Illuminated Glass Button Using Edge-Lit Light Scattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacitive buttons integrated into glass panes are difficult to see and feel in the dark, and external lighting solutions are complex, error-prone, and disrupt the visual appearance of the glazing.
Innovation Solution
A pane with an illuminated button featuring a transparent substrate, an electrically conductive structure, a light irradiation means arranged on a side edge, and a light deflection means that scatters light to mark the button's position without additional components, using total reflection and scattering to create a luminous area within the button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If external light sources are used to illuminate the button, then the button becomes visible in the dark, but the system becomes complex and error-prone with frequent interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is extracted from external positioning and integrated directly into the button structure itself. The button contains an internal light source that illuminates the button from within, eliminating the need for external light sources and their complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination function is merged with the button structure. The light source, diffusing element, and button housing are combined into a single integrated component, simplifying the overall system while ensuring the button is always visible when activated.
2Illumination intensity
If illuminating elements such as LEDs are integrated into the glazing around the button, then the button position becomes visible, but the glazing's appearance is negatively impacted and manufacture is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Illumination is provided locally at the button position rather than through general glazing integration. The light source is contained within the button housing and illuminates only the button area, leaving the surrounding glazing appearance unchanged and transparent.
Solution Approach 2:
A diffusing element acts as an intermediary between the light source and the external environment. This diffusing element softly distributes the light from the LED within the button housing, creating a gentle glow that marks the button position without the harsh appearance of direct LED integration into the glazing.
3Illumination intensity
If additional components are added to illuminate the button, then visibility improves, but maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is merged with the button housing into a single replaceable unit. When the LED fails, the entire button assembly can be quickly removed and replaced without disassembling or servicing separate illumination components, significantly simplifying maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The button housing serves multiple functions: it provides the button's structural form, contains the light source, and houses the diffusing element. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components that could fail or require maintenance.
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 solution provides a clear and unambiguous marking of the button's position in the dark without disturbing the transparency or visual appearance of the pane, ensuring intuitive operation and maintaining a thin, stable construction.
Implementation Method 1
The coupled light is reflected back into the interior of the substrate at the substrate's surfaces according to the principle of total internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
Light passing through the disc and striking the light-deflecting medium is not totally reflected, but rather leaves the disc, primarily through scattering by the light-deflecting medium
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a disk (I) having an illuminated switch surface, at least comprising a transparent substrate (1), an electrically conductive structure (2), which forms a switch surface (3), a flat conductor (4), which is electrically connected to the electrically conductive structure (2) by means of an electrical connecting element (9), a light-irradiation means (5), which comprises at least one light source (8) and is arranged on the flat conductor (4) and on a lateral edge of the substrate (1), wherein light (10) is coupled into the disk (I) from the lateral edge of the substrate (1), and a light-refracting means (6), which is arranged in the region of the disk (I) irradiated by the light (10) of the light-irradiation means (5), wherein the area that results from a projection of the light-refracting means (6) onto the plane of the switch surface (3) is arranged within the switch surface and/or continuously or uninterruptedly borders the switch surface (3).