1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to an electronic device and a light guide used thereby.
2. Description of Related Art
Indicator lights, utilizing backlit patterns or decorations, are commonly used on electronic devices for indicating usage conditions or states thereof, such as on/off and network connection conditions. Generally, patterns are printed on a film, such as a polycarbonate (PC) film, which is adhered to the surface of a housing of the electronic device, and a light guide is set under/behind the pattern. A light source, such as an LED located corresponding to each light guide transmits light through the light guide to the surface of the housing, thereby backlighting the patterns printed on the film on the outer surface of the housing.
Typically, the patterns are printed on the film by ink-jet. In this way, when the film is backlit by the light source, light is transmitted through the film. However, a halo is formed around the patterns on the surface of the housing, degrading the clarity of the patterns.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a light guide for electronic devices promoting clear indicator patterns.
Referring to
In this embodiment, the housing 10 is plastic, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PC), or high impact polystyrene (HIPS), as typically used in electronic devices. The height of the protrusion 22 is preferably equal to the depth of the through hole 12, such that when the guide 20 is installed in the housing 10 with the protrusion 22 mating with the through hole 12 in a tight fit, an end surface 222 of the protrusion 22 is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the housing 10 (please refer to
At least one light source 32 fixed on the housing 10 corresponds to the at least one light guide 20. While here, the at least one light source 32 is located on a printed circuit board (PCB) 30, the at least one light source 32 can be fixed in any other suitable location, such as the inner surface of the housing 10 or a fixing element located in the housing 10 while remaining well within the scope of the disclosure. The at least one light guide 20 transmits light from the at least one light source 32 to irradiate the protrusion 22 of the light guide 20, thereby backlighting the specified pattern making it clearly visible on the outer surface of the housing 10.
Referring to
Referring to
While exemplary embodiments have been described, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. The breadth and scope of the disclosure should not be limited by the described exemplary embodiments, but only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200810301678.8 | May 2008 | CN | national |