Portable microcomputer and display unit

• US 7,420,798 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US11/168,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 349/58
• 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

A display unit includes a display panel, a casing covering the rear surface of the display panel, and a front panel extending around in front of a periphery of the display panel and supporting the display panel. The front panel protects the display panel against impact loads applied thereto.

Claims

1. A display unit, comprising:

a display panel;

a casing covering a rear surface of the display panel and being out of contact with the display panel;

a front panel joined to the casing, extending around in front of a periphery of the display panel, and supporting the display panel, the front panel having a plurality of discrete ribs holding up the periphery of the display panel; and

cushions provided between the ribs and the periphery of the display panel, and having a small elastic coefficient compared to the front panel,

wherein the ribs support the display panel via the cushions.

2. The display unit of claim 1, wherein the front panel covers the periphery of a display screen of the display panel.

3. The display unit of claim 1, wherein the periphery of the front panel is positioned inside the periphery of the casing.

4. The display unit of claim 1, wherein the front panel has a small elastic coefficient compared to an elastic coefficient of the casing.

5. A display unit, comprising:

a display panel;

a casing covering a rear surface of the display panel and being out of contact with the display panel;

a front panel joined to the casing, extending around in front of a periphery of the display panel;

supports holding up the rear surface and the periphery of the display panel; and

first cushions provided between the periphery of the display panel and the supports, and having a small elastic coefficient compared to an elastic coefficient of the front panel.

6. The display unit of claim 5, wherein the front panel covers the periphery of a display screen of the display panel.

7. The display unit of claim 5, wherein the periphery of the front panel is positioned inside the periphery of the casing.

8. The display unit of claim 5, further comprising:

second cushions interposed between the supports and the front panel, and having a small elastic coefficient compared with the elastic coefficient of the front panel.

9. The display unit of claim 5, wherein each of the first cushions is disposed between a first support surface of the front panel and a second support surface of each of the supports, the first and second support surfaces extending along the display screen.

10. A portable microcomputer, comprising:

a main body comprising a keyboard on one surface thereof;

a display unit which is freely opened and closed with respect to the main body, and comprises a display panel facing the keyboard of the main body when closed;

a casing covering the rear surface of the display panel and being out of contact with the display panel;

a front panel joined to the casing, extending around in front of a periphery of the display panel, and supporting the display panel, the front panel having a plurality of discrete ribs holding up the periphery of the display panel; and

cushions provided between the ribs and the periphery of the display panel, and having a small elastic coefficient compared to the front panel,

wherein the ribs support the display panel via the cushions.

11. The portable microcomputer of claim 10, wherein the front panel covers the periphery of a display screen of the display panel.

12. The portable microcomputer of claim 10, wherein the periphery of the front panel is positioned inside the periphery of the casing.

13. The portable microcomputer of claim 10, wherein the front panel has a small elastic coefficient compared to an elastic coefficient of the casing.

14. A portable microcomputer, comprising:

a main body with a keyboard provided on one surface thereof;

a display unit joined to the main body, being freely opened and closed, and having a display panel facing with the keyboard when the display unit is closed;

a casing covering a rear surface of the display panel and being out of contact with the display panel;

a front panel joined to the casing and extending around in front of a periphery of the display panel;

supports holding up the rear surface and the periphery of the display panel; and

first cushions provided between the periphery of the display panel and the supports, and having a small elastic coefficient compared to an elastic coefficient of the front panel.

15. The portable microcomputer of claim 14, wherein the front panel covers the periphery of a display screen of the display panel.

16. The portable microcomputer of claim 14, wherein the periphery of the front panel is positioned inside the periphery of the casing.

17. The portable microcomputer of claim 14, further comprising:

second cushions interposed between the support and the front panel, and having a small elastic coefficient compared with the elastic coefficient of the front panel.

18. The portable microcomputer of claim 14, wherein the first cushions are disposed between a first support surface of the front panel and a second support surface of each of the supports, the first and second support surfaces extending along the display screen.