(19)
(11)EP 3 227 605 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
13.10.2021 Bulletin 2021/41

(21)Application number: 14907294.4

(22)Date of filing:  04.12.2014
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F21V 8/00(2006.01)
F21Y 101/00(2016.01)
G02B 6/00(2006.01)
(52)Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
G02B 6/0008; G02B 6/0075
(86)International application number:
PCT/CN2014/093058
(87)International publication number:
WO 2016/086394 (09.06.2016 Gazette  2016/23)

(54)

DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING LIGHT

VORRICHTUNG ZUM TRANSPORTIEREN VON LICHT

DISPOSITIF DE TRANSPORT DE LUMIÈRE


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(43)Date of publication of application:
11.10.2017 Bulletin 2017/41

(73)Proprietor: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings, SAS
75017 Paris (FR)

(72)Inventors:
  • HUANG, Wenxin
    Beijing 100192 (CN)
  • ZHOU, Zuke
    Beijing 100192 (CN)
  • QIN, Juzhi
    Beijing 100192 (CN)

(74)Representative: Interdigital 
975, avenue des Champs Blancs
35576 Cesson-Sévigné Cedex
35576 Cesson-Sévigné Cedex (FR)


(56)References cited: : 
WO-A1-98/09347
CN-A- 101 201 427
CN-Y- 201 269 513
GB-A- 2 464 963
KR-A- 20140 091 877
US-A- 5 915 060
US-B1- 6 463 204
CN-A- 101 201 426
CN-A- 101 737 718
CN-Y- 201 297 575
JP-A- S61 151 684
US-A- 5 883 994
US-A1- 2010 060 476
  
  • None
  
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


Description

TECHNICAL FIELD



[0001] The present disclosure relates to light transport, and more particularly relates to a device for transporting light.

BACKGROUND



[0002] A waveguide is a structure that guides waves, such as electromagnetic waves or sound waves. There are different types of waveguides for each type of wave.

[0003] For optical waves, the corresponding waveguide is an optical waveguide. It is a physical structure that guides electromagnetic waves in the optical spectrum. As examples of optical waveguides, light tubes or light pipes are physical structures used for transporting or distributing natural or artificial light for the purpose of illumination.

[0004] In electronic devices, molded plastic light tubes are commonly used in the electronics industry to direct illumination from LEDs (light emitting diode) on a circuit board to indicator symbols or buttons in the front panel. These light tubes typically take on a highly complex shape that either uses gentle curving bends as in an optic fiber or has sharp prismatic folds which reflect off the angled corners. Multiple light tubes are often molded from a single piece of plastic, permitting easy device assembly since the long thin light tubes are all parts of a single rigid component that snaps into place.

[0005] Light tube indicators make electronics cheaper to manufacture since the old way would be to mount or install a tiny lamp into a small socket directly behind the spot to be illuminated. This often requires extensive hand-labor for installation and wiring. Light tubes permit all lights to be mounted on a single flat circuit board, but the illumination can be directed up and away from the board by several multiples of 2.54 cm (inches), wherever it is required.

[0006] Some products require different color LEDs to be closely placed in certain pattern. Thus different light pipes are required for the light transfer. The ideal solution is that light pipe are isolated from each other and mounted separately to avoid light leakage and interference. But this will cause high product cost and complex production process. A common solution in the industry is to add some rectangle bars with the same material as the light pipe (or called rectangular parallelepiped) as bridge to connect all light pipes for low cost. For cost reason, the rectangular bars and the light pipes are molded together as a single component. However, the connection bridges may cause light leakage and interference between different light pipes to which they connect.

[0007] JP S61 151684 A discloses a device for transporting light, comprising a plurality of light pipes and connection parts, the light pipes and the connection parts being molded with the same material as a single component, wherein each of the connection parts includes a connection surface for connecting the light pipes and two other surfaces having acute angles with the connection surface, which reflect light out of the connection part.

SUMMARY



[0008] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, it is provided a device for transporting light, comprising at least two light pipes, at least one connection part for holding the at least two light pipes together, the at least two light pipes and the at least one connection part being molded with same material as a single component, wherein the at least one connection part forms a bridge extending across the at least two light pipes, and wherein the at least one connection part includes a triangular prism having two triangular bases and a connection surface for connecting the at least two light pipes, and two other surfaces having acute angles with the connection surface configured to reflect leaking light back into the light pipe where the leaking light comes from and prevent light leakage between the at least two light pipes.

