Optical: systems and elements – Holographic system or element – Using a hologram as an optical element
Patent
1992-01-29
1994-11-08
Sikes, William L.
Optical: systems and elements
Holographic system or element
Using a hologram as an optical element
359 88, G02F 11333
Patent
active
053632273
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a structure for mounting a liquid crystal display (LCD) in a portable computer housing and a method for making the mounting structure.
Conventionally, computers do not have impact absorption features to protect fragile components, such as LCDs, from damage due to dropping or other day-to-day handling of the computer. The conventional computer LCDs are mounted in a metal frame or hard plastic two-piece shell which structurally supports the LCD, but offers little protection against damage. Conventional lap-top computers are more prone to damage because they are transported more frequently. The conventional lap-top computer offers no more protection against damage to its fragile components, such as its LCD, than desk-top computers. Only the size of the computer and the location of the fragile structures within are factors which might reduce the potential for damage should the lap-top computer be dropped.
As portable computers become smaller, their associated compact structures have even less damage prevention capability. Furthermore, the more compact the portable computer is, the more frequently it will be transported. If the portable computer is transported more frequently during day-to-day use, the probability that it will be dropped, sat on, bent or otherwise mishandled increases. Therefore, the fragile LCD is more vulnerable to damage as the size of the computer decreases. Impact absorption features must be designed into the portable computer to minimize this vulnerability and make the portable computer durable over its lifetime.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the objectives of this invention are to provide a structure which can effectively absorb the impact of stress related to day-to-day handling of a portable computer, to minimize the number of parts and required assembly time, to reduce overall product cost, and to reduce the weight and size of the assembly in order to increase portability. According to this invention, a mounting structure for an LCD is provided which absorbs the shock from dropping and bending a portable computer, and thereby prevents damage to the LCD. The mounting structure and a method for making this mounting structure employ resilient shock absorbers, made from Sorbothane.TM. or low durometer silicone rubber for example, dimensionally sized and mounted along the edges of the LCD. The resilient material has elastic properties which give it compressibility as well as the ability to recover its original shape. The resilient shock absorbers are placed under a pre-load during assembly, wherein the pre-load is determined by factors such as the mass and the gravity-loading needed to support the LCD. The shock absorbers are typically compressed within a three-dimensional frame which provides a stiff structure so that the combined effect of the shock absorbers and the frame offer maximum protection to the LCD. During use, the resilient shock absorbers will absorb energy from deflecting, bending and dropping. The LCD and the shock absorbers are installed into a computer housing. After assembly into a computer housing, the mounting structure acts as a suspension system which supports the glass LCD and allows the glass to remain planar with bending of the housing. The housing is preferably made of plastic and is therefore more flexible than the glass LCD. Upon impact or other stress, bending of the housing is compensated by the resilient material, which is more flexible than the housing, so that most deformation of the housing is not transferred to the glass of the LCD. In one embodiment, the LCD assembly is hermetically sealed within the computer housing. Moreover, the LCD assembly can be evacuated before sealing the structure in order to protect the LCD from potentially trapped moisture, dust and other contaminants from the surrounding environment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing assembly and the associated mounting structure of this invention according to a first embod
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Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 10, No. 3, (P-418)(2060), 8 Jan. 1986 & JP-A-60 162 228, (Hitachi), 24 Aug. 1985.
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Anglin Noah L.
Hamerton-Kelly Paul R.
Ichikawa Shinpei
Fujitsu Personal Systems, Inc.
Parker Kenneth
Sikes William L.
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