Patent Application
20200090884
The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system input devices, and more particularly to an information handling system keyboard backlight.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems typically accept end user inputs through input devices, such as a keyboard. Desktop information handling systems generally interface with a peripheral keyboard through a cable, such as a USB cable, or a wireless interface, such as Bluetooth. Portable information handling systems typically support external peripheral keyboards; however, portable information handling systems also often include keyboards integrated in a portable housing. For example, portable information handling systems have rotationally coupled housing portions that rotate open to expose a keyboard and display in a clamshell configuration and rotate closed to protect the keyboard and display. Portable information handling systems typically integrate input/output (I/O) devices and processing components so that an end may operate the system in a portable mode free from external cables, such as power outlets. When operating in a portable mode, portable information handling systems generally power processing components with an integrated battery.
Generally, end users prefer portable information handling systems that have minimal weight and size for a desired performance. Portable information handling system width and length dimensions are generally driven by the size of the display integrated in the housing. Portable information handling system height and weight tends to depend more upon the capability of the system. For example, portable information handling systems that have more powerful processing components tend to have greater volume to address thermal management, such as by including active cooling mechanisms like a fan that generates a cooling airflow over heat-generating components. Portable information handling system manufacturers generally attempt to minimize housing height by selecting components that have less height and distributing the components across the width and length of the housing. Integrated keyboards tend to add to housing height since the keys travel vertically. A standard rubber dome keyboard key travels vertically 3.5 to 4 mm. Variations from standard key travel distances will reduce keyboard height with some impact on end user experience. Keyboard selection for a given portable information handling system platform generally depends upon housing height constraints.
Portable information handling systems are sometimes used in mobile conditions that have limited lighting. In reduced light conditions, end users may have difficulty seeing keyboard keys. To aid end user key inputs in reduced light conditions, portable information handling systems sometimes include a keyboard backlight that illuminates keys. A typical keyboard backlight has LED lights powered from a flexible printed circuit (FPC) that illuminates into a light guide panel (LGP) disposed over a reflector. Illumination distributed by the LGP reflects from the reflector through a masking to highlight the key values. One disadvantage to a keyboard backlight is that it tends to increase the height of the keyboard and, thus, the portable information handling system housing. For instance, in one example embodiment, including a keyboard backlight increases keyboard height by 0.25 mm. Another disadvantage of a keyboard backlight is that it increases power consumption, thus reducing battery life when operating in a portable mode. The amount of power consumed by a keyboard backlight depends upon the number of LEDs included in the backlight, the amount of illumination that each LED provides, and the thickness of the LGP that carries the light. For instance in one embodiment, a reduction in thickness of an LGP from 0.25 mm to 0.2 mm transmits 82.29% of the illuminated light.
Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which efficiently illuminates a keyboard in limited vertical height.
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for illumination of a keyboard. Varied thickness of one or more of a light source, light guide and/or reflector in a keyboard backlight provides efficient transmission of light from the light source through the light guide for reflection at the keys.
More specifically, an information handling system processes information with processing components disposed in a housing, such as a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM) that execute instructions of an operating system and/or applications and presents output as visual images at a display. A keyboard having plural keys interfaces with the CPU to provide end user inputs based upon key presses, such as that strike against a membrane that detects touches by the keys. A keyboard backlight illuminates the keys, such as to enable end user visual identification of key values in low light conditions. The keyboard backlight includes one or more light sources that direct light into a light guide disposed over a reflector and under the keys so that the keys are illuminated from below. Variable thickness of one or more of the light source, light guide and/or reflector aid transmission of illumination from the light source to the keys. For example, a light guide has thickness that includes the thickness of the light source at the exit of illumination and narrows in thickness as the light guide extends distal the light source and towards the keys. In the example embodiment, the reflector has reduced thickness or even no thickness at the intersection of the light source and increases in thickness as the reflector extends distal the light source and towards the keys so that the total thickness of the keyboard backlight remains constant.
The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that a keyboard backlight illuminates keyboard keys with improved efficiency and in a limited vertical height. Improved transmission of illumination from LEDs to a light guide panel allows reduced keyboard thickness through selection of a thinner light guide panel and inclusion of fewer LEDs for given amount of illumination provided to the keyboard keys. In one example embodiment, keyboard backlight thickness was reduced from 0.25 mm to 0.20 mm. In another example embodiment, more efficient light transmission reduced the number of LEDs of a keyboard backlight from 10 to 8, thus reducing system cost by $0.20 and reducing power consumption for a given brightness by 20 percent.
The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.
An information handling system keyboard backlight illuminates from a light source through a light guide above a reflector with a variable thickness intersection to improve light transmission efficiency. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
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Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
