Integrated Keyboard with Light Guide Plate and Reflecting Sheet
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards have complex key structures that are costly to assemble and prone to dust and moisture ingress, and lack luminance, making them unsuitable for low-light environments, leading to user errors.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard structure featuring a reflecting sheet, light guide plate, scattering and reflection points, circuit board, key sheet with light transmissive areas, and light-emitting elements, which simplifies assembly and provides illumination for key identification in varying light conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional scissor-type key structure is used, then the key cap can be suspended above the circuit board and return to initial state after pressing, but the components become complicated and assembly requires much manpower and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the key cap, pressing portion, and support structure into a single integrated key structure. The key cap is formed as one piece with the pressing portion that directly contacts the sensor, eliminating the need for separate scissor brackets and elastic members. This integration maintains the suspension and rebound functionality while significantly reducing component count and assembly complexity.
2Reliability
If a traditional scissor-type key structure is used, then the key cap can be suspended above the circuit board, but slits appear between neighboring key structures allowing dust and moisture to enter the casing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges neighboring key structures into a substantially continuous integrated structure where adjacent keys share common support portions. This integration eliminates the slits and gaps between individual key assemblies that exist in traditional scissor-type structures, preventing dust and moisture from entering through these openings while maintaining the suspension functionality of each key.
3Device complexity
If no luminant device is integrated into the keyboard, then the structure remains simple, but the keyboard cannot be clearly identified in low light brightness environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the luminant device directly into the key structure by integrating a light-emitting element (such as an LED) within each key or along the keyboard structure. This integration provides illumination for key identification in low-light environments while maintaining relative structural simplicity through the unified design approach.
4Ease of manufacture
If a one-piece formed key sheet is used, then assembly procedure is simplified, but light guidance and distribution for key illumination becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide plate as an intermediary component between the light-emitting element and the key structure. The light guide plate receives light from the LED and distributes it uniformly across the keyboard surface or to specific key areas, enabling effective illumination while maintaining the one-piece formed key sheet design for simplified assembly.
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 simplified assembly and integrated lighting enhance the reliability and usability of the keyboard in low-light environments by preventing dust and moisture ingress and allowing clear key identification.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide plate is disposed on the reflecting sheet, and the plurality of scattering and reflection points is attached below the light guide plate... The light ray passes through the light guide plate, the reflecting sheet, and the plurality of scattering and reflection points to the key sheet
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of scattering and reflection points is attached below the light guide plate and located between the reflecting sheet and the light guide plate
Implementation Method 3
the plurality of scattering and reflection points is attached below the light guide plate and located between the reflecting sheet and the light guide plate
Implementation Method 4
The light-emitting element is adjacent to the light guide plate, and the light-emitting element emits a light ray to the light guide plate
Implementation Method 5
Each pressing portion further has a light transmissive area. The plurality of pressing portions is actuated to shift, and the conducting portion below each pressing portion triggers the corresponding sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard structure includes a light guide plate, a circuit board and a key sheet sequentially disposed on a reflecting sheet. A plurality of scattering and reflection points is located under the light guide plate and at least one light-emitting element on one side of the light guide plate. The key sheet has a one-piece formed body and a plurality of pressing portions. The plurality of pressing portions may be actuated to shift and conduct a sensor on the circuit board. Each pressing portion further has a light transmissive area. A light ray emitted by the light-emitting element passes through the light guide plate, and is reflected by the reflecting sheet to the light guide plate and the key sheet. Then, the light ray comes out of the key sheet through the light transmissive areas of the pressing portions.