Portable computer system and assembling method thereof

• US 6,914,773 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Dong Joon, Park, Joung Sea, Yang, Myeong Kyoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Yean-Hsi
• Application Number:
  US10/341,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20040042160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-681, 361683-686
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1609 to support filters or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

An improved portable computer system and corresponding assembly method are provided. A display and input device are joined to a front cover of the computer system, and control circuitry is installed on the rear cover. The front cover and rear cover are then joined to complete assembly of the computer system. A series of simplified attachment mechanisms facilitate ease of assembly, and the addition of barriers between components helps inhibit entry of external contaminants into the system. This improved system provides for simple assembly, disassembly and reassembly for repair, while also providing improved resistance to contamination, thus yielding a more cost effective and reliable product.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a portable computer, comprising:

attaching a display to a front cover so as to form a first integral case;

attaching control circuitry directly to an inner surface of a back cover so as to form a second integral case, said control circuitry including a main board and memory for driving an overall operation of the portable computer; and

attaching the front cover and the back cover,

wherein in an operational mode of the portable computer, the front cover including the display is attached ontop of the back cover including the control circuitry such that the front cover including the display and the rear cover including the control circuitry form a single integral case, and wherein in a repair mode, the second integral case including both the control circuitry and back cover is configured to be detachably separated from the first integral case including both the display and front cover so as to expose the control circuitry such that repair to the control circuitry can be performed without disassembling the display from the front cover.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the front cover and the back cover comprises electrically coupling the display and the control circuitry.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the front cover and the back cover comprises physically coupling the display and the control circuitry.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein coupling the display and the control circuitry comprises installing a support between the display and the control circuitry.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the support comprises a heat sink.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry further comprises a central processing unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry further comprises at least one of a central processing unit, a memory, a random access memory, a read only memory, an input interface, and a communication interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the display to the front cover is performed in a clean room.

10. A method for assembling a portable computer system, wherein the portable computer system comprises a case with a front cover whose inner side is opened and a rear cover joined to the front cover, a main board installed in an inside of the case for controlling overall operations of the portable computer system, an auxiliary unit electrically connected to the main board, a display means, and an input means, the method comprising:

attaching the display means to the front cover so as to form a first integral case;

attaching the input means to the front cover from a back of the display means;

fixing the display means and the input means to the front cover by a fixing means;

installing the main board and the auxiliary unit directly on an inner surface of the rear cover so as to form a second integral case; and

forming a single integral case by fastening and fixing the first and second integral cases by a fastening means,

wherein in an operational mode of the portable computer system, the front cover including the display means is attached on top of the rear cover including the main board and the auxiliary unit such that the front cover including the display means and the back cover including the main board and the auxiliary unit form the integral case, and

wherein in a repair mode, the second integral case including both the rear cover and main board and auxiliary unit is configured to be detachably removed from the first integral case including both the front cover and display means so as to expose the main board and auxiliary unit such that repair to the main board and the auxiliary unit can be performed without disassembling the display means from the front cover.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein attaching the display means to the front cover is carried out in a clean room devoid of dust.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising joining a transparent panel to the front cover.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the transparent panel is joined to an outer side of the case by an adhesive means.

14. A portable computer system, comprising:

a case comprising a first cover and a second cover configured to be coupled to the first cover, wherein the first cover comprises a rim portion extending from edges of the first cover so as to form lateral sides of the case;

a main board including a variety of parts for controlling an overall main operation of the portable computer system, wherein the main board is attached directly to an inner surface of the second cover;

an auxiliary unit electrically connected to the main board and configured to assist in information processing;

a display device configured to display information through an opening formed in the first cover according to a first control signal from the main board;

an input device configured to transmit a second control signal to the main board according to a command from a user;

a first joining mechanism configured to attach the display device and the input device to the first cover from an inside of the case so as to form a first integral case;

a second joining mechanism configured to attach the main board and the auxiliary unit to the second cover so as to form a second integral case; and

a third joining mechanism configured to attach the first cover and the second cover to form a single integral case,

wherein in an operational mode of the portable computer system, the first cover including the display device is attached on top of the second cover including the main board and the auxiliary unit such that the first cover including the display device and the second cover including the main board and the auxiliary unit form the integral case, and

wherein in a repair mode, the second integral case including the main board and auxiliary unit and second cover is configured to be detachably separated from the first integral case including the display device input device and first cover so as to expose the main board and auxiliary unit such that repair to the main board and auxiliary unit can be performed without disassembling the display from the front cover.

