Luminous Strip Corner Light Guide for Continuous Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic devices struggle to create continuous light-emitting patterns due to the structural limitations of light bars, which restrict the presentation of special effects on their appearances.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device design featuring a housing with a light-transmissive structure in the corner area, connected to light guiding strips and light-emitting elements, allowing for a continuous light-emitting pattern using a minimal number of elements, thereby enhancing the product's appearance with a three-dimensional light effect at low costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional light bars are used with segment light emitting patterns, then the structure is simple, but continuous light emitting patterns cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emitting pattern continuityVSAvoidlight guiding structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing side walls are divided into multiple light guiding strips (first light guiding strip, second light guiding strip, third light guiding strip) that are separately disposed on different surfaces. Each strip can be independently configured and assembled, allowing continuous light patterns to be achieved through coordinated segmentation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light guiding structure transitions from conventional two-dimensional planar light bars to three-dimensional spatial arrangement by disposing light guiding strips on multiple surfaces (front surface, side surface, rear surface) of the housing. This dimensional expansion enables continuous light emitting patterns that wrap around corners and edges, achieving versatility without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If more light-emitting elements are used to create continuous light patterns, then the light effect is enhanced, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight effect qualityVSAvoidnumber of light-emitting elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple light guiding strips are optically connected to form a continuous light path around the housing corner. The first light guiding strip on the front surface connects to the second light guiding strip on the side surface, which connects to the third light guiding strip on the rear surface. This merging of separate light guiding elements creates the illusion of a continuous light pattern while using fewer individual light-emitting elements than would be required if each segment were independently illuminated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guiding strips act as optical intermediaries that transmit and distribute light from a limited number of light-emitting elements across multiple housing surfaces. By positioning light-emitting elements at strategic locations (such as corners or edges) and using the light guiding strips to distribute the light along multiple surfaces, the system achieves enhanced illumination quality and continuous light patterns without proportionally increasing the number of light-emitting elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution enables a continuous and three-dimensional light effect on electronic devices using fewer light-emitting elements, improving the product's visual appeal while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

The first light guiding strip is disposed on the first side wall. The second light guiding strip is disposed on the second side wall. The light-transmissive structure is disposed in the corner area, and connected to the first light guiding strip and the second light guiding strip.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight guidance: Waveguide (optics)

Implementation Method 2

The light-transmissive structure is disposed in the corner area, and connected to the first light guiding strip and the second light guiding strip. The third light-emitting element is disposed between the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element, and spaced apart from the light-transmissive structure by a preset distance, to emit light to the light-transmissive structure.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS10921861B2Electronic device including luminous strip
Publication Date: 2021.02.16 ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC
  • US10921861B2 patent drawing
  • US10921861B2 patent drawing
  • US10921861B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An electronic device including a luminous strip is provided, including a housing, a first light guiding strip, a second light guiding strip, a light-transmissive structure, a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element and a third light-emitting element. The housing includes a first side wall and a second side wall, where a corner area exists between the first side wall and the second side wall. The first light guiding strip is disposed on the first side wall. The second light guiding strip is disposed on the second side wall. The light-transmissive structure is disposed in the corner area, and connected to the first light guiding strip and the second light guiding strip. The first light-emitting element is disposed at a first end of the first light guiding strip. The second light-emitting element is disposed at a second end of the second light guiding strip. The third light-emitting element is disposed between the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element, and spaced apart from the light-transmissive structure by a preset distance, to emit light on the light-transmissive structure. A three-dimensional light effect is presented on the electronic device at low costs by using only a small number of elements, to improve the product appearance.