Keyboard Backlight Control Using Ultrasonic Hand Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information handling systems fail to effectively control keyboard backlights based on user presence, leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses ultrasonic waveforms generated by speakers and detected by microphones to determine if a user's hands are over the keyboard, with a processor controlling the embedded controller to turn on or off the keyboard backlights accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If keyboard backlights are kept on to ensure visibility, then user experience is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard backlight system dynamically adjusts its state based on real-time detection of hand presence over the keyboard. The system transitions between illuminated and dark states according to user interaction, ensuring backlights are active only when needed for visibility while remaining off during non-use periods to conserve power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs ultrasonic sensors to continuously monitor hand presence over the keyboard and uses this feedback information to control backlight activation. When hands are detected, the backlight is activated; when hands are absent, the backlight turns off, creating a closed-loop control system that balances visibility and power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If ultrasonic sensing is implemented to detect hand presence, then backlight control accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary control module that bridges the ultrasonic sensing system and the backlight control system. This intermediary layer processes the raw ultrasonic signals, determines hand presence, and translates this information into appropriate backlight control commands, thereby managing system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic sensing mechanism is integrated into the existing keyboard structure, serving multiple functions: detecting hand presence for backlight control, potentially identifying typing patterns, and providing feedback for accessibility features. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single sensing addition.
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 efficient and user-presence-based control of keyboard backlights, reducing power consumption and improving user experience by ensuring backlights are only activated when needed.
Implementation Method 1
a processor to determine whether an ultrasonic waveform is received
Implementation Method 2
In response to the ultrasonic waveform being received, the processor may provide the deactivate keyboard backlights signal to the embedded controller
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system includes keyboard backlights, an embedded controller, and a processor. The embedded controller communicates with the keyboard backlights. In response to an activate keyboard backlights signal, the embedded controller turns on the keyboard backlights. In response to a deactivate keyboard backlights signal, the embedded controller turns off the keyboard backlights. The processor communicates with the embedded controller. The processor determines whether an ultrasonic waveform is received. In response to the ultrasonic waveform being received, the processors provide the deactivate keyboard backlights signal to the embedded controller. In response to the ultrasonic waveform not being received, the processor provides the activate keyboard backlights signal to the embedded controller.