Electronic device and arrangement for providing communication between body parts thereof
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsStefan Kufner, Mark W. Oliver, Aroon V. Tungare
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic device comprises an arrangement for providing communication between a first body part and a second body part of the electronic device. The first body part and second body part are moveable relative to one another; each body part comprising a contact surface, the contact surfaces being located generally adjacent one another. At least one contact surface comprises an optical light guide component arranged to provide communication between the first body part and second body part.
Claims20
An electronic device comprising an arrangement for providing communication between a first body part and a second body part of the electronic device, the first and second body parts moveable relative to one another;
- each body part comprising a contact surface, the contact surfaces being located generally adjacent one another, wherein each contact surface comprises an optical light guide component, and wherein a hollow channel of an optical light guide that guides light parallel to the contact surfaces is formed using surfaces from each optical light guide component that exist along the hollow channel, and wherein the optical light guide is arranged to provide communication between the first body part and second body part using light that is directionally guided along the optical light guide by a reflecting element having a surface disposed across a substantial portion of the hollow channel.
An electronic device comprising:
- a light guide formed by a first hollow channel and a second hollow channel, wherein each hollow channel comprises longitudinal surfaces formed within a respective surface of one of a first and a second body part of the electronic device, and wherein the respective surfaces are generally adjacent to one another, and wherein the first and second body parts are movable relative to each other;
- a first and a second light signaling component;
- and
- a reflecting element having a surface disposed across a substantial portion of at least one of an access channel, the first hollow channel, and the second hollow channel in a manner to reflect incident light in a direction through the light guide, the light travelling between the first light signaling component and the second light signaling component.
An electronic device comprising:
- a light guide formed by hollow channels, wherein each hollow channel comprises channel surfaces formed in a respective surface of a first and a second body part of the electronic device, and wherein the respective surfaces are generally adjacent to one another and the first and second body parts are movable relative to each other;
- one of an access conduit and an access channel formed into one body part of the first and second body parts;
- an optical signaling component disposed at a distal end of the one of the access conduit and the access channel, wherein the distal end is distal relative to the respective surface of the one body part;
- and
- a reflecting element disposed near a proximal end of the one of access conduit and the access channel, wherein the proximal end is proximal relative to the respective surface of the one body part, and wherein the reflecting element extends into the hollow channel of the other body part, and wherein the reflecting element reflects light that is coupled between the optical signaling component and the light guide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.