WO2005060100A1 - Control and user interface for electronic device - Google Patents

Control and user interface for electronic device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2005060100A1
WO2005060100A1 PCT/FI2004/000760 FI2004000760W WO2005060100A1 WO 2005060100 A1 WO2005060100 A1 WO 2005060100A1 FI 2004000760 W FI2004000760 W FI 2004000760W WO 2005060100 A1 WO2005060100 A1 WO 2005060100A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
transmitter
receiver
membrane
user interface
control
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/FI2004/000760
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hannu Niemitalo
Pekka PÄKKILÄ
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PANCOMP ELECTRONICS Oy
Original Assignee
PANCOMP ELECTRONICS Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by PANCOMP ELECTRONICS Oy filed Critical PANCOMP ELECTRONICS Oy
Publication of WO2005060100A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005060100A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K3/00—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits
    • H05K3/22—Secondary treatment of printed circuits
    • H05K3/28—Applying non-metallic protective coatings
    • H05K3/284—Applying non-metallic protective coatings for encapsulating mounted components
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
    • H05K2201/01—Dielectrics
    • H05K2201/0104—Properties and characteristics in general
    • H05K2201/0108—Transparent
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
    • H05K2201/10—Details of components or other objects attached to or integrated in a printed circuit board
    • H05K2201/10007—Types of components
    • H05K2201/10053—Switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
    • H05K2201/10—Details of components or other objects attached to or integrated in a printed circuit board
    • H05K2201/10007—Types of components
    • H05K2201/10121—Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits covered by H05K3/00
    • H05K2203/13—Moulding and encapsulation; Deposition techniques; Protective layers
    • H05K2203/1305—Moulding and encapsulation
    • H05K2203/1311—Foil encapsulation, e.g. of mounted components

