Waterproof touch screen panel with protective film

• US 20110228192A1
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Balboa Water Group Incorporated, Balboa Water Group LLC (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Balboa Instruments Incorporated (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hollaway, Jerrell P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,294,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/58
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133311 Environmental protection, e.g. against dust or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels

Abstract

A waterproof touch screen user interface panel constructed in such a way that readily available LCD displays and touch screen switches can be used in a wet environment. A thin plastic film is placed over the top of a touch screen/LCD assembly using moisture resistant adhesive to protect the assembly from the panel'"'"'s top side and a specially constructed housing allows the use of silicon gel to protect the panel from the bottom side. The plastic film, typically a polycarbonate film, is thin enough to allow activation of the touch screen switches with a soft touch, yet rigid enough to prevent false activations of the switches until touched.

Claims

1. A waterproof user interface panel comprised of:

An LCD display;

A touch screen switch coupled to said LCD display;

A housing for said switch and said display;

And a protective film over said switch and secured to said housing to prevent moisture intrusion into said housing.

2. The panel in claim 1, wherein said LCD display and said touch screen switch are secured to each other to form an assembly.

3. The panel in claim 1, wherein said film is secured to said housing with a water resistant adhesive.

4. The panel in claim 1, wherein said housing is comprised of an upper housing and a lower housing with said LCD and said touch screen switch located in said upper housing and sealing material located in said lower housing.

5. The panel in claim 4, wherein protrusions of said upper housing contacts said sealing material in said lower housing when said upper and said lower housings are assembled to form a waterproof seal to protect said LCD display and said touch screen switch from external moisture.

6. The panel in claim 4, wherein said lower housing has protrusions to hold said LCD and said touch screen switch in a fixed position in said upper housing.

7. The panel in claim 1, wherein said protective film and said housing are covered by a decorative overlay.

8. A method of constructing a moisture proof user interface panel with a touch screen switch and LCD display comprising the steps of:

Securing a plastic film over a cutout area of a housing;

And positioning an LCD/touch screen assembly against said plastic film.

9. The method in claim 8, wherein said film is secured to said housing by ultrasonic welding.

10. The method in claim 8, wherein said film is secured to said housing by an adhesive material.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said housing is at least partially filled with a moisture resistant sealing material.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the interface between said film and said housing is covered by an overlay having an adhesive layer that covers said interface.