Portable computer having a flat panel display device

• US 20040174667A1
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jong H. Kim, Young W. Cho
• Original Assignee: Jong H. Kim, Young W. Cho
• Inventors: Cho, Young Woo, Kim, Jong Hwan
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/681
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133317 Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13332 Front frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/46 Fixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/465 Snap -fit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A portable computer including a housing having first and second sections, the first section having an information input device and the second section having a case having a first fastening element; a display panel including a second fastening element at a rear surface of the panel, the case and the display panel being attached through the first and second fastening elements; a hinge coupling the first and the second sections to each other; and a display panel support member having a third fastening element, the display panel support member being attached to the display panel through the third fastening element.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a housing including first and second sections, the first section having an information input device and the second section having a case having a first fastening element;

a display panel including a second fastening element at a rear surface of the display panel, the case and the display panel being attached through the first and second fastening elements;

a hinge coupling the first and the second sections to each other; and

a display panel support member having a third fastening element, the display panel support member being attached to the display panel through the third fastening element.

2. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the display panel support member is attached to the display panel through the first and third fastening elements.

3. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the display panel support member includes:

a first support element extending in one direction; and

a second support element extending in a second direction.

4. The portable computer according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second support elements includes a fastening hole.

5. The portable computer according to claim 3, wherein the display panel support member has a shape of letter “

F.”

6. The portable computer according to claim 3, wherein the first support element is substantially perpendicular to the second support element.

7. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the display support member includes an arm extending upward.

8. The portable computer according to claim 7, wherein the arm extends at adjacent edge portions of the second section.

9. The portable computer according to claim 7, wherein the arm extends substantially to a top portion of the second section.

10. The portable computer according to claim 7, wherein the arm includes a fastening hole at a portion of the arm, the display panel being attached to the arm through the fastening hole of the arm.

11. The portable computer according to claim 7, wherein the arm has an “

L”

shape.

12. The portable computer according to claim 7, wherein the arm has a “

C”

shape.

13. The portable computer according to claim 7, wherein the arm has an “

E”

shape.

14. The portable computer according to claim 7, wherein the arm has three sections forming an “

H”

shape.

15. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the hinge is in the first section of the housing.

16. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the hinge is in the second section of the housing.

17. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the first fastening element includes a fastening hole.

18. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the second fastening element includes a fastening hole.

19. The portable computer according to claim 1, further comprising a screw attaching the display panel to the second section through the first and second fastening elements.

20. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second fastening elements include first and second fastening holes, respectively, and the display panel is attached to the case through the first and second fastening elements using a screw.

21. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the display panel support member is coupled to the hinge.

22. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the first fastening element includes at least one fastening hole located at a corner of the second section.

23. The portable computer according to claim 22, wherein the first fastening element includes at least two fastening holes at two corners of the second section.

24. The portable computer according to claim 22, wherein the first fastening element includes four fastening holes at four corners of the second section.

25. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the second fastening element includes at least one fastening hole located at a corner of the display panel corresponding to the fastening hole of the first fastening element.

26. The portable computer according to claim 25, wherein the second fastening element includes at least two fastening holes at two corners of the display panel.

27. The portable computer according to claim 25, wherein the second fastening element includes four fastening holes at four corners of the display panel.

28. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the first fastening element and the second fastening element include a screw hole, and a screw is inserted from the rear of the case to fasten the case to the display panel.

29. The portable computer according to claim 28, wherein the screw hole of the case is located at a position corresponding to the display area of the display panel.

30. A portable computer comprising:

a housing including first and second sections, the first section having an information input device and the second section having a case having a first fastening element;

a display panel including a second fastening element at a rear surface of the display panel, the case and the display panel being attached through the first and second fastening elements;

a hinge coupling the first and the second sections to each other;

a display panel support member including an arm extending upward and a third fastening element, the display panel support member being attached to the display panel through the first and third fastening elements;

wherein the arm includes a fastening hole at a portion of the arm, the display panel being attached to the arm through the fastening hole of the arm;

wherein the first and second fastening elements include first and second fastening holes, respectively, and the display panel is attached to the case through the first and second fastening elements using a screw; and

wherein the display panel support member is coupled to the hinge.

