Products with a patterned light-transmissive portion

Abstract

A panel with an optically transmissive portion includes a group of holes drilled from one surface to another surface and filled with an optically transmissive material. The group of holes forms a pattern. The holes on a first surface form a smooth and continuous appearance to the naked eye. The holes on the other, second surface are sized so that a light source directed to the second surface illuminates the pattern to be visible to a viewer viewing the first surface. The panel may form a portion of a housing that houses the light source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of manufacture, comprising:
 a panel formed of a material that is non-transmissive to light, the panel having a first external surface and a second external surface; and   a pattern of microscopic holes extending through the panel, wherein each hole intersects the first external surface at a first opening and intersects the second external surface at a second opening, wherein a diameter of the first opening is greater than a diameter of the second opening.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the panel includes anodized aluminum. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the second opening is between about 10 and 50 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the second opening is about 30 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the first opening is between is between about 50 and 200 μm. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the first opening is between is between about 60 and 90 μm. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a light-transmissive material in the holes. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the light-transmissive material includes a polymeric material. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the light-transmissive material includes a UV-curable polymeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the light-transmissive material extends from within the holes and protrudes beyond at least one selected from the group consisting of the first external surface and the second external surface. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the light-transmissive material extends from within the holes and protrudes beyond the first external surface. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the light-transmissive material is recessed within the holes relative to the second external surface. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the light-transmissive material is present on the second external surface between the second opening of at least two adjacent holes. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source arranged adjacent to the second external surface of the panel, such that light generatable by the light source is transmittable through at least some of the holes. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the panel from the first external surface to the second external surface is between about 220 μm and about 330 μm.