Lighted Keyboard Using OLED Sheet for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards lack uniform backlighting, leading to inadequate illumination of keys, and existing solutions either increase keyboard thickness or complicate assembly, making them less practical for use in low-light environments and increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A lighted keyboard design incorporating an OLED sheet as a backlight, paired with a transparent optically transmissive rubber plate and membrane circuit board, which directs light uniformly to the keys while maintaining a thin profile and simplifying assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If an LED assembly with aluminum plate is used for backlighting, then keys can be illuminated, but keyboard thickness increases greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the aluminum plate from the keyboard structure, retaining only the essential LED assembly and optical components. This eliminates the thickness contribution of the aluminum plate while preserving the backlighting function through direct LED-to-key illumination geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs thin film structures including a thin circuit board and flexible PCB components to replace traditional rigid aluminum plate structures. These thin film elements maintain structural integrity and electrical connectivity while minimizing thickness, enabling the overall keyboard to achieve a thin profile with integrated backlighting.
2Illumination intensity
If an LED assembly with aluminum plate is used for backlighting, then keys can be illuminated, but assembly becomes complicated and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the LED assembly, circuit board, and structural support functions into an integrated unit. The circuit board serves multiple functions including electrical connectivity, structural support, and mounting surface for LED components, eliminating the need for separate aluminum plate assembly and reducing the number of assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing electrical connections for LEDs and key switches, serving as a structural support platform, and acting as a mounting surface for the LED assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall assembly process.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional LED backlighting is used, then keys can be illuminated, but light distribution is not even
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements local quality optimization by positioning individual LED components at specific locations corresponding to different key areas. The LED assembly is configured with varying LED densities and positions to compensate for distance differences, ensuring that each key receives uniform illumination regardless of its position on the keyboard.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces optical intermediaries including diffusers and reflectors positioned between the LED assembly and the keys. These optical elements redistribute and uniformize the light from point-source LEDs across the key surfaces, transforming non-uniform LED emission into even key illumination.
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 even key illumination, reduces assembly time and manufacturing costs, and maintains a thin keyboard profile while utilizing energy-efficient and lightweight OLED technology.
Implementation Method 1
OLEDs (organic light emitting diodes) have been widely employed in various lighting and electronic devices
Implementation Method 2
In OLED, the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compounds that emits light when an electric current passes through it
Implementation Method 3
an optically transmissive rubber plate disposed under the OLED sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A lighted keyboard includes transparent, rectangular keys each comprising a bottom stem; scissors shaped structures disposed under the keys, each scissors shaped structure being aligned with the stem and comprising a first frame and a second frame pivotally secured together; an OLED sheet disposed under the scissors shaped structures and comprising units each including a hole; an optically transmissive rubber plate disposed under the OLED sheet and comprising units each including a resilient dome passing through the hole of the unit of the OLED sheet, the resilient dome having a conductive shaft aligned with the stem; a membrane circuit board disposed under the rubber plate and comprising a plurality of contacts each aligned with the conductive shaft; and a rectangular aluminum plate disposed under the membrane circuit board and comprising units each including snapping grooves and a slide guide groove secured to the scissors shaped structure.