Light source device and portable electronic device using same

A portable electronic device includes a housing, a display module received in the housing, and a light source device received in the housing. The light source device includes a light guiding unit, a light reflecting unit, and stimulated radiation medium positioned between the light guiding unit and the light reflecting unit. Outside light arrives at the medium through the light guiding unit and stimulates the medium to emit light, and the light emitted by the medium is reflected by the light reflecting unit to emit from the light guiding unit and illuminate the display module.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to light source devices of portable electronic devices, and particularly to a light source device that does not consume battery electric power and a portable electronic device using the same.

2. Description of Related Art

Portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), and digital cameras, are widely used. Built-in light source devices, such as backlight modules, are generally used in these portable electronic devices for illumination. However, conventional light source devices use electric power provided by power supplies (e.g., batteries) of the portable electronic devices, requiring more frequent charging of the power supplies.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1andFIG. 2show a portable electronic device100according to an exemplary embodiment. In the present disclosure, the portable electronic device100is a mobile phone, but can also be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a game console, a digital camera, etc. The portable electronic device100includes a housing10, a light source device20, and a display module30.

Referring toFIG. 1, the housing10can be a conventional case used in portable electronic devices. The housing10includes a transparent window11formed thereon, and defines a plurality of through light receiving holes122around the window11. Also referring toFIG. 2, the housing10further includes a plurality of convex lenses124corresponding to the light receiving holes122. Each convex lens124is fixed in a corresponding light receiving hole122.

The light source device20includes a light guiding unit22, a light reflecting unit24, and stimulated radiation medium26. The light guiding unit22and the light reflecting unit24are both planar boards and parallel to each other. The light guiding unit22includes a planar first reflective surface220, and the light reflecting unit24includes a planar second reflective surface240. The first reflective surface220and the second reflective surface240are positioned parallel to and facing each other. The medium26is sandwiched between the light guiding unit22and the light reflecting unit24. The medium26may be made of transparent laser glass. Upon exposure to a light source of sufficient intensity, the medium26is stimulated to emit light.

The light guiding unit22includes a light incident member222formed on a peripheral portion thereof and a light emitting member224formed on a central portion thereof. The light incident member222defines a plurality of through light incident holes226corresponding to the light receiving holes122. The light emitting member224defines a plurality of through light emitting holes228.

The display module30can be a conventional display used in portable electronic devices. In assembly, the light source device20and the display module30are both received in the housing10and aligned with the window11. The light incident holes226are aligned with their corresponding light receiving holes122. The light emitting member224is aligned with the window11, and the display module30is positioned between the light emitting member224and the window11.

Also referring toFIG. 3, when the portable electronic device100is used, the display module30is connected to conventional circuitry (not shown) of the portable electronic device100to receive image data and display corresponding images, and the displayed imaged can be seen from the window11. Ambient outside light, such as sunlight or lamplight, can enter the light receiving holes122and the convex lenses124fixed in the light receiving holes122. The outside light arriving at the convex lenses124is converged by the convex lenses124, such that the intensity of the outside light is increased to be capable of stimulating the medium26to emit light. The converged light then enters the light source device20through the light incident holes226aligned with the light receiving holes122, and arrives at the medium26.

When the medium26is irradiated by the converged outside light, it is stimulated to emit light. Most of the light emitted by the medium26is reflected by the first reflective surface220and the second reflective surface240many times. Light that is reflected by the second light reflective surface240to transmit towards the light emitting holes228passes through the light emitting holes228and is emitted from the light emitting member224. The light emitting from the light emitting member224can serve as a backlight to illuminate the display module30, without consuming electric power. In this way, electric power of the power supply (not shown) of the portable electronic device100can be conserved.

In above disclosure, the convex lenses124can also be correspondingly fixed in the light incident holes226to converge outside light entering the light incident holes226through the light receiving holes122, such that the intensity of the outside light arriving at the medium26through the light incident holes226are increased to be capable of stimulating the medium26to emit light.

Additionally, the light source device20can further include a backlight lamp29, such as a light emitting diode (LED). The backlight lamp29can be installed between the light guiding unit22and the light reflecting unit24, i.e., installed inside the medium26. When ambient outside light around the portable electronic device100is low, the backlight lamp29is actuated. Light emitted by the backlight lamp29is also reflected by the first reflective surface220and the second reflective surface240many times, thus light that is reflected towards the light emitting holes228passes through the light emitting holes228and is emitted from the light emitting member224to enhance the illumination of the display module30. Furthermore, the light emitted by the backlight lamp29can also stimulate the medium26to emit light, and the light emitted by the medium26that is reflected towards the light emitting holes228can also illuminate the display module30.