Computer system having interchangeable LCDs

A computer system includes an LCD display part provided with a main housing mounting part in a rear thereof, and a main housing to accommodate a main board and detachably combined with the main housing mounting part of the LCD display part. Different sizes of the LCD display parts are selectively combined with the main housing to be replaced. Thus, the present invention provides a computer system in which different sizes of LCD display parts are replaceable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2002-37975, filed Jul. 2, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a computer system, and more particularly, to a computer system in which different sizes of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display parts are replaced.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a computer system includes a main body having a plurality of hardware components such as a main board equipped with a CPU (central processing unit), a hard disk drive, a graphic card, a floppy disk drive, a CD (compact disk) drive, etc. The computer system also includes a monitor that receives a video signal from the main body and displays a picture, and an input unit such as a keyboard, a mouse, etc., to input a predetermined signal to the main body.

The computer system is classified as a notebook computer system, a desktop computer system, etc. The notebook computer system is relatively slim and light due to its LCD monitor (hereinafter referred to as “LCD display part”), and is typically employed as a portable computer. The desktop computer system is typically designed for use on a desk or a table.

Because the desktop computer system is generally larger in size than the notebook computer system, the desktop computer system occupies a larger space than the notebook computer system. Recently, the LCD display part has been widely used in the desktop computer system instead of a CRT monitor, so that the space occupied by the desktop computer system is decreased. However, the desktop computer system still requires a relatively large space for installation of a main body and a monitor in comparison with that of the notebook computer system. Accordingly, in order to decrease the space occupied by the desktop computer system, there has been proposed a computer in which an LCD display part and a main body are formed as a single body.

As shown inFIG. 1, a conventional computer100system includes a front cover110, a main housing130to form a predetermined space by combining with the front cover110, an LCD display part (not shown) including an LCD panel (not shown) on which a picture is displayed, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) assembly (not shown) to transmit a video signal to the LCD panel, and a main board (not shown) to control the computer system100.

The front cover110has an opening through which the LCD panel is exposed, and is placed in front of the LCD panel to cover peripheral edges of the LCD panel. The main housing130is backwardly recessed to form an accommodating space to accommodate a main board.

The PCB assembly converts a predetermined signal received from the main board into a video signal, and transmits the video signal to the LCD panel. The main board is mounted with a CPU, a graphic card, a sound card, etc., and operates the computer system100depending upon electric power supplied from a power supply (not shown).

In accordance with the configuration as described above, the conventional computer system100is assembled as follows. First, the main board is accommodated in the accommodating space of the main housing130, and fastened to the main housing130with screws (not shown). Thereafter, the hardware components including the main board, the LCD display part, etc., are electrically connected to each other, and then the front cover110and the main housing130are combined by screws150, thereby completing an assembly of the computer system100.

However, in the conventional computer system100, because the LCD display part and the main board are disposed between the front cover110and the main housing130, and the front cover110and the main housing130are combined by the screws150, it is not easy to disassemble the computer system100. Further, it becomes difficult to replace the LCD display part with different sizes of LCD display parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a computer system in which an LCD display part is easily disassembled and easily replaced with different sizes of LCD display parts.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a computer system including an LCD display part provided with a main housing mounting part in a rear thereof, and a main housing to accommodate a main board and detachably combined with the main housing mounting part of the LCD display part. In the computer system of the present invention, different sizes of LCD display parts are selectively combined with the main housing to be replaceable.

According to an aspect of the invention, the LCD display parts include main board mounting parts, each having the same combining structures to combine with the main board.

According to an aspect of the invention, the main housing mounting part is provided with a plurality of screw combining arms, and the main housing is provided with a plurality of screw holes corresponding to the screw combining arms.

According to an aspect of the invention, the LCD display parts are provided with a plurality of hook holders at the rear thereof, and the main housing is provided with a plurality of hooks engaged with the hook holders.

According to another aspect of the invention, the LCD display parts include an LCD panel to display a picture thereon, a PCB assembly to transmit a video signal to the LCD panel, and a supporting member to support the LCD panel, and provided with the screw combining arms. The LCD display parts also include a front casing disposed in front of the LCD panel, to cover front edges of the LCD panel, and a rear casing to form a predetermined housing by combining with the front casing.

According to an aspect of the invention, the hook holders are formed on the rear casing.

The foregoing and other objects are also achieved by providing a computer system including a plurality of LCD display parts different in size, and provided with similar main housing mounting parts, and a main housing provided with a display mounting part corresponding to the main housing mounting part, to which one of the LCD display parts is selectively combined.

According to an aspect of the invention, the plurality of LCD display parts include main board mounting parts having similar structures to combine with a main board received in the main housing.

According to an aspect of the invention, the main housing mounting part is provided with a plurality of screw combining arms, and the display mounting part is provided with a plurality of screw holes corresponding to the screw combining arms.

According to an aspect of the invention, the main housing mounting part is provided with a plurality of hook holders, and the display mounting part is provided with hooks protruding toward the LCD display parts to be engaged with the hook holders.

