Illuminated Keyswitch Structure for Uniform Backlight and Leak Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminated keyswitch structures suffer from uneven lighting, resulting in central characters being too bright while corner characters are too dark, and this leads to inconsistent luminance uniformity and light leakage through heat dissipation or structural holes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a designed glue distribution and coating pattern in the illuminated keyswitch structure and backlit module, which guides light along the transverse direction, recycles light to prevent leakage, and enhances luminance uniformity and brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a dedicated light source is placed under the baseplate to emit light upward, then the brightness of the illuminated keyswitch is increased, but the lighting becomes uneven with the center character too bright and corner characters too dark
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the glue distribution pattern in different regions of the backlit module. Specifically, the glue is distributed with different densities or patterns in central regions versus peripheral regions, allowing the light to be uniformly diffused across the entire keycap surface. This local variation in glue distribution compensates for the natural light intensity gradient, making corner characters as visible as center characters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces glue as an intermediary substance between the light source and the keycap. This glue layer acts as a light-diffusing medium that redistributes the light from the dedicated light source. By carefully designing the glue distribution pattern, the intermediary glue layer transforms the concentrated light from the LED into a uniform illumination across the entire keycap, including corners and edges.
2Temperature
If heat dissipation holes or structural holes are formed in the baseplate, then heat dissipation or positioning function is achieved, but light leakage occurs at these hole locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the glue layer as an intermediary to seal around the heat dissipation holes and structural holes. This glue acts as both an adhesive and a light-blocking barrier, preventing light from leaking through these necessary openings in the baseplate. The glue distribution is specifically designed to cover these hole regions while maintaining the overall light diffusion function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful light leakage through holes into a beneficial sealing function. By positioning the glue distribution to cover the hole regions, the same glue that serves as an adhesive and light diffuser also acts as a light shield, turning the holes from light-leaking defects into sealed regions that maintain both heat dissipation functionality and optical integrity.
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 effectively addresses the issue of uneven lighting and light leakage, achieving improved luminance uniformity and brightness across the keyswitch, while also preventing light leakage from structural holes.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective layer disposed at one side of the light guide sheet opposite to the mask film, the reflective layer having an opening communicating with the light source hole
Implementation Method 2
the light guide sheet having a light source hole... configured to guide the light along the transverse (horizontal) direction and then output the light
Data Source
AI summary
A backlit-module-embedded illuminated keyswitch structure includes a baseplate, a mask film disposed below the baseplate and having a first coating configured to substantially reflect a light, a light guide sheet disposed at one side of the mask film and having a light source hole, a reflective layer disposed at one side of the light guide sheet opposite to the mask film and having an opening communicating with the light source hole, a top glue configured to connect the mask film and the light guide sheet around the light source hole, and a bottom glue configured to connect the light guide sheet and the reflective layer around the light source hole. The first coating covers the light source hole. In a stacked direction of the mask film, the light guide sheet, and the reflective layer, at least one of the top glue and the bottom glue overlaps the first coating.