Abstract:
A notebook computer with an LCD display monitor, the LCD display monitor having a latch part that serves to both turn “on” or “off” the LCD backlight whenever the LCD display is rotated open or closed on a main body, but also serves as a toggle switch to enable a user to cut power to the LCD display when the LCD display is open. The latch part is spring loaded and can slide to varying positions during use of a notebook computer. If the LCD is open, it slides to a first position where normally, the LCD backlight is “on”. When the LCD monitor is closed and locked onto a main body for the notebook computer, the latch part assumes a second position where the backlight is turned off. However, when the LCD is open, if the latch part is slid fully against the spring loaded bias, a toggle switch is activated which enables the user to toggle between “backlight on” and “backlight off” during use of a notebook computer. The structure of the latch part and how these features are accomplished are disclosed herein.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application for NOTEBOOK COMPUTER earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jul. 13, 2001 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 2001-42323. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates in general to a portable computer system, and more particularly, to a portable computer system improved in a structure of an LCD switch controlling power supplied to an LCD back light. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a portable computer system such as a notebook main body is small and light and thus handy to carry, but on the other hand it cannot be used outdoors in the case that electric power is not supplied when a battery is exhausted. Therefore, in order to prolong the duration of a battery, technologies minimizing electric power consumption have been continuously developed by a portable computer system manufacturer. In the portable computer system, electric power consumption is relatively high at an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) back light which scans an LCD panel so as to display a picture. Therefore, if the electric power consumption required to display a picture at the LCD panel is minimized, the duration of the battery may be effectively prolonged. 
     However, in these portable computer systems, it is possible to control electric power supplied to an LCD back light only when an LCD assembly is opened and closed. Thus, there is a shortcoming that it is impossible to control electric power supplied to the LCD back light, in the state that the LCD assembly is opened. To make up for the shortcoming, a portable computer system which can be controlled through a keyboard has been developed, but this main body makes another shortcoming that it requires a separate switching control process as software. 
     Further, in the case that electric power supplied to the LCD back light is controlled through the LCD switch, it requires that a push switch, and a pushing projection or a hook for pushing the push switch should be separately provided at the main body and the LCD assembly, respectively. Therefore, a structure thereof becomes complicated, and the cost of production becomes increased. Moreover, when a design of the main body or the LCD assembly is changed, it requires additional time and efforts because a design of the push switch must be changed together with the pushing projection or the hook. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved power control for an LCD panel in a notebook computer. 
     It is also an object to provide a simple power control in a notebook computer enabling a user at will to turn on or turn off power delivered to a back light of the LCD panel. 
     It is further an object to provide power control for a LCD display in a notebook computer that doesn&#39;t require extra hardware or software and is inconspicuous. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide power control of an LCD monitor through a present and previous position of a slidable latch part that is used to lock the LCD display onto the main body containing a keyboard. 
     It is further an object of the present invention to provide a simple mechanism that allows a user to control power delivery to an LCD when the LCD panel is open, interrupt power automatically when the LCD panel is closed, and to manually lock or fasten the LCD panel to the main body when the LCD panel is closed. 
     These and other objects of the present invention may be accomplished by the provision of a portable computer system having a main body, and an LCD assembly rotatably combined to the main body and opening and closing onto the main body, and including an LCD panel displaying a picture thereon and an LCD back light transmitting light for displaying the picture on the LCD panel by power supply, the LCD assembly further includes a latch hole provided at one of the main body and the LCD assembly, a latch member installed in the latch accommodating part provided at the other one of the main body and the LCD assembly, and reciprocating from a hooking position at which the latch member is hooked to the latch hole to a releasing position at which the latch member is released from the latch hole, and an LCD switching part installed in the latch accommodating part and controlling electric power supplied to the LCD back light according to the position of the latch member. Preferably, the latch member is movable from the releasing position to a predetermined extension position via the hooking position. Effectively, the LCD switch part cut off the electric power where the latch member is positioned at the hooking position or the extending position. 
