Processor module packaging for a portable electronic device display

• US 20050073515A1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Portals Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Portals Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Chao-Chi, Perrin, Stephen L., Fleck, Rod G., O'Connell, Craig W., Clarke, Michael S., Kee, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,271,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/204
• 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: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A processor module is packaged with a display for a portable electronic device. The display is designed to create a space within a display housing to allow a processor module to be included in the display housing. The processor module can be designed to be integral with the display housing. Additionally, the processor module can be designed to be detachable from the display housing to provide a removable processor module. The removable processor module can be replaced with another processor module having different functionality or have stand alone functionality, as well as system functionality when attached to a display lid or a portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device display, comprising:

a panel display having a front surface on which computer graphics images are displayed and further having a rear surface opposite the front surface, the rear surface of the panel display having an outside perimeter with a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;

a display driver circuit coupled to the panel display and adapted to generate electric signals for driving the panel display to display computer graphics images on the front surface, the display driver having an input terminal at which data representative of the image to be displayed are provided, the display driver circuit having a portion located proximate the first edge of the rear surface of the panel display within the outside perimeter;

a display housing in which the panel display and display driver are at least partially enclosed; and

an electronic module having a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor, the electronic module attached to the display housing and positioned proximate the second edge of the rear surface of the panel display within the outside perimeter.

2. The portable electronic device display of claim 1 wherein the panel display comprises a liquid crystal display (“

LCD”

).

3. The portable electronic device display of claim 2, further comprising:

a light source positioned proximate to the first edge; and

a light guide adjacent the rear surface of the LCD and adjacent the light source to provide back lighting for the LCD from the light source.

4. The portable electronic device display of claim 1 wherein the display housing and the electronic module are integral.

5. The portable electronic device display of claim 1 wherein the electronic module is removably attached to the display housing.

6. The portable electronic device display of claim 5 wherein the electronic module includes a battery for providing power to the electronic module.

7. The portable electronic device display of claim 1 wherein the electronic module includes an auxiliary display visible through an opening in a module housing enclosing the electronic module and further includes a keypad coupled to the processor for providing user input thereto.

8. The portable electronic device display of claim 1 wherein the electronic module includes an auxiliary display visible through an opening in a module housing enclosing the electronic module.

9. The portable electronic device display of claim 1 wherein the electronic module includes a keypad accessible through an opening in a module housing enclosing the electronic module.

10. The portable electronic device display of claim 1 wherein the panel display and the display driver circuit comprise a display structure having a generally tapered profile from the first edge to the second edge.

11. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a chassis having a keypad located thereon;

a lid pivotally attached to the chassis and having a panel display located therein, the panel display having a front surface and a rear surface opposite of the front surface, the front surface viewable when the lid is in an open position;

a display driving circuit electrically coupled to the panel display and adapted to generate electric signals that are provided to the panel display for displaying an image; and

a processor module attached to the lid and located adjacent the rear surface of the panel display, the processor module having a processor and further having a user interface device coupled to the processor.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein the display driving circuit comprises integrated circuit devices located within the chassis.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein the display driving circuit comprises integrated circuit devices located within the lid adjacent the rear surface of the panel display.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein the processor module is attached to the lid at an edge opposite of the display driving circuit.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein the panel display comprises a liquid crystal display (“

LCD”

).

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, further comprising:

a light source positioned proximate to a first edge of the lid; and

a light guide adjacent the rear surface of the LCD and adjacent the light source to provide back lighting for the LCD from the light source.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein the lid and the processor module are integral.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein the processor module is removably attached to the lid.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein the user interface device of the processor module comprises a keypad.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 11 wherein the processor module further includes an auxiliary display viewable when the lid is in the closed position.

21. A portable electronic device display pivotally attached to a chassis, comprising:

a multi-unit housing having a front cover and a rear cover, the front cover having an opening through which a display surface of a display is visible and the rear cover covering a first portion of a rear surface of the display;

a processor located adjacent a second portion of the rear surface of the display and proximate an edge of the display opposite of the pivotal attachment to the chassis; and

a processor cover covering the processor and the second portion of the rear surface of the panel display.

22. The portable electronic device display package of claim 21 wherein the rear cover is proximate the pivotal attachment to the chassis.

23. The portable electronic device display package of claim 21, further comprising display circuitry located adjacent the first portion of the rear surface of the panel display and having at least a portion covered by the rear cover, the panel display circuitry coupled to the panel display to generate electrical signals to drive the panel display for displaying images.

24. The portable electronic device display package of claim 21 wherein the processor cover includes an opening through which an auxiliary display is visible, the auxiliary display physically smaller than the panel display visible through the opening of the front cover.

25. The portable electronic device display package of claim 21 wherein the multi-unit display housing and the processor cover result in a structure having a profile with generally uniform thickness.

