Portable computer having an LCD projection display system

• US 5,510,806 A
• Filed: 06/19/1995
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Busch, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US08/492,142
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345/9, 345/204, 345/905, 348/744, 348/745, 348/766, 348/789, 348/794, 364/178, 364/708.1, 361/681, 353/119
• US Class Current: 345/87
• 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 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A portable computer has a base housing portion to which a display screen structure is pivotally connected. The display screen structure is defined by a solid, relatively thin plastic screen panel instead of the usual lid/display screen housing having mounted therein an LCD panel, a panel illumination system and associated display electronics. To form a selectively variable image on the screen panel a relatively small LCD projection structure is mounted on the top side of the base housing for pivotal movement relative thereto between an upwardly extending use orientation and a downwardly retracted storage and transport orientation. The LCD projection structure includes a lens housing having a lens disposed therein, a small LCD projection panel supported on an underside portion of the lens, and a high intensity light source supported beneath the LCD projection panel. During use of the computer, screen driver circuitry within the base housing is used to form a selectively variable image on the LCD panel, and the illumination source causes the image to be projected in magnified form onto the raised screen panel.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a base housing having a top side, opposite front and rear side edge portions, and an opening extending through said top side and positioned forwardly apart from said rear side edge portion;

a solid, relatively thin screen panel member having a non-mirrored front side surface and being secured to said rear side edge portion of said base housing for pivotal movement relative thereto between an open use orientation in which said screen panel member projects upwardly from said rear side portion of said base housing, with said non-mirrored front side surface of said screen panel member facing forwardly, and a closed storage and transport orientation in which said screen panel member extends across and covers said top side of said base housing with said non-mirrored front side surface of said screen panel member facing said top side of said base housing; and

projection means for projecting a selectively variable image substantially exclusively onto said non-mirrored front side surface of said screen panel member when said screen panel member is in said open use orientation thereof, said projection means including;

a lens structure supported at said opening in said top side of said base housing for movement, relative to said base housing and said screen structure, through said opening between a use orientation in which said lens structure projects above said opening and a storage and transport orientation in which said lens structure is recessed in said opening, said lens structure having a rear side surface positioned to face said non-mirrored front side surface of said screen panel member when said screen panel member and said lens structure are in said use orientations thereof, and a bottom side surface extending at an angle to said rear side surface of said lens structure,

an LCD projection panel extending across and against said bottom side surface of said lens structure, said LCD projection panel being operable to create a selectively variable panel image thereon,

an illumination structure operative to transmit light directly through said LCD projection panel and into said lens structure, wherein said lens structure directs said light substantially exclusively onto said screen panel member forming said selectively variable panel image thereon.

2. The portable computer of claim 1 wherein said portable computer is a notebook computer.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said non-mirrored front side surface of said screen panel member is nontranslucent and substantially nonreflective.