Keyboard Illumination via Integrated Light-Guiding Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards struggle to clearly distinguish buttons in dark environments due to high manufacturing costs and complexity, as they often require large light-guiding plates and multiple light sources, which do not cater to user vision needs.
Innovation Solution
An electrical apparatus with a casing, a light-guiding device, and a light-emitting device, where the light-guiding device is designed with colored dyes and textures to vary luminance, and an annular protrusion for color and luminance adjustment, eliminating the need for large light-guiding plates and multiple light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a large light-guiding plate and multiple light sources are used to illuminate the keyboard in dark environment, then the buttons can be clearly distinguished, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light-guiding function and color-filtering function into a single integrated light-guiding plate, eliminating the need for separate components. The light-guiding plate incorporates multiple colored dyes (red, green, blue) in different regions to guide light from a single white light source to produce colored illumination for different button groups, thereby reducing component count and manufacturing cost while maintaining effective button illumination in dark environments
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guiding plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides light from the light source, filters light to produce different colors in different regions through incorporated dyes, and structures the light distribution to illuminate specific button groups. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate light sources for different color zones, reducing overall system complexity and manufacturing cost
2Illumination intensity
If a large light-guiding plate and multiple light sources are installed, then the buttons can be illuminated, but the device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light sources and light-guiding plates into a single white light source and one integrated light-guiding plate with colored dyes, significantly reducing the total weight of illumination components while maintaining effective button illumination across the keyboard
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light sources are used to provide colored light, then the buttons can be distinguished by color, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple color-filtering functions into a single light-guiding plate with different colored dyes (red, green, blue) in different regions. This single component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate light sources and light-guiding plates, reducing system complexity while maintaining the ability to provide differentiated colored illumination for various button groups
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guiding plate incorporates different colored dyes in specific regions corresponding to different button groups. This local differentiation of optical properties within a single component allows each button group to be illuminated with its characteristic color, providing visual distinction and adaptability without requiring separate illumination systems for each zone
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 reduces manufacturing costs and weight while allowing customizable light color and luminance for user convenience, ensuring recognizable buttons in dark environments without the complexity of prior solutions.
Implementation Method 1
A part of light emerged from the light-guiding device passes through the opening to one side of the keyboard
Implementation Method 2
a surface of the light-guiding device is applied with a plurality of dyes with different colors, such that the light emerged from the light-guiding device comprises a plurality of colors
Implementation Method 3
a surface of the light-guiding device is formed with a texture for lowering the luminance of the light
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical apparatus comprises a casing, a light-guiding device and a light-emitting device. In this case, the casing has a keyboard setting area for accommodating a keyboard. An opening is located at one side of the keyboard setting area. The light-guiding device is set in the casing and is near to the opening. Light is emerged from the light-guiding device and a part of the light passes through the opening to one side of the keyboard. The light-emitting device is set at one side of the light-guiding device.