Backlit Device Adhesive Segmentation for Uniform Illumination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Backlit devices, such as keyboards, often suffer from variability in brightness and undesired backlighting in certain areas, which can lead to inconsistent user experience and inefficient light distribution.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layered backlit device structure is introduced, featuring an outer layer, a light guide, and intermediate adhesive and light filter segments. The adhesive segments are strategically positioned between the outer layer and the light guide to ensure uniform light emission, while light filter segments are used to filter and control light intensity, and dark adhesive layers are employed to block unwanted light in specific areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive material is used to bond the outer layer and light guide, then structural integrity is improved, but light transmission is blocked causing brightness variability
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is divided into multiple discrete adhesive material segments positioned at specific locations between the outer layer and light guide. This segmentation allows light to pass through non-adhesive areas while maintaining structural bonding at segment locations, thereby reducing brightness variability caused by continuous adhesive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the device have different adhesive properties - adhesive material segments are strategically placed in areas where structural bonding is needed, while leaving other areas adhesive-free or with reduced adhesive to maintain light transmission. This creates local variations in adhesive presence that optimize both structural integrity and light uniformity.
2Area of stationary object
If light guide is used to distribute light, then illumination coverage is improved, but undesired backlighting in specific areas occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Adhesive material segments are selectively removed or avoided in specific regions where undesired backlighting occurs. By extracting adhesive material from these problematic areas, light can pass through uniformly without being blocked or scattered by adhesive, thereby eliminating undesired backlighting while maintaining coverage in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive layer is configured with spatially varying properties - adhesive material segments are present in some areas to maintain structure while absent or reduced in other areas to prevent undesired backlighting. This local differentiation allows the light guide to provide broad illumination coverage while avoiding harmful backlighting in specific regions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces brightness variability and eliminates undesired backlighting, providing a more uniform and efficient backlighting system that enhances user experience by ensuring consistent illumination across the device.
Implementation Method 1
light from a light guide can pass through
Implementation Method 2
a first adhesive layer including a plurality of adhesive material segments
Implementation Method 3
the light filter segment has a thinness configured to provide a brightness in the opening
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A backlit device includes an outer layer, an adhesive layer, and a light guide configured to transmit light from a light source. The adhesive layer is positioned between the outer layer and the light guide. The outer layer includes a plurality of outer layer segments and at least one opening positioned between the outer layer segments where light from the light guide can pass through and provide backlighting. The adhesive layer includes a plurality of adhesive material segments. Each adhesive material segment is individually positioned between an outer layer segment and the light guide such that the perimeter of an outer layer segment surrounds the perimeter of the respective adhesive material segment. Through this arrangement, the adhesive material segments do not divert or block light passing through the opening in the outer layer.