Luminous Keyboard Bottom-Emitting Illumination and Non-Contact Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional luminous keyboards suffer from inefficient light utilization, increased thickness due to the scissors-type connecting element, and vision impairment in dim environments, as they lack an effective illuminating function.

Innovation Solution

A luminous keyboard with a non-contact sensing technology using bottom-emitting type illumination elements and light-transmissible elastic elements, which enhance light utilization efficiency and provide clear key illumination without hindering key operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If lateral-emitting type illumination elements are used in conventional luminous keyboards, then the keyboard can provide illumination function, but the light utilization efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey illuminationVSAvoidlight utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the illumination direction from lateral-emitting to bottom-emitting. The illumination elements are positioned beneath the keyboard structure, emitting light upward through the support plate and keycaps. This inversion enables direct illumination of the key surfaces from below, significantly improving light utilization efficiency as the light travels a shorter path and directly illuminates the intended area without lateral dispersion losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Stability of the object's composition

If scissors-type connecting element is used in conventional luminous keyboards, then the key structure is stable, but the keyboard thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey structure stabilityVSAvoidkeyboard thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the scissors-type connecting element from the key structure. Instead of using the complex scissors mechanism, the invention employs a simplified structure where the keycap is directly connected to the support plate through positioning structures and elastic elements. This extraction removes the thickness-contributing component while maintaining key stability through alternative design approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs thin elastic elements as replacement for the bulky scissors mechanism. These elastic elements provide the necessary mechanical flexibility and stability for key operation while occupying minimal space in the thickness direction, thereby reducing overall keyboard thickness while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If conventional luminous keyboard structure is used, then the keyboard can operate in normal environments, but vision impairment occurs in dim environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey visibilityVSAvoidvision impairment in dim environment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary illumination action by positioning the illumination elements to activate before key operation in dim environments. The bottom-emitting illumination structure provides pre-illumination of the key surfaces, ensuring that the keycaps are already visible to the user before they need to locate and press the keys, thereby preventing vision impairment and facilitating ease of operation in low-light conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 improves light utilization efficiency and reduces keyboard thickness, ensuring clear key visibility in dim environments while maintaining effective key operation through non-contact sensing and enhanced tactile feedback.

Implementation Method 1

at least one bottom-emitting type illumination element is disposed under the at least one key for providing a light beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

After the light beam from the at least one bottom-emitting type illumination element is transmitted through the at least one light-transmissible elastic element, the light beam is projected to the at least one key

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS9299515B2Luminous keyboard

Publication Date: 2016.03.29 PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD

AI summary

A luminous keyboard includes plural bottom-emitting type illumination elements, a sensing module, plural keys, and plural light-transmissible elastic elements. As a key is moved toward the sensing module, the sensing module generates a corresponding non-contact key signal. Each bottom-emitting type illumination element is aligned with a key, and disposed under the corresponding key. Each light-transmissible elastic element is aligned with a bottom-emitting type illumination element, and arranged between the corresponding bottom-emitting type illumination element and the corresponding key. After the light beam provided by each bottom-emitting type illumination element is transmitted through the corresponding light-transmissible elastic element, the light beam is projected to the corresponding key.