Abstract: Illumination assemblies and systems using same are disclosed. The illumination assembly can include a reflective substrate, and a light source unit including one or more light sources capable of producing illumination light. The assembly can further include a first light extraction surface including an azimuthal beam widening topography, where the first light extraction surface is positioned such that the light source unit is between the first light extraction surface and the reflective substrate. The first light extraction surface can face the light source unit.

Abstract: A method of designing a backlight light guide for an autostereoscopic 3D display includes specifying a backlight having a light guide thickness and extractor angle and a light transmission surface having a predetermined width value and a predetermined length value. Then, the method includes selecting a plurality of design parameter value pairs, where each parameter value pairs includes a light guide thickness value and a prism angle value, and each design parameter value pair is different from each other. Then the method includes executing an ray tracing optical model on the light guide for each parameter value pair to calculate output data for each parameter value pair, the output data including a single pass light extraction efficiency value, an average minimum light angle value emitted from the second surface, and a maximum flux/minimum flux value emitted from the second surface; and selecting a parameter value pair based on the output data to manufacture the light guide for an autostereoscopic 3D display.

Abstract: An illuminated pointer assembly for a gauge scale having an outer periphery includes a pointer that moves about a periphery of the gauge scale and is illuminated by a light guide. The light guide is disposed on a plane below the pointer and the gauge scale. The light guide includes at least two LEDs that are disposed adjacent first and second ends of the light guide. The light guide also includes a plurality of reflective elements. The plurality of reflective elements is disposed in sets that are orientated with regard to each of the LEDs. The reflective elements provide for the transmission and direction of light within the light guide into the guide body portion of the pointer.

Abstract: A system for providing diffuse light to a dial plate of a meter is disclosed. The system includes a light-guide and a light source. The light from the light source enters the light-guide and exits the light-guide to illuminate a curved peripheral portion of a dial plate with a diffuse light.

Abstract: A backlight assembly for a liquid crystal display device is disclosed with high efficiency and high brightness. The backlight assembly includes a light source in which a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode are combined, a board where the light source is mounted, and optical sheets arranged in front of the light source. By alternately arranging a front emitting type LED and a side emitting type LED in various structures, high efficiency and high brightness may be obtained using a small number of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An example light guide assembly for illuminating a display of an instrument cluster includes a light receiving portion, a light propagating portion and a reflective surface between the light receiving portion and the light propagating portion. The light receiving portion extends along a first axis, and the light propagating portion extends along a second axis which is transverse to the first axis. The reflective surface includes a stepped surface transverse to the reflective surface.

Abstract: A luminous keyboard includes a cap which has a bottom lid with a first light directing zone formed thereon. The cap also has a first light blocking surface on an outer surface corresponding to the first light directing zone. At least one luminous unit is provided to provide light to the first light directing zone so that the light projects to the first light directing zone is diffused and blocked by the first light blocking surface, and finally projected to a keyboard portion to illuminate keycaps. The bottom lid replaces the light directing layer used in the conventional luminous keyboards. Thus the interior space of the keyboard can be shrunk to make fabrication and assembly of the keyboard simpler. The keyboard thus formed is thinner and lighter and suitable for mass production.

Abstract: A light distributing assembly for a vehicle instrument panel includes a light source that emits light in a first direction. A first surface that is transverse to the first direction receives the light and changes the direction of the light to a second direction. A vehicle instrument panel housing having a second surface receives the light from the first surface and reflects a portion of the reflected light toward a vehicle display surface to illuminate the vehicle display surface.

Abstract: A light housing for an instrument panel includes an interior surface for reflecting and blending light from a plurality of light sources substantially uniformly from an opening. The light housing is mounted to a circuit board and surrounds a plurality of light sources. An interior surface of the light housing includes inwardly protruding ribs that reflect and direct light to blend the separate light sources and provide a substantially uniform light intensity for illuminating a rotating pointer.

