Apparatus and method for impact resistant touchscreen display module

• US 9,081,428 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Psion PLC (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Psion PLC (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, NELSON C
• Application Number:
  US13/011,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an impact resistant touchscreen display module, such as for use in ruggedized mobile computing and display devices. The structure provided also allows for severability of the touchscreen and display screen portions, enhancing the practicability of replacing individual components for repair of a damaged touchscreen display module.

Claims

1. A touchscreen display module for use in a graphical user interface of a mobile device comprising:

a touchscreen panel having a generally planar disposition, the touchscreen panel comprising a touch-sensitive region surrounded by a non-touch sensitive periphery, the touch-sensitive region comprising a substantial portion of the touchscreen panel;

a rigid spacer having a continuous perimeter shaped to underlay only the non-touch sensitive periphery of the touchscreen panel, the rigid spacer securely attached only to the non-touch sensitive periphery of the touchscreen panel by an adhesive layer such that any portion of the rigid spacer is prevented from underlaying the touch-sensitive region;

a compliant layer having a continuous perimeter underlaying the rigid spacer, the compliant layer disposed in contact with the rigid spacer;

a display screen underlaying the compliant layer, the display screen having a generally planar display portion provided to directly underlay the touch-sensitive region of the touchscreen; and

a touchscreen housing assembly comprising a base bezel portion, a top bezel portion and a module frame, the touchscreen housing assembly adapted to securely frame the display screen, the compliant layer, the rigid spacer, and the touchscreen panel.

2. The touchscreen display module of claim 1 further comprising a sealing layer interposed between the non-touch sensitive periphery of the touchscreen panel and the top bezel portion.

3. The touchscreen display module of claim 1 wherein the compliant layer is a selected from the group of materials consisting of closed celled foam, a gel, a silicone or silicone-like material or a thermo-plastic elastomer.

4. The touchscreen display module of claim 1 further including a spring member acting between the display screen and the base bezel portion to bias the display screen towards the top bezel portion.

5. The touchscreen display module of claim 4 wherein the spring member is made of a conductive material to inhibit electromagnetic interference between the touchscreen module and the surrounding environment.

6. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory memory coupled to the processor having instructions stored therein for execution by the processor; and

a touchscreen display module for displaying graphical images, the touchscreen display module further comprising;

a touchscreen panel having a generally planar disposition, the touchscreen panel comprising a touch-sensitive region surrounded by a non-touch sensitive peripheral region, the touch-sensitive region comprising a substantial portion of the touchscreen panel;

a rigid spacer having a continuous perimeter shaped to underlay only the non-touch sensitive peripheral region of the touchscreen panel, the rigid spacer securely attached only to the non-touch sensitive periphery of the touchscreen panel by an adhesive layer such that any portion of the rigid spacer is prevented from underlaying the touch-sensitive region;

a compliant layer having a continuous perimeter underlaying the rigid spacer, the compliant layer disposed in contact with the rigid spacer;

a display screen underlaying the compliant layer, the display screen having a generally planar display portion provided to directly underlay the touch sensitive region of the touchscreen; and

a touchscreen housing assembly comprising a base bezel portion, a top bezel portion and a module frame, the touchscreen housing assembly adapted to securely frame the display screen, the compliant layer, the rigid spacer, and the touchscreen panel.

7. The mobile device of claim 6 further comprising a sealing layer interposed between the non-touch sensitive periphery of the touchscreen panel and the top bezel portion.

8. The mobile device of claim 6 wherein the touchscreen display module further comprises a spring member acting between the display screen and the base bezel portion to bias the display screen towards the top bezel portion.

9. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the spring member is made of a conductive material to inhibit electromagnetic interference between the touchscreen module and the processor and memory of the mobile device.

10. A method for assembling a touchscreen display module comprising:

providing a touchscreen panel having a generally planar disposition, the touchscreen panel comprising a touch-sensitive region surrounded by a non-touch sensitive periphery, the touch-sensitive region comprising a substantial portion of the touchscreen panel;

providing a rigid spacer having a continuous perimeter shaped to underlay only the nontouch sensitive periphery of the touchscreen panel, the rigid spacer securely attached only to the non-touch sensitive periphery of the touchscreen panel by an adhesive layer such that any portion of the rigid spacer is prevented from underlaying the touch-sensitive region;

providing a compliant layer having a continuous perimeter underlaying the rigid spacer, the compliant layer disposed in contact with the rigid spacer;

providing a display screen underlaying the compliant layer, the display screen having a generally planar display portion provided to directly underlay the touch sensitive region of the touchscreen; and

providing a touchscreen housing assembly comprising a base bezel portion, a top bezel portion and a module frame, the touchscreen housing assembly adapted to securely frame the display screen, the compliant layer, the rigid spacer, and the touchscreen panel.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a sealing layer interposed between the non-touch sensitive periphery of the touchscreen panel and the top bezel portion.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a spring member acting between the base bezel portion and the display screen to bias the display screen towards the top bezel portion.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the spring member is formed of an electrically conductive material and is connected to an electrical ground.