Keyboard Backlight Light Guide Structure for Short-Distance Color Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing backlight modules in lighting keyboards suffer from significant light mixing distances, leading to chromatic aberration, with light mixing extending 7 mm to 15 mm, which results in inefficient use of mechanical space and increased product weight.
Innovation Solution
A backlight module design featuring a light guide plate with non-linearly shaped holes to accommodate a lighting chip, where the lateral sides of the holes are curved or shaped as arcs or hyperbolas, guiding beams from multiple illumination units to mix uniformly in a short distance, reducing the light mixing extension distance to less than 2 mm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a straight-sided hole structure is used in the light guide plate, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the light mixing distance becomes long (7 mm to 15 mm) resulting in chromatic aberration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing the lateral side of the hole structure with arc-shaped or curved surfaces instead of straight lines. This curved geometry actively guides and redirects light beams from different illumination units to converge and mix within a short distance (less than 2 mm), solving the chromatic aberration problem while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard molding techniques.
2Manufacturing precision
If a long light mixing distance (7 mm to 15 mm) is used, then chromatic aberration is reduced, but the mechanical space is wasted and product weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved lateral side design creates an optical path that forces light beams to intersect and mix rapidly within a compact volume. The arc-shaped geometry concentrates the light mixing process into a short distance (less than 2 mm), dramatically reducing the mechanical space required compared to conventional straight-sided designs while achieving superior light uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the light mixing process from a linear extension along the optical axis into a three-dimensional convergence process. The curved lateral surfaces guide light beams to intersect in a compact volumetric region, converting a one-dimensional space-consuming process into a compact three-dimensional optical interaction.
3Manufacturing precision
If a long light mixing distance (7 mm to 15 mm) is used, then chromatic aberration is reduced, but the product weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved geometry of the hole structure's lateral side enables rapid light beam convergence and mixing within a compact form factor. This reduces the overall size of the backlight module components, thereby reducing material usage and product weight while achieving the required light uniformity and eliminating chromatic aberration.
4Manufacturing precision
If the lateral side of the hole structure is formed in a non-linear manner, then the light mixing distance is shortened to less than 2 mm, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs arc-shaped or curved lateral side profiles that, while geometrically more complex than straight lines, remain compatible with standard injection molding and precision machining processes. The curvature radius and arc geometry can be optimized to balance optical performance with manufacturing capability, achieving short light mixing distance without requiring exotic manufacturing techniques.
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 significantly reduces chromatic aberration, optimizes mechanical space, and minimizes product weight by achieving uniform light mixing within a shorter distance, enhancing the light distribution curve and usage requirements of the lighting chip.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide plate includes a hole structure where inside the lighting chip is disposed. A lateral side of the hole structure facing an illumination surface of the lighting chip includes a first area and a second area formed in a non-linear manner. The first area guides a first output beam emitted by the first illumination unit toward the second area, and the second area guides a second output beam emitted by the second illumination unit toward the first area.
Data Source
AI summary
A backlight module is disposed under a plurality of keyswitches of a lighting keyboard. The backlight module includes a lighting chip and a light guide plate. The lighting chip has a first illumination unit and a second illumination unit arranged side by side. The light guide plate has a hole structure where inside the lighting chip is disposed. A lateral side of the hole structure facing an illumination surface of the lighting chip includes a first area and a second area formed in a non-linear manner, respectively corresponding to the first illumination unit and the second illumination unit. The first area guides a first output beam of the first illumination unit toward the second area. The second area guides a second output beam of the second illumination unit toward the first area.