Switch Light Guide Depressions for Uniform Key Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light guide devices for switch devices experience uneven brightness when illuminated by two light sources arranged side by side on a printed circuit board, leading to inconsistent illumination.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting device with a light guide that has a light receiving surface with depressions corresponding to each light source, arranged side by side, to evenly distribute light from the sources and reduce brightness unevenness, where the depressions are designed to adjust the light's traveling direction for uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If two light sources are arranged side by side on a printed circuit board to illuminate a key top, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the brightness uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is designed with different local structures: a light receiving surface with depressions corresponding to each light source, and a light emitting surface with inclined surfaces. These local structural variations enable different light paths and distribution patterns, allowing two light sources to illuminate uniformly across the key top without direct visibility of individual sources.
2Ease of operation
If a light guide is used to guide light from light sources to the key top, then the illumination direction is controlled, but the light distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide incorporates curved inclined surfaces on its light emitting surface, which refract and redirect light in controlled directions. These curved surfaces transform the directional light from sources into a uniform distribution pattern across the key top, maintaining direction control while achieving uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension with the light guide structure positioned between the light sources and key top. The light receiving surface with depressions and the light emitting surface with inclined surfaces create multiple light paths in different spatial dimensions, enabling uniform 2D illumination from 1D light 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
The solution effectively limits brightness unevenness in the illumination section, ensuring consistent and improved luminance across the operable portion of the switch device.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide placed opposed to the light sources... as viewed in an opposing direction, a light receiving surface of the light guide overlaps light emitting surfaces of the light sources
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting device includes at least two light sources arranged side by side in a first direction and a light guide placed opposed to the light sources. As viewed in an opposing direction of the light sources and the light guide, a light receiving surface of the light guide overlaps light emitting surfaces of the light sources. As viewed in the opposing direction, the light receiving surface has depressions in a region opposed to the light emitting surfaces of the light sources. The depressions are arranged side by side in an arrangement direction of the light sources in a one-to-one correspondence with the light sources.