Display pager with separate readout module

• US 4,704,740 A
• Filed: 02/09/1987
• Issued: 11/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: McKee, John M., Kurcbart, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Application Number:
  US07/015,504
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 455/347-349, 455/351, 455/158, 340/825.44, 340/825.55, 116/241, 116/260
• US Class Current: 455/348
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/047 using electronic means, e.g. LED's display of electronic variables in general G01R13/00, for discontinuous display G01R13/404
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/086 Portable receivers

Abstract

A liquid crystal display module with self contained display decoder circuitry is attached to a radio frame with a minimum of electrical interconnections. Module assembly and attachment are both accomplished without the use of tools. Attaching the module to the frame interlocks the module to prevent accidental disassembly and places a preload force on the electrical interconnections to insure good electrical continuity. Ambient light reflection provides primary display illumination while lamps, controlled by an integral switch, provide secondary illumination.

Claims

1. A radio receiver and detachable display module, comprising in combination:

a radio receiver and supporting frame;

a display module housing having an opening sized to receive a character display;

a retainer plate covering said opening, said retainer plate being the exclusive means for retaining said display and other module components within said module housing;

means for slidably attaching said retainer plate to said module housing, wherein said retainer plate is placed in contact with said module housing and attached thereto by relative motion in the plane of said retainer plate;

means for slidably attaching said display module to said frame, wherein said module housing is placed in contact with said frame and attached thereto by relative motion in the plane of contact; and

a first set of interconnecting electrical contacts located on said radio receiver, and a second set of interconnecting electrical contacts located on said display module, whereby the first set of electrical contacts is engaged with the second set when the display module is attached to the frame.

2. The radio receiver and detachable display module of claim 1, wherein:

said retainer plate has a plurality of tabs protruding substantially perpendicular from said retainer plate;

said module housing has a pair of substantially parallel walls, said pair of walls having a plurality of slots suitable for receiving said plurality of tabs;

whereby inserting the tabs in the slots prevents lateral deformation of the housing walls.

3. The radio receiver and detachable display module of claim 2, wherein:

a hook shaped clasp is affixed to and protrudes from said frame; and

an aperture is formed in said retainer plate suitable for receiving said clasp, said aperture having a wide end and a narrow end;

whereby inserting the clasp into the wide end of the retainer plate aperture and sliding the clasp towards the narrow end attaches the display module to the frame, thereby preventing the display module from bowing away from the frame.

4. The radio receiver and detachable display module of claim 3, wherein:

said display module further comprises a reflecting diffuser positioned between said display and said retainer plate, said diffuser having a transparent face, a reflecting face, and at least one transparent edge, said transparent face adjoining said display, whereby ambient light passes through the display to the diffuser, whereupon the light is reflected by the reflecting surface of the diffuser back through the display, thereby improving the visibility of the display;

said display module further comprises a circuit board having at least one lamp, said circuit board being positioned between said diffuser and said retainer plate, said lamp being adjacent to said transparent edge of said diffuser;

said display module further comprising a switch, integral with said display module, whereby closing the switch activates the lamp which emits light into the transparent edge of the diffuser, whereupon the light is piped through the diffuser, the light being diffused out through the transparent face of the diffuser and through the display, thereby improving the visibility of the display;

said module housing has a front face, said front face having a transparent lens positioned over said display;

said display has a set of electrical contacts;

said circuit board has a set of electrical display contacts;

said display module further comprises an elastomeric electrical connector, positioned between and in contact with said set of display contacts and said set of circuit board display contacts.

5. The radio receiver and detachable display module of claim 1, wherein:

a hook shaped clasp is affixed to and protudes from said frame; and

an aperture is formed in said retainer plate suitable for receiving said clasp, said aperture having a wide end and a narrow end;

whereby inserting the clasp into the wide end of the retainer plate aperture and sliding the clasp towards the narrow end attaches the display module to the frame, thereby preventing the display module from bowing away from the frame.

6. A radio receiver and detachable display module, comprising in combination:

a radio receiver and supporting frame, said frame being substantially a rectangular parallelepiped having depth, width and height, said depth being less than said width and said height being approximately ten times said depth, thereby forming first and second sides having depth and height, a top and a bottom having depth and width, and a front and a rear face having width and height, said frame having a male dovetail and a keyhole, both located on said first side of said frame;

a display module housing containing a character display, said module housing being located on said first side of said frame, said module housing having a first and a second pair of substantially parallel walls, said first pair of walls being longer than said second pair, said first pair of walls having a first plurality of slots, said module housing further having a female dovetail and a protruding key, said female dovetail and said key being suitable for receiving respectively said male dovetail and said keyhole, whereby the module housing may be slidably attached to the frame;

a first set of interconnecting electrical contacts located on said radio receiver, and a second set of interconnecting electrical contacts located within said module housing, whereby said first set of electrical contacts is forcibly engaged with the second set when the module housing is attached to the frame; and

a retainer plate for retaining said display and other module components within said module housing, said retainer plate having a first plurality of tabs protruding from said retainer plate, whereby inserting said first plurality of tabs in said first plurality of module housing slots and sliding the retainer plate in a direction parallel to said first pair of parallel walls, attaches the retainer plate to the module housing.

7. The radio receiver and detachable display module of claim 6, wherein:

said retainer plate has a second plurality of tabs protruding substantially perpendicular from said retainer plate;

said first pair of module housing walls has a second plurality of slots suitable for receiving said second plurality of tabs, whereby inserting the second plurality of tabs in the second plurality of slots prevents lateral deformation of the first pair of module housing walls.

8. The radio receiver and detachable display module of claim 7, wherein:

a hook shaped clasp is affixed to said frame between said male dovetail and said keyhole, said clasp protruding from said frame; and

an aperture is formed in said retainer plate suitable for receiving said clasp, said aperture having a wide end and a narrow end;

whereby inserting the clasp into the wide end of the retainer plate aperture and sliding the clasp towards the narrow end of the retainer plate aperture attaches the display module to the frame, thereby preventing the display module from bowing away from the frame.

9. The radio receiver and detachable display module of claim 8, wherein:

said display module further comprises a reflecting diffuser positioned between said display and said retainer plate, said diffuser having a transparent face, a reflecting face, and at least one transparent edge, said transparent face adjoining said display, whereby ambient light passes through the display to the diffuser, whereupon the light is reflected by the reflecting surface of the diffuser back through the display, thereby improving the visibility of the display;

said display module further comprises a circuit board having at least one lamp, said circuit board being positioned between said diffuser and said retainer plate, said lamp being adjacent to said transparent edge of said diffuser;

said display module further comprising a switch, integral with said display module, whereby closing the switch activates the lamp which emits light into the transparent edge of the diffuser, whereupon the light is piped through the diffuser, the light being diffused out through the transparent face of the diffuser and through the display, thereby improving the visibility of the display;

said module housing has a front face, said front face having a transparent lens positioned over said display;

said display has a set of electrical contacts;

said circuit board has a set of electrical display contacts;

said display module further comprises an elastomeric electrical connector, positioned between and in contact with said set of display contacts and said set of circuit board display contacts.

10. The radio receiver and detachable display module of claim 6, wherein:

a hook shaped clasp is affixed to said frame between said male dovetail and said keyhole, said clasp protruding from said frame; and

an aperture is formed in said retainer plate suitable for receiving said clasp, said aperture having a wide end and a narrow end;

whereby inserting the clasp into the wide end of the retainer aperture and sliding the clasp towards the narrow end of the retainer plate aperture attaches the display module to the frame, thereby preventing the display module from bowing away from the frame.