Touch screen enclosure system having touch screen pan and hinged rear enclosure section for ease of serviceability

• US 5,636,101 A
• Filed: 09/27/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• 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: Peachey, Ezra T., Bonsall, Glenn D., Kaga, Gary O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/534,374
• Time in Patent Office: 615 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

Abstract

An enclosure system for an electronic device such as a capacitive touch screen system utilizes hinged doors to provide access to the various electronic components. The enclosure system preferably includes a front cover coupled to a rear enclosure via a hinge. A pan located between the front cover and the rear enclosure is pivotably coupled to the front cover. The front cover houses a touch screen and a display between the pan and the front cover. The rear enclosure houses computer equipment and power electronics for use by the touch screen. The front cover or bezel is releasably secured to the rear enclosure via a latch mechanism. The touch screen is accessible by swinging the front cover from the rear enclosure and opening the pan from the front cover.

Claims

1. An enclosure system comprising:

a touch screen having associated touch screen electronic components;

a hinge;

a front enclosure coupled to the hinge, the front enclosure housing the touch screen;

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

a rear enclosure coupled to the hinge, the rear enclosure being releasably secured to the front enclosure about the hinge, the rear enclosure housing at least a portion of the associated electronic components, the rear enclosure having a hatch; and

wherein the front enclosure is opened from the rear enclosure and the pan is opened from the front enclosure to expose the touch screen and the hatch is opened to expose electrical connectors associated with the electronic components.

2. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the hatch is hinged to a back panel of the rear enclosure.

3. The enclosure system of claim 2 wherein the rear enclosure includes an extended hatch cap for storing power electronic components associated with the electronic components.

4. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein a display is located between the pan and the touch screen.

5. The enclosure system of claim 4 wherein the display includes a light.

6. The enclosure system of claim 5 wherein the pan is attached to the display.

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

a touch screen having electronic circuitry;

a front housing section;

a pan coupled to the front housing section, the touch screen being disposed between the front housing section and the pan; and

a rear housing section pivotably coupled to the front housing section, the front housing section containing at least a portion of the electronic circuitry, the rear housing section including a hatch door, wherein the touch screen is accessible by swinging the front housing section from the rear housing section and opening the pan from the front housing section, and electrical connectors associated with the electronic circuitry are accessible by opening the hatch door.

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

9. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein a display is disposed between the pan and the touch screen.

10. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein the portion of the electronic components include power electronic components.

11. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein the rear housing section includes a boom mount interface.

12. The enclosure of claim 11 wherein the boom mount interface is located on the hatch door and external electrical conductors are coupled to the electrical connectors through the boom mount interface.

13. The enclosure of claim 12 wherein the pan is pivotably coupled to the front housing section.

14. An enclosure system comprising:

a touch screen having electronic components;

a front enclosure means for housing the touch screen, the front enclosure means including a touch screen pan; and

a rear enclosure means for housing the 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, the rear enclosure means having a hatch door, the hatch door providing access to electrical connectors associated with the electronic components.

15. The enclosure system of claim 14 wherein the hatch door is hinged to a back panel of the rear enclosure means.

16. The enclosure system of claim 15 wherein the electrical connectors are D type connectors.

17. The enclosure system of claim 14 wherein the electronic components are power electronic components and the electrical connectors include a power connector.

18. The enclosure system of claim 14 wherein the touch screen pan is pivotally mounted to the front enclosure means and contains an LCD display.

19. The enclosure system of claim 18 wherein the touch screen pan rests on a plurality of hooks attached to the front enclosure means.

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