Abstract:
A portable computer including a housing having first and second sections, the first section having an information input device and the second section having a case having a first fastening element; a display panel including a second fastening element at a rear surface of the panel, the case and the display panel being attached through the first and second fastening elements; a hinge coupling the first and the second sections to each other; and a display panel support member having a third fastening element, the display panel support member being attached to the display panel through the third fastening element.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 98-44475, filed on Oct. 23, 1998 and 98-44973, filed on Oct. 27, 1998, which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a flat panel display device, and more specifically, to a flat panel display device mounting structure and a method of mounting the flat panel display device to a computer.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Flat panel display devices include liquid crystal display devices (LCD) which are being used widely, plasma display panels (PDP), and field emission displays (FED) which have been studied recently and may be applied to computers in the near future. For convenience of explanation, the present invention will be discussed with respect to the LCD as an example of the flat screen type display devices and a portable computer mounted with the LCD.  
           [0006]    Referring to FIG. 1, a general portable computer such as a laptop or notebook computer typically includes a body  100 , a flat panel display device assembly  110  coupled to the body  100  via a hinge mechanism  124 . The flat panel type display device assembly  110  has a flat panel display device  111  and a display case  122  supporting the device  111 . The body  100  has an input device  102  such as a keyboard. As a flat panel type display device  111 , the LCD is widely used in portable computers and flat screen monitors.  
           [0007]    Referring to FIG. 2 which shows conventional assembly structure of the LCD device applied to a conventional portable computer, the display case  122  has a rear case  123  and a front case or frame  121  for mounting the LCD device module  130 . The rear case or frame  123  has an outer surface and an inner surface and connecting ribs  123   a  are formed at the corners.  
           [0008]    The LCD device  130  has an LCD panel  132 , a backlight device  134  fixed to the back of the LCD panel  132 , and a supporting frame  136  for assembling the panel  132  and the backlight device  134  along the edge.  
           [0009]    At the corners of the supporting frame  136 , corresponding to the positions of the ribs  123   a  of the rear case  123 , a plurality of protrusions  136   a  having holes are formed.  
           [0010]    For mounting the LCD device  130  to the case  122 , the LCD device  130  is placed on the rear case  123  and the holes of the supporting frame  136  and the ribs  123   a  are fastened together preferably by screws  138 . The front case  121  is coupled to the rear case  123 .  
           [0011]    Hereinafter, the way in which the LCD device is mounted to the case from the front toward the rear direction is defined as the front mounting method, and the assembled structure of the LCD device and the case formed through the front mounting method is defined as the front mounting structure.  
           [0012]    In the front mounting structure of the LCD device, since the protrusions  136   a  require additional space corresponding to the protruded width d, the display area of the LCD device is reduced in comparison to the fixed size of the case  122 .  
           [0013]    The front mounting structure may also include an additional feature to further support the LCD panel, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.  
           [0014]    Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a conventional LCD device assembly  110  includes an LCD panel  112  and a backlight device (not shown) for the LCD panel, and display case  122  supporting the LCD device  111 . The LCD panel  112  and the backlight device are assembled by a supporting frame  114  along the edges.  
           [0015]    The display case  122  is coupled to a body  120  via a hinge mechanism  124 , which may extend from the body  120 . The display case  122  and the hinge mechanism  124  are assembled through a hinge arm  126 , allowing the display device assembly  110  to pivotally move with respect to the body  120 .  
           [0016]    Two opposite sides of the supporting frame  114  include flanges  114   a  for assembling the LCD device  111  to the display case  122 , and corners include flanges  114   b  for assembling the LCD device  111  to the hinge arm  126 . Hereinafter, the former is referred as a fixing flange and the latter is referred as a mounting flange in this specification for distinction purposes. As shown in FIG. 3B, the fixing flanges  114   a  have a protruding width d 2  and the mounting flanges  114   b  have a protruding width d 1 . A screw hole is formed in each of the flanges  114   a  and  114   b . On the inner surface of the display case  122 , ribs  122   a  are formed corresponding to the holes of the fixing flange  114   a.    
