Patent Publication Number: US-7898528-B2

Title: Notebook computer with hidden touch pad

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a notebook computer and a manufacturing method thereof; in particular, to a notebook computer with a hidden touch pad. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A touch pad is a necessary component in most notebook computers. By means of the touch pad, the user is able to move the cursor and otherwise interact with the computer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b , a touch pad  14  is disposed in a conventional notebook computer  10 . A through hole  13  is formed on a top housing  12  of a main portion  11  so as to expose the touch pad  14  disposed in the main portion  11  for the user to operate. That is, the top housing  12  must be provided with the hole  13 . 
     Furthermore, during manufacture, the touch pad  14  is disposed in the main portion  11  by an engaging member  15 . 
     However, since the top portion of the housing is provided with the hole, water cannot be prevented from entering the main portion through the hole. That is, external vapor can enter the main portion through the hole. Furthermore, since the touch pad is exposed so as to be directly in contact with the outside, dust can be directly deposited on the touch pad. Thus, the performance of the touch pad deteriorates. In addition, the touch pad is disposed in the main portion via the engaging member, thus reducing available space inside the main portion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of this, the invention provides a notebook computer and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the computer&#39;s touch pad is installed without the need for a dedicated opening breaching the housing. 
     Accordingly, the invention provides a notebook with a surface mounted touch pad. The notebook computer includes a main portion, a display, and a touch pad. The main portion includes a housing, formed with a receiving portion. The display is connected to the main portion in a rotatable manner. The receiving portion is formed on the internal surface of the housing and thus is not exposed by the housing. The touch pad is disposed in the receiving portion. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the housing includes an external surface facing the display and an internal surface opposite to the external surface, and the receiving portion is formed on the internal surface. 
     Furthermore, a flange is formed on the external surface, and the flange corresponds to the receiving portion. The flange surrounds the area on the external surface, corresponding to the receiving portion. 
     The receiving portion has a concave portion formed on the internal surface of the housing. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the notebook computer further includes an adhesive member to adhere the touch pad to the receiving portion. 
     Furthermore, the touch pad is closely adjacent to the receiving portion via the adhesive member to eliminate any gap therebetween. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the thickness of the housing at the receiving portion is about 0.5-0.8 mm. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the difference between the thickness of the housing at the receiving portion and that of a portion, adjacent to the receiving portion, of the housing is about 0.7-11.0 mm. 
     In another preferred embodiment, a ratio of the housing at the receiving portion to a portion, adjacent to the receiving portion, of the housing is about ⅓-½. 
     In this invention, a method for manufacturing a notebook computer with a surface mounted touch pad is provided. The method includes the following steps. A housing with a receiving portion is formed, and a touch pad is provided. The touch pad is adhered on the receiving portion. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the method further includes the following steps. An adhesive member is provided. The touch pad is adhered on the receiving portion via the adhesive member to eliminate any gap between the touch pad and the housing. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the housing is formed by injection molding. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the receiving portion is formed on the housing formed with a concave portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1   a  is a schematic view of a conventional notebook computer; 
         FIG. 1   b  is a cross section along a line b-b in  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2   a  is a partial exploded view of a notebook computer as disclosed in this invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a schematic view of a notebook computer as disclosed in this invention; 
         FIG. 2   c  is a partial top view of a housing in  FIG. 2   b;    
         FIG. 2   d  is a cross section along a line d-d in  FIG. 2   c;    
         FIG. 2   e  is a partially enlarged view of a touch pad and a receiving portion in  FIG. 2   d ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a method for manufacturing a notebook computer as disclosed in this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 2   a ,  FIG. 2   b ,  FIG. 2   c , and  FIG. 2   d , a notebook  100  with a surface mounted touch pad as disclosed in this invention is provided. The notebook computer  100  includes a main portion  110 , a display  120 , and a touch pad  130 . 
     The main portion  110  is a basic component of the notebook computer  100 , and is provided with necessary devices required by the notebook computer  100  therein. In addition, the main portion  110  includes a top housing  111  as shown in  FIG. 2   b . Referring to  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 2   d , the top housing  111  includes a first surface  111   c  (the external surface) and a second surface  111   d  (the internal, and unexposed surface) on the underside of the first surface  111   c . The top housing  111  is formed with a receiving portion  111   a  on the second surface  111   d . The touch pad  130  is disposed is in the receiving portion  111   a . It is noted that the receiving portion  111   a  has a concave portion formed on the second surface  11   d  of the housing  111  in  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 2   d . However, the formation of the receiving portion  111   a  is not limited to this as long as the touch pad  130  can be disposed therein and unexposed by the top housing  111 . 