[0009] It is to be understood that more aspects and advantages of the disclosure will be found in the following detailed description of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, will be used to illustrate an embodiment of the disclosure, as explained by the description. The disclosure is not limited to the embodiment.

[0011] In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing ideal light transfer path according to prior art;

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing actual light transfer according to prior art;

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a product according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4A, 4B and 4C are diagrams showing side views of 3 examples of connection bridges according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 5A, 5B and 5C are diagrams showing front view, top view and right side view of an example of a light guiding device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a light guiding device having 4 light pipes according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a light guiding device having 2 light pipes with gentle curving bends and two rows of connection bridges according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing a light guiding device having 2 light pipes with sharp prismatic folds and two rows of connection bridges according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a light guiding device having two connection bridges according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION



[0012] The embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described in detail in conjunction with the drawings. In the following description, some detailed descriptions of known functions and configurations may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing ideal light transfer path according to prior art. In this example, 2 light pipes and 2 connection bridges (working as a connection part) are molded with same material as a single non-detachable component for the purpose of easing assembly. A first light pipe is used for transporting a first light (or called first beam of light, or first light beam) from one end to another as indicated by solid line, i.e. from a first LED to an indicator, and a second light pipe is used for transporting a second light (or called second beam of light, or second light beam) emitted by a second LED, as indicated by dash line. The connection bridges in the shape of rectangular cuboid (right rectangular prism, rectangular parallelepiped, or orthogonal parallelepiped are also used to designate this polyhedron) are used for supporting and holding the light pipes together. In an ideal case, the first light and the second light shall be transported in their own light pipes. But in reality, light leakage and interference occurs because of the connection bridges. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing actual light transfer according to prior art. As can be seen from the Fig. 2, the first light and the second light are leaked through the connection bridges to the light pipes, in which they are not supposed to be transported. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a product, in which the light guide including light pipes and connection bridges is used to transport light from several LED emitters to the same number of front panel indicators, in order to indicate the status of the product to the user. In the ideal situation, when an event occurs or the status is changed, the corresponding indicator is illuminated. But in practical situation, because of light leakage from adjacent indicators, which shall be dark, may be illuminated with a lower level of brightness, which may result in user's misjudgment of the product status.

[0014] According to the present disclosure, it aims to minimize the light leakage and interference. This is achieved by changing physical shape of the connection bridges between light pipes.

[0015] In the example below, the light pipes and the connection bridges between the light pipes, working as physical connection parts, are made of a transparent plastic material by molding into a single non-detachable part. It brings cost reduction for manufacturing and assembling the light guiding device into an apparatus or on the circuit board. In order to achieve the objective, the shapes of the connection bridges are changed to prevent or block a light coming from a light pipe from passing through the connection bridges by reflecting the leaking light back to the light pipe where it comes or by transmitting the light to the outside of the connection bridges. So it minimizes the amount of light passing through the connection bridge from one light pipe to another.

[0016] Fig. 4A is a diagram showing side view of an example according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example, the light guiding device includes two straight light pipes with one connection bridge. As can be seen from the fig. 4A, the connection bridge does not take the shape of rectangular cuboid. Instead, the connection bridge includes two constitution parts, the first one is a triangular prism (having two triangular bases and three rectangular surfaces) and the second one is legs. The number of legs is the same as that of light pipes, i.e. two legs in this example. For each light pipe, there is a leg connecting the light pipe to the triangular prism. As to the triangular, one surface is connected with one end of a leg, and the other two surfaces that don't connect the leg have acute angles with the surface that connect the leg. The two acute angles can be same or different. In the example of Fig. 4A, the leg is rectangular cuboid in geometric shape. As to the shape of the two bases of the leg, it is the overlapped part between the surface of the light pipe(which connects the leg) and the projected area of the surface of the triangular prism (which connects the leg) on the plane of the surface of the light pipe (which connects the leg). It shall be noted that it is just for the purpose of description in which we take the connection bridge out of the single non-detachable light guiding device and describe it by using two constitution parts. Or otherwise it is hard to describe the shape of the connection bridge. In reality, the light pipes and the connection bridge are a single component. Fig. 5A, 5B and 5C are diagrams showing front view, top view and right side view of an example of a light guiding device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The triangular housetop-shaped surfaces block a light coming from a light pipe from passing through the bridge by reflecting the light back to the light pipe or by transmitting the light to the outside of the bridge.

