Display Backlight Keyboard Illumination via Prism Sheet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in typing accurately on electronic devices like notebook computers in dark environments due to insufficient keyboard illumination, often resulting in errors and glare from reflected light, which increases costs and power consumption when additional backlight sources are used.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device design incorporating a display panel with a backlight module featuring a horizontal prism sheet and polarization units, where the top angles of prisms are less than 90 degrees and the transmission axis of the first polarization unit is angled between 45 to 135 degrees, deflecting light to illuminate the keyboard without additional backlight sources, reducing glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a backlight source is disposed below the keyboard to illuminate the keyboard in dark environments, then the user can distinguish keyboard buttons, but the cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display screen serves dual functions: displaying information and illuminating the keyboard. The backlight of the display screen is utilized to provide illumination to the keyboard area, eliminating the need for a separate keyboard backlight source. This self-service approach reduces both cost and power consumption while maintaining keyboard visibility in dark environments.
2Illumination intensity
If a light source is installed on the top of the display to irradiate the keyboard, then the keyboard becomes visible, but specular reflection causes glare and reduces text distinguishability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful specular reflection into beneficial diffuse reflection by using a translucent keyboard panel. The light from the display backlight passes through the translucent panel, creating soft, scattered illumination that eliminates glare while maintaining text visibility. The harmful direct reflection is transformed into a beneficial diffuse lighting effect.
3Illumination intensity
If a backlight source is disposed below the keyboard to provide illumination, then the keyboard is visible in dark environments, but the thickness of the keyboard increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display backlight function with the keyboard illumination function. By utilizing the existing display backlight to illuminate the keyboard through the translucent panel, the design eliminates the need for a separate backlight source below the keyboard, thereby maintaining a thin keyboard profile while providing sufficient illumination.
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
Enhances operation accuracy and convenience in dark environments by providing effective keyboard illumination with reduced glare, maintaining low costs and power consumption while maintaining a thin device profile.
Implementation Method 1
The backlight module includes a horizontal prism sheet. The horizontal prism sheet includes a plurality of first prisms, wherein top angles of the first prisms are larger than or equal to 80 degrees and are smaller than 90 degrees.
Implementation Method 2
A first angle between a transmission axis of the first polarization unit and the horizontal direction of the display is larger than 45 degrees and smaller than 135 degrees.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device including a display is provided. The display displays a received information content, and the information content has a horizontal direction. The display has a horizontal direction parallel to the information content's horizontal direction. The display includes a display panel, a backlight module and a first polarization unit. The backlight module is disposed at a side of the display panel, wherein the backlight module includes a horizontal prism sheet. The horizontal prism sheet includes a plurality of first prisms, wherein top angles of the first prisms are larger than or equal to 80 degrees and are smaller than 90 degrees. The display panel is located between the first polarization unit and the backlight module. A first angle between a transmission axis of the first polarization unit and the horizontal direction of the display is larger than 45 degrees and smaller than 135 degrees.