Abstract: An adjustable lens with a self-illuminating scale for use in photography, cinematography, or videography has a housing surface with scale markings and an opaque member with a reference marking mounted over and movable relative to the surface. The movement of the member normally adjusts a parameter of the lens. The scale markings are visible through a window in the member. The edge of the member adjacent the scale has an opening. A light source is situated within a recess in the member adjacent the opening. Light is directed from the light source through the edge opening in a direction along the surface of the surface such that the visible scale markings are illuminated, while light from the light source is otherwise substantially prevented from escaping from the lens. The activation and intensity of the light source is controlled by movement of the member or an external illumination controller.

Abstract: A display device includes an ultraviolet light source, a color light source, and a filter selectively hit by their lights. The filter has a first area part for displaying the first display contents excluding an overlapped parts when the ultraviolet light is emitted, a second area part for the second display contents excluding the overlapped parts when the color light is emitted, and a third display part for displaying the overlapped parts when one of the ultraviolet and color light is emitted. The first area part blocks the color light and produces visible light when the ultraviolet light hits the first area part, the second area part allows the ultraviolet and color lights to pass therethrough, and the third area part allows the ultraviolet and color lights to pass therethrough and produces the visible light when the ultraviolet light hits the third area part.

Abstract: A backlight module (20) includes a light guide plate (23), a reflecting member (21) and a plurality of light source (22). The light guide plate has a light incidence surface (231) and a light-emitting surface (232) opposite to the light incidence surface. The reflecting member faces the light incidence surface of the light guide plate. The light sources are arranged between the reflecting member and the light guide plate. The light guide plate defines a plurality of hollow structures (25) therein corresponding to the light sources and has a plurality of microstructure units (27) defined on the light incidence surface corresponding to the light sources.

Abstract: A key module with a multi-layer light guiding structure includes a plurality of keys, light guiding structure and a plurality of light blocks corresponding to the light guiding structure. The light guiding structure includes a plurality of light guiding plates. Each of the light guiding plate includes at least one light guiding strip corresponding to specific keys, which are staggered to each other or corresponding to each other. The light guiding strip is provided with a color layer. An electronic device using the key module individually or selectively lights light emitting elements for each layer of the light guiding plates. Therefore, different lights are emitted from the light guiding strips or a mixed light is produced from the light guiding strips to illuminate the keys. The keys have lights of different color to manifest symbols or alphabets on the keys.

Abstract: A light guiding body configured utilize light emitted by a light source for lighting and a lighting apparatus having the light guiding body are provided. The light guiding body has a base, lighting portions and leg portions. The base is formed by a light intake surface that is located in front of an LED. The lighting portions are formed by light emission surfaces. The leg portions individually extend from the base to the lighting portions. Each of the leg portions has a root portion that partially overlaps an area in front of the LED so that the leg portion can receive radiating light entering through the light intake surface. The lights received by the leg portions are respectively guided to the light emission surfaces.

Abstract: A light diffusion device for uniformly dispersing light across a gauge dial plate having indicia associated therewith includes an annular member of transparent or translucent material having front and rear annular surfaces each merging with an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface. The inner peripheral surface is a frusto-conical widening in a direction from the rear surface toward the front surface to reflect light rays toward the outer peripheral and front surfaces thereby effecting uniform illumination across the front surface, and the outer peripheral surface and frusto-conical inner peripheral surface share a coincident axis of generation.

Abstract: A gauge with a light transmitting pointer and a light-transmitting dial plate having a surface with indicia for a variable represented by the dial, at least one light source facing a hub of the pointer and positioned rearwardly from the rear surface of the dial plate for illuminating the dial plate. The light-transmitting pointer is mounted for rotational movement about an axis normal to the dial plate. The pointer hub is concentric with the axis, extending through the dial plate and projecting both forwardly and rearwardly from the plate, and an indicator projecting laterally from the hub across a portion of the front surface of the dial plate. The portion of the hub extending rearwardly of the dial plate is shaped to capture light directly from the light source so that light enters the hub and propagates forwardly through the hub, and then laterally from the hub into the indicator to illuminate the indicator.

Abstract: A light guide for a keypad includes a plurality of through hole portions adapted to correspond respectively to keys on the keypad. Each of the through hole portions is adapted to receive at least a part of the corresponding key, and to receive light incident thereinto from at least one light source. Each of selected ones of the through hole portions has a contour with a non-curved contour portion that includes a light incident face and a reflecting face forming an angle with the light incident face. Light incident on the reflecting face is reflected into at least one other through hole portion. The light guide can also be configured to have a tree-like structure.

