Keyboard Light Guide Plate Openings for Color Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current single-sheet light guide plates in keyboard modules suffer from a light mixing phenomenon between neighboring regions of different colors, making it difficult to achieve distinct color separation without complex assembly and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A single-sheet light guide plate with strategically designed opening structures, including first and second opening structures with closed ends, is used to refract and reflect light, preventing mixing between neighboring regions by creating distinct light guide regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-sheet light guide plate is used, then the assembly process is simplified and costs are reduced, but light mixing occurs between neighboring regions of different colors
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is segmented by forming opening structures (through-holes or recesses) at specific positions to divide the light guide regions. These opening structures create physical separations between neighboring light guide regions of different colors, preventing light mixing while maintaining a single-sheet structure that is easy to manufacture.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If divided regions are added to separate light paths, then light mixing is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex and assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The opening structures are integrated directly into the light guide plate as a unified component rather than separate elements. The opening structures are formed as part of the light guide plate manufacturing process (injection molding), combining the light guide function and light separation function into a single structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening structures serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as light blocking elements to prevent light mixing, serve as structural features integrated into the light guide plate, and can be positioned to correspond with keycap arrangements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple light guide plates are assembled to prevent light mixing, then color separation is improved, but manufacturing costs and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple separate light guide plates, the invention segments a single light guide plate by forming opening structures within it. This segmentation approach achieves the same light separation effect as multiple plates would provide, but maintains the manufacturing and assembly advantages of a single-component design.
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 solution effectively separates light into distinct regions, preventing mixing and allowing for the display of different colors without the need for complex assembly or high costs, thereby enhancing the visual clarity and functionality of the backlight module.
Implementation Method 1
The first opening structure passes through the light guide body and includes a first closed end... The first closed end and the second closed end face each other... to refract and reflect light
Implementation Method 2
The first closed end and the second closed end face each other... to refract and reflect light, preventing mixing between neighboring regions
Data Source
AI summary
An input apparatus includes a reflection layer, a light guide plate, a first light source, a second light source and a light absorption member. The light guide plate is disposed on the reflection layer and includes a first light guide region and a second light guide region connected with each other by a junction, a first area of the first light guide region is different from a second area of the second light guide region. The first light source corresponds to the first light guide region. The second light source corresponds to the second light guide region, the light guide plate has a first opening structure disposed between the first light source and the second light source. The light absorption member is disposed at a position corresponding to the first opening structure.