     Preferably, the LCD switch part includes a pushing projection provided at the latch member, and a multistage push switch controlling the electric power by means of the pushing projection where the latch member is positioned at the hooking position or the extension position, and pushed or released where the latch member is positioned at the extension position passing through the hooking position. Effectively, in the latch accommodating part is provided a spring elastically pulling the latch member toward a hooking direction. Preferably, the latch hole is provided at the main body, and the latch accommodating part is provided at the LCD assembly. On the other hand, the latch hole may be provided at the LCD assembly, and the latch accommodating part may be provided at the main body. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     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 symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable computer system; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a part in which a latch member is installed, in another portable computer system. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable computer system according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a exploded perspective view of a part in which latch and LCD switch parts are installed in the portable computer system of FIG. 3; 
     FIGS. 5 through 7 are sectional views of a combination of the latch and LCD switch parts for explaining operations thereof according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a table describing all four states of the latch member and the effect each state has on the backlight of the LCD. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portable computer system according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a combination of the latch and LCD switch parts for explaining operations thereof according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning to the figures, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable computer system. As shown therein, the portable computer system  101  has a main body  110  and a foldaway LCD assembly  120  combined to the main body  110  by means of a hinge  155 . Inside the main body  110  are installed a main board, a CPU, a RAM, etc., and on the upper side of the main body  110  are provided a keyboard  113  and a touch pad  111  for an input operation. At the front edge of the upper side of the main body  110  is provided a latch hole  115  corresponding to a latch member  133  (to be described later) of the LCD assembly  120 . 
     The LCD assembly  120  includes an LCD casing  121 , an LCD panel  123  accommodated in the LCD casing  121 , and an LCD back light (not shown) installed at the rear of the LCD panel  123 . At the free end of the LCD assembly  120  are provided the latch member  133  to be hooked and unhooked to the latch hole  115  when the LCD assembly  120  contacts the upper side of the main body  110 , and a knob  143  for moving the latch member  133 . The LCD panel  123  receives a video signal from the main body  110 , and displays it on the front surface thereof. The LCD back light (not shown) transmits a plane light to the LCD panel  123  so as to display a picture on the LCD panel  123 . 
     Further, at the main body  110  and the LCD assembly  120  is provided an LCD switch  150  cutting off electric power supplied to the LCD back light (not shown) when the LCD assembly  120  is closed in the state that the main body  110  is turned on. The LCD switch  150  includes a push switch  153  provided on the upper side of the main body  110  at a position adjacent to the hinge  155  of the LCD casing  121 , and a pushing projection  151  provided on the LCD assembly  120  at a position corresponding to the position of the push switch  153 . 
     With this configuration, if a user closes the LCD assembly  120  while using the portable computer system  101 , the electric power supplied to the LCD back light (not shown) is cut off according as the pushing projection  151  pushes the push switch  153 , thereby turning off the LCD panel  123 . Thereafter, if a user opens the LCD assembly  120 , the electric power is supplied to the LCD back light (not shown) according as the pushing projection  151  does not push the push switch  153 . Thus, if a user closes the LCD assembly  120  while using the portable computer system  101 , the LCD panel  123  requiring relatively high electric power consumption is turned off with the main body  110  being turned on, thereby minimizing the electric power consumption of the battery. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a part in which a latch member  233  is installed, in another portable computer system. In the portable computer system shown therein, an LCD switch  250  which controls electric power supplied to an LCD back light (not shown) transmitting a light to an LCD panel (not shown) includes a push switch  253  provided inside a latch hole  215 , and a hook  251  of a latch member  233  provided at an LCD assembly  220 . 
     With this configuration, if a user closes the LCD assembly  220  while using the portable computer system, the push switch  253  provided inside the latch hole  215  is pushed and electric power supplied to the LCD back light (not shown) is cut off the moment the hook  251  of the latch member  233  is hooked to the latch hole  215 , thereby turning off the LCD panel (not shown). Thereafter, if a user opens the LCD assembly  220 , the latch member  233  does not push the push switch  253 , thereby supplying electric power to the LCD back light (not shown). 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable computer system according to the present invention. As shown therein, the portable computer system  1  comprises a main body  10  and a foldaway LCD assembly  20  combined to the main body  10  by means of a hinge  55 . Inside the main body  10  are installed a main board, a CPU, a RAM, etc., and on the upper side of the main body  10  are provided a keyboard  13  and a touch pad  11  for an input operation. At the front edge of the upper side of the main body  10  is provided a latch hole  15  corresponding to a hook  45  of the LCD assembly  20 . 
