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  Digital audio/video playing deviceRelated Patent Categories: Music, Instruments, Electrical Musical Tone GenerationThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060123977. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to a digital audio/video playing device, in particular to an operation panel structure of a digital audio/video playing device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] With the development of computer technology and digitalized multi-medium technology, computer devices are widely used in a variety of applications, such as office applications, home entertainments, and business operations. Some of the latest developments successfully combine multi-medium or digital music features in portable computer devices, such as notebook computer and thus allowing general consumers to watch multi-medium films or to listen to digital music with the notebook computers. [0003] However, due to the current trend and requirement from general consumers of miniaturization of the portable electronic devices, playing multi-medium film or digital music with the notebook computers is not the best choice for the consumers and portable multi-medium player and digital music players gradually take place of the notebook computers in playing digital music or multi-medium film. These market available digital playing device comprise a micro storage for storing digital music and multi-medium data that can be retrieved and played by the playing device whereby the general consumers can enjoy the film and music at any time and any place. [0004] The evolution of the digital playing device, however, does not accompany any significant improvement in the operation and control panel, which means the new device is operated with the same old control panel. In the conventional control panel, a number of openings are defined in a casing of the playing device and keys or pushbuttons of the same number extend beyond the openings respectively and are thus accessible by and selectively depressible by the user to operate the playing device. Examples are illustrated in U.S. Designs D469109S and D472245S, in which a casing forms a plurality of openings arranged in a circular configuration each for the extension of a pushbutton to allow the depression by a user. [0005] The conventional control or operation panel requires openings that are formed in advance and are of high precision of location in order to allow for snug extension of the pushbuttons. This does not raise any significant problem in manufacturing for electronic devices of regular sizes, such as household electric appliance or industry electric devices. However, for the miniaturized portable device, extremely severe requirement for high precision must be met in order to effect snug extension of tiny pushbuttons. As a consequence, any defeat in quality control regarding the mechanical dimension of the parts of the playing device will lead to failure of product. [0006] In the previously mentioned US designs, the area surrounded by the pushbuttons is provided with a circular control disk. The disk has an outer rim, which is raised with respect to the casing with a gap existing therebetween. Such a structure forms an obstacle to a user's finger that slides along the surface of the casing for operating the pushbuttons. Such a problem also exists in a variety of portable electronic devices that are currently available in the market. [0007] Even the gap and raised rim that are commonly seen in the operation panel or control panel of the conventional portable electronic devices are made hardly felt by the user, there is still a problem of humidity penetration into the device through the tiny gap to be overcome for the conventional designs. Humidity is one of the major causes that fail the electronic devices. [0008] Thus, the present invention is aimed to solve the above-discussed problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] An objective of the present invention is to provide a digital audio/video playing device, comprising a surface film covering a surface of the playing device, wherein the film comprises a smoothly-raised external ring section and a touch-control internal ring section serving as a touch control whereby a user may apply a depressing force through the surface film to actuate depressible areas of a support plate and operate a touch board. [0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an operation panel of a digital audio/video playing device, which has a continuous raised-recessed configuration to provide the operation panel with a smooth tactile feeling of operation by the user. [0011] A further objective of the present invention is to provide an operation panel for a digital audio/video playing device featuring excellent isolation by providing a surface film covering a surface of a casing of the playing device and shielding pushbuttons accommodated in the casing, which effect isolation between inside and outside the casing and thereby increasing service life thereof. [0012] To achieve the above objectives, in accordance with the present invention, a digital audio/video playing device comprises a casing accommodating a support plate, in which a plurality of elongate slits is defined, each delimiting a cantilever like depressible tab that has an end resiliently connected to the support plate. The playing device comprises a control circuit board. Switch units are arranged in a circle and a touch control board is arranged in a bore of the circle of the switch units. Both the switch units and the touch control board are located between the circuit board and the support plate whereby depression of the depressible tabs actuates corresponding switch units. A surface film is mounted to the casing and covers the support plate. The surface film forms a continuous raised-recessed configuration, defining a smoothly-raised external ring section and a touch-control internal ring section through both of which the user may depress the depressible tabs and operate the touch control board through the deformation of the surface film. [0013] The present invention provides a digital audio/video playing device comprising both switch units resembling conventional pushbutton and a touch control board, both of which can be used to operate/control the playing device, realizing efficient and convenient operation of the playing device. The digital audio/video playing device of the present invention further comprises a surface film, which effects isolation of inside the playing device from the external surroundings, while allowing a user to selectively actuate the switch units and operate the touch control board. The surface film has a continuous raised-recessed configuration, defining a smoothly-raised external ring section and a touch-control internal ring section by which the user may apply a force to either depressible tabs of a support plate to selectively actuate the switch units or a touch control board for operation thereof. The smoothly-raised configuration of the surface film provides the user with a smooth tactile feeling of contact and operation. The surface film, which effects isolation of the inside of the playing device, effectively prevents foreign objects, such as dusts and humidity, from entering the inside of the playing device and thus protecting the playing device and extending service life of the playing device. Value of the playing device can also be enhanced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: [0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a digital audio/video playing device constructed in accordance with the present invention; [0016] FIG. 2 is a front view of the digital audio/video playing device of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the digital audio/video playing device of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the digital audio/video playing device of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the digital audio/video playing device of the present invention; [0020] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partially sectioned, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1, showing inside details of the digital audio/video playing device; and Continue reading... Full patent description for Digital audio/video playing device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Digital audio/video playing device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Digital audio/video playing device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Mouthpiece extractor Next Patent Application: Musical instrument signaling system Industry Class: Music ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Digital audio/video playing device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14762 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , |
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