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:
Oct. 22, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 29, 2011
Noboru Shimoyama, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroshi Ogushi, Shiroi, JP;
Yasushi Ishida, Tokyo, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
On a bottom surface of a light guide element of an operation device including a panel with a light-transmissive portion, a reflection portion is formed in a first region thereof, which is close to a light source, and a first diffusion surface is formed in a second region of the bottom surface of the light guide element, which is a region distant from the light source. A light-incident side of the light guide element is a non-diffusion surface. Sides other than the light-incident side are second diffusion surfaces. Light that has been emitted from the light source and incident to the light guide element via the light-incident side is totally reflected and is then guided to the first and the second diffusion surfaces and a part of diffusion-reflected light illuminates the light-transmissive portion of the panel.