MXPA99009724A - Overall appliance for ta screen - Google Patents

Abstract

An overlay touch screen apparatus that is used in association with a touch screen having a rigid contact surface. The superposed touch screen apparatus comprises a flexible membrane that covers at least a portion of the rigid contact surface. The flexible membrane is removably held in a predetermined position on the rigid contact surface to provide a surface more desirable to the touch for manual activation than the rigid contact surface. In addition, the flexible membrane may include one of the one or more domed regions which are provided in the membrane to be in substantial register with the entry regions in the rigid contact surface to provide touch reference points for the user

Description

SUPERVISED APPARATUS FOR TOUCH SCREEN DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally related to a user input device that is used in association with a touch screen and, in particular, with a membrane superimposed in register with a touch screen rigid to provide or otherwise improve the touch qualities associated with the entry of data by a user via the rigid touch screen. Touch screens as input devices for users have recently become popular in electronic devices for consumers in the mass markets. For example, touch screens can be found on cell phones, cordless phones, cash registers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), watches, calculators, household items and many other electronic devices and generally comprise a rigid rectangular surface on which a plurality of "keys" or "buttons" are displayed which, when touched by the user, cause the device to execute an associated command or function. A typical and electric touch screen displays one or more visual signals to the user / operator and can provide multiple "keyboard" designs to facilitate operation in different modes and serves to register the input for the user provided in association with such signals. Since it is known that touch screens can be constructed of semi-rigid materials such as plastic, semi-rigid materials are usually not sufficiently elastic and robust enough to be used in consumer electronics. Additionally, the standard liquid crystal or LCD technology favored in touch screens normally operates best in association with rigid materials with a glass-like surface. Consequently, the electronics industry for consumer and mass markets favors the use of a rigid top surface in the construction of such a touch screen. Unfortunately, the fair reason why the industry favors these rigid materials makes them less desirable to the consumer. For example, the rigidity of the touch screen eliminates the manual "depression" of the input regions and the use thereof may be less comfortable than when using a standard numeric keypad, keyboard or similar input device. In addition, the rigid surface provides few, if any, tactile or feedback signals to the user to indicate where to touch the screen or if sufficient pressure has been applied to the recording by the device, since there is no movement toward the key or button.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an overlapping lid which is used in association with the rigid upper surface of a touch screen which improves some of the undesirable characteristics of this rigid top surface. It is an associated object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive replaceable cover that can protect the surface of the touch screen. Additionally, rigid transparent substrates by their very nature are smooth and flat surfaces. Since this construction is a virtual necessity for the video display aspect of the touch screens, the rigid uniform surface does not provide the touch reference points to assist the user. In this way, the use of a touch screen normally requires the user to see directly to the touch screen to see one or more visual signals displayed on it in order to identify where on the surface of the touch screen the user should to make contact (either with a stylus, finger or other instrument) to enter the desired command or activate the device in the way intended. This is particularly unsatisfactory in certain cell phone environments, where the lack of tactile landmarks (and the focus of visual cues) invariably requires the user to use a cell phone while visually driving focus over the phone instead of the road, thus making a phone call from A car becomes difficult if not dangerous. Accordingly, it is yet another object of the present invention to provide a perceptible surface to the touch that is used in association with a pre-existing rigid touch screen. In touch screens, recognition of a user's input device is achieved through several methods including, but not limited to, sensitive-capacitor switches, membrane switches, pressure switches, and various detector ranges. light at high frequency. Some of these technologies require the use of styluses made of materials that have certain electrical characteristics to ensure proper operation of the device. These separate stylets can easily be lost. Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible membrane having electrical characteristics substantially identical to those of the stylet, which are kept in register with the touch screen to activate and simplify the use of the touch screen.

These and other objects of the present invention will be more obvious in light of the present specification, drawings and claims. The present invention is directed to an overlay apparatus 5 for touch screen that is used in association with a touch screen having a substantially rigid contact surface. The touch screen may have one or more indications displayed therein, as is known in the art. The touch screen is usually provides together with a housing and has a periphery with upper, bottom, left and right flanges. The superposed touch screen apparatus includes a substantially flexible membrane and means for removably holding the membrane in a position predetermined on the rigid contact surface of the touch screen. In particular, the size of the flexible membrane is sufficient to cover a desired portion in the indications which can be displayed on the contact surface. The flexibility of the membrane provides a more desirable feeling of touch to the user than those provided by the rigid touch screen. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane includes one or more regions raised in the form of domes. Each of these domes is arranged in a flexible membrane to be in Or substantial registration with a respective advance indication.

