Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display device with housing structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-14
2004-08-17
Liang, Regina (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display device with housing structure
C345S680000, C345S681000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06778196
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the mounting of a display panel in a computer such as a notebook PC (Personal computer).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A notebook PC generally consists of an LCD panel and a PC body, wherein the LCD panel can be raised from the PC body when a user uses the notebook PC, and the LCD panel can be stored on the PC body when the user carries the PC.
FIG. 9
shows a notebook PC as an example of conventional notebook PCs, which is referred to as a clamshell type. In
FIG. 9
, the clamshell type notebook PC
51
consists of an LCD panel
52
and a PC body
53
. This notebook PC
51
is configured to rotatably connect the LCD panel
52
and the PC body
53
with two hinges
54
-
1
and
54
-
2
.
When the LCD panel
52
has a touch-panel function in addition to an information display function, it is generally required from the viewpoint of usability that the LCD panel
52
is not easily moved when it is pressed. However, if the touch panel function is used with the LCD panel
52
of
FIG. 9
, the operation of pressing a display portion
56
of the LCD panel
52
will tip back the LCD panel
52
or topple over the entire notebook PC
51
. To avoid these situations, it has been necessary to increase the torque of the hinges connecting the PC body
53
and the LCD panel
52
, or to make the PC body
53
larger or heavier so as to generate, by self weight, moment greater than that generated by the touch-panel operation.
As permitted by the design of the clamshell notebook PC
51
, a user may open the hinges
54
-
1
and
54
-
2
as much as possible when using the touch-panel function because the LCD panel
52
is not further moved even when he strongly presses the LCD panel. However, the LCD panel
52
becomes distant from the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for fixing an display panel on a notebook PC wherein operations such as information input can be performed without loss of usability.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for fixing a display panel on a notebook PC wherein an operator can set the display panel in a desired position.
According to one aspect of the invention, in a computer having a body and a display panel (e.g. LCD) connected by a hinge member, side fins are provided on both sides of the bottom of the display panel, sidewalls are provided on both sides of a keyboard on the body, and the side fins are put on the sidewalls along the outer sides thereof so as to fix the display panel and to prevent the side-to-side movement of the display panel. According to another aspect of the present invention, projections are provided on backside edge portions at the bottom of the display panel, depressions for holding the projections are provided on the body, and the projections are engaged in the depressions to fix the display panel. This configuration is preferred in that the motion of the panel can be restricted and the panel can be more firmly fixed to the body. In addition, having the side fins and projections in integral structure can realize this configuration more easily and is therefore preferred.
As a preferred implementation of a method for fixing the panel on the notebook PC according to the present invention, a first hinge is provided on the body, a second hinge is provided on the panel, and the first and second hinges are rotatably connected by an arm. This implementation is preferred in that the panel can be firmly fixed to any position and thus operations such as information input can be performed without loss of usability.
In the preferred implementation of the present invention, the first hinge is configured to rotate 0° through 90° given that the angle of the main surface of the notebook PC is 0°, and the second hinge is configured to rotate 0° through 180° given that the angle of a plane parallel to the arm is 0°. This configuration is preferred in that it can be applied to any implementation.
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patent: 4859092 (1989-08-01), Makita
patent: 5548478 (1996-08-01), Kumar et al.
patent: 5644469 (1997-07-01), Shioya et al.
patent: 5818360 (1998-10-01), Chu et al.
patent: 6094341 (2000-07-01), Lin
patent: 6266241 (2001-07-01), Van Brocklin et al.
patent: 6341061 (2002-01-01), Eisbach et al.
patent: 6343006 (2002-01-01), Moscovitch et al.
patent: 6353529 (2002-03-01), Cies
patent: 6430038 (2002-08-01), Helot et al.
patent: 6464195 (2002-10-01), Hildebrandt
patent: 6480373 (2002-11-01), Landry et al.
Dillon & Yudell LLP
Dinh Duc Q
Liang Regina
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