Surface acoustic wave touchscreen with housing seal
First Claim
1. A seal system for a surface acoustic wave touchscreen including a screen having a touch surface disposed to be selectively touched and a housing mounting the screen, the housing including at least one open window disposed proximate and surrounding the touch surface of the screen and including a housing end surface having two sides thereto and an inner surface, disposed proximate to and surrounding the open window and spaced from the touchscreen touch surface by a seal space, and a seal disposed in the seal space between the housing end surface and the touchscreen surface proximate thereto for filling the seal space, said seal comprising:
- (a) sealing body having a predetermined thickness and width, said predetermined thickness being at least sufficient to fill said seal space between the housing end surface and the touchscreen surface disposed proximate thereto, said sealing body having a liquid impervious barrier and allowing transmission of at least a portion of a surface acoustic wave adjacent thereto;
(b) said liquid impervious barrier covering at least said width of said sealing body so as to provide an outer covering surface;
(c) said outer covering surface being disposed adjacent the touchscreen surface when said sealing body is disposed in said seal space;
(d) an adhesive, for adhering said sealing body to said housing inner surface, having a width smaller than said width of said sealing body, so that said adhesive may be sandwiched between said sealing body and said housing inner surface.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An effective seal for protecting a touchscreen and associated electronics from liquid infiltration, the seal being placed between the housing and the surface of the touchscreen and configured to surround the useful touchscreen area. The seal is preferably formed of a closed cell foam covered on the surface which contacts the touchscreen surface with a liquid impervious barrier, or an expanded polymer such as expanded PTFE. The seal may be secured to the bezel edge by a transfer adhesive coating applied to the bezel edge, except for a relatively thin edge strip along the inner edge of the bezel end, so that substantially no adhesive is present on a free surface of the seal body proximate to the window aperture of the bezel. Preferably, a smooth surface is provided for adhering the seal body to the bezel. The seal body may be compressed between the bezel and touchscreen surface to effect a seal.
105 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A seal system for a surface acoustic wave touchscreen including a screen having a touch surface disposed to be selectively touched and a housing mounting the screen, the housing including at least one open window disposed proximate and surrounding the touch surface of the screen and including a housing end surface having two sides thereto and an inner surface, disposed proximate to and surrounding the open window and spaced from the touchscreen touch surface by a seal space, and a seal disposed in the seal space between the housing end surface and the touchscreen surface proximate thereto for filling the seal space, said seal comprising:
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(a) sealing body having a predetermined thickness and width, said predetermined thickness being at least sufficient to fill said seal space between the housing end surface and the touchscreen surface disposed proximate thereto, said sealing body having a liquid impervious barrier and allowing transmission of at least a portion of a surface acoustic wave adjacent thereto; (b) said liquid impervious barrier covering at least said width of said sealing body so as to provide an outer covering surface; (c) said outer covering surface being disposed adjacent the touchscreen surface when said sealing body is disposed in said seal space; (d) an adhesive, for adhering said sealing body to said housing inner surface, having a width smaller than said width of said sealing body, so that said adhesive may be sandwiched between said sealing body and said housing inner surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surface acoustic wave touchscreen system comprising:
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(a) a touchscreen having a touch surface; (b) a housing, including a bezel having an aperture through which said touchscreen surface may be touched, said housing being for mounting said touchscreen; (c) said bezel including an end surface spaced from said touchscreen touch surface by a seal space, said end surface not including a channel; (d) a seal strip disposed in and filling said seal space; and (e) an adhesive, disposed essentially between and adhering said seal strip to said end surface, without an exposed portion proximate to said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of providing a seal between an end surface of a bezel and an open touchscreen touch surface, comprising:
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(a) fabricating a seal strip with a body of closed cell foam having at least one surface of said body with a water impervious barrier; (b) positioning the seal strip between an end surface of the bezel and a touch surface of the touchscreen, defining an open area, so that the water impervious barrier is disposed against the touch surface of the touchscreen; and (c) adhering the seal strip to the end surface of the bezel with an adhesive, disposed essentially between the seal strip and the end surface, without an exposed portion proximate to the open area. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification