Fabric items with thermally imprinted light-emitting regions
US10989868B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2018 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 1, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3608
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An item such as a fabric-based item may have a layer of fabric such as a layer of woven fabric. The fabric layer may include warp and weft strands. The fabric may cover keys in a keyboard or may be used in forming other structures in the fabric-based item. Each key may have an illuminated key label. Portions of the fabric may be processed by pressing heated protrusions on a textured mold into polymer optical fibers in the fabric. The protrusions form corresponding light-scattering recesses in cladding portions of the optical fibers. Light-emitting diodes or other light sources may be coupled to respective end surfaces of the optical fibers. The light-emitting diodes emit light that is emitted from the thermally imprinted light-emitting regions formed by pressing the heated protrusions into the optical fibers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.