Keyboard Light Guide Panel Microperforations for Uniform Halo Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Back-illuminated keyboards face challenges in providing uniform illumination for functional keys like fingerprint identification keys, which require a unique illumination architecture to create a desirable halo around the edge of the key, while maintaining efficiency and uniformity.
Innovation Solution
A custom illumination architecture using a light guide panel (LGP) with microperforations, combined with a reflector sheet and LEDs, generates light that shines uniformly around the key, preventing bright spots and allowing for adjustable illumination effects like blinking or visual chimes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light guide panel with microperforations is used to create uniform illumination around functional keys, then the uniformity of illumination is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide panel is segmented with microperforations distributed across its surface, dividing the illumination function into multiple discrete light emission points that collectively create uniform halo illumination around functional keys without requiring complex individual lighting mechanisms for each key
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide panel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides halos for functional keys without glyphs, enables backlighting for keys with glyphs through the microperforations, and creates uniform illumination distribution across the keyboard surface, reducing the need for separate illumination systems for different key types
2Illumination intensity
If back-illumination is used to illuminate glyphs in the center of keys, then the glyph visibility is improved, but the halo around the edge of the key increases (causing bleed out)
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide panel has varying local properties with microperforations strategically positioned and sized to control light emission locally - areas with higher perforation density provide halos for functional keys while areas with lower density maintain glyph visibility, allowing different illumination characteristics in different regions of the same panel
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide panel acts as an intermediary between the light source and the keys, using its microperforation structure to modulate and redirect light - it captures light from the backlight source and redistributes it through the microperforations to create halos around functional keys while preventing direct light leakage that would cause halo bleed out
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 solution achieves efficient and uniform back-lighting for functional keys, enhancing user interaction and maintaining key tactile feel, while being adaptable for various electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
A custom illumination architecture using a light guide panel (LGP) with microperforations, combined with a reflector sheet and LEDs, generates light that shines uniformly around the key
Implementation Method 2
A custom illumination architecture using a light guide panel (LGP) with microperforations, combined with a reflector sheet and LEDs, generates light that shines uniformly around the key, preventing bright spots
Implementation Method 3
A custom illumination architecture using a light guide panel (LGP) with microperforations, combined with a reflector sheet and LEDs, generates light that shines uniformly around the key
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard includes a mechanical structure and a key attached to the mechanical structure. A light emitting diode configured to emit light into a light guide panel. A reflector may be attached to the light guide panel and be configured to reflect light from the light guide panel through an opening in the mechanical structure to illuminate a periphery of the key.