SYSTEM FOR MOUNTING A DISPLAY TO A COMPUTER

• US 20120099261A1
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Xplore Technologies Corporation (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: REBER, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,373,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness

Abstract

A computer includes various features that improve its functionality and/or ease of use. A modular electronics cartridge that includes a piston seal and opposed-direction latches removably engages a cartridge bay of the computer. A high intensity touch-screen display and a high power processor are disposed in a sealed compartment of the computer, and a remote heat exchanger is used to cool the sealed compartment. An interface converter/adapter converts a standard mini-PCI Express slot into a specialized mini-PCI Express slot with voice capabilities. SIM and microSD card slots mount to a pivoting door on the computer such that opening the door provides easier access to the card slots.

Claims

1. A tablet computer comprising:

a case defining a sealed compartment;

a touch-screen display supported by the case, the display facing outward away from the case;

the display further comprising a screen and a touch panel, disposed outwardly of the screen and being transparent to allow viewing of the screen therethrough, through an opening in the case;

a sealing member, disposed between the touch panel and the opening in the case in a water tight sealing relation; and

a frame, disposed about a perimeter of the touch panel and configured and arranged to transfer a compressive force generated between the sealing member and the touch panel to a chassis disposed in the case, substantially without transmitting the compressive force to the screen.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein:

the frame comprises a frame member having an L-shaped cross section, one leg of the frame member being structurally connected to a rear face of the touch panel, in supporting relation thereto, another leg of the frame member being structurally connected to the chassis.

3. The computer of claim 2, wherein:

the frame member extends substantially around a perimeter of the touch panel.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the sealing member comprises an elastomeric material, and the compressive force is generated by at least one fastener configured and arranged to fasten the case to the chassis and to compress the sealing member between the touch panel and the case.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the chassis is mounted to the case.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the frame is constructed and arranged to produce a selected stackup distance between an upper surface of the chassis and an upper surface of the touch panel that contacts the sealing member.

7. The computer of claim 6, wherein the screen is partially compressible, and the frame is constructed and arranged to transfer the compressive force to the chassis without compressing the screen and without substantially altering the selected stackup distance.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a screen with a viewable size that is at least 8 inches in the diagonal direction.

9. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a screen with a viewable area of at least 20 square inches.

10. The computer of claim 1, wherein a sealing force between the touch panel and the sealing member is substantially constant around a perimeter of the touch panel.

11. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display comprises first, second, and third user-selectable operating modes, the first operating mode comprising a touch only mode, the second operating mode comprising a stylus only mode, and the third operating mode comprising a dual mode with the stylus operation taking priority over touch operation.

12. The computer of claim 1, wherein the sealing member is adhered to the case and the touch panel.

13. The computer of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a stamped, bent, stainless steel L-shaped member.

14. The computer of claim 1, wherein the screen is further supported by a shock absorbing material disposed between the chassis and a back surface of the screen.

15. A tablet computer comprising:

a case defining a sealed compartment;

a chipset disposed within the sealed compartment;

a touch-screen display supported by the case and in electronic communication with the chipset, the display facing outward away from the case;

the display further comprising a screen and a touch panel, disposed outwardly of the screen and being transparent to allow viewing of the screen therethrough, through an opening in the case, the touch panel being operationally connected to the chipset to accept user input for operation of the tablet computer;

a sealing member, disposed between the touch panel and the opening in the case in a water tight sealing relation; and

a frame, disposed about a perimeter of the touch panel and configured and arranged to transfer a compressive force generated between the sealing member and the touch panel to a chassis disposed in the case, substantially without transmitting the compressive force to the screen.