Scissor-Switch Keyboard Structure for Thin Recyclable Backlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional keyboards with metal baseplates face challenges in recyclability and design thinness, and conventional backlight designs suffer from brightness uniformity issues due to direct light emission from LEDs.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard design featuring a plastic baseplate with integral connecting structures for a lifting mechanism, a membrane circuit board, and strategically placed light emitting diodes to improve recyclability and brightness uniformity, using elastic members and actuating pillars to facilitate keycap movement and light guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal baseplate is used to connect scissor-type lift mechanisms, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the recyclability deteriorates due to time-consuming separation processes
Solution Approach 1:
The baseplate is segmented into multiple detachable components connected by snap-fit mechanisms. The baseplate body is separated from the keyswitch assembly through four snap-fit connections, allowing rapid disassembly during recycling while maintaining structural integrity during use. This segmentation enables the baseplate to be quickly separated from scissor-type lift mechanisms without time-consuming fastening or fastening operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a metal baseplate is used to connect lifting mechanisms, then the structural stability is improved, but the keyboard thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The baseplate utilizes thin plastic components with snap-fit connection structures that provide sufficient structural stability while minimizing thickness. The snap-fit mechanisms create rigid connections between the baseplate body and keyswitch assembly, ensuring structural stability during typing operations. The thin plastic construction and efficient snap-fit design reduce the overall keyboard thickness compared to traditional metal baseplates.
3Illumination intensity
If light emitting diodes are disposed under the baseplate to illuminate keycap symbols, then the backlight function is achieved, but the brightness uniformity deteriorates due to direct light emission causing hot spots
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the light emitting diodes and the keycap symbols. The light guide plate receives light from the LEDs positioned under the baseplate and distributes it uniformly across the keyboard surface. This intermediary structure converts the concentrated point-source light from LEDs into diffuse, uniform illumination, eliminating hot spots and achieving consistent brightness across all keycap symbols.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate incorporates localized optical features such as diffusers, reflectors, or micro-lens arrays at different positions to control light distribution. By adjusting the local optical properties of the light guide plate, the system achieves uniform brightness across the entire keyboard surface, compensating for the non-uniform light emission from the LED sources.
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
Enhances recyclability, supports thin keyboard design, and achieves uniform lighting by guiding light efficiently across keycaps, reducing direct LED emission and preventing light leakage.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic member deforms downward to trigger the membrane circuit board. When the keycap is released, the elastic member returns the keycap to its original position
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard includes a plurality of keyswitches, a plastic baseplate, and a membrane circuit board. Each keyswitch has a keycap, a lifting mechanism and an elastic member. The lifting mechanism is movably connected to the keycap. The elastic member abuts against the keycap. The plastic baseplate has a first hole formed corresponding to each elastic member and has a connecting structure corresponding to each lifting mechanism. The connecting structure is movably connected to the lifting mechanism to make the keycap movable relative to the plastic baseplate. The membrane circuit board is disposed under the plastic baseplate. Each elastic member passes through the first hole on the plastic baseplate to be disposed on the membrane circuit board. When the keycap is pressed, the elastic member deforms downward to trigger the membrane circuit board. When the keycap is released, the elastic member returns the keycap to its original position.