Touch panel support structure

摘要

A touch panel support structure that can transfer vibration of a touch panel to the operator even though a transparent protective plate is in tight contact with the surface of a case is provided. A rectangular touch panel is sandwiched at four corners between the transparent protective plate that is fixedly attached to the case near the four corners and backside support members so that the four corners act as the nodes of vibration. The antinode of waveform of vibration is located in an input operation area inside the four corners so that the touch panel can vibrate with a certain amplitude together with the transparent protective plate that covers the input operation area, even though the touch panel is fixed to the frame-like case along its periphery via the transparent protective plate, and thus vibration can be transferred to the operator.

主权项

1. A touch panel support structure comprising:
a display panel; a touch panel that is arranged on a front side of the display panel and detects an input operation made to an input operation area parallel to the display panel, the touch panel being formed in a rectangular shape; a frame-like case that supports the touch panel such that the input operation area is located inside an opening of the case, the opening being formed in a rectangular shape for the touch panel to fit in loosely; an oscillatory element fixedly attached to a backside of the touch panel, the oscillatory element being controlled and driven to vibrate the touch panel when an input operation is detected; a transparent protective plate fixedly attached to the entire surface of the touch panel and a rim of the opening of the case, the transparent protective plate covering the surface of the touch panel; and a backside support member that is made up of plate spring pieces integrally formed to an inner wall near four corners of the opening for supporting the touch panel from a backside in four corners of the touch panel, so that the touch panel is sandwiched at the four corners of the touch panel between the transparent protective plate fixedly attached to the case near the four corners of the touch panel and the backside support member, the plate spring pieces being formed in an L shape extending along the inner wall at the four corners of the opening such that both ends thereof are integrally connected and supported on the inner wall near the four corners of the opening.