Portable electronic device having LCD and touch screen

• US 20030048598A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Yun-Tae, Lee, Byeong-Yun, Lee, Chang-Il, Park, Jong-Seo
• Granted Patent: US 6,842,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/681
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a main board fixed inside a case that mounts various circuit parts, an LCD module positioned at an upper side of the main board that has an LCD, an internal frame and a touch screen and an LCD module connecting unit installed for electronic connection between the main board and the LCD module when the main board and the LCD module are mutually combined or assembled. Since the main board connector is installed at the main board and the LCD connector is mounted at one side of the LCD module, when the LCD module is assembled at the main board, the LCD connector and the main board connector are mutually connected. Thus, no electric connection work is necessary, and thus, its assembling is simple and assembly process can be shortened. Further, the LCD module connecting unit can directly connect the main board and the LCD module through a support member therebetween that can include a heat sink for the main board.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing that includes an upper case coupled to a lower case to enclose a prescribed space there between;

a main board installed inside the case that mounts at least one circuit part;

an LCD module positioned at an upper side of the main board that includes an LCD and a touch screen; and

an LCD module connector device installed between the main board and the LCD module that electronically connects the main board and the LCD module when the main board and the LCD module are mutually combined.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the LCD module comprises a frame into which the LCD and the touch screen are supportedly inserted, wherein the LCD displays various information, and wherein the touch screen is attached at an upper surface of the LCD and electrically coupled to an interface portion of the LCD.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the touch screen and the interface portion of the LCD are coupled using a connector.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the LCD module connector device comprises:

an LCD connector mounted at one side of the LCD module; and

a main board connector protruded from an upper surface of the main board that connects to the LCD connector when the LCD module moves horizontally when mutually combined.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the LCD connector and the main board connector are slidingly engaged using a pin-receiving hole connection system.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the main board connector protrudes to prescribed height from the upper side of the main board to connect to the LCD connector, and wherein the LCD and the touch screen are electrically connected to the main board through the LCD connector of the LCD module.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 6, comprising:

a support member disposed between the main board and the LCD module to prevent a damage to the circuit parts mounted on the main board and reinforce the LCD module, wherein the support member comprises,

a support plate with a thickness disposed between the LCD module and the main board,

a first engaging unit downwardly extended from the support plate and engaged with the main board to position the support plate at a certain distance from an upper surface of the main board, and

a second engaging unit upwardly extended from the support plate that engages the LCD module.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the LCD module connector device comprises:

an LCD connector that extends in the downward direction from a lower surface of the LCD module; and

a main board connector that extends in the upward direction from an upper surface of the main board.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the main board connector extends straight in the upward direction, and wherein the LCD connector and the main board connector are slidingly engaged using a pin-receiving hole connection system.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a support member disposed between the main board and the LCD module, wherein the LCD module connector device passes through the support member.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the support member comprises:

a support plate with a prescribed thickness between the LCD module and the main board, wherein the support plate has a plurality of through holes;

a first engaging unit downwardly extended from the support plate and engaged with the main board to position the support plate at a spaced relationship from an upper surface of the main board; and

a second engaging unit upwardly extended from the support plate that engages the LCD module, wherein the LCD module connector device extends through the through holes of the support plate.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the support member includes a support portion protruded at a certain width upwardly from a marginal portion of the support plate to prevent a vibration when the LCD module is mounted at the upper surface of the support plate.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first engaging unit is in at least one corner of the support plate and includes a bolt hole for a bolt engagement, and wherein the second engaging unit extends upwardly from a marginal portion of the support plate and includes a bolt hole for bolt engagement with the LCD module.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 11, comprising a heat releasing unit installed at one side of the support member that releases heat generated from the main board.

15. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing that includes an upper case coupled to a lower case to enclose a prescribed space there between;

a main board installed inside the housing that mounts at least one circuit part;

an LCD module positioned at an upper side of the main board that includes an LCD and a touch screen;

an LCD module connector device installed between the main board and the LCD module that electronically connects the main board and the LCD module when the main board and the LCD module are mutually combined, wherein the LCD module connector device comprises,

an LCD connector that extends in the downward direction from a lower surface of the LCD module, and

a main board connector that extends in the upward direction from an upper surface of the main board, and wherein the LCD module connector device directly connects the LCD module to the main board.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the main board connector extends straight in the upward direction.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a support member disposed between the main board and the LCD module, wherein the LCD module connector device passes through the support member.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the portable electronic device is a palm-sized computer.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 15, a heat releasing unit installed at one side of the support member that releases heat generated from the main board.

20. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing that includes an upper case coupled to a lower case to enclose a prescribed space therebetween;

a main board installed inside the housing that mounts at least one circuit part;

an LCD module positioned at an upper side of the main board that includes an LCD and a touch screen, wherein the LCD module is coupled to the main board;

a support member disposed between the LCD module and the main board; and

a heat releasing unit coupled to the support member that releases heat generated from the main board.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein the support member comprises:

a support plate with a prescribed thickness between the LCD module and the main board, wherein the support plate has a plurality of through holes;

a first engaging unit downwardly extended from the support plate and engaged with the main board to position the support plate at a spaced relationship from an upper surface of the main board; and

a second engaging unit upwardly extended from the support plate that engages the LCD module.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein the heat-releasing unit is a heat-releasing part extends downwardly from one side of the support member and contacts an upper surface of at least one heat-generating part among the circuit parts mounted on the main board.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 22, wherein the heat-releasing part is bent a prescribed distance in the downward direction from the support member.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein the heat-releasing unit is a heat-releasing member mounted at a lower side of the support member, and wherein the heat-releasing member is a heat sink for heat from the main board.

25. The portable electronic device of claim 24, wherein the heat-releasing unit comprises a heat pipe installed at an upper surface of the support member.

26. The portable electronic device of claim 25, wherein the heat-releasing unit comprises a fan installed in vicinity of the heat pipe that circulates an ambient air toward the support member and the heat pipe.

27. The portable electronic device of claim 20, further comprising an LCD module connecting unit installed between the main board and the LCD module to make an electrical connection between the main board and the LCD module when the main board and the LCD module are mutually combined.