Abstract:
A remote control including a base defined an opening is provide. The base includes a circuit board, an infrared emitted tube, a transparent touch screen panel locating corresponding to the opening; a light guide plate adhered to the touch screen panel; a plurality of LEDs fixed to one end of the light guide plate; and alphanumeric characters of keys set between the light guide plate and the touch screen panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a remote control and more particularly, to a transparent remote control. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Remote controls include a plastic shell with a circuit board in the shell. Several keys labeled with alphanumeric characters are set on the shell for inputting remote control commands. Typically, the plastic shell is made of opaque material, users with the help of the external environment light identify the function of the keys on the remote control, and thus, in the dark, users cannot use the remote control as they cannot make out the alphanumeric characters. In addition, the alphanumeric characters are subject to wear and tear after a long-term use and cannot be clearly seen, which causes inconvenience to the users. Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a remote control according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partial view of the remote control of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from a different viewpoint. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a view of the remote control of  FIG. 1 , in using state. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a light guide schematic view of a light guide plate of a remote control of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]      FIGS. 1-4  is a remote control  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. The remote control  100  includes a case  10 , a transparent touch screen panel  20  received in the case  10 , and an infrared light emitter  30  for emitting remote control signals. In the embodiment, the touch screen panel  20  is a resistive touch screen panel, a capacitive touch screen panel or an optical touch screen panel. 
         [0012]    The remote control  100  also includes a light guide plate  40 , a number of LEDs (light emitting diode)  50  and a circuit board  60 , which are all received in the case  10 . 
         [0013]    The case  10  is L-shaped and includes an upper cover  11  and a lower housing  12  matching with the upper cover. The upper cover  10  is plateshaped and defines an opening  111 . The lower housing includes an upper portion engaged with the upper cover  10  and a protrusion portion  121  protruding from the upper portion. A grip  70  is formed by the protrusion portion  121  combining with the upper cover  11  to allow the user to hold the remote control  100  easily. 
         [0014]    The touch screen panel  20  is exposed to the opening  111  to allow the user to conveniently use the remote control  100 . The light guide plate  40  is attached to the touch screen panel  20  by optical adhesives. A plurality of keys  91  with alphanumeric characters  80  are formed on the light guide plate  40 . In the embodiment, A plurality of keys  91  with alphanumeric characters  80  are formed on a thin film  90 . The thin film  90  is adhered onto the light guide plate  40  or the touch screen panel  20  using optical enhancement film or optical enhancement glue. In another embodiment, keys  91  with alphanumeric characters  80  are formed on the light guide plate  40  using laser or an etching process. Thus, there is no need to set keys on the outside surface of the remote control  100  and the thickness of the remote control  100  is reduced. 
         [0015]    The LEDs  50  are arranged adjacent to one end of the light guide plate  40  and facing toward light guide plate  40 . The LEDs  50  are on the same horizontal plane with the light guide plate  40 . Multiple rows of light exiting outlets  41  are arranged uniformly on the light guide plate  40 . Every row of light exiting outlets  41  includes a plurality of concave or convex light exiting outlets  41 . The surface of the light guide plate  40  facing the touch screen panel  20  and the surface opposite to the surface facing the touch screen panel  20  are coated with an opaque film to block the light emitted by the LEDs  50  from emitting out from those surfaces. Thus, the light emitted by the LEDs  50  is guided by the light guide plate  40  to each of the light exiting outlets  41  and emitted out from the light exiting outlets  41 . In the embodiment, the light exiting outlets  41  are concave and have no keys located underneath. The light exiting outlets  41  away from the LEDs  50  have larger diameters than those close the LEDs  50 . In another embodiment, more light exiting outlets  41  are distributed as the distance between the light exiting outlets  41  and the LEDs  50  increases. In other embodiments, alphanumeric characters  80  of keys  91  are adhered to the touch screen panel  20 , the light exiting outlets  41  are located underneath the key. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the light emitted by the LEDs  50  is guided by the light guide plate  40  and emit out from the light exiting outlets  41  to provide backlight to the remote control  100 . Thus, users can clearly see alphanumeric characters of keys on the remote control  100 . 
         [0016]    The circuit board  60  is received in the protrusion portion  121  and electronically connected to the touch screen panel  20 , LEDs  50  and infrared light emitter  30 . 
         [0017]    The infrared light emitter  30  is mounted on the outside surface of the protrusion portion  121  contacting the plate-shaped portion  122 . Thus, the length of wire connecting the infrared light emitter  30  and the circuit board  60  is reduced or even can be omitted, furthermore, when users use the remote control  100 , infrared rays that are emitted by the infrared light emitter  30  pointed to devices as selected by the users. 
         [0018]    When user touches the touch screen panel  20 , the touch screen panel  20  detects the touch operation, the processor energizes the LEDs  50 . The light beams emitted from the LEDs  50  are guided by the light guide plate  40  to light the alphanumeric characters  80  of the keys  91  on the remote control  100 . Thus, user can see clearly the alphanumeric characters  80 . Furthermore, the processor generates a remote control signal corresponding to the alphanumeric characters  80  of keys  91 , which is touched by users. The remote control signal is transmitted by the infrared light emitter  30  to remote control the devices. 
         [0019]    The remote control  100  of the present disclosure includes a transparent touch screen panel  20  and alphanumeric characters  80  of keys  91  are located under the touch screen panel  20 . Thus, the thickness of the remote control  100  is reduced, alphanumeric characters  80  of the keys  91  will not be subject wear and tear, and the service life of the remote control  100  is extended. Furthermore, LEDs  50  provides light to the remote control  100 . Thus, remote control  100  can also be used in the dark. 
         [0020]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.