Abstract: An exemplary backlight module (300) includes a light source (320), a frame (310) and diffusing plate (340). The frame includes an inner bottom surface (314) and an inner side surface (312) adjacent to the bottom surface. The side surface includes a light reflecting and converging structure. The diffusing plate cooperates with the frame to define a space that accommodates the light source. The side surfaces having the v-shape structures can reflect and converge light beams toward the middle portion of the diffusing plate, thus preventing these light beams from otherwise obliquely entering peripheries of the diffusing plate and subsequently being lost. Therefore, the backlight module has an increased light utilization ratio.

Abstract: A direct-type backlight module includes a light-guide plate. The light-guide plate has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface has at least one first groove. The backlight module may also include at least one light source. The light source corresponds to the first groove so that light emitted from the light source is reflected by the first groove. One or more optical films may be disposed on the first surface of the light-guide plate and a reflector may be disposed below the second surface of the light-guide plate. With the light-guide plate in place, the overall thickness of the backlight module is reduced, and the lamp mura is avoided.

Abstract: A display includes a display lightguide, on which a shape of a display character is formed in three dimensions, a light source, emitting a light toward the display lightguide, and a light collection portion, provided between the light source and the display lightguide, and having a light reflection face formed like a parabolic face which employs a straight line perpendicular to a light receiving face of the display lightguide as an axis thereof.

Abstract: LEDs (7) are arranged on at least opposite two corners of a bottom surface of a box body (11) of a tray shape whose bottom surface is quadrilateral, whose upper side is open, on an inner surface of which a light reflection member (11b) is provided, and whose side walls (11c) are inclined outward, so as to irradiate inside of the box body, wherein a plurality of LEDs (71) are arranged so that a region irradiated by each of the LEDs (71) rotates sequentially in a specific direction (same direction). As a result, there can be obtained a surface light source having high brightness and uniformity in an arbitrary size whether the light source is small or large while using semiconductor light emitting devices (LEDs), and an electrically illuminated signboard using the surface light source, which is thin and capable of uniform display and which operates with low electricity consumption.

Abstract: A light-guiding key structure with lateral light-guiding function includes: at least one key module, a light-guiding element, and at least one light-emitting element. The at least one key module can be a key body or a key display. The light-guiding element is disposed over the at least one key module. The at least one light-emitting element is disposed beside one side of the light-guiding element. Therefore, when the at least one light-emitting element projects a light source to the light-guiding element, the light source is guided via the light-guiding element onto the at least one key module to illuminate the image on the at least one key module for user to watch the image.

Abstract: A lighting device including an LED, which is located immediately below a first illumination window, for illuminating not only the first illumination window but also a second illumination window. The lighting device includes a light guide plate for transmitting light from the LED. The light guide plate includes first and second recess groups defined at locations corresponding to the first illumination window. The light guide plate further includes a third recess group defined at a location corresponding to the second illumination window.

Abstract: A display system combines the principles of total internal reflection and halftone reflection. The display system includes a light guide, a light-reflecting see-through image disposed on the surface of the light guide, and a light-blocking see-through layer disposed over the image. A person viewing the light-blocking layer at a certain distance can see through the light guide without seeing the image. The display system can include a pair of eyeglasses that can provide self-illumination for night reading or serve as a hands-free flashlight. Also, novelty glasses can emit different colored lights as well as colored, lighted images. The display system can also include one-way see-through windows that emit lighted text and images for signage and advertising.

Abstract: A direct-illumination backlight apparatus using LEDs includes a flat reflective plate, an LED light source, a transparent plate, a scattering pattern, and a light guide. The light guide serves to introduce a partial light from an LED light source at such an angle that the partial light is trapped inside the transparent plate, and the scattering pattern serves to scatter the trapped light beam at a position directly above the LED light source so that the scattered light beam escapes out of the transparent plate toward an LCD panel.

