Illuminated Keyswitch Backlight Structure for Glare Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional illuminated keyswitch structures cause eye discomfort due to glare from light leaks around the edges of keycaps, and reducing backlight intensity to mitigate this affects the illuminating effect on light-transmitting characters.
Innovation Solution
A keyswitch backlight structure featuring a light-guiding layer with microstructures on its emitting surface, a reflective layer underneath, and a transparent adhesive layer to diffuse light, reducing glare and maintaining illumination intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the base plate forms multiple openings for light to pass through, then the backlight can illuminate the keycap, but the user experiences eye discomfort from glare near the edge of the keycap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different surface characteristics in different regions of the light guide plate. The edge region near the keycap has a rough surface that diffuses light to reduce glare, while the center region maintains a smooth surface for efficient light transmission. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing both illumination and glare reduction in their respective areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing the light guide plate surface with specific microstructures before light emission. The rough surface treatment is applied in advance to the light guide plate, so that when light passes through, it is automatically diffused at the edge regions to prevent glare before reaching the user's eyes, rather than attempting to correct glare after it occurs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the overall backlight intensity is reduced to eliminate glare, then eye discomfort is reduced, but the illuminating effect on light-transmitting characters is seriously affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains high overall backlight intensity by applying the rough surface treatment only to specific edge regions of the light guide plate, while the center region remains smooth for efficient light transmission. This localized approach ensures that character illumination remains bright and clear, while only the potentially glary edge regions are softened, thus resolving the contradiction between overall illumination intensity and glare reduction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mask printing is implemented on the light guide plate to block leaking light, then glare is reduced, but the backlight intensity decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the light guide plate surface from smooth to rough in specific regions, altering how light interacts with the surface. Instead of using mask printing that blocks light, the rough surface treatment diffuses light through microstructural changes, thereby reducing glare and light leakage while preserving overall backlight intensity for character illumination.
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 softens the light emitted, reducing eye irritation from leaks while maintaining sufficient backlight intensity for keycap illumination, thus improving user comfort without compromising the illuminating effect.
Implementation Method 1
a surface microstructure formed on the light-emitting surface... The light in the light-guiding layer that exits the light-guiding layer through the surface microstructure on the light-emitting surface will diverge and become soft
Implementation Method 2
The reflective layer is disposed under the light-guiding layer opposite to the bottom surface
Data Source
AI summary
A keyswitch backlight structure includes a light-guiding layer, a reflective layer, and a transparent adhesive layer. The light-guiding layer has a bottom surface, a light-emitting surface opposite to the bottom surface, and a surface microstructure formed on the light-emitting surface. The reflective layer is disposed opposite to the bottom surface. The transparent adhesive layer is closely attached to and between the reflective layer and the light-guiding layer corresponding to the surface microstructure. An illuminated keyswitch structure includes base plate, a keycap, a supporting mechanism, and the above keyswitch backlight structure. The keyswitch backlight structure and the base plate are stacked. The supporting mechanism is connected to and between the base plate and the keycap for lifting the keycap relative to the base plate. Light entering the light-guiding layer exits the light-guiding layer through the light-emitting surface to illuminate a transparent indication area of the keycap.