Structure for mounting a liquid crystal module, and portable data terminal or information processing equipment using the structure

• US 6,747,713 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gold Charm Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, David Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/504,998
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 349/58, 349/59, 349/60, 361/681, 362/26, 362/30, 362/31
• US Class Current: 349/58
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133317 Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/46 Fixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing

Abstract

In a portable data terminal or information processing equipment, a liquid crystal module as a display unit is built-in a cover. Projected portions are disposed at upper and lower edges of the liquid crystal module to be projected in the direction parallel to its display face. Trough-holes are formed in these projected portions in the manner that the holes extend through the portions in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal module. Screw members are inserted into the through-holes from the side of the display face, and tightened to a bottom plate, to connect the bottom plate and an outside frame. This makes it possible to make the cover on which the liquid crystal module is mounted compact.

Claims

1. A structure for mounting a rectangular liquid crystal module on a cover that covers at least one face of a body of a portable data terminal or information processing equipment, comprising:

a bottom plate which is put on the back side of a display face of the liquid crystal module;

an outside frame which is put on the front side of the display face of the liquid crystal module and has an opening from which the display face can be exposed;

a projected portions for fitting the liquid crystal module between the bottom plate and the outside frame, at least one projected portion of the projected portions being made in an upper edge of the liquid crystal module and at least one projected portion of the projected portions being made in a lower edge of the liquid crystal module so as to be projected in the direction parallel to the display face;

at least two through-holes which are formed in the projected portions and extend through the projected portions in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal module; and

a connection portion which is formed in the bottom plate and the outside frame and connects the two through the at least two through-holes when the bottom plate is put on the back side of the display face of the liquid crystal module and when the outside frame is put on the front side of the display face of the liquid crystal module,

a first part of the connection portion being located in a first area, a hinge metal member connecting the body of the portable data terminal or information processing equipment and the cover in the first area.

2. The structure for mounting the liquid crystal module according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing member is fitted to the liquid crystal module along its edge and the projected portions are formed in the reinforcing member.

3. The structure for mounting the liquid crystal module according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower edges of the liquid crystal module are sandwiched between the bottom plate and the outside frame to be fixed.

4. The structure for mounting the liquid crystal module according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion has a projected portion that is disposed at one of the bottom plate and the outside frame and fitted into each of the at least two through-holes, and a connection portion that is disposed at the other of the bottom plate and the outside frame and is connected to the projected portion.

5. The structure for mounting the liquid crystal module according to claim 1, comprising at least two screw members that are inserted from either one of the bottom plate and the outside frame so as to be tightened to the other.

11. The structure for mounting the liquid crystal module according to claim 1, wherein a second part of the connection portion is located in a second area to which a hook portion is fixed, the hook portion keeping the body of the portable data terminal or information processing equipment and the cover in a closed state.

12. The structure for mounting the liquid crystal module according to claim 1, wherein the hinge metal member is fixed by a screw member inserted through one of the at least two through-holes.

6. A portable data terminal or information processing equipment which comprises:

a cover that covers at least one face of a body of said equipment;

a rectangular liquid crystal module built in said cover; and

a mounting portion for mounting said liquid crystal module on said cover, said mounting portion comprising;

a bottom plate which is put on the back side of a display face of the liquid crystal module;

an outside frame which is put on the front side of the display face of the liquid crystal module and has an opening from which the display face can be exposed;

a projected portions for fitting the liquid crystal module between the bottom plate and the outside frame,

at least one projected portion of the projected portions being made in an upper edge of the liquid crystal module and at least one projected portion of the projected portions being made in a lower edge of the liquid crystal module so as to be projected in the direction parallel to the display face;

at least two through-holes which are formed in the projected portions and extend through the projected portions in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal module; and

a connection portion which is formed in the bottom plate and the outside frame and connects the two through the at least two, through-holes when the bottom plate is put on the back side of the display face of the liquid crystal module and when the outside frame is put on the front side of the liquid crystal module,

a first part of the connection portion being located in a first area, a hinge metal member connecting said body of said equipment and said cover in the first area.

7. The portable data terminal equipment according to claim 6, comprising a reinforcing member fitted to the liquid crystal module along its edge and the projected portions are formed in the reinforcing member.

8. The portable data terminal equipment according to claim 6, wherein the upper and lower edges of the liquid crystal module are sandwiched between the bottom plate and the outside frame to be fixed.

9. The portable data terminal equipment according to claim 6, wherein said connection portion has a projected portion that is disposed at one of the bottom plate and the outside frame and fitted into each of the at least two through-holes, and a connection portion that is disposed at the other of the bottom plate and the outside frame and is connected to the projected portion.

10. The portable data terminal equipment according to claim 6, comprising at least two screw member hats that are inserted from either one of the bottom plate and the outside frame so as to be tightened to the other.

13. The portable data terminal equipment according to claim 6, wherein a second part of the connection port is located in a second area to which a hook port is fixed, the hook portion keeping said equipment and said cover in a closed state.

14. The portable data terminal equipment according to claim 6, wherein the hinge metal member is fixed by a screw member inserted through one of the at least two through-holes.