Importance

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Abstract

An improved fiber optic backlighting panel provides increased background illumination relative to the amount of light transmitted therethrough, in devices such as rubber keypads, membrane switches, liquid crystal displays, rigid panels or the like. The fiber optic panel comprises a light source and a layer of optical fibers arranged adjacent each other which transmit the light beamed therein to different locations throughout the device, to provide increased and uniform intensity of light at specific locations or uniformly distributed light throughout the device. The optical fibers are selectively terminated at the different locations by forming holes through the layer of optical fibers with a laser, according to a predetermined geometric pattern of dot locations stored in a computer memory. In one specific embodiment for application in liquid crystal displays, a layer of foam is used to diffuse and scatter light to provide uniform illumination.

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First Claim