PANEL OPERATING APPARATUS

• US 20110254793A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hyun-Seok, Chang, Jae-Hyuk, Ban, Hee Jeong
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/12 Push-buttons

Abstract

Disclosed is a panel operating apparatus. The panel operating apparatus changes a state of a display device electrically connected to a circuit board located below a panel. The panel operating apparatus includes a tact member mounted on the circuit board, and a resilient member electrically connected to a circuit pattern of the circuit board and separated from the panel and the circuit board. The resilient member is selectively brought into contact with the panel or the tact member depending on a degree of pressure applied to the panel, thereby allowing the apparatus to be operated in a tact manner when the apparatus cannot be operated in a touch manner due to individual features of operators or external conditions.

Claims

1. A panel operating apparatus for changing a state of a display device electrically connected to a circuit board located below a panel, comprising:

a tact member arranged on the circuit board; and

a resilient member electrically connected to a circuit pattern of the circuit board, the resilient member being separated from the panel and the tact member, the resilient member configured to be selectively brought into contact with the panel or the tact member depending on a degree of pressure applied to the panel.

3. The panel operating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises a dome shape.

4. The panel operating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises a flattened dome shape, wherein a center portion of the resilient member comprises a flattened region.

6. The panel operating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is soldered to the circuit board.

2. A panel operating apparatus for changing a state of a display device electrically connected to a circuit board located below a panel having an opening, comprising:

a tact member arranged on the circuit board in a region of the opening in the panel;

a thin film covering the opening and at least a portion of a surface of the panel; and

a resilient member arranged in the region of the opening, the resilient member electrically connected to a circuit pattern of the circuit board and being separated from the thin film and the tact member, the resilient member configured to be selectively brought into contact with the panel or the tact member depending on a degree of pressure applied to the thin film,

wherein the panel operating apparatus is to change a state of a display device electrically connected to the circuit board when the resilient member contacts the panel or the tact member.

5. The panel operating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thin film is convex at a portion thereof that covers the opening.

7. The panel operating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the resilient member comprises a dome shape.

8. The panel operating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the resilient member comprises a flattened dome shape, wherein a center portion of the resilient member comprises a flattened region.

9. The panel operating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the resilient member is soldered to the circuit board.

10. The panel operating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the resilient member is soldered to the circuit board.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a circuit board;

a tact member disposed on the circuit board;

a resilient member electrically connected to the circuit board and spaced apart from the tact member;

a contact member configured to be spaced apart from the resilient member at a first position, to contact the resilient member without the resilient member contacting the tact member in response to a first touch event, and to contact the resilient member with the resilient member contacting the tact member in response to a second touch event.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the contact member comprises a portion of a panel disposed above the circuit board.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the contact member comprises a film, the film being disposed at an opening of a panel disposed above the circuit board.