Combination visible and infrared pipe
AssigneeMitel Knowledge Corporation
InventorsEdward Peter Gancarcik, Peter Mathieson Craig
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Abstract
Many device components include a printed circuit board supporting light-generating means along with a light pipe to conduct light from the light-generating means to a diffuser adjacent the surface of the components. The present invention offers an improvement whereby the light pipe can be utilized both for transmission of visible wavelengths and for transmission/reception of invisible (infrared) wavelengths. To accomplish this, a light pipe is constituted of two adjacent portions, and an infrared transceiver module is coupled into both portions.
Claims10
For use with a component defining a surface, the component including a printed circuit board supporting light-generating means, along with light-transporting means for conducting light from the light-generating means to a light diffuser adjacent the surface, the improvement wherein the light-transporting means is in the form of two juxtaposed light pipe portions separated by a rectilinear slot having spaced-apart bridges, both light pipe portions being integrally molded together, and wherein an infrared transceiver module is coupled into both of the light pipe portions adjacent the light-generating means, the light pipe portions both transporting light to said light diffuser.
In a component defining a surface and including a printed circuit board supporting light-generating means, and further including light-transporting means for conducting light from the light-generating means to a light diffuser adjacent the surface, an improved method of operation wherein two juxtaposed light pipe portions transport light to said light diffuser the two light pipe portions being separated by an elongate, rectilinear slot having spaced-apart bridges, both light pipe portions being integrally molded together, and wherein an infrared transceiver module is coupled into both of the light pipe portions adjacent the light-generating means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.