Modular system for controlling a liquid crystal display

• US 10,185,352 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William, Wasinger, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Binh
• Application Number:
  US15/437,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20170163928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 36167932, 36167937, 36167938, 36167939, 361727, 361728, 361729, 361731, 361733, 361736, 361737, 361741, 361756, 361784, 361785, 361788, 361792
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3107 the device being completely enclosed
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/32 Holders for supporting the complete device in operation, i.e. detachable fixtures H01L23/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/73 connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/655 Construction or mounting of chassis, e.g. for varying the elevation of the tube
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/117 Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/044 Details of backplane or midplane for mounting orthogonal PCBs
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09754 Connector integrally incorporated in the PCB or in housing mounted connecter H05K2201/10189
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0999 Circuit printed on or in housing, e.g. housing as PCB; Circuit printed on the case of a component; PCB affixed to housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/1034 Edge terminals, i.e. separate pieces of metal attached to the edge of the PCB tab H05K2201/0397

Abstract

A modular electrical system for controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD) contained within a chassis. The system may include a backplane in communication with a power module and video module through connectors on the back plane and respective connectors on the modules. The system may also include a timing and control board (TCON) that is in communication with the backplane via conduction lines that are provided to carry power, video signals, etc., to the TCON. Guides may be provided to ensure proper alignment of the power module and video module with the backplane. In some embodiments, the power module and video module may include input and output connectors that facilitate connection of multiple displays in a daisy chain fashion.

Claims

1. A modular electrical system for controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a backlight and contained within a chassis, the system comprising:

a backplane having first and second board edge connectors;

a video module having a board edge connector adapted to connect with the first board edge connector on the backplane, and a video input connection that is physically located on the video module but remotely from the video module board edge connector;

a power module having a board edge connector adapted to connect with the second board edge connector on the backplane, and an AC power input connection that is physically located on the power module but remotely from the power module board edge connector; and

a timing and control board (TCON) in electrical communication with the backplane and arranged to receive power through a power conduction line and electrical signals through a signal conduction line, the TCON configured to convert video signals output by the video module into driving signals for the LCD.

2. The control system of claim 1 further comprising:

an AC power output connection on the power module; and

a video output connection on the video module.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the AC power input connection is in electrical communication with the backplane.

4. The control system of claim 3, further comprising an AC power output connection in electrical communication with the backplane.

5. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the video input connection is in electrical communication with the backplane.

6. The control system of claim 5, further comprising a video output connection in electrical communication with the backplane.

7. The control system of claim 5, wherein the video module board edge connector is configured to pass video signals from the video module to the backplane.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the video module utilizes low voltage differential signaling (LVDS).

9. The control system of claim 5, wherein the video module board edge connector is configured to pass power from the backplane to the video module.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the backplane is configured to route power from the power module to the TCON via the power conduction line.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein the backplane is configured to supply power to the video module and to route video signals from the video module to the TCON via the signal conduction line.

12. The control system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical conduction line for routing power from the backplane to the backlight.

13. The control system of claim 1 wherein the power module comprises:

a first power supply that powers the TCON and video module, and

a second power supply that powers the backlight.

14. The control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first pair of guides for ensuring proper alignment of the video module board edge connector with the first board edge connector on the backplane; and

a second pair of guides for ensuring proper alignment of the power module board edge connector with the second board edge connector on the backplane;

wherein the guides are fixed to the chassis.

15. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a first speaker on the video module and a second speaker on the power module.

16. A modular electrical system for controlling a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) contained within a chassis and having a backplane with first and second board edge connectors, the modular system comprising:

a video module having

a video input connection, and

a board edge connector that is physically located remotely from the video input connection and adapted to connect with the first board edge connector on the backplane;

a power module having

a power input connection, and

a board edge connector that is physically located remotely from the power input connection and adapted to connect with the second board edge connector on the backplane; and

a pair of video module guides associated with the chassis and configured to accept the video module and align the video module board edge connector with the first board edge connector on the backplane; and

a pair of power module guides associated with the chassis and configured to accept the power module and align the power module board edge connector with the second board edge connector on the backplane.

17. The modular electrical system of claim 16, further comprising a video output connection on the video module.

18. The modular electrical system of claim 16 further comprising:

a timing and control board (TCON) in electrical communication with the backplane;

a power conduction line configured to route power from the backplane to the TCON; and

a signal conduction line configured to route video signals from the backplane to the TCON.

19. A modular electrical system for controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a backlight and contained within a chassis, the system comprising:

a backplane having a power module board edge connector and a video module board edge connector;

an AC power input connection in electrical communication with the backplane;

a video input connection in electrical communication with the backplane;

a power module having a board edge connector that is physically located remotely from the AC power input connection and adapted to connect with the power module board edge connector on the backplane;

a video module having a board edge connector that is physically located remotely from the video input connection and adapted to connect with the video module board edge connector on the backplane;

guides for aligning the power module and the video module with the power module board edge connector and video module board edge connector on the backplane;

a power conduction line in electrical communication with the backplane;

a signal conduction line in electrical communication with the backplane; and

a timing and control board (TCON) in electrical communication with the backplane through the power conduction line and the signal conduction line, the TCON configured to convert video signals output by the video module into driving signals for the LCD.

20. The control system of claim 19 wherein:

the backplane is configured to route AC power from the AC power input connection to the power module, and power from the power module to other components connected to the backplane;

the video module board edge connector is configured to pass power from the backplane to the video module and to pass video signals from the video module to the backplane;

the power conduction line is configured to pass power from the backplane to the TCON; and

the signal conduction line is configured to pass video signals from the video module to the TCON.