Game Controller Light-Guiding Portion for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional game controllers with light-emitting buttons lack an efficient structure for guiding light uniformly around the button, leading to uneven illumination and a bulky design.
Innovation Solution
A game controller design featuring a light-permeable housing with a tubular light-guiding portion surrounded by a light-shielding portion, a switch below the key top, and an elastic portion that biases the key top, allowing for simple operation and uniform light emission around the button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional button structure with a luminous body is used, then the button can emit light, but the light emission is uneven and the structure becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
A light-guiding portion is introduced as an intermediary component between the luminous body and the button surface. This light-guiding portion receives light from the luminous body and guides it to emit uniformly from the button's outer periphery, achieving even illumination without requiring a complex button structure
Solution Approach 2:
The button structure is segmented into distinct functional components: a luminous body for light generation, a light-guiding portion for light distribution, and a button body for operation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, resulting in uniform light emission and a simplified overall structure
2Illumination intensity
If multiple components are used for light guidance and button operation, then light can be emitted around the button, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding portion is merged with the button body to form an integrated structure. The light-guiding portion is positioned within the button body and their surfaces are substantially aligned, eliminating the need for separate mounting structures and reducing the total number of components while still achieving ring-shaped light emission
3Illumination intensity
If the light-guiding portion is exposed through the housing aperture, then uniform light emission is achieved, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture portion of the housing serves multiple functions: it allows the key top to be pressed by the user and simultaneously provides an exposure path for the light-guiding portion to emit light uniformly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional structural elements and simplifies the overall housing design
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
The design enables uniform light emission around the operation button, simplifies the button structure, and maintains a flat surface, enhancing user experience and aesthetics while reducing component count.
Implementation Method 1
a tubular light-guiding portion configured to guide light from the light-emitting section and surrounding an outer periphery of the key top
Implementation Method 2
an elastic portion placed below the key top and configured to bias the key top in a direction opposite to a pressing direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(f)
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An example of a game controller includes a key top of an operation button, a tubular light-guiding portion surrounding a periphery of the key top, a light-shielding portion surrounding a periphery of the light-guiding portion, an elastic member placed immediately below the key top and configured to allow light to pass therethrough, a switch placed below the elastic member, and an LED. The key top and the light-guiding portion are exposed through a surface of a housing of the game controller. Light from the LED is incident on the light-guiding portion and guided to a surface of the housing through the inside of the light-guiding portion. The light-guiding portion is surrounded by the light-shielding portion, and therefore, light does not come out to the periphery of the light-guiding portion. Consequently, it is possible to cause the periphery of the operation button to emit light in a ring-shaped manner.