Cover for an indicator panel with transparent touchpad and display

• US 5,216,411 A
• Filed: 07/09/1991
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ashitomi, Takashi, Aramaki, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/727,585
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 359/36, 359/62, 359/48, 359/49, 359/50, 359/83, 340/711, 340/712, 340/717, 340/815, 341/23
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9618 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A cover for an indicator panel of an electronic apparatus which is mounted on a recess formed on the indicator panel and pivotably movable so as to cover the indicator panel in a closed state, including a frame means which has first and second openings, a pair of hinges extending outwardly from both sides thereof and a tapered portion extending outwardly from the hinge-forming side of a lower side wall thereof, a pair of touch-sensitive panels made of a transparent material which are fitted into the first and second openings, a pair of display panels made of a transparent material mounted on the first and second openings which have touch patterns printed thereon with a transparent medium, an outer panel made of translucent acrylic resin which is disposed spaced at a given distance from the display panels, and a plurality of light sources provided in the frame means, wherein the touch patterns are reflected or projected on the touch-sensitive panels by light emitted from the light sources.

Claims

1. A cover for an indicator panel for electronic apparatus which is mounted on a recess formed on the indicator panel and pivotably movable so as to cover the indicator panel in a closed state, comprising:

a frame means being made of synthetic resin;

said frame means having first and second openings, a pair of hinges extending outwardly from both sides thereof, and a tapered portion extending outwardly from the hinge-forming side of a lower side wall thereof;

said frame means being pivotably supported on the indicator panel by said hinges;

said tapered portion having a flat face and a slant face inclined relative to the flat face;

a pair of touch-sensitive panels being made of a transparent material;

said touch-sensitive panels being fitted into the first and second openings of said frame means;

a pair of display panels being made of a transparent material;

said display panels being mounted into the first and second openings and spaced at a given distance from said touch-sensitive panels;

said display panels each having touch patterns printed with a transparent medium on a surface thereof;

an outer panel being made of translucent acrylic resin and disposed being spaced at a given distance from said display panels; and

a plurality of light sources being provided in said frame means;

wherein said touch patterns printed on said display panels are reflected or projected on said touch-sensitive panels by light emitted from said light sources.

2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said display panels are made of liquid crystal.

3. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said light sources are light emitting diodes, electro-luminescence elements or miniature lamps.

4. The cover according to claim 1, wherein a reflective coating layer is applied along outer edges of each of said display panels other than an edge opposed to said light sources.

5. The cover according to claim 4, wherein a reflective film which is in the form of an adhesive tape is used as said reflective coating layer.

6. A cover for an indicator panel of electronic apparatus which is mounted on a recess formed on the indicator panel and pivotably movable so as to cover the indicator panel in a closed state, comprising:

a frame means being made of synthetic resin;

said frame means having first and second openings, a pair of hinges extending outwardly from both sides thereof, a pair of tapered portions extending outwardly from the hinge-forming sides of a lower side wall thereof, a plurality of protrusions formed on an outside of an upper side wall thereof, and a plurality of tab portions extending perpendicularly from a front side face thereof;

said frame means being pivotably supported on the indicator panel by said hinges;

said tapered portion having a flat face and a slant face inclined relative to the flat face;

a pair of touch-sensitive panels made of a transparent material;

said touch-sensitive panels being fitted into the first and second openings of said frame means;

a panel holder being made of synthetic resin;

said panel holder having first and second openings over which said touch-sensitive panels are placed such that said touch sensitive panels are fixedly adhered to a rear side face of the panel holder along peripheral edges of the openings, a tapered portion extending outwardly from a lower side wall thereof, and a plurality of apertures which are formed opposite to the tab portions of said frame means such that the tab portions are inserted thereinto when said frame means and said panel holder are assembled;

said tapered portion having a flat face and a slant face inclined relative to the flat face and a shoulder portion into which the tapered portions of said frame means are fitted;

a pair of display panels being made of a transparent material;

said display panels being mounted in the first and second openings and spaced at a given distance from said touch-sensitive panels;

said display panels each having touch patterns printed with a transparent medium on a surface thereof;

an inner frame being made of metal;

said inner frame being mounted on an outside of said panel holder such that said display panels are interposed between said panel holder and said inner frame;

an outer panel being made of translucent acrylic resin;

said outer panel having a plurality of recesses which are formed opposite to the respective protrusions of said frame means so as to be engaged with the protrusions when said frame means and said outer panel are assembled; and

a plurality of light sources being provided in said panel holder;

wherein said touch patterns printed on said display panels are reflected or projected on said touch-sensitive panels by light emitted from said light sources.

7. The cover according to claim 6, wherein said display panels are made of liquid crystal.

8. The cover according to claim 6, wherein said light sources are light emitting diodes, electro-luminescence elements or miniature lamps.

9. The cover according to claim 6, wherein a reflective coating layer is applied along outer edges of each of said display panels other than an edge opposed to said light sources.

10. The cover according to claim 9, wherein a reflective film which is in the form of an adhesive tape is used as said reflective coating layer.