Abstract:
A fiber optic illumination device for handheld remote controls is presented. In accordance with the present invention, the device of the present invention takes advantage of technology readily available and uses it to provide illumination to remote control keypads. The device of the present invention uses fiber optics and bright Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for illumination of handheld remote control keypads. Handheld remote controls are often used to control televisions, stereos, and other electronics found in most homes. The device of the present invention includes a housing assembly to locate and enclose a switch, a conductive spring wire, ( 2 ) 3 volt lithium coin cell batteries, an LED, an optical medium, a guide, and an elastic band. The combination of which allows for a compact device to provide illumination of handheld remote control keypads.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to illumination devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fiber optic illumination device used to provide illumination of handheld remote control keypads.  
         [0002]     Handheld remote controls are infrared (IR) devices used to control televisions, stereos, and other electronics found in most homes. A majority of remote controls do not provide any illumination of the keypad. This makes it difficult to locate buttons on the keypad in the dark. Some handheld remote controls are equipped with keypads that glow in the dark. However, an aftermarket device that provides illumination of handheld remote control keypads does not exist.  
         [0003]     It is recognized that there are numerous ways to achieve illumination. Many are detailed in the prior art. Prior art suggests a need for an independently powered handheld remote control keypad illumination device. However, devices illustrated in prior art provide illumination by either reflective means or directly by positioning the light source in close proximity to the keypad. Prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,696 to Radley) describes a remote control illuminating device with a light source positioned directly above the keypad. In addition, prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,127 to Kaminski) describes a remote control illuminator that uses a combination light and reflector to illuminate the keypad. In both prior art examples cited, the choice to place the light source in close proximity to the keypad makes the handheld remote control difficult to operate. This suggests a need for a smaller more compact innovative design.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0004]     The above-discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by the device of the present invention. The device of the present invention introduces different components that offer an advantage over the prior art. The use of fiber optics in the device of the present invention allow the light source to be located remotely away from the keypad allowing the handheld remote control to be operated as originally intended. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are used in the device of the present invention and offer a significant increase in brightness over traditional incandescent light bulbs. The brightness of the LED provides sufficient illumination to the keypad, through fiber optics connected to an LED located in a remotely located housing. The remotely located housing eliminates the need to enclose a light source in the proximity of the keypad as was the case with prior art. The LED is powered by two 3 volt lithium coin cell batteries. Energizer No. CR1616 coin cell batteries are typical 3 volt lithium coin cell batteries used in the device of the present invention. The small size of the lithium coin cell batteries contribute to the compact size of the housing.  
         [0005]     The size of the housing compliments the size of typical handheld remote controls. The reduced size of the housing and the selection of fiber optics to deliver illumination to the keypad are required for ease of use and for greater acceptability of the device of the present invention. The housing and remaining components of the device of the present invention attach to the handheld remote control by using a combination of self adhesive foam tape and a tensioned elastic band. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical handheld remote control.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the guide of the device of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the guide of the device of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the housing assembly of the device of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the device of the present invention, including housing assembly and guide, as it is attached to a typical handheld remote control.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the device of the present invention, including housing assembly and guide, as it is attached to a typical handheld remote control.  
         [0012]      FIG. 7A  is an exploded perspective view of the housing assembly of the device of the present invention.  FIG. 7B  is an unexploded perspective view of the housing assembly of the device of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the coin cell battery used in the device of the present invention illustrating the top cathode (+) surface and the cylindrical cathode surface.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the coin cell battery used in the device of the present invention illustrating the anode (−) surface.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram of the circuit that is used to power the LED used in the device of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10A  is a top view of the housing assembly of the device of the present invention with the top cover removed to illustrate the location and position of the switch and conductive spring wire when the circuit is open and not supplying power to the LED. The conductive spring wire is not in contact with the cylindrical cathode surface of the coin cell battery. In addition, the LED and how it is connected to both coin cell batteries is illustrated.  FIG. 10B  is a detail view illustrating the relative position of the LED and the plastic optical fiber bundle.  
         [0017]      FIG. 11A  is a top perspective view of the switch used in the device of the present invention.  FIG. 11B  is a bottom perspective view of the switch used in the device of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the bottom cover of the housing assembly used in the device of the present invention illustrating internal features.  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the top cover of the housing assembly of the device of the present invention illustrating internal features.  
         [0020]      FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the housing assembly of the device of the present invention with the bottom cover removed to illustrate the location and position of the elastic band in top cover. In addition, the position of the switch and conductive spring wire when the circuit is closed and is supplying power to the LED is illustrated. The conductive spring wire is in contact with the cylindrical cathode surface of the coin cell battery.  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the bottom cover of the housing assembly of the device of the present invention illustrating external features.  
         [0022]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the top cover of the housing assembly of the device of the present invention illustrating external features.  
