Display connection structure of electronic appliance

• US 6,530,784 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Heui-jong, Mun, Jong-kuk, Kim, Jin-hwan, Yim, Hong-kyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Field, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/662,354
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 439/31, 361/683, 361/681, 361/686, 359/154
• US Class Current: 439/31
• 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 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• 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

Abstract

A display connection structure of an electronic appliance is disclosed. The display connection structure includes a main body; a display for receiving an image signal from the main body and displaying an image; a connection unit including hinge pins rotatably installed at the main body, and housing provided at the display so as to be connected to the hinge pins and to pivot together with the hinge pins for detachably connecting the display to the main body; and an optical connector having portions provided at the main body and the display to correspond to each other for transmitting an image signal by light.

Claims

1. A display connection structure of an electronic appliance, comprising:

a main body;

a display receiving an image signal from said main body and displaying an image;

a connection unit including hinge pins rotatably installed on said main body, and housing provided on said display accommodating connection to said hinge pins and to pivot together with the hinge pins accommodating detachably connecting said display to said main body; and

an optical connector having portions provided on said main body and said display to correspond to each other accommodating transmitting an image signal by light,

with said connection unit further comprising a locking-unlocking unit accommodating locking said housing and said hinge pins together, or unlocking said housing and said hinge pins from each other,

with said locking-unlocking unit comprising;

a locking member movably installed within said housing to engage with or disengage from a locking groove formed on a head of said hinge pin;

an elastic member elastically biasing said locking member toward the locking groove accommodating said locking member to be locked into the locking groove; and

an unlocking lever installed to be projected and exposed to the outside of said housing through an elongated guide hole formed on said housing, and to be movable within the elongated guide hole.

2. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 1, with said housing comprising:

a housing body having a front frame and a rear frame, and being secured to said display; and

a hinge bracket installed in said housing body, provided with engagement slots fitted to the hinge pins during connection of said display to said main body.

3. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 1, with said connection unit further comprising supporting brackets secured to said main body supporting said hinge pins accommodating hinge pins to be exposed to the outside of said main body.

4. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 1, with a sloped guide groove forming on said head of said hinge pin guiding a locking rod accommodating said locking rod to be engaged with the locking groove.

5. A display connection structure of an electronic appliance, comprising:

a main body;

a display receiving an image signal from said main body and displaying an image;

a connection unit including hinge pins rotatably installed on said main body, and housing provided on said display accommodating connection to said hinge pins and to pivot together with the hinge pins accommodating detachably connecting said display to said main body; and

an optical connector having portions provided on said main body and said display to correspond to each other accommodating transmitting an image signal by light,

with said optical connector comprising;

a light-emitting module having a laser diode array, said laser diode array having each diode emitting light independently according to a driving signal, said light-emitting module being connected to a hinge pin, said light-emitting module pivoting together with said hinge pin; and

a light-receiving module having a photodetector array, said photodetector array having each photodetector converting an incident light signal into an electrical signal independently, said light-receiving module being installed at said display to be coupled with the light-emitting module, said light-receiving module able to pivot together with said light-emitting module.

6. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 5, with said light-emitting module comprising a first holder supported on said hinge pin, a recessed portion formed on an engagement surface of said first holder, said photodetector array being correspondingly inserted into said recessed portion, and said laser diode array being installed in said recessed portion to be exposed toward said light-receiving module.

7. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 5, with said light-receiving module comprising:

a second holder supporting said photodetector array installed on a projected leading edge of said second holder;

a base installed on said display and providing with an opening supporting said second holder to be movable inward and outward; and

an elastic member installed in said base elastically biasing said second holder outward accommodating said second holder to be projected to the outside of said base.

8. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 5, with said optical connector further comprising a positioning unit guiding said light-receiving module accommodating said light-receiving module being able to be joined to said light-emitting module, and preventing unstable movement of said light-receiving module when said light-receiving module is joined to said light-emitting module.

9. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 8, with said positioning unit including:

a plurality of reference holes formed on an engagement surface of said light-emitting module in a first case, and said light-receiving module in a second case;

guide pins installed on said light-receiving module if the reference holes are installed in said light-emitting module, and on said light-emitting module if the reference holes are installed on the light-receiving module, said guide pins to face the reference holes; and

a pressing member elastically pressing against one side of said light-emitting module in a direction of an axis of said hinge pin.

10. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 9, with said positioning unit further comprising a pair of first main electrodes installed to be elastically movable within two respective reference holes, and elastic members elastically pressing the respective first main electrodes outward;

and said guide pins including a pair of second main electrodes made of a conductive material accommodating electrical connection to the respective first main electrodes and to electrically connect said display to a main power source of said main body when said display is connected to said main body.

11. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 10, with said display connection structure further comprising a switching unit electrically connecting or disconnecting said first main electrodes and said second main electrodes one by one during assembly or disassembly of said main body and said display.

12. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 11, with said switching unit comprising a pair of elastic switches provided in said light-emitting module to correspond to the respective first main electrodes, said elastic switches being positioned at different distances from said first main electrodes accommodating said first main electrodes being connected to or disconnected from said elastic switches one by one when said first main electrodes approach or are separated from said elastic switches;

and when said light-emitting and light-receiving modules are separated from each other, said first main electrodes and said second main electrodes are separated from each other after said first main electrodes are separated from the respective elastic switches one by one.

13. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 5, with said light-emitting module comprising:

a first holder having a recessed portion on a leading end surface of said first holder, said photodetector array being inserted into said recessed portion when said light-receiving and light-emitting modules are connected to each other, said first holder supporting said laser diode array in said recessed portion accommodating said laser diode array to be exposed toward the outside;

a first case pivotably installed on said main body supporting said first holder accommodating said first holder to be moved inward and outward and said recessed portion to face said light-receiving module; and

an elastic member installed in said first case pressing said first holder toward the outside of said first case.

14. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 5, with said optical connector further comprising a second connection unit connecting said light-emitting module and said light-receiving module to each other, an optical signal transmission performed between said light-emitting module and said light-receiving module when said light-emitting module and said light-receiving module are positioned a remote distance from each other.

15. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a power connection-disconnection unit stopping the operation of said laser diodes during disassembly, by selectively connecting or disconnecting the power connections between said light-emitting module and said light-receiving module when said display and said main body are assembled or disassembled.

16. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 15, with said power connection-disconnection unit comprising:

an auxiliary power source powering said laser diode array;

a driving portion provided on said main body driving said laser diodes;

a pair of first auxiliary electrodes installed on said light-emitting module and electrically connected to said auxiliary power source and said driving portion, respectively; and

a pair of second auxiliary electrodes installed on said light-receiving module to be connected to the respective first auxiliary electrodes when said light-receiving and light-emitting modules are assembled, said second auxiliary electrodes and said first auxiliary electrodes electrically connected to each other accommodating power of said auxiliary power source to be transferred to said driving portion via said first auxiliary electrodes.

17. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 16, with said power connection-disconnection unit further comprising a pair of connection switches installed within said light-emitting module, said connection switches corresponding to the respective first auxiliary electrodes, said connection switches positioned at different distances from said first auxiliary electrodes accommodating connection to or disconnection from said first auxiliary electrodes through elastic deformation one by one when said display and said main body are assembled or disassembled, and said pair of connection switches being electrically connected to said driving portion and said auxiliary power source, respectively.

18. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 5, said laser diode array being installed at a side surface of a recessed portion formed at an engagement surface of said light-emitting module to be exposed to the cavity of said recessed portion, and said photodetector array being installed at a side of said projected portion of said light-receiving module corresponding to said recessed portion to be exposed to the outside;

and light beams emitted from said laser diode array being prevented from traveling toward the outside of said recessed portion.

19. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 14, with said second connection unit comprising:

an optical fiber bundle installed to correspondingly face said light-emitting module and the light-receiving module transmitting light beams emitted from said laser diode array to said light-receiving module;

a first coupler coupling one end of said optical fiber bundle to said light-emitting module; and

a second coupling the other end of said optical fiber bundle to said light-receiving module.

20. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 19, with said first coupler comprising:

a light-receiving array receiving light beams emitted from said light-emitting module;

a first holder supporting said light-receiving array on a leading end of said first holder, said light-receiving array able to be connected to one end of said optical fiber bundle;

a first body provided with through-holes supporting said first holder accommodating said first holder being able to move inward and outward;

an elastic member installed in said first body elastically pressing said first holder outward;

elastically deformable hook members installed in said first body, said hook members hooking in locking slots formed on said light-emitting module when said first coupler is coupled to said light-emitting module; and

release buttons installed to be moved inward and outward through the respective through-holes, said release buttons releasing the hook members from the locking slots.

21. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 19, with said second coupler comprising:

a light-emitting array emitting light beams to be transmitted through said optical fiber bundle;

a second holder supporting said light-emitting array on a leading end of said second holder accommodating said light-emitting array to be connected to the other end of said optical fiber bundle;

a second body provided with through-holes supporting said second holder accommodating said second holder to move inward and outward;

an elastic member installed in said second body elastically pressing said second holder outward;

elastically deformable hook members installed in the second body so as to be hooked in locking slots formed on said light-receiving module when said second coupler is coupled to said light-receiving module; and

release buttons installed to be moved inward and outward through the respective through-holes releasing said hook members from the locking slots.

22. A display connection structure of an electronic appliance, comprising:

a main body;

a display receiving an image signal from said main body and displaying an image;

a connection unit including hinge pins rotatably installed on said main body, and housing provided on said display accommodating connection to said hinge pins and to pivot together with the hinge pins accommodating detachably connecting said display to said main body; and

an optical connector having portions provided on said main body and said display to correspond to each other accommodating transmitting an image signal by light,

with said display connection structure further comprising a pair of assembly-disassembly angle adjusting units restricting assembly or disassembly of the display accommodating said display to be connected to or disconnected from said main body only at a predetermined angle with respect to said main body.

23. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 22, with said assembly-disassembly angle adjusting unit comprising:

a first adjustment portion restricting said assembly-disassembly angle between said hinge pin and said housing; and

a second adjustment portion automatically returning said optical connector to a predetermined position to accommodate the position of the optical connector to be aligned with said assembly-disassembly angle adjusted by said first adjustment portion.

24. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 23, with said first adjustment portion including;

an engagement pin formed to be projected from a side of said housing; and

a cover member installed on said main body covering a portion of said hinge pin, said cover member having a guide groove provided at a side of said cover member to correspond to said engagement pin guiding said engagement pin at said assembly-disassembly angle, said cover member having an engagement groove formed to be continued from the guide groove preventing said engagement pin from being separated from the engagement groove at angles other than said assembly-disassembly angle.

25. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 23, with said second adjustment portion including:

a support member installed on said main body, and having a first housing portion formed to be projected from a side of said support member to have a cylindrical shape and a predetermined radius, and a second housing portion formed to have a larger radius than said first housing portion by a predetermined distance so that stop jaws can be formed at boundaries with said first housing portion;

a pivotable member having one end connected to said optical connector and an other end of said pivotable member being rotatably housed in said first housing portion, said pivotable member being provided with a support portion formed in a circumferential direction so as to be projected from an end surface of said support portion and to correspond to said first housing portion; and

a pivot spring installed between said pivotable member and said support member, both ends of said pivot spring can be selectively supported by both end portions of said support portion and said stop jaws providing said pivotable member with a restoring force, said pivotable member being positioned by the elastic force of said pivot spring to be maintained at said assembly-disassembly angle.

26. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 25, with said second adjustment portion further including a compression spring installed between said pivotable member and said optical connector pressing said pivotable member toward said support member.

27. The display connection structure of an electronic appliance as claimed in claim 25, with said optical connection having an engagement hole formed at one side of said optical connection, one end of said pivotable member can be inserted into the engagement hole, and locking projections being formed to be projected from the inner side of the engagement hole preventing said optical connector from rotating with respect to said pivotable member;

and

locking slots being formed at the one end of said pivotable member inserted into the engagement hole to correspond to said locking projections.

28. A method, comprising the steps of:

forming a main body;

receiving an image signal from said main body by a display and displaying an image;

installing a connection unit including hinge pins rotatably on said main body, and housing provided on said display accommodating connection to said hinge pins and to pivot together with the hinge pins accommodating detachably connecting said display to said main body, said housing having a housing body having a front frame and a rear frame, and being secured to said display, said housing having a hinge bracket installed in said housing body, provided with engagement slots fitted to the hinge pins during connection of said display to said main body, said connection unit having supporting brackets secured to said main body supporting said hinge pins accommodating hinge pins to be exposed to the outside of said main body, said connection unit having a locking-unlocking unit accommodating locking said housing and said hinge pins together, or unlocking said housing and said hinge pins from each other; and

providing an optical connector having portions on said main body and said display to correspond to each other accommodating transmitting an image signal by light,

with said locking-unlocking unit comprising of;

installing a locking member movably within said housing to engage with or disengage from a locking groove formed on a head of said hinge pin;

biasing elastically said locking member with an elastic member toward the locking groove accommodating said locking member to be locked into the locking groove; and

installing an unlocking lever to be projected and exposed to the outside of said housing through an elongated guide hole formed on said housing, and to be movable within the elongated guide hole.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of forming a sloped guide groove on said head of said hinge pin guiding a locking rod accommodating said locking rod to be engaged with the locking groove.

