Computer apparatus having a movable liquid crystal display

• US 5,831,817 A
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chang, Tod
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/876,835
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680-683, 361/686, 361/727, 235/1 D, 235/145 R, 235/146, 345/168, 345/169, 345/905, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A computer apparatus having a movable liquid crystal display (LCD) is disclosed herein. The peripherals are set on the top side or surrounding area of the surface of the main computer. The movable LCD is designed to cover all peripherals such that the peripherals can be concealed behind the movable LCD in normal time. A mechanical slipping apparatus is set between the movable LCD and the main computer. When a user wants to use these peripherals, they can be exposed via horizontally moving or vertically moving the movable LCD. The movable LCD can be driven to move by using a manual method or electromotive method via the mechanical slipping apparatus. Therefore, the peripherals can be exposed to the user for utilizing them.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus comprising:

a main computer for processing data;

a plurality of peripherals set on a surround area of a surface of said main computer;

a liquid crystal display for displaying data and covering said plurality of peripherals; and

means for moving said liquid crystal display so that said plurality of peripherals are exposed, said moving means being set between said main computer and said liquid crystal display, said moving means comprising a first connector of a T-shaped depression track and a second connector of a T-shaped protrudent track, said first connector mounting to said second connector to move said liquid crystal display, said T-shaped depression track having a plurality of lock holes inside, said T-shaped protrudent track having a plurality of spring latches set on two sides of edge surfaces, said spring latches and lock holes being utilized as a control of fixing locations.

2. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first connector is set on back-side surface of said liquid crystal display, and said second connector is set on the surface of said main computer, said first connector being slidably mounted to said second connector to move said liquid crystal display.

3. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first connector is set on the surface of said main computer, and said second connector is set on a back-side surface of said liquid crystal display, said first connector being slidably mounted to said second connector to move said liquid crystal display.

4. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said T-shape depression track has a first stop plate at one end portion of said T-shape depression track and a second stop plate at another end portion of said T-shape depression track, said first and second stop plates preventing said T-shape protrudent track from slipping out said T-shape depression track.

5. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal display horizontally moves to expose said peripherals via said moving means.

6. The computer apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal display vertically moves to expose said peripherals via said moving means.

7. A computer apparatus comprising:

a main computer for processing data;

a plurality of peripherals set on a surrounding area of a surface of said main computer;

a liquid crystal display for displaying data and covering said plurality of peripherals; and

means for moving said liquid crystal display so that said plurality of peripherals are exposed, said moving means being set between said main computer and said liquid crystal display, said moving means comprising a first connector defining a depression track and a second connector defining a protrudent track, said first connector mounting to said second connector to move said liquid crystal display, one of said depression track and said protrudent track having a plurality of lock holes inside, the other of said protrudent track and said depression track having a plurality of spring latches, said spring latches and lock holes being utilized as a control of fixing locations.

8. A computer apparatus comprising:

a main computer for processing data;

a plurality of peripherals set on the surrounding area of the surface of said main computer;

a liquid crystal display for displaying data and covering said plurality of peripherals;

a first connector set on the surface of said main computer;

a second connector set on the back-side surface of said liquid crystal display for mounting slidably to said first connector, said liquid crystal display moved to expose said plurality of peripherals via slipping said first connector in relation to said second connector; and

a location fixing mechanism between said first connector and said second connector, said fixing mechanism comprised of recessed regions and resilient latches for being utilized as a control of fixing locations.

9. The computer apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first connector is a T-shape depression track, and said second connector is a T-shape protrudent track.

10. The computer apparatus of claim 9, wherein said T-shape depression track has a first stop plate at one end portion of said T-shape depression track and a second stop plate at another end portion of said T-shape depression track, said first and second stop plates preventing said T-shape protrudent track from slipping out said T-shape depression track.

11. The computer apparatus of claim 9, wherein said T-shape depression track has a plurality of lock holes to serve as said recessed regions inside said T-shape depression track, and said T-shape protrudent track having a plurality of spring latches to serve as said resilient latches on two sides of the edge of said T-shape protrudent track.

12. The computer apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first connector is a T-shape protrudent track, and said second connector is a T-shape depression track.

13. The computer apparatus of claim 12, wherein said T-shape depression track has a first stop plate at one end portion of said T-shape depression track and a second stop plate at another end portion of said T-shape depression track, said first and second stop plates preventing said T-shape protrudent track from slipping out said T-shape depression track.

14. The computer apparatus of claim 12, wherein said T-shape depression track has a plurality of lock holes to serve as said recessed regions inside said T-shape depression track, and said T-shape protrudent track having a plurality of spring latches to serve as said resilient latches on two sides of the edge surface of said T-shape protrudent track.

15. The computer apparatus of claim 8, wherein said liquid crystal display horizontally moves to expose said peripherals via slipping said first connector in relation to said second connector.

16. The computer apparatus of claim 8, wherein said liquid crystal display vertically moves to expose said peripherals via slipping said first connector in relation to said second connector.