Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-11
2001-12-11
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S689000, C349S058000, 36
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330148
ABSTRACT:
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 1999-01112 and 1999-46947, filed on Jan. 13, 1999 and on Oct. 27, 1999, respectively, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a flat panel display device, and more particularly, to a flat panel display device mounting structure on a computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flat panel display devices include liquid crystal display devices (LCD) which are used widely, plasma display panels, and field emission displays which have been studied recently and may be applied to computers in the near future.
For convenience of explanation, the present invention will be discussed with respect to the LCD as an example of a flat screen type display device and a portable computer with the LCD device mounted therein.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a general portable computer such as a laptop or notebook computer typically includes a body
100
, a flat panel display device assembly
120
coupled to the body
100
via a hinge mechanism
124
. The flat panel display device assembly
130
has a flat panel display module
130
and a display case
105
supporting the module
130
. The body
100
has an input device
110
such as a keyboard. As a flat panel display module
130
, the LCD is widely used in portable computers and flat screen monitors.
Referring to
FIG. 2
which shows a conventional assembly structure of the LCD device applied to a conventional portable computer, the display case
105
has a back case
124
and a front case or frame
122
for mounting the LCD module
130
. The back case
124
has an outer surface and an inner surface and connecting ribs
124
a
formed at the corners.
The LCD module
130
has an LCD panel
132
, a back light device
134
fixed to the back of the LCD panel
132
, and a metal sash or supporting frame
136
for assembling the panel
132
and the back light device
134
along the edge. The back light device
134
is shown in the cutway portion of FIG.
2
.
At the corners of the metal sash
136
, corresponding to the positions of the ribs
124
a
of the back case
124
, a plurality of protrusions
136
a
having holes are formed.
For mounting the LCD module
130
to the case
105
, the LCD module
130
is placed on the back case
124
and the holes of the metal sash
136
and the ribs
124
a
are fastened together preferably by screws
138
. The front case
122
is coupled to the back case
124
.
Hereinafter, the method of assembling the LCD device wherein the LCD module is mounted to the case using fasteners extending from the front toward the rear direction is defined as the front mounting method, and the assembled structure of the LCD module and the case made through the front mounting method is defined as the front mounting structure.
In the front mounting structure described above, since the protrusions
136
a
require additional space corresponding to the protruded width “d”, the ratio of the display area of the LCD module to the fixed size of the case
105
is reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a flat panel display device module for computer that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of the related art, while retaining its advantage.
An object of this invention is to provide a portable computer with a liquid crystal display module assembled a side mounting method.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable computer with a structure that can firmly support a printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to simply as “PCB”) and a back light device in the side mounting method.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description with follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and the in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides, in one embodiment, a computer comprising a display panel having a front surface, a plurality of side surfaces and a bottom surface, the front surface including a display area; an upper supporting frame covering an edge or peripheral region of the display area of the display panel; a lower supporting frame supporting the bottom of the display panel and contacting the bottom surface; and a fastening unit having a main portion and a first bent portion vertical to the main portion, the main portion secured to the lower supporting frame, the bent portion contacting the side surface, and having a screw hole.
In another embodiment, the present provides a computer comprising: a system body;
a flat panel display device module having a front surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces; a supporting body being coupled to the body via a hinge mechanism and having a supporting surface parallel to the side surface of the module; and a fastening unit having a main portion and a first bent portion vertical to the main portion, the main portion being secured to the bottom of the module and the bent portion being secured to the supporting surface of the supporting body.
In further embodiment, the present provides a computer comprising a liquid crystal display panel having a front surface and a bottom surface; a back light device arranged on the bottom surface of a liquid crystal display panel; a first frame supporting the back light device; a second frame located on the front surface of the liquid crystal display panel and being coupled with the first frame; an outer case; and a fastening unit having a main portion and a first bent portion vertical to the main portion, the main portion being coupled with the first frame, the bent portion being coupled with the second frame and the outer case.
The bent portion of the fastening unit are located between the side surface of the display panel and the upper supporting frame. The fastening unit further comprises a second bent portion vertical to the main portion, the two bent portions of the fastening unit are opposite to each other, the main portion connecting the two bent portions. The computer further includes a drive circuit board, the drive circuit board being firmly contacted by the main portion of the fastening unit. The computer further includes a back light device having a light source disposed between the display panel and the lower supporting frame in a longitudinal direction, with the main portion of the fastening unit surrounding the light source. The main portion of the fastening unit is fastened to the lower supporting frame via a screw. The upper supporting frame has a side wall and a through hole corresponding to the screw hole of the bent portion of the fastening unit. The lower supporting frame has a recess portion corresponding to the screw hole of the bent portion of the fastening unit such that the fastening unit is attached to the lower supporting frame via a screw. The bent portions of the fastening unit has a plurality of outward extending flexible protrusion portion, and the upper supporting frame has a plurality of flexible recess portions corresponding to the protrusion portion of the fastening unit such that the upper supporting frame and the fastening unit being are coupled with the fastening unit if the upper supporting frame is pressed downwardly by a predetermined force.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5216411 (1993-06-01), Ashitomi et al.
patent: 5422751 (1995-06-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 5436745 (1995-07-01), Voisin et al.
patent: 5504605 (1996-04-01), Sakuma et al.
patent: 5640216
Won Se Chang
You Dong Jae
Datskovsky Michael
LG. Philips LCD Co. Ltd.
Long Aldridge & Norman LLP
Picard Leo P.
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