Patent · US Expired

Virtual touch screen switch

US5804780A · kind A · utility

87Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 1996
Grant dateSep 8, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 31, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H2221/042
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.