Portable terminal with crack prevention structure for display device

• US 9,380,714 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Shin, Hyun-Suk, Lee, Seok-Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Dion R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buttar, Mandeep S
• Application Number:
  US13/827,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20130286601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.26, 361/728, 349/58
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/503 Arrangements improving the resistance to shock
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units

Abstract

A portable terminal includes a display module and a case member coupled to the display module. A face of the case member is formed to have a center portion and an edge, which are different from each other in their heights to thereby support a center portion of the display module in lengthwise and widthwise directions of the display module respectively. The portable terminal configured above supports a rear face of the flat display module using at least one of a portion protruded from the case member and a stiff material film, to thereby diffuse an impact exerted on a display device to the case member. Thus, it is possible to relieve the damage to the flat display device due to an external impact.

Claims

1. A portable terminal comprising:

a display module; and

a case member coupled to the display module, wherein a face of the case member fronting the display module comprises;

a flat portion supporting a center portion of the display module when the portable terminal is in an orientation with the display module above the case member;

an edge; and

an inclined portion supporting the display module between the flat portion and the edge in the orientation, and

wherein the inclined portion is further from the display module near the edge and closer to the display module near the flat portion.

2. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the face of the case member includes a curved surface with a predetermined radius of curvature.

3. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein a difference between a nearest distance and a farthest distance is equal to or less than 0.3 mm, wherein the distance is defined between the face of the case member and a rear face of the display module.

4. The portable terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a first member provided on a rear face of the display module; and

a second member provided on a rear face of the display module to be alongside of the first member, wherein the first member has the higher stiffness than that of the second member.

5. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second member is provided along the edge on the face of the display module while surrounding the first member.

6. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first member is synthetic resin material and wherein the second member is sponge material.

20. The portable terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one material between the display module and the case member.

21. The portable terminal of claim 20, wherein more materials of the at least one material are between the display module and the inclined portion of the case member than the display module and the inclined portion of the case member.

7. A portable terminal comprising:

a display module;

a case member coupled to the display module;

a first member disposed between the display module and the case member, wherein the first member is attached to a face of the case member by way of an adhesive member, and wherein the first member supports at least a center portion of the display module when the portable terminal is in an orientation with the display module above the case member; and

a second member disposed between the first member and an edge of the case member, and between the display module and the case member, wherein the second member is arranged to surround the first member, and wherein the display module is coupled to the edge of the case member.

8. The portable terminal of claim 7, wherein the adhesive member is a heat-radiant sheet.

9. The portable terminal of claim 7, wherein the first member is synthetic resin material.

10. The portable terminal of claim 7, wherein the second member is sponge material.

11. The portable terminal of claim 7, wherein the adhesive member is a double-sided adhesive tape, and wherein the first member and the second member are attached to the face of the case member by way of the adhesive member.

12. A portable terminal comprising:

a display module;

a case member coupled to the display module;

a first member attached to a face of the display module by way of a mesh tape, and disposed between the face of the display module and the face of the case member, wherein a face of the case member fronting the display module comprises;

a flat portion supporting a center portion of the display module when the portable terminal is in an orientation with the display module above the case member;

an edge; and

an inclined portion supporting the display module between the flat portion and the edge in the orientation; and

a second member disposed between the first member and an edge of the case member, and between the display module and the case member, wherein the second member is arranged to surround the first member, and

wherein the inclined portion is further from the display module near the edge and closer to the display module near the flat portion.

13. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein the first member is a stiff material film made of synthetic resin.

14. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein the first member is attached to the face of the case member by way of an adhesive member.

15. The portable terminal of claim 14, wherein the adhesive member is a heat-radiant sheet.

16. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein the second member is sponge material.

17. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein the second member is attached to the face of the case member by way of the adhesive member along with the first member.

18. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein the display module comprises:

a pair of panels arranged to face each other with a distance there-between; and

a cell seal provided between the panels and sealing the panels along edges of the panels,

wherein the second member is provided on the cell seal along the edge on the face of the display module.

19. The portable terminal of claim 12, further comprising:

a window member disposed on a front face of the display module, wherein the display module is attached to an inner face of the window member by one of optical adhesive and an optical adhesive film.