Abstract:
A panel testing apparatus is used to test the panel of a mainframe. When the panel is to be opened, the panel separates from the mainframe after the opening apparatus touches the switch. The fastening apparatus can clamp the front side of the panel easily because the lifting apparatus moves the panel to a higher position away from said mainframe. The panel and the rotating apparatus can rotate simultaneously. When closing said panel is desired, the rotating apparatus can push the back side of the panel. The panel and the rotating apparatus rotate toward the mainframe simultaneously until the switch locks the mainframe.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a panel testing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a panel testing apparatus for performing an open and close test on a panel of a mainframe. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Verification and test are essential steps in addition to research and development during the manufacturing or design processes. For example, a stress test or fatigue test is essential for a mechanical product. Thus, better design of verification and test tools can easily achieve better quality control. 
     An open and close test is performed for a LCD panel of a laptop computer during the manufacturing or design processes. The LCD panel having a switch is connected to a mainframe with a pivot. The switch of the LCD panel locks the mainframe when the LCD panel is pressed close to the mainframe. 
     Conventional open and close test tools can&#39;t press the LCD panel very close to its mainframe because a test tool clamp of the prevents it from locking the mainframe. This problem can affect the open and close test results. 
     For the forgoing reasons, there is a need for well-designed and effective test tools for executing open and close tests of laptop computers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a panel testing apparatus for a laptop computer. 
     In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the present invention, an open and close test apparatus comprises a rotating apparatus, an opening apparatus, a lifting apparatus, a fastening apparatus and a pair of sensors. The open and close test apparatus is used to test the panel of a mainframe. The panel having a switch is connected to the mainframe with a pivot, and the switch can lock the mainframe if the panel is pressed close to the mainframe. 
     When opening the panel is desired, the panel separates from the mainframe after the opening apparatus touches the switch. The fastening apparatus can clamp the front side of the panel easily because the lifting apparatus moves the panel to a higher position away from said mainframe. The panel and the rotating apparatus can rotate simultaneously. 
     When closing said panel is desired, the rotating apparatus can push the back side of the panel. The panel and the rotating apparatus rotate toward the mainframe simultaneously until the switch locks the mainframe. 
     In addition, the open and close test apparatus comprises a debugging mechanism. A pair of sensors is used to detect whether the panel is separated from the mainframe or not. The opening apparatus pushes the switch again or a alarm message is sent in case the panel isn&#39;t separated from the mainframe. 
     In conclusion, the invention has advantages as follows: 
     1. The panel can be pressed very close to the mainframe because the clamp can be away from the panel and does not affect open and close test results. 
     2. The fastening apparatus can clamp the panel easily because the lifting apparatus moves the panel to a higher position away from the mainframe. 
     3. A debugging mechanism comprising a pair of sensors is used to detect whether the panel is separate from the mainframe or not. The opening apparatus pushes the switch again or an alarm message is sent in case the panel isn&#39;t separate from the mainframe. 
     4. The present invention is a simulation of user&#39;s operational behavior. It can be used to test switch on and power down of a laptop computer. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of the fastening apparatus in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of the opening apparatus in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates four different structures of the lifting apparatus; 
     FIGS. 5A,  5 B illustrate two action steps of the lifting apparatus according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; and 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the action of the rotating apparatus according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. A laptop computer&#39;s mainframe  10  is fastened in an open and close test apparatus. The mainframe  10  connects to a panel  15  with pivot. The open and close test apparatus comprises an opening apparatus  30 , a lifting apparatus  35 , a pair of sensors  40 , a rotating apparatus  25 , and a fastening apparatus  20 . The opening apparatus  30  is used to touch a switch  45  of a panel  15  (see FIG.  5 A). The lifting apparatus  35  is used to move the panel  15  to a higher position away from a mainframe  10 . The sensors  40  are positioned at the same horizontal level of the panel  15  when the panel  15  is locked to