Portable computer and method for mounting a flat panel display device module

• US 7,170,741 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LG Philips LCD Company Limited (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cho, Young Woo, Kim, Jong Hwan, Park, Dae Hee
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US10/153,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 361/685, 361/681, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• 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

Disclosed is a computer that includes: a system body having an input device; a display module having a display surface and a rear surface; a display case having a side wall surface; and a hinge pivotally coupling the body to the display module, the hinge including a hinge frame having first and second surfaces, the first surface coupled with the rear surface of the display module, the second surface coupled with the side wall surface of the display case.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a system body having an input device;

a display module having a display surface;

a display case having walls, the display module secured between the walls of the display case; and

a hinge pivotally coupling the display module and the display case to the system body, the hinge including a hinge frame having first, second and third surfaces,

wherein the first surface is coupled to the inner surface of the display case, and the second surface is coupled to the side wall surface of the display case, the third surface is over a portion of the first surface.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display module is a liquid crystal display (LCD) module.

3. The computer of claim 2, wherein the first and second surfaces of the hinge frame are substantially perpendicular to each other.

4. The computer of claim 3, wherein the third and second surfaces of the hinge frame are substantially perpendicular to each other.

5. A portable computer comprising:

a system body having an input device;

a display module having a display surface, the display module being a liquid crystal display (LCD) module;

a display case having walls, the display module secured between the walls of the display case; and

a hinge pivotally coupling the display module and the display case to the system body, the hinge including a hinge frame having first, second and third surfaces, wherein the first surface of the hinge frame has at least one fixing protrusion protruded toward the rear surface of the display module, and the rear surface of the display module has at least one fixing hole corresponding to the fixing protrusion of the first surface.

6. The computer of claim 5, wherein the fixing protrusion is a fastener.

7. The computer of claim 5, wherein the second surface of the hinge frame is screw-coupled with the side wall surface of the display case.

8. A portable computer, comprising:

a system body;

a display module having a display surface and a side wall surface;

a display case having an inner surface; and

a hinge pivotally coupling the system body to the display case, the hinge including a hinge frame having first, second and third surfaces, the first surface coupled with the inner surface of the display case, the second surface coupled with the side wall surface of the display module, and the third surface is over a portion of the first surface.

9. The computer of claim 8, wherein the display module is a liquid crystal display (LCD) module.

10. The computer of claim 9, wherein the first surface of the hinge frame is screw-coupled with the inner surface of the display case, and the second surface of the hinge frame is screw-coupled with the side wall surface of the display module.

11. A portable computer, comprising:

a system body;

a display module having a display surface and a side wall surface, the display module being a liquid crystal display (LCD) module;

a display case having an inner surface; and

a hinge pivotally coupling the system body to the display case, the hinge including a hinge frame having first, second and third surfaces, the first surface coupled with the inner surface of the display case, the second surface coupled with the side wall surface of the display module, and the third surface is over a portion of the first surface, wherein the first surface of the hinge frame has at least one fixing protrusion protruded toward the inner surface of the display case, and the inner surface has at least one fixing hole corresponding to the fixing protrusion of the first surface.

12. The computer of claim 11, wherein the fixing protrusion is a fastener.

13. A computer, comprising;

a system body;

a display module having a display surface;

a display case having side walls, the display module secured between the side walls of the display case; and

a hinge pivotally coupling the body to the display case, the hinge including a hinge frame having first, second and third surfaces, the first surface coupled to the inner surface of the display case, the second surface coupled to the side wall surface of the display case, the third surface over a portion of the first surface.

14. The computer of claim 13, wherein the display module is a liquid crystal display (LCD) module.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein the hinge frame is screw-coupled with the inner surface of the display case.

16. A computer, comprising:

a system body;

a display module having a display surface, the display module being a liquid crystal display (LCD) module;

a display case having side walls, the display module secured between the side walls of the display case; and

a hinge pivotally coupling the body to the display case, the hinge including a hinge frame having first, second and third surfaces, wherein the first surface is substantially parallel to the third surface and substantially perpendicular the second surface, the first surface coupled to the inner surface of the display case, wherein the hinge frame has at least one fixing protrusion protruded toward the inner surface of the display case, and the inner surface has at least one fixing hole corresponding to the fixing protrusion of the hinge frame, and wherein the second surface is coupled to one of said side walls of said display case.

