Variable Thickness Light Guide Film for Keyboard Backlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing backlighting techniques in keyboards often result in inconsistent illumination, leading to unduly bright and dim areas, which can hinder accurate use and detract from the aesthetic quality of the device.
Innovation Solution
A light guide film with varying thicknesses is used, where thicker peripheral portions receive more light than thinner interior portions, allowing for customizable backlighting intensity across the keyboard, achieved through the use of side-firing LEDs and materials like silicon rubber and thermoplastic urethane, enabling even or varied illumination based on specific design requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness light guide film is used, then manufacturing is simple, but backlighting consistency across keycaps deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide film is designed with varying thickness across different regions - thicker in some areas and thinner in others - to compensate for non-uniform light distribution. This local variation in thickness allows different portions of the keyboard to receive appropriate light intensity, achieving consistent backlighting across all keycaps while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process.
2Illumination intensity
If thicker light guide film portions are used, then more light is available for backlighting, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of the light guide film to control light distribution. By adjusting the thickness of different regions of the light guide film, the patent optimizes light availability for backlighting without introducing additional complex components or mechanisms, thus achieving better illumination while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple.
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 approach ensures consistent and customizable backlighting, enhancing usability and aesthetic appeal by adjusting light intensity according to specific keycap needs and design criteria, while accommodating various keyboard configurations.
Implementation Method 1
A light guide film with varying thicknesses is used, where thicker peripheral portions receive more light than thinner interior portions
Implementation Method 2
Each keycap is illuminated thanks to a scattering portion formed on the light guide film in registration with each keycap
Data Source
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AI summary
A keyboard has a plurality of keycaps (601) and a corresponding light guide film (200) disposed on the underside of those keycaps. The light guide film has a periphery, and at least portions (202) of that periphery are thicker than in an interior portion (201) of the light guide film. So configured, more light can be made available for backlighting purposes in the thicker portions than at the thinner portions. These teachings include determining the various thicknesses to employ for the light guide film based upon desired backlighting of one or more of the plurality of keycaps.