Keyboard Light-Shielding Layer and Through-Hole Base Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current illuminated keyboards suffer from uneven light distribution on keycaps, leading to a poor user experience, and the trend of reducing keyboard thickness results in smaller keycap strokes, compromising the feel of pressing the keys.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard design featuring a base plate with through holes, a membrane circuit board, a backlight module, and keyswitch assemblies with a position-returning member and light-shielding layer, where the light-shielding layer blocks light from reaching the keyswitch assemblies, and the through holes are designed to increase keycap stroke, ensuring better tactile feedback and uniform light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If LEDs are directly disposed on the membrane circuit board to illuminate keycaps, then the keyboard structure is simplified, but the luminosity on keycaps becomes uneven and confined to small areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide plate as an intermediary component between the LEDs and the keycaps. The light guide plate receives light from the LEDs and redistributes it uniformly across the keycap surfaces, solving the problem of uneven luminosity while maintaining the simplified LED-on-circuit-board structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from direct point-source illumination (0D/1D) to area-based illumination by using the light guide plate to spread light across the surface of the keycaps (2D), thereby achieving uniform luminosity distribution across the entire keyboard surface
2Length of stationary object
If the keyboard thickness is reduced to meet light-and-thin trends, then the keyboard becomes more compact, but the keycap stroke becomes too small and the pressing feel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the keyboard structure into separate functional layers: the base plate with through-holes for mechanical stroke, the membrane circuit board for electrical connections, and the backlight module for illumination. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently, enabling thin overall thickness while maintaining adequate keycap stroke through the through-hole design
3Length of moving object
If the through hole size on the base plate is increased to improve keycap stroke, then the tactile feedback is enhanced, but light may leak through the position-returning member affecting illumination uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different regions: the position-returning member has light-blocking properties in the region where it overlaps the through-hole, while maintaining mechanical functionality. This local differentiation allows the through-hole to provide adequate stroke while preventing light leakage through strategic light-blocking treatment at specific locations
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 design enhances keycap stroke and tactile feedback while preventing uneven light distribution by blocking light emission through the position-returning member, resulting in improved user experience and keycap feel.
Implementation Method 1
the light-shielding layer blocks light from reaching the keyswitch assemblies
Implementation Method 2
The backlight module is disposed at a side of the base plate away from the membrane circuit board and configured to emit light toward the base plate
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard includes a base plate, a membrane circuit board, a backlight module, and a plurality of keyswitch assemblies. The base plate has a plurality of through holes. The membrane circuit board is disposed on the base plate. The backlight module is disposed at a side of the base plate away from the membrane circuit board and configured to emit light toward the base plate. The keyswitch assemblies are disposed on the membrane circuit board. Each of the keyswitch assemblies includes a position-returning member located over one of the through holes. An orthogonal projection of the position-returning member projected on the base plate overlaps a part of said one of the through holes.