           [0017]    To mount the LCD device  111 , the hinge arm  126  and the mounting flanges  114   b  are screwed together, and the fixing flanges  114   a  and the ribs  122   a  are screwed together by bolts  128 .  
           [0018]    In the mounting structure shown in FIG. 3B, the supporting frame  114  requires side spaces for the flanges  114   a  and  114   b . Therefore, the side space D (d 1 +d 2 ) results in a reduction of the display area of the LCD panel  112  relative to the display case  122 . Moreover, as the display size increases, the display case becomes undesirably large, especially for a portable computer such as a laptop computer.  
           [0019]    To solve the above problem and to provide a large display area with minimal display case size, a new mounting structure is needed for the LCD device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0020]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a portable computer and method for mounting a flat panel display device thereon that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
           [0021]    An object of the present invention is to minimize the non-display area of the LCD device.  
           [0022]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer having a flat panel display with a maximum display area and a minimal display case size.  
           [0023]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
           [0024]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a portable computer includes a body having an information input device; a case coupled to the body and having inner and outer surfaces; and a flat panel display device having a display surface and a rear surface, the rear surface being fixed to the inner surface of the case.  
           [0025]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a portable computer includes a body having an information input device; a flat panel display case coupled to the body; a flat panel display device having a display surface and a rear surface; and a hinge mechanism having a hinge mount and a hinge arm fixed to the rear surface of the display device.  
           [0026]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of mounting a flat panel display device to a hinge mechanism having a hinge mount, a hinge arm, and a pin portion rotating in the hinge mount, the flat panel display device having a display surface and a rear surface, the method including a step of fixing the rear surface of the flat panel display device to the hinge arm. The fixing step is preferably carried out by attaching the hinge arm and the rear surface of the flat display device using a screw.  
           [0027]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, an LCD device coupled to an outer case includes an LCD panel having a display surface and a rear surface; a backlight device having a first surface facing the rear surface of the LCD panel and a second surface attached to the outer case; and a supporting frame for assembling the LCD panel and the backlight device.  
           [0028]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0030]    In the drawings:  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a general portable computer;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 shows a conventional mounting structure of the LCD device for a portable computer;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 3A and 3B are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, showing a mounting structure of the LCD device for a portable computer;  
         [0034]    FIGS.  4 A- 4 C show the LCD device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 shows a mounting structure in accordance with a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 6 shows a mounting structure in accordance with a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing the assembled state of the structure in FIG. 6;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a back mounting structure of the LCD device according to a third embodiment in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a back mounting structure of the LCD device according to a fourth embodiment in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 10 is a front view showing the structure of FIG. 9;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 11 is a fifth embodiment in accordance with the present invention which is an alternate embodiment to FIG. 10 where the hinge mount is fixed to the display case;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 12, 13, and  14  are sixth, seventh, and eighth embodiments in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 15 is a side view showing a back mounting structure of the LCD device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view showing the assembled state of the structure in FIG. 15.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0045]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0046]    The present invention provides a back mounting method and a back mounting structure for a display panel device in a portable computer. Moreover, the rear surface of the display panel device may be coupled to a hinge arm for further support of the display panel device.  
         [0047]    FIGS.  4 A- 4 C show a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the LCD device  10  has an LCD panel  12 , a backlight unit  14 , and a supporting frame  16 . FIG. 4C shows an example of a detailed structure of the LCD device shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Referring to FIG. 4C, the LCD device  10  has a first frame  14   g , preferably made of plastic, a reflector  14   f  on the frame  14   g , a light guide film  14   e , a diffuser or protecting film  14   d , a first prism sheet  14   c , a second prism sheet  14   b , another diffuser or protecting film  14   a , and the LCD panel  12 . The first frame  14   g  is coupled to a second frame or supporting frame  16 . At each corner of the first frame  14   g  a screw hole is preferably formed. Although FIG. 4C shows the first frame  14   g  as part of the backlight unit  14 , the first frame  14   g  can act as the supporting frame  16 .  
         [0048]    To mount the LCD device  10  to the display case  122  (FIG. 1), the LCD device  10  is placed on the inner surface of the display case  122 . Then, the case  122  and the LCD device  10  are attached to one another by bolts  128  into the screw hole  15  from the back of the display case  122 .  
