Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural physical display element control system – Display elements arranged in matrix
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-19
2001-05-08
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural physical display element control system
Display elements arranged in matrix
C345S905000, C340S815450, C361S689000, C361S688000, C361S690000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229507
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cable modem, as well as a stand for mounting the cable modem thereon, which is to be used as an interface for connecting a CATV (Cable Television) line and a personal computer to each other.
The cable modem has been playing an important role in recent years as an interface for high-speed data communications between CATV line and home or business equipment. This cable modem is equipped with an interface function of converting encoded transmission information into reception signals for personal computers.
FIG. 10
shows a schematic view of a prior art example of the cable modem system. In this system, Internet
101
, personal computer communication
102
or various types of information
103
is transmitted via servers
201
,
202
or via a server
203
other than the CATV station (e.g., a server provided within a company), and in relay of a router
204
and further through an information encoding process by a cable modem encoder
205
, to each home or company or the like
300
. This encoded information, which could not be received as it is by personal computers, is subjected to signal transformation by a cable modem
301
so as to be receivable by a personal computer
302
.
In the cable modem of the prior art example shown in
FIG. 10
, commonly, logic IC or other logic circuit components are mounted on one board, while a front end section and circuit components for the driving of LED lamp display are mounted on the other board, which means that the cable modem would be comprised of totally two circuit boards. For the mounting of the LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp, it would be necessary to insert the LED lamp by hand, and after hand soldering, to cut off excess lead wires and further position the LED lamp so that a front end section of the LED lamp is set to a center position of a front panel opening. Besides, since much heat is generated by these logic circuit and front end sections with the cable modem in operation, it has been the case that the cable modem is fabricated through steps of inserting a metal plate for heat radiation between the two boards, mounting the circuit board structure with the metal plate inserted, in which the two boards and the metal plate have been connected to each other by screws, to a metallic chassis having a generally U-shaped cross section, and further housing the chassis in a box type cabinet.
Such a cable modem, as shown above, would take much time in assembly and inevitably involve increased outside dimensions of the cabinet, occupying a considerable space when installed on a desk, and besides the cable modem would be heavy in unit weight so as to be inconvenient to carry. Further, when the cable modem, which is normally positioned horizontally, is positioned vertically for saving space, it would be unstable, being prone to tilt. Furthermore, as another problem, when the cable modem is of smaller size and thin type design, use environmental temperatures of the circuit components would be exceeded due to temperature increase in the interior of the cabinet, causing malfunction
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a high reliability cable modem which can be designed for thinner thickness and lighter weight as compared with the prior art, and which is superior in assembling workability, heat radiation, mounting stability and the like.
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, there is provided a thin type cable modem comprising: a circuit board which is a substantially single board on which at least a front end section, a logic circuit section and an LED display section are mounted; and a housing which covers the circuit board and which has a front face, a rear face, a left side face, a right side face, a top face and a bottom face, wherein a plurality of symbol displays for indicating an operational state of the LED display section are provided in the front face of the housing, and a plurality of exhaust holes for radiating heat generated from the front end section and the logic circuit section mounted on the circuit board are provided in the top face of the housing, and wherein a plurality of inlet holes for taking outside air into an interior of the housing are provided in the bottom face of the housing, and the front end section is mounted on the circuit board at a position near the plurality of exhaust holes provided in the top face of the housing.
According to the above construction, Heat generated from the front end section and the logic circuit section mounted on the circuit board can be radiated efficiently along with an air stream that passes from the bottom face of the housing into the housing interior through the inlet holes and flows upward of the housing through the exhaust holes.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the LED display section is implemented by surface-mounted LED chips and mounting them on the circuit board.
According to this construction, since the front end section, the logic circuit section and the LED display circuit components are mounted and completed onto a substantially single board all by an automatic mounting machine, there is no need of separately preparing the front end section and LED display circuit board and the logic circuit board and thereafter combining the two boards by manual work, which would be involved in the prior art, and neither is there a need of inserting the LED lamp by hand nor, after hand soldering, cutting off leads, so that the assembly process can be omitted. Thus, the production cost can be reduced.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing has, inside its front face, a plurality of light guide sections for guiding an optical signal, which designates an operational state, from the plurality of LED chips to the plurality of symbol displays.
According to this construction, since the light guide section fixed to the front panel and the LED chips for the light source are of independent structure, there is no need of positioning the front end portion of the LED lamp to a center portion of the front panel opening, so that the assembly process can be omitted. Thus, the production cost can be reduced.
In order to achieve the other object of the present invention, there is provided a stand for mounting a thin type cable modem which comprises: a circuit board which is a substantially single board on which at least a front end section, a logic circuit section and an LED display section are mounted; and a housing which covers the circuit board and which has a front face, a rear face, a left side face, a right side face, a top face and a bottom face, wherein a plurality of exhaust holes for radiating heat generated from the front end section and the logic circuit section mounted on the circuit board are provided in the top face of the housing, and a plurality of inlet holes for taking outside air into an interior of this housing are provided in the bottom face of the housing, the mounting stand comprising: both side walls; a housing mounting portion; a recessed portion provided in the housing mounting portion so as not to close the plurality of inlet holes provided in the bottom face of the housing; and an engaging portion which is formed in the recessed portion and which is to be engaged with the inlet holes.
According to this construction, since the inlet holes necessary for air ventilation are not closed so that outside air flows into the housing interior, a good heat radiation effect can be obtained. Moreover, the mounting stand allows the thin type cable modem to be stably mounted thereon and, at the same time, serves also as a slide stopper for the cable modem body.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the engaging portion of the mounting stand becomes parallel to the inlet holes so that the inlet holes and the engaging portion are engaged with each other when the bottom face of the housing having the plurality of inlet holes is mounted on the mounting stand, while the engaging portion of the mounting stand becomes non-parallel to the exhaust holes s
Kinemura Hiroshi
Nakamura Masahiro
Kovalick Vincent E.
Shalwala Bipin
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
LandOfFree
Thin type cable modem and stand for mounting the same does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Thin type cable modem and stand for mounting the same, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Thin type cable modem and stand for mounting the same will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2522441