Removable computer display interface

• US 6,590,547 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PDACO LIMITED
• Original Assignee: Elonex IP Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Moriconi, David P., Kikinis, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, LUN YI
• Application Number:
  US09/974,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173-183, 345/901, 345/169, 345/1.1, 345/905, 345/30, 361/681-683, 361/729, 361/730, 248/917-923, 439/296, 439/326, 439/926, 439/261, 439/31
• US Class Current: 345/30
• 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: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/042 for monitor identification
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A portable computer is configured to accept removable modular display panels of different types that plug into a structure hinged to the body of the computer. Each display panel has a sliding engagement means fixed along a lower edge, and the hinged structure has a mating sliding engagement means along an upper edge and parallel to the axis of the hinge, allowing a display panel to engage and disengage in the direction of the axis of the hinge. In an embodiment of the invention, display modules adaptable to the computer have a code stored in a memory device that is accessible on start-up by the computer, to identify and load a display driver routine capable of driving the display module assembled to the computer.

Claims

1. A general-purpose computer comprising:

a computer body structure that houses and supports circuitry of said computer, said computer body structure including a mounting structure that guides and engages a removable flat panel display for attachment to said computer body structure;

a removable flat-panel display having a display screen and an engagement apparatus that is guided and engaged by said mounting structure so as to attach said flat panel display to said computer body structure; and

mating electrical connectors on said flat panel display and said computer body structure that, when connected, provide display control signals to said flat panel display from said circuitry housed by said computer body structure,

wherein said mounting structure includes a horizontal portion pivotally attached to said computer body structure along a pivot axis and a slidable engagement apparatus mounted to the horizontal portion that engages a corresponding slidable engagement apparatus of said engagement apparatus of said flat panel display in an engagement direction that is substantially parallel to the pivot axis, said mounting structure receiving and holding said flat panel display as a hinged unit closable over said computer body structure and openable to provide access to said display screen.

2. A computer as in claim 1, wherein said mounting structure includes one of round pins and aligned bores that engages said engagement apparatus of said flat panel display, said engagement apparatus including the other one of said round pins and aligned bores, whereby when said round pins and aligned bores are engaged, said mounting structure receives and holds said flat panel display as a hinged unit closable over said computer body structure and openable to provide access to said display screen.

3. A computer as in claim 1, wherein said mating electrical connectors comprise a first portion of a multi-pin electrical connector mounted in an edge of said flat panel display and a second portion of said multi-pin electrical connector mounted in a portion of said mounting structure so as to engage said first portion when said flat panel display is guided into position and engaged by said mounting structure.

4. A computer as in claim 1, wherein said mounting structure includes one of a snap-in flange and an engagement slot and said engagement apparatus of said flat panel display includes the other of said snap-in flange and said engagement slot, said snap-in flange and engagement slot being configured to engage and snap together as said flat panel display and said mounting structure fully engage, thereby holding said flat panel display firmly in engagement with said mounting structure of said computer body structure.

5. A computer as in claim 4, further comprising a release button that releases said snap-in flange from said engagement slot so as to release said flat panel display from said mounting structure for removal.

6. A computer as in claim 1, wherein said flat panel display includes a non-volatile memory device containing a unique identity code unique to the specific type of flat panel display and said circuitry of said computer provides data and command signals to the flat panel display through said mating electrical connectors, said command signals including a command to return a code stored in said non-volatile memory of said flat panel display, said circuitry further selecting a driver routine associated with the code stored in the non-volatile memory for operation of said flat panel display.

7. A computer as in claim 1, wherein said engagement apparatus mounted to the horizontal portion comprises at least one engagement rail configured to engage a corresponding rail in said counterpart engagement apparatus of said flat panel display.

8. A flat panel display module for a computer, comprising:

a display screen on a side of said display module that displays output of said computer;

an engagement apparatus on at least one edge of said display module that joins said display module to said computer; and

an electrical connector on a side of said display module that electrically connects said display module to said computer,

wherein said engagement apparatus is configured to engage a counterpart engagement apparatus on said computer whereby said display screen is attached to said computer so as to pivot from an open position for viewing to a closed position over a body structure of the computer, and

wherein said engagement apparatus of said display module includes a slidable engagement apparatus and said counterpart engagement apparatus of said computer includes a mounting structure that includes a horizontal portion pivotally attached to the computer body structure of said computer along a pivot axis and a slidable engagement apparatus mounted to the horizontal portion that engages said slidable engagement apparatus of said flat panel display module in an engagement direction that is substantially parallel to the pivot axis, said respective slidable engagement apparatuses receiving and holding said flat panel display module as a hinged unit closable over said computer body structure of said computer and openable to provide access to said display screen.

