Handheld device with electrostatic discharge protection

Details Handheld device with electrostatic discharge protection Handheld device with electrostatic discharge protection

2003-04-22

2004-11-09

Vu, Phuong T. (Department: 2841)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S740000, C361S747000, C361S801000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06816384

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 91121716, filed on Sep. 23, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to technology for manufacturing a handheld device. More particularly, the invention relates a handheld device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), with function of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. The handheld device can be tested before assembly of a housing thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
As the great improvement of processor performance and the great development of the Internet and multi-media technologies, the electronic products have been a part of the life with strong relation. Portable computing and communication devices are quickly becoming ubiquitous tools for both business and personal activities. The smallest and lightest of these devices are suitable for and most often carried and operated while being held in the hand of its user. A handheld electronic device, such as the PDA, now has become more and more common in today's society. The term PDA refers generally to mobile computer systems, typically handheld, which users employ for a variety of tasks such as storing telephone and address lists (databases), calendaring information, task (i.e., to-do) lists, etc. Some PDAs also incorporate a wireless communication link, allowing the unit to operate as a portable facsimile device, Internet access device and/or pager.
Usually, a handheld device includes a circuit part, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) part, and a displaying part, such as a liquid crystal displaying module (LCDM). Both the circuit part and the displaying part are assembled into a handheld housing. Taking a PDA
100
as an example for the handheld device, as shown in
FIG.1
, the PDA
100
includes an LCDM
130
, a PCB
140
and a housing, in which the LCDM
130
and the PCB
140
are assembled inside the housing after assembling.
In order to allow the LCDM
130
and the PCB
140
to be assembled inside the housing, conventionally, the housing is divided into an upper housing
110
and a lower housing
120
. The LCDM
130
is affixed to the upper housing
110
via several screws
150
. Likewise, the PCB
140
is affixed to the lower housing
120
via several screws
160
. In order to allow the screws
150
,
160
to hold the LCDM
130
and the PCB
140
and affix them to the housing, it needs additional securing pieces
170
in the upper and lower housings
110
,
120
engaging with the screws
150
,
160
, as shown in FIG.
2
.
FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view, schematically illustrating the PDA after being assembled. The housing needs the securing pieces
170
to threadedly engage with the screws
150
,
160
. After the LCDM
130
and the PCB
140
are respectively affixed to the upper housing
110
and the lower housing
120
, the upper housing
110
and the lower housing
120
are assembled together. A data bus connection member (not shown) is used to electrically connect the LCDM
130
and the PCB
140
together to form a data transmission path.
The LCDM
130
and the PCB
140
include many electronic devices, which are usually sensitive to electrostatic discharges (ESD). Thus, an ESD protection is required for the PDA
100
. Nevertheless, the structure of the conventional PDA
100
cannot provide a reliable and simple ESD protection.
Furthermore, in this conventional structure, the assembling procedure is tedious. Moreover, after the LCDM
130
and the PCB
140
are assembled to the housings
110
,
120
of the PDA
100
, usually the PDA is necessary to be tested, such as/mechanical electrical test, before distributing the PDA to the market. The test is to assure that the PDA is firmly assembled together and the electrical connection thereof is proper. In other words, the PDA distributed in the market should satisfy some predetermined requirements.
If the PDA cannot satisfy the predetermined requirements, it needs repair, such as replacing the PCB
140
or the LCDM
130
. As foregoing descriptions, the conventional structure of the PDA
100
needs a tedious assembling procedure. Accordingly, the procedure for repairing the PDA
100
is also tedious, which causes the conventional PDA
100
to have a high manufacturing cost.
In addition, the ESD protection of the conventional PDA
100
is achieved by employing an individual element of the PDA. Such an individual element not only increases the tedious assembling procedure, but also may increase the size of the PDA.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
One objective of the present invention is to provide a handheld device with the capability of ESD protection, wherein the ESD protection element is an integral part of a subassembly for mounting a circuit member and a displaying member of the handheld device. As a result, the present invention does not need an additional element for achieving the ESD protection.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a handheld device, in which a PCB member and a displaying module can be firmly affixed together on a supporting frame so that the handheld device can have a robust structure.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a handheld device, in which a PCB member and a displaying module are first assembled together before they are mounted in a housing of the handheld device. In this manner, a test can be performed when the PCB member and displaying module are exposed. Thus, the PCB member or the displaying module can be easily repaired or replaced if it is found with problem during the test.
To achieve the objectives set forth above, a handheld device in accordance with the present invention comprises a circuit member, a displaying member, and a conductive supporting frame with a hollow region. The circuit member and the displaying member are affixed to the conductive supporting frame at the hollow region. The supporting frame surrounds ESD-sensitive components of the circuit member and the displaying member to thereby provide ESD protection to the ESD-sensitive components of the circuit member and the displaying member.
In the foregoing structure of the handheld device, the circuit member includes a plurality of first holes. The displaying member includes a plurality of second holes. The conductive supporting frame includes a plurality of threaded holes. The circuit member and the displaying member are affixed to the supporting frame respectively on and in the hollow region by extending screws respectively through the first holes as well as the second holes to secure in the threaded holes.
The handheld device further includes a housing to hold therein a subassembly consisting of the circuit member, the displaying member, and the conductive supporting frame. The circuit member includes a printed circuit board (PCB) member and the displaying member includes a liquid crystal displaying module (LCDM). The housing consists of upper and lower housings with a gap therebetween. The conductive supporting frame is located just beside the gap.
The invention also provides an assembling method for a handheld device, which includes a circuit member, a displaying member, an upper housing, and a lower housing. The method comprises providing a conductive supporting frame, which has a hollow region. The displaying member and the circuit member are affixed to the conductive supporting frame at the hollow region, whereby the conductive support frame surrounds the displaying member and ESD-sensitive components of the circuit member to provide ESD protection thereto. The upper housing, the lower housing, and the conductive supporting frame with the displaying member and the circuit member are assembled to form the handheld device, wherein the upper housing and the lower housing form a housing of the handheld device receiving the supporting frame, circuit member and displaying member therein.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4680676 (1987-07-01), Petratos et al.
patent: 5432626 (1995-07-01), Sasuga et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Handheld device with electrostatic discharge protection does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Handheld device with electrostatic discharge protection, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Handheld device with electrostatic discharge protection will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3345343