Electronic devices with a liquid crystal display

• US 5,418,760 A
• Filed: 08/02/1993
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Yoshimi, Kawashima, Kazuyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/101,714
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/69-70, 368/82, 368/239, 368/242, 368/319-321, 340/711, 340/712, 341/22, 341/23
• US Class Current: 368/69
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0023 by light valves in general G04G9/06, G04G9/12 takes precedence; electro-, magneto- or acousto-optic devices in general G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0029 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0035 constructional
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/018 flat, smooth or ripple-free
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/012 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/028 Watch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/05 Card, e.g. credit card
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/01 combined with other elements on the same substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/05 Mode selector switch, e.g. shift, or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/058 Containing a battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/054 Application timeslot: duration of actuation or delay between or combination of subsequent actuations determines selected function
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation

Abstract

An electronic device including a switch member which has a multiplicity of switch contacts provided thereon, a film liquid crystal display unit disposed above the switch member and having openings provided at positions opposite to the respective switch contacts, and operation members disposed in the corresponding openings so as to depress the operation members from above the film liquid crystal display. By the depression of the respective operation members, the corresponding switch contacts are switched. According to this structure, the switching operations are performed on the film liquid crystal display unit, so that the operability of the switches is improved and the device itself is miniaturized.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a device casing having a through hole therein;

an operation button disposed in the through hole in said casing;

a switch member disposed below said operation button and switched by a depression of said button; and

a film liquid crystal display unit disposed around the periphery of said operation button and having the contents of display thereof controlled by the switching operation of said switch member.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said through hole is provided at substantially the center of the overall device casing.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said through hole is provided at substantially the center of the overall device casing, and comprising a ring-like flat region extending around the through hole with said film liquid crystal display unit being disposed on the ring-like flat region.

4. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said through hole is provided at substantially the center of the overall device casing, and comprising a ring-like flat region extending around the through hole with said film liquid crystal display unit being disposed on the ring-like flat region, and a transparent cover disposed above said film crystal display unit.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, comprising a circuit board having said switch member disposed thereon and disposed below said operation button;

and a connector connected to the circuit board for delivery of a display signal to the film liquid crystal display unit.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said film liquid crystal display unit comprises two opposite flexible baseplates, display electrodes formed on opposite inner surfaces of said flexible baseplates, and a liquid crystal material confined between said two flexible baseplates.

7. An electronic device with a liquid crystal display, comprising:

a device casing with a plurality of through holes therein;

a like number of operation buttons disposed in the corresponding plurality of through holes in said device casing;

a switch member disposed below the plurality of operation buttons and switched by a depression of said buttons; and

a film liquid crystal display unit disposed above said switch member and around said operation buttons with the contents of display of said liquid crystal display unit being controlled by switching operations of said switch member.

8. An electronic device according to claim 7, wherein said device casing is made of a transparent material with the plurality of through holes therein.

9. An electronic device according to claim 7, wherein said device casing comprises a casing body which receives said switch member and said film liquid crystal display unit, and a transparent cover attached to said casing body and having the plurality of through holes therein.

10. An electronic device according to claim 7, wherein said switch member comprises a flexible sheet on which a plurality of switch contacts is formed in correspondence to the plurality of operation buttons.

11. An electronic device according to claim 7, wherein said film liquid crystal display unit comprises means for displaying functions of said operation buttons.

12. An electronic device with a liquid crystal display, comprising:

a plurality of operation members;

a switch member disposed below said plurality of operation members and switched by depression of said respective operation members; and

a film liquid crystal display unit disposed above said switch member and around said operation members with the contents of display of said liquid crystal display unit being controlled by switching operations of said operation members; and

a transparent cover disposed above said film liquid crystal display unit and having operation portions of said operation members disposed therein.

13. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said switch member comprises a common flexible sheet on which a plurality of switch contacts is formed in correspondence to said plurality of operation members.

14. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the operating members are depressed through the corresponding operation portions thereof in said transparent cover.

15. An electronic device according to claim 12, comprising a clock casing to which said transparent cover is attached and wherein the operating members, switch member and film liquid crystal display unit are received within said clock casing.

16. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the film liquid crystal display unit comprises means for displaying functions of said operation members.