High transparency integrated enclosure touch screen assembly for a portable hand held device
First Claim
1. A touch screen display for a personal information device, comprising:
- an optical touch sensor;
a display; and
a single piece cover containing the optical touch sensor, the single piece cover having a transparent surface for viewing the display disposed beneath the transparent surface, the single piece cover including a lens structure for columnating light across the transparent surface, the optical touch sensor coupled to the lens structure to register contact with the transparent surface via the lens structure while the single piece cover prevents contaminants from entering the personal information device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated enclosure/touch screen assembly. A touch screen assembly consisting of a display mechanism and optical sensor mechanism are enclosed within a single piece cover. The optical sensor mechanism consists of lens structure and optical sensor couple to the lens structure. The single piece cover includes a transparent top surface and the lens structure is embedded within the transparent top surface. The transparent top surface of the single piece cover provides an enclosure that is both dust free and waterproof.
The lens structure of the single piece cover functions by columnating light across the transparent surface. The optical touch sensor is coupled to the lens structure to register contact with the transparent surface via the lens structure by detecting disturbances in the columnated light. In one embodiment, the single piece cover is constructed by embedding the lens structure directly into the transparent surface. This process forms the single piece cover and also may be used to provide various shapes for the outer edges of the cover. The single piece cover eliminates exposed seams of the touch screen assembly. Additionally, the transparent surface is disposed directly above the display without any intervening layers, thereby improving the transmission of light to the display.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A touch screen display for a personal information device, comprising:
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an optical touch sensor;
a display; and
a single piece cover containing the optical touch sensor, the single piece cover having a transparent surface for viewing the display disposed beneath the transparent surface, the single piece cover including a lens structure for columnating light across the transparent surface, the optical touch sensor coupled to the lens structure to register contact with the transparent surface via the lens structure while the single piece cover prevents contaminants from entering the personal information device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An integrated enclosure/touch screen assembly comprising:
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a display mechanism;
an optical sensor;
a lens structure coupled to the optical sensor;
a single piece cover enclosure that is bezel-less; and
a supporting structure for supporting the display mechanism, the optical sensor, the lens structure, and the single piece cover enclosure, wherein the lens structure and the single piece cover enclosure form a single mechanical structure and wherein the optical sensor can be activated by touching the external surface of the single piece cover enclosure to disturb light received by the lens structure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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16. A display assembly for a portable electronic device comprising:
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a flat panel display screen;
an optical sensor;
a lens structure coupled to the optical sensor;
a bezel-less transparent surface wherein the lens structure is coupled to the transparent surface to form a single mechanical structure and wherein contact with the transparent surface is detected by the optical sensor detecting a shadow from the contact via the lens structure.
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Specification