Definitions

  • the invention is related to a control and user interface for an electronic device comprising a base membrane structure for forming one or more membrane keys and lead connections and a surface membrane for protecting the base membrane structure and for using the keys.
  • IrDA interface which is a standardized serial interface operating in IR wavelength range
  • the IrDA interface is used also in various portable devices.
  • IrDA transmitter-receiver circuits with lower voltages and currents have been developed which suit better also for battery operated portable devices.
  • a preferred property of many portable devices is as good as possible resistance against environmental factors, e.g. watertightness.
  • using membrane keys is advantageous as the surface membrane coating the membrane keys may be integrated with the body of the device to form a watertight structure.
  • a control and user interface for an electronic device comprising a base membrane structure for forming one or more membrane keys and lead connections and a surface membrane for protecting the base membrane structure and for using the keys is characterized in that a transmitter-receiver operating in the IR region is integrated with the base membrane structure and the surface membrane includes for that a part transparent to IR light in the operating region of the transmitter-receiver.
  • the transmitter-receiver is an IrDA transmitter- receiver.
  • the IrDA transmitter-receiver comprises an
  • the IrDA transmitter-receiver comprises an IrDA transmitter-receiver circuit and separate transmitter and receiver diodes.
  • the surface membrane may be of IR transparent material.
  • one or more signal LEDs may be integrated with the base membrane structure.
  • On the base membrane structure there may be a filling membrane for leveling the structure for installing the surface membrane.
  • the surface membrane forms advantageously a part of a watertight case of the device.
  • the solution of the invention is economically advantageous especially when a membrane keyboard would also otherwise be used in the device. It makes it possible to realize a simple watertight user, control and data transfer interface without any special tightening arrangements or window structures in the case. No openings in the case for transmitter-receiver components are needed, and at the same time tolerance problems related in such openings are avoided.
  • the structure of the control and user interface is easy to modify as it is realized as a separate module.
  • Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram presenting an embodiment of the control and user interface for an electronic device according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view presenting a possible physical realization of the control and user interface of Fig. 1
  • Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram presenting another embodiment of the control and user interface for an electronic device according to the invention
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view presenting a possible physical realization of the control and user interface of Fig. 3.
  • a base membrane structure 1 comprises lead connections 7 for components and a membrane key 2.
  • the lead connections are coninued outside the membrane structure as a cable 8 which forms connections to the other electronic circuits of the device.
  • the base membrane structure may consist of polyester membrane, for example, on which the necessary leads are made by printing.
  • the membrane structure may further be provided with an adhesive surface for attachment on a substrate.
  • the base membrane structure may also be formed by a thin circuit board which may be rigid or flexible.
  • the membrane key 2 may be a mechanically operating membrane key or a key based on electret film, for example.
  • the IrDA transmitter-receiver 3 includes an infrared light emitting transmitter LED 4 and a PLN diode 5 operating as a receiving detector.
  • the IrDA circuit 3' includes modem and amplifier parts, and the transmitter LED 4' and the PLN diode 5' are separate components.
  • the IrDA transmitter- receivers are operating in the wavelength range of 850 to 900 nanometers.
  • a signal LED 6 is integrated with the IrDA transmitter-receiver.
  • a filling membrane or plate 9 which is provided with openings in alignment with the membrane key and the components for forming an even backing under the surface membrane.
  • the surface member 10 forms advantageously a part of a watertight case of the device.
  • An inwards flexible key area 11 is formed in alignment with the membrane key 2. If the thickness of the filling membrane is remarkable because of the height of the components, a reinforcement 14 may be attached to the underside of the surface membrane in alignment with the membrane key for directing pressure better to the membrane key. In alignment with the transmitter and receiver diodes 4 and 5 and 4' and 5', respectively, and the signal LED 6 there are parts 12 and 13 in the surface membrane transparent to IR light and the light of the signal LED, respectively.
  • the surface membrane may also be as a whole of material transparent to IR light but not significantly to visible light.
  • the surface membrane may be an IR transparent polyester film, for example, which may be provided with suitable backside coatings e.g.
  • the backside coating is naturally IR transparent.
  • IR transparent cases or membranes may be made also of polycarbonate, polystyrene and PMMA plastics, for example.
  • the membrane key may be also capacitively operating, for example.
  • the membrane key may be a fingerprint identifier.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A control and user interface for an electronic device comprising a base membrane structure (1) for forming one or more membrane keys (2) and lead connections (7) and a surface membrane (10) for protecting the base membrane structure and for using the keys is characterized in that a transmitter-receiver (3, 4, 5; 3', 4', 5') operating in the IR region is integrated with the base membrane structure (1) and the surface membrane (10) includes for that a part (12) transparent to IR light in the operating region of the transmitter-receiver. The transmitter-receiver is advantageously an IrDA transmitter-receiver. The solution makes possible a simple control and user interface which is resistant to environmental factors without any special window and seal structures in the case of the device.