These dome-shaped regions may be formed integrally in the membrane or may be formed by adding additional material to the surface above the membrane. Furthermore, it is estimated within the field of use of the present invention the use of a substantially rigid superimposed layer to which flexible regions selected to correspond with the sections where the "key" can be deployed are incorporated. The membrane is removably held in a predetermined position superimposed on at least the desired portion of the indications displayed on the touch screen. The means for removably maintaining it can take many forms, for example, they can comprise a structure having one or more rigid or semi-rigid members, in such a way that the membrane can be fixed around its entire periphery and further comprise to assemble this structure in association with the touch screen. These mounting means may comprise a hinge. Instead, the mounting means may comprise a tongue associated with the structure and may be slidably provided within a slot provided adjacent to the touch screen in the housing. As an alternative to the structure, the mounting means may comprise a series of holes located adjacent to the left and right flanges of the membrane, left and right sprockets coupling the options and means for rotating the sprockets, which can be activate manually or by means of a reversible motor. In this mode, the edges of the membrane can be reinforced to minimize damage to the membrane during the activation of the same by the rotation of the gear. In yet another embodiment, the membrane can be removably maintained in a predetermined position with a band of adhesive disposed adjacent the periphery of the membrane, such that the membrane resects either the rigid contact surface or more preferably the housing around the periphery of the rigid contact surface. Alternatively, the membrane can be removably maintained with one or more fasteners disposed around the peripheries of the rigid contact surface and the membrane. These fasteners may comprise a coupled pair of hook and loop fasteners, a coupled pair of press fasteners or any other type of mechanical fasteners. Conceivably, the membrane alone can be formed from a material, which due to its inherent properties, it is attracted to the surface of the touch screen, for example, static charge, or the like. In yet another embodiment, the means for removably holding the membrane in a predetermined position may comprise a membrane storage chamber disposed within the housing. The camera is provided with an opening parallel and close to one on the edges of the surface of the touch screen. In this embodiment, a pair of opposed slots parallel to each other and perpendicular to the opening of the chamber extend from the opening to a location close to an opposite flange of the contact surface, such that the membrane I can restrict it sliding within a couple of slots using several means. In this embodiment, the membrane can be deflected to retract within the storage chamber to the membrane, thus, means are required to hold the membrane in its registration position with the touch screen. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, which currently represent preferred embodiments of the invention and in which similar reference numbers refer to similar parts in different views: Figure 1 of the drawings is a schematic perspective view of the drawings. an embodiment of the present invention shown being used in association with a wireless or cellular telephone; Figure 2 of the drawings is an elevation view in front cross section of an embodiment of the present invention in which a flexible membrane is arranged in register with a rigid contact surface; Figure 2a of the drawings is an elevation view in frontal cross-section of another embodiment of the present invention, in which a flexible membrane having a plurality of raised dome-shaped regions integrally formed therein is arranged in registration with a rigid contact surface; Figure 2b of the drawings is an elevation view in front cross section of another embodiment of the present invention, in which a flexible membrane having a plurality of raised dome-shaped regions formed by adding additional material to the membrane, is disposed in register with a rigid contact surface; Figure 2c of the drawings is an elevation view in front cross section of a flexible membrane embodiment that carries raised domes where one of the domes is being manually pressed; Figures 3a to 3d of the drawings, each are partial perspective views of several stages of deployment of the flexible membrane in register with a rigid contact surface in another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a side elevational cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3a showing, in particular, the membrane storage bed, the right sprocket and the tightening member by dock; Figure 5 of the drawings is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the activation mechanism for deploying and retracting the flexible membrane; Figure 6 of the drawings is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the activation mechanism to deploy and retract the flexible membrane; Figure 7 of the drawings is a schematic top plan view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the flexible membrane is removably held in association with the rigid contact surface using adhesive; Figure 8 of the drawings is a schematic top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention in which the flexible membrane is removably held in association with the rigid contact surface using a coupled pair of hook and loop fasteners; Figure 9 of the drawings is a schematic top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention in which the flexible membrane is removably held in association with the rigid contact surface using coupled pairs of press fasteners, and Figure 10 of The drawings is a schematic top plan view of an embodiment of the invention in which the flexible membrane is removably held in association with the rigid contact surface using a structure having a tongue engaged in a groove in the housing. While the invention is susceptible to modalities in many different forms, the drawings are shown, and a number of embodiments will be described herein in detail, with the understanding that the present description can be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments. Figure 1 of the drawings shows a wireless or cellular