of the light guide comprises a non-rectangular shape.
12. The component illumination apparatus of claim 9 wherein the extending portion of the light guide comprises a transparent sheet with a surface feature at one or more defined locations that is adapted to project light in a direction non-parallel to a plane of the sheet.
13. The component illumination apparatus of claim 9 wherein the extending portion of the light guide comprises a non-planar sheet.
14. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the backlight receiver is positioned on a side of the light guide.
15. The component illumination apparatus of claim 14 wherein the backlight receiver includes a wedge shape wherein a first terminal edge is relatively thinner than a second terminal edge of the backlit receiver.
16. The component illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light guide comprises a sheet having multiple extending portions extending laterally from the sandwiched portion beyond the visual display.
17. An illumination system, comprising:
a visual display including display assembly, a backlight source, a backlit receiver configured to receive light from the backlight source, and a reflector; and
a light guide optically coupled to the visual display and to the backlit receiver, the light guide positioned between the reflector and the display assembly, and extending exterior to the visual display to a position proximate to one or more components wherein the light guide is operable to illuminate the one or more components.
18. The illumination system of claim 17 , further comprising a housing including an opening, and at least one key extending to or through the opening and wherein the light guide is configured to provide illumination to a space between the key and a wall of the opening.
19. The illumination system of claim 17 , wherein an underside of at least one key is illuminated by light from the light guide.
20. A method of manufacturing a component illumination apparatus, comprising:
providing a visual display including display assembly, a backlight source, a backlit receiver configured to receive light from the backlight source, and a reflector;
providing a light guide; and
sandwiching the light guide between the backlit receiver and the visual display of the visual display wherein the light guide extends external to the visual display.