A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system may be constructed using a touch pad supporting case that secures the touch pad to an inner surface of the housing that encloses the electronic system. The touch pad supporting case is made of a metallic material and is free from any plastics. This allows the touch pad unit to be thinner and lighter and avoids the need for performing a plating process on a plastic touch pad supporting case. This removes a safety hazard at manufacturing plants by avoiding exposing workers to the contaminants generated by the plating process.
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23. The housing of claim 62, A housing for an electronic system, comprising:
a first opening which allows tactile access to a touch pad of said electronic system from outside said housing;
a second opening positioned adjacent the first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing, said touch pad supporting case being configured to position the touch pad in alignment with the first opening, and being formed substantially of metallic material;
at least one button moveably attachable to the inner surface of said housing and positioned in alignment with the second opening such that the second opening allows tactile access to said button from outside said housing;
at least one first fixing structure formed on said inner surface of said housing;
at least one second fixing structure which cooperates with said at least one first fixing structure to securely fix said touch pad supporting case to the inner surface of said housing;
a plurality of plugs formed on the inner surface of said housing operably proximate to said first opening; and
a plurality of slots formed on said strip,
wherein said at least one button is directly mounted in said second opening via said plurality of plugs being engaged with said plurality of slots formed on said strip.
0. 1. A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, comprising:
a housing enclosing said electronic system;
said housing bearing an opening facilitating tactile access, from outside said housing, to said touch pad;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing to securely position said touch pad in a position aligning said touch pad with said opening in said housing;
said touch pad supporting case being formed of a metallic material and being free from plastic materials;
a plurality of lugs attached to said inner surface of said housing proximate to said opening; and
said touch pad supporting case bearing a plurality of slots receivably engaging said plurality of lugs to secure said touch pad supporting case to said inner surface of said housing.
0. 2. The device of
0. 3. The device of
0. 4. A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, comprising:
a housing enclosing said electronic system and comprising:
said housing bearing a first opening facilitating tactile access, from outside said housing, to said touch pad; and
said housings bearing a second opening positioned operably proximate to said first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing to securely position said touch pad in a position aligning said touch pad with said first opening in said housing;
said touch pad supporting case being formed of a metallic material and being free from plastic materials; and
a plurality of buttons attached to an inner surface of said housing and positioned to align said plurality of buttons with said second opening, said second opening facilitating tactile contact, from outside said housing, with said plurality of buttons, mounted inside said housing;
a plurality of lugs attached to said inner surface of said housing, proximate to said first opening; and
said touch pad supporting case bearing a plurality of slots receivably engaging said plurality of lugs to secure said touch pad supporting case to said inner surface of said housing.
0. 5. The device of
6. The device of
a housing enclosing said electronic system and comprising:
said housing bearing a first opening facilitating tactile access, from outside said housing, to said touch pad;
said housing bearing a second opening positioned operably proximate to said first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing to securely position said touch pad in a position aligning said touch pad with said first opening in said housing;
said touch pad supporting case being formed of a metallic material and being free from plastic materials;
a plurality of buttons attached to an inner surface of said housing and positioned to align said plurality of buttons with said second opening, said second opening facilitating tactile contact, from outside said housing, with said plurality of buttons, mounted inside said housing;
a plurality of lugs attached to said inner surface of said housing, proximate to said first opening;
said touch pad supporting case bearing a plurality of slots receivably engaging said plurality of lugs to secure said touch pad supporting case to said inner surface of said housing;
a plurality of plugs formed on the inner surface of said housing operably proximate to said first opening; and
a second plurality of slots formed on said plurality of buttons.
