Reflective Light-Emitting Key Module for Thin Backlit Keyboards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current backlit keyboards suffer from thickness issues due to bulky backlight modules, high power consumption, and poor heat dissipation, particularly in notebook computers, where heat concentration leads to local heating and reduced user experience.
Innovation Solution
A reflective four-in-one light-emitting key core module that uses LEDs directly integrated into the keycaps, eliminating the need for a backlight module, with a structure comprising a support structure, insulating layer, circuit layer, spacer layer, light-guiding film, elastic conducting member, and low-power LEDs, allowing for thinner designs and improved heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a backlight module is used to illuminate keycaps, then the keyboard can be used in low-light conditions, but the thickness of the keyboard increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the illumination function into individual key-level LED units rather than using a single centralized backlight module. Each key has its own LED positioned close to the keycap, allowing illumination without requiring a thick uniform backlight layer across the entire keyboard.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements localized illumination by placing LEDs individually at or near each keycap position. This allows light to be generated exactly where needed (at the keycap level) rather than using a diffuse backlight that requires thickness to distribute light uniformly across the keyboard.
2Illumination intensity
If high-power high-brightness LEDs are used in the backlight module, then the illumination brightness is sufficient, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The total illumination task is divided into many small LED units distributed across the keyboard. Each individual LED operates at low power, but collectively they provide sufficient total brightness. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high overall illumination without requiring any single high-power LED.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple low-power LEDs instead of fewer high-power LEDs. By deploying numerous small illumination units across the keyboard surface, the system achieves adequate total brightness through cumulative effect rather than relying on intense individual sources that would consume excessive power.
3Illumination intensity
If high-power high-brightness LEDs are used in the backlight module, then the illumination brightness is sufficient, but the heat dissipation becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The heat generation problem is solved by segmenting the illumination function into many small LED units distributed across the keyboard. Each LED generates minimal heat, and the heat is naturally dispersed across a large area rather than concentrated in a single backlight module, eliminating local heating issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent places low-power LEDs individually at keycap positions rather than concentrating high-power LEDs in a centralized backlight module. This distribution ensures that heat generation is localized to small, dispersed points rather than concentrated in one area, preventing local heating and improving overall thermal management.
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
This solution reduces keyboard thickness, lowers power consumption, and enhances heat dissipation, particularly beneficial for notebook computers, by distributing heat generation and improving overall user experience through efficient LED placement and lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
LEDs corresponding to the key caps are used to directly illuminate the keycap area
Implementation Method 2
a light-guiding film, and light-guiding mesh points are provided on the light-guiding film at a position corresponding to the keycap
Data Source
AI summary
A reflective four-in-one light-emitting key core module, wherein an insulating layer is arranged on a support structure, a circuit layer is arranged on the insulating layer, a spacer layer is arranged above the insulating layer, a first through hole is opened in the spacer layer at a position corresponding to the keycap, an elastic conducting member is arranged at the position corresponding to the first through hole, a light-guiding film is arranged above the spacer layer, a conductive sheet is fixedly arranged at a position corresponding to the elastic conducting member, light-guiding mesh points are provided on the light-guiding film, a LED light is arranged on the circuit layer and corresponding to the keycap, a second through hole is opened on the spacer layer corresponding to a position of the LED light, a third through hole is opened on the light-guiding film at a position corresponding to the LED light.