         [0049]    As explained above, the structure shown in FIGS.  4 A- 4 C has an advantage in that the side space such as width d 2  for fixing flange  114   a  of FIG. 3B is not needed and the size ratio between the display area and the display case  122  is improved.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 5 shows the assembly of the LCD device  10  to the case  21  of a portable computer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The computer includes a body  20  having an information input device. The case  21  may cover the body  20  and is coupled to the body through a hinge mechanism. Preferably at each corner of the case  21   a  through-hole  20   a  is formed.  
         [0051]    To mount the LCD device  10  to the case  21 , the LCD device  10  is placed on the inner surface of the case  21  such that the positions of the holes  20   a  and the holes  5  coincide with each other, and screws  18  are inserted into the holes  21   a  and  15  from the back of the case  21 . The through-hole  21   a  is preferably stepped so that the head of the screw  18  will not protrude from the outer surface of the case  21 .  
         [0052]    Although not shown in FIG. 5, the front case such as shown in FIG. 2 is preferably assembled with the case  21  for covering the edges of the LCD device  10 .  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 6 shows a back mounting structure of the LCD device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a detailed partial sectional view showing the assembled state of the LCD device  10  and the case  21  in accordance with the second embodiment.  
         [0054]    At the rear surface of the backlight device  14  of the LCD device  10 , fasteners  17  such as hooks made of plastic are formed, and the case  21  has corresponding ribs  23 . Preferably, the ribs  23  do not protrude over the width of the supporting frame  16 . A rib  23  has a stepped hole  21   b . The fastener  17  is supported and latched by the stepped portion of the hole  21   b . To facilitate the disassembly or release of the fastener  17  from the hole  21   b , the hole is preferably a through-hole extending all the way to the outer surface of the case  21 . The hole  21   b  may be covered by a cover  21   c.    
         [0055]    The fastener  17  has a compressible head which compresses into a small diameter to allow the fastener to enter and slide through the hole  21   b . Once the head reaches the stepped portion, the head returns to its original diameter and snaps or latches onto the stepped portion of the rib  23 . In order to dissemble or release the LCD device  10  from the case  21 , a pair of tweezers or similar tool can be adapted for compressing the head of the fastener  17  from the back of the case  21  through the hole  21   b . The fastener  17  is unlatched and can freely slide out of the hole  30   b . As an alternative embodiment, the fastener  17  can be formed on the case  30  and the stepped hole can be formed at the rear face of the LCD device  10  to achieve similar results.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of the LCD device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. There may be one or more hinge mechanisms for the LCD device; however, for convenience of explanation, only one hinge mechanism will be explained.  
         [0057]    Referring to FIG. 8, a body  20  includes a hinge mount  22 , where a hinge arm  24  is connected. The hinge arm  24  has a pin portion  24   a  and a flat or extended portion  24   b . The former is for being mounted to the hinge mount  22 , and the latter is for being coupled to the rear surface of the LCD device  10 . The various hinge components may be separate pieces of attached members or a single structure.  
         [0058]    The flat portion  24   b  can be elongated in various directions and by various methods. FIG. 8 shows one example of the flat portion  24   b  which is in the shape of an inverted “F.” At each end of the flat portion  24   b , a hole such as a through-hole  24   c  is preferably formed. At the back surface of the LCD device  10 , mounting holes  15   a  are formed corresponding to the positions of the through-holes  24   c . The through-holes  24   c  are preferably screw holes. In the display case  30 , a hole such as a through-hole  30   a  may be formed. Moreover, although hole  30   a  may be formed at the corresponding position of the through-hole  24   c  of the flat portion  24   b , alternatively, the flat portion may be in an inverted “L” shape.  
         [0059]    To mount the LCD device  10 , the body  20  and the display device  30  are connected by the pin portion  24   a  on the hinge mount  22 . The display case  30 , the hinge arm  24 , and the LCD device  10  are preferably attached together by screws  18  through the mounting hole  15   a  and the screw hole  15 . Alternatively, nails or other similar known fasteners can be adopted for this purpose.  
