Light-Guiding Structure With Thru-Opening For Touch Pad Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light-guiding structures in electronic devices with touch pads increase the overall thickness due to the need for an additional light-guiding plate, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A light-guiding structure with a thru-opening in the light-guiding plate that receives the touch pad structure, surrounded by a light-guiding member and illuminated by light-emitting units, reducing the overall thickness while providing peripheral illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a rectangular light-guiding plate is disposed under the touch pad structure to provide illumination, then the illumination effect around the periphery of the touch pad structure is achieved, but the thickness of the overall electronic device is undesirably increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light-guiding function with the touch pad structure by integrating the light-guiding plate into the touch pad assembly. The light-guiding plate is positioned to work in conjunction with the touch pad structure, allowing both illumination and touch functions to be achieved within the same spatial envelope, thereby eliminating the need for additional thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the z-dimension (thickness direction) by positioning the light-guiding plate in a plane that coincides with or is integrated into the touch pad structure plane. Instead of stacking components in the thickness direction, the solution redistributes components in the lateral dimensions, allowing the light-guiding plate to provide illumination without increasing overall device thickness.
2Illumination intensity
If an extra light-guiding plate is stacked with the touch pad structure to achieve illumination, then the illumination around the touch pad periphery is provided, but the device complexity and thickness are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding plate is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides peripheral illumination for the touch pad while also serving as part of the touch pad structure itself. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby simplifying the overall device structure and reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guiding plate is segmented into regions that correspond to different functional areas, with through-holes positioned to align with the touch pad structure. This segmentation allows the light-guiding plate to be integrated with the touch pad structure rather than being a separate stacked component, reducing device complexity.
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 allows for a thinner electronic device with uniform illumination around the touch pad structure, eliminating the need for an extra light-guiding plate and reducing the risk of bright spots through strategic placement of slits or extensions.
Implementation Method 1
Light emitted by the corresponding light-emitting units is transmitted toward the light-guiding plate
Implementation Method 2
Light emitted by the corresponding light-emitting units is transmitted toward the light-guiding plate and creates illumination effect
Implementation Method 3
a light-guiding structure has been applied to the electronic device to make the periphery of the touch pad structure illuminate
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is disclosed, which includes a housing, a touch pad structure, and a light-guiding structure. The light-guiding structure includes a light-guiding plate and a plurality of light-emitting units. The light-guiding plate has a main body and a thru-opening formed on the main body. The main body has a pair of opposing first edge portions and a pair of opposing second edge portions. A light-guiding member is formed on the main body around the thru-opening. The light-emitting units are disposed on or beyond the light-guiding pate and around the light-guiding member and illuminate toward the first and second edge portions. The touch pad structure is received in the thru-opening and surrounded by the light-guiding member. The touch pad structure and the light-guiding member are exposed through a slot of the housing.