         [0023]      FIG. 17A  is a perspective view of the flexible plastic optical fiber bundle used in the device of the present invention.  FIG. 17B  is a perspective end view detailing the plurality of individual plastic optical fibers.  
         [0024]      FIG. 18A  is a perspective view of a flexible single plastic optical fiber.  FIG. 18B  is a perspective end view illustrating the single core construction.  
         [0025]      FIG. 19A  is a perspective assembly view of a flexible plastic optical fiber bundle encased in a shrink wrapped assembly with a flexible wire.  FIG. 19B  is a perspective end view detailing the components of the assembly.  
         [0026]      FIG. 20A  is a perspective assembly view of a flexible plastic optical fiber bundle encased in a flexible sheath.  FIG. 20B  is a perspective end view detailing the components of the assembly.  
         [0027]      FIG. 21A  is an exploded perspective assembly view of a fiber ribbon and guide assembly.  FIG. 21B  is an unexploded view of the fiber ribbon and guide assembly.  
         [0028]      FIG. 22A  is a perspective assembly view of a pivotal guide mounted to a fixed base.  FIG. 23B  depicts a top view of the pivotal guide positioned at a random angle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]     The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for an illumination device for lighting the keypad of handheld remote controls using plastic optical fiber. The plastic optical fiber is configured so that an end is positioned to provide illumination to the handheld remote control keypad.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 1 . A handheld remote control is generally shown at  100  with keypad  112 , top surface  114 , and side surface  116 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 . Guide  130  is initially secured to top surface  114  and side surface  116  of handheld remote control  100  using adhesive foam tape  140 . Housing assembly  150  is then secured to bottom surface  118  of handheld remote control  100  using adhesive foam tape  210 . Flexible plastic optical fiber bundle  160  is then fitted into curved channel  131  of guide  130  and retained in place by surface  134  of guide  130 . Additional length of flexible plastic optical fiber  160  is then trimmed off at end face  135  of guide  130 . Elastic band  185  is then stretched over the top of guide  130  before parallel elastic members  185   a  and  185   b  are disposed in set of parallel grooves  132  and  133  located in guide  130 . Prior to being stretched, elastic band  185  is rotated 180°, creating a crossover point  185   c . The motion of rotating elastic band  185 , and stretching over guide  130  directs otherwise parallel elastic members  185   a  and  185   b  into a non-parallel configuration before and after crossover point  185   c . This non-parallel configuration of elastic members  185   a  and  185   b  forces elastic band  185  into set of parallel grooves  132  and  133  located in guide  130 . The looped and stretched elastic band  185  is then secured to housing assembly  150  by wrapping stretched elastic band  185  over keypad  112 , into set of parallel grooves  150   a  and  150   b  in housing assembly  150  and securing elastic band  185  under plastic tab  197 . Stretching elastic band  185  around handheld remote control  100  through guide  130  and around housing assembly  150  ensures the device of the present invention is securely attached to handheld remote control  100 .  
         [0032]     Referring to FIGS.  7 A-B. Components in housing assembly  150  are shown. Top cover  190  is secured to bottom cover  170  using (4) metal screws  250 . Components contained within housing assembly  150  are 3 volt lithium coin cell batteries  220   a  and  220   b,  elastic band  180 , conductive spring wire  230 , switch  205 , LED  240 , and flexible plastic optical fiber bundle  160 . Adhesive foam tape  210  is secured to surface  171  of bottom cover  170 .  
         [0033]     Referring to FIGS.  8 A-B. 3 volt lithium coin cell batteries  220   a  and  220   b  with flat anode surface  221 , flat cathode surface  222 , and cylindrical cathode surface  223  are depicted. Flat cathode surface  222  and cylindrical cathode surface  223  form a common cathode.  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 9 . An electrical circuit diagram depicts the interconnection between switch  205 , 3 volt lithium coin cell battery  220   a,  3 volt lithium coin cell battery  220   b,  LED  240 , and conductive spring wire  230  that is necessary to achieve illumination. Anode lead  241  and cathode lead  242  of LED  240  are also depicted.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIGS. 10A . Switch  205 , 3 volt lithium coin cell battery  220   a,  3 volt lithium coin cell battery  220   b , LED  240 , and conductive spring wire  230  are shown physically disposed in bottom cover  170 . Anode lead  241  of LED  240  is permanently connected to flat anode surface  221  of 3 volt lithium coin cell battery  220   a . Cathode lead  242  of LED  240  is permanently connected to flat cathode surface  222  of 3 volt lithium coin cell battery  220   b . Switch  205  is in the “off” position. Conductive spring wire  230  is in a straight configuration connected to switch  205 . Conductive spring wire  230  and cylindrical cathode surface  223  of 3 volt lithium coin cell battery  220   a  are separated by a small distance.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 10B . Domed surface  243  of LED  240  makes contact with near end  161  of flexible plastic optical fiber bundle  160 . Light from LED  240  is directed into flexible plastic optical fiber bundle  160  when switch  205  is moved to the “on” position and LED  240  is illuminated.  
