Button Lighting Structure Using Shared LED and Irregular Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing button lighting structures for electronic devices require one LED per button member, leading to increased current consumption and manufacturing complexity due to varying light reflectance based on case color, necessitating adjustments in LED current values.
Innovation Solution
A button lighting structure with a light-emitting element placed between button members, utilizing a button cover member with a plate-like portion and peripheral wall to irregularly reflect light, reducing the number of LEDs needed and ensuring uniform luminance across button members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If one LED is disposed directly below each button member, then each button member can be lit uniformly, but the number of LEDs increases and current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple button members share a common light-emitting element. The patent configures a single LED to illuminate multiple button members (e.g., four button members arranged in a 2x2 matrix) by positioning the LED at the center and using light reflection off the case inner surface to distribute illumination uniformly across all button members, thereby reducing the total number of LEDs and current consumption while maintaining uniform luminance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the three-dimensional space within the case, specifically the inner surface of the case, as a reflective surface to redirect light from a centrally positioned LED to multiple button members. This spatial arrangement allows a single light source to illuminate multiple targets by exploiting the vertical and lateral dimensions of the case interior.
2Shape
If the case is made of black resin material, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but light from LED is absorbed and button member luminance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different parts of the case. Specifically, the case inner surface is designed with high light reflectance (white or light-colored) to maximize light distribution, while the case outer surface can be any color (including black) for aesthetic purposes. This local differentiation allows the case to maintain aesthetic appearance externally while optimizing light reflection internally.
3Illumination intensity
If LED current value is adjusted according to case color, then uniform button member luminance is achieved, but manufacturing process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the case inner surface homogeneous in terms of optical properties by using a uniform light-colored material throughout. This homogeneous high-reflectance surface ensures consistent light distribution to all button members regardless of the case's external color, eliminating the need for different LED current settings for different case colors and simplifying the manufacturing process.
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 achieves uniform button member luminance with fewer light-emitting elements, simplifying manufacturing and eliminating the need for color-dependent LED current adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a peripheral wall portion formed along the outer periphery of the plate-like portion, and configured to irregularly reflect, by the plate-like portion and the peripheral wall portion, light from the light-emitting element
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a button lighting structure that includes: a plurality of button members (5) arranged in a matrix with intervals; and light-emitting element (6) disposed in the interval of the plurality of button members (5). The button lighting structure includes button cover member (7) including plate-like portion (11) having a plurality of openings (14) into which the plurality of button members (5) is inserted, translucent guide (12) that guides the movement of button members (5) pushed into openings (14), and peripheral wall portion (13) formed along the outer periphery of plate-like portion (11), and configured to irregularly reflect, by plate-like portion (11) and peripheral wall portion (13), light from light-emitting element (6) disposed to face plate-like portion (11). Button member (5) includes translucent sidewall portion (5b) into which the light, that is emitted from light-emitting element (6) and that has passed through guide (12), enters.