30. A method, comprising the steps of:

forming a main body;

receiving an image signal from said main body by a display and displaying an image;

installing a connection unit including hinge pins rotatably on said main body, and housing provided on said display accommodating connection to said hinge pins and to pivot together with the hinge pins accommodating detachably connecting said display to said main body, said housing having a housing body having a front frame and a rear frame, and being secured to said display, said housing having a hinge bracket installed in said housing body, provided with engagement slots fitted to the hinge pins during connection of said display to said main body, said connection unit having supporting brackets secured to said main body supporting said hinge pins accommodating hinge pins to be exposed to the outside of said main body, said connection unit having a locking-unlocking unit accommodating locking said housing and said hinge pins together, or unlocking said housing and said hinge pins from each other; and

providing an optical connector having portions on said main body and said display to correspond to each other accommodating transmitting an image signal by light,

with said optical connector comprising of;

installing a light-emitting module having a laser diode array, said laser diode array having each diode emitting light independently according to a driving signal, said light-emitting module being connected to a hinge pin, said light-emitting module pivoting together with said hinge pin; and

installing a light-receiving module having a photodetector array, said photodetector array having each photodetector converting an incident light signal into an electrical signal independently, said light-receiving module being installed at said display to be coupled with the light-emitting module, said light-receiving module able to pivot together with said light-emitting module.

31. The method of claim 30, with said light-emitting module comprising of forming a first holder supported on said hinge pin, a recessed portion formed on an engagement surface of said first holder, said photodetector array being correspondingly inserted into said recessed portion, and said laser diode array being installed in said recessed portion to be exposed toward said light-receiving module.

32. The method of claim 31, with said light-receiving module comprising of:

installing a second holder supporting said photodetector array installed on a projected leading edge of said second holder;

installing abase on said display and providing with an opening supporting said second holder to be movable inward and outward; and

installing an elastic member in said base elastically biasing said second holder outward accommodating said second holder to be projected to the outside of said base.

33. The method of claim 32, with said optical connector further comprising of forming a positioning unit guiding said light-receiving module accommodating said light-receiving module being able to be joined to said light-emitting module, and preventing unstable movement of said light-receiving module when said light-receiving module is joined to said light-emitting module.

34. The method of claim 33, with said positioning unit comprising of:

forming a plurality of reference holes on the engagement surface of said light-emitting module in a first case, and said light-receiving module in a second case;

installing guide pins on said light-receiving module if the reference holes are installed in said light-emitting module, and on said light-emitting module if the reference holes are installed on the light-receiving module, said guide pins to face the reference holes; and

installing a pressing member elastically pressing against one side of said light-emitting module in a direction of an axis of said hinge pin.

35. The method of claim 34, with said positioning unit further comprising of installing a pair of first main electrodes to be elastically movable within two respective reference holes, and elastic members elastically pressing the respective first main electrodes outward;

and said guide pins including a pair of second main electrodes made of a conductive material accommodating electrical connection to the respective first main electrodes and to electrically connect said display to a main power source of said main body when said display is connected to said main body.

36. The method of claim 35, with said display connection structure further comprising a switching unit electrically connecting or disconnecting said first main electrodes and said second main electrodes one by one during assembly or disassembly of said main body and said display.

37. The method of claim 36, with said switching unit comprising a pair of elastic switches provided in said light-emitting module to correspond to the respective first main electrodes, said elastic switches being positioned at different distances from said first main electrodes accommodating said first main electrodes being connected to or disconnected from said elastic switches one by one when said first main electrodes approach or are separated from said elastic switches;

and when said light-emitting and light-receiving modules are separated from each other, said first main electrodes and said second main electrodes are separated from each other after said first main electrodes are separated from the respective elastic switches one by one.

38. The method of claim 30, with said light-emitting module comprising of:

installing a first holder having a recessed portion on a leading end surface of said first holder, said photodetector array being inserted into said recessed portion when said light-receiving and light-emitting modules are connected to each other, said first holder supporting said laser diode array in said recessed portion accommodating said laser diode array to be exposed toward the outside;

installing a first case pivotably on said main body supporting said first holder accommodating said first holder to be moved inward and outward and said recessed portion to face said light-receiving module; and

installing an elastic member in said first case pressing said first holder toward the outside of said first case.