Rugged, waterproof, navigation device with touch panel

• US 6,721,651 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Minelli, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/185,604
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 701/220, 701/117, 701/207-209, 701/202, 701/200, 701/211, 701/214, 701/217, 345/180, 345/104, 345/173, 345/179, 345/700, 345/3.1, 156/99, 156/60, 156/66, 361/682, 361/679, 361/681, 361/683, 361/684, 361/600, 349/58, 349/60, 174/50.5, 174/50.54, 174/35.GC, 174/50.51
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain

Abstract

An electronic device includes a housing, a processor located within the housing and a memory in communication with the processor. The electronic device includes a display in communication with the processor and a touch panel positioned on a surface of the housing. The display is viewable through a touch panel mounted to an opening in the housing. The housing includes a flange around the opening which has a fluid seal to prevent fluid flow past the touch panel and into the housing. A shock mount may also be included within the housing to make the touch panel drop-resistant.

Claims

1. A hand-held electronic device including a navigational component, comprising:

a housing, the housing having an opening therein;

a display viewable through a touch panel mounted in the opening of the housing, the touch panel including;

a layer of rigid material; and

a flexible substrate layer positioned near the layer of rigid material;

a mounting member circumscribing the opening, the mounting member including a pocket for holding an adhesive and applying the adhesive about the periphery of the touch panel;

a backing member that fits within the housing, the backing member having a portion positioned near the layer of rigid material of the touch panel;

a first shock absorbing member including a portion which is sandwiched between the backing member and the layer of rigid material of the touch panel; and

a second shock absorbing member including a portion which is sandwiched between the flexible substrate layer of the touch panel and the mounting member.

2. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 1 wherein the adhesive is a flexible adhesive.

3. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 1 wherein the adhesive is a flexible, waterproof adhesive.

4. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 1 wherein the adhesive is curable using an ultraviolet light.

5. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 1 wherein the adhesive is rigid.

6. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 1 wherein the first and the second shock absorbing members include a layer of foam material.

7. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 1 wherein the mounting member is molded with the housing.

8. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 1 wherein the mounting member is integral with the housing.

9. A hand-held electronic device including a navigational component comprising:

a housing, the housing having an opening therein;

a display viewable through a touch panel positioned in the opening of the housing, the touch panel including;

a layer of rigid material; and

a flexible substrate layer positioned near the layer of rigid material;

a mounting member circumscribing the opening, the mounting member including a pocket for holding an adhesive and applying the adhesive about the periphery of the touch panel;

a backing member that fits within the housing the backing member having a portion positioned near the layer of rigid material of the touch panel;

a first shock absorbing member including a portion which is sandwiched between the backing member and the layer of rigid material of the touch panel;

a second shock absorbing member including a portion which is sandwiched between the flexible substrate layer of the touch panel and the mounting member;

a processor located within the housing; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the touch panel in communication with the processor and the memory, the processor and memory capable of performing a route calculation viewable on the display.

10. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 9 further comprising a device capable of performing a dead reckoning calculation.

11. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 10 wherein the device capable of performing a dead reckoning calculation includes a rate gyro.

12. A hand-held electronic comprising:

a housing, the housing having an opening therein;

a processor located within the housing;

a memory located within the housing, the memory in communication with the processor;

a display in communication with the processor and the memory, the display viewable through a touch panel mounted in the opening in the housing;

a first component adapted to perform a first function; and

a second component adapted to perform a second function, one of the first component and the second component including a navigational component, the navigational component including and antenna adapted to acquire position signals, the housing including a flange around the opening in the housing, the flange further comprising;

a backing member that fits within the housing, the backing member having a portion positioned near a layer of rigid material of the touch panel;

a first shock absorbing member including a portion which is sandwiched between the backing member and a layer of rigid material of the touch panel; and

a second shock absorbing member including a portion which is sandwiched between a flexible substrate layer of the touch panel and a mounting member.

13. The hand-held electronic device including a navigational component of claim 12 wherein the antenna is an internal patch antenna.

14. The hand-held electronic device of claim 12 further comprising an instruction set for controlling the processor and memory to perform a route calculation.

15. The hand-held electronic device of claim 12 further comprising an instruction set for controlling the processor and memory to perform a route calculation, the instruction set including user interface instructions to display the results of the route calculation on the display.

16. The hand-held electronic device of claim 12, wherein the mounting member includes a flexible adhesive.

17. The hand-held electronic device of claim 16, wherein the mounting member includes a groove for holding the flexible adhesive.

18. The hand-held electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first shock absorbing member includes a viscoelastic material.

19. The hand-held device of claim 12, wherein the second shock absorbing member includes a viscoelastic material.

20. A navigation system comprising:

a mass storage device adapted to store navigation data;

a server adapted to communicate with the mass storage device; and

a portable, multi-function electronic device further comprising;

a housing having an opening therein;

a processor located within the housing;

a memory located within the housing, the memory in communication with the processor; and

a display in communication with the processor and the memory, the display viewable through a touch panel mounted to the opening in the housing, the housing including a flange around the opening in the housing, the flange further comprising;

a backing member that fits within the housing, the backing member having a portion positioned near a layer of rigid material of the touch panel;

a first shock absorbing member including a portion which is sandwiched between the backing member and a layer of rigid material of the touch panel;

a second shock absorbing member including a portion which is sandwiched between a flexible substrate layer of the touch panel and a mounting member; and

an antenna within the housing for communicating with the server, the multi-function electronic device including a navigation device adapted to perform a route calculation.

21. The navigation system of claim 20 wherein the navigation device further comprises an instruction set for controlling the processor and memory to perform a route calculation.

22. The navigation system of claim 21 wherein the instruction set includes user interface instructions for displaying the results of the route calculation on the display.

23. The navigation system of claim 21 Wherein at least a portion of the instruction set is resides within the processor and memory.

24. The navigation system of claim 21 wherein at least a portion of the instruction set is transmitted to the portable, multi-function electronic device from the server.