microphone 10 having a microphone 11, a headset 12, momentary contact switches 13, 14 and 15, a touch screen 20, all held within a housing 16. Of course, it should be understood that since a cellular or wireless telephone has been shown in the drawings and will be used to describe the present invention, the invention has application to the entire range of consumer electronics that include touch screen technology, including, in particular, the PDAs. The touch screen 20 has a rigid contact surface 21 (usually constructed of glass) in which indications can be displayed electrically. The rigid contact surface 21 has a periphery on an upper flange 22, a lower flange 23, a left flange 24 and a right flange 25. In the telephone mode shown in the drawings, the displayed indications may include alphanumeric characters configured in a well-known matrix configuration of a keypad numeric keypad (as shown in Figure 1). Additionally, the flexibility of a touch screen 20 may allow the user to alternately receive text messages, input and review an address book / electronic telephone numbers, and maintain a "to do list" and / or appointment calendar. Similar functionality can be found in PDAs, such as the PALM PILOT, sold by 3COM Corporation. In each of these devices, the indications can be displayed on a rigid contact surface 21 using well-known technologies, such as those involving the deployment of liquid crystal. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the superimposed apparatus for touch screen 100 includes a flexible membrane 101 and a structure 102. In alternative embodiments, other means for removably maintaining the flexible membrane 101 in operable association with the touch screen 20 by example (See Figures 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10) will be discussed later. The flexible membrane 101 is preferably made of a transparent flexible material such as mylar film (formed by a heat process) or low to medium density tetrafluoropolyethylene (by an injection molding process). However, it is contemplated that the flexible membrane 101 may also be formed of a translucent or even opaque material, so long as its flexibility is maintained. In an embodiment where the flexible membrane 101 is formed of an opaque material, it is expected that the indications related to the displayed indications are below this portion of the membrane or the commands executed by touching the region associated with each indication can be printed on the flexible membrane 101. This can have a particular activity by providing a translation into a foreign language of indications displayed on the touch screen 20. As shown in Figure 1, in a preferred embodiment, flexible membrane 101 includes a plurality of raised regions in the form of dome 120a-l. Each of these dome-shaped regions can be formed integrally to the flexible membrane 101 (see Figure 2a) or by adding additional material to the membrane (see Figure 2b). As shown in Figure 2c, the place where the user's finger presses the dome-shaped region 120e is temporarily deformed such that a portion of flexible membrane 101 makes physical contact with the touch screen 20. However , as shown in Figure 2, the flexible membrane 101 need not include such raised regions to provide improved tactile characteristics for entries by the user. Where the flexible membrane includes domed regions 120a-l, each raised dome-shaped region should preferably be in substantial register with one of the respective deployment indications (or associated regions) to facilitate entries within the screen 20 when the flexible membrane 101 is superimposed on the rigid contact surface 21 and used. Accordingly, each application will require a particular configuration to match the display configuration on the touch screen, a configuration normally programmed by the manufacture of input devices by the user or the software provider. Where the domed regions are formed in a transparent membrane or a transparent material added to a pre-existing membrane, the user can see the indications displayed by the touch screen 20 to assist in the selection of the desired entry. Where the domed regions are formed of an opaque or translucent membrane or a translucent or opaque material added to a pre-existing membrane, printed indications may be required of the flexible membrane 101 and applied using standard printing techniques. However, given the notoriety of the keypad numeric keypad configuration, it is also possible that the user does not require any visual indication at all and instead relies on the tactile feel and prior knowledge of this standard display. or known relationships of one key with another. Regardless of the type of material employed, the use of the touch reference points provided by the addition of the domes provided by the flexible membrane 101 by the user can locate by touch the desired entry. This functionality will be proven to be extremely useful when operating cell phones under driving situations. As shown in Figure 1, the flexible membrane 101 is of sufficient size to cover the entire rigid contact surface 21. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that a flexible membrane 101 covers only a portion of the Rigid contact surface 21. This approach, for example, will be useful in association with the PALM PILOT manufactured by 3COM Corporation, which includes a "Graffiti writing area" that accepts and requires pen movements of a stylus in the form of an alphabet patented for the entry of several alphanumeric characters. Accordingly, in the flexible construction membrane 101 which is used in association with a PALM PILOT PDA it is desired to provide a region cut in a substantial register or alignment with the "graffiti writing area". In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the structure 102 is used to removably maintain the flexible membrane 101 at a predetermined position where the flexible membrane 101 is provided on top of the touch screen 20 and in register with at least a desired portion of the membrane. the rigid contact surface 21 and possibly the indications displayed therein. As shown, the structure 102 is a rectangle having four structure members, preferably formed of a semi-rigid material, such as plastic. The flexible membrane 101 is fixed around its entire periphery to each of the structure members using various types of fastening means, such as additives, heat adhesive, or mechanical fastening means. In other commercial applications, such as a watch, the structure 102 may be circular and, thus, comprise only one fastening member. In view of the flexible material used to manufacture the flexible membrane 101 and the structure 102, there is no limit as to the variation of shapes that can be used. As shown in Figure 1, the structure 102 has associated therewith hinge members 103, 105 and 107, which operably engage the hinge members 104 and 106 provided on the face of the housing of the telephone 16 adjacent to the lower flange. 