Display screen seal

• US 7,109,976 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Cobian, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US10/404,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-183, 349/153, 349/190, 361/816, 361/826, 361/800
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position

Abstract

The present invention provides a display screen seal made of a rigid or semi-rigid material that includes a base having first and second surfaces, and a wall portion extending from the second surface. The base is configured to mount to the screen and be positioned between the screen and a structure residing adjacent the screen, such as a bezel or frame of the display, so that the wall portion inhibits foreign objects from passing between the screen and the adjacent structure.

Claims

1. A display screen seal, comprising:

a base having first and second surfaces and first and second sides, the first surface configured for engaging a display screen, and the second surface facing in a direction away from the display screen;

a wall portion extending from the second surface and configured for inhibiting foreign objects from passing between the screen and a frame of the display positioned adjacent the second surface of the base; and

a flexible seal that extends between the wall portion and the frame.

2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first side of the base faces in a direction toward a center of the display screen, wherein the wall portion is positioned at the first side of the base.

3. The seal of claim 1, wherein the frame is C-shaped.

4. The seal of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises first and second portions capable of being secured to each other at a connection point to form a generally C-shaped structure, the first portion extending adjacent the second surface of the base.

5. The seal of claim 4, further comprising a flexible seal tat extends between the base and the connection point between the first and second portions of the frame.

6. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first side of the base faces in a direction toward a center of die display screen, wherein the wall portion is positioned at the first side of the base.

7. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first side of the base faces in a direction toward a center of the display screen, wherein the wall portion is positioned at the first side of the base.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the wall seal is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material.

9. A method of inhibiting foreign objects from entering between a touch sensitive surface of a display screen and a structure positioned adjacent the touch sensitive surface, comprising:

providing a wall seal having a base with opposing first and second surfaces, and having a wall portion extending from the second surface, and providing a sealing membrane;

positioning the second surface of the base between the structure and the touch sensitive surface;

positioning the wall portion adjacent the structure;

securing the first surface of the base to the touch sensitive surface to inhibit foreign objects from passing along a plane of the touch screen between the display screen and the structure; and

extending the scaling membrane between the wall portion and the structure.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein die securing step includes securing the base around a periphery of the display screen.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the positioning the wall portion step includes spacing the wall portion apart from the structure.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the wall seal extends around a periphery of the display screen, and the sealing membrane and wall seal from a complete liquid and particle seal between the touch sensitive surface of the display surface and the structure.

13. A force-based touch sensor assembly comprising a frame, a screen having inner and outer surfaces, a wall seal for inhibiting passage between the frame and the screen, a force activated transducer positioned adjacent the screen for detecting forces pushing through the screen due to a touch input, and a flexible membrane capable of extending between the wall portion and the frame, the wall seal comprising:

a base having first and second surfaces and first and second sides, the first surface capable of being mounted to the screen; and

a wall portion extending from the second surface in a direction away from the screen;

whereby the wall seal is configured and arranged so that mounting the wall seal to the screen with the wall portion positioned adjacent the frame inhibits passage of objects between the frame and the screen.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the frame and the screen include outer and inner surfaces, and the base is capable of being positioned between the inner surface of the frame and an outer surface of the screen.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the wall seal is configured to extend around a circumference of the screen.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the wall seal is a continuous, uninterrupted piece.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the wall seal is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material.

18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the frame comprises outer and inner surfaces, and the wall portion is capable of extending above the outer surface of the frame.

19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the display further comprises a bezel, and the wall portion is capable of extending adjacent to the bezel thereby inhibiting passage of objects between the bezel and the screen.

20. A self-contained force-based touch sensor assembly, comprising;

a frame having inner and outer surfaces;

a screen having inner and outer surfaces;

a transducer positioned to sense forces passing through the screen due to touch inputs on the screen;

a spring positioned between the inner surface of the frame and the screen to exert a preload force between the screen and the transducer;

a wall seal having a base with first and second surfaces and a wall portion extending from the second surface, the first surface of the base being mounted to the outer surface of the screen and positioned between the inner surface of the frame and the outer surface of the screen, and the wall portion being positioned adjacent the frame; and

a flexible membrane extending from the wall portion to the frame, the wall seal and flexible membrane capable of forming a complete seal between the frame and the screen.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the flexible membrane is a single molded piece.

22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the wall seal is a single molded piece.

23. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the wall portion includes a chamfered edge.

24. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the wall seal if-made-of comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material.

25. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the a wall portion includes an inner surface positioned adjacent to the frame and an outer surface facing away from the frame.

26. A display screen seal, comprising:

a base having first and second surfaces and first and second sides, the first surface configured for engaging a display screen, and the second surface facing in a direction away from the display screen;

a wall portion extending from the second surface and configured for inhibiting foreign objects from passing between the screen and a frame of the display positioned adjacent the second surface of the base, wherein the frame comprises first and second portions capable of being secured to each other at a connection point to form a generally C-shaped structure, the first portion extending adjacent the second surface of the base; and

a flexible seal that extends between the base and the connection point between the first and second portions of the frame.

27. A display screen seal, comprising:

a base having first and second surfaces and first and second sides, the first surface configured for engaging a display screen, and the second surface facing in a direction away from the display screen;

a wall portion extending from the second surface and configured for inhibiting foreign objects from passing between the screen and a bezel positioned adjacent the second surface of the base; and

a sealing membrane that extends between the wall portion and the bezel.

28. A force-based touch sensor assembly comprising a frame, a bezel, a flexible member, a screen having inner and outer surfaces, a wall seal for inhibiting passage between the frame and the screen, and a force activated transducer positioned adjacent the screen for detecting forces pushing through the screen due to a touch input, the wall seal comprising:

a base having first and second surfaces and first and second sides, the first surface capable of being mounted to the screen;

a wall portion extending from the second surface in a direction away from the screen;

whereby the wall seal is configured and arranged so that mounting the wall seal to the screen with the wall portion positioned adjacent the frame inhibits passage of objects between the frame and the screen, the wall portion is capable of extending adjacent to the bezel thereby inhibiting passage of objects between the bezel and the screen, and the flexible membrane is capable of extending between the wall portion and the bezel.

29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the frame and the screen include outer and inner surfaces, and the base is capable of being positioned between the inner surface of the frame and an outer surface of the screen.

30. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the wall seal is configured to extend around a circumference of the screen.

31. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the wall seal is a continuous, uninterrupted piece.

32. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the frame comprises outer and inner surfaces, and the wall portion is capable of extending above the outer surface of the frame.