US Patent 7338193 Light transfer device for an electronic device

An electronic device includes a housing having pivotal portions and having a hinge defining a hinge axis between the pivotal portions about which the pivotal portions are pivotal. A light source is associated with one of the pivotal portions and a light receiver is associated with the other pivotal portion. A first substantially rigid light pipe is mounted to the one pivotal portion and is configured to receive light from the light source and direct light therefrom along the hinge axis. A second substantially rigid light pipe is mounted to the other pivotal portion and configured to receive light from the first light pipe along the hinge axis and direct light therefrom to the light receiver.