Keyboard Backlight Color Temperature Control for Low-Power Key Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information handling system keyboards with light-colored keycaps face challenges in effectively illuminating key values due to ambient light reflection, leading to increased power consumption and reduced battery life.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that adjust the color temperature of the keyboard backlight to enhance color contrast with ambient light reflected from the keycap surfaces, using a light sensor to detect ambient light conditions and adjust the backlight accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the backlight intensity is increased to improve key value visibility against reflected ambient light, then the visibility of key values is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey value visibilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the color temperature parameter of the backlight illumination based on detected ambient light conditions. The system adjusts the backlight to emit light with a color temperature that creates maximum contrast with the reflected ambient light, rather than simply increasing intensity. This allows effective key value visibility while maintaining lower power consumption levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates a light sensor that continuously detects ambient light conditions and feeds this information back to the backlight control mechanism. Based on the detected ambient light color temperature, the system dynamically adjusts the backlight color temperature to optimize contrast, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains visibility efficiency without excessive power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Illumination intensity

If the backlight intensity is increased to make highlighted key values greater in intensity than reflected light, then key value contrast is improved, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey value contrastVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing illumination intensity, the patent changes the color temperature parameter of the backlight. By adjusting the spectral characteristics of the light to complement the reflected ambient light, the system achieves superior key value contrast through color differentiation rather than intensity competition, thereby conserving battery life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of reflected ambient light into a beneficial factor by using the same reflected light characteristics as a reference for adjustment. The light sensor detects the ambient light properties, and the backlight is tuned to create complementary color contrast, turning the previously problematic reflected light into a guide for optimal illumination settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 approach reduces the brightness of the keyboard backlight needed for effective key value visibility, thereby decreasing power consumption and extending battery life.

Implementation Method 1

A light sensor, such as an ambient light sensor or camera, detects ambient light conditions at the keyboard

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

Key values defined in the keys indicate the value input by a press of the key and are illuminated by a backlight disposed below the keys

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS20250076993A1Information handling system keyboard color adjustable backlight

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system keyboard illuminates key values in each of plural keycaps with a backlight located below the plural keys and directed upward through the plural keys and having illumination that adjusts color temperature under management of a controller. A light sensor detects ambient light color temperature and communicates the ambient light color temperature to the controller, which executes instructions in non-transitory memory to adjust the backlight color illumination based on the detected ambient light color temperature to increase color contrast of backlight illumination relative to ambient light and thereby better highlight the key values on the keycap upper surfaces.