Mobile device with supporting structures for display

A mobile device is disclosed. The mobile device includes a display, a touch panel, and a buffer structure. The touch panel is disposed on one side of the display. The buffer structure has a gas fluid layer and is disposed between the display and the touch panel.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 100107962, filed Mar. 9, 2011, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a mobile device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a mobile device with a rear-type touch panel.

2. Description of Related Art

Along with the development of 3C (Computer, Communications and Consumer) industries, more and more people are using mobile devices as an assistance tool in their daily life. Common mobile devices include personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, smart phones and so on. These mobile devices are small in size and easy to carry, and as a result, the number of people using mobile devices is increasing, as is the number of functions required on mobile devices.

Touch screens having displays and touch panels, in which the touch panels function as touch-sensitive layers, are widely utilized in mobile devices. Most touch panels are arranged on top of the displays, and such placement of the touch panel over the display may lead to a drop in image quality. Therefore, a mobile device with a rear-type touch panel is provided, in which the display and the touch panel are located at opposite sides of the mobile device to solve the problem of the touch panel causing a drop in image quality as a result of being placed over the display, and also to reduce the use of transparent conductive material, such as ITO and IZO, when the touch panel is made.

FIG. 1is a sectional diagram of a typical mobile device with a rear-type touch panel. The display110and the touch panel120are attached to one another with an adhesive130in the mobile device100. However, with this configuration, as the size of the display110becomes larger and larger, bending of the display110due to gravity occurs. The pressure generated by the bending of the display110due to gravity is transmitted to the touch panel120, and a false signal, which is not generated by the user, is generated at the position112where the pressure is applied.

Hence, there is a need to prevent false signals from being generated in the mobile device with a rear-type touch panel.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a mobile device having an internal buffer structure to prevent the generation of false signals of the touch panel.

An embodiment of the disclosure provides a mobile device, which includes a display, a touch panel, and a buffer structure. The touch panel is disposed on one side of the mobile device. The buffer structure has a gas fluid layer and is disposed between the display and the touch panel. The buffer structure includes at least one spacer disposed at a non-operating area between the display and the touch panel. The spacer can be formed of a sealant material. The mobile device further includes a casing, and the display and the touch panel are disposed in the casing. The buffer structure may include plural support ribs disposed on the casing for supporting the display. The buffer structure may include plural positioning ribs disposed on the casing for positioning the touch panel. The display can be an electronic paper display, a liquid crystal display, or an active matrix organic light emitting diode display. The display is not in contact with the touch panel.

The gas fluid layer separates the display and the touch panel, so that the display is not in contact with the touch panel. Thus, pressure generated by the bending of the display due to gravity is not transmitted to the touch panel, and the generation of false signals can be prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2is a sectional diagram of an embodiment of a mobile device of the disclosure. The mobile device200includes a casing210, a display220, and a touch panel230. The display220and the touch panel230are disposed in the casing210. The touch panel230operates as a touch-sensitive layer in the mobile device200. The touch panel230is disposed on one side of the display220. Specifically, the display220is disposed above the touch panel230in the casing210.

The mobile device200can be a mobile phone, a smart phone, a handheld reader, a personal digital assistant, etc. The display220can be a liquid crystal display, an electronic paper display, or an active matrix organic light emitting diode display.

The mobile device200includes a buffer structure240disposed between the display220and the touch panel230. The buffer structure240is utilized for separating the display220and the touch panel230, so that the display220does not contact the touch panel230. False signals caused by pressure generated by the bending of the display220due to gravity may be prevented by the buffer structure240.

The buffer structure240includes a gas fluid layer242. The gas fluid layer242is disposed between the display220and the touch panel230to separate the display220and the touch panel230. The display220is not in contact with the touch panel230. Pressure generated by the bending of the display220due to gravity is not transmitted to the touch panel230. Therefore, false signals caused by such pressure may be prevented.

The buffer structure240further includes at least one spacer244. The spacer244is disposed at a non-operating area between the display220and the touch panel230. The spacer244is disposed around the edge of the mobile device200to define a chamber in which the gas fluid layer242is disposed. The spacer244may be made of a sealant material. The spacer244can be used to position the display220and the touch panel230in the casing210.

FIG. 3is a sectional diagram of another embodiment of a mobile device of the disclosure. The mobile device300includes the casing310, the display320, and the touch panel330. The display320and the touch panel330are disposed in the casing310. The touch panel330is disposed on one side of the display320. Specifically, the display320is disposed above the touch panel330in the casing310. The mobile device300can be a mobile phone, a smart phone, a handheld reader, a personal digital assistant, etc. The display320can be a liquid crystal display, an electronic paper display, or an active matrix organic light emitting diode display. The mobile device300includes the buffer structure340disposed between the display320and the touch panel330to separate the display320and the touch panel330, so that the display320is not in contact with the touch panel330. False signals caused by pressure generated by the bending of the display320due to gravity may be prevented by the buffer structure.

The buffer structure340includes the gas fluid layer342. The gas fluid layer342is disposed between the display320and the touch panel330to separate the display320and the touch panel330. The display320is not in contact with the touch panel330. Pressure generated by the bending of the display320due to gravity is not transmitted to the touch panel330. Therefore, false signals caused by such pressure may be prevented.

The buffer structure340further includes a plurality of supporting ribs344disposed on the casing310. The display320is supported by the supporting ribs344, and as a result, the display320is not in contact with the touch panel330. The supporting ribs344can continuously support a peripheral portion of the display320, or may support the peripheral portion of the display320at selection areas thereof. The buffer structure340further includes a plurality of positioning ribs346disposed on the casing310to position the touch panel330. The material of the supporting ribs344, the positioning ribs346, and the casing310can be the same. The supporting ribs344and the positioning ribs346can be integrally formed on the casing310. The gas fluid layer342is formed between the supporting ribs344and the positioning ribs346.

According to above embodiments, the present disclosure has the following advantages. The gas fluid layer separates the display and the touch panel, so that the display is not in contact with the touch panel. Thus, pressure generated by the bending of the display due to gravity is not transmitted to the touch panel, and the generation of false signals can be prevented.