U.S. patent application number 13/972697 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-19 for cover glass button for display of mobile device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Universal Cement Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Universal Cement Corporation. Invention is credited to Chih Sheng HOU.
Application Number | 20130335357 13/972697 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46316033 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130335357 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HOU; Chih Sheng |
December 19, 2013 |
COVER GLASS BUTTON FOR DISPLAY OF MOBILE DEVICE
Abstract
A cover glass pressure-sensitive button for a mobile device is
disclosed, a piece of pressure sensor is configured under
peripheral of a cover glass for a display of a mobile device. The
cover glass can be pressed like a button, and a signal is output
from the pressure sensor to trigger a predetermined function for
the mobile device when a pressure is applied on the cover glass. In
another embodiment, a space is reserved either under the touch
panel or under the LCD module. With this configuration, the
pressure sensitivity of the cover glass increases because the
pressure applied on the cover glass can be fully transferred onto
the pressure sensor.
Inventors: |
HOU; Chih Sheng; (Taipei,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Universal Cement Corporation |
Taipei |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Universal Cement
Corporation
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
46316033 |
Appl. No.: |
13/972697 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12975495 |
Dec 22, 2010 |
8564559 |
|
|
13972697 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1656 20130101;
G06F 1/1626 20130101; G06F 1/1643 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Claims
1. A cover glass button for a mobile device, comprising: a frame,
having a top opening; a support, protruded inward along a periphery
of said top opening; a pressure sensor, mounted on top of said
support; and a cover glass, configured in said opening and
overlying said pressure sensor; wherein said pressure sensor is
configured to output a signal responsive to a pressure applied on
said cover glass in a thickness direction of said cover glass; said
cover glass button further comprises, in said thickness direction:
a touch panel, configured on bottom of said cover glass, a display
module, configured on bottom of said touch panel, and an
electronics compartment, configured on bottom of said display
module; said touch panel is co-elevational with said pressure
sensor; a space is provided between said display module and said
electronics compartment to make room for up and down movements of
said cover glass, said touch panel and said display module relative
to said electronics compartment; and a combination of said cover
glass, said touch panel and said display module is suspended above
and free of contact with said electronics compartment.
2. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support
is protruded inward from a side wall of said frame and spaced
upwardly in said thickness direction from a bottom wall of said
frame.
3. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
pressure sensor is an annular pressure sensor strip extending
continuously along said periphery of said opening.
4. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
pressure sensor includes two pressure sensor strips arranged along
two opposite sides of said opening, respectively, and said opening
further comprises two other sides which are free of said pressure
sensor.
5. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 4, wherein said two
pressure sensor strips of said pressure sensor are mounted along
left and right sides of said opening, respectively.
6. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 4, wherein said two
pressure sensor strips of said pressure sensor are mounted along
upper and lower sides of said opening, respectively.
7. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
pressure sensor includes four independent pressure sensor pads,
each configured at one of the four corners of said opening.
8. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a protective layer, configured on top of said frame to cover a gap
between said cover glass and said frame.
9. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
protective layer is made of plastic, metal, rubber or glass.
10. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
pressure sensor is compressible to have a reduced thickness in
response to a pressure applied on said cover glass in said
thickness direction, and said pressure sensor is restorable to an
original thickness thereof in response to a release of the
pressure.
11. A cover glass button for a mobile device, comprising: a frame
having a top opening; a support protruding inward of said top
opening and arranged along a periphery of said top opening; a
pressure sensor mounted on top of said support; and a cover glass
configured in said opening and overlying said pressure sensor;
wherein said pressure sensor is sandwiched, in a thickness
direction of said cover glass, between said cover glass and said
support; said cover glass button further comprises, in said
thickness direction and within said frame, a touch panel below said
cover glass, a display module below said touch panel, and an
electronics compartment below said display module; the touch panel
does not overlap the pressure sensor in the thickness direction; a
space is provided between said display module and said electronics
compartment to make room for up and down movements of said cover
glass, said touch panel and said display module relative to said
electronics compartment; and a combination of said cover glass,
said touch panel and said display module is suspended above and
free of contact with said electronics compartment.
12. A cover glass button as claimed in claim 11, wherein said
pressure sensor is compressible to have a reduced thickness in
response to a pressure applied on said cover glass in said
thickness direction, and said pressure sensor is restorable to an
original thickness thereof in response to a release of the
pressure.