7. The device of
8. The device of
9. The device of
10. The device of
0. 11. A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, comprising:
a housing enclosing said electronic system and comprising:
said housing bearing a first opening, facilitating tactile access, from outside said housing, to said touch pad;
a plurality of lugs attached to said inner surface of said housing proximate to said first opening; and
said housing bearing a second opening positioned operably proximate to said first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing to securely position said touch pad in a position aligning said touch pad with said first opening in said housing;
said touch pad supporting case being formed of stainless steel, being free from plastic materials, being less than one millimeter thick, and bearing a plurality of slots receivably engaging said plurality of lugs of said housing to secure said touch pad supporting case to said inner surface of said housing; and
a plurality of buttons attached to an inner surface of said housing and positioned to align said plurality of buttons with said second opening, said second opening facilitating tactile contact, from outside said housing, with said plurality of buttons, mounted inside said housing.
0. 12. The device of
13. The device of
a housing enclosing said electronic system and comprising:
said housing bearing a first opening, facilitating tactile access, from outside said housing, to said touch pad;
a plurality of lugs attached to said inner surface of said housing proximate to said first opening;
said housing bearing a second opening positioned operably proximate to said first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing to securely position said touch pad in a position aligning said touch pad with said first opening in said housing;
said touch pad supporting case being formed of stainless steel, being free from plastic materials, being less than one millimeter thick, and bearing a plurality of slots receivably engaging said plurality of lugs of said housing to secure said touch pad supporting case to said inner surface of said housing;
a plurality of buttons attached to an inner surface of said housing and positioned to align said plurality of buttons with said second opening, said second opening facilitating tactile contact, from outside said housing, with said plurality of buttons, mounted inside said housing;
a plurality of plugs formed on the inner surface of said housing operably proximate to said first opening; and
a second plurality of slots formed on said plurality of buttons.
14. The device of
15. The device of
16. The housing of
a first opening which allows tactile access to a touch pad of said electronic system from outside said housing;
a second opening positioned adjacent the first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing, said touch pad supporting case being configured to position the touch pad in alignment with the first opening, and being formed substantially of metallic material;
at least one button moveably attachable to the inner surface of said housing and positioned in alignment with the second opening such that the second opening allows tactile access to said button from outside said housing;
at least one first fixing structure formed on said inner surface of said housing;
at least one second fixing structure which cooperates with said at least one first fixing structure to securely fix said touch pad supporting case to the inner surface of said housing;
wherein said at least one first fixing structure comprises at least one lug formed on the inner surface of said housing adjacent the first opening,
wherein said at least one second fixing structure comprises at least one slot formed on said touch pad supporting case, and
wherein said at least one lug includes a hook, and said touch pad supporting case is fastened to said housing by said at least lug being held using the hook.
17. The housing of
a first opening which allows tactile access to a touch pad of said electronic system from outside said housing;
a second opening positioned adjacent the first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing, said touch pad supporting case being configured to position the touch pad in alignment with the first opening, and being formed substantially of metallic material;
at least one button moveably attachable to the inner surface of said housing and positioned in alignment with the second opening such that the second opening allows tactile access to said button from outside said housing;
at least one first fixing structure formed on said inner surface of said housing; and
at least one second fixing structure which cooperates with said at least one first fixing structure to securely fix said touch pad supporting case to the inner surface of said housing;
wherein said at least one first fixing structure comprises at least one boss formed on the inner surface of said housing adjacent the first opening,
wherein said at least one second fixing structure comprises at least one hole formed on said touch pad supporting case,
wherein said at least one button further comprises a flexible portion connected to the at least one button and which bends when the at least one button is pressed so as to allow the at least one button to move from a release position, and which allows the at least one button to return to the release position when the at least one button is released; and
wherein said housing has at least one protrusion; and the flexible portion has at least one hold to receivably engage the at least one protrusion.
18. The housing of
a distal end of the at least one protrusion is deformed after the at least one protrusion engages the at least one hole of the flexible portion such that the flexible portion is fixedly held to said housing.
