The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 28, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 29, 1995
Lynn Wiese, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Siemens Microelectronics, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
Illumination apparatus for use in localized illumination applications, such as an automobile dashboard. The apparatus includes a light emitting diode mounted on a metallized circuit board; a TIR lens mounted over the light emitting diode to collect light emitted from the light emitting diode and to direct the light in a single direction; and a light pipe disposed over the light emitting diode and the TIR lens. The light pipe has walls extending from the circuit board to a plane above the circuit board such that directed light from the TIR lens is channeled through the light pipe to the plane. The apparatus can also include a cover disposed in the plane over the light pipe. The cover may be integrally molded to the light pipe and have an icon configured therein, such that the icon is illuminated by the light from the light emitting diode. A lens may also be placed over the cover of the light pipe to create a focused image of the icon, thereby maximizing the light emitted by the light emitting diode at the focused image.