Method and apparatus for coupling a display to an information handling system

A display coupling apparatus includes a first circuit board having a display connector end. A first cable coupling pad is located on the first circuit board. At least one trace on the first circuit board extends from the display connector end to the first cable coupling pad. The display coupling apparatus is used to electrically couple a display to an information handling system.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to coupling a display to an information handling system.

Many information handling systems such as, for example, notebook computers, include a display such as, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), which is electrically coupled to the information handling system. The coupling of the display to the information handling system raises a number of issues.

The display is typically coupled to the information handling system using a cable assembly. These cable assemblies include small gauge wires such as, for example, twin-axial coaxial wires, which require a microscope or some other form of magnification to sort the two internal leads of the wire and conductive shielding tape to protect against electromagnetic interference. In some situations, eighteen wire pairs must be sorted and soldered to terminate the twin-axial coaxial wires to a connector, resulting in a relatively highly labor intensive process. The use of the small gauge wires results in a relatively high voltage drop over the length of the wires, which degrades signals sent between the information handling system and the display. Furthermore, the wires are typically terminated to low-volume, high-cost connectors that are more expensive and difficult to assemble relative to commodity connectors.

Such conventional methods and apparatus for coupling a display to an information handling system result in a cable assembly that requires a manual and difficult to repeat assembly process that includes higher than desired parts costs, labor costs, and failure rates.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide for coupling a display to an information handling system absent the disadvantages found in the prior devices discussed above.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a display coupling apparatus includes a first circuit board comprising a display connector end, a first cable coupling pad located on the first circuit board, and at least one trace on the first circuit board extending from the display connector end to the first cable coupling pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, information handling system100,FIG. 1, includes a microprocessor102, which is connected to a bus104. Bus104serves as a connection between microprocessor102and other components of computer system100. An input device106is coupled to microprocessor102to provide input to microprocessor102. Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device108, which is coupled to microprocessor102. Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Information handling system100further includes a display110, which is coupled to microprocessor102by a video controller112. A system memory114is coupled to microprocessor102to provide the microprocessor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor102. In an embodiment, a chassis116houses some or all of the components of information handling system100. It should be understood that other buses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and microprocessor102to facilitate interconnection between the components and the microprocessor.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a circuit board200is illustrated. The circuit board200includes an elongated first circuit board202having a top edge202a, a bottom edge202blocated opposite the top edge202a, a pair of opposing side edges202cand202dextending between the top edge202aand the bottom edge202b, a top surface202eextending between the top edge202a, the bottom edge202b, and the side edges202cand202d, and a bottom surface202flocated opposite the top surface202dand extending between the top edge202a, the bottom edge202b, and the side edges202cand202d. A display connector end204is located on the top edge202aof the first circuit board202. A first cable coupling pad206is located on the top surface202eof the first circuit board202adjacent the bottom edge202band includes a conductor pad206aand a ground pad206b. A plurality of traces208extend along length of the first circuit board202from the display connector end204to the first cable coupling pad206, electrically coupling the display connector end204to the first cable coupling pad206. In an embodiment, the display connector end204may include a connector such as, for example, a connector specified by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) which is operable to couple to a connector on a liquid crystal display (LCD), also specified by VESA. In an embodiment, the display connector end204may be designed to coupled directly to a LCD connector specified by VESA by, for example, using a 0.5mm circuit board which may be plated at the display connector end204and is operable to engage an a LCD connector specified by VESA. In an embodiment, the first circuit board202of the circuit board200may include a four-layer printed circuit board (PCB) to provide for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding for the traces208.

A coupling section210of the first circuit board202extends from side surface202dof the first circuit board202adjacent the bottom edge202bof the first circuit board202and shares the top surface202eand the bottom surface202fof the first circuit board202. The coupling section210defines a grounding aperture212which extends through the coupling section210from the top surface202eto the bottom surface202f. An inverter board connector214is coupled to the top surface202eof the coupling section210and located adjacent the grounding aperture212. In an embodiment, the inverter board connector214is a commodity surface mount technology connector known in the art. A second circuit board216extends from the side edge202dof the first circuit board202and shares the top surface202eand the bottom surface202fof the first circuit board202. The second circuit board216extends from the first circuit board202on a break-away coupling218that defines a plurality of break-away apertures218aextending through the break-away coupling218from the top surface202eto the bottom surface202f. A second cable coupling pad220is located on the top surface202eof the second circuit board216and includes a conductor pad220aand a ground pad220b. An information handling system connector222is coupled to the top surface202eof the second circuit board216and located adjacent the second cable coupling pad220. In an embodiment, the information handling system connector222is a commodity surface mount technology connector known in the art. In an embodiment, the first circuit board202and the second circuit board216are fabricated such that they are coupled together by the break-away coupling218in order to allow the first circuit board202and the second circuit board216of circuit board200to be populated as a single assembly with components such as, for example, the traces208, the first cable coupling pad206, the second cable coupling pad220, the inverter board connector214, the information handling system connector222, and a variety of other components known in the art. In an embodiment, the circuit board200may include a variety of active components known in the art to provide a variety of functions known in the art such as, for example, emissions control. In an embodiment, the circuit board200may include identifier printing on the first circuit board202and/or the second circuit board216which replaces labels that are used on conventional cable assemblies for coupling a display to an information handling system.

