Apparatus and method for signaling using a light pipe stylus
Assignee3Com Corporation
InventorsMark Fisher, David Hixson, Shu Kun Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a light pipe signaling device for signaling a user. A light pipe has a first end portion that fits into a receptacle. Both light pipe and receptacle are constructed using a transparent material. Light from a light source enters the receptacle and is transmitted to the light pipe. The light travels along a body of the light pipe to a second end portion. The second end portion is adapted to reflect or dissipate the light such that the user is able to see the light from a wide field of view. The light pipe is preferably removable and the receptacle is preferably incorporated into a device that activates the light source in order to alert the user.
Claims24
A system for signaling a user, the system comprising:
- a first transparent body having first and second end portions, the first end portion being adapted to receive a light beam, the first transparent body being adapted to transmit the light beam received at the first end portion to the second end portion, and the second end portion being adapted to disperse the light beam;
- and
- a second transparent body having a first surface, an opening, and a second surface interior to the opening, the opening being adapted to receive the first end portion of the first transparent body such that the second surface is adjacent the first end portion of the first transparent body, the second transparent body being adapted to transmit the light beam received through the first surface to the second surface such that the light beam is transmitted to the first transparent body.
A light pipe signaling stylus apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongate transparent body having a lengthwise axis and a reflective sidewall;
- a first end portion of said body, the first end portion being disposed at a first end of the lengthwise axis and adapted to fit within an opening in a transparent receptacle, the first end portion being further adapted to receive a light beam transmitted from a surface of the transparent receptacle;
- and
- a second end portion of said body, the second end portion being disposed at a second end of the lengthwise axis opposing the first end of the lengthwise axis, the second end portion being adapted to disperse the light beam received by the first end portion.
A method for signaling a user of a device, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a light source in the device;
- providing a transparent receptacle in the device adjacent to the light source, the receptacle having an opening;
- providing a light pipe adapted to fit within the opening in the receptacle;
- inserting the light pipe into the opening in the receptacle;
- and
- activating the light source to signal the user of the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.