Optical fiber light emitting apparatus

A keypad comprising:

• a plurality of keys positioned substantially throughout a predetermined area;
• at least one optical fiber arranged in a repeating, recurrent pattern so that the at least one optical fiber extends substantially throughout the predetermined area, the pattern arranged to be substantially parallel to the predetermined area, the at least one optical fiber having a plurality of locations along the length thereof permitting light entering at least a first end of the at least one optical fiber for transmission therein to be selectively emitted by the at least one optical fiber at the plurality of locations for producing substantially uniform illumination for the plurality of keys positioned substantially throughout the predetermined area;
• a reflector for redirecting at least a portion of the light emitted by the plurality of locations;
• and
• a diffuser for diffusing at least a portion of the light emitted by the plurality of locations.

A display comprising:

• positions for information to be presented substantially throughout a predetermined area;
• at least one optical fiber arranged in a repeating, recurrent pattern so that the at least one optical fiber extends substantially throughout the predetermined area, the pattern arranged to be substantially parallel to the predetermined area, the at least one optical fiber having a plurality of locations along the length thereof permitting light entering at least a first end of the at least one optical fiber for transmission therein to be selectively emitted by the at least one optical fiber at the plurality of locations for producing substantially uniform illumination for the positions for information substantially throughout the predetermined area;
• a reflector for redirecting at least a portion of the light emitted by the plurality of locations;
• and
• a diffuser for diffusing at least a portion of the light emitted by the plurality of locations.

An electronic device comprising:

• a display having positions for presenting information substantially throughout a first predetermined area;
• a keypad having a plurality of keys positioned substantially throughout a second predetermined area;
• and
• at least one optical fiber arranged in a repeating, recurrent pattern so that the at least one optical fiber extends substantially throughout at least one of the first and second predetermined areas, the pattern arranged to be substantially parallel to the at least one of the first and second predetermined areas, the at least one optical fiber having a plurality of locations along the length thereof permitting light entering at least a first end of the at least one optical fiber for transmission therein to be selectively emitted by the at least one optical fiber at the plurality of locations for producing substantially uniform illumination for at least one of the positions for presenting the information and the plurality of keys positioned substantially throughout the first and second predetermined areas, respectively.

A communication unit comprising:

• a receiver for receiving signals representing information;
• a display having information positions for presenting the information substantially throughout a predetermined area;
• and
• at least one optical fiber arranged in a repeating, recurrent pattern so that the at least one optical fiber extends substantially throughout the predetermined area, the pattern arranged to be substantially parallel to the predetermined area, the at least one optical fiber having a plurality of locations along the length thereof permitting light entering at least a first end of the at least one optical fiber for transmission therein to be selectively emitted by the at least one optical fiber at the plurality of locations for producing substantially uniform illumination for the information positions substantially throughout the predetermined area.

A communication unit comprising:

• a transmitter for transmitting signals representing information;
• a plurality of keys positioned substantially throughout a predetermined area for inputting the information;
• and
• at least one optical fiber arranged in a repeating, recurrent pattern so that the at least one optical fiber extends substantially throughout the predetermined area, the pattern arranged to be substantially parallel to the predetermined area, the at least one optical fiber having a plurality of locations along the length thereof permitting light entering at least a first end of the at least one optical fiber for transmission therein to be selectively emitted by the at least one optical fiber at the plurality of locations for producing substantially uniform illumination for the plurality of keys positioned substantially throughout the predetermined area.

A communication unit comprising:

• a receiver for receiving signals representing received information;
• a display having information positions for presenting the received information substantially throughout a first predetermined area;
• a transmitter for transmitting signals representing transmitted information;
• a plurality of keys positioned substantially throughout a second predetermined area for inputting the transmitted information;
• and
• at least one optical fiber arranged in a repeating, recurrent pattern so that the at least one optical fiber extends substantially throughout at least one of the first and second predetermined areas, the pattern arranged to be substantially parallel to the at least one of the first and second predetermined areas, the at least one optical fiber having a plurality of locations along the length thereof permitting light entering at least a first end of the at least one optical fiber for transmission therein to be selectively emitted by the at least one optical fiber at the plurality of locations for producing substantially uniform illumination for at least one of the information positions and plurality of keys positioned substantially throughout the first and second predetermined areas, respectively.