13. A mobile device, comprising: a frame having a top opening; a
support protruding inward of said top opening and arranged along a
periphery of said top opening; a pressure sensor mounted on top of
said support; a transparent cover configured in said opening and
overlying said pressure sensor; a touch panel below said
transparent cover; a display module below said touch panel; and a
circuit; wherein a space is provided between said display module
and said electronics compartment to make room for up and down
movements of said cover glass, said touch panel and said display
module relative to said electronics compartment; a combination of
said cover glass, said touch panel and said display module is
suspended above and free of contact with said electronics
compartment; said pressure sensor is sandwiched, in a thickness
direction of said transparent cover, between said transparent cover
and said support, is electrically coupled to the circuit, and is
configured to output a signal responsive to a pressure applied on
said transparent cover in said thickness direction; and wherein the
touch panel has an outer peripheral edge spaced inwardly from an
outer peripheral edge of the transparent cover, and also spaced
inwardly from an inner peripheral edge of the support.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION(s)
[0001] The instant application is a continuation application of
application Ser. No. 12/975,495, filed Dec. 22, 2010, the
disclosure of which is entirely incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a cover glass
pressure-sensitive button for a display of a mobile device,
portable media device, or an electronic reader.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] FIG. 1 shows a prior art of a mobile device
[0006] An outline of a conventional mobile device is shown as in
FIG. 1, a cover glass 201 is mounted on top of a frame 205. An
image 20, e.g. a tree, displayed by an underlying LCD can be seen
through the transparent cover glass 201.
[0007] FIG. 2 shows a section view taken along line AA' of FIG.
1
[0008] Through the section view of FIG. 2, it can be seen, within
the frame 205, a cover glass 201 is configured on top of the mobile
device, a touch panel 202 is configured on bottom of the cover
glass 201, and an LCD (liquid crystal display) module is configured
on bottom of the touch panel 202. An electronics compartment 204 is
configured on bottom of the LCD module 203 for housing additional
electronic components. The cover glass 201, touch panel 202, LCD
module 203, and electronics compartment 204 are each compactly
stacked on top of another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a prior art of a mobile device
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a section view taken along line AA' of FIG.
1
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a frame for a mobile device according to a
first embodiment of this invention
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a section view taken along line CC' of FIG.
3
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a pressure sensor configured on the support of
FIG. 4
[0014] FIG. 6A shows a section view of a mobile device according to
this invention.
[0015] FIG. 6B shows an enlarged view of the circled compartment of
FIG. 6A
[0016] FIG. 6C shows the cover glass FIG. 6B is pressed
[0017] FIG. 7 shows a protective strip covering a slit between the
cover glass and the frame.
[0018] FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of this invention.
[0019] FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of this invention.
[0020] FIG. 10 shows a rectangular strip of pressure sensor is to
place on top of the support.
[0021] FIG. 11 shows a pair of pressure sensor strips vertically
configured on right side and left side of the support.
[0022] FIG. 12 shows a pair of pressure sensor strips horizontally
configured on top side and bottom side of the support.
[0023] FIG. 13 shows four independent support platforms are
configured within the opening
[0024] FIG. 14 shows four pressure sensor pads are each configured
on one of the support platforms.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] A pressure sensor is configured under peripheral of a cover
glass for a mobile device or similar electronic apparatus. When the
cover glass is pressed, the pressure sensor underlay senses the
pressure applied on the visible area of cover glass and outputs a
signal to trigger a predetermined function through an operation of
a control system.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a frame for a mobile device according to a
first embodiment of this invention
[0027] A frame 605 is a part of a housing for accommodating
components of a mobile device. An opening 61 is made on top of the
frame 605. A support 606, e.g. a strip of platform, protrudes
inward within the opening 61 from the wall of the opening 61.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a section view taken along line CC' of FIG.
3
[0029] A support 606, e.g. rectangular strip of platform, is formed
within the opening 61 on top of the frame 605. The support 606
protrudes inward along a wall bottom of the opening 61 to form an
L-shaped support.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows a pressure sensor configured on the support of
FIG. 4
[0031] A strip of pressure sensor 607 is mounted on top of the
support 606.
[0032] FIG. 6A shows a section view of a mobile device according to
this invention.
[0033] FIG. 6A shows that a cover glass 601 is configured on top of
the frame 605 and fitted in the opening 61. The top of the cover
glass 601 is coplanar with a top of the frame 605. A peripheral of
the cover glass 601 is configured on top of the pressure sensor
607. A touch panel 602 is configured on bottom of the cover glass
601 which is sensitive to a touch by a finger or fingers for
triggering a predetermined function. An LCD module 603 is
configured on bottom of the touch panel 602. Additional electronics
are configured in an electronics compartment 604 under the LCD
module 603. The cover glass 601, touch panel 602, LCD module 603,
and electronics compartment 604 are compactly stacked for
miniaturization of the mobile device.