Abstract: A shift lever position indicator includes a light transmission plate and a light source which illuminates the inside of the light transmission plate. The light transmission plate is formed by a single plate and has a character indicating portion which is provided on a bottom surface of the light transmission plate and indicates a shift lever position, a protruding portion which is provided in a position corresponding to the character indicating portion on a top surface of the light transmission plate and through which a light from an inside of the light transmission plate passes, and a reflection part which is set inside the light transmission plate so that an incoming light to the inside of the light transmission plate is irregularly reflected and further reflected by the character indicating portion then comes out of the light transmission plate from the protruding portion.

Abstract: Illumination unit UT is used for the illumination of an LCD panel 1 from the rear side of the LCD panel 1. Illumination unit UT includes light source 2, rear cover 6 to cover light source 2 and resin frame 7 assembled with rear cover 6. Resin frame 7 is provided with stopper 73 and rib 74 disposed to restrict the movement of stopper 73 perpendicularly to rib 74. Rear cover 6 has first and second apertures 64 and 65 provided correspondingly to receive stopper 73 and rib 74, respectively. Resin frame 7 and rear cover 6 are assembled with each other by the engagement of stopper 73 and rib 74 with first and second apertures 64 and 65, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a keypad structure with surface illumination, which comprises a housing, a circuit board, a keypad set, and a plurality of light-emitting devices. The housing has an annular surface or a plurality of hoods. The circuit board is coupled electrically to the keypad set. The circuit board and the keypad set are adapted in the housing. The plurality of light-emitting devices is adapted in the housing and in the periphery of the keypad set. The light emitted by the plurality of light-emitting devices is reflected by the annular surface or the plurality of hoods, and by the sidewall of the housing, and is then projected to the surface of the keypad set.

Abstract: A display device for creating a backlit effect on a display article—such as a photograph—with a candle. The display device includes a candle container and a display panel attached to the wall of the candle container by a spacer. The wall of the candle, display panel, and spacer together form a pocket for receiving the display article.

Abstract: An illuminated sign, internally illuminated by a source such as one or more LED'S generally located at one end, and having a character panel with at least partially transmissive portions to define the characters of the sign. The character panel is curved so as to face the source more squarely at distances further from the source. By this arrangement, the geometric fall-off of illumination with increasing distance from the source is compensated for by the curvature of the character panel, such that more uniform illumination is provided than with prior art flat panels. Power management systems for solar charged illuminated signs are also described, in which the illumination level of the sign is adjusted according to the ambient solar flux and according to the charge-holding capacity of the battery. The system also warns of the impending end of battery life without interrupting the sign functionality.

Abstract: A directly illuminated display unit has a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. A diffuser is disposed between the light source unit and the display panel and a light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the diffuser. The light diverting layer has light diverting members on a first side of the light diverting layer facing the diffuser. Surfaces of the light diverting members are disposed at more than one angle relative to a normal to the light diverting layer and also include one or more sharp changes of surface slope. The light diverting members spread the illumination light so as to be more uniform. Different light diverting members can have different apex angles. Also, different sides of a light diverting member can have best fit centers of curvature that are non-coincident.

Abstract: A back light unit for a liquid crystal display device for improving uniformity of the light and dispensing with optical sheets. The back light unit includes a light source having a holographic pattern formed on a surface thereof opposite the display device which is to display a picture, and a reflective plate under the light source.

Abstract: A backlit display unit comprising a user display for displaying information to a user of the unit, the user display having a display medium and a movable display device with a movable indication, a common source of illumination for backlighting the user display, at least one light diffuser for diffusing light incident thereon and a carrier, the carrier supporting the illumination source, the carrier having opposite first and second surfaces. The movable indication and the display medium are provided on the first side of the carrier. The light diffuser is provided on the second side of the carrier. The arrangement is such that illumination from the illumination source is incident upon the light diffuser, and the incident light is diffused by the light diffuser back towards the movable indication and the display medium to provide backlit illumination for both the movable indication and the display medium.

Abstract: A light guide assembly for illuminating an instrument surface includes a continuous curved transition portion for uniformly directing and transmitting light from a light source to a backlight surface of the instrument surface. The curved shape of the transition portion is tailored to transmit a desired amount of light into the backlight portion and a desired amount outwardly against a back surface of the instrument surface.