15. The portable computer system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a receiving groove formed along an outer periphery of the opening formed in the first cover; and

a transparent panel whose outer periphery is configured to be attached to the receiving groove by an adhesive device.

16. The portable computer system according to claim 15, wherein the adhesive device comprises a double sided tape configured to be applied along the outer periphery of the opening formed in the first cover.

17. The portable computer system according to claim 16, wherein the double sided tape has an external region corresponding to a width of the receiving groove, and an internal region which projects inward beyond the external region to a predetermined width, and wherein an outer periphery of the display device which is joined to an inside of the first cover is attached to the internal region of the double sided tape.

18. The portable computer system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a dust excluding device configured to be inserted between the display device and the internal region of the double sided tape.

19. The portable computer system according to claim 18, wherein the dust excluding device comprises a nonwoven fabric.

20. The portable computer system according to claim 19, wherein an adhesive is applied to both sides of the dust excluding device.

21. The portable computer system according to claim 15, wherein the receiving groove is formed in steps of predetermined width so as to receive the outer periphery of the transparent panel.

22. The portable computer system according to claim 14, further comprising an absorbing member provided on an edge portion of the first cover and configured to absorb an impact.

23. The portable computer system according to claim 14, wherein the first cover is further configured to form a front surface of the case, and the second cover is configured to form a rear surface of the case.

24. The portable computer system according to claim 14, further comprising a peripheral frame configured to support the display device.

25. The portable computer system according to claim 24, wherein a plurality of grooves formed in the peripheral frame are configured to receive a corresponding plurality of protuberances formed on outer edges of the display device so as to secure the display device in the peripheral frame.

26. The portable computer system according to claim 24, further comprising a fixing frame configured to attach to the peripheral frame and to support the display device.

27. The portable computer system according to claim 26, wherein the fixing frame comprises a pair of fixing members, wherein the fixing members are configured to be attached to opposite ends of the fixing frame.

28. A portable computer system, comprising:

a case, comprising a front cover and a rear cover configured to be joined to the front cover;

a main board mounted on an inside of the case for accommodating a variety of parts for processing information;

an auxiliary unit electrically connected to the main board for assisting information processing;

a display means for displaying a variety of information through an opening formed in the front cover according to a first control signal from the main board;

an input means for inputting a second control signal to the main board according to a command from a user;

a first joining means for attaching and fixing the display means and the input means to the front cover from an inside of the case;

a second joining means for attaching and fixing the main board and the auxiliary unit to the rear cover;

a third joining means for attaching and fixing the front cover and the rear cover to each other;

a receiving groove formed in steps, having a predetermined width along an outer periphery of the opening formed in the front cover;

a transparent panel whose outer periphery is attached to the receiving groove by an adhesive means, wherein the adhesive means comprises double sided tape configured to be applied along the outer periphery of the opening formed in the front cover; and

a barrier member positioned between the display device and the internal region of the double sided tape.

29. The portable computer system according to claim 28, wherein the doublesided tape comprises an external region corresponding to a width of the receiving groove, and in internal region which projects inward beyond the external region.

30. The portable computer system according to claim 29, wherein an outer periphery of the display device is configured to be attached to the internal region of the double sided tape.

31. The portable computer system according to claim 28, further comprising an absorbing member provided on an edge portion of the front cover and configured to absorb an externally applied force.

32. The portable computer system according to claim 28, wherein the main board is attached directly to an inner surface of the case.

33. A portable computer system, comprising:

a case comprising a first cover and a second cover configured to be coupled to the first cover, wherein the first cover comprises a rim portion extending from edges of the first cover so as to form lateral sides of the case;

a main board configured to receive a variety of parts for processing information;

an auxiliary unit electrically connected to the main board and configured to assist in information processing;

a display device configured to display information through an opening formed in the first cover according to a first control signal from the main board;

a peripheral frame configured to support the display device, wherein a plurality of grooves formed in the peripheral frame are configured to receive a corresponding plurality of protuberances formed on outer edges of the display device so as to secure the display device in the peripheral frame;

an input device configured to transmit a second control signal to the main board according to a command from a user;

a first joining mechanism configured to attach the display device and the input device to the first cover from an inside of the case;

a second joining mechanism configured to attach the main board and the auxiliary unit to the second cover; and

a third joining mechanism configured to attach the first cover and the second cover.