The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 03, 2007

Filed:

Nov. 06, 2002
Applicants:

Satoshi Kawashima, Shizuoka-ken, JP;

Yoshitaka Chousa, Tokyo, JP;

Takayuki Takagi, Kyoto, JP;

Kazuhiro Nishikawa, Kyoto, JP;

Takao Hashimoto, Kyoto, JP;

Inventors:

Satoshi Kawashima, Shizuoka-ken, JP;

Yoshitaka Chousa, Tokyo, JP;

Takayuki Takagi, Kyoto, JP;

Kazuhiro Nishikawa, Kyoto, JP;

Takao Hashimoto, Kyoto, JP;

Assignees:

Minebea Co., Ltd., Nagano, JP;

Nissha Printing Co., Ltd., Kyoto, JP;

Nokia Corporation, Espoo, FI;

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F12V 7/04 (2006.01); G09G 3/36 (2006.01); G09G 5/00 (2006.01); G02F 1/1335 (2006.01); G02F 1/1333 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

In a touch panel assembly, the thickness of a touch panel is successfully reduced by using a touch panelprovided with no reinforcement member. A housing framethat supports the components of a front light unitin an integral manner is provided with a touch panel positioning mechanism, and the touch panelis fixed to the positioning mechanism, whereby the absence of a reinforcement member is duly compensated for, thus ensuring the strength of the touch panel. Deformation of the touch panelthat occurs when the touch panelis pressed for operation can be attenuated by a transparent buffer memberdisposed between the touch paneland a light conductor plate. Therefore, the touch paneldeformed is prohibited from contacting and damaging the light conductor plate, thus preventing the light conductor platefrom deteriorating in its functional performance. Consequently, reduction in dimension and reduction of the number of components can be achieved without deteriorating the functional performance of the touch panel assembly.


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