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:
Jun. 29, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 20, 2001
Robert D. Kluser, Aloha, OR (US);
Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US);
Abstract
An elastomeric mat is formed by extruding transparent or translucent elastomeric material. Columns made of the same material guide light from an LED source directly to a light port on top of the column, and diffuse the light substantially throughout the column. A coating of opaque material is used to surround the length of the columns to prevent leakage of light. When mounted adjacent to a front panel, off-axis performance is substantially increased over the prior art by, in effect, bringing the light-emitting source adjacent to a clear port of the front panel. The columns of translucent or transparent elastomeric material function as light pipes, and are formed when making the eleastomeric mat. The columns may be cylindrical or rectangular. Either a rectangular or a cylindrical column of translucent or transparent elastomeric material can convey light to illuminate a legend printed directly on top of the column.