ILLUMINATED INDICATOR STRUCTURES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

摘要

A composite laminate assembly for an electronic device provides integrated backlighting for one or more indicator shapes defined by the assembly. The assembly includes a substantially opaque cover member to obscure at least parts of the electronic device. Translucent indicator structures in the cover member define respective indicator shapes to allow backlighting to pass through the cover member. An optical matrix layer of an optically conductive material is attached to an inner face of the cover member, with a plurality of lighting devices embedded in the optical matrix layer and laterally offset from associated indicator structures. The plurality of lighting devices may be connected to an electric circuit carried on the inner face of the cover member.

主权项

1. An assembly for forming part of an electronic device, the assembly comprising:
a substantially opaque cover member configured for incorporation in the electronic device to obscure one or more other components of the electronic device from view, the cover member having an outer face and an opposite, inner face, with a thickness dimension of the cover member extending transversely between the outer face and the inner face; one or more indicator structures in the cover member, each indicator structure having a periphery that defines a corresponding indicator shape in the cover member, each indicator structure being substantially translucent to allow passage of backlighting illumination across the thickness dimension of the cover member via the indicator structure; an optical matrix layer attached to the inner face of the cover member and being coextensive with at least a part of the cover member that includes the one or more indicator structures, the optical matrix layer being of an optically conductive material; and a plurality of lighting devices embedded in the optical matrix layer and positioned such that two or more peripheral lighting devices are provided for each indicator structure, each peripheral lighting device being located at or adjacent the periphery of an associated indicator structure and being configured to provide backlighting illumination for the associated indicator structure, each peripheral lighting device being laterally offset from the periphery of the associated indicator structure, to be obscured by the cover member when the outer face of the cover member is viewed in a direction substantially parallel to the thickness dimension of the cover member at the respective indicator structure.