Touch control device

An exemplary touch control device includes a main body, a touch panel configured for generating a signal based on a user's touch instruction, and a display unit configured for displaying an image in response to the signal. The touch panel is adjacent to the main body. Light of the displayed image is viewable by the user without the light passing through the touch panel.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic control systems, and particularly to touch control devices.

2. Description of Related Art

With the rapid development of science and technology, portable electronic devices, such as notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, global positioning systems (GPSs) and multimedia players, are now widely used in many people's lives. A typical portable electronic device is equipped with a number of mechanical input keys, and a display for showing information (e.g., characters, pictures, etc.) thereon. The keys are used to input information/commands to the portable electronic device. However, with the ongoing trends of portable electronic devices becoming more and more multifunctional and miniaturized, the keys are commonly considered to take up a significant and unduly large amount of space.

Therefore, what is needed is a touch control device which can overcome the limitations described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, a touch control device100, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, is shown. The touch control device100includes a receiving seat10, a touch panel20received in the receiving seat10, a main body30coupled to the receiving seat10and adjacent to the touch panel20, and a display unit40mounted on the main body30. The touch panel20is configured for generating a signal based on a touch of a user, and inputting the signal to circuitry (not visible) of the touch control device100. The display unit40is configured for emitting light and showing an image in response to the signal.

Referring also toFIGS. 4 and 5, the receiving seat10includes a first part101, a second part103, and a pivot105interconnecting the first part101and second part103.

The first part101includes a first flat plate1011, a pair of first side plates1012parallel with each other, and a pair of holding plates1013coplanar with each other. The two first side plates1012extend longitudinally from right and left sides of the first flat plate1011, respectively. The two holding plates1013extend inwardly toward each other from bottom sides of the first side plates1012, respectively. The first flat plate1011, the first side plates1012, and the holding plates1013cooperatively define a receiving room1014for receiving the touch panel20.

The first flat plate1011includes a first inner surface1015, a first top surface1016perpendicular to the first inner surface1015, a first outer surface1017, a first electrical connecting member1018arranged at the first inner surface1015, and a rectangular receiving slot1019defined in the first outer surface1017. When the receiving seat10is coupled to the main body30, the first top surface1016abuts the main body30. The first electrical connector1018is configured for mechanically and electrically connecting the first flat plate1011with the touch panel20. The rectangular receiving slot1019is configured for receiving the pivot105therein. In this embodiment, the first electrical connector1018protrudes out from the first inner surface1015. In other embodiments, the first electrical connector1018can instead be arranged at one of the first side plates1012or one of the holding plates1013. Furthermore, there can be two, three, or more first electrical connectors1018instead of only one.

Each holding plate1013includes an end surface1020, and a first latching member1021arranged at the end surface1020. The first latching member1021is configured for mechanically connecting the first part101with the main body30. In this embodiment, the two first latching members1021of the first part101protrude outwardly from the two end surfaces1020, respectively. In other embodiments, the two first latching members1021can instead be formed on the first top surface1016of the first flat plate1011. Furthermore, there can be one, three, or more first latching members1021of the first part101instead of two.

The second part103is rotatably coupled to the first part101by the pivot105. The second part103includes a second flat plate1022, and a hollow receiving cylinder1023arranged at the second flat plate1022. The second flat plate1022includes a second side surface1024having the hollow receiving cylinder1023arranged thereon, a second top surface1025perpendicular to the second side surface1024, a plurality of second electrical connectors1026arranged at the second top surface1025, and a plurality of second latching members1027formed on the second top surface1025. The hollow receiving cylinder1023is configured for receiving the pivot105therein, and is received in the rectangular receiving slot1019to connect the second part103with the first part101. When the receiving seat10is coupled to the main body30, the second top surface1025abuts the main body30. The second electrical connectors1026are electrically connected with the first electrical connector1018via wires (not shown). The second latching members1027are configured for mechanically connecting the second flat plate1022with the main body30. In this embodiment, the second latching members1027protrude outwardly from the second top surface1025.

