Planar Suspension Of A Haptic Touch Screen
First Claim
1. A touch screen assembly comprising:
- a display;
a touch screen overlying the display;
the display and touch screen together having a generally planar upper surface, a generally planar lower surface, and peripheral edges extending between the upper and lower surfaces;
a support structure at least partially surrounding the display and touch screen outboard of the edges; and
at least one compliant suspension element connecting at least one edge of the display and touch screen to the support structure for movably suspending the display and touch screen.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A planar suspension of a haptic touch screen (or other haptic touch element) is disclosed wherein a haptic touch screen display within an electronic device has a generally planar top surface, a generally planar bottom surface, and edges extending between the top and bottom surfaces. A support structure at least partially surrounds the touch screen within the device and is outboard of and spaced from the edges of the touch screen. Compliant suspension elements are fixed to and extend between the edges of the touch screen and the support structure to suspend the touch screen movably from the outboard support structure. The suspension elements preferably are no thicker than the thickness of the touch screen. Relatively thin compliant backing elements are disposed between the bottom surface of the touch screen and an underlying support structure and a sealing element preferably is disposed between the periphery of the top surface and a surrounding bezel. The planar suspension allows for a substantially thinner overall dimension of the touch screen display and suspension assembly while isolating haptic effects to the screen and providing the feel of a rigidly mounted screen when the screen is pressed.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A touch screen assembly comprising:
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a display; a touch screen overlying the display; the display and touch screen together having a generally planar upper surface, a generally planar lower surface, and peripheral edges extending between the upper and lower surfaces; a support structure at least partially surrounding the display and touch screen outboard of the edges; and at least one compliant suspension element connecting at least one edge of the display and touch screen to the support structure for movably suspending the display and touch screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of suspending a planar touch screen having a bottom surface, a top surface, and edges, the method comprising
(a) locating an edge support structure outboard of and spaced from at least one edge of the touch screen; - and
(b) disposing at least one compliant suspension element between the at least one edge and the edge support structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An electronic device comprising:
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a case; a touch screen display having edges and being disposed within the case; a support structure at least partially surrounding the touch screen display outboard of and spaced from an edge of the touch screen display; and a compliant suspension element disposed between and connecting the edge of the touch screen display and the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A touch screen display assembly comprising:
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a touch screen display having edges and a thickness; a support structure disposed outboard of and spaced from at least one edge of the touch screen display; and a compliant suspension element having a thickness no greater than the thickness of the touch screen display and being disposed between the at least one edge of the touch screen display and the support structure to suspend the touch screen display movably from the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. An interactive device comprising:
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a touch element having peripheral edges; a graphical element associated with the touch element; a support structure at least partially surrounding the touch element outboard of the peripheral edges; and at least one compliant suspension element connecting at least one peripheral edge of the touch element to the support structure for movably suspending the touch element. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification