# US 10,768,674 B2 · Electronic device

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- Number: US 10,768,674 B2
- Document ID: US10768674B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/528,396
- Filed: 2015-10-26
- Published: 2017-11-09
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-21
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Taegyun Lee; Junhyung Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768674B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/169: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033)}
- G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position}
- G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)}
- G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface}
- G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device, according to the present invention, comprises: a first body provided with a display; a second body connected to the first body by a hinge; a through hole provided at at least one region of the second body; a touch pad assembly coupled to the through hole, and of which at least one part moves relative to the second body by a touch pressure of a user; and at least one support bar for supporting the touch pad assembly by allowing one side thereof to be coupled to the second body and the other side thereof to make contact with the touch pad assembly. According to the present invention, the touch pad assembly can be effectively supported.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device, comprising:
a first body equipped with a display;
a second body connected to the first body by a hinge and including an upper case and a lower case coupled to the upper case;
a through-hole formed in the upper case of the second body;
a touchpad assembly being coupled to the through-hole, the touchpad assembly movable relative to the second body according to a pressure caused by a user;
a protruding portion projecting from a lower surface of the touchpad assembly and facing a lower surface of the upper case;
an elastic member formed on the lower surface of the upper case and positioned between the upper case and the protruding portion;
an elastic plate including a first area coupled to the lower surface of the touchpad assembly and a second area extended from the first area and coupled to the lower surface of the upper case by a fastener; and
a support bar supporting the touchpad assembly,
wherein the support bar includes:
a fixing portion coupled to the second body;
a contacting portion contacting the touchpad assembly; and
a supporting body positioned between the fixing portion and contacting portion,
wherein both ends of the supporting body are bent toward the second body,
wherein the contacting portion delivers an elastic force received through the supporting body, and
wherein the protruding portion in contact with the elastic member is spaced apart from the elastic member in response to pressure applied to the touchpad assembly, the protruding portion returning to a previous position to contact the elastic member when the pressure is no longer applied.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touchpad assembly includes:
a protective sheet, a surface of the protective sheet contacted by the user's finger;
a touch sensor sheet, a surface of the touch sensor sheet coupled to another surface of the protective sheet; and
a reinforcement sheet coupled to another surface of the touch sensor,
wherein the support bar contacts the reinforcement sheet to provide an elastic force towards the protective sheet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the reinforcement sheet comprises a coupling portion extended from an edge of the reinforcement sheet and coupled to the second body, wherein the touchpad assembly rotates around the coupling portion with respect to the second body when the user applies a pressure to the touchpad assembly.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electronic device of claim 3, wherein:
a central area of the reinforcement sheet is removed;
an electronic component is installed on the central area, and
a touch sensor cable is electrically connected to a side of the touch sensor sheet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the coupling portion includes a plurality of coupling portions, wherein the elastic plate is coupled to the reinforcement sheet and the second body, and wherein the elastic plate provides the reinforcement sheet with a restoring force.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising:
a rib extending from the reinforcement sheet,
wherein the protruding portion extends towards an outside of the reinforcement sheet from the rib.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the elastic plate includes a penetrating hole and a plurality of notches formed at both edges of the elastic plate, and wherein the penetrating hole is between the plurality of notches.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the elastic plate is comparted into the first area and the second area by the plurality of notches, and the first area and the second area are not on the same plane.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the support bar keeps in contact on the touchpad assembly.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touchpad assembly rotates around an edge of the touchpad assembly when the pressure is applied on the touchpad assembly, and wherein the support bar is positioned adjacent to another edge opposite to the edge.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the protruding portion contacts the elastic member before contacting other areas of the touchpad assembly when the pressure on the touchpad assembly is removed.