Folder type multi display device

• US 6,970,210 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2001
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Si Han Kim
• Original Assignee: Si Han Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Si Han, Kim, Jang Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHECHTER, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US10/432,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 349 58- 60, 345/1.1, 345/1.3
• 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 1/133328 Segmented frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13336 Combining plural substrates to produce large-area displays, e.g. tiled displays
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 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 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/36 Assembling printed circuits with other printed circuits H05K7/142 takes precedence

Abstract

A foldable multi-display device includes plural display panels that define a large-sized screen by being disposed to contact each other at their one side ends when they are unfolded, and that are received in a panel housing when they are folded in a state where only their one side ends are exposed outside. The panel housing includes a housing body for receiving at least two display panel, a supporting portion defined by cutting a sidewall of the housing body to support the display panels, an upper cover mounted on the housing body to cover non-display regions of the display panels, and an opening defined on the housing body to allow the display panels to contact each other at their one side ends when the display panels are unfolded. The foldable multi-display device further includes a connecting device for foldably supporting the panel housing.

Claims

1. A foldable multi display device, comprising:

a housing body receiving at least two display panels;

a supporting portion for supporting the display panels, the supporting portion being defined by cutting sidewalls, proximal to contacting border portion, of the housing body;

an upper cover for covering a non-display area of the display panels disposed on the housing body; and

a panel housing having an opening such that the display panels can be adjacent to each other when the panels are unfolded; and

a protecting film disposed on side walls of the contacting border portion of the display panels and the housing body.

2. A foldable multi display device of claim 1 further comprising connecting means for supporting the panel housings such that they can be folded on each other and unfolded at 180°

.

3. A foldable multi display device of claim 2 wherein the connecting means comprises a hinge assembly mounted on a rotational center of the panel housing.

4. A foldable multi display device of claim 1 wherein the supporting portion comprises a projection installed on other sidewall of the housing body.

5. A foldable multi display device of claim 1 wherein the housing body further comprises a second supporting portion for supporting a driving circuit board and/or a backlight.

6. A foldable multi display device of claim 1 the supporting portion comprises an extension portion extending inside.

7. A foldable multi display device of claim 1 wherein the display panel is assembled with driving circuit board and/or a backlight by a chassis, and the chassis comprises a fixing member for preventing the panel assembly from moving.

8. A foldable multi display device of claim 7 wherein the chassis further comprises a supporting member for maintaining the panel assembly at a predetermined height.

9. A foldable multi display device of claim 1 wherein the display panel is disposed on the chassis made of plate member.

10. A foldable multi display device of claim 1 further comprising cover means mounted on a sidewall of the panel housing, and a longitudinal groove for fixing and receiving the cover means formed on the sidewall of the contacting border portion of the panel housing.

11. A multi display device comprising:

at least two panel housings with plural circuits and a central process unit, the panel housing being foldable; and

display panels mounted on the panel housings; and

a protecting film disposed on sidewalls of the contacting border portion of the display panels and the housing body,

wherein a contacting border portion of the display panels is co-planar with the sidewalls of the panels housings when the panel housings are folded.

12. A foldable multi display device of claim 11 wherein a distance from a rotational center of the panel housings to one of the display panels is identical to that from the rotational center to the other of the display panels.

13. A foldable multi display device of claim 12 wherein when input devices are disposed on the display panels, the distance from the rotational center to an input device is identical to that from the rotational center to the other of the input devices.

14. A foldable multi display device of claim 12 wherein when protecting films are disposed on the display panels, the distance from the rotational center to a protecting film is identical to that from the rotational center to the other of the protecting films.

15. A foldable multi display device of claim 11 wherein a support is provided on the sidewalls of the panel housings, and the display panels are mounted on the support.

16. A foldable multi display device of claim 11 wherein the display panels are mounted on the panel housings by a chassis, the chassis encloses the driving circuit board and/or the backlight as a single unit.

17. A foldable multi display device of claim 16 wherein the chassis further encloses the other sidewalls than the sidewalls of the contacting border portion of the display panels.

18. A foldable multi display device of claim 17 wherein the chassis is coplanar with the sidewalls of the display panels.

19. A foldable multi display device of claim 16 wherein the chassis is provided with a fixing member, the fixing member being supported by hook means formed on the panel housings, a distance from the sidewall of the contacting border portion of the display panel to the fixing member is identical to that from the sidewall of the contacting border portion of the panel housings to the hook means.

20. A foldable multi display device of claim 11 further comprising cover means mounted on the sidewalls of the panel housings, and a longitudinal groove formed on the sidewalls of the contacting border portion of the panel housings.

21. A foldable multi display device of claim 11 further comprising a protecting film for covering a screen of the display panels and the sidewalls of the contacting border portion of the display panels.