Image signal processing system which uses portable computer monitor as a display

• US 6,169,582 B1
• Filed: 09/19/1997
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Chang-Seop
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Trang U.
• Application Number:
  US08/933,851
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.564, H04/N.700, 348/552, 348/794, 348/554, 348/555, 361/681
• US Class Current: 348/552
• 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 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

An image signal processing system uses a display removed from a portable computer, and includes a housing containing an image signal processing system for receiving and converting image signals to provide image signal data, wherein the housing is provided with a fixing member for fixing the display removed from the portable computer, and the image signal processing system is provided with a connector for electrically connecting the system to the display so as to transmit the image signal to the display.

Claims

1. An image signal processing system, comprising:

a base which is adapted to receive, and to be mechanically and electrically connected to, a portable computer display unit which is detached from a portable computer and detachably connected to said image signal processing system so as to serve as a visual display of said image signal processing system;

a controller for driving said portable computer display unit to visually exhibit variable visual images, said portable computer display unit having a data connector to receive from said controller image signals defining said visual images, and having a side bearing at least two components defining a hinge enabling said portable computer display unit to rotate while said at least two components are mated with said base, said portable computer display unit being rotatable between an opened and erect position rising transversely from said base and exposing said visual images, and a closed position covering keyboard borne by the base;

at least two connectors disposed on a side of said base for matingly receiving and engaging said at least two components while maintaining said portable computer display unit in said erect position;

image signal processing means disposed within said base for receiving and converting image signals to provide image signal data as an output to said portable computer display unit;

connecting means disposed on said base for receiving said data connector, for electrically connecting said image signal processing means to the portable computer display unit, and for transmitting the image signal data from the image signal processing means to the portable computer display unit;

antenna means mounted on said base for receiving external signals;

receiver means disposed within said base and coupled to said antenna means for receiving said external signals received by said antenna means; and

receiving means disposed in said base and comprising at least one external input terminal for directly receiving additional external signals;

wherein said base further comprises a battery receptor into which a battery is inserted for portable operation of said image signal processing system.

2. The image signal processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

tuner means for performing detection and tuning functions relative to the external signals received by said antenna means, for creating image and sound signals, and for providing said image and sound signals as an output.

3. The image signal processing system of claim 2, wherein said antenna means comprises an antenna and said base is further provided with an antenna groove into which said antenna is folded when the image signal processing system is not in use.

4. The image signal processing system of claim 1, wherein said at least two components comprise a pair of oppositely deployed pin-type connectors disposed on a side of said portable computer display unit, and said at least two connectors comprise a pair of pin-receiving connectors disposed on the side of said base.

5. The image signal processing system of claim 4, wherein said data connector is centrally located between said pair of oppositely deployed pin-type connectors on the side of said portable computer display unit, and said connecting means is centrally disposed between said pair of pin-receiving connectors on the side of said base.

6. The image signal processing system of claim 1, wherein said data connector is centrally located on the side of said portable computer display unit, and said connecting means is centrally disposed on the side of said base.

7. An image signal processing system which uses a portable computer display unit as a display, said system comprising:

a housing;

mounting means for mounting said display unit on said housing;

an antenna;

receiver means coupled to said antenna for receiving external signals via said antenna;

receiving means comprising at least one external input terminal for receiving additional external signals;

converter means for converting said external signals into image signals and sound signals;

further means for providing said image signals to said display unit for display; and

speaker means for receiving and responding to said sound signals so as to produce audible sound;

wherein said housing is adapted to receive, and to be mechanically and electrically connected to, the portable computer display unit when the portable computer display unit is detached from a portable computer and detachably connected to said image signal processing system so as to serve as the display of said image signal processing system;

said housing including at least two connectors disposed on a side of said housing for matingly receiving and engaging at least two components on said portable computer display unit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said housing is further provided with an antenna groove into which said antenna is folded when the image signal processing system is not in use.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said converter means comprises an image/sound signal converter.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said portable computer display unit comprises a liquid crystal display unit, and said further means comprises a liquid crystal converter for converting said image signals into liquid crystal display driving signals for provision to said liquid crystal display unit.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said converter means comprises an image/sound signal converter.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least two components comprise a pair of oppositely deployed pin-type connectors disposed on a side of said portable computer display unit, and said at least two connectors comprise a pair of pin-receiving connectors disposed on the side of said housing.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said portable computer display unit comprises a data connector which is centrally located between said pair of oppositely deployed pin-type connectors on the side of said portable computer display unit, and said further means comprises a further data connector which is centrally disposed between said pair of pin-receiving connectors on the side of said housing.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein said portable computer display unit comprises a data connector which is centrally located on the side of said portable computer display unit, and said further means comprises a further data connector which is centrally disposed on the side of said housing.