Abstract: A compact operation device that illuminates illumination windows with a simple structure and has a high level of design freedom. The operation device has an ornamental panel including operation portions and illumination windows. An elastomeric sheet below the ornamental panel is resiliently deformed by the operation portions. Contacts are arranged on the elastomeric sheet. A circuit board is arranged adjacent to the elastomeric sheet. Switches are arranged on the circuit board in correspondence with the contacts. The switches contact the contacts when the elastomeric sheet is deformed. A light guide arranged on the circuit board guides light from a light source arranged on the circuit board to the illumination portions. Openings extend through the circuit board in correspondence with the illumination portions. The light guide includes a reflection structure for reflecting light from the light source toward the openings.

Abstract: A light guide structure installed in a keypad includes a light guide plate and a plurality of light emitting components. The light guide plate has a plurality of light guiding areas, each having a center light guiding circle with a plurality of light guide rings extended outward. The light guiding area and the adjacent light guiding area form light guide rings connected with an intersection, and the center light guiding circle and the light guide rings have a plurality of arc light guiding particles. The light emitting component is installed under the light guide plate and at the corresponding center position of the center light guiding circle. If the light emitting component is lit, light is projected onto the light guide plate and refracted by the light guiding particles to produce a light transmission effect for showing a number or a figure on the surface of the push button.

Abstract: A lighting system (10) for displays, in particular in motor vehicles, comprises: a support (12), at least one first lighting means (14) for punctiform illumination, which is disposed on the support (12), a second lighting means (16) for punctiform illumination, which is disposed on the support (12), and a transparent cover (18), which is arranged at a distance from the support (12) on the side of the support with the first and second lighting means (14, 16), and which has at least one symbol (20) to be illuminated from behind by the first and second lighting means (14).

Abstract: The present invention provides a radiator for a light emitting unit, annexed to the light emitting unit including a multiplicity of light emitting diodes mounted on substantially the same axis line on a first principal surface of a wiring substrate. The radiator includes a radiating plate and a heat pipe. The radiating plate is combined with the wiring substrate, with a first principal surface faced as a faying surface to a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface of the wiring substrate, and is provided with a heat pipe fitting portion. The heat pipe is mounted into the heat pipe fitting portion of the radiating plate while keeping close contact with the inner wall of the heat pipe fitting portion. The heat generated from the light emitting diode group is transferred to a radiating means through the radiating plate and the heat pipe.

Abstract: An illuminated assembly such as an illuminated electronic input control assembly adjusts to the shape of a receiving assembly. The illuminated assembly includes an illumination source module and an illuminated module. Advantageously, the illumination source module and the illuminated module are moveably attached in a manner allowing relative motion which facilitates alignment when the illuminated assembly is placed within a receiving assembly. A garage door opener utilizes this adjustable design. A method of assembling the illuminated assembly is described.

Abstract: A direct type backlight module (30) includes a base (21), at least two lamp-fixing units (22) and at least one lamp tube (20). Each lamp-fixing unit is disposed on each corresponding opposite ends of the base. Each lamp-fixing unit includes a bottom board (222) and at least one clip element (224) formed on the bottom board. The lamp tube includes two electrodes defined at two ends thereof and two electrode holders (202) receiving the two electrodes respectively. The electrode holders of the lamp tube are fixed in the corresponding clip elements of the two lamp-fixing units, thus the lamp tube are mounted into the two aligned lamp-fixing units. In the present backlight module, the lamp tubes can be fixed into the clip elements tightly and also easily dissembled from the clip elements of the lamp-fixing units.

Abstract: A backlight system and an LCD employing the backlight system. The backlight system includes a plurality of light emitting devices arranged on a base plate to form a plurality of lines each including a plurality of light emitting devices, and a light guide panel having a sidewall spaced apart from the plurality of light emitting devices such that light incident from the plurality of light emitting devices is dispersed by inner reflection, and a scattering region formed adjacent to the base plate such that light incident into the scattering region is irregularly reflected to emit in a direction away from the base plate.