19. The method of
mounting a touch pad supporting case formed substantially of metallic material to an inner surface of the housing so as to position a touch pad in alignment with a first opening of the housing and allow tactile access to the touch pad from outside the housing;
attaching at least one button, to the inner surface of the housing so as to be positioned in alignment with a second opening of the housing such that the second opening allows tactile access to the at least one button from outside the housing;
forming at least one fixing structure on said inner surface of said housing; and
forming at least one second fixing structure which cooperates with said at least one first fixing structure to securely fix said touch pad supporting case to the inner surface of said housing;
wherein the step of forming the at least one first fixing structure includes forming at least one lug on the inner surface of the housing adjacent the first opening;
wherein the step of forming the at least one second fixing structure includes forming at least one slot in said touch pad supporting case, and
wherein the at least one lug is formed to include a hook, and the method further comprises engaging the at least one slot using the hook so as to fasten the touch pad supporting case to the housing.
20. The method of
mounting a touch pad supporting case formed substantially of metallic material to an inner surface of the housing so as to position a touch pad in alignment with a first opening of the housing and allow tactile access to the touch pad from outside the housing;
attaching at least one button, to the inner surface of the housing so as to be positioned in alignment with a second opening of the housing such that the second opening allows tactile access to the at least one button from outside the housing,
forming at least one fixing structure on said inner surface of said housing; and
forming at least one second fixing structure which cooperates with said at least one first fixing structure to securely fix said touch pad supporting case to the inner surface of said housing,
wherein the at least one button further comprises a flexible portion connected to the at least one button and which bends when the at least one button is pressed so as to allow the at least one button to move from a release position, and which allows the at least one button to return to the release position when the at least one button is released, and
wherein the housing has at least one protrusion, the flexible portion has at least one hole, and said attaching the at least one button comprises receivably engaging the at least one protrusion with the at least one hole of the flexible portion.
21. The method of
22. The method of
mounting a touch pad supporting case formed substantially of metallic material to an inner surface of the housing so as to position a touch pad in alignment with a first opening of the housing and allow tactile access to the touch pad from outside the housing;
attaching at least one button, to the inner surface of the housing so as to be positioned in alignment with a second opening of the housing such that the second opening allows tactile access to the at least one button from outside the housing;
forming at least one fixing structure on said inner surface of said housing; and
forming at least one second fixing structure which cooperates with said at least one first fixing structure to securely fix said touch pad supporting case to the inner surface of said housing,
wherein the at least one button and the touch pad supporting case are formed as one body.
0. 24. The device of
a receiving portion having a first surface on which the touch pad is received; and
an attachment portion which extends from at least one side of the receiving portion, the attachment portion having a second surface for attaching said touch pad supporting case to said housing.
0. 25. The device of
the first surface defines a first plane, and
the second surface defines a second plane different from the first plane.
0. 26. The device of
0. 27. The device of
0. 28. The device of
29. The device of
said housing has at least one protrusion; and
the flexible portion has at least one hole to receivably engage the at least one protrusion.
0. 30. The device of
a distal end of the at least one protrusion is deformed, after the at least one protrusion engages the at least one hole such that the flexible portion is fixedly held to said housing.
0. 31. A method of mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, the method comprising:
mounting a touch pad supporting case formed at least in part of metallic material to an inner surface of a housing so as to position a touch pad in alignment with a first opening of the housing and allow tactile access to the touch pad from outside the housing; and
attaching a button set, which includes at least one button, to the inner surface of the housing so as to be positioned in alignment with a second opening of the housing such that the second opening allows tactile access to the at least one button from outside the housing,
wherein the button set is separate from the touch pad supporting case.
0. 32. The method of
0. 33. The method of
0. 34. The method of
the at least one lug includes a hook, and
the engaging the at least one slot comprises engaging the at least one slot using the hook so as to fasten the touch pad supporting case to the housing.
0. 35. The method of
0. 36. The method of
0. 37. The method of
the touch pad supporting case includes a surface area and a peripheral edge,
the peripheral edge defines a boundary of the surface area, and
the at least one slot is formed entirely within the boundary of the touch pad supporting case.