[0034] FIG. 6B shows an enlarged view of the circled compartment of
FIG. 6A
[0035] Due to compressibility of the pressure sensor 607 which
underlies along the peripheral of the cover glass 601, the cover
glass 601 can be pressed from top of the mobile device to trigger a
predetermined function. Therefore the cover glass 601 is capable to
function as a pressure-sensitive button. A thickness of dl for the
pressure sensor 607 is shown before the cover glass 601 is
pressed.
[0036] FIG. 6C shows the cover glass FIG. 6B is pressed
[0037] The compressibility of pressure sensor 607 is shown in FIG.
6C, where a thickness of d2 for the pressure sensor 607 is shown
after the cover glass 601 is pressed. The pressure sensor 607 shall
restore back to its original thickness d1 after the pressure
applied over the cover glass 601 is released.
[0038] FIG. 7 shows a protective strip covering a slit between the
cover glass and the frame.
[0039] A strip of plastic, metal, rubber or glass 608 can be
optionally applied as a protective layer to cover the gap 621
formed in between the cover glass 601 and the frame 605 on top of
the mobile device.
[0040] FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of this invention.
[0041] A space 622 is reserved in between the touch panel 602 and
the LCD module 603 so that the cover glass 601 in combination of
the touch panel 602 is suspended above and free from touching the
LCD module 603 below. The mechanical isolation space 622 makes room
for the up and down movement of the suspended combination of the
cover glass 601 and the touch pane 1602 before and after the
pressure applied on the cover glass 601, and therefore the pressure
applied on the cover glass 601 can be maximally transferred onto
the pressure sensor 607.
[0042] FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of this invention.
[0043] A space 623 is reserved in between the LCD module 603 and
the electronics compartment 604 so that the cover glass 601, the
touch panel 602, in combination of the LCD module 603 as a whole is
suspended above and free from touching the electronics compartment
604 below. The space 623 makes room for the up and down movement of
the suspended combination 601, 602, 603 before and after the
pressure applied on the cover glass 601, and therefore the pressure
applied on the cover glass 601 can be maximally transferred onto
the pressure sensor 607.
[0044] FIG. 10 shows a rectangular strip of pressure sensor is to
place on top of the support.
[0045] FIG. 10 shows a rectangular strip of pressure sensor 607 is
going to be placed on top of the support 606. The pressure sensor
607 electrically couples to a control system 609 through circuits
64. The pressure sensor 607 outputs a signal to the control system
609 corresponding to a pressure applied on the cover glass 601
which is configured over it.
[0046] FIG. 11 shows a pair of pressure sensor strips vertically
configured on right side and left side of the support.
[0047] FIG. 11 shows a left strip of pressure sensor 607L is
mounted on a left platform of the support 606, and a right strip of
pressure sensor 607R is mounted on a right platform of the support
606. The left strip of pressure sensor 607L electrically couples to
the control system 609 through circuits 64L, and the right strip of
pressure sensor 607R electrically couples to the control system 609
through circuits 64R.
[0048] FIG. 12 shows a pair of pressure sensor strips horizontally
configured on top side and bottom side of the support.
[0049] FIG. 12 shows a top strip of pressure sensor 607T is mounted
on a top platform of the support 606, and a bottom strip of
pressure sensor 607B is mounted on a bottom platform of the support
606. The top strip of pressure sensor 607T electrically couples to
the control system 609 through circuits 64T, and the bottom strip
of pressure sensor 607B electrically couples to the control system
609 through circuits 64B.
[0050] FIG. 13 shows four independent support platforms are
configured within the opening
[0051] FIG. 13 shows four independent support platforms 606C are
configured within the square opening 61. Each of the four support
platforms 606C is configured on one of the four corners of the
rectangular opening 61.
[0052] FIG. 14 shows four pressure sensor pads are each configured
on one of the support platforms.
[0053] FIG. 14 shows four pressure sensor pads 607C are provided.
Each of the four pressure sensor pads 607C is mounted on one of the
four support platforms 606C. Each of the four pressure sensor pads
607C is electrically coupled to the control system 609 through
circuits 64C for sensing the pressure applied over the cover glass
601.
[0054] While several embodiments have been described by way of
example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
of the present invention. Such modifications are all within the
scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *