Touch Panel Power-Saving Key Visibility Through Reversible Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch operation units, such as those in image forming apparatuses, face difficulties in operability when the power saving state is activated, as the touch keys become difficult to distinguish due to reduced light emission, making it hard to identify and operate the energy saving key upon returning to the normal state.
Innovation Solution
The operation unit incorporates a dual-layer indication system where the second indication portion is designed to be brighter than the first, with reversible light and darkness when illuminated, and features a metallic color or silver finish to enhance visibility, along with a smooth and uneven surface structure to prevent dirt adhesion and facilitate tactile recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the touch panel is formed by polycarbonate with a smoked tone to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but the figure indicative of the touch key becomes difficult to see when the light source is put out
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel is divided into multiple regions: a first region with a smoked tone for energy saving and a second region without the smoked tone for visibility. This segmentation allows different portions of the panel to serve different functions - the first region reduces power consumption while the second region maintains visibility of the figure when the light source is off.
2Loss of energy
If the light source is put out in power saving state, then energy consumption is reduced, but the figure indicative of the touch key becomes hard to see
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel has different optical properties in different regions. The first region has a smoked tone that allows it to maintain visibility without light emission, while the second region is designed for light emission when active. This local quality differentiation ensures that the figure remains visible in the power saving state through the smoked tone region.
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 design significantly improves operability by ensuring the energy saving key can be easily recognized and operated regardless of the lighting state, preventing dirt accumulation and enhancing tactile feedback.
Implementation Method 1
the operating portion includes a light emitter that is arranged facing a rear surface of the indication portion
Data Source
AI summary
An operation unit comprises a touch panel display, a home key and a power saving key. The power saving key includes an indication portion, and a first indication portion out of the indication portion has light permeability, and a color of its surface is a dark color, and a second indication portion has no light permeability or has it hardly, which is constituted by a double-layered print. In a surface side of this second indication portion, a figure indicative of a power saving key is printed in silver ink, and in a rear side thereof, a figure indicative of the power saving key is printed in black ink. In a normal state, when a backlight is lit, a surface of the first indication portion is bright, and a surface of the second indication portion is darker than the surface of the first indication portion. On the other hand, in a power saving mode, when a light guide plate does not emit light, the surface of the first indication portion is dark, and the surface of the second indication portion is brighter than the surface of the first indication portion. Therefore, presence and location of the power saving key can be notified in a visible manner.