[0017] It shall be noted that the leg can be in other shape or even be removed. Fig. 4B is a diagram showing a leg whose bases are smaller than the overlapped part according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. It shall also be noted that the shape of the leg can be cylinder and other polygonal prisms, for example, quadrangular prism (having two 4-sided polygonal bases), pentangular prism, hexangular prism etc. Fig. 4C is a diagram showing a light guiding device that has no leg according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In the Fig. 4C, the triangular prism traverses all light pipes and connects to them with one surface.

[0018] In the above examples, the shape of light pipe is rectangular cuboid. In a variant example, the shape is cylinder.

[0019] In a variant example, the light pipes have gross surfaces and connection bridges have rough surfaces, i.e. all surfaces of constitution parts are rough surfaces. The rough surfaces diffuses a light coming into the bridge as well allows the light to leak to the air instead of transfering to the neighbor pipe.

[0020] In a variant example, the number of light pipes is more than 2. And a connection bridge having more than 2 legs connects all light pipes. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a light guiding device having 4 light pipes. It shall be noted that the number of connection bridges can be more than 1, for example, 2 connection bridges are used.

[0021] In above examples, the light pipe is straight in shape. In a variant example, the light pipe has a gentle curving bend. Fig. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a light guiding device having 2 light pipes with gentle curving bends and two connection bridges. Fig. 7A shows a final product and Fig. 7B shows top view, left view, front view, right view and bottom view in a direction from the top to the bottom and from the left to the right. In another variant example, the light pipe has a sharp prismatic fold. Fig. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing a light guiding device having 2 light pipes with sharp prismatic folds and two connection bridges. Fig. 8A shows a final product and Fig. 8B shows top view, left view, front view, right view and bottom view in a direction from the top to the bottom and from the left to the right.

[0022] It shall be noted that if the number of connection bridges is 2 or more, the connection bridges can be different in size. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a light guiding device having two connection bridges, one is larger and the other is smaller.


Claims

1. A device for transporting light, comprising:

at least two light pipes;

at least one connection part for holding the at least two light pipes together;

the at least two light pipes and the at least one connection part being molded with same material as a single component;

characterized in that

the at least one connection part forms a bridge extending across the at least two light pipes;

wherein the at least one connection part includes a triangular prism having two triangular bases and a connection surface for connecting the at least two light pipes, and two other surfaces having acute angles with the connection surface configured to reflect leaking light back into the light pipe where the leaking light comes from and prevent light leakage between the at least two light pipes.


 
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one connection part forming said bridge further includes at least two legs forming at least two pillars of said bridge, one leg for each light pipe, each leg connecting to a light pipe at one end and to the connection surface of the connection part at the other end.
 
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the at least two legs has a shape of a rectangular cuboid, a polygonal prism or a cylinder.
 
4. The device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein surfaces of the at least one connection part are rough surfaces diffusing light coming into said bridge as well as allowing light to leak outside of said bridge instead of transferring light to a neighboring light pipe.
 
5. The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device comprises more than two connection parts being different in size.
 
6. The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device comprises more than two connection parts being of same size and shape.
 
7. The device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least two light pipes have a gentle curving bend.
 
8. The device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least two light pipes have a sharp prismatic fold.
 
9. The device according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least two light pipes are rectangular-shaped cuboids.
 
10. The device according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least two light pipes are cylinder shaped.
 
11. An electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises:

at least two light emitting diodes; a front panel comprising at least two front panel indicators;

a device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 for transporting light from the at least two light emitting diodes to the at least two front panel indicators.


 


Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zum Transportieren von Licht, wobei die Vorrichtung umfasst:

mindestens zwei Lichtleiter;

mindestens ein Verbindungsteil, um die mindestens zwei Lichtleiter zusammenzuhalten;

wobei die mindestens zwei Lichtleiter und das mindestens eine Verbindungsteil mit demselben Material als eine einzige Komponente geformt sind;

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

das mindestens eine Verbindungsteil eine Brücke bildet, die sich über die mindestens zwei Lichtleiter erstreckt;

wobei das mindestens eine Verbindungsteil ein Dreikantprisma enthält, das zwei Dreikantgrundflächen und eine Verbindungsfläche zum Verbinden der mindestens zwei Lichtleiter aufweist, und wobei die zwei anderen Oberflächen mit der Verbindungsfläche spitze Winkel aufweisen, die dafür konfiguriert sind, austretendes Licht in den Lichtleiter zurückzureflektieren, aus dem das austretende Licht kommt, und einen Lichtverlust zwischen den mindestens zwei Lichtleitern zu verhindern.