17. The computer of claim 16, wherein the fixing protrusion is a fastener.

18. A method for mounting a display module in a portable computer including a system body, a display case having a side wall surface, a hinge having a hinge frame having first, second and third surfaces, the first surface being substantially parallel to a rear surface of the display module, the second surface being substantially parallel to the side wall surface of the display case, and the third surface bring over a portion of the first surface, the hinge pivotally coupling the system body to the display case, the method comprising:

arranging the hinge frame so that the first surface thereof is positioned between the display case and the rear surface of the display case and the rear surface of the display module, and so that the second surface thereof is positioned between the display module and the side wall surface of the display case, and so that the third surface thereof is positioned between the display case and the front surface of the display module;

fastening the first surface of the hinge frame to the rear surface of the display module;

fastening the second surface of the hinge frame to the side wall surface of the display case; and

placing the third surface of the hinge frame on the front surface of the display module.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the display module is a liquid crystal display (LCD) module.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first surface of the hinge frame has at least one fixing protrusion protruded toward the rear surface of the display module, and the rear surface of the display module has at least one fixing hole corresponding to the fixing protrusion of the first surface of the hinge frame.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first surface of the hinge frame is screw-coupled with the rear surface of the display module.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the second surface of the hinge frame is screw-coupled with the side wall surface of the display case.

23. A method for mounting a display module having a side wall surface in a portable computer including a system body, a display case having inner and side wall surfaces, a hinge having a hinge frame having first, second and third surfaces, the first surface being substantially parallel to a rear surface of the display module, the second surface being substantially parallel to the side wall surface of the display case, and the third surface being over a portion of the first surface, the hinge pivotally coupling the system body to the display case, the method comprising:

arranging the hinge frame so that the first surface thereof is positioned between the display case and the rear surface of the display module, and so that the second surface thereof is positioned between the display module and the side wall surface of the display case and so that the third surface thereof is positioned between the display case and the front surface of the display module;

fastening the first surface of the hinge frame to the inner surface of the display case;

fastening the second surface of the hinge frame to the side wall surface of the display module; and

placing the third surface of the hinge frame on the front surface of the display module.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the display module is a liquid crystal display (LCD) module.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first surface of the hinge frame is screw-coupled with the inner surface of the display case.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the second surface of the hinge frame is screw-coupled with the side wall surface of the display module.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the first surface of the hinge frame is coupled to the inner surface of the display case by a fastener.

28. A method for mounting a display module having a side wall surface in a portable computer including a system body, a display case having an inner and two side wall surfaces, a hinge having a hinge frame having a pin portion extending from the hinge frame within the display case, pivotally coupling the system body to the display case, the method comprising:

arranging the hinge frame so that a first surface is positioned between the inner surface of the display case and the rear surface of the display module;

fastening the first surface of the hinge frame to the inner surface of the display case;

securing the display module between the side walls of the display case; and

fastening a second of surface of the hinge frame, which is substantially perpendicular to the first surface, to one of the side wall surfaces of the display case.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the display module is a liquid crystal display (LCD) module.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the first surface of the hinge frame is screw-coupled with the inner surface of the display case.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the first surface of the hinge frame is coupled to the inner surface of the display case by a fastener.

32. A method of mounting a display module having a display frame in a portable computer including a system body, a display case having an inner and two side wall surfaces and an extending frame within the display case wherein the extending frame includes first and second surfaces substantially perpendicular to each other, the second surface being substantially parallel to the side wall surfaces, and wherein the display frame includes fixing holes at a rear surface of said display frame wherein the fixing holes do not extend through a depth of the display frame, the method comprising:

arranging the extending frame so that the first surface is positioned between the fixing holes of the display frame and a rear surface of the display case;

fastening the first surface of the extending frame to the display module via the fixing holes;

securing the display module between the side walls of the display case; and

fastening the second surface of the extending frame to one of the side wall surfaces of the display case.