     The main portion  110  is a basic component of the notebook computer  100 , and is provided with necessary devices required by the notebook computer  100  therein. In addition, the main portion  110  includes a top housing  111  as shown in 
       FIG. 2   b . Referring to  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 2   d , the top housing  111  includes a first surface  111   c  (the external surface) and a second surface  111   d  (the internal, and unexposed surface) on the underside of the first surface  111   c . The top housing  111  is formed with a receiving portion  111   a  on the second surface  111   d . The touch pad  130  is disposed is in the receiving portion  111   a . It is noted that the receiving portion  111   a  has a concave portion formed on the second surface  11   d  of the housing  111  in  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 2   d . However, the formation of the receiving portion  111   a  is not limited to this as long as the touch pad  130  can be disposed therein and unexposed by the top housing  111 . 
     It is noted that the thickness of the top housing  111  at the receiving portion  111   a  is thinner that of a portion adjacent to the receiving portion  111   a , of the top housing  111 . Thus, the touch pad  130  is more sensitive and performance thereof is enhanced. For example, when the standard thickness of the top housing  111  is 1.5 mm, the thickness of the top housing  111  at the receiving portion  111   a  may be 0.5-0.8 mm. That is, the difference between the thickness of the top housing  111  at the receiving portion  111   a  and that of the portion, adjacent to the receiving portion  111   a , of the top housing  111  may be 0.7-1.0 mm. Put simply, a ratio of the top housing  111  at the receiving portion  111   a  to the portion, adjacent to the receiving portion  111   a , of the top housing  111  is ⅓-½. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2   c , the top housing  111  may be formed with a flange  111   b  on the first surface  111   c , and the position of the flange  111   c  corresponds to the periphery of the receiving portion  111   a . Thus, the user can conveniently identify the position of the touch pad  130  by touching or seeing the flange  111   b . 
     The display  120  is disposed on the main portion  110  in a rotatable manner to displays the information of the notebook computer  100 . As stated above, the receiving portion  111 a is formed on the second surface  111   d  of the top housing  111 ; and therefore does not face the display  120 . The touch pad  130  is disposed in the receiving portion  111   a  on the second surface  111   d  of the top housing  111 , to perform cursor movement and other interaction with the computer. As shown in  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 2   b , the touch pad  130  is disposed in the main portion  110 ; in such a way that the main portion  110  is not exposed. Thus, before the touch pad  130  is disposed in the receiving portion  111   a , a protective film (not shown) can be removed from the touch pad  130 . As a result, the thickness of the entire touch pad  130  can be reduced, and the sensitivity of the touch pad  130  can be enhanced. 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 2   e , the notebook computer  100  further includes an adhesive member  140 . The adhesive member  140  is located between the touch pad  130  and the receiving portion  111   a , and the touch pad  130  is adhered to the receiving portion  111   a . Thus, the touch pad  130  is closely adjacent to the receiving portion  111   a  via the adhesive member  140  eliminating any gap therebetween. 
     It is understood that the adhesive member  140  may be a double paper double sides adhesive. 
     The structure of the notebook computer  100  is described as above, and its manufacturing method is described as follows. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a method, for manufacturing the notebook computer  100 , includes the following steps. First, in step S 11 , a housing  111  with a receiving portion  111   a  as shown in  FIG. 2   d  is formed. Then, in step S 12 , the touch pad  130  and the adhesive member  140  are provided. Finally, in step S 13 , the touch pad  130  is adhered on the receiving portion  11   a  via the adhesive member  140  to eliminate any gap therebetween. 
     It is understood that the housing  111  may be formed by injection molding. 
     As stated above, since the touch pad is disposed in the main portion without forming a hole at the top housing, the top housing to prevent water from entering the main portion. Furthermore, external dust cannot be deposited on the touch pad. Thus, optimizing the performance of the touch pad. In addition, since the receiving portion is a concave portion on the top housing, the combined thickness of the top housing and the touch pad is less than that in a conventional notebook computer. Thus, the space inside the main portion of the notebook computer can be increased, and device arrangement inside the main portion is more flexible. 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to housing various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.