 
2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei jedes des mindestens einen Verbindungsteils, die die Brücke bilden, ferner mindestens zwei Schenkel, die mindestens zwei Säulen der Brücke bilden, einen Schenkel für jeden Lichtleiter, enthält, wobei jeder Schenkel an einem Ende mit einem Lichtleiter verbunden ist und an dem anderen Ende mit der Verbindungsfläche des Verbindungsteils verbunden ist.
 
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, wobei mindestens einer der mindestens zwei Schenkel eine Form eines Quaders, eines Mehrkantprismas oder eines Zylinders aufweist.
 
4. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei die Oberflächen des mindestens einen Verbindungsteils raue Oberflächen sind, die einfallendes Licht in die Brücke diffundieren sowie zulassen, dass Licht aus der Brücke austritt, anstatt Licht in einen Nachbarlichtleiter zu übertragen.
 
5. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei die Vorrichtung mehr als zwei Verbindungsteile mit unterschiedlicher Größe umfasst.
 
6. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei die Vorrichtung mehr als zwei Verbindungsteile mit derselben Größe und Form umfasst.
 
7. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, wobei die mindestens zwei Lichtleiter eine sanft gekrümmte Biegung aufweisen.
 
8. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei die mindestens zwei Lichtleiter einen scharfen prismatischen Knick aufweisen.
 
9. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, wobei die mindestens zwei Lichtleiter rechteckförmige Quader sind.
 
10. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8,
wobei die mindestens zwei Lichtleiter zylinderförmig sind.
 
11. Elektronische Vorrichtung, wobei die elektronische Vorrichtung umfasst:

mindestens zwei Leuchtdioden;

eine Frontplatte, die mindestens zwei Frontplattenindikatoren umfasst;

eine Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10 zum Transportieren von Licht von den mindestens zwei Leuchtdioden zu den mindestens zwei Frontplattenindikatoren.


 


Revendications

1. Dispositif de transport de lumière, comprenant

au moins deux conduits de lumière ;

au moins une pièce de connexion pour maintenir les au moins deux conduits de lumière ensemble ;

les au moins deux conduits de lumière et l'au moins une pièce de connexion étant moulés dans le même matériau et formant un seul composant ;

caractérisé en ce que

l'au moins une pièce de connexion forme un pont au-dessus des au moins deux conduits de lumière ;

dans lequel l'au moins une pièce de connexion comprend un prisme triangulaire ayant deux bases triangulaires et une surface de connexion pour connecter les au moins deux conduits de lumière, et deux autres surfaces ayant des angles aigus avec la surface de connexion configurée pour réfléchir la lumière qui fuit vers le conduit de lumière d'où provient la lumière qui fuit et empêcher une fuite de lumière entre les au moins deux conduits de lumière.


 
2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chacune de l'au moins une pièce de connexion formant ledit pont comprend en outre au moins deux jambes formant au moins deux piliers dudit pont, une jambe pour chaque conduit de lumière, chaque jambe se connectant à un conduit de lumière à une extrémité et à la surface de connexion de la pièce de connexion à l'autre extrémité.
 
3. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, dans lequel au moins l'une des au moins deux jambes a la forme d'un cuboïde rectangulaire, d'un prisme polygonal ou d'un cylindre.
 
4. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel les surfaces de l'au moins une pièce de connexion sont des surfaces rugueuses diffusant la lumière entrant dans ledit pont et permettant la fuite de lumière vers l'extérieur dudit pont au lieu de transférer la lumière vers un conduit de lumière voisin.
 
5. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le dispositif comprend plus de deux pièces de connexion de tailles différentes.
 
6. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le dispositif comprend plus de deux pièces de connexion de mêmes taille et forme.
 
7. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel les au moins deux conduits de lumière sont légèrement courbés.
 
8. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel les au moins deux conduits de lumière présentent un angle prismatique.
 
9. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel les au moins deux conduits de lumière sont des cuboïdes de forme rectangulaire.
 
10. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel les au moins deux conduits de lumière sont de forme cylindrique.
 
11. Dispositif électronique, dans lequel le dispositif électronique comprend :

au moins deux diodes électroluminescentes ;

un panneau avant comprenant au moins deux indicateurs de panneau avant ;

un dispositif tel que décrit dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10 pour transporter la lumière depuis les au moins deux diodes électroluminescentes vers les au moins deux indicateurs de panneau avant.


 




Drawing



































Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description