Bracket for CRT

Details Bracket for CRT Bracket for CRT

2001-07-02

2004-12-21

Lee, Michael H. (Department: 2614)

Television

Video display

Projection device

C348S789000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06833880

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to projection television sets, and more particularly to optical unit brackets designed for attachment to projection television sets and projection television set enclosures incorporating the brackets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Projection television sets are a popular alternative to picture tube television sets, as they provide relatively large viewable screens that cannot be efficiently produced using conventional picture tubes. Projection television sets typically include an enclosure with an optical unit, a mirror, and electronic components for receiving and projecting an image onto a screen assembly mounted on the front of the enclosure.
A current, typical projection television set
100
is shown in
FIGS. 1A-1C
. Turning to
FIG. 1A
, the components of the projection television set
100
are illustrated. The projection television set
100
has an optical unit
10
that generally includes a set of projection units
20
R,
20
G, and
20
B. Each projection unit projects an image, generally of a single color of light (red, green, or blue), onto the mirror M in the enclosure (not shown), which focuses the image onto an inside surface of the screen S. Each projection unit
20
R,
20
G,
20
B includes a cathode ray tube (CRT)
22
R,
22
G,
22
B, a projection lens assembly
45
R,
45
G,
45
B, and a spacer
28
R,
28
G,
28
B interposed between each respective CRT and projection lens assembly. The projection units
20
R,
20
G,
20
B are mounted to a bracket
50
. The bracket
50
is attached to a pair of enclosure mounting brackets
55
a
and
55
b
that hold the bracket
50
in place within the enclosure (not shown). Attachment elements
57
a
,
57
b
, which may be, e.g., screws or some other anchoring elements, secure the bracket
50
to the mounting brackets
55
a
,
55
b.
FIG. 1B
shows a side cut-away view of a current projection television set
100
having an enclosure
105
to contain the components previously described. The enclosure
105
is typically divided by an internal wall
112
into two compartments, an upper compartment
114
and a lower compartment
116
. The internal wall
112
tightly seals the upper compartment
114
from the lower compartment
116
to protect the inside of the upper compartment
114
from dust and other foreign materials. The optical unit
10
is typically mounted in the lower compartment
116
, while the mirror M and screen S are mounted in the upper compartment
112
. Furthermore, the optical unit
10
typically extends from the lower compartment
116
into the upper compartment through the internal wall
112
. The lower compartment
116
generally includes one or more sets of ventilation holes
118
to exhaust heat radiating from the optical unit
10
and any other components, such as, e.g., printed wiring boards (not shown) that may be located in the lower compartment
116
.
To properly function, the projection units
20
R,
20
G,
20
B of the optical unit
10
must be aimed at the mirror M along a predetermined, optimal angle. Consequently, mounting bracket
55
is configured to hold the bracket
50
in place within the enclosure
105
at a predetermined angle. The enclosure mounting brackets
55
a
and
55
b
hold the bracket
50
at an angular orientation substantially equal to the optimal angle of operation of the projection units
20
R,
20
G,
20
B, thereby enabling the proper functioning of the projection units
20
R,
20
G,
20
B.
FIG. 1C
is a top view of the enclosure
105
taken along line
1
C in FIG.
1
B.
FIG. 1C
illustrates the attachment of the mounting brackets
55
a
,
55
b
to the enclosure
105
, and the attachment of the bracket
50
to the mounting brackets
55
a
,
55
b
. Attachment elements
59
a
,
59
b
are used to attach the mounting brackets
55
a
,
55
b
to the enclosure
105
, and attachment elements
57
a
,
57
b
are used to attach the bracket
50
to the mounting brackets
55
a
,
55
b.
The existing techniques for mounting the optical units of projection television sets have their disadvantages. The requirement for enclosure mounting brackets to secure a bracket to an enclosure results in an increase in the complexity of producing projection television sets. For example, construction, assembly, and attachment of the optic units to the bracket and further to the enclosure mounting brackets tends to be cumbersome and, thus, labor intensive. In addition, as previously discussed, the enclosure mounting brackets must be set at the proper angle in each individual projection television set in order to ensure that the optical units are aimed in the proper direction. The need to ensure that the enclosure mounting brackets are attached to each individual enclosure at the proper angle introduces variables, such as tolerance stacking, into the production of each individual set. As a result, the possibility of a defectively produced projection television set due to an improperly attached enclosure mounting bracket is increased. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide for a more efficient and reliable means for properly mounting the optical units to the enclosures, and apparatuses for accomplishing those means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved projection television set enclosure that includes side panels and an optical unit bracket attached to the side panels without the need for the enclosure mounting brackets currently utilized by those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, a projection television set is provided that comprises an enclosure, a screen, a mirror, and an optical unit that includes a plurality of projection assemblies and an optical unit bracket. The enclosure includes an upper compartment to house the screen and mirror. The enclosure also includes a lower compartment, attached to the upper compartment, that has a front panel, a rear panel, and a plurality of side panels. At least two of the side panels of the lower compartment each have an angled top surface to which the optical unit bracket is attached. The optical unit bracket may be attached to the side panels using attachment elements, such as, e.g., screws and the like. Preferably, the angled top surface of each side panel is oriented to point the optical unit at the mirror along a predetermined angle when the optical unit bracket is affixed to the angled top surface.
The optical unit bracket of this embodiment of the present invention includes a first end and a second end, each end having a horizontal extension and a vertical wall adjacent the horizontal extension. The horizontal extension is placed on top of the angled top surface of a side panel and the vertical wall is placed adjacent the side wall. Preferably, the horizontal extension and the vertical wall are located at an approximately ninety degree angle relative to each other. The vertical wall may also include a plurality of openings through which attachment elements are inserted to affix the bracket to the side wall.
In another embodiment, a projection television set is provided that includes a screen, a mirror, an enclosure, and an optical unit comprising a plurality of projection assemblies and an optical unit bracket. The enclosure includes an upper compartment to house the mirror and screen, and a lower compartment attached to the upper compartment. The lower compartment includes a front panel, a rear panel, and a plurality of side panels. At least two of the side panels of the lower compartment have angled openings through which the optical unit bracket is inserted and secured. The openings are angled to aim the optical unit towards the mirror along a predetermined angle. Preferably, the optical unit bracket has a first end and a second end, with each end being substantially the same size and shape as an angled opening on a side panel such that, once inserted into the openings, the optical unit bracket is fixed to the side panels. Additionally, an adhesive may be placed around the circumference of the first and second ends of the optical unit bracket to further ensu

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