User interface module for digital camera and digital camera including the same

• US 8,368,805 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Yong-bum
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morehead, III, John H
• Application Number:
  US12/501,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A digital camera and a user interface module of the digital camera that includes: a front cover which includes a window onto which an image is projected; a touch panel which is disposed at the back of the front cover, and outputs an image on the window while detecting touch manipulations of a user; a button assembly which includes a button pattern that is externally exposed along with the front cover, and detects and converts manipulations of the button pattern into an electric signal; and a first wiring cable which collects and transmits a touch signal generated in the touch panel and a manipulation signal generated in the button assembly to the camera body. The user interface module may be assembled to the camera body as a unit module to form the camera and may have a single wire cable electrically connecting the user interface module to the camera body.

Claims

1. A user interface module for a digital camera, the user interface module comprising:

a front cover including a window through which an image may be projected, and an attachment element to fixedly affix the user interface module to an exterior surface of a camera body;

a touch panel disposed behind the front cover to project the image through the window, and detect touch manipulations of a user;

a button assembly including a button pattern externally exposed through the front cover to detect and convert manipulations of the button pattern into an electrical signal;

a flexible printed circuit board comprising a circuit that is configured to convert or process a touch signal generated by the touch panel and to convert physical manipulations of the button pattern into a manipulation signal;

a first wiring cable connected between the flexible printed circuit board and the camera body to collect and transmit the touch signal of the touch panel and the manipulation signal of the button assembly to the camera body; and

a second wiring cable that is connected between the flexible printed circuit board and the touch panel to relay the touch signal of the touch panel to the flexible printed circuit board,

wherein the touch panel, the button assembly and the first wiring cable are assembled with the front cover prior to the user interface module being affixed to the exterior surface of the camera body via the attachment element.

2. The user interface module of claim 1, further comprising a transparent window panel, which covers the window of the front cover, disposed between the front cover and the touch panel.

3. The user interface module of claim 2, wherein the button assembly is attached to an edge portion of the window panel with an adhesive film.

4. The user interface module of claim 1, wherein the button assembly further comprises a rubber mold elastically biasing the button pattern toward the user.

5. The user interface module of claim 4, wherein the button assembly further comprises a front holder plate and a rear holder plate combined to each other, wherein the button pattern and the rubber mold are disposed between the front holder plate and the rear holder plate.

6. A digital camera comprising:

a camera body configured to capture an image of a subject and generate data representing the image; and

a user interface module including;

a front cover defining an external appearance of the digital camera and including a window through which an image may be projected, and an attachment element to fixedly affix the user interface module to an exterior surface of the camera body;

a touch panel disposed behind the front cover to project the image through the window, and detect touch manipulations of a user;

a button assembly including a button pattern externally exposed through the front cover to detect and convert manipulations of the button pattern into an electrical signal;

a flexible printed circuit board comprising a circuit that is configured to convert or process a touch signal generated by the touch panel and to convert physical manipulations of the button pattern into a manipulation signal;

a first wiring cable connected between the flexible printed circuit board and the camera body to collect and transmit the touch signal of the touch panel and the manipulation signal of the button assembly to the camera body; and

a second wiring cable connected between the flexible printed circuit board and the touch panel to relay the touch signal of the touch panel to the flexible printed circuit board,

wherein the touch panel, the button assembly and the first wiring cable are assembled with the front cover prior to the user interface module being affixed to the exterior surface of the camera body via the attachment element.

7. The digital camera of claim 6, wherein the button assembly further includes:

a rubber mold that elastically biases the button pattern toward the user;

a front holder plate and a rear holder plate, the button pattern, the rubber mold, and the flexible printed circuit board being disposed between the front holder and the rear holder plate.

8. The digital camera of claim 6, further comprising a transparent window panel covering the window of the front cover and interposed between the front cover and the touch panel.

9. The digital camera of claim 8, wherein the button assembly is attached to an edge portion of the window panel with an adhesive film.

10. A user interface module for a digital camera, the user interface module comprising:

a front cover including a window through which an image may be projected, and an attachment element to fixedly affix the user interface module to an exterior surface of a camera body;

a touch panel disposed behind the front cover to project the image through the window, and detect touch manipulations of a user;

a button assembly including a button pattern externally exposed through the front cover to detect and convert manipulations of the button pattern into an electrical signal;

a flexible printed circuit board comprising a circuit that is configured to convert or process a touch signal generated by the touch panel and to convert physical manipulations of the button pattern into a manipulation signal;

a first wiring cable that is connected between the flexible printed circuit board and the camera body to relay all input/output signals between the user interface module and the camera body and transmits the touch signal of the touch panel and the manipulation signal of the button assembly to the camera body; and

a second wiring cable connected between the flexible printed circuit board and the touch panel to relay the touch signal of the touch panel to the flexible printed circuit board,

wherein the touch panel, the button assembly and the single wiring cable are assembled with the front cover prior to the user interface module being affixed to the exterior surface of the camera body via the attachment element.