     The LCD assembly  20  includes an LCD casing  21 , an LCD panel  23  accommodated in the LCD casing  21 , and an LCD back light (not shown) installed at the rear of the LCD panel  23 . The LCD casing  21  is comprised of a front casing  27  and a rear casing  29 , which are mutually combined so as to form a space for accommodating the LCD panel  23  and the LCD back light (not shown). The LCD panel  23  receives a video signal from the main body  10 , and displays it on the front surface thereof. The LCD back light (not shown) transmits a plane light to the LCD panel  23  so as to display a picture on the LCD panel  23 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, at the free end of the LCD assembly  20  are provided a latch part  30  to be hooked and unhooked to the latch hole  15  provided at the main body  10  when the LCD assembly  20  is opened and closed, and an LCD switch part  50  (see FIG. 3) controlling electric power supplied to the LCD back light (not shown) transmitting a plane light to the LCD panel  23 . 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a part in which the latch part  30  and the LCD switch part  50  are installed. As shown therein, the latch part  30  includes a latch accommodating part  31  provided at the middle of the free end of the LCD casing  21 , a latch member  33  movably accommodated in the latch accommodating part  31  and hooked and unhooked to the latch hole  15  with a reciprocating movement, a spring  35  elastically pulling the latch member  33  toward a hooking direction, and a latch cover  37  covering the latch accommodating part  31 . The latch accommodating part  31  is a recess with a predetermined length along the center of the distal edge of the LCD casing  21 . At one end of the latch accommodating part  31  is provided a first ring  41  to which one end of the spring  35  is combined. The latch member  33  includes a knob  43  exposed out of the latch cover  37 , and a hook  45  attached to knob  43  capable of being hooked and unhooked to the latch hole  15 . At one end of the latch member  33  is provided a second ring  47  (see FIG. 5) to which the other end of the spring  35  is combined. 
     On the latch cover  37  are formed an elongated guiding hole  48  guiding the latch member  33  for the reciprocating movement, and an elongated hook hole  49  through which the hook  45  passes. The guiding hole  48  and the hook hole  49  have such lengths that the latch member  33  can reciprocally move from a releasing position “A” (see FIG.  5 ), at which the hook  45  is positioned at one end of the latch cover  37 , to an extension position “C” (see FIG.  7 ), at which the hook  45  is positioned at the other end of the latch cover  37 , via a hooking position “B” (see FIG.  6 ), at which the hook  45  is hooked to the latch hole  15  in a middle of a distal portion of main body  10  when the LCD assembly  20  is closed. 
     While the LCD assembly  20  is opened, the latch member  33  is positioned at the releasing position “A” (see FIG. 5) by a restoring force of the biased spring  35 . If a user closes the LCD assembly  20 , the hook  45  of the latch member  33  is hooked to the latch hole  15  by the restoring force of the spring  35  at the hooking position “B” (see FIG.  6 ). Further, the latch member  33  is moved to the extension position “C” (see FIG. 7) accordingly as a user moves the knob  43  to a releasing direction in order to open the LCD assembly  20 , and then is restored to the releasing position “A” by the restoring force of the spring  35  accordingly as a user lets go of the knob  43  after the LCD assembly  20  is opened. The LCD switch part  50  is includes a pushing projection  51  attached to latch member  33 , and a push switch  53  provided at an opposite end of latch accommodating part  31  opposite first ring  41 . The pushing projection  51  is protruded from the latch member  33  with a predetermined length. The pushing projection  51  actuates push switch  53  when the latch member  33  is positioned at the hooking position “B” (see FIG. 6) or the extension position “C” (see FIG. 7) or “D” (see FIG. 6) (see also FIG.  8 ). 
     The push switch  53  is comprised of a multistage push switch which can control electric power supplied to the LCD back light (not shown) by stages according to the degree of actuation by the pushing projection  51 , i.e., whether the latch member  33  is positioned at releasing position “A” (see FIG.  5 ), hooking position “B” (see FIG. 6) an extension position “C” (see FIG. 7) or a position “D” between “B” and “C” (see FIGS.  6  and  8 ). Here, where the latch member  33  is positioned at the extension position “C”, the push switch  53  is in a fully pushed state. The pushed push switch  53  is partially released at a predetermined position, including a position “D” (see FIG.  6 ), namely, between the hooking position “B” and the extension position “C”, in order to turn on the LCD panel  23  whenever the LCD assembly  20  is opened. 