The touch panel20includes a touch surface201for being touched by the user, a connecting surface203perpendicular to the touch surface201, and a fourth electrical connector205(seeFIG. 3) arranged at the connecting surface203. When the touch panel20is received in the receiving room1014, the touch surface201is adjacent to the holding plates1013, and the connecting surface203abuts the first inner surface1015. The fourth electrical connector205is configured for being mechanically and electrically coupled to the first electrical connector1018, to mechanically and electrically connect the touch panel20with the first flat plate1011. In this embodiment, the first electrical connector1018is generally in the form of a male connector, and the fourth electrical connector205is generally in the form of a mating female connector. Accordingly, the fourth electrical connector205receives the first electrical connector1018therein to connect the touch panel20with the first flat plate1011.

Referring toFIG. 3again, the main body30includes a third flat plate301and a fourth side plate302perpendicular to the third flat plate301. The fourth side plate302extends perpendicularly from a left side of the third flat plate301, as viewed inFIG. 3. In this embodiment, the fourth side plate302is integrally formed with the third flat plate301.

The third flat plate301includes a third bottom surface3011, a third top surface3012having the display unit40thereon, a third side surface3013perpendicular to the third bottom surface3011, a plurality of third electrical connectors3014arranged at the third side surface3013, and two third latching grooves3015formed in the third side surface3013. When the receiving seat10is coupled to the main body30, an end portion of the third bottom surface3011abuts the first top surface1016of the first flat plate1011, and the third side surface3013abuts the second top surface1025. The third electrical connector3014is configured for being coupled to the second electrical connector1026, to electrically connect the main body30with the second part103. In this embodiment, the third electrical connectors3014are generally in the form of female connectors, and the second electrical connectors1026are generally in the form of mating male connectors. The third latching grooves3015are configured for being coupled to the second latching members1027to mechanically connect the second part103with the main body30. In this embodiment, the third latching grooves3015receive the second latching members1027therein, to mechanically connect the second part103with the main body30. In other embodiments, the third electrical connector3014can instead be arranged at the third bottom surface3011of the third flat plate301, or at the fourth side plate302, etc.

In the present embodiment, the fourth side plate302includes a fourth bottom surface3021parallel with the third bottom surface3011of the third flat plate301, a fourth side surface3022perpendicular to the fourth bottom surface3021, and two fourth latching grooves3023formed in the fourth side surface3022. The fourth side surface3022is disposed between and interconnects the third and fourth bottom surfaces3011,3021. The fourth latching grooves3023are configured for being coupled to the first latching members1021, to mechanically connect the first part101with the main body30. When such connection is made, the end surfaces1020abut the fourth side surface3022. Accordingly, the fourth latching grooves3023receive the first latching members1021therein, respectively, to mechanically connect the first part101with the main body30.

In a process of assembly of the touch control device100, first of all, the pivot105is inserted in the hollow receiving cylinder1023. Then, the hollow receiving cylinder1023is received in the rectangular receiving slot1019. Next, the touch panel20is inserted in the receiving room1014, and the fourth electrical connector205is mechanically and electrically connected with the first electrical connector1018. Next, the first latching members1021are inserted into the fourth latching grooves3023, respectively. Then, the second electrical connectors1026are electrically connected with the third electrical connectors3014, respectively. Finally, the second latching members1027are respectively inserted into the third latching grooves3015to form the touch control100.

The touch surface201and the display unit40are on two different sides of the main body30. Hence, in operation, the touch panel20is not between the display unit40and the line of sight for the user viewing the display unit40. Accordingly, the light of an image shown on the display unit40transmits to a user's eyes without passing through the touch panel20.

Because the touch surface201and the display unit40are on two different sides of the main body30, the display unit40is not prone to be contaminated or damaged when the user touches the touch surface201with his/her finger or a stylus or other similar instrument. In addition, because the touch panel20can be easily detached from or attached to the receiving seat10, and because the receiving seat10can be easily detached from or attached to the main body30, disassembly and assembly processes of the touch control device100are simple. Such structure provides easy access to the touch panel20when the touch panel20is broken or damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced.

While certain embodiments have been described and exemplified above, various other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. The disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described and exemplified but is capable of considerable variation and modification without departure from the scope of the appended claims.