Backlight Keyboard Light Guide Plate for Multi-Language Key Layouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing backlight keyboard designs face challenges in using a common light guide plate for different language keyswitch sets due to varied hole configurations, leading to increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A light guide plate design with adjustable dot structures and hole configurations that accommodate keyswitches of different sizes and layouts, allowing for uniform illumination across various language keyswitch sets by optimizing dot intensity and placement to prevent overbrightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a light guide plate is designed with specific hole configurations for one language family, then the illumination effect is optimized for that language family, but the light guide plate cannot be applied to keyboards with different language families
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is designed with a universal hole configuration that can accommodate multiple language families (U.S., U.K., Brazil, Japanese). The plate includes a standardized set of holes that can cover different keyswitch layouts, allowing a single light guide plate design to serve multiple keyboard language variants, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hole configuration on the light guide plate is segmented into different groups that correspond to different language families. By selectively activating or covering specific hole groups, the same light guide plate can be adapted to different keyboard layouts. This segmentation allows flexibility in accommodating various language requirements without requiring completely different plate designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the dot structure on the light guide plate is increased to cover more keyswitches, then more keyswitches can be illuminated, but overbrightness occurs on certain keyswitches
Solution Approach 1:
The dot structure on the light guide plate features variable dot intensities at different locations. Areas corresponding to keyswitches that require less illumination have lower dot intensity, while areas needing more light have higher dot intensity. This local variation in dot quality ensures uniform illumination across all keyswitches regardless of their position or size, preventing overbrightness while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
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 the use of a single light guide plate for backlight keyboards with different language keyswitch sets, reducing manufacturing costs and ensuring uniform illumination, regardless of keyswitch size and layout variations.
Implementation Method 1
the light guide plate has a dot structure formed corresponding to each hole for guiding light to pass through each hole and be incident to symbols on the keyswitches
Implementation Method 2
the light guide plate has a dot structure formed corresponding to each hole for guiding light to pass through each hole
Data Source
AI summary
A backlight keyboard includes a first keyswitch, a first backlight source, a light guide plate and a first board having first and second holes. The light guide plate is applied to the backlight keyboard and a second backlight keyboard including a second keyswitch, a second backlight source and a second board having third and fourth holes. The second keyswitch on the second backlight keyboard is shifted transversely relative to the first keyswitch on the backlight keyboard to make the first and fourth holes have a first overlapping area. The light guide plate has a first dot structure corresponding to the first and third holes and a second dot structure corresponding to the second and fourth holes except the first overlapping area for guiding light to symbols on the first and second keyswitches. The first dot structure is less than the second dot structure in dot intensity.