#965 NORM Opportu: keyboard use in darkness (was: Keyboard LEDs shine thru case, miss parts of the keyboard)

[Zarro Boogs per Child]

#965: keyboard use in darkness
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           Reporter:  Quozl        |       Owner:  Quozl        
               Type:  enhancement  |      Status:  new          
           Priority:  normal       |   Milestone:  Opportunity  
          Component:  mechanical   |     Version:  not specified
         Resolution:               |    Keywords:  video led    
        Next_action:  design       |    Verified:  0            
Deployment_affected:               |   Blockedby:               
           Blocking:               |  
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Changes (by Quozl):

  * status:  assigned => new
  * next_action:  never set => design
  * reporter:  gnu => Quozl
 * cc: gnu (added)
  * version:  => not specified
  * milestone:  Gen2 => Opportunity
  * owner:  mlj => Quozl
  * type:  defect => enhancement


Old description:

> Keyboard LEDs in B2 make the battery box light up visibly when making
> normal use of the laptop.  For example, even in daylight I see a thin
> area in the plastic just above and behind each LED, which lights up when
> the LEDs are on.  It seems to be where a plastic diffuser is embedded in
> the case, trying to spread the LED light.  In total darkness, I also seem
> to see labels of different sizes stuck inside the case, on the top on
> either side of the hinge.  Perhaps something can be painted, aluminized
> or soldered on to block or reflect the LED light, except thru the opening
> where it's intended to be seen.
>
> This effect also occurs with the power, battery, and wireless lights, to
> a much lesser extent.  There's better optical design there -- or fewer
> photons from the LEDs.
>
> This particular problem may recur when a camera/mic LED is added.  The
> extra light near the camera could screw up the video sensor.  Hmm -- if
> this new LED illuminates every time the camera is on, should it be
> projecting enough light outward for the camera to be able to see a bit in
> the dark?  Sort of like the LED or laser light that some cameras use to
> autofocus in the dark?
> And if so, how can it avoid projecting any light internally toward the
> video sensor?  It should at least be colored white, such that it won't
> distort the colors of what the camera sees, by e.g. painting them with
> red light.
>
> In addition, the keyboard's 6, 7, and 8 keys are particularly poorly
> illuminated (and the Y, U, I keys below them, etc).  A bit more diffusion
> toward the middle of the keyboard would improve things.
>
> Part of the light falls on the white plastic above the keyboard, which
> reflects much more brightly than the green and black keyboard.  That
> light could be redirected to where it will distract less.

New description:

 The laptop could be used in total darkness, and the lack of light on or
 from the keyboard of current models makes this difficult.

 ----

 ''old description below from XO-1 B2 prototype''

 Keyboard LEDs in B2 make the battery box light up visibly when making
 normal use of the laptop.  For example, even in daylight I see a thin area
 in the plastic just above and behind each LED, which lights up when the
 LEDs are on.  It seems to be where a plastic diffuser is embedded in the
 case, trying to spread the LED light.  In total darkness, I also seem to
 see labels of different sizes stuck inside the case, on the top on either
 side of the hinge.  Perhaps something can be painted, aluminized or
 soldered on to block or reflect the LED light, except thru the opening
 where it's intended to be seen.

 This effect also occurs with the power, battery, and wireless lights, to a
 much lesser extent.  There's better optical design there -- or fewer
 photons from the LEDs.

 This particular problem may recur when a camera/mic LED is added.  The
 extra light near the camera could screw up the video sensor.  Hmm -- if
 this new LED illuminates every time the camera is on, should it be
 projecting enough light outward for the camera to be able to see a bit in
 the dark?  Sort of like the LED or laser light that some cameras use to
 autofocus in the dark?
 And if so, how can it avoid projecting any light internally toward the
 video sensor?  It should at least be colored white, such that it won't
 distort the colors of what the camera sees, by e.g. painting them with red
 light.

 In addition, the keyboard's 6, 7, and 8 keys are particularly poorly
 illuminated (and the Y, U, I keys below them, etc).  A bit more diffusion
 toward the middle of the keyboard would improve things.

 Part of the light falls on the white plastic above the keyboard, which
 reflects much more brightly than the green and black keyboard.  That light
 could be redirected to where it will distract less.

--

Comment:

 Keyboard lighting for use in darkness ... is suitable for consideration in
 a future case design.  Thanks to both of you for the review.

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/965#comment:6>
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