26. A portable electronic device display pivotally attached to a chassis, the device display comprising:

a display housing having a first interior region in which a panel display is located and having a second interior region located adjacent a rear surface of the panel display in which a display driver circuit is located, the display driver circuit electrically coupled to the panel display, the display housing further having a third interior region in which a processing circuit and a user interface device coupled to the processing circuit are located, the user interface exposed through an opening in the display housing, the third interior region located adjacent the rear surface of the panel display and adjoining the second interior region.

27. The portable electronic device display of claim 26 wherein the display housing is constructed from a plurality of cover portions.

28. The portable electronic device display of claim 26 wherein the panel display comprises a liquid crystal display (“

LCD”

).

29. The portable electronic device display of claim 28, further comprising:

a light source located in the second interior region; and

a light guide adjacent the rear surface of the LCD and adjacent the light source to provide back lighting for the LCD from the light source.

30. The portable electronic device display of claim 26, further comprising an auxiliary display located within the third interior region and visible through an auxiliary display opening in the display housing adjacent the opening for the user interface device.

31. The portable electronic device display of claim 26 wherein the user interface device comprises a keypad accessible through an opening in the display housing.

32. The portable electronic device display of claim 26 wherein the panel display and the display driver circuit comprise a panel display structure having a generally tapered profile.

33. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a chassis having a keypad located thereon;

a lid pivotally attached to the chassis and having a panel display located therein, the panel display having a front surface and a rear surface opposite of the front surface, the front surface viewable when the lid is in an open position and the rear surface having a first edge proximate the pivotal attachment and a second edge opposite of the first edge;

a display driving circuit electrically coupled to the panel display and adapted to generate electric signals that are provided to the panel display to display an image, the display driving circuit located adjacent the rear surface of the panel display and proximate the first edge; and

an electronic module attached to the lid and located adjacent the rear surface of the panel display and proximate to the second edge.

34. The portable electronic device of claim 33 wherein the electronic module includes random-access memory for storing data.

35. The portable electronic device of claim 33 wherein the electronic module includes a hard disk drive.

36. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a chassis having a keyboard located thereon;

a lid pivotally attached to the chassis by a pivotal attachment and having a panel display located therein, the panel display having a front surface and a rear surface opposite of the front surface, the front surface viewable when the lid is in an open position;

a processor located in the chassis and being coupled to the keyboard and the panel display, the processor being coupled to the panel display through a conductor extending through the pivotal attachment between the lid and the chassis;

a user interface device mounted in the lid, the user interface device being accessible when the lid is pivoted to a closed position in which the front surface of the panel display cannot be viewed; and

a processor module mounted in the lid, the processor module having a processor coupled to the user interface to support functionality of the user interface device.

37. The portable electronic device of claim 36 wherein a plurality of conductors are coupled to the user interface device to either provide signals to the user interface device or receive signals from the user interface device, substantially all of the conductors extending to the user interface device from a location in the lid so that it is not necessary to route the conductors through the pivotal attachment between the lid and the chassis.

38. A method for packaging a display in a display housing, comprising:

mounting a panel display having a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface in the display housing;

mounting a display circuit coupled to the panel display in the display housing adjacent the rear surface of the panel display and proximate a first edge of the display housing to occupy a portion of an interior volume of the display housing; and

including a processor module having a processor in the housing on the rear surface of the panel display and proximate a second edge of the display housing to occupy a remaining portion of the interior volume of the display housing, the second edge opposite the first edge of the display housing.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein mounting a panel display comprises mounting a liquid crystal display (“

LCD”

).

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

positioning a light source proximate to the first edge; and

positioning a light guide adjacent the rear surface of the LCD and adjacent the light source to provide back lighting for the LCD from the light source.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein including a processor module comprises including a processor module having an auxiliary display visible through an opening in a rear surface of the display housing.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein including a processor module comprises including a processor module having a keypad accessible through an opening in a rear surface of the display housing.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein mounting a panel display and mounting a display circuit comprises mounting a structure having a generally tapered profile from the first edge of the display housing to the second edge of the display housing.

44. A method for packaging a display in a display housing, the method comprising:

mounting a first display and corresponding display circuits in a housing pivotally attached to a chassis to provide an interior volume in the housing behind the first display and opposite the pivotal attachment, a front surface of the first display exposed through a first opening in the display housing; and

utilizing the interior volume for a processor module positioned adjacent to a rear surface of the panel display, the processor module having a second display and a user interface device exposed through an opening in a rear surface of the display housing, the opening for the second display and user interface and the opening exposing the front surface of the first display on opposite sides of the display housing.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein mounting the first display comprises mounting a liquid crystal display (“

LCD”

).

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

positioning a light source adjacent the to display circuits adjacent the rear surface of the LCD; and

positioning a light guide adjacent the rear surface of the LCD and adjacent the light source to provide back lighting for the LCD from the light source.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein mounting the first display and corresponding display circuits in the housing comprises mounting an integral structure having a generally tapered profile.