According to another aspect of the invention, the LCD display parts include an LCD panel to display a picture thereon, a PCB assembly to transmit a video signal to the LCD panel, and a supporting member to support the LCD panel, and provided with the screw combining arms. The LCD display parts also include a front casing disposed in front of the LCD panel, to cover front edges of the LCD panel, and a rear casing to form a predetermined housing by combining with the front casing.

The foregoing and other objects are also achieved by providing a method of manufacturing a computer system including providing similar main housing mounting parts to rears of a plurality of LCD display parts different in size from each other, and providing a display mounting part to a main housing, which is combined to each of the main housing mounting parts so as to selectively combine one of the plurality of LCD display parts to the main housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

As shown inFIGS. 2A,2B and3, a computer system according to the present invention includes first and second LCD display parts10aand10b, each having main housing mounting parts14arranged at the same intervals. The computer system also includes a main housing30to accommodate a main board50therein, and to selectively combine with one of the first and second LCD display parts10aand10bthrough the main housing mounting parts14.

The first and second LCD display parts10aand10binclude LCD panels (not shown) to display a picture thereon, PCB assemblies (not shown) to transmit a video signal to the LCD panel, supporting members17aand17bto support the LCD panels, front casings12aand12bplaced in front of the LCD panels to cover peripheral edges of the LCD panel, and rear casings13aand13bto form predetermined spaces by combining with the front casings12aand12b, respectively.

The LCD panel changes a molecular arrangement of a liquid crystal thereof when electric power is supplied thereto and interrupts transmission of light to form a picture. Generally, a size of an LCD display part is determined according to a diagonal length of the LCD panel.

The PCB assembly is disposed behind the LCD panel, and provided with an inverter board, a scaler board, an OSD (On Screen Display) board, etc. The PCB assembly converts a predetermined signal received from the main board50(to be described later) into a video signal, and transmits it to the LCD panel. The PCB assembly has different components according to sizes of the LCD display parts10aand10b. Thus, the first and second LCD display parts10aand10bare each equipped with different PCB assemblies.

The supporting members17aand17bare disposed behind the PCB assembly, which is disposed behind the LCD panel, to support the LCD panel and the PCB assembly.

The front casings12aand12bhave openings (not shown) through which the respective LCD panels are exposed, and cover the peripheral edges of the LCD panels. The front casings12aand12bare combined to the rear casings13aand13b(to be described later) by bolts71to form an accommodating space to accommodate the LCD panels.

Behind the first and second LCD display parts10aand10bare provided the main housing mounting parts14, so that the first and second LCD display parts10aand10bare selectively combined to the main housing30. The main housing mounting parts14include screw combining arms14b, and the main housing30includes a plurality of screw holes34to correspond to the screw combining arms14b, so that the first and second LCD display parts10aand10bare selectively combined to the main housing30by first screws72.

The screw combining arms14bof the first and second LCD display parts10aand10bprotrude from side edges of the supporting members17aand17btoward the main housing30. The screw combining arms14bare formed with through holes14a. The screw holes34of the main housing30are formed in groove parts33of the main housing30to receive the screw combining arms14b, and correspond to the through holes14a. Thus, when the LCD display part10aor10bis combined to the main housing30, the screw combining arms14bthereof are each inserted to the groove parts33, thereby settling the LCD display part10aor10bin a combining position of the main housing30. The screw combining arms14bare arranged at opposite sides of the rear of LCD display part10aor10b, so as to evenly support a load of the LCD display part10aor10b.

Further, the first and second LCD display parts10aand10bare provided with a plurality of hook holders35arranged at the same intervals above the supporting members17aand17b. The main housing30is provided with a plurality of hooks15to be engaged with the hook holders35. Thus, when the LCD display part10aor10bis combined to the main housing30, the LCD display part10aor10bis firmly settled in the combining position of the main housing30by the engagement of the hook holders35and the hooks15before being fastened with the first screws72.

The hooks15are, as shown inFIG. 3, provided in an upper part of the main housing30. However, the hooks15may be provided on opposite sides of the main housing30, with the hook holders35being provided on the rear of the LCD display part10aand10bto correspond to the hooks15.

Further, the first and second LCD display parts10aand10bare provided with main board mounting parts for the main board50. The main board mounting parts include a plurality of screw holes16which are arranged at the same intervals in the supporting members17aand17b. A plurality of second screws73are provided to go through through holes56formed on the main board50, and are inserted into the screw holes16so that the main board50is mounted to the rear of the LCD display part10aor10b. Thus, even if the LCD display part10aor10bis replaced, the same main board50may be mounted to either one of the first and second LCD display parts10aand10b.

In the foregoing embodiment, the main housing mounting parts14include the screw combining arms14bso as to selectively combine the LCD display parts10aand10bto the main housing30by first screws72. However, the main housing mounting parts14may include a plurality of locking members such as hooks, etc., so as to selectively combine the LCD display part10aand10bto the main housing30without screws.

As described above, the LCD display parts10aand10b, which are different in size are provided with similar main housing mounting parts14. Therefore, the LCD display part10aand10bis easily separated from the main housing30, and the main housing30is selectively combined with one of the first and second LCD display parts10aand10b, which are different in size. Thus, the LCD display part10aand10bof the computer system according to the present invention is easily replaceable.