Stress seal for touchscreen systems

• US 20050280746A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Haller, Jeffrey T., North, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 7,315,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves

Abstract

A touchscreen system is provided that incorporates a simplified sealing system around the bezel. The touchscreen system includes a planar touchscreen coupled to a display device having a planar display surface, the touchscreen having a touch sensitive region on a touchscreen surface. A frame is positioned above the touchscreen. The frame includes a central opening that substantially provides an outer border for the touch sensitive region, a rigid portion comprising an outer periphery of the frame, a flexible resilient portion connected to the rigid portion, the flexible portion comprising an inner periphery of the frame, and a sealing portion interposed between the touchscreen surface and the flexible portion. The flexible portion of the frame is directed out of a plane defined by the rigid portion toward the touchscreen prior to bringing the frame into contact with the touchscreen. Upon installation into the touchscreen, the flexible portion is displaced such that flexible portion exerts pressure on the touchscreen through the sealing portion. The simplified sealing system around the bezel can be used with any type of display having a planar display surface or any type of touchscreen technology.

Claims

1. A touchscreen system comprising:

a planar touchscreen coupled to a display device having a planar display surface, the touchscreen comprising a touch sensitive region on a planar touchscreen surface;

a frame positioned above the touchscreen, the frame comprising;

a central opening that substantially provides an outer border for the touch sensitive region;

a rigid portion comprising an outer periphery of the frame;

a flexible portion connected to the rigid portion, the flexible portion comprising an inner periphery of the frame; and

a sealing portion interposed between the touchscreen surface and the flexible portion;

the rigid portion having a top surface defining a first plane;

the flexible portion of the frame being;

directed out of the first plane toward the touchscreen prior to bringing the frame in contact with the touchscreen; and

displaced after bringing the frame in contact with the touchscreen and installing the frame into the touchscreen system such that flexible portion exerts pressure on the touchscreen surface through the sealing portion.

2. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein installing the frame into the touchscreen comprises mounting the frame to the display device.

3. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion is displaced such that it becomes generally parallel to the touchscreen after installing the frame.

4. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the pressure exerted on the touchscreen surface by the flexible portion is substantially uniform around the inner periphery of the frame.

5. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the frame is formed by shaping a plastic material.

6. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion is integral with the rigid portion.

7. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the sealing portion comprises a rubber or soft thermoplastic.

8. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the opening in the frame is generally rectangular and comprises four interior sides and four interior corners, and the flexible portion comprises a curved profile along each interior side, the profile being curved toward the touchscreen and comprising a center of curvature near a midpoint of each interior side.

9. The touchscreen system of claim 8, wherein the flexible portion is displaced at least twice as far near the center of curvature than at an interior corner of the opening when the frame is installed.

10. The touchscreen system of claim 8, wherein the flexible portion is displaced at least three times as far near the center of curvature than at an interior corner of the opening when the frame is mounted.

11. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion has a thickness that is less than or equal to one half the thickness of the rigid portion.

12. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion is tapered.

13. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein:

the flexible portion has a width extending from the rigid portion to the inner periphery of the frame;

the rigid portion has a width extending from the outer periphery of the frame to the flexible portion; and

the width of the flexible portion is at least equal to the width of the rigid portion.

14. The touchscreen system of claim 1, the frame further comprising a mounting portion connected to the rigid portion, the mounting portion being non-planar with the rigid portion.

15. The touchscreen system of claim 14, wherein the mounting portion is connected to the display device.

16. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen comprises a touch sensing mechanism positioned on a periphery of the touchscreen, and the frame encloses and forms a seal around the touch sensing mechanism.

17. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen comprises an acoustic touchscreen.

18. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen comprises an infrared touchscreen.

19. The touchscreen system of claim 18, wherein the frame comprises a material substantially transparent to infrared light used in the infrared touchscreen.

20. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen comprises a resistive or capacitive touchscreen.

21. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a cathode ray tube or a liquid crystal display.

22. The touchscreen system of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen is integral with the display device.

23. A method for assembling a touchscreen system, comprising:

providing a planar touchscreen comprising a planar touch sensitive region on a planar touchscreen surface;

coupling the touchscreen to a display device having a planar display surface;

providing a frame comprising;

a central opening;

a rigid portion comprising an outer periphery of the frame, the rigid portion having a top surface defining a first plane;

a flexible portion connected to the rigid portion, the flexible portion comprising an inner periphery of the frame, the flexible portion being directed out of the first plane; and

a sealing portion disposed on an inner periphery of the flexible portion;

positioning the frame above the touchscreen such that the flexible portion is directed toward the touchscreen and the opening substantially provides an outer border for the touch sensitive region; and

installing the frame such that sealing portion contacts the touchscreen surface and the flexible portion is displaced toward the first plane such that it exerts pressure on the touchscreen through the sealing portion.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the pressure exerted by the flexible portion on the touchscreen surface is substantially uniform around the inner periphery of the frame.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the installing of the frame comprises attaching the frame to the display device.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the opening is substantially rectangular, and comprises four interior sides and four interior corners, and the flexible portion comprises a curved profile along each interior side, the profile being curved toward the touchscreen and comprising a center of curvature near a midpoint of each interior side.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the flexible portion is displaced at least twice as far near the center of curvature than at an interior corner when the frame is mounted to the display.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the flexible portion is displaced at least three times as far near the center of curvature than at an interior corner when the frame is mounted to the display.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the touchscreen comprises a touch sensing mechanism positioned around a periphery of the touchscreen, and the frame is installed to enclose and form a seal around the touch sensing mechanism.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the touchscreen comprises an acoustic touchscreen.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the pressure exerted by the sealing portion on the touchscreen is adjusted to optimize the transmission of acoustic waves across the touchscreen surface.

32. A frame for use in sealing a touchscreen system having a touchscreen with a planar exterior surface, the frame being positioned over the exterior surface and comprising:

a central opening that is substantially centered around a touch sensitive region on the exterior surface;

a rigid portion comprising an outer periphery of the frame;

a flexible portion connected to the rigid portion, the flexible portion comprising an inner periphery of the frame; and

a sealing portion interposed between the exterior surface and the flexible portion;

the rigid portion having a top surface defining a first plane;

the flexible portion of the frame being;

directed out of the first plane toward the exterior surface prior to bringing the frame into contact with the exterior surface; and

displaced after bringing the frame into contact with the exterior surface and installing the frame into the touchscreen system such that flexible portion exerts pressure on the exterior surface through the sealing portion.

33. The frame of claim 32, further comprising a sealed interior recess comprising a touch sensing mechanism of the touchscreen system.