Light Guide Plate Opening Structures for Keyboard Color Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single-sheet light guide plates in keyboard modules suffer from light mixing between neighboring regions of different colors due to the lack of divided regions, making it difficult to achieve color differentiation at a low cost.
Innovation Solution
A single-sheet light guide plate with strategically designed first and second opening structures, featuring closed ends that face each other and are partially overlapping, to refract and reflect light, preventing mixing between neighboring regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-sheet light guide plate is used, then manufacturing cost and assembly complexity are reduced, but light mixing between neighboring regions of different colors occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is segmented by forming multiple opening structures (through-holes) that extend from the first surface to the second surface. These opening structures divide the light guide plate into multiple light guide regions, preventing light mixing between neighboring regions of different colors while maintaining a single-sheet structure for cost-effective manufacturing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If opening structures are added to a single-sheet light guide plate, then light mixing is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional features are merged into a single integrated structure. The opening structures serve dual purposes: they act as light-blocking barriers to prevent light mixing, and they function as through-holes for inserting light-shielding members. This integration maintains structural simplicity while achieving effective light separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Light-shielding members are introduced as intermediary elements that are inserted through the opening structures. These members enhance the light-blocking effect at the interfaces between light guide regions, providing additional prevention against light mixing without requiring complex structural modifications to the light guide plate itself.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light guide regions with different colors are implemented, then color differentiation is achieved, but light mixing between regions occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is divided into multiple light guide regions corresponding to different key positions, with each region capable of guiding light of a specific color. The opening structures create physical separations between these regions, ensuring that light emitted in one region does not mix with light from adjacent regions, thereby maintaining distinct color differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide plate are designed with locally optimized properties. Each light guide region has specific optical characteristics tailored to its function, and the opening structures are strategically positioned at interfaces where light mixing would occur, providing localized light-blocking functionality without affecting the overall color differentiation capability.
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 divides light guide regions into distinct colors, preventing light mixing and allowing for the display of different colors without the need for complex assembly or high costs.
Implementation Method 1
the opening structures in the present invention include closed ends such that the light is refracted and reflected thereby
Implementation Method 2
the light is reflected or totally reflected by the closed ends of the opening structures
Implementation Method 3
the light is reflected or totally reflected by the closed ends of the opening structures
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a light guide plate and an input apparatus. The light guide plate includes a light guide body, at least one first opening structure, and at least one second opening structure. The first opening structure passes through the light guide body and includes at least one first closed end. The second opening structure passes through the light guide body and includes at least one second closed end. The first closed end and the second closed end face each other. The first closed end partially overlaps the second closed end on at least one first axis, the first closed end and the second closed end are disposed parallel to each other on at least one second axis, and the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.