Lighting Keyboard Integrated Circuit and Backlight Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting keyboards have a rigid keyboard base that separates the membrane circuit substrate and backlighting unit, limiting the ability to reduce the thickness of the keyboard.
Innovation Solution
A lighting keyboard design with a combined circuit and lighting unit, featuring a membrane circuit substrate, first and second light-blocking layers, a reflecting layer, and a backlighting module with a light guide and scattering layer, allowing light to be transmitted through a defined light passage to illuminate press keys, while integrating components to reduce thickness and production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid keyboard base is used to separate the membrane circuit substrate and backlighting unit, then structural stability is improved, but the keyboard thickness cannot be further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the keyboard base, membrane circuit substrate, and backlighting unit into an integrated structure. The membrane circuit substrate is directly mounted on the backlighting unit without requiring a separate rigid keyboard base for separation, thereby reducing overall thickness while maintaining structural stability through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard base in this patent serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, houses the membrane circuit substrate, and integrates the backlighting unit. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components and reduces the overall keyboard thickness while maintaining stability.
2Reliability
If the membrane circuit substrate and backlighting unit are separated by a rigid keyboard base, then component protection is improved, but production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the membrane circuit substrate and backlighting unit into a single integrated assembly mounted directly on the keyboard base, the patent reduces the number of separate components and assembly steps. This integration simplifies production while still providing adequate protection for the circuit substrate through the integrated structure.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for circuit substrate and backlighting, then component reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the backlighting unit and membrane circuit substrate into a unified assembly that reduces the total component count. This integration lowers manufacturing costs by reducing the number of separate parts to produce, store, and assemble, while the integrated design maintains reliability through coordinated functionality of the combined components.
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 integrated design reduces the keyboard's thickness by 0.15 mm and lowers production costs, while maintaining effective key illumination.
Implementation Method 1
a backlighting module (21), and a second light-blocking layer (215). The backlighting module (21) underlies the first reflecting layer (221), and cooperates with the first light-blocking layer (220), the membrane circuit substrate (22), and the first reflecting layer (221) to define a light passage
Implementation Method 2
a first reflecting layer (221) that underlies the membrane circuit substrate (22)
Implementation Method 3
an elastic layer (30) that is disposed between the press keys (10) and the keyboard base (32), and that has a plurality of elastic members (301) respectively disposed beneath the press keys (10)
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting keyboard includes a keyboard unit, and a combined circuit and lighting unit. The keyboard unit has a keyboard base, press keys mounted on the keyboard base, and an elastic layer disposed between the press keys and the keyboard base, and having elastic members disposed beneath the press keys. The combined circuit and lighting unit includes a membrane circuit substrate underlying the keyboard base, a first light-blocking layer disposed on top of the membrane circuit substrate, a first reflecting layer underlying the membrane circuit substrate, a backlighting module, and a second light-blocking layer. The backlighting module underlies the first reflecting layer, and cooperates with the first light-blocking layer, the membrane circuit substrate, and the first reflecting layer to define a light passage. The second light-blocking layer underlies the backlighting module. Light generated from the backlighting module is transmitted toward the press keys through the light passage.