     With this configuration, in the portable computer system  1  according to the present invention, if a user closes the LCD assembly  20  while using the portable computer system  1 , as shown in FIG. 6, the pushing projection  51  provided at the latch member  33  pushes the push switch  53  according as the latch member  33  is positioned at the hooking position “B”, to thereby cut off electric power supplied to the LCD back light (not shown). Thereafter, if a user opens the LCD assembly  20 , as shown in FIG. 5, the pushed push switch  53  is released according as the latch member  33  moves to the releasing position “A”, to thereby turn on the LCD panel  23  by supplying electric power to the LCD back light (not shown). 
     Not only does extension position “C” serve to turn off the backlight of the LCD monitor, extension position “C” serves as a toggle switch to determine whether the backlight of the LCD monitor shall remain “off” or turn “on” when latch member  33  is subsequently moved to releasing position “A”. For example, if a user wants to turn off the LCD back light (not shown), with the LCD assembly  20  being opened, a user has only to move the latch member  33  to the extension position “C” (see FIG.  7 ). Then, the pushing projection  51  entirely pushes the push switch  53 , and the electric power supplied to the LCD back light (not shown) is cut off, so that the LCD panel  23  is turned off. At this time, if a user lets go off the knob  43 , though the latch member  33  is restored to the releasing position “A” (see FIG. 5) by the restoring force of the spring  35 , the push switch  53  remains in the pushed state. 
     Thereafter, if a user wants to turn on the LCD back light (not shown) so as to allow the LCD panel  23  to display a picture thereon, a user has only to move the latch member  33  to the extension position “C” (see FIG. 7) again. Then, the pushing projection  51  pushes the push switch  53  again, to thereby release the pushed state of the push switch  53 . Therefore, electric power is supplied to the LCD back light (not shown) and the LCD panel  23  can display a picture. At this time, if a user lets go off the knob  43 , the latch member  33  is restored to the releasing position “A” (see FIG. 5) by the restoring force of the spring  35  and the push switch  53  is released from the pushed state. 
     As described above, the LCD switch part controlling electric power supplied to the LCD back light is provided in the latch accommodating part, and therefore the LCD back light can be simply turned on and off without a separate switching control process as software, with the LCD assembly being opened. 
     Further, the LCD switch part, together with the latch member, is installed in the latch accommodating part provided at the main body or the LCD assembly, and therefore there is no need to change the design of one of the main body and the LCD assembly when the design of the other one of them is changed. 
     In the above description, a latch hole is provided at a main body, and a latch accommodating part accommodating a latch member together with an LCD switch part is provided at an LCD assembly. However, the latch hole and the latch accommodating part may be respectively provided at the LCD assembly and the main body. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the portable computer system with latch and switch according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the latch  130  is found in the main body  10  and not in the LCD assembly  20 . In addition, the latch hole  115  is in the LCD assembly  20  and not in the main body  10 . In other words, in the second embodiment, the latch member, the switch, the knob and the hook are in the main body  10  instead of in the LCD assembly  20 . 
     Turning to FIG. 10, latch member  133 , knob  143 , hook  145 , the spring, the first ring  141 , the second ring  147 , the LCD switch part  150 , the pushing projection  151 , the push switch  153  and the elongated guiding hole  148  are disposed in the main body  10  instead of the LCD casing  21 . Each of these parts is identical to that of the first embodiment except that the latch and switch are in the main body  10  and not the LCD casing  21 . Therefore, reference numerals of the switch and the latch in FIG. 10 are offset by 100 from the first embodiment of FIG.  3 . The parts are the same, but their locations have changed from the first embodiment of FIG. 3 to the second embodiment of FIG.  10 . Because of the similarity, a full detailed description of operation will be omitted. 
     As described above, the present invention provides a portable computer system in which electric power supplied to an LCD back light can be controlled by a user as necessary without a separate switching control process as software, with an LCD assembly being opened, and thus the cost of production can be decreased according to the simplified structure. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purpose, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.