Abstract: The present invention is configured so that one light emission source such as a light emitting diode is placed inside an operation knob in front of a light guiding piece or in a bearing of the operation knob. A light beam from the light emission source is emitted to the interior of the operation knob. A reflected indirect light irregularly reflected inside the operation knob is received by the light guiding piece located at a rear surface of the operation knob. The light guiding piece has a transmission and diffusion function. The light is then guided toward an outer periphery to illuminate the rear surface of the operation knob.

Abstract: In a front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus including a volume knob partially exposed outward from an operating port opened at a front panel of a casing of a disk drive, and a light emitting diode for emitting light based on a starting signal of the disk drive, the volume knob is molded by a light transmitting synthetic resin, the light emitting diode is arranged rearward from the volume knob, and light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention generally include a display device having a surface with indicia formed thereon. The indicia are indicative of at least one vehicle parameter. The display device includes a light guide connected to the surface and a light-reflecting portion formed in the light guide. The light-reflecting portion is disposed at least partially over one of the indicia. The light guide collects light, directs the light toward the light-reflecting portion and illuminates at least one of the indicia. The light guide and the light reflecting portion provide an enhanced or decorative effect for one or more of the indicia.

Abstract: An illuminated sign, internally illuminated by a source such as one or more LED'S generally located at one end, and having a character panel with at least partially transmissive portions to define the characters of the sign. The character panel is curved so as to face the source more squarely at distances further from the source. By this arrangement, the geometric fall-off of illumination with increasing distance from the source is compensated for by the curvature of the character panel, such that more uniform illumination is provided than with prior art flat panels. Power management systems for solar charged illuminated signs are also described, in which the illumination level of the sign is adjusted according to the ambient solar flux and according to the charge-holding capacity of the battery. The system also warns of the impending end of battery life without interrupting the sign functionality.

Abstract: An example light guide assembly for illuminating a display of an instrument cluster includes a light receiving portion, a light propagating portion and a reflective surface between the light receiving portion and the light propagating portion. The light receiving portion extends along a first axis, and the light propagating portion extends along a second axis which is transverse to the first axis. The reflective surface includes a stepped surface transverse to the reflective surface.

Abstract: An operating state display system includes a housing, a board provided inside the housing, a first light emitter attached on the board, a second light emitter arranged adjacent to the first light emitter on the board, a first light guider attached to the housing to face the first light emitter, a second light guider attached to the housing to face the second light emitter, and an electronic component attached between the first and second light emitters on the board. The electronic component protrudes by a predetermined length in the same direction as the first and second light emitters from a surface of the board. The predetermined length is longer than a distance between the first light emitter and the board and a distance between the second light emitter and the board.

Abstract: The present invention concerns to a press key structure with a light module in use of illuminant variation for arrow keys of an appliance. The press key structure with light module comprises a key base plate, a light source, a spread slice and a light guiding cap. The light guiding cap includes a crown part, a chamber, and a mouth part that is set on the key base plate and can exactly cover up the above light source. The spread slice is set in the chamber of the light guiding cap so that the light is evenly spread through the light guiding function of the spread slice. Moreover, by adjusting the thickness, transparency, and inside cambered surface of the spread slice, or the distance between the spread slice and the light source, the light guiding property thereof can be modulated.

Abstract: A key assembly and a mobile terminal having the same. The key assembly includes a plurality of key buttons, a light guiding sheet arranged below at least one of the plurality of key buttons, a light emitter to generate light into an edge of the light guiding sheet, the light guiding sheet directing light from the light emitter towards at least one of the plurality of key buttons, a circuitry supporting substrate formed below the light guiding sheet; and a plurality of switches formed on the circuitry supporting substrate, each of the plurality of switches corresponding to one of the plurality of key buttons. The light guiding sheet overlays an upper portion of each of the plurality of switches.

Abstract: A luminous key mechanism. A keycap moves with respect to a base plate and includes a transparent window. A light-emitting element is disposed under the keycap. A condenser is connected to the transparent window and opposes the light-emitting element. Light output from the light-emitting element is condensed by the condenser and output via the transparent window.