Bathing installation user interface panel with large active display area
AssigneeBalboa Water Group, Inc.
InventorsGraham J. Campbell, Steven Kuo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary embodiment of a user interface display panel includes a top or cover glass layer which extends to the perimeter of the panel housing. A touch-sensitive display layer is adhered to the bottom surface of cover glass layer to form a touch sensitive display assembly and is just smaller in area than that of the cover glass layer to provide a peripheral lip region for adherence to a waterproof gasket to bond the cover glass and display layer to the housing structure. The display layer is supported above the surface of the tub wall. The arrangement results in an active touch-sensitive display area significantly larger than display areas provided in the past by interface panels.
Claims20
A user interface panel for installation in an opening in a wall of a bathing installation and having features to resist moisture egress, the interface panel comprising:
- a housing structure defining a peripheral flange portion having a top flange surface and a bottom flange surface, a peripheral wall extending downwardly from the bottom flange surface, the peripheral wall and the peripheral flange portion circumscribing an open region in the housing structure extending from the top flange surface through the peripheral wall;
- a touch-sensitive display assembly comprising a cover glass layer configured to cover an entire front-facing area of the interface panel and the housing structure, said entire front-facing area including the peripheral flange portion such that the cover glass layer covers the peripheral flange portion, wherein the interface panel has an outer perimeter defined by the cover glass layer, and a touch-sensitive display system having a display surface attached to a lower surface of the cover glass layer, the display system sized to fit into the open region and having an active display area;
- a circuit board assembly carrying circuit components configured to drive the display system and to receive signals from the display signals, the circuit board mounted in the lower receptacle and connected to the display system by an electrical cable;
- a first adhesive gasket configured to adhere the periphery of the cover glass area to a top surface of the peripheral flange portion;
- sealant material disposed into the open region to fill internal space under the touch-sensitive display assembly, encapsulating bottom facing surfaces of the touch-sensitive display assembly and encapsulating the circuit board;
- and
- wherein the user interface panel is configured to support the display system above the surface of the wall of the bathing installation.
A user interface panel for installation in an opening in a wall of a bathing installation and having features to resist moisture egress, the interface panel comprising:
- a housing structure defining a peripheral flange portion having a top flange surface and a bottom flange surface, a peripheral wall extending downwardly from the bottom flange surface, the peripheral wall and the peripheral flange portion circumscribing an open region in the housing structure extending from the top flange surface through the peripheral wall;
- wherein the peripheral wall is configured to fit into the opening in the wall of the bathing installation, and the top-facing recess has a dimension larger than a dimension of the opening;
- a touch-sensitive display assembly comprising a cover glass layer configured to cover the entire front-facing area of the panel and housing structure, said entire front-facing area including the peripheral flange portion, and a touch-sensitive display system having a display top surface attached to a lower surface of the cover glass layer, the display system sized to fit into the recess and having an active display area;
- wherein the touch-sensitive display system has a dimension larger than said dimension of the opening in the bathing installation wall, and a ratio of the active display area to the panel front-facing area exceeds 40%;
- a circuit board assembly carrying circuit components configured to drive the display system and to receive signals from the display signals, the circuit board mounted in the open region and connected to the display system by an electrical cable;
- a first adhesive gasket configured to adhere the periphery of the cover glass area to a top surface of the peripheral flange portion;
- sealant material disposed into the open region to fill internal space under the touch-sensitive display assembly, covering bottom facing surfaces of the touch-sensitive display assembly and the circuit board;
- and wherein the housing structure is configured to position the touch-sensitive display system above the surface of the tub wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.