US 6,031,524 AGranted

Hand-held portable data terminal having removably interchangeable, washable, user-replaceable components with liquid-impervious seal

AssigneeIntermec IP Corp.

InventorSteven R. Kunert

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Abstract

The present invention includes a user-replaceable components assembly which permits rapid and intuitively obvious replacement of components in devices such as portable electronic devices. An environmental seal is provided around the components to protect the inner circuitry of the electronic device. Shock-resistant mounting of a display panel beneath the keypad and accommodation for the electrical connection between the keypad and the portable electronic device's inner circuitry are also provided. An environmental seal is provided around a touch sensitive panel to protect the inner circuitry of the electronic device. Shock-resistant mounting of a display panel beneath a touch sensitive panel and accommodation for the electrical connection between the touch sensitive panel and the inner circuitry of an electronic device are further provided.

Claims29

Dependent claims

In a data collection system, a hand-held portable data collection terminal having electronic data processing circuitry therein, said data collection terminal comprising:

(a) a housing having a display aperture and a keypad aperture;
(b) a display assembly disposed in the display aperture of said housing, said display assembly comprising:
(i) display means disposed in the display aperture of said housing for displaying data;
(ii) a frame disposed in the display aperture of said housing, said frame being secured within the display aperture of said housing such that said frame overlays said display means;
(iii) an interchangeable touch sensitive panel for tactile data input removably insertible into the display aperture of said housing and disposed within said frame such that said interchangeable touch sensitive panel overlays said display means;
(iv) a bezel removably fastened to said housing and overlaying said interchangeable touch sensitive panel such that said interchangeable touch sensitive panel is removably secured within the display aperture of said housing;
and
(v) a gasket removably disposed between said bezel and said interchangeable touch sensitive panel for providing an environmental seal therebetween;
and
(c) a keypad display assembly disposed in the keypad aperture of said housing, said keypad display assembly comprising:
(i) a printed circuit board having an array of electrical contacts disposed thereon, said printed circuit board being disposed in the keypad aperture of said housing;
(ii) an elastomer having an array of boots corresponding to the array of electrical contacts of said printed circuit board, said elastomer being disposed in the keypad aperture of said housing such that said elastomer overlays said printed circuit board;
and
(iii) an interchangeable keypad comprising a keypad bezel and an array of keys corresponding to the array of boots of said elastomer, said interchangeable keypad being removably insertible into the keypad aperture of said housing such that said interchangeable keypad overlays said elastomer.

11 more elements

A hand-held data terminal, comprising:

a housing including a display for displaying information;
a replaceable touch panel assembly, further comprising:
a touch panel overlaying said display for providing at least one of touch and pen input of information into said hand-held data terminal, said touch panel including a first connector assembly;
a frame disposed in said housing coincident with said display for removably receiving said touch panel, said frame including a second connector assembly;
and
a retainer for engaging said frame to retain said touch panel therein;
wherein said second connector assembly is suitable for mating with said first connector assembly when said touch panel is retained in said frame by said retainer, and wherein said frame, retainer and first and second connector assemblies cooperate to allow removal and replacement of said touch panel;
a replaceable keypad assembly, further comprising:
a bezel having a surface and an aperture therein;
a key held in said aperture such that said key moves within said aperture along a plane normal to said surface when said key is depressed;
a circuit mounted in said housing beneath said bezel, said circuit having a contact disposed thereon, said contact being positioned beneath said key;
a cover disposed between said bezel and said circuit for preventing environmental contaminants from contacting said circuit, said cover including a resilient boot positioned between said contact and said key;
wherein said resilient boot is collapsed as said key is depressed for closing said contact.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/878,492Filed 18 Jun 1997 · continuation
Priority: 7 Jun 1995
Granted: 29 Feb 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G06F 1/1662
Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626:…
G06F 1/1626
For portable computers: with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
G06F 1/1637
Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626:…
G06F 1/1656
Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626:…