Light Pipe Assembly with Opaque Separators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unitary light pipe structures in electronic devices often experience light leakage, leading to unintended illumination of adjacent lenses, causing non-uniform lighting and potentially providing false information to users.
Innovation Solution
The use of a housing with a plurality of light pipes separated by opaque separators, which are positioned between adjacent light pipes and extend through the printed circuit board, effectively reducing light leakage by preventing light from one pipe from propagating to another.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a unitary light pipe structure is used to illuminate lenses, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but light leakage occurs between adjacent light pipes causing non-uniform illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the unitary light pipe structure into separate, individual light pipe components. Each light pipe is a distinct element that can be manufactured and positioned independently, allowing for precise control over light propagation paths and preventing unintended light leakage between adjacent pipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical barriers or light-absorbing materials as intermediary elements positioned between adjacent light pipes. These intermediaries block stray light from one pipe from entering adjacent pipes, thereby preventing light leakage while maintaining the overall simplicity of the illumination system.
2Volume of moving object
If light pipes are positioned close together to reduce device size, then the device compactness is improved, but light leakage between adjacent light pipes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical barriers and light-absorbing materials as intermediaries positioned between closely spaced light pipes. These elements selectively block stray light while allowing the light pipes to remain in close proximity, thus maintaining device compactness without sacrificing illumination precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different properties to different regions of the light pipe system. Specifically, light-absorbing materials are applied locally at interfaces between adjacent light pipes, while the main body of each light pipe maintains its light-transmitting properties. This localized treatment prevents light leakage without affecting the overall light transmission efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures uniform illumination by minimizing light leakage between light pipes, providing accurate and consistent lighting for logos, buttons, and indicator signals in electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one separator is formed of an opaque material
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of light pipes are arranged to guide illumination from a light source to light lenses mounted on the housing
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination structure for an electronic device is described. The electronic device includes a housing mounted on a printed circuit board. The housing has a plurality of light pipes and at least one separator disposed therein. The at least one separator is positioned between adjacent light pipes of the plurality of light pipes.