Changing graphics in an apparatus including user interface illumination

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a light guide;

a first light input section configured to receive light in a first direction;

a second light input section configured to receive light in a second direction;

first direction-dependent outcoupling structures having a length oriented perpendicular to the first direction and operable to couple out light propagating through the light guide in the first direction, wherein longitudinal ends of the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures rise smoothly from a surface of the light guide;

second direction-dependent outcoupling structures having a length oriented perpendicular to the second direction and operable to couple out light propagating through the light guide in the second direction, wherein longitudinal ends of the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures rise smoothly from the surface of the light guide; and

wherein the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures are oriented co-planar with and do not contact the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second direction is different than the first direction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first and second direction-dependent outcoupling structures comprise elongated prisms.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the elongated prisms in the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures is perpendicular to the first direction, and a longitudinal axis of the elongated prisms in the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures is perpendicular to the second direction.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second direction-dependent outcoupling structures comprise geometric outcoupling structures.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first light source located adjacent to the first light input section; and

a second light source located adjacent to the second light input section.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

a surface of the light guide comprises pixels of a first kind and pixels of a second kind;

the pixels of first kind are mutually identical and comprise the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures;

the pixels of second kind are mutually identical and comprise the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures;

the pixels of first kind together constitute a first graphical marking; and

the pixels of second kind together constitute a second graphical marking.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a circuit board;

a dome sheet located between the light guide and the circuit board, the dome sheet comprising domes configured to enable pressing a conductive inside of a dome against couplings on the circuit board;

a key mat located on a different side of the light guide than the dome sheet; and

transparent areas in the key mat at locations that coincide with the first and second direction-dependent outcoupling structures.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal ends of the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures are each located on a respective proximal and distal end of the first outcoupling structures relative to the light propagating in the second direction.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal ends of the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures are each located on a respective proximal and distal end of the second outcoupling structures relative to the light propagating in the first direction.

12. A communications device, comprising:

a user interface component;

a light guide for conducting light to the user interface component;

a first light source configured to emit light in a first direction;

first direction-dependent outcoupling structures having a length oriented perpendicular to the first direction and operable to couple out light propagating through the light guide in the first direction, wherein longitudinal ends of the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures rise smoothly from a surface of the light guide;

a second light source configured to emit light in a second direction;

second direction-dependent outcoupling structures having a length oriented orthogonal to the second direction and operable to couple out light propagating through the light guide in the second direction, wherein longitudinal ends of the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures rise smoothly from the surface of the light guide; and

wherein the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures are oriented co-planar with and do not contact the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures.

13. The communications device according to claim 12 , wherein:

the user interface component is a keypad;

the first and second direction-dependent outcoupling structures are located coincident with a key of the keypad;

an outline of an area covered by the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures constitutes a first graphical marking configured to indicate a first use of the key; and

an outline of an area covered by the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures constitutes a second graphical marking configured to indicate a second use of the key.

14. The communications device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a circuit board;

a dome sheet located between the light guide and the circuit board, the dome sheet comprising domes configured to enable pressing a conductive inside of a dome against couplings on the circuit board;

a key mat located on a different side of the light guide than the dome sheet; and

transparent areas in the key mat at locations that coincide with the first and second direction-dependent outcoupling structures.

15. The communications device according to claim 12 , wherein the user interface component comprises at least one of a display and an outer cover part.

16. The communications device according to claim 12 , wherein the second direction is different than the first direction.

17. The communications device according to claim 12 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

18. A structural module for a communications device, comprising:

a light guide;

a first light input section configured to receive light in a first direction;

first direction-dependent outcoupling structures having a length oriented perpendicular to the first direction and operable to couple out light propagating through the light guide in the first direction, wherein longitudinal ends of the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures rise smoothly from a surface of the light guide;

a second light input section configured to receive light in a second direction;

second direction-dependent outcoupling structures having a length oriented perpendicular to the second direction and operable to couple out light propagating through the light guide in the second direction, wherein longitudinal ends of the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures rise smoothly from the surface of the light guide; and

wherein the first direction-dependent outcoupling structures are oriented co-planar with and do not contact the second direction-dependent outcoupling structures.

19. The structural module according to claim 18 , further comprising:

a first light source located adjacent to the first light input section; and

a second light source located adjacent to the second light input section.

20. The structural module according to claim 18 , wherein the structural module is a keypad module and comprises:

a dome sheet located adjacent to the light guide;

a key mat located on a different side of the light guide than the dome sheet; and

transparent areas in said key mat at locations that coincide with the first and second direction-dependent outcoupling structures.