         [0060]    Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 which show a fourth embodiment of the hinge arm  24 , the flat portion  24   b  of the hinge arm  24  is extended upwards and preferably extended to almost the entire height of the LCD device  10 . In the flat portion  24   b  according to this embodiment, it is preferable to form a mounting hole  24   c  and the through-hole  30   a  at the same position. It is also possible to form the holes  24   c  and  30   a  at different positions relative to the display case. Thus, additional mounting hole  15   a  may not be necessary for this embodiment. The mounting structure of this embodiment may be stronger than that of the second embodiment. The LCD device  10 , the elongated hinge arm  24 , and the display case  30  are fastened together by screws  18 , for example. FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, where the hinge mount  22  is preferably fixed to the display case  30 , but a fixed flange  26  is secured to the body  20 . The structure of the hinge arm  24  and other elements are similar to those shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0061]    FIGS.  12 - 14  show three alternative embodiments of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. In FIG. 12, the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the hinge arm  24  has a shape of the letter “E.” In FIG. 13, the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the hinge arm  24  has the shape of the letter “C.” In FIG. 14, the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the hinge arm  24  has the shape of the letter “H.” 
         [0062]    The fastening holes may be formed at various positions on the hinge arm  24  as desired to secure the hinge arm to the display case  30 . Combinations and other variations of these different embodiments are contemplated in the present invention with the purpose of supporting the LCD panel, preferably through the back of the LCD panel and the case.  
         [0063]    For example, the seventh and eighth embodiments may be combined to provide a stronger support of the LCD panel. Moreover, the hinge mount may be fixed to the body  20  (FIG. 10) or the display case  30  (FIG. 11) in these embodiments.  
         [0064]    The present invention contemplates the use of fastening devices other than screws. One such alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIGS. 15 and 16 show the mounting structure according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. At the rear surface of the LCD device  10 , at least one fastener such as a hook  19 , preferably made of plastic or other suitable material, is formed. In the flat portion  24   b  of the hinge arm  24 , at least one corresponding through-hole is formed. In the display case, at least one stepped hole  30   b  corresponding to the through-hole in the hinge arm  24  is formed to support and/or latch the fastener  19 . To facilitate the disassembly or release of the fastener  19  from the hole  30   b  through the rear of the case  30 , the hole  30   b  is preferably a through-hole.  
         [0066]    To assemble the LCD device to the hinge arm  24  and display case  30 , the hinge arm  24  is mounted to the hinge mount  22  (as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) and the through-hole  24   c  of the hinge arm  24  and the hole  30   b  are coincidentally placed. Then, the LCD device  10  with at least one fastener  19  is pressed into the hole  30   b  and latched onto the display case  30 , as shown in detail in FIG. 16. Here, the fastener  19  will slide through the hole  30   b  and snap into place by the protruding or wing portions of the head of the fastener  19 . To dissemble the LCD device  10  from the display case  30 , a device such as tweezers or other suitable tool can be adapted for squeezing the head or top portion of the fastener  19  from the back of the case  30  through the hole  30   b . The fastener  19  is unlatched and can freely slide out of the hole  30   b . The hole  30   b  can be covered by a cover  30   c.    
         [0067]    Alternatively, the fastener  19  can be formed on the case  30  and the stepped hole can be formed at the rear face of the LCD device  10  to achieve similar results.  
         [0068]    As explained above, the mounting method according to the present invention does not require unnecessary side space for mounting the LCD device on the computer. Thus, the ratio of the display area of the LCD device to the display case can be improved and maximized.  
         [0069]    In the above embodiments of the present invention, although the LCD device has been used as one type of flat panel display device, other flat panel display devices such as plasma display panels (PDP) and field emission displays (FED) may be used in accordance with the present invention. Moreover, in the above embodiments, other hinge mechanisms may be used such as a gear hinge as disclosed, for example, in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/937,801 filed on Sep. 25, 1997 entitled, “DISPLAY WITH GEAR TYPE HINGE,” which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0070]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the portable computer and method for mounting a flat panel display device thereon of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.