Description

CONTROL AND USER INTERFACE FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention is related to a control and user interface for an electronic device comprising a base membrane structure for forming one or more membrane keys and lead connections and a surface membrane for protecting the base membrane structure and for using the keys.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Short distance data links for data transfer and control in electronic devices are often realized with an optical link, normally in IR wavelength range. So called IrDA interface which is a standardized serial interface operating in IR wavelength range, is becoming general. The IrDA interface is used also in various portable devices. Recently, IrDA transmitter-receiver circuits with lower voltages and currents have been developed which suit better also for battery operated portable devices. Especially, a preferred property of many portable devices is as good as possible resistance against environmental factors, e.g. watertightness. For achieving watertightness in a user interface, using membrane keys is advantageous as the surface membrane coating the membrane keys may be integrated with the body of the device to form a watertight structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A control and user interface for an electronic device according to the invention comprising a base membrane structure for forming one or more membrane keys and lead connections and a surface membrane for protecting the base membrane structure and for using the keys is characterized in that a transmitter-receiver operating in the IR region is integrated with the base membrane structure and the surface membrane includes for that a part transparent to IR light in the operating region of the transmitter-receiver. In an embodiment of the invention, the transmitter-receiver is an IrDA transmitter- receiver. In another embodiment of the invention, the IrDA transmitter-receiver comprises an
IrDA transmitter-receiver circuit including transmitter and receiver diodes. In still another embodiment of the invention, the IrDA transmitter-receiver comprises an IrDA transmitter-receiver circuit and separate transmitter and receiver diodes. The surface membrane may be of IR transparent material. Further, one or more signal LEDs may be integrated with the base membrane structure. On the base membrane structure there may be a filling membrane for leveling the structure for installing the surface membrane. The surface membrane forms advantageously a part of a watertight case of the device. The solution of the invention is economically advantageous especially when a membrane keyboard would also otherwise be used in the device. It makes it possible to realize a simple watertight user, control and data transfer interface without any special tightening arrangements or window structures in the case. No openings in the case for transmitter-receiver components are needed, and at the same time tolerance problems related in such openings are avoided. The structure of the control and user interface is easy to modify as it is realized as a separate module.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invnetion and some embodiments thereof are described in the following in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram presenting an embodiment of the control and user interface for an electronic device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view presenting a possible physical realization of the control and user interface of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram presenting another embodiment of the control and user interface for an electronic device according to the invention; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view presenting a possible physical realization of the control and user interface of Fig. 3.
DEATAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A base membrane structure 1 comprises lead connections 7 for components and a membrane key 2. The lead connections are coninued outside the membrane structure as a cable 8 which forms connections to the other electronic circuits of the device. The base membrane structure may consist of polyester membrane, for example, on which the necessary leads are made by printing. The membrane structure may further be provided with an adhesive surface for attachment on a substrate. The base membrane structure may also be formed by a thin circuit board which may be rigid or flexible. The membrane key 2 may be a mechanically operating membrane key or a key based on electret film, for example. In the solutions of Figs. 1 and 2, the IrDA transmitter-receiver 3 includes an infrared light emitting transmitter LED 4 and a PLN diode 5 operating as a receiving detector. In the solution of Figs. 3 and 4, the IrDA circuit 3' includes modem and amplifier parts, and the transmitter LED 4' and the PLN diode 5' are separate components. The IrDA transmitter- receivers are operating in the wavelength range of 850 to 900 nanometers. Further, a signal LED 6 is integrated with the IrDA transmitter-receiver. Between the base membrane structure 1 and the surface membrane 10 there is a filling membrane or plate 9 which is provided with openings in alignment with the membrane key and the components for forming an even backing under the surface membrane. The surface member 10 forms advantageously a part of a watertight case of the device.
An inwards flexible key area 11 is formed in alignment with the membrane key 2. If the thickness of the filling membrane is remarkable because of the height of the components, a reinforcement 14 may be attached to the underside of the surface membrane in alignment with the membrane key for directing pressure better to the membrane key. In alignment with the transmitter and receiver diodes 4 and 5 and 4' and 5', respectively, and the signal LED 6 there are parts 12 and 13 in the surface membrane transparent to IR light and the light of the signal LED, respectively. The surface membrane may also be as a whole of material transparent to IR light but not significantly to visible light. The surface membrane may be an IR transparent polyester film, for example, which may be provided with suitable backside coatings e.g. by printing for obtaining a suitable color and for indicating the places of the IrDA interface or the signal LED. In the area 12 of the IrDA transmitter-receiver also the backside coating is naturally IR transparent. IR transparent cases or membranes may be made also of polycarbonate, polystyrene and PMMA plastics, for example. The membrane key may be also capacitively operating, for example. Furthermore, the membrane key may be a fingerprint identifier. Here above, a very simple control and user interface is described including only one membrane key. It is obvious that the invention covers as well the solutions with several keys. The invention may vary within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Control and user interface for an electronic device comprising a base membrane structure (1) for forming one or more membrane keys (2) and lead connections (7) and a surface membrane (10) for protecting the base membrane structure and for using the keys, characterized in that a transmitter-receiver (3, 4, 5; 3', 4', 5') operating in the JJR region is integrated with the base membrane structure (1) and the surface membrane (10) includes for that a part (12) transparent to IR light in the operating region of the transmitter-receiver.
2. Control and user interface for an electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter-receiver operating in the IR region is an IrDA transmitter-receiver (3, 4, 5; 3', 4', 5').
3. Control and user interface for an electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that the IrDA transmitter-receiver comprises an IrDA transmitter-receiver circuit (3) including transmitter and receiver diodes (4, 5).
4. Control and user interface for an electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that the IrDA transmitter-receiver comprises an IrDA transmitter-receiver circuit (3') and separate transmitter and receiver diodes (4', 5').
5. Control and user interface for an electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface membrane (10) is of TR transparent material.
6. Control and user interface for an electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more signal LEDs (6) are integrated with the base membrane structure (1).
7. Control and user interface for an electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that on the base membrane structure (1) there is a filling membrane (9) for leveling the structure for installing the surface membrane (10).
8. Control and user interface for an electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface membrane (10) forms a part of a watertight case of the device.
PCT/FI2004/000760 2003-12-16 2004-12-14 Control and user interface for electronic device Ceased WO2005060100A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20031838 2003-12-16
FI20031838A FI116431B (en) 2003-12-16 2003-12-16 Control and user interface of an electronic device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005060100A1 true WO2005060100A1 (en) 2005-06-30