0. 38. The method of
the touch pad supporting case includes a surface area and a peripheral edge,
the peripheral edge defines a boundary of the surface area, and
the at least one slot is formed at a location proximate to the peripheral edge such that the at least one slot forms a notch shape having at least one open end.
0. 39. The method of
receiving the touch pad on a first surface of a receiving portion of the touch pad supporting case, and
attaching a second surface of an attachment portion of the touch pad support case to the housing to attach the touch pad supporting case to the housing, the attachment portion extending from at least one side of the receiving portion.
0. 40. The method of
the first surface defines a first plane, and
the second surface defines a second plane different from the first plane.
0. 41. The method of
0. 42. The method of
0. 43. The method of
0. 44. The method of
the housing has at least one protrusion,
the flexible portion has at least one hole, and
said attaching the button set comprises receivably engaging the at least one protrusion with the at least one hole of the flexible portion.
0. 45. The method of
0. 46. The method of
0. 47. A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, the device comprising:
a housing enclosing the electronic system, said housing having:
a first opening which allows tactile access to the touch pad from outside said housing, and
a second opening positioned adjacent the first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing, said touch pad supporting case to position the touch pad in alignment with the first opening, and being formed of a first material; and
a button set attached to the inner surface of said housing, and including at least one button positioned in alignment with the second opening such that the second opening allows tactile access to said at least one button from outside said housing,
wherein said button set is formed of a second material which is different from the first material.
0. 48. The device of
0. 49. The device of
0. 50. The device of
0. 51. The device of
0. 52. The device of
0. 53. A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, the device comprising:
a housing enclosing the electronic system, said housing having:
a first opening which allows tactile access to the touch pad from outside said housing, and
a second opening positioned adjacent the first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing, said touch pad supporting case to position the touch pad in alignment with the first opening, and being formed of at least in part of a metallic material; and
a button set attached to the inner surface of said housing, and including a button positioned in alignment with the second opening such that the second opening allows tactile access to said button from outside said housing, said button set being formed of another material which is not the metallic material.
0. 54. The device of
0. 55. A device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system, the device comprising:
a housing enclosing the electronic system, said housing having:
a first opening which allows tactile access to the touch pad from outside said housing, and
a second opening positioned adjacent the first opening;
a touch pad supporting case attachable to an inner surface of said housing, said housing pad supporting case to position the touch pad in alignment with the first opening; and
a button set attached to the inner surface of said housing, and including a button positioned in alignment with the second opening such that the second opening allows tactile access to said button from outside said housing,
wherein said button set is not integral with the touch pad supporting case.
0. 56. The device of
0. 57. The device of
0. 58. The device of
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This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all rights accruing thereto under 35 U.S.C. §119 through my patent application entitled Contrivance for Mounting a Pointing Device in an Electronic System earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the 24th day of Dec. 1997 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 1997/73686.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a device for mounting a cursor movement control device in an electronic system such as computer and, more specifically, to a device for mounting a touch pad device in a portable computer.
2. Background Art
Various electromechanical devices are known in the art for effecting the movement of a cursor on a display device using control signals. For example, so-called “joy-sticks” are frequently used with computing equipment to move a cursor, or another image, that is displayed on the face of the display device. A typical joy-stick operates by producing control signals by means of electrical potentiometers linked to the movable actuating rod where the magnitude of the signal determines the rate of motion and the polarity of the signal determines the direction of cursor movement. Another well known device is the so-called “track ball”. The track ball has a spherical member is mounted in a socket that allows the spherical member to rotate about any axis. By rotating the track ball control signals are generated that direct the motion of a cursor, or another image, along the face of a display device. Similar to the track ball is the so-called “mouse” that has a spherical member covered by a palm-sized housing. By pushing the palm-sized housing along a supporting surface the spherical member is rotated and signals are sent to the computer that control the motion of a cursor, or another image, along the face of a display device.
