Backlighting for a button assembly and method
AssigneeControl4 Corporation
InventorBrent Delbert Madsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A button assembly is described. The button assembly includes a button that includes a translucent interior material and an opaque front surface with at least one aperture through which light can pass. The button assembly also includes a light guide that includes a light transmitting material and a reflector. The light guide is a molded part where the light transmitting material is molded with the reflector as an integral part of the light guide. The light guide provides illumination to a back surface of the button.
Claims21
A button assembly, comprising:
- a button comprising a translucent interior material and an opaque front surface with at least one aperture through which light can pass;
- and
- a light guide comprising a light transmitting material, a reflector and at least one light port located opposite an illumination surface through which light exits the light guide, wherein the illumination surface curves outward in two directions at a point located a distance from the at least one light port, wherein light entering the light port is distributed evenly through the light transmitting material without forming a hot spot of concentrated light, the light guide being a molded part where the light transmitting material is molded with the reflector as an integral part of the light guide;
- wherein the light guide provides illumination to a back surface of the button.
A light guide for a button assembly, comprising:
- a light transmitting material;
- a reflector, the light guide being a molded part where the light transmitting material is molded with the reflector as an integral part of the light guide;
- and
- at least one light port located opposite an illumination surface through which light exits the light guide, wherein the illumination surface curves outward in two directions at a point located a distance from the at least one light port, wherein light entering the light port is distributed evenly through the light transmitting material without forming a hot spot of concentrated light,
- wherein the light guide is configured to provide illumination to a back surface of a button.
A method for making a light guide, comprising:
- molding the light guide with a light transmitting material and a reflector, where the light transmitting material is molded with the reflector as an integral part of the light guide;
- molding an illumination surface on the light transmitting material, wherein the illumination surface curves outward from the at least one light port in at least one location;
- and
- molding at least one light port located opposite the illumination surface, wherein light entering the light port is distributed evenly through the light transmitting material without forming a hot spot of concentrated light;
- wherein the light guide provides illumination to a back surface of a button.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.