Portable apparatus having a flat panel type display unit

• US 5,583,529 A
• Filed: 03/13/1995
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Satou, Youji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US08/402,566
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 345/905, 345/156, 345/87, 364/708.01, 361/679, 361/681, 361/688, 361/690, 361/694, 361/736, 361/748, 361/760, 361/761
• US Class Current: 345/87
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A portable computer has a keyboard and a display unit mounted to a base unit. The base unit is equipped with a battery for generating a reference voltage. The display unit has a plasma display and a housing for containing the plasma display. This housing is rotated to an open position for permitting visual confirmation of plasma display at the time of display of an image. In the housing of the display unit is retained a voltage converter for converting the reference voltage of the battery into a drive voltage for driving the plasma display. The voltage converter, which self-generates heat during its converting operation, is arranged on the right or left sides of the plasma display rotated to the open position or above the plasma display.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus comprising:

a base unit having power supply means for generating a reference voltage;

a display unit rotatably supported on the base unit, said display unit provided with a flat panel display having right and left sides substantially parallel to each other and separated by a bottom side, the bottom side being more proximate to the base unit than the right and left sides are proximate to the base unit, a rigid frame located behind said flat panel display, said rigid frame having a rectangular shape which is larger in size than the flat panel display, the rigid frame having at least a first side extending substantially a length of and being substantially parallel to said bottom side, the rigid frame having at least a second side connected to said first side extending substantially a length of and being substantially parallel to said right and left sides, the rigid frame having a plurality of brackets connected to said second side, said brackets extending from the second side in a direction lateral to the rigid frame, and a housing for containing said flat panel display and said rigid frame attached thereto, the housing including a rear panel and a front panel attached to the rear panel, the front panel having an opening for exposing the flat panel display, said housing being rotatable between a closed position and an open position permitting viewing of said flat panel display; and

converting means, electrically connected to said power supply means, for converting a reference voltage of said power supply means into a drive voltage for driving said flat panel display, said converting means being fixed to the brackets of the rigid frame and arranged in line with at least one of the right and left sides of the flat panel display without being placed on top of the flat Panel display.

2. The portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flat panel display of said display unit is a plasma display.

3. The portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flat panel display of said display unit has a transmission type liquid crystal display and back-light device.

4. The portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing of said display unit has spaces on either side of said opening for retaining said converting means.

5. The portable apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said flat panel display and converting means are held between said front and rear panels.

6. The portable apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said converting means includes a pair of elongated printed circuit boards, and wherein air holes respectively communicating with said spaces in said housing are formed in said front and rear panels of said housing at positions corresponding to said printed circuit boards.

7. The portable apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said air holes face upper and lower end portions of said printed circuit boards when said display unit is rotated to said open position.

8. The portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power supply means is a battery detachably mounted to said base unit.

9. The portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base unit has a keyboard at a front portion, and said display unit is rotatable to any position between a close position for covering said keyboard and said open position.

10. The portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame is made of aluminum and has a flat plate shape.

11. A portable apparatus comprising:

a base unit having power supply means for generating a reference voltage;

a socket supported pivotable to said base unit by hinge means;

a display unit containing a connection portion detachably connected to said socket, said display unit provided with a display device having right and left sides substantially parallel to each other and separated by a bottom side, the bottom side being more proximate to the base unit than the right and left sides are proximate to the base unit, a rigid frame located behind said display device, said rigid frame having a rectangular shape which is larger in size than the display device, the rigid frame having at least a first side extending substantially a length of and being substantially parallel to said bottom side, the rigid frame having at least a second side connected to said first side extending substantially a length of and being substantially parallel to said right and left sides, the rigid frame having a plurality of brackets connected to the second side, said brackets extending from said second side in right and left directions of the rigid frame, a housing surrounding said display device, and said rigid frame attached to said housing, said housing being rotatable between a closed position and an open position to permit viewing of said display unit, the housing including a rear panel and a front panel attached to the rear panel, the front panel having an opening for exposing the display device; and

converting means, electrically connected to said power supply means, for converting a reference voltage of said power supply means into a drive voltage for driving said display device, said converting means being fixed to the brackets and arranged in line with at least one of the right and left sides of said display device without being placed on top of the display device.

12. The portable apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said socket has a first connector electrically connected to said power supply means, said connecting portion of said display unit has a second connector electrically connected to said converting means and said display device, and said first and second connectors are electrically connected together when said connecting portion is coupled to said socket.

13. The portable apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said base unit has a keyboard at a front portion and a socket-mounting recess formed at a rear portion, for receiving said socket.

14. A portable apparatus comprising:

a base unit having a power supply generating a reference voltage, and an upper surface;

a display housing connected to the upper surface of the base unit, the display housing including an inner surface having a middle portion, a side portion connected to the middle portion, a rear panel, and a front panel attached to the rear panel, the front panel having an opening; and

a display module including a rigid frame secured to the middle portion, the rigid frame having at least two non-parallel sides joined together at a corner, said rigid frame having plurality of brackets extending in a direction of the side portion, a flat panel display secured to the frame and disposed on the middle portion and being exposed by the opening of the front panel, and a voltage increase circuit increasing a reference voltage to a drive voltage for driving the flat panel display, said voltage increase circuit being fixed to the brackets and arranged at the side portion, said voltage increase circuit being arranged in a direction lateral to said flat panel display without being placed on top of the flat panel display.

15. A portable apparatus comprising:

a base unit having power supply means for generating a reference voltage;

a display unit supported rotatable to the base unit, including a flat panel display having right and left sides substantially parallel to each other and separated by a bottom side, the bottom side being more proximate to the base unit than the right and left sides are proximate to the base unit, a rigid frame located behind said flat panel display, said rigid frame having a rectangular shape which is larger in size than the flat panel display, the rigid frame having at least a first side extending substantially a length of and being substantially parallel to said bottom side, the rigid frame having a pair of second sides connected to said first side extending substantially a length of and being substantially parallel to said right and left sides, the rigid frame having a plurality of brackets connected to the second sides, the brackets extending from said second sides in right and left directions of the rigid frame, and a housing surrounding said flat panel display and said rigid frame attached thereto, said housing being rotatable between a closed position and an open position permitting viewing of said flat panel display; and

converting means, electrically connected to said power supply means, for converting a reference voltage of said power supply means into a drive voltage for driving said flat panel display, said converting means including a pair of long and narrow printed circuit boards, each of said printed circuit boards having a number of tongues, said tongues being fixed to the brackets through a plurality of screws to thereby allow arranging the printed circuit boards in line with the right and left sides of said flat panel display without placing the printed circuit boards on top of the flat panel display.