Abstract:
A liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor comprises: a front casing; an LCD assembly combined with or joined to the rear of the front casing; a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly transmitting electrical signals to the LCD assembly; and a support including an LCD support part combined with or joined to the front casing and positioned at the rear of the LCD assembly against the front casing, and a board accommodating part integrated with the LCD support part in a single body and accommodating the PCB assembly therein. With this configuration, the present invention simplifies the assembly process and reduces the cost of production by reducing the components thereof.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
         [0001]    This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from my application LCD MONITOR filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on May 21, 2001 and there duly assigned Serial No. 2001-27811.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates, in general, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. More particularly, it relates to an LCD monitor having an improved structure combining an LCD assembly and a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    An LCD monitor is a display apparatus using the phenomenon that, when a certain voltage is applied, the arrangement of a liquid crystal is varied to prevent light from passing therethrough.  
           [0006]    The LCD monitor has the advantages of space utility because of its small size and low power consumption, so that the LCD monitor is preferred by many users. However, most users cannot easily afford the LCD monitor due to its high price.  
           [0007]    Therefore, technology for reducing the cost of the LCD monitor has been developed. For example, reduced cost is achieved by reducing the number of components thereof or by improving the production steps thereof.  
           [0008]    An LCD monitor comprises a cover casing forming an outer appearance thereof, an LCD assembly accommodated in the cover casing, and a PCB assembly for transmitting electric signals to the LCD assembly.  
           [0009]    The cover casing comprises a front casing and a rear casing which are combined with or joined to each other to form a space for accommodating the components, including the LCD assembly, the PCB assembly, etc. An opening is provided in the front casing, through which opening pictures displayed on an LCD panel are transmitted to the outside of the LCD monitor. Air inflow slots and terminal accommodating holes are provided in the rear casing.  
           [0010]    The LCD assembly comprises an LCD panel on which pictures are displayed, and an LCD support frame which is combined with or joined to the circumference of the LCD panel. Screw combining holes are provided at the left and right sides of the LCD support frame in order to join or combine the LCD assembly with a panel support.  
           [0011]    The panel support for fixing a position of the LCD assembly, and a PCD shield for protecting the PCB assembly and fixing a position of the PCB assembly, are accommodated between the front casing and the rear casing.  
           [0012]    The panel support is made of a metal board for surrounding the rear surface and circumference of the LCD assembly. A plurality of combining flaps is provided at the circumference of the panel support for joinder or combination with the rear surface of the front casing. Screw passing holes are formed in the combining flaps. The LCD assembly is accommodated in the panel support and is combined with or joined to the panel support by screws. The panel support combined with the LCD assembly is also combined with or joined to the rear surface of the front casing by a plurality of screws.  
           [0013]    The PCB shield is made of a metal board for accommodating the PCB assembly. A plurality of flanges is provided at the circumference of the PCB shield, and screw passing holes are formed therein. The PCB assembly is fixed to the rear surface of the panel support by screws. The PCB shield is combined with or joined to the rear surface of the panel support by a plurality of screws and covers the PCB assembly.  
           [0014]    However, because the panel support and the PCB shield of the LCD monitor are separately provided components and are assembled using a plurality of screws, the assembly process is complicated and the cost of production is increased.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    Accordingly, the present invention has been developed with the above-described shortcoming and the needs of the user in mind. An object of the present invention is to provide an LCD monitor which is capable of simplifying the assembly process and reducing the cost of production by reducing the components thereof.  
           [0016]    This and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of an LCD monitor comprising a front casing, an LCD assembly combined with or joined to the rear of the front casing, and a PCB assembly for transmitting electrical signals to the LCD assembly. The LCD monitor further comprises a support comprising an LCD support part combined with or joined to the front casing and disposed at the rear of the LCD assembly for pressing the LCD assembly against the front casing, and a board accommodating part integrated with the LCD support part in one body and accommodating the PCB assembly therein.  
