Screen-Mounted Spring Light Fixture for Keyboard Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable computers lack effective and integrated lighting solutions for low ambient light conditions, leading to the need for external devices that are inconvenient, costly, and battery-draining.
Innovation Solution
A portable computer with a positionable lighting fixture integrated into the screen portion, featuring a spring member or swivel member to adjust the light source's position, allowing it to be flush with the screen in stowage and angled for illumination in use, eliminating the need for multiple LEDs and external devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a backlit keyboard is used to illuminate keys in low light, then keyboard visibility is improved, but the base unit thickness increases and battery is depleted more quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting function is extracted from the base unit and relocated to the screen portion. The light fixture is mounted on the screen portion and can be positioned to illuminate the keyboard, separating the lighting system from the base unit's structural thickness requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting solution moves from a planar backlighting approach (within the base unit plane) to a three-dimensional positioning system where the light fixture can be angled and positioned from above the keyboard, eliminating the need for thick integrated lighting.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple LED light sources are used for keyboard backlighting, then illumination coverage is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination is achieved through a single light source positioned strategically rather than multiple distributed LEDs. The swivel member allows one LED to cover the entire keyboard area by adjusting its angle, reducing component count and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A single light fixture with swivel capability serves the function of multiple fixed LED sources. The same light source can illuminate different areas of the keyboard by rotating, providing universal coverage without requiring multiple dedicated light sources for different key regions.
3Illumination intensity
If an external lighting device is used to illuminate the keyboard, then keyboard visibility in dark is improved, but device complexity and portability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting function is merged with the laptop's screen portion, integrating what was previously an external accessory into the device itself. The light fixture becomes part of the laptop's structure, eliminating the need for separate external lighting devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The light fixture is nested within or on the screen portion structure, utilizing the existing laptop form factor. The lighting component is housed within the screen assembly rather than being an external attachment, maintaining a compact integrated design.
4Ease of operation
If a light fixture is integrated into the screen portion, then lighting convenience is improved, but the screen portion structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The light fixture incorporates a swivel member that allows dynamic repositioning of the light source. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the single light fixture to adapt its position and angle to illuminate different areas, providing operational flexibility similar to multiple fixed sources but with simpler structure.
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
Provides convenient, cost-effective, and efficient illumination of the keyboard and surrounding documents without adding thickness or depleting battery life, as a single light source can illuminate the entire user interface.
Implementation Method 1
the spring member is compressed against a housing or case of the screen portion and held in place by a latch member. The latch member is actuated by a user, which releases the tension on the compressed spring member, thereby relaxing the spring member into a steady state.
Implementation Method 2
the light fixture comprises an LED
Data Source
AI summary
A portable computer includes a user interface portion and a screen portion that has a substantially planar surface rotatably coupled to the user interface portion. At least one light fixture is positionably mounted to the screen portion in a stowage position or in a functional position. In some embodiments, the light fixture includes a spring member. In the stowage position, the spring member is compressed, and the light fixture is flush with the substantial planar surface. In the functional position, the spring member is relaxed, and the light fixture illuminates the user interface portion. In some embodiments, the light fixture includes a swivel member that enables 360° rotation of the light fixture.