31. The portable computer according to claim 30, wherein the second fastening element is not visible from a viewing direction of the display panel.

32. The portable computer according to claim 30, wherein no fastening element is visible when viewed from the viewing direction of the display panel.

33. The portable computer according to claim 30, wherein the second fastening element includes protruding portions protruding away from the display panel.

34. The portable computer according to claim 33, wherein the protruding portion includes a peg having a fastening hole.

35. A flat panel display device capable of being mounted to a housing, the flat panel display device comprising:

a backlight unit including a first frame having a fastening part at a rear surface of the first frame;

a flat panel display adjacent to the backlight unit; and

a second frame;

wherein the flat panel display is between the first frame and the second frame, the first frame of the backlight unit capable of being fixed to the housing through the fastening part at the rear surface of the first frame.

36. The flat panel display device according to claim 35, wherein the fastening part includes a fastening hole.

37. The flat panel display device according to claim 36, further comprising a screw attaching the first frame of the backlight unit to the second frame through the fastening hole.

38. The flat panel display device according to claim 36, wherein the fastening part includes at least two fastening holes at two corners of the first frame.

39. The flat panel display device according to claim 36, wherein the fastening part includes four fastening holes at four corners of the first frame.

40. The flat panel display device according to claim 35, wherein the backlight unit comprises:

a reflector unit adjacent the first frame;

a light source unit adjacent the reflector unit; and

a light guide unit adjacent the light source unit.

41. The flat panel display device according to claim 40, further comprising a diffuser unit and a prism unit.

42. The flat panel display device according to claim 35, wherein the fastening part is not visible from a viewing direction of the flat panel display.

43. The flat panel display device according to claim 35, wherein the flat panel display device only shows the flat panel display and the second frame when viewed from the viewing direction of the display.

44. The flat panel display device according to claim 35, wherein the fastening part includes a protruding portion protruding away from the flat panel display.

45. The flat panel display device according to claim 44, wherein the protruding portion includes a peg having a fastening hole.

46. The flat panel display device according to claim 44, wherein the protruding portion includes a first part and a second part, the first part being larger than the second part.

47. A flat panel display device capable of being mounted to a housing, the flat panel display device comprising:

a backlight unit including;

a first frame having a fastening part at a rear surface of the first frame;

a reflector unit adjacent the first frame;

a light source unit adjacent the reflector unit; and

a light guide unit adjacent the light source unit;

a flat panel display adjacent to the backlight unit;

a second frame; and

a screw attaching the first frame of the backlight unit to the second frame through the fastening part;

wherein the flat panel display is between the first frame and the second frame, the first frame of the backlight unit capable of being fixed to the housing through the fastening part at the rear surface of the first frame.

48. The flat panel display device according to claim 47, further comprising a diffuser unit and a prism unit.

49. The flat panel display device according to claim 47, wherein the fastening part is not visible from a viewing direction of the flat panel display.

50. The flat panel display device according to claim 47, wherein the flat panel display device only shows the flat panel display and the second frame when viewed from the viewing direction of the display.

51. The flat panel display device according to claim 47, wherein the fastening part includes a protruding portion protruding away from the flat panel display.

52. The flat panel display device according to claim 51, wherein the protruding portion includes a peg having a fastening hole.

53. The flat panel display device according to claim 51, wherein the protruding portion includes a first part and a second part, the first part being larger than the second part.

54. The flat panel display device according to claim 47, wherein the fastening part includes a fastening hole.

55. A flat panel display device comprising:

a first frame having a fastening part at a rear surface of the first frame;

a second frame; and

a flat panel display between the first and second frames;

wherein the first frame is capable of being fixed to a housing of the data processing device through the fastening part at the rear surface of the first frame.