Referring now toFIGS. 3aand3b, an information handling system connecting cable300is illustrated. The information handling system connecting cable300includes a plurality of cables302which have been ribbonized and includes a pair of opposing ends304aand304b. A wrap306is provided between the ends304aand304bof the plurality of ribbonized cables302in order to order to bundle the cables302together to allow the cables302routed. In an embodiment, the plurality of cables302are micro-coaxial cables, the end304awhich may be stripped using, for example, a laser wire stripper, in order to allow a braided outer conductor308aand a center conductor308bto extend from the end304a, illustrated inFIG. 3b. The end304bof the cables302may be stripped in the same manner as described above for end304a. The use of micro-coaxial cables as the cables302provides an information handling system connecting cable in which the cable leads do not have to be sorted, reducing labor costs and assembly times relative to a conventional cable assembly for coupling a display to an information handling system.

Referring now toFIG. 4, a display400is illustrated. The display400includes a base402having a top edge402a, a bottom edge402blocated opposite the top edge402a, a front surface402cextending between the top edge402aand the bottom edge402b, and a rear surface402dlocated opposite the front surface402cand extending between the top edge402aand the bottom edge402b. A display connector404is located on the display400adjacent the rear surface402dand the top edge402a. In an embodiment, the display connector404is a connector which is specified by VESA for displays. An inverter board connecting section406extends from bottom edge402bof the base402, includes an inverter board connector406awhich is electrically coupled to an inverter board (not shown), and defines a securing aperture406blocated adjacent the inverter board connector406a. In an embodiment, the display400is an LCD, and the display connector404is a connector specified by VESA for LCD displays.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a chassis500is illustrated. In an embodiment, the chassis500is the chassis116, described above with reference toFIG. 1, and houses some or all of the components of an information handling system such as, for example, the information handling system100, described above with reference toFIG. 1. The chassis500includes a base section502which defines a board housing502a. A display section504defines a display channel504aand is pivotally coupled to the base section502by a plurality of pivotal couplers506aand506b. A board508includes a top surface508aand is located in the board housing502adefined by the base section502. A microprocessor510which may be, for example, the microprocessor102, described above with respect toFIG. 1, is coupled to the board508and located on the top surface508aof the board508. A microprocessor coupler512is located on the top surface508aof the board508and is electrically coupled to the microprocessor510.

Referring now toFIGS. 2,3a,3b,6a,6b, and6c, a method600for coupling a display to an information handling system is illustrated. The method600begins at step602where a display coupling apparatus is provided. The circuit board200, illustrated inFIG. 2, is provided and the information handling system connecting cable300is coupled to the first circuit board202and the second circuit board216. The end304bof the information handling system connecting cable300is positioned on the first circuit board202such that the braided outer conductor308a, illustrated inFIG. 3b, engages the ground pad206bon the first cable coupling pad206and the center conductor308b, illustrated inFIG. 3b, engages the conductor pad206aon the first cable coupling pad206. The end304aof the information handling system connecting cable300is positioned on the second circuit board216such that the braided outer conductor308a, illustrated inFIG. 3b, engages the ground pad220bon the second cable coupling pad220and the center conductor308b, illustrated inFIG. 3b, engages the conductor pad220aon the second cable coupling pad220. The ends304band304aof the information handling system connection cable300may then be bulk soldered to the first cable coupling pad206and the second cable coupling pad220, respectively, using methods known in the art such as, for example, hot bar soldering, in order to secure the braided outer conductor308ato the ground pad206b, the center conductor308bto the conductor pad206a, the braided outer conductor308ato the ground pad220b, and the center conductor308bto the conductor pad220a, as illustrated inFIG. 6b. The second circuit board216is then bent relative to the first circuit board202such that the break-away coupling218breaks and decouples the second circuit board216from the first circuit board202, illustrated inFIG. 6c, providing a display coupling apparatus602a.

Referring now toFIGS. 4,6a,6b,6d, and6e, the method600proceeds to step604where the display400, illustrated inFIG. 4, is provided. The method600then proceeds to step606where the display coupling apparatus602ais coupled to the display400. The first circuit board202provides a handle for a user to utilize in coupling the display coupling apparatus602ato the display400, simplifying the coupling of the display coupling apparatus602ato the display400relative to a conventional display coupling cable assembly. The display coupling apparatus602ais positioned adjacent the display400such that the top surface202eon the first circuit board202of the display coupling apparatus602ais adjacent the rear surface402dof the display400and the display connector end204is adjacent the display connector404. The display connector end204is then inserted into the display connector404, illustrated inFIG. 6d. The display coupling apparatus602ais then moved until the top surface202eof the first circuit board202is positioned immediately adjacent the rear surface402dof the display400such that the inverter board connector214on the first circuit board202engages the inverter board connector406aon the inverter board connecting section406of display400, illustrated inFIG. 6e. With the display coupling apparatus602acoupled to the display400as illustrated inFIG. 6e, the grounding aperture212defined by the first circuit board202is substantially aligned with the securing aperture406bdefined by the inverter board connecting section406such that a conventional fastener known in the art may be positioned in the grounding aperture212and the securing aperture406bin order to secure the display coupling member602ato the display400and ground the first circuit board202. By positioning the fastener in the grounding aperture212and the securing aperture406b, the first circuit board220is secured to the display400in 2 axes, reducing the failure rate relative to a conventional cable assembly for coupling a display to an information handling system due to factors such as, for example, disengagement of connectors.

