Key Button Character Section Light Reflection

Solution Overview

Problem

Key buttons with light-blocking shielding sections make it difficult to recognize characters when the backlight is not used, as light cannot enter and reflect from the outside, causing the character section to blend with the surrounding shielding section.

Innovation Solution

A key button design featuring a light transmissive transmission section with a side face that intersects the display surface and a partial shielding section made of a light-blocking material, allowing external light to enter and reflect from the character section even without a backlight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a light-blocking shielding section is used to cover the surroundings of the character section, then the design contrast and visual impact are improved, but the character becomes difficult to recognize when the backlight is not used

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual contrastVSAvoidcharacter recognizability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the transmission section have different optical properties than the shielding section. The transmission section is made of a light-transmissive material that allows external light to pass through and reflect off the character, while the shielding section uses a light-blocking material. This localized difference in optical properties enables the character to be recognizable without backlight while maintaining visual contrast when backlight is active.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the character section transparent rather than opaque. Instead of using a opaque character on a transparent background, the patent uses a transparent character section that reflects external light, creating visibility without requiring active illumination from within.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Illumination intensity

If a light transmissive material is used for the character section to enable backlight illumination, then the character can be illuminated from behind, but external light cannot enter and reflect from the character when backlight is off

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacklight visibilityVSAvoidexternal light reflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the transmission section have different optical properties than the shielding section. The transmission section is made of a light-transmissive material that allows external light to pass through and reflect off the character, while the shielding section uses a light-blocking material. This localized difference in optical properties enables the character to be recognizable without backlight while maintaining visual contrast when backlight is active.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the character section transparent rather than opaque. Instead of using a opaque character on a transparent background, the patent uses a transparent character section that reflects external light, creating visibility without requiring active illumination from within.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Enables easy recognition of the character section even when the backlight is not used, as external light can enter and reflect from the character section, preventing it from blending with the surrounding shielding section.

Implementation Method 1

a transmission section made of a light transmissive material, which constitutes a display surface on which a character section is formed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

external light can enter and reflect from the character section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

a shielding section made of a light shielding material, which covers only a part of the transmission section other than the character section of the display surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9691572B2Key button

Publication Date: 2017.06.27 NEC PLATFROMS LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is key button (4) that includes a display surface on which character section (A) is formed, and a side face extending in a direction to intersect the display surface. The key button further includes transmission section (6) made of a light transmissive material, which constitutes the display surface and the side face, and shielding section (7) made of a light shielding material, which covers only a part of transmission section (6) other than character section (A) of the display surface.