           [0017]    Preferably, the board accommodating part is formed so as to protrude rearwardly inside the LCD support part. At least one input port is provided at the circumference of the PCB assembly, and a port passing opening is formed at a certain area of the board accommodating part corresponding to the input port.  
           [0018]    For the sake of efficiency, the LCD monitor support comprises a bent flange adjacent to at least one side of the LCD assembly and preventing the LCD assembly from moving out of the support. A plurality of casing combining flaps having screw passing holes is provided in the bent flange, and screw coupling parts are provided at a part of the front casing corresponding to the casing combining flaps.  
           [0019]    Further, at least one stopping projection is provided in either the circumference of the LCD assembly or that of the front casing and projects toward the other one of the two, while a stopping groove is provided at the other one of the two in correspondence to the stopping projection.  
           [0020]    Preferably, the LCD monitor comprises a rear casing forming, in cooperation with the front casing, a space for accommodating the LCD assembly, the PCB assembly and the support therein, and at least one pressing projection is joined to one of the LCD assembly and the rear casing, and presses the LCD assembly against the front casing.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate the same or similar components, and wherein:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an LCD monitor according to the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an LCD assembly, a PCB assembly, and a support as seen in FIG. 1.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is an enlargement view showing the coupling state of circles A and A′ in FIG. 1.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is an enlargement view showing the coupling state of circles B and B′ in FIG. 1.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional LCD monitor. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an LCD monitor according to the present invention, while FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an LCD assembly, a PCB assembly, and a support as seen in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an LCD monitor  1  according to the present invention comprises a cover casing  3  forming an outer appearance thereof, an LCD assembly  5  and a PCB assembly  7  accommodated in the cover casing  3 , and a support  10  for supporting the LCD assembly  5  and the PCB assembly  7 .  
         [0029]    The cover casing  3  comprises a front casing  20  and a rear casing  30  which are combined with or joined to each other, and which form a space therebetween for accommodating the assemblies (such as the LCD assembly  5 , the PCB assembly  7 , etc.). An opening  21  is provided in the front casing  20  for transmitting pictures displayed on an LCD panel  40  to the outside of the LCD monitor. A plurality of hooks  23  is provided on the circumference of the rear surface of the front casing  20  for combining or joining front casing  20  with the rear casing  30 . A casing combining part  25  is provided in a lower part of the rear surface of the front casing  20  for combining or joining the front casing  20  with the rear casing  30  by means of screws  61 . A female screw (not shown) is formed in the casing combining part  25 . A plurality of stopping projections  27  is provided in the opposite side of the circumference of the front casing  20  for establishing an assembly position of the LCD assembly  5 , and for preventing the LCD assembly  5  from moving out of the support  10 . Further, a plurality of screw coupling parts  29  is provided in the circumference of the rear surface of the front casing  20  for combining or joining it with the support  10 . A female screw part (not shown) is formed in the screw coupling part  29 .  
         [0030]    Air inflow slots  31  for conveying outside air into the interior of the cover casing  3 , and terminal passing holes  39  for the connection of input terminals, are provided in the rear casing  30 . A plurality of hook holes  33  is provided in the circumference of the rear casing  30  in correspondence to the hooks  23  of the front casing  20 . A plurality of combining holes  35  is provided in the rear casing  30  in correspondence to the casing combining part  25 , and the screws  61  pass through holes  35 . Further, pressing projections  37  are provided in the opposite sides of the inside surface of the rear casing  30  for pressing the LCD assembly  5  against the front casing  20  by contact with the LCD assembly  5 .  
         [0031]    The LCD assembly comprises an LCD panel  40  on which pictures are displayed, and an LCD support frame  41  which is combined with or joined to the circumference of the LCD panel  40 . Stopping grooves  47  are provided in the opposite sides of a lower part of the LCD support frame  41  in correspondence to the stopping projections  27  of the front casing  20 . Further, pressing grooves  45  are formed in the opposite sides of a lower part of the LCD support frame  41  in correspondence to the pressing projections  37  of the rear casing  30 .  
