Touch screen enclosure having a universal rear enclosure unit, a touch screen plate, and first and second seals

• US 5,640,296 A
• Filed: 09/27/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Dynapro Systems, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Peachey, Ezra Timothy, Bonsall, Glenn Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/534,807
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 178/18, 345/173, 345/175, 345/905, 40/448, 40/575, 312/7.2, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 359/83, 361/681-683, 361/690
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613

Abstract

An enclosure system for an electronic device such as a capacitive touch screen system preferably includes a front cover coupled to a universal rear enclosure unit via a hinge. A pan located between the front cover and the universal rear enclosure unit is pivotably coupled to the front cover. The front cover houses a touch screen and a display between the pan and the front cover. The universal rear enclosure unit houses computer equipment and power electronics for use by the touch screen, and does not have to be individually sized based on the size of the touch screen. The enclosure system also includes a seal between the front cover and the touch screen plate and between the touch screen plate and the universal rear enclosure unit, which prevents moisture or other debris from entering the enclosure system.

Claims

1. An enclosure system comprising:

a touch screen being one of a plurality of screen sizes;

a front enclosure cover being one of a plurality of cover sizes associated with the one of the screen sizes, the front enclosure cover housing the touch screen;

a touch screen plate being a plate size associated with the touch screen size;

a first seal disposed between the front enclosure cover and a first side of the touch screen plate;

a rear enclosure being a single enclosure size for use with the plurality of cover sizes, the rear enclosure housing electronic components associated with the touch screen; and

a second seal disposed between a second side of the touch screen plate and the rear enclosure.

2. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the rear enclosure is die cast aluminum.

3. The enclosure system of claim 2 wherein the rear enclosure includes heat dissipation fins.

4. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the electronic components are power electronic components.

5. The enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the first and second seals are compressed between the front enclosure cover and rear enclosure.

6. The enclosure system of claim 5 wherein the first seal is an O-ring seal.

7. An enclosure for a touch screen system, the enclosure comprising:

a touch screen being one of a plurality of touch screen sizes;

a touch screen plate;

electronic circuitry;

a front housing section configured to cover the touch screen, the front housing section being a front housing size associated with the one of the touch screen sizes, the touch screen being disposed between the front housing section and the touch screen plate;

a rear housing section configured to hold the electronic circuitry; and

a sealing system disposed between the front housing section and the rear housing section, the sealing system providing a seal between the front housing section and the touch screen plate and between the touch screen plate and the rear housing section.

8. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein the rear housing section is die cast aluminum.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein the rear housing section includes heat dissipation fins.

10. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein the electronic components are power electronic components.

11. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein the sealing system includes O-ring seals.

12. The enclosure of claim 11 wherein the sealing system is compressed between the rear housing section and the front housing section.

13. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein the front housing section is coupled to the rear housing section via a hinge.

14. An enclosure system, comprising:

a front enclosure cover;

a touch screen system, the touch screen system including a touch screen and an electronic circuit, the touch screen being contained in the front enclosure cover, the front enclosure cover being one of a plurality of different sizes; and

a rear enclosure unit including;

a touch screen plate being a plate size associated with the one of the different sizes, the touch screen plate being sealably coupled to the front enclosure cover; and

a universal rear housing section having an opening, the touch screen plate being sealably coupled to the rear housing section at the opening.

15. The enclosure unit of claim 14 wherein the rear housing section is die cast aluminum.

16. The enclosure unit of claim 15 wherein the rear housing section includes heat dissipation fins.

17. The enclosure unit of claim 14 wherein the electronic circuit includes power electronic components.

18. The enclosure unit of claim 14 wherein the front cover is sealed to the rear housing section via a sealing system including an O-ring seal.

19. The enclosure unit of claim 18 wherein the sealing system is compressed between the rear housing section and the front enclosure cover.

20. The enclosure unit of claim 19 wherein the front enclosure cover is coupled to the rear housing section via a hinge.