Illuminated Keyboard Structure With Integrated Light Diffusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminated keyboards are complex in structure, leading to manufacturing difficulties and increased costs, particularly due to the need for intricate components like light-reflecting layers and multiple modules, which hinder miniaturization efforts.
Innovation Solution
The proposed illuminated keyboard features a simplified design with a supporting plate, electrical circuit unit, light emitter unit, light diffusion layer, elastic member, and keycap, where the light diffusion layer with aligned light diffusion portions and a black light shielding frame simplifies light transmission and reduces manufacturing complexity, using a transparent water-proof layer to protect electrical components and a micro LED light emitter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light-reflecting layer is added to the bottom surface of the support plate to improve light utilization, then illumination effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to printing, coating, or adhesion processes
Solution Approach 1:
The light-reflecting layer is integrated directly into the support plate structure during molding, merging the support function and light reflection function into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate printing, coating, or adhesion processes, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining illumination effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate is designed as a composite structure with a light-reflecting layer integrated into its bottom surface. This composite design allows the support plate to simultaneously provide structural support and optical reflection, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while improving light utilization.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple separate modules (keyboard module, backlight module, light guide plate, interference unit, light spot unit) are used to achieve effective illumination, then illumination quality is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the support plate, light guide structure, and light-reflecting layer into a single unified component. This merging of previously separate modules (support plate, light guide plate, and light-reflecting layer) reduces the total number of components and simplifies assembly while maintaining effective illumination quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated support plate performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, guides light, and reflects light. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining illumination quality.
3Illumination intensity
If traditional methods (printing, coating, adhesion, heat fusion) are used to attach the light-reflecting layer to the support plate, then light reflection is achieved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light-reflecting layer is pre-integrated into the support plate during the molding process, before final assembly. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for subsequent printing, coating, or adhesion steps, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing production time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or chemical attachment methods (printing, coating, adhesion, heat fusion) with a molding-based integration method. This substitution eliminates complex multi-step attachment processes and achieves light reflection functionality through a single integrated manufacturing step, significantly improving productivity.
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 design enhances manufacturing simplicity, reduces costs, and achieves effective keycap illumination with soft light diffusion, while maintaining electrical integrity by isolating light emitters within light source chambers, thus addressing the complexity and cost issues of prior keyboards.
Implementation Method 1
the light diffusion layer with aligned light diffusion portions and a black light shielding frame simplifies light transmission
Implementation Method 2
effective keycap illumination with soft light diffusion
Implementation Method 3
The elastic member is made of an elastic material, aligned with the top conductive portion and disposed on and above the diffusion layer
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated keyboard includes a supporting plate, a bottom circuit membrane disposed on the support plate, an intermediate partition plate disposed above the bottom circuit membrane, and a top circuit membrane disposed above said intermediate partition plate. A light emitter unit is disposed on the bottom circuit membrane. A light diffusion layer is disposed above the top circuit membrane and has a light transmission region for transmitting light rays generated from the light emitter unit. An elastic member is made of an elastic material and disposed on and above the diffusion layer. A bridging unit is disposed above the diffusion layer and aligned with the elastic member. A keycap is disposed above and connected to the bridging unit. The elastic member elastically abuts against the keycap. The keycap is light permeable.