Man/machine interface having a reinforced housing

• US 9,213,364 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Autran, Frdric, Beraud, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US13/642,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 345169-179, 295/250.2, 296/22, 298/74, 298/84, 361/679.09, 704/9, 715/848
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A man/machine interface including a touch-sensitive detection means and a housing is disclosed. The housing may include an edge which defines an opening. The touch-sensitive detection means may be placed into the housing at least in line with the opening, and the housing includes at least one reinforcement means.

Claims

1. A man/machine interface, comprising:

a touch-sensitive sensing means; and

a housing comprising a rim delimiting an opening, said touch-sensitive sensing means being housed in the housing at least in line with said opening, wherein the housing includes at least one reinforcing means,

wherein the at least one reinforcing means comprises a first part embedded in said rim of the housing; and

the housing comprises a single reinforcing means, wherein the single reinforcing means comprises a hole delimited by said second part, said touch-sensitive sensing means being fastened to said second part in line with the hole.

2. The interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material constituting the touch-sensitive sensing means and a material constituting the reinforcing means have a same coefficient of expansion ±

33%.

3. The interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing means is a metal plate.

4. The interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing means includes a second part that protrudes from the rim at the level of said opening.

5. The interface as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first part and the second part lie in a first plane and a second plane, respectively, said planes being at an angle between 75°

and 105°

.

6. The interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a multiplicity of separate reinforcing means.

7. The interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second part has an upper face oriented toward a user and a lower face opposite the upper face, said touch-sensitive sensing means being fastened to said upper face of the second part of the reinforcing means.

8. The interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second part has an upper face oriented toward a user and a lower face opposite the upper face, said touch-sensitive sensing means being fastened to said lower face of the second part of the reinforcing means.

9. The interface as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rim of the housing includes a facade strip and the upper face of the reinforcing means and the facade strip are in the same plane.

10. The interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive sensing means includes an upper face oriented toward a user, the rim of the housing includes a facade strip, and said upper facade and said facade strip are in a same plane.

11. The interface as claimed in claim 10, wherein leveling packing is disposed between the rim of the housing and the touch-sensitive sensing means.

12. The interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes an area for receiving the touch-sensitive sensing means.