Invisible, light transmissive display system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10743387-B2
Application number	US-201816038607-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2018
Priority date	Jul 11, 2006
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. Substantially invisible, tapered, light-transmissive holes are penetrated in a lighttransmissive pattern through at least a portion of the light resistant material using a laser beam having a focal width less than the smallest diameter of the tapered holes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laptop computer comprising:
a display;
a housing base hingedly attached to the display, wherein the housing base comprises:
an opaque sheet,
a plurality of holes in the opaque sheet, and
a transparent structure coupled to the opaque sheet and overlapping each of the holes in the plurality of holes; and

at least one light source in the housing base, wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit light through the plurality of holes and the transparent structure.

2. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , wherein the transparent structure is affixed to the opaque sheet.

3. The laptop computer defined in claim 2 , wherein the transparent structure is adhered to the opaque sheet using adhesive.

4. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , further comprising a keyboard in the housing base.

5. The laptop computer defined in claim 3 , wherein the housing base has an external surface, the keyboard is mounted at the external surface, and the opaque sheet forms at least part of the external surface.

6. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a keyboard in the housing base, wherein the keyboard has a plurality of keys and wherein the plurality of holes are located within a given key from the plurality of keys.

7. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , wherein the transparent structure does not fill the plurality of holes.

8. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , wherein the transparent structure comprises first and second surfaces, the first surface is attached to a planar surface of the opaque sheet, the first surface is interposed between the planar surface and the second surface, and the first and second surfaces extend parallel to the planar surface.

9. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , wherein the transparent structure is configured to structurally reinforce the opaque sheet.

10. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , wherein the opaque sheet comprises metal.

11. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , further comprising a transparent filler in the plurality of holes.

12. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , wherein the transparent structure comprises transparent polymer.

13. The laptop computer defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes each have a diameter that is less than 0.1 mm.

14. A laptop computer comprising:
a display;
a housing base hingedly attached to the display, wherein the housing base comprises:
an opaque sheet,
a hole in the opaque sheet, and
a transparent structure coupled to the opaque sheet and overlapping the hole; and

a light receptor in the housing base, wherein the light receptor is configured to receive light through the hole and the transparent structure.

15. The laptop computer defined in claim 14 , wherein the light receptor is configured to sense infrared light through the hole and the transparent structure.

16. The laptop computer defined in claim 14 , further comprising a keyboard in the housing base, wherein the housing base has an external surface, the keyboard is mounted at the external surface, and the opaque sheet forms at least part of the external surface.

17. The laptop computer defined in claim 14 , wherein the transparent structure comprises first and second surfaces, the first surface is attached to a planar surface of the opaque sheet, the first surface is interposed between the planar surface and the second surface, and the first and second surface extend parallel to the planar surface.

18. The laptop computer defined in claim 14 , wherein the transparent structure does not fill the hole and is configured to structurally reinforce the opaque sheet.

19. An electronic device comprising:
a display;
a housing coupled to the display by hinges, wherein the housing comprises a housing wall and the housing wall comprises:
an opaque layer,
a plurality of openings in the opaque layer, and
a light-transmissive structural reinforcing element coupled to the opaque layer and overlapping the plurality of openings; and

at least one light source in the housing, wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit light through the light-transmissive structural reinforcing element and the plurality of openings.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 19 , wherein the light-transmissive structural reinforcing element comprises first and second surfaces, the first surface is attached to a planar surface of the opaque layer, the first surface is interposed between the planar surface and the second surface, and the first and second surface extend parallel to the planar surface.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Andre Bartley K
• Coster Daniel J
• Howarth Richard P
• De Iuliis Daniele
• Ive Jonathan P
• Kerr Duncan Robert
• Nishibori Shin
• Rohrbach Matthew Dean
• Satzger Douglas B
• Seid Calvin Q
• Stringer Christopher J
• Whang Eugene Anthony
• Zorkendorfer Rico
• Morgenstern David
• Chow Paul C L

Classifications

• F21V23/003 Primary

  the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array · CPC title

• G09F13/04

  Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia · CPC title

• H01H13/83

  characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements · CPC title

• F21V33/0052

  Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor · CPC title

• G06F1/1635

  Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter · CPC title