Keyboard Key Backlight Structure With Reflective Isolation Sheet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light emitting keyboards face limitations in improving light emitting efficiency while maintaining a slim and portable design, as increasing light sources is the only viable option to enhance illumination without increasing module volume or thickness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light reflective sheet with through holes between the light guide plate and circuit board, featuring a light reflective surface with fine protrusions or recesses, which reflects light back to the guide plate and enhances illumination through optical structures, thereby improving light emitting efficiency without adding components or thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If more or brighter light sources are used to improve light emitting efficiency, then illumination intensity is improved, but volume and thickness of the backlight module increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light reflective sheet as an intermediary component between the light guide plate and circuit board. This reflective sheet redirects light that would otherwise be lost back toward the light guide plate, improving light emitting efficiency without requiring additional light sources or increasing module volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the isolation sheet by adding a light reflective surface with specific reflectivity characteristics. This changes the light interaction parameters within the module, improving illumination efficiency through optical optimization rather than increasing light source intensity.
2Illumination intensity
If more or brighter light sources are used to improve light emitting efficiency, then illumination intensity is improved, but thickness of the backlight module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light reflective sheet serves as a thin intermediary layer that optimizes light distribution without adding significant thickness. By reflecting light back into the light guide plate, it improves illumination efficiency while maintaining the slim profile of the keyboard.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical reflection parameters of the isolation sheet, transforming it from a simple barrier into an active light management component. This optimization occurs within the existing thickness constraints, avoiding the need to increase module thickness.
3Illumination intensity
If additional components are added to improve light emitting efficiency, then illumination is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation sheet performs multiple functions: it maintains electrical isolation between the light guide plate and circuit board, and simultaneously provides light reflection to improve illumination. This multi-functionality avoids the need for separate components, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the light reflection function with the existing isolation sheet, merging two functions into a single component. This integration approach improves light emitting efficiency without increasing the number of parts or complicating the assembly structure.
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 key structure achieves improved illumination and light emitting efficiency of key caps, maintaining a compact design by effectively redirecting and amplifying light output through the use of a reflective sheet and optical structures, without increasing the volume or thickness of the backlight module.
Implementation Method 1
The isolation sheet has a light reflective surface positioned facing the light guide plate. The light reflective surface has a plurality of fine protrusion dots, or fine recess dots, or protrusion ribs, or recess slots thereon. The light reflective surface is adapted for reflecting the light outputted from the light guide plate back to the light guide plate.
Data Source
AI summary
A key structure having an improved light emitting efficiency is provided. The key structure includes a light guide plate, an isolation sheet, a circuit board, an elastic member, and a key cap sequentially disposed one on another in order. A circuit and a plurality of first electrical contacts are distributed on a top surface of the light guide plate. An optical structure is disposed at a bottom surface of the light guide plate. The isolation sheet has a light reflective surface facing the light guide plate. A light source emits a light into the light guide plate. The light is reflected by the optical structure to pass through the through holes configured at the isolation sheet, thus allowing more light outputting through the through holes, so as to improve the illumination of the key cap, and improve the light emitting efficiency.