         [0032]    The PCB assembly  7  comprises a PCB  51  and a plurality of components  53  provided on the PCB  51 . A plurality of input ports  59  is provided in a certain area of the PCB assembly  7 , corresponding to the terminal passing hole  39  of the rear casing  30 , for connection to power input terminals and cable connecting terminals.  
         [0033]    The support  10  comprises an LCD support part  11  covering at least a certain area of the LCD assembly  5 , and a board accommodating part  13  integrated with the LCD support part  11  in one body and accommodating the PCB assembly  7 .  
         [0034]    Bent flange  14  is provided in the circumference of the LCD support part  11 , and adjacent to circumference of LCD assembly  5 , for preventing the LCD assembly  5  from moving out of the support  10 . Casing combining flaps  15  are provided beside the bent flange  14  and adjacent to screw coupling part  29  of the front casing  20 . A screw passing hole  17  is provided in each of the casing combining flaps  15 .  
         [0035]    The bent flange  14  may be provided so as to entirely surround the circumference of the LCD assembly, or so as to partially surround the circumference of the LCD assembly  5 , thereby preventing the LCD assembly  5  from moving out of the support  10 .  
         [0036]    The board accommodating part  13  projects outwardly from the board surface of the LCD support part  11  so as to accommodate the entire PCB assembly  7  therein. A port passing opening  19  is provided in a lower part of the board accommodating part  13  in correspondence to the input port  59  of the PCB assembly  7 .  
         [0037]    With this configuration, the assembly process for the LCD monitor  1  according to the present invention will now be described. Firstly, the LCD assembly  5  is positioned at the rear surface of the front casing  20 . The stopping grooves  47  provided in the opposite sides of the LCD assembly  5  are inserted into the stopping projections  27  provided in the front casing  20  to prevent the LCD assembly  5  from moving out of the support  10 . In the latter regard, see FIGS. 3 and 4 which are enlarged views showing the coupling states of portions A and A′ and portions B and B′ of FIG. 1. The positions of the stopping grooves  47  and the stopping projections  27  may be reversed as necessary or desirable.  
         [0038]    Then, the PCB assembly  7  is joined to the inside of the board accommodating part  13  of the support  10  using the screws  61 . At this point, the input port  59  provided in the PCB assembly  7  is exposed to the outside of the support  10  through the port passing opening  19  (FIG. 2) of the board accommodating part  13 . The PCB assembly  7  may be joined in advance to the inside of the board accommodating part  13  of the support  10 .  
         [0039]    After completing the assembly of the PCB assembly  7 , the support  10  is disposed at the rear of the LCD assembly  5  which is positioned to the rear of the front casing  20  so that the top area of the LCD assembly  5  is partially accommodated in the LCD support part  11 . At this point, the bent flange  14  of the LCD support part  11  contacts the top, left and right sides of the circumference of the LCD assembly  5  so as to prevent the LCD assembly  5  from moving out of the support  10 . Then, the casing combining flaps  15  provided in the bent flange  14  of the LCD support part  11  contact the screw coupling parts  29  provided in the front casing  20 . In this state, the screws  61  (FIG. 2) are inserted through the screw passing holes  17  of the casing combining flaps  15  and into the screw combining part  29  so that the support  10  accommodating the PCB assembly  7  is combined with or joined to the front casing  20 , thereby pressing the LCD assembly  5  against the front casing  20 . Through these steps, the combination of the LCD assembly  5  and the PCB assembly  7  is completed.  