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI2004/000760 Ceased WO2005060100A1 (en) 2003-12-16 2004-12-14 Control and user interface for electronic device

Country Status (2)

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FI (1) FI116431B (en)
WO (1) WO2005060100A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101772276B (en) * 2009-12-31 2012-09-05 深圳和而泰智能控制股份有限公司 Method for installing press key in printed circuit board
EP3373710A1 (en) * 2017-03-08 2018-09-12 Sick AG Optoelectronics module
CN113692107A (en) * 2021-07-16 2021-11-23 浙江大华技术股份有限公司 Printed circuit board, preparation method thereof and camera mainboard
EP4546955A1 (en) * 2023-10-26 2025-04-30 Getac Technology Corporation Motherboard assembly, motherboard module and assembling method thereof

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001244498A (en) * 2000-03-02 2001-09-07 Sharp Corp Optical space transmission equipment
US20030156842A1 (en) * 2002-02-18 2003-08-21 Keiji Morimoto Infrared communication module with remote control transmission function
EP1345341A2 (en) * 2002-03-14 2003-09-17 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Optical transceiver for data transfer and control applications
US20030193421A1 (en) * 2002-04-12 2003-10-16 Nokia Corporation Switch arrangement and a switch matrix structure for a keypad

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001244498A (en) * 2000-03-02 2001-09-07 Sharp Corp Optical space transmission equipment
US20030156842A1 (en) * 2002-02-18 2003-08-21 Keiji Morimoto Infrared communication module with remote control transmission function
EP1345341A2 (en) * 2002-03-14 2003-09-17 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Optical transceiver for data transfer and control applications
US20030193421A1 (en) * 2002-04-12 2003-10-16 Nokia Corporation Switch arrangement and a switch matrix structure for a keypad

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DATABASE WPI Week 200231, Derwent World Patents Index; Class U12, AN 2002-261316, XP002987392 *

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101772276B (en) * 2009-12-31 2012-09-05 深圳和而泰智能控制股份有限公司 Method for installing press key in printed circuit board
EP3373710A1 (en) * 2017-03-08 2018-09-12 Sick AG Optoelectronics module
CN113692107A (en) * 2021-07-16 2021-11-23 浙江大华技术股份有限公司 Printed circuit board, preparation method thereof and camera mainboard
CN113692107B (en) * 2021-07-16 2022-10-04 浙江大华技术股份有限公司 Printed circuit board, preparation method thereof and camera mainboard
EP4546955A1 (en) * 2023-10-26 2025-04-30 Getac Technology Corporation Motherboard assembly, motherboard module and assembling method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI20031838L (en) 2005-06-17
FI116431B (en) 2005-11-15
FI20031838A0 (en) 2003-12-16

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