Referring now toFIGS. 4,5,6a,6c,6e,6f, and6g, the method600proceeds to step608where the display coupling apparatus602ais coupled to an information handling system. The display400with the display coupling apparatus602aare positioned adjacent the chassis500such that rear surface402dof the display400and the display coupling apparatus602aare adjacent the display channel504awhile the inverter board connecting section406is adjacent the base section502of the chassis500, illustrated inFIG. 6f. The display400is then moved into the display channel504aand coupled to the display section504of the chassis500using methods known in the art, illustrated inFIG. 6g. The section of the cables302on the information handling system connecting cable300including the wrap306is run through the display channel504a, adjacent the pivotal coupler506a, and into the board housing502a, illustrated inFIG. 6g. The information handling system connector222on second circuit board216is then engaged with the microprocessor coupler512on board508, illustrated inFIG. 6g, electrically coupling the display400to the microprocessor510through the display coupling apparatus602a. In an embodiment, the traces208on first circuit board202may be varied in width, pitch, and/or length in order to tune the signals sent between the microprocessor510and the display400and in order to reduce the voltage drop across the first circuit board202.

Thus, a display coupling apparatus602ais provided with a number of benefits over conventional display coupling cables assemblies known in the art, such as reduced failure rates, shorter assembly times, reduced labor times, and reduced material costs. For example, the display coupling apparatus602amay be assembled using automation tools, reducing the assembly time and labor costs associated with the assembly of conventional display coupling cable assemblies. The display coupling apparatus602acouples a display to an information handling system using shorter lengths of cable than conventional display coupling cable assemblies, reducing the voltage drop associated with the small gauge wires used with conventional display coupling cable assemblies. Furthermore, the first circuit board202allows the traces208to be varied in size and length in order to further reduce voltage drops across the display coupling apparatus602a. In an embodiment, the display coupling apparatus602areplaces low-volume high-cost connectors associated with conventional display coupling cable assemblies with low-cost commodity surface mount technology connectors and includes a display connector end204which may directly engage the display connector404, reducing the cost of the display coupling apparatus602arelative to a conventional cable assembly for coupling a display to an information handling system.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 7, in an alternative embodiment, a display coupling apparatus700is illustrated which is substantially similar in design and operation to the display coupling apparatus602a, described above with reference toFIG. 6c, with the provision of a plurality of device coupling cables702and704each including a connector702aand704a, respectively, on its distal end. The device coupling cable702extends from the side edge202cof the first circuit board202, and the device coupling cable704extends from the coupling section210on the first circuit board202. In an embodiment, the device coupling cables702and704may be coupled to the first circuit board202in the same manner as described above for the information handling system connector cable300, and the connectors702aand704amay include circuit boards and may be coupled to the cables702and704, respectively, in the same manner as described above for the information handling system connector222and the second circuit board216.

Referring now toFIG. 8, in an embodiment, a display800is illustrated which is substantially similar in design and operation to the display400, described above with reference toFIG. 4, with the provision of a device connector802. The device connector802is located adjacent the display connector404on the rear surface402dof the display400. In an embodiment, the device connector802may be electrically coupled to a variety of devices known in the art such as, for example, a camera, an antenna, a speaker, and/or a light emitting device (LED).

Referring now toFIG. 9, in an embodiment, a chassis900is illustrated which is substantially similar in design and operation to the chassis500, described above with reference toFIG. 5, with the provision of a device902. The device902is located in the board channel502aon the base section502of the chassis900and adjacent the display section504. In an embodiment, the device902may be a variety of devices known in the art such as, for example, a camera, an antenna, a speaker, and/or a light emitting device (LED).

Referring now toFIGS. 6a,6c,7,8,9,10a, and10b, in operation, the display coupling apparatus700is used in substantially the same manner as the display coupling apparatus602awith the method600, but with the provision of the display800replacing the display400, the chassis900replacing the chassis500, and with modified steps606and608. At step606of the method600, the connector702aon device coupling cable702is engaged with the device connector802on display800, illustrated inFIG. 10a. At step608, the device coupling cable704is run through the display channel504a, adjacent the pivotal coupler506b, and the connector704ais engaged with the device902. Thus, the display coupling apparatus700allows the microprocessor510to be electrically coupled to devices included in the display800through the device coupling cable702and to devices included in the chassis900through the device coupling cable704.