Liquid crystal cells – elements and systems – Particular structure – Holder – support – frame – or housing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-09
2003-02-25
Parker, Kenneth (Department: 2871)
Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems
Particular structure
Holder, support, frame, or housing
C349S059000, C349S060000, C349S061000, C349S065000, C361S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06525789
ABSTRACT:
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 98-54098, filed on Dec. 12, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display module and more specifically, to a liquid crystal display module having a much more compact structure that is especially suitable for use with a portable computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a portable computer includes a liquid crystal display device as the monitor therein because the liquid crystal display device is compact. In recent years, liquid crystal display devices have also been used with desktop computers because liquid crystal display devices are compact and are capable of reducing eye fatigue and electromagnetic radiation.
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view of a conventional liquid crystal display module. A liquid crystal display module
110
includes a back light device
114
and a liquid crystal display panel
112
. The back light device
114
and the liquid crystal display panel
112
are attached to each other via a main frame
115
and a top frame
116
. The main frame
115
is made of a plastic material. The back light device
114
includes a reflective plate
114
a
, a waveguide plate
114
b
, a first diffuser/protecting sheet
114
c
, a first prism sheet
114
d
, a second prism sheet
114
e
, and a second diffuser/protecting sheet
114
f
, which are all stacked on each other in the above-described order. The main frame
115
is coupled to the top frame
116
with the liquid crystal panel
112
and the back light device
114
interposed therebetween. It should be noted, as seen in
FIG. 1
, the main frame
115
is a rectangular member having four interconnected side members which define the frame.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, a liquid crystal display module
110
is disposed between a front case
122
and a back case
124
when the liquid crystal module
110
is included in a laptop computer.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, which is a sectional view taken along the line III—III of
FIG. 2
, a lamp housing
118
is attached to the main frame
115
. The lamp housing
118
with a lamp
117
is positioned at a top end of the light waveguide plate
114
b
and extends along a vertical portion
115
b
of the main frame
15
. A flat wire
119
and the top frame
116
are disposed on the top surface of the lamp housing
118
.
In order to attach the lamp housing
118
to the main frame
115
, the thickness of the lower horizontal portion
115
a
of the main frame
115
, which is underneath the lamp housing
118
, and the vertical portion
115
b
of the main frame
115
, which is adjacent to the lamp housing
118
, is reduced. However, due to this arrangement, the thickness of the lower horizontal portion
115
a
and the vertical portion
115
b
is usually greater than 0.7 mm. Because the conventional main frame
115
has portions having a thickness that is greater than 0.7 mm., the liquid crystal display module is bulky and thick making it very difficult to minimize the dimensions of the device and making it much less compact than desired. As seen in
FIG. 3
, the lower horizontal portion
115
a
and the vertical portion
115
b
which are arranged to envelope the lamp housing
118
, cause the overall dimension of the liquid crystal display to be significantly increased in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a liquid crystal display module including a liquid crystal display panel which is significantly more compact than prior art devices while providing desired structural integrity.
Also, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a liquid crystal display module having a unique arrangement of a main frame and lamp housing which allow the liquid crystal display module to have a significantly reduced size in vertical and horizontal dimensions.
According to one aspect of preferred embodiments of the present invention, a liquid crystal display module includes a main frame having three interconnected members defining a three-sided main frame, and a lamp housing connected to the three sided main frame so as to define a fourth side of the main frame.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a liquid crystal display module preferably includes a main frame having first and second longitudinal members that are substantially parallel to each other and a first lateral member arranged substantially perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal members and interconnected at a first end of the first and second longitudinal members such that the first and second longitudinal members and the first lateral member define three sides of the main frame, wherein the liquid crystal panel is disposed on the main frame such that the main frame supports the liquid crystal panel, and a lamp housing having a lamp for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel, wherein the lamp housing is coupled to second ends of the first and second longitudinal members such that the lamp housing defines a side of the main frame.
With this unique arrangement and structure of preferred embodiments of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a liquid crystal display device having much lighter weight and greater compactness for use with a portable computer is achieved.
Other features, elements and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention and the attached drawings.
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Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Chung David
LG. Philips LCD Co. Ltd.
Parker Kenneth
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