9. A display module as in claim 8, wherein said engagement apparatus of said display module includes one of round pins and aligned bores that engages said counterpart engagement apparatus of said computer including the other one of said round pins and aligned bores, whereby when said round pins and aligned bores are engaged, said respective engagement apparatuses receive and hold said flat panel display module as a hinged unit closable over said computer body structure of said computer and openable to provide access to said display screen.

10. A display module as in claim 8, wherein said electrical connector comprises a first portion of a multi-pin electrical connector mounted in an edge of said flat panel display, said electrical connector cooperating with an electrical connector on said computer body structure comprising a second portion of said multi-pin electrical connector, said first and second portions engaging when said flat panel display module is guided into position and engaged by said engagement apparatus and counterpart engagement apparatus.

11. A display module as in claim 8, wherein said counterpart engagement apparatus of said computer includes one of a snap-in flange and an engagement slot and said engagement apparatus of said flat panel display module includes the other of said snap-in flange and said engagement slot, said snap-in flange and engagement slot being configured to engage and snap together as said engagement apparatus of said flat panel display module and said counterpart engagement apparatus fully engage, thereby holding said flat panel display firmly in engagement with said computer body structure.

12. A display module as in claim 8, wherein said engagement apparatus of said display module comprises at least one engagement rail configured to engage a corresponding rail in said counterpart engagement apparatus of said computer.

13. A display module as in claim 8, further comprising a non-volatile memory device containing a unique identity code unique to the specific type of flat panel display module and circuitry responsive to data and command signals from the computer to return the unique identity code stored in said non-volatile memory.

14. A general-purpose computer comprising:

a computer body structure that houses and supports circuitry of said computer, said computer body structure including a mounting structure that guides and engages a removable flat panel display for attachment to said computer body structure; and

an electrical connector on said computer body structure that, when connected to a mating electrical connector on said removable flat panel display, provides display control signals to said flat panel display from said circuitry housed by said computer body structure,

wherein said mounting structure includes a horizontal portion pivotally attached to said computer body structure along a pivot axis and a slidable engagement apparatus mounted to the horizontal portion that engages a corresponding slidable engagement apparatus of said removable flat panel display in an engagement direction that is substantially parallel to the pivot axis, said mounting structure receiving and holding said removable flat panel display as a hinged unit closable over said computer body structure and openable to provide access to a display screen of said removable flat panel display.

15. A computer as in claim 14, wherein said mounting structure includes one of round pins and aligned bores that engages a counterpart engagement apparatus of said removable flat panel display, whereby when said round pins and aligned bores of said mounting structure and counterpart engagement apparatus are engaged, said mounting structure receives and holds said removable flat panel display as a hinged unit closable over said computer body structure and openable to provide access to a display screen of said removable flat panel display.

16. A computer as in claim 14, wherein said electrical connector comprises a first portion of a multi-pin electrical connector mounted in said mounting structure, said electrical connector cooperating with an electrical connector on said removable flat panel display comprising a second portion of said multi-pin electrical connector, said first and second portions engaging when said removable flat panel display is guided into position and engaged by said mounting structure.

17. A computer as in claim 14, wherein said mounting structure includes one of a snap-in flange and an engagement slot and an engagement apparatus of said removable flat panel display includes the other of said snap-in flange and said engagement slot, said snap-in flange and engagement slot being configured to engage and snap together as said removable flat panel display and said mounting structure fully engage, thereby holding said removable flat panel display firmly in engagement with said mounting structure of said computer body structure.

18. A computer as in claim 17, further comprising a release button that releases said snap-in flange from said engagement slot so as to release said removable flat panel display from said mounting structure for removal.

19. A computer as in claim 14, wherein said circuitry of said computer requests from a connected removable flat panel display a unique identity code unique to the specific type of removable flat panel display and provides data and command signals to the removable flat panel display through said electrical connector, said circuitry further selecting a driver routine associated with the code stored in the non-volatile memory for operation of said removable flat panel display.

20. A computer as in claim 14, wherein said engagement apparatus mounted to the horizontal portion comprises at least one engagement rail configured to engage a corresponding rail in said counterpart engagement apparatus of said flat panel display.