the mainframe  10 . The sensors  40  are used to detect whether the panel  15  is separated from the mainframe  10  or not. The rotating apparatus  25  comprises a driving apparatus  27  and a holder rod  26 . The holder rod  26  is connected a base  50  by a hinge  52 . The fastening apparatus  20  mounted on the holder rod  26  is used to clamp the panel  15 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the enlarged view of the fastening apparatus in FIG.  1 . The fastening apparatus  20  comprises a clamp  21 , a connecting shaft  22 , and a pneumatic driving apparatus  23 . The pneumatic driving apparatus  23  can control the clamp  21  via the connecting shaft  22 . When the connecting shaft  22  shortens, the clamp  21  can clamp the front side of the panel  15 . Thus, The panel  15  and the rotating apparatus  25  can rotate simultaneously. The fastening apparatus  20  is mounted on the holder rod  26 . The holder rod  26  can be adjusted to fit the size of panel  15 , such as 12.1 inch, 13.5 inch and 14.1 inch. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of the opening apparatus in FIG.  1 . The opening apparatus  30  comprises a spring  32 , a position shaft  33 , and an opening plate  34 . The spring  32  can be selected according to demand for the switch  45 . The position shaft  33  is used to keep the opening plate  34  on the track. The opening apparatus  30  of present invention is intended to protect the switch  45  from damages due to an inappropriate driving force. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates four different structures of the lifting apparatus. Different designs of the present invention are used to lift different panel designs. The lifting structure  36  is a 180 degrees sector. The lifting structure  37  is a 45 degrees sector. The lifting structure  38  is a 45 degrees sector with a hook  41  and can prevent slipping during the lifting procedures. The lifting structure  38  is a 45 degrees sector with springs  42  and lifting plate  43  and can protect the panel  15  from damages due to an inappropriate driving force. 
     When the panel  15  is closed by the rotating apparatus  25  (referring to FIG.  1 ), the pneumatic driving apparatus  23  can lengthen the connecting shaft  22  and the clamp  21  is away from the panel  15  (referring to FIG.  2 ). Next, The rotating apparatus  25  pushes the back side of the panel  15  toward the mainframe  10  until the switch  45  can lock the mainframe  10 . Specially, the clamp need to be away from the panel  15  before the panel  15  comes close to the mainframe. 
     When the panel  15  is opened by the rotating apparatus  25 , the opening apparatus  30  touches the switch  45  (referring to FIG. 5A) and then the switch unlock the mainframe  10 . Next, the fastening apparatus  20  can clamp the panel  15  easily (referring to FIG. 2) because the lifting apparatus  35  moves the panel  15  to a higher position away from the mainframe  10  (referring to FIG.  5 B). The fastening apparatus  20  can clamp the front side of the panel  15  (referring to FIG. 2) because the pneumatic driving apparatus  23  can shorten the connecting shaft  22 . Then the rotating apparatus  25  and the panel  15  can rotate simultaneously. The lifting apparatus  35  mounted on a rotating driving apparatus can lift the panel  10  by hooking the panel and rotating (referring to FIGS.  3 A and  3 B). 
     The open and close procedures are controlled by a computer-readable program. Test rounds can be input into program according to a request. A debugging mechanism is designed in order to detect whether the panel is separate from the mainframe or not when the opening apparatus touch the switch of the panel. The debugging mechanism comprises a pair of sensors (a light emitter and a light receiver). The opening apparatus pushes the switch again or a alarm message is sent if the panel isn&#39;t separate from the mainframe. 
     For example, a pair of light sensors  40  (referring to FIG. 1) is positioned at the horizontal level of the panel  15  when the panel  15  locks the mainframe  10 . The sensors check if the panel  15  blocks the light or not when the opening apparatus  30  touches the switch  45  (referring to FIG.  5 B). If the panel blocks the light, it indicates that the panel isn&#39;t separate from the mainframe. Then some action can be executed, such as pushing the switch again or sending an alarm message. 
     In conclusion, the invention has advantages as follows: 
     1. The panel can be pressed very close to the mainframe because the clamp can be away from the panel and does not affect open and close test results. 
     2. The fastening apparatus can clamp the panel easily because the lifting apparatus moves the panel to a higher position away from the mainframe. 
     3. A debugging mechanism comprising a pair of sensors is used to detect whether the panel is separate from the mainframe or not. The opening apparatus pushes the switch again or an alarm message is sent in case the panel isn&#39;t separate from the mainframe. 
     4. The present invention is a simulation of a user&#39;s operational behavior. It can be used to test switching on and power down of laptop computer. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.