More recently developed than the above devices is the “touch pad”. The touch pad allows a user to manipulate the position of a cursor, or another image, along the face of a display device by sliding a finger over the surface of the touch-pad. The touch pad can be made using a printed circuit board that has a pattern of conductors formed in a grid, using a predetermined spacing, that may is juxtaposed with a flexible plastic insulating layer having a pattern of metallization on the under surface. By depressing the flexible layer against the underlying printed circuit gird, signals are produced that are directly related to the particular point on the pad that is being touched.
A touch pad may be designed with several buttons that function similarity to the right and left buttons of a mouse. In the process of mounting a touch pad onto the housing of a portable computer, the touch pad plate is placed against the plastic housing and covered by a plastic mounting case. To protect the touch pad from electromagnetic interference it is necessary to plate the plastic case prior to using the plastic case to support the touch pad plate. The plating process, however, generates contaminants and can adversely affect the workers in the manufacturing facility where the touch pad device is produced. In addition, the use of the plastic mounting case, in addition to the plated metal, increases the weight of the portable computer and causes the thickness of the touch pad unit to be increased, thus restricting the design flexibility of the portable computer.
As such, I believe that it may be possible to improve on the contemporary art by providing a touch pad mounting device that does not require a plating process, that eliminates the use of a plastic case to support the touch pad device, that reduces the thickness of the touch pad unit, that increases the safety of workers in facilities that assembly the touch pads, and that reduces the weight of electrical systems that use the touch pad mounting device.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved touch pad mounting device.
It is another object to provide a touch pad mounting device that does not require a plating process, thus increasing the safety of workers in facilitates that produce touch pad devices.
It is still another object to provide a touch pad mounting device that eliminates the use of a plastic case to support the touch pad device.
It is yet another object to provide a touch pad mounting device that reduces the thickness of the touch pad unit.
It is still yet another object to provide a touch pad mounting device that reduces the weight of electrical systems that use the touch pad mounting device.
To achieve these and other objects a device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system may be constructed using an opening formed in the housing to expose the touch pad that is attached to the inner surface of the housing. A plurality of lugs are formed on the inside of the housing around the opening to engage the touch pad supporting case that secures the touch pad to the housing. The touch pad supporting case is made of a metallic material and is free from any plastics. This allows the touch pad unit to be thinner and lighter and avoids the need for performing a plating process on a plastic touch pad supporting case. This removes a safety hazard at manufacturing plants by avoiding exposing workers to the contaminants generated by the planting process.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a device for mounting a touch pad with a selective button set, or a plurality of buttons, to input a selection signal in an electronic system such as notebook computer having a system unit mounted in a housing may be constructed using a second opening formed in the housing to expose selective button set along with the touch pad structure described above. Plugs are formed on the inside of the housing near the selective button set mounting opening, and slots are formed in one end region of the selective button set. The selective button set is directly mounted in the second opening by means of the plugs fixedly being inserted into the slots of the selective button set. Preferably, the selective button set includes a first and a second selective button, and the selective button set mounting opening, or second opening, includes a first and a second opening part for respectively receiving the first and second selective buttons. In addition, a button stopper is further provided between the first and second opening parts to limit the downward movement of the first and second selective buttons.
The metal plate to fixedly mount the touch pad serves to shield electromagnetic interferences. It may be preferably made of a thin stainless steel plate with a thickness less than one millimeter to strengthen the device as well as reduce the weight and thickness of the housing.
A more complete appreciation of this invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:
Turning now to the drawings,
Referring to
The mounting of the touch pad on the inside of the housing, as shown in
Meanwhile, first and second selective buttons 94 and 96 of the selective button set 92 are inserted in selective button set mounting opening 90 while connecting strip 102 is connected to the inside of the housing by means of the slots 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d respectively holding plugs 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d. The slots and plugs may be firmly fastened with each other by the heat treatment s usually called heat stake. Provided on the lower side of the selective button set 92 is a circuit board with switches that act cooperatively with the touch pad.
Referring to
Although this preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompnahing claims. It is also possible that other benefits or uses of the currently disclosed invention will become apparent over time.
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