Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-30
2001-01-30
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S825000, C248S917000, C312S223100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181548
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The compact size, high reliability and optical characteristics of flat panel displays makes them well-suited for use in electronic instruments. However, flat panel displays are sensitive to mechanical stresses imposed on the displays when they are mounted in instruments and the displays require periodic servicing to replace backlighting lamps for the viewing portion of the displays.
Presently, flat panel displays are mounted onto the front frame of an electronic instrument using screws that are threaded through a series of mounting holes provided on the display assembly. The front frame requires precision machining to achieve flatness so that mechanical forces on the display are uniformly distributed when the screws are tightened. Nonuniform forces induce mechanical stresses on the display that result in visible fringing patterns on the viewing surface of the display. While the precision machined front frame accommodates the display's sensitivity to mechanical stresses, the machining process is time-consuming and increases the manufacturing cost of the electronic instrument in which the flat panel display is used.
In order to protect the viewing portion of the flat panel display and to provide electromagnetic shielding for an electronic instrument, a glass plate, or optical window, is typically positioned between the flat panel display and the front frame. Additional hardware used to secure the glass plate to the front frame makes assembling and servicing the flat panel displays time consuming.
In presently available instruments, a compressible gasket placed between the flat panel display and the glass plate forms an environmental seal that prevents dust and moisture from entering the interstitial space between the glass plate and display and obscuring the viewing portion of the display. When the flat panel display is serviced, the seal is broken and the display needs to be reinstalled in a low moisture, low particulate environment to maintain visual clarity of the interstitial space. When such an environment is not present, the instrument must be transported to a suitable servicing environment to reinstall the display, adding to the inconvenience and cost of replacing the backlighting lamps in the flat panel display.
Accordingly, there is a need for a mounting system for flat panel displays that accommodates for sensitivity of the displays to mechanical stresses and that provides for quick assembly and servicing of the flat panel displays in electronic instruments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A display mounting system constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for quick assembly and servicing of flat panel displays in electronic instruments. The mounting system accommodates for sensitivity of the displays to mechanical stresses and eliminates the need for a controlled environment when servicing the display or the electronic instrument in which the display is used. The system includes an elastomeric mount having a continuous frame that secures an electrically conductive, optically transmissive plate in alignment with a viewing surface of the display. A compressible ridge protruding from an internal surface of the frame is interposed between the plate and the viewing surface and disposed about the perimeter of the plate, forming an environmental seal between a rear surface of the plate and the viewing surface of the display. A first series of tabs distributed along a front edge of the frame adjacent to the internal surface engage the front surface of the plate while a second series of tabs distributed along a rear edge of the frame adjacent to the internal surface and opposite from the front edge engage a back surface of the display. Tension in the continuous frame between the first and the second series of tabs biases the plate toward the display and maintains the environmental seal between the plate and display during servicing of the display, eliminating the need for a controlled servicing environment. A planar mating surface protruding from an internal surface of the continuous frame uniformly distributes mechanical forces on the display, reducing mechanical stresses on the display when it is installed onto an electronic instrument. A pair of optionally included hinges enables a circuit board to be captured adjacent to the back surface of the display.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5746408 (1998-05-01), Theirl et al.
patent: 6061231 (2000-05-01), Crockett
patent: 6111760 (2000-08-01), Nixon
Agilent Technologie,s Inc.
Duong Hung Van
Imperato John L.
Picard Leo P.
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