23 of the rigid contact surface 21. A rod 108 (shown in association with the structure 102) is threaded through each of the hinge members 103 to 107 and capped to be permanently connected to the hinge members. In this form, the structure 102 and the flexible membrane 101 are hingedly connected to the housing of the telephone 16 and, thus, associated with the touch screen 20. The hinge members can be placed in various places around the housing 16 and some way that allows the membrane 101 to oscillate away and bend back against the rear face of the housing 16. Figure 10 describes yet another approach to mounting the structure 102 to the housing of the telephone 16. In this embodiment, the structure 102 includes tabs with raised ridges 130 and 131 disposed in the opposing structure members. Each of the tabs 130 and 131 slidably engage one of the respective slots 132 and 133, provided on the face of the telephone housing 16 adjacent the edges of the touch screen 20. In another embodiment shown in Figures 3a and 3d, the left slit 203 and the right slit 207 disposed on the face of the housing of the telephone 16 are used to removably maintain the flexible membrane 101 disposed above the touch screen 20. In this embodiment, a first series of holes 200 located in the left flange region 201 of the membrane 101 and a second series of holes 204 located in the right flange region 205 of membrane 101 in combination with the left and right sprockets 202 and 206 and means for rotating the left and right sprockets simultaneously at the same rotation speed to ensure that the flexible membrane 101 is finally placed in its desired position. As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the left and right sprockets 202 and 206 are disposed within the telephone housing 16. Both sprockets have the same number of teeth, which couple a respective first and second series of teeth. holes 200 and 204. These sprockets are rotated by rotation means, which may comprise a common shaft 215 coupled to either the reversible electric motor 210 (see Figure 5), or manually activated by a knob 220 (see Figure 6). ). In this way, the flexible membrane 101 is deployed via the left and right slots 203 and 207 disposed on the face of the housing 16 in a sequence shown in Figures 3a to 3d, until the membrane is in the desired position (not shown) . To protect the flexible membrane against damage caused by repeated deployment, the left and right flange regions 201 and 205 may be formed of a semi-rigid material or may comprise the same material as the remainder of the membrane 101, but with an additional thickness for resist wear. As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, the flexible membrane 101 may be disposed within the membrane storage chamber 208 disposed within the housing 16 when it is not being used. The membrane storage chamber 208 has an opening 209, which extends substantially parallel to and close to the button flange 23 of the rigid contact surface 21. The left and right slits 203 and 207 each are placed substantially in parallel between yes and substantially perpendicular to the opening of the membrane storage chamber 209. These slits extend from the opening 209 to a location close to an opposite flange of the rigid contact surface 21. As shown in Figure 4, the membrane flexible 101 can be tightened by a spring 211 to retract within the membrane storage chamber 208. In embodiments, the fastener means such as a pair of metal eyelets-hook 200 / 121a and 204 / 121b are used to maintain the membrane 101 in a predetermined position. It is also contemplated that a user may physically present the entrance end of the flexible membrane 101 and guide it along the left and right slots 203 and 207 until the entry hole in the first and second series of holes engage the hooks. or posts 121a and 121b. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the flexible membrane 101 is removably maintained in association with the rigid contact surface 21 using a band of adhesive placed around the periphery of the membrane. In particular, the adhesive has been placed in a location where it will be applied outside the rigid contact surface in the housing 16. It is also conceivable that the flexible membrane 101 may have inherent properties that cause it to adhere removably to the housing 16, as is The characteristic of storing static electricity. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the flexible membrane 101 is removably held in association with the rigid contact surface 21 using a coupled pair of hook and loop fasteners, commercially known as VELCRO.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the flexible membrane 101 is removably held in association with the rigid contact surface 21 using coupled pairs of press fasteners 308 and 309. The description and drawings above are merely to explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited by this, except for the limitations of the appended claims, since the person skilled in the art having the description before it will be able to make modifications and variations thereto, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (24)

1. REI INDICATIONS 1. An overlay apparatus for touch screen which is used in association with a user input apparatus having a touch screen with a rigid contact surface with one or more indications deployed on both, the contact surface has a periphery with an upper flange, a lower flange, a left flange and a right flange, the touch screen is provided with a housing, the superimposed apparatus for touch screen is characterized in that it comprises: - a membrane of a size sufficient to cover a or more than desired one or more indications displayed on such rigid contact surfaces, the membrane is formed of a flexible material; and - means for removably maintaining the membrane in a predetermined position in which the membrane is superimposed on at least one of the desired, one or more indications.
