Method and apparatus for backlighting a device

An assembly comprising:

• a device;
• and
• a light guide panel coupled to the device for providing a backlight for the device, the light guide panel comprising,
• a plate including a plurality of optical fibers for dispersing light through the plate to illuminate the plate, the plurality of optical fibers being completely within the plate;
• and
• a light-emitting diode (LED) coupled to the plate for providing the light dispersed by the plurality of optical fibers, the light-emitting diode being located in a central portion of the plate such that the light-emitting diode (LED) does not touch an edge of the plate;
• and
• wherein an opaque portion of the device covers the light-emitting diode (LED) in the central portion of the plate such that when the light-emitting diode (LED) is illuminated, the light from the light-emitting diode (LED) is more evenly distributed throughout the plate, the opaque portion of the device being a user input button of the device.

A light guide panel for backlighting a device, the light guide panel comprising:

• a plate including a plurality of optical fibers for dispersing light through the plate to illuminate the plate and provide a backlight for the device, the plurality of optical fibers completely within the plate, the plate including a mechanism to reflect light at an edge of the plate back into the plate;
• and
• a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the plate for providing the light dispersed by the plurality of optical fibers, each of the plurality of light-emitting diode being located in a central portion of the plate such that each light-emitting diode (LED) does not touch an edge of the plate,
• wherein opaque portions of the device respectively covers each light-emitting diode (LED) in the central portion of the plate, such that when each of the plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are illuminated, the light from the plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is more evenly distributed throughout the plate, the opaque portions of the device being user input buttons of the device.

A light guide panel for backlighting a keyboard, the light guide panel comprising:

• a plate including a plurality of optical fibers for dispersing light through the plate to illuminate the plate and provide a backlight for the keyboard, the plurality of optical fibers being completely within the plate, the plate further including a mechanism to reflect light at an edge of the plate back into the plate;
• and
• a light-emitting diode (LED) coupled to the plate for providing the light dispersed by the plurality of optical fibers, the light-emitting diode being located in a central portion of the plate such that the light-emitting diode (LED) does not touch an edge of the plate,
• wherein a keypad of the keyboard covering the light-emitting diode (LED) in the central portion of the plate such that when the light-emitting diode (LED) is illuminated, the light from the light-emitting diode (LED) is more evenly distributed throughout the plate.