Touch pad and electronic device having the same

• US 9,557,838 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Woon-sang, Kim, Do-kyum
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, VIET DAVID
• Application Number:
  US14/263,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20140233062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/04 Scanning arrangements , i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versaH04N1/387 takes precedence

Abstract

A touch pad with a simple structure to enable an electronic device to be manufactured more slimly and with low manufacturing costs. The touch pad includes a cover having a plurality of function icons a cover frame to support the cover, the cover frame including a plurality of light guide hollows, and a board, which is engaged with the cover frame and includes touch sensors and luminous elements to illuminate the function icons mounted thereon, the touch sensors and luminous elements being respectively mounted at positions on the board corresponding to the plurality of function icons.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit to form an image onto a printing medium;

a scanning unit to scan an image; and

an input unit comprising;

a plurality of function buttons, each configured to be illuminated and to be used to receive a user input,

a board,

at least one luminous element mounted on a side, that faces toward the plurality of function buttons, of the board to illuminate the plurality of function buttons,

a plurality of touch sensors mounted on a the side, that faces toward the plurality of function buttons, of the board to correspond to the plurality of function buttons, and

a frame comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of function buttons,

wherein the plurality of touch sensors are disposed at positions corresponding to the plurality of openings, respectively.

2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover in which the plurality of function buttons is disposed, wherein the frame is disposed between the board and the cover.

3. The image forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings separate the plurality of touch sensors from each other, and

the cover is disposed at a top surface of the frame and the board is disposed at a bottom surface of the frame.

4. The image forming apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a double-sided adhesive tape to form a secure connection between the frame and the board and to prevent air from entering between the frame and the board.

5. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of function buttons are not visible to a user of the image forming apparatus until the at least one luminous element illuminates the plurality of function buttons.

6. The image forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cover further comprises a transparent polycarbonate sheet or an acryl sheet.

7. The image forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cover comprises:

a transparent polycarbonate sheet;

a function button film printed on a rear surface of the polycarbonate sheet; and

a diffusion silk film printed on the function button film to diffuse light emitted from the at least one luminous element.

8. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein each luminous element of the at least one luminous element comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

9. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover having the plurality of function buttons.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame is engaged with the board.

11. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the openings have a funnel shape.

12. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the openings comprises a deformable material.

13. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of function buttons are configured as a plurality of icons.

14. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover unit to cover the scanning unit.

15. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit to form an image onto a printing medium;

a scanning unit to scan an image;

a cover having a plurality of function icons, each configured to be illuminated and to receive a user input;

a board;

at least one luminous element mounted on a side, that faces toward the plurality of function icons, of the board to illuminate the plurality of function icons;

a plurality of touch sensors mounted on the side, that faces toward the plurality of function icons, of the board to correspond to the plurality of function icons; and

a frame disposed between the board and the cover, and comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of function icons,

wherein the plurality of touch sensors are disposed at positions corresponding to the plurality of openings, respectively.

16. The image forming apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a cover unit to cover the scanning unit.

17. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit to form an image onto a printing medium;

a scanning unit to scan an image;

a plurality of function buttons, each configured to be illuminated and to receive a user input;

a board;

at least one luminous element mounted on a side, that faces toward the plurality of function buttons, of the board to illuminate the plurality of function buttons;

a plurality of touch sensors mounted on the side, that faces toward the plurality of function buttons, of the board to correspond to the plurality of function buttons; and

a frame disposed between the board and the plurality of function buttons, and comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of function buttons,

wherein the plurality of touch sensors, the plurality of openings, and the plurality of functions buttons are aligned, respectively, with each other.

18. The image forming apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a cover in which the plurality of function buttons is disposed, wherein the frame is disposed between the board and the cover.

19. The image forming apparatus of claim 18, wherein

the plurality of openings separate the plurality of touch sensors from each other, and

the cover is disposed at a top surface of the frame and the board is disposed at a bottom surface of the frame.

20. The image forming apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a double-sided adhesive tape to form a secure connection between the frame and the board and to prevent air from entering between the frame and the board.

21. The image forming apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of function buttons are not visible to a user of the image forming apparatus until the at least one luminous element illuminates the plurality of function buttons.

22. The image forming apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cover further comprises a transparent polycarbonate sheet or an acryl sheet.

23. The image forming apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cover comprises:

a transparent polycarbonate sheet;

a function button film printed on a rear surface of the polycarbonate sheet; and

a diffusion silk film printed on the function button film to diffuse light emitted from the at least one luminous element.

24. The image forming apparatus of claim 17, wherein the frame is engaged with the board.

25. The image forming apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of function buttons are configured as a plurality of icons.

26. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit to form an image onto a printing medium;

a scanning unit to scan an image; and

an input unit comprising;

a plurality of function buttons, each configured to be illuminated and to be used to receive a user input,

a board,

at least one luminous element mounted on a side, that faces toward the plurality of function buttons, of the board to illuminate the plurality of function buttons,

a plurality of touch sensors mounted on the side, that faces toward the plurality of function buttons, of the board to correspond to the plurality of function buttons, and

a structure comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of function buttons,

wherein the plurality of touch sensors are disposed at positions corresponding to the plurality of openings, respectively.