Virtual touch screen switch
AssigneeEricsson Inc.
InventorIstvan Bartha
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A virtual touch screen switch includes a push window disposed over a display assembly. The transparent push window functions similar to a toggle switch, while enabling touch screen functionality. In a preferred arrangement, the push window is disposed in a display opening of an electronic apparatus and is pivotable between a neutral position and one or more actuating positions where an actuator mounted to the push window actuates a PCB switch. With this arrangement, function keys from the electronic apparatus can be eliminated with a toggle-type switch arrangement, thereby reducing the apparatus size while maintaining reasonable manufacturing costs.
Claims21
A virtual touch screen switch comprising:
- a display assembly comprising a display apparatus;
- a push window disposed over said display assembly, said push window being substantially transparent, wherein said push window is pivotable relative to said display assembly;
- and
- at least one actuator coupled with said push window.
A cellular phone comprising:
- a phone casing housing phone components, said phone casing having a display opening therein;
- a printed circuit board (PCB) operatively coupling the phone components;
- a display assembly disposed adjacent said display opening;
- a push window disposed over said display assembly in said display opening, said push window being substantially transparent, wherein said push window is pivotable relative to said display assembly;
- and
- at least one actuator coupled with said push window that actuates a switch on said PCB in accordance with a position of said push window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.