Touch screen enclosure having an insertable graphic sheet

• US 5,631,805 A
• Filed: 09/27/1995
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Dynapro Systems, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bonsall, Glenn D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/534,373
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 178/18, 345/173, 345/175, 345/905, 40/448, 40/575, 312/7.2, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 359/83, 361/681-683
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/002 replaceable; adaptable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such

Abstract

A graphic underlay for a capacitive touch screen system is positioned between the display and the touch screen. The positioning of the graphic underlay protects the graphic underlay from wear and prevents the graphic underlay from interfering with the touch sensing operation. The graphic underlay is held between a plastic retainer attached to a front bezel and the touch screen. The graphic underlay includes tabs for easing the placement and removal of the graphic underlay. The graphic underlay or graphic sheet includes visual indicia related to menus, controls, background, or other symbols for use in a touch screen system. The graphic underlay may be accessed by pivotally opening a front enclosure from a rear enclosure and pivotally opening a pan from the front enclosure.

Claims

1. An enclosure system, the enclosure system comprising:

a front enclosure;

a touch screen;

a pan coupled to the front enclosure, the touch screen being located between the pan and the front cover;

a retainer disposed between the pan and the touch screen;

a hinge;

a graphic sheet including printed indicia, the graphic sheet being disposed between the touch screen and the retainer; and

a rear enclosure pivotably coupled to the front enclosure, the rear enclosure being releasably secured to the front enclosure about the hinge, wherein the graphic sheet may be accessed by pivotably opening the front enclosure from the rear enclosure and opening the pan from the front enclosure.

2. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the graphic sheet contacts a rear surface of the touch screen.

3. The enclosure system of claim 2 wherein the front enclosure includes a display positioned to project light through the graphic sheet and the touch screen.

4. The enclosure system of claim 3 wherein the display is an LCD display.

5. The enclosure system of claim 4 wherein the retainer is plastic and positions the graphic sheet against a rear surface of the touch screen.

6. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the pan is pivotably coupled to the front enclosure by at least one hook disposed on the front enclosure.

7. An enclosure for a capacitive touch screen system, the enclosure comprising:

a front housing section;

a touch screen;

electronic circuitry;

a pan engaged with the front housing section, the touch screen being disposed between the front housing section and the pan;

a retainer located between the front housing section and the pan;

a graphic insert being held by the retainer proximate the touch screen; and

a rear housing section pivotably and releasably engaged with the front housing section, the rear housing section containing at least a portion of the electronic circuitry, wherein the graphic insert may be accessed by pivotably opening the front housing section from the rear housing section and opening the pan from the front housing section.

8. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein the rear housing section and the front housing section are pivotably and releasably engaged via a hinge and a latch mechanism.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein the graphic insert is an underlay disposed between the retainer and the touch screen.

10. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein the pan is pivotally engaged with the front housing section is a hook interface.

11. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the hook interface receives an edge of the pan.

12. The enclosure of claim 11 wherein the retainer is plastic.

13. The enclosure of claim 12 wherein the pan may be secured in a closed position to the front housing section by a screw.

14. An enclosure system comprising:

a touch screen;

a front enclosure means for housing the touch screen, the front enclosure means including a pan, a retainer, and a front bezel, the pan releasably engaging the front bezel;

a graphic sheet disposed between the pan and the front bezel and held proximate the touch screen by the retainer; and

a rear enclosure means for housing electronic components associated with the touch screen, the rear enclosure means being releasably secured to the front enclosure means about a hinge to provide access to the touch screen, wherein the graphic sheet may be accessed by pivotably opening the front enclosure means from the rear enclosure means and opening the pan from the front bezel.

15. The enclosure system of claim 14 wherein the rear enclosure means and the front enclosure means is releasably secured by a latch mechanism.

16. The enclosure system of claim 14 wherein the graphic sheet is located between the touch screen and the pan.

17. The enclosure system of claim 16 further comprising:

a display disposed in the front enclosure means and positioned to project light through the graphic sheet and the touch screen.

18. The enclosure system of claim 17 wherein the retainer is located between the display and the touch screen.

19. The enclosure system of claim 14 wherein the pan in pivotably engaged to the front bezel by at least one hook disposed on the bezel.

20. The enclosure system of claim 19 wherein the at least one hook receives an end of the pan.