Light-Guiding Plate with Embedded LED Cavities for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light-emitting devices for electronic devices, such as mobile phones, require multiple LEDs and a light-guiding plate, increasing manufacturing costs and power consumption, while also thickening the device due to the need for sufficient keypad illumination in dark environments.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting device with a light-guiding plate featuring holes and a reflective layer, where the light sources are disposed within these holes, allowing light to be diffused and directed to multiple locations, reducing thickness and optical loss while maintaining uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs and a light-guiding plate are used to illuminate the keypad, then sufficient illumination is achieved, but manufacturing cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source and light guiding functions into a single integrated structure. The light-guiding plate incorporates hollow cavities that directly house the LED light sources, eliminating the need for separate LED mounting structures and reducing the number of optical components. This integration allows a single LED to effectively illuminate multiple keypad regions through the light-guiding plate's optical design, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining sufficient illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guiding plate is segmented into multiple hollow cavities, each capable of housing a light source. This segmentation allows light to be distributed to multiple locations through the cavity structure and light guiding surfaces, enabling one LED to illuminate multiple keypad areas effectively, thus reducing the total number of LEDs needed and lowering power consumption.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs and a light-guiding plate are used to illuminate the keypad, then sufficient illumination is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source mounting structure with the light-guiding plate into a single integrated component. The hollow cavities in the light-guiding plate serve dual purposes: structural support for LEDs and optical guiding elements. This reduces the total part count, simplifies assembly processes, and lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining effective keypad illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guiding plate performs multiple functions: it serves as a structural support element, an optical guiding component, and a light source mounting structure through its hollow cavities. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifies manufacturing, and lowers overall production costs while achieving sufficient keypad illumination.
3Illumination intensity
If LEDs and light-guiding plate are disposed between circuit board and keypad, then illumination is provided, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the LED light sources within the hollow cavities of the light-guiding plate, creating a nested structure. The LEDs are positioned inside the cavities rather than requiring separate mounting space, and the light-guiding plate itself serves as the illumination component. This nesting approach minimizes the overall thickness of the illumination assembly while maintaining effective light distribution to the keypad.
4Illumination intensity
If conventional light guiding structure is used, then light is emitted from LEDs, but light loss occurs and illumination uniformity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface qualities to different regions of the light-guiding plate. The inner surfaces of the hollow cavities and light guiding paths are designed with specific reflectivity characteristics to maximize light redirection, while the outer surfaces have diffusion properties for uniform light distribution. This localized optimization of surface properties reduces optical loss and improves illumination uniformity across the keypad.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the three-dimensional cavity structure of the light-guiding plate to redirect light in multiple directions and dimensions. The hollow cavities create complex light paths that distribute light more evenly across multiple keypad regions, transforming the light distribution from a simple planar pattern to a multi-dimensional distribution pattern, thereby improving uniformity and reducing hot spots.
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 provides efficient, uniform keypad illumination with reduced device thickness and lower power consumption, achieving a multi-faceted light diffusion effect and simpler assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective layer is disposed upon the hole. Therefore, when the light sources emit lights, the lights do not come out of the holes directly but are guided to the light-guiding plate through the reflective plate
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting device and an electronic device using the same are provided. The light-emitting device includes a light-guiding plate, a circuit board, at least one light source unit and a reflective layer. The circuit board is disposed under the light-guiding plate. The reflective layer is disposed above the light-guiding plate. The light-guiding plate has at least one hole. The light source unit is disposed on the circuit board and within the hole. The reflective layer is disposed above the hole. The light-emitting device is disposed on one side of a part, such as a keypad, of the electronic device for providing light to the keypad.