2. 2. The invention according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane includes one or more domes, each or more of the domes are arranged in the membrane to be in substantial register with one or more of the respective desired one or more indications .
3. 3. The invention according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the domes are integrally formed in the membrane.
4. 4. The invention according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the domes is formed by adding additional material to the membrane.
5. The invention according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for removably maintaining the membrane in a predetermined position comprises: - a structure having one or more structural members, each of the structure members being formed of a material semirigid, the membrane is fixed around its entire periphery to each or more of the structure members; and - means for mounting the structure to the housing.
6. 6. The invention according to claim 5, characterized in that the mounting means comprise a hinge connected between the housing means and the structure.
7. The invention according to claim 5, characterized in that the mounting means comprise a groove placed adjacent to the touch screen in the housing and a tongue associated with the structure slidably disposed within the groove.
8. 8. The invention according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane has a left flange region and a right flange region, the means for removably maintaining the membrane in a predetermined position: - a first series of holes located in the flange region left of the membrane; - a second series of holes located in the right flange region of the membrane; - a left gear wheel having teeth that engage the first series of holes; - a right gear wheel having teeth that engage the second series of holes; and - means for rotating the right and left sprockets simultaneously at the same rotational speed.
9. 9. The invention according to claim 8, characterized in that the left and right flange regions are formed of a semi-rigid material.
10. 10. The invention according to claim 9, characterized in that the rotation means include a reversible electric motor.
11. The invention according to claim 9, characterized in that the rotation means include a manually activated knob.
12. 12. The invention according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for removably maintaining the membrane in a predetermined position comprises: a membrane storage chamber disposed within the housing, the membrane storage chamber has an opening extending substantially parallel and next to one of the edges of the contact surface; - a pair of opposed slits, each of the opposed slits being placed substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the opening of the membrane storage chamber, each of the opposite slits extending from the membrane storage chamber opening to a location proximate the opposite flange of the contact surface; and - means for slidingly restricting the membrane within the pair of slits.
13. The invention according to claim 12, characterized in that the membrane is tightened to retract within the membrane storage chamber, the overlay apparatus for touch screen further comprises means for holding the membrane in its registration position with the screen of touch.
14. 14. The invention according to claim 12, characterized in that the membrane has a left flange region and a right flange region, the means for removably maintaining the membrane in a predetermined position: - a first series of holes located in the flange region left of the membrane; - a second series of holes located in the right flange region of the membrane; - a left gear wheel having teeth that engage the first series of holes; - a right gear wheel having teeth that engage the second series of holes; and - means for rotating the right and left sprockets simultaneously at the same rotational speed.
15. 15. The invention according to claim 14, characterized in that the left and right flange regions are formed of a semi-rigid material.
16. 16. The invention according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for removably holding the membrane in a predetermined position comprises one or more fasteners arranged around the peripheries of the rigid contact surface and the membrane.
17. 17. The invention according to claim 16, characterized in that one or more fasteners comprise a coupled pair of hook and loop fasteners.
18. 18. The invention according to claim 16, characterized in that each one or more of the fasteners comprises a coupled pair of fasteners under pressure.
19. 19. The invention according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for removably maintaining the membrane in a predetermined position comprises a band of adhesive disposed adjacent the periphery of the membrane.
20. The invention according to claim 12, characterized in that the size of the membrane is sufficient to avoid contact between the adhesive strip of the rigid contact surface.
21. 21. An overlay touch screen apparatus that is used in association with a user input apparatus having a touch screen with a rigid contact surface that includes one or more input regions, the rigid contact surface has a periphery With an upper rim, a lower rim, a left rim and a right rim, the touch screen is disposed within a housing, the overlay touch screen apparatus is characterized in that it comprises: a flexible membrane of a size sufficient to cover by at least a portion of the rigid contact surface, the flexible membrane includes one or more domed regions; and - means for removably keeping the flexible membrane in a predetermined position in which at least one of the one or more domed regions is in substantial register with one of the one or more inlet regions.
22. 22. The invention according to claim 21, characterized in that each of the dome-shaped regions is integrally formed in the membrane.
23. 23. The invention according to claim 21, characterized in that each of the dome-shaped regions is formed by adding additional material to the membrane.
24. 24. The invention according to claim 21, characterized in that each of the raised regions in the form of a dome can be felt by the user.