         [0040]    After the support  10  is combined with the front casing  20 , the rear casing  30  is positioned at the rear of the support  10 , and is pressed against the front casing  20 . Then, the hook holes  33  provided in the circumference of the rear casing  30  are engaged with the hooks  23  provided in the front casing  20 . The combining holes  35  provided in the rear casing  30  are then joined to the casing combining part  25  of the front casing  20 . At this point, the input port  59  of the PCB assembly  7 , which is exposed to the outside of the support  10 , is also exposed to the outside of the rear casing  30  through the terminal passing opening  39  of the rear casing  30 , and the pressing projections  37  provided in the rear casing  30  are engaged with the pressing grooves  45  of LCD assembly  5  (see FIG. 4 which is an enlarged view of portions B and B′ of FIG. 1), thereby pressing the LCD assembly  5  against the front casing  20  and, at the same time, preventing the LCD assembly  5  from moving out of the support  10 . In this state, the screws  61  (FIG. 2) are inserted through the combining holes  35  into the casing combining part  25 , thereby completing the combination or joining of the cover casing  3 , the LCD assembly  5 , and the PCB assembly  7 .  
         [0041]    As described above, by causing the LCD support  10  to press the LCD assembly  5  against the front casing  20 , and by providing integrated support with the board accommodating part  13  accommodating the PCB assembly  51  in one body, the number of the components for combining or joining the LCD assembly  5  with the PCB assembly  51  can be reduced, and the assembly steps can be simplified, thereby reducing the cost of production and improving the efficiency of production.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional LCD monitor. As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional LCD monitor  101  comprises a cover casing  103  forming an outer appearance thereof, an LCD assembly  105  accommodated in the cover casing  103 , and a PCB assembly  107  transmitting electric signals to the LCD assembly  105 .  
         [0043]    The cover casing  103  comprises a front casing  120  and a rear casing  130  which are combined with or joined to each other to form a space for accommodating the components, including the LCD assembly  105 , the PCB assembly  107 , etc. An opening  121  is provided in the front casing  120 , through which opening pictures displayed on an LCD panel  140  are transmitted to the outside of the LCD monitor  101 . Air inflow slots  131  and terminal accommodating holes (not shown) are provided in the rear casing  130 .  
         [0044]    The LCD assembly  105  comprises LCD panel  140  on which pictures are displayed, and an LCD support frame  141  which is combined with or joined to the circumference of the LCD panel  140 . Screw combining holes  143  are provided at the left and right sides of the LCD support frame  141  for joining the LCD assembly  105  to a panel support  111 .  
         [0045]    The panel support  111  for fixing a position of the LCD assembly  105 , and a PCD shield  113  for protecting the PCB assembly  107  and fixing a position of the PCB assembly  107 , are accommodated between the front casing  120  and the rear casing  130 .  
         [0046]    The panel support  111  is made of a metal board and surrounds the rear surface and circumference of the LCD assembly  105 . A plurality of combining flaps  151  is provided at the circumference of the panel support  111  for combination with or joining the rear surface of the front casing  120 . Screw passing holes  153  are formed in the combining flaps  151 . The LCD assembly  105  is accommodated in the panel support  111 , and is combined with or joined to the panel support  111  by screws  163 . The panel support  111 , combined with the LCD assembly  105 , is further combined with or joined to the rear surface of the front casing  120  by a plurality of screws  161 .  
         [0047]    The PCB shield  113  is made of a metal board, and accommodates the PCB assembly  107 . A plurality of flanges  154  is provided at the circumference of the PCB shield  113 , in which screw passing holes  155  are formed. The PCB assembly  107  is fixed to the rear surface of the panel support  111  by screws  161 . The PCB shield  113  is combined with or joined to the rear surface of the panel support  111  by a plurality of screws  165  so as to cover the PCB assembly  107 .  
         [0048]    However, because the panel support  111  and the PCB shield  113  of the conventional LCD monitor  101  are separately provided components, and are assembled using a plurality of screws  161 ,  163  and  165 , the assembly process is complicated and the cost of production is increased.  
         [0049]    While there have been illustrated and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the true scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teaching of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that the present invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.