Circuit board guide and light conduit
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorBrad E. Clements
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention includes in a unitary piece a circuit board guide and a light conduit. This unitary piece includes a guide surface defining a longitudinal channel operable to receive an edge of a circuit board which is easily guided to a connector on a backplane or motherboard. Concurrently, the light conduit is operable to transmit light from a light source to a display area. Relevant information about the system is hence transmitted from the backplane to a viewing area accessible to a user. The unitary piece is typically made of optically transmissive plastics such as polycarbonates.
Claims21
A circuit board guide and light conduit, comprising:
- at least one guide surface defining a longitudinal channel operable to receive an edge of a circuit board;
- and
- a light conduit operable to transmit light from a light source to a display area;
- wherein said at least one guide surface and said light conduit are formed as a unitary piece.
A circuit board guide and light conduit, comprising:
- at least one guide surface defining a longitudinal channel operable to receive an edge of a circuit board;
- and
- a light conduit having a longitudinal outer surface;
- wherein said longitudinal outer surface forms at least a portion of said at least one guide surface.
A circuit board guide and light conduit structure for use with multiple circuit boards, comprising:
- a first circuit board guide and light conduit unit comprising:
- at least a first guide surface defining a first longitudinal channel operable to receive an edge of a circuit board;
- and
- a first light conduit having a longitudinal outer surface, the longitudinal outer surface of said first light conduit forming at least a portion of said first guide surface;
- a second circuit board guide and light conduit unit comprising:
- at least a second guide surface defining a second longitudinal channel operable to receive an edge of a circuit board;
- and
- a second light conduit having a longitudinal outer surface, the longitudinal outer surface of said second light conduit forming at least a portion of said second guide surface;
- and
- a connecting member coupled to said first and second circuit board guide and light conduit units so as to hold them in substantially fixed relationship with one another.
An electrical system, comprising:
- an enclosure having a light viewing aperture;
- a light source located inside said enclosure but disposed remotely from said light viewing aperture;
- and
- a circuit board guide and light conduit unit comprising:
- at least one guide surface defining a longitudinal channel operable to receive an edge of a circuit board;
- and
- a light conduit having a source end and a display end and operable to transmit light from said source end to said display end;
- wherein said at least one guide surface and said light conduit are formed as a unitary piece;
- said source end of said light conduit disposed near said light source, and said display end of said light conduit disposed near said viewing aperture .
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.