Electric lamp and discharge devices – With luminescent solid or liquid material – Solid-state type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-09-04
Patel, Nimeshkumar D. (Department: 2879)
Electric lamp and discharge devices
With luminescent solid or liquid material
Solid-state type
C313S500000, C313S511000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285125
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure for mounting an EL (Electro Luminescence) lamp advantageously applicable to a mobile communication apparatus.
Today, the popularization of various kinds of mobile communication apparatuses including handy phones and radio pagers is under way in parallel with the liberalization of electronic and communication environments. A mobile communication apparatus with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is conventional and capable of displaying characters and graphic images. An EL lamp has customarily been used to illuminate the back of the LCD.
It is a common practice with the above mobile communication apparatus to position the EL lamp in an LCD frame or panel frame together with the LCD and then mount the frame to a circuit board. Specifically, the EL lamp includes an electrode portion. Metallic electrode terminals are usually connected at one end to the electrode portion of the EL lamp by anisotropic adhesive by the application of heat and pressure. The adhesive contains a conductive filler dispersed therein. The other ends of the electrode terminals are soldered to the circuit board.
The LCD is produced by dividing an LCD laminate into a number of pieces along scribe lines and therefore sized with a far greater tolerance (about ±0.2 mm) than the other parts. It follows that the panel frame is designed in matching relation to the maximum tolerance of the LCD, i.e., the LCD is received in the panel frame with a sufficient dimensional margin. To prevent the LCD from oscillating in the panel frame, the former is usually affixed to the latter together with the EL lamp by two-sided adhesive tapes.
However, the problem with the above conventional structure is that when an impact ascribable to, e.g., a drop acts on the LCD, it is transferred to the EL lamp in the panel frame. Because the EL lamp is simply adhered to the panel frame together with the LCD, the impact causes the electrode terminals to move via the EL lamp. It is therefore likely that the electrode terminals break due to fatigue or come off the EL lamp, obstructing reliable connection both mechanically and electrically.
While Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 5-87890 teaches an EL lamp mounting structure, it cannot solve the problem discussed above.
Technologies relating to the present invention are also disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 8-221003 and 9-166673.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an EL lamp mounting structure capable of protecting electrode terminals from breakage or separation to thereby insure reliable connection both mechanically and electrically.
In accordance with the present invention, a structure for mounting an EL lamp includes a panel frame affixed to a circuit board and receiving an LCD panel therein, and an EL lamp interposed between the panel frame and the LCD panel and including an electrode portion connected to the circuit board by electrode terminals. A plurality of holes are formed in the EL lamp in the vicinity of the electrode portion and open at opposite major surfaces of the EL lamp. A plurality of bosses are formed on the panel frame, and each is partly received in one of the holes.
Also, in accordance with the present invention, a structure for mounting an EL lamp includes a panel frame affixed to a circuit board and receiving an LCD panel therein, and an EL lamp interposed between the panel frame and the LCD panel and including an electrode portion connected to the circuit board by electrode terminals. A plurality of holes are formed in the EL lamp in the vicinity of the electrode portion and open at opposite major surfaces of the EL lamp. A plurality of knock pins each are partly received in one of the holes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5756147 (1998-05-01), Wu et al.
patent: 6010742 (2000-06-01), Tanabe et al.
patent: 6082867 (2000-07-01), Chien
patent: 2-56397 (1990-04-01), None
patent: 5-87890 (1993-11-01), None
patent: 8-221003 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 9-166673 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 9-331142 (1997-12-01), None
Japanese Office Action, dated Oct. 26, 1999, with English language translation of Japanese Examiner's comments.
Japanese Office Action, dated Jun. 15 1999, with English Language Translation of Japanese Examiner's comments.
Berck Ken A
McGuireWoods LLP
NEC Corporation
Patel Nimeshkumar D.
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