Abstract:
A projection display is provided having visible surfaces and concealed surfaces during normal operation. The projection display comprises a jack panel having one or more connectors for making electrical connections to the projection display, and the jack panel is accessible from at least one visible surface and at least one concealed surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/557,980, entitled “Projection Display Allowing Customer Access to Jack Panel from the Front, Side and Back of Display” and filed Mar. 31, 2004, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to a projection display and, in particular a Jack Panel for a projection display screen.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Recent slim projection display televisions are designed to mount on a wall which makes access to the back difficult. It is desirable to have the cabling (antenna input, power cord, miscellaneous hook up cable) to and from the set, hidden from the viewer in normal operation.  
         [0004]     Hiding the cables from the normal viewing positions can be difficult. Many displays that are designed to mount on a wall have jack panel access from one or more of the edges of the display. Visibility of the jacks during hook up is very limited without bumping your head on the wall. Some displays have very limited “Front Audio/Video Inputs” with no provisions for hiding the cables.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A projection display is provided having visible surfaces and concealed surfaces during normal operation. The projection display comprises a jack panel having one or more connectors for making electrical connections to the projection display, and the jack panel is accessible from at least one visible surface and at least one concealed surface. With the jack panel being accessible from both a visible and a concealed surface, a “pass through” access is provided that allows a customer or user of the projection display to access the jack panel from a visible surface providing good visibility for making cable connections and to introduce cables through the opening in the concealed surface to provide an aesthetic appearance during normal operation (or viewing). 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures of which:  
         [0007]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective front views of a projection display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with  FIG. 1A  showing the display with a removable access panel in place and  FIG. 1B  showing the display with the removable access panel removed;  
         [0008]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective rear views of the projection display of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , with  FIG. 2A  showing the display with a removable jack panel door in place and  FIG. 2B  showing the display with the removable jack panel door removed; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective front view of the projection display of  FIGS. 1A-2B , showing the display with the removable access panel and the removable jack panel door removed.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-3 , the present invention allows a customer or user of an exemplary projection display  1  to remove a decorative access panel  30  from the front of the display, providing good visibility of the jack panel  40  (shown in  FIG. 1B ) and “pass through” cable access to the back of the display. The “pass through” jack panel access arrangement allows the owner or user to have access to the jack panel  40  from either of the front, side, or rear of the display.  
         [0011]     The display  1  includes a screen  10  mounted to a frame  20 . A jack panel  40  is used to make electrical connections with cables for providing power, signal, etc. to the display. An access opening  21  is provided in the front of the frame  20 , below the screen  10 . While the access opening  21  is provided below the screen  10  in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A, 1B , it should be understood that the access opening  21  could also be located on the side of the screen  10  or above the screen  10 . An access panel  30  is removably attached to the frame  20  such that it covers the access opening  21 . The access panel  30  may alternatively be a door or cover that opens via an opening mechanism such as, for example, a hinge. As previously mentioned, it is desirable to have cables located such that they are not visible to a user viewing the screen  10 , and also to prove visible access to the jack panel  40 . In the present embodiment, the access panel  30  provides visible access to the jack panel  40  from the front of the display.  
         [0012]     On the back or side of the frame  20 , a jack panel opening  22  (shown in  FIG. 2B ) provides access to the jack panel  40 . Cables (not shown) can be introduced through this jack panel opening  22  and connected to the jack panel  40  to provide power, signal, etc. to the display. A jack panel door  23  (shown in  FIG. 2A ) is removable attached to the frame  20  covering the jack panel opening  22 .  
         [0013]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , with the access cover  30  and the jack panel door  23  removed, a jack panel cavity  24  is in communication with both the access opening  21  in a visible front surface of the frame  20  and the jack panel opening  22  in a concealed back or side surface of the frame  20 . This permits “pass through” access to the jack panel  40 , whereby easy visible access is provided for cable hook-ups to the display from the front of the display  1 , and cables can be introduced from a concealed surface of the display. Thus, the “pass through” concept allows cables to be hooked up from the front of the display and passed through to the rear of the display.  
         [0014]     Optionally, the frame  20  includes a hole  22  (shown in  FIG. 2B ) proximate the jack panel  40  that allows for easy hook-up of temporary cables like cameras and video games. Such an arrangement allows easy hook up of temporary and/or semi-permanent cables from the front of the set to any of the jacks on the jack panel  40 . A decorative jack panel door  23  on the rear of the display may also provide aesthetic appeal.  
         [0015]     Optionally, the access panel  30  may be attached to the frame with hidden attachment devices. For example, ball catches  26  may be provided in the frame to capture balls (not shown) on the access panel  30 . Thus, the access panel  30  may be snapped in place on the frame  20  and provide an esthetic, appearance.  
         [0016]     The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.