         [0037]     Referring to FIGS.  11 A-B,  12  and  13 . Circular surface  173  located in groove  174  of bottom cover  170  and circular surface  194  located in groove  195  of top cover  190  are concentric when bottom cover  170  and top cover  190  are assembled and become concentric with circular surface  206  when switch  205  in moved to the “on” position and become concentric with circular surface  207  when switch  205  is moved to the “off” position. The “on” and “off” positions are retained until changed by the user of the handheld remote control. Groove  174  in bottom cover  170  and groove  195  in top cover additionally function as a guide for switch  205 . The LED is disposed in cylindrical cavity  175  of bottom cover  170  and cylindrical cavity  196  of top cover  190 . The Flexible plastic optical fiber bundle is disposed in cylindrical cavity  177  of bottom cover  170  and cylindrical cavity  198  of top cover  190 . Surface  172  and surface  178  of bottom cover  170  are separated by a distance to allow contact of the conductive spring wire with the cylindrical cathode surface of the coin cell battery when the switch is moved to the “on” position. Groove  176  in bottom cover  190  is used to partially contain the conductive spring wire.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 14 . Conductive spring wire  230  is permanently connected to flat anode surface  221  of coin cell battery  220   b . Switch  205  is in the “on” position. Conductive spring wire  230  is deflected and forced into contact with cylindrical cathode surface  223  of coin cell battery  220   a  by switch  205 . Elastic band  185  is disposed in molded groove  193  in top cover  190 .  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Pedestals  180   a  and  180   b  on bottom cover  170  reduce the amount of movement of the housing assembly during operation. Molded lip  181  on bottom cover  170  extends lengthwise and is used to position the housing assembly on the left or right side surface of the handheld remote control. Parallel sets of grooves  199   a  and  199   b  on top cover  190  and parallel sets of grooves  179   a  and  179   b  on bottom cover  170  retain the stretched elastic band during final assembly of the device of the present invention to handheld remote controls.  
         [0040]     Referring to FIGS.  17 A-B. Plastic optical fiber bundle  160  details a plurality of plastic optical fibers  162 . Fiber bundle  160  is flexible and can be shaped into many forms without compromising the light transmission properties. Plastic optical fiber bundle  160  can be cut easily with a sharp knife or scissor without compromising light transmission properties.  
         [0041]     Referring to FIGS.  18 A-B. Plastic optical fiber  260  with single core  262  construction is shown. Light can be transmitted from one end to the other end in the same way it is done with the plastic optical fiber bundle. Plastic optical fiber  260  can be constructed from a rigid polycarbonate thermoplastic which can be permanently shaped with the application of heat eliminating the need for a guide. Plastic optical fiber  260  can also be constructed from a flexible material which would require the use of a guide.  
         [0042]     Referring to FIGS.  19 A-B. Shrink wrapped assembly  310  contains a bendable metal wire  314  and a flexible fiber optic bundle  360  encased together with plastic shrink wrap  316 . Shrink wrapped assembly  310  can be shaped into many forms by bending. Shaping shrink wrapped assembly  310  deforms bendable metal wire  314  maintaining a desired shape. As an alternative to using a flexible optical fiber bundle with a fixed guide, shrink wrapped assembly  310  is guided by shaping and positioning one end above the keypad surface to provide illumination.  
         [0043]     Referring to FIGS.  20 A-B. Flexible assembly  410  features a flexible plastic optical fiber bundle  460  encased in a flexible sheath  416 . Flexible sheath  416  is typically manufactured from metal and sometimes coated with a layer of plastic shrink wrap for decorative purposes. Flexible sheathing is used in many applications including lamps to conceal electrical cords. Flexible sheath  416  can be used to guide one end of assembly  410  above the keypad surface face to provide illumination.  
         [0044]     Referring to FIGS.  21 A-B. Fiber ribbon  280  has a near end  281  and a far end  282 . Far end  282  resembles a linear array of plastic optical fibers. Far end  282  is composed of a plurality of plastic optical fibers assembled in a linear array and is typically held together by an adhesive backed liner. Near end  281  more closely resembles both ends of the fiber optic bundle of the preferred embodiment. Guide  270  is used to retain flexible plastic optical fiber ribbon  280  properly and to orient far end  282  above the handheld remote control keypad to provide illumination.  
         [0045]     Referring to FIGS.  22 A-B. Pivotal guide assembly  290  is composed of a fixed base  300  and a pivotal guide  304  and is an alternative to a fixed guide. Pivotal guide  304  of pivotal guide assembly  290  is rotated to provide a 180° range of illumination of the handheld remote control keypad. In all other respects pivotal guide assembly  290  functions the same way as the fixed guide of the preferred embodiment.