Touch input device

• US 8,284,164 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Han, Jae Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US11/475,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20060289284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,296 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 200/600
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/044 Light
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/036 Light emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/06 Reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/09 Flexible integral part of housing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch input device. The touch input device of the present invention comprises a cover unit 20 which is formed with a reflective coating layer 22 on a surface thereof and made of a transparent material; a selective transmission unit 24 which is provided on a rear surface of the cover unit 20, formed with light-emitting holes 26 indicative of their respective functions and made of an opaque material; and a touchpad module 30 which includes light emitting devices 33 provided on a rear surface of the selective transmission unit 24 to provide light to the light-transmitting holes 26 and detects whether a user'"'"'s body is touched onto the surface of the cover unit 20 to receive a detection signal. According to the touch input device of the present invention so configured, there are advantages in that it is possible to prevent the buttons from being inadvertently pressed down and operated, the external appearance of the electronic equipment to which the touch input device according to the present invention is employed can be relatively fine, and the buttons can be easily operated even in a dark place because the buttons are displayed with light.

Claims

1. A touch input device, comprising:

a cover unit with a reflective coating layer formed on a surface thereof;

a selective transmission unit provided on a rear surface of the cover unit and formed with light-transmitting holes indicative of their respective functions; and

a touchpad module for detecting whether a user'"'"'s body is touched onto the surface of the cover unit and receiving a detection signal, the touchpad module including;

a substrate provided with a main chip and capable of detecting static electricity; and

light emitting devices provided on a rear surface of the substrate to provide light to the light-transmitting holes, the light emitting devices providing the light-transmitting holes with light,

wherein buttons are displayed on the cover unit using the light emitted through the light-transmitting holes,

one or more lenses are installed through the substrate to provide the light-transmitting holes of the selective transmission unit with the light from the light emitting devices, the one or more lenses having a first surface coplanar with a front surface of the substrate and a rear surface extending beyond the rear surface of the substrate, and

wherein the size and shape of each of the light-transmitting holes is substantially equal to the size and shape of a corresponding lens of the one or more lenses, each light-transmitting hole overlying a lens.

2. The touch input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein any one of the cover unit and selective transmission unit is first formed and then insert injection molded or double injection molded with the other unit such that the units can be formed integrally with each other.

3. The touch input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least regions of the cover unit corresponding to the light-transmitting holes are formed of a transparent material and the selective transmission unit is formed of an opaque material.

4. The touch input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shield plate is further provided such that the light emitted from the light emitting devices is delivered in a direction toward the light-transmitting holes but does not leak to the outside.

5. The touch input device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shield plate is integrally formed with the lenses.

6. The touch input device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shield plate is formed of translucent material.

7. The touch input device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shield plate is spaced from the substrate.