Patent Publication Number: US-2006017859-A1

Title: Image display device having slim type cathode ray tube

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of and priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0056939, filed on Jul. 21, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an image display device, and in particular, to an image display device which uses a cathode ray tube as an image display unit.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Generally, a cathode ray tube (CRT) is an electron tube which deflects electron beams, emitted from an electron gun, horizontally and vertically. The electron beams land on a screen including light-emitting phosphor layers resulting in displaying the desired images. The deflection of the electron beams is performed by a deflection yoke, which is mounted around the outer circumference of a funnel, and creates a formation of horizontal and vertical magnetic fields.  
      The cathode ray tube has been mainly used in producing color televisions and computer monitors, and has recently been used in high-end products, such as high definition television (HDTV).  
      However, with recent technological developments, flat panel displays, such as plasma display panels, liquid crystal displays, and organic field emission displays, have been spotlighted as the choice of displays, rather than displays using cathode ray tubes, which have an excellent display quality, but have a large vacuum tube. The large vacuum tube occupies a large space and is heavy due to its large size.  
      In regard to this, the cathode ray tube industry has made efforts to reduce the weight of the vacuum tube as much as possible, while maintaining reasonable air-proof strength thereof, and to shorten the electric field length, thereby slimming the cathode ray tube.  
      Such image display device where a cathode ray tube is used as the display unit, which does not make any significant difference in space usage compared to flat panel displays, appeals to consumers.  
      However, consumers have gradually turned their face away from image display devices using a cathode ray tube, because the electric field length of the cathode ray tube cannot be sufficiently reduced, due to the structural limitation thereof, compared to flat panel displays, even though it involves excellent brightness characteristics and low production costs.  
      Furthermore, when an image display device with a cathode ray tube is utilized as a television, it is set only with a case enclosing the entire cathode ray tube. However, in this case, no special visual sensation is provided to the consumers, and hence, it does not satisfy the various preferences of the consumers.  
      In addition, when the image display device is installed on the same level as the eye of the consumers at the locations of usage (e.g., in a living room, or other locations), it is typically put on a separate support stand, which is at least equal in size to the cathode ray tube. In this case, the support stand also occupies a large space and is a burden to the user.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In one embodiment, the present invention is an image display device having a cathode ray tube which reduces its total installation area compared to the screen size, and satisfies the preferences of consumers for the overall appearance.  
      According to one aspect of the present invention, an image display device includes: a cathode ray tube for displaying images; a case enclosing the cathode ray tube while forming the outer appearance thereof; and a unitary support including a cavity for partially receiving the cathode ray tube while being connected to the case to suspend it.  
      In one embodiment, the support has a support portion fitted to the center of the case to support it.  
      Specifically, the case includes front and back case parts arranged at the front and rear of the cathode ray tube and connected to each other, and one end portion of the support is connected to the center of the back case part.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, an image display device includes: a cathode ray tube for displaying images; a case enclosing the cathode ray tube while forming the outer appearance thereof; and a support partially receiving the cathode ray tube and connected to the case to suspend it. The support includes: a post, having one end portion connected to the case, a support portion tightly fitted to the case to support it, and a portion proceeding substantially vertical to the ground surface; and a base connected to the post to stand it erect.  
      In one embodiment, the post has a first curved portion partially connected to the case, and a second portion connected to the first portion and fitted to the base in an erect standing state. The case support portion may be formed in the first portion.  
      According to still another aspect of the present invention, an image display device includes: a cathode ray tube for displaying images; a case enclosing the cathode ray tube while forming the outer appearance thereof; and a support partially receiving the cathode ray tube and connected to the case to suspend it. The support includes: a post having one end portion connected to the case, and a support portion tightly fitted to the case to support it and inclined at an angle with respect to the direction vertical to the ground surface; and a base connected to the post to stand it erect.  
      In one embodiment, both ends of the base are branched, and the suspension distance of the case is shorter than the length of any one edge of the case. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an image display device includes a cathode ray tube for displaying images; a case for enclosing the cathode ray tube; and a support having for partially receiving the cathode ray tube, wherein footprint of the case has a substantially same size as a footprint of the support. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an image display device, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the image display device, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the image display device, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the image display device, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an image display device, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the image display device, according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the image display device, according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the image display device, according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      FIGS.  1  to  4  are different views of an image display device, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
      The image display device according to the present invention is an electronic device where a cathode ray tube is used as a display unit. Since the basic structural components of the cathode ray tube are similar to a typical cathode ray tube, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image display device  10  includes a cathode ray tube  10   a , a case  10   b  enclosing the cathode ray tube  10   a  and combined with the cathode ray tube  10   a , and a support  10   c  connected to the case  10   b  to suspend it. In one embodiment, the cathode ray tube is a slim type cathode ray tube with a shortened electric field length. In order to have a smaller image display device, this slim type cathode ray tube requires a support stand that is optimized in size and does not require a substantially larger space than the slim cathode ray tube.  
      The case  10   b  makes a formation of the outer appearance of the image display device  10 , and includes a front case part  100   b  placed at the front of the cathode ray tube  10   a , and a back case part  102   b  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) placed at the rear of the cathode ray tube  10   a , which are coupled to each other by way of a screw coupling (not shown).  
      The support  10   c  is connected at one end to the center of the back case part  102   b  by way of a screw coupling, while supporting the case  10   b  to be at the same level as the eye level of the user. In this embodiment, the support  10   c  is a stand-type support.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the support  10   c  has a post  104   c  with a first portion  100   c  connected at one end to the center of the back case part  102   b , and a second portion  102   c  connected to the first portion  100   c  while standing substantially vertical to the ground surface.  
      The post  104   c  is connected to a base  106   c , and supported by the latter, thereby maintaining the erect standing state thereof.  
      In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the first portion  100   c  is curved, and placed at the front (below) and the rear of the case  10   b . The first portion  100   c  has a support portion  10   d  (for example, a platform) on which the case  10   b  is positioned and fitted. The platform may have a leveled (horizontal) top surface or an angled top surface. The first portion  100   c  also includes a cavity in which a portion of the CRT  10   a , for example, a neck portion is positioned.  
      When the case  10   b  and the support  10   c  are coupled to each other, the body portion of the cathode ray tube  10   a  is placed within the case  10   b , and the neck portion  10   f  with an electron gun (not shown) mounted therein, is placed within the cavity of the first portion  100   c  of the support  10   c . It is noted that for the support  10   e  to have a stable standing position when the CRT  10   a  and the case  10   b  are placed thereon, the weight of the CRT and case combination is distributed in such a way to have the center of the gravity of the CRT and case combination substantially centered with respect to second portion  102   c  and base  106   c.    
      In one embodiment, the footprint of the case including the slim cathode ray tube  10   a  is substantially the same size as the footprint of the support mainly, because the neck portion of the cathode ray tube  10   a  is placed within the cavity of support  10   c . This way, the size of the image display device is not substantially increased by including the support  10   c  with the device.  
      The above arrangement relation is derived from the fact that the electric field length of the slim cathode ray tube  10   a  is significantly reduced compared to a conventional cathode ray tube with the same screen size. (In this embodiment, the cathode ray tube has a screen size of 32 inches, and a screen ratio of 16:9, but it is not necessarily limited thereto).  
      In this embodiment, the electric field length of the slim cathode ray tube  10   a  is substantially 35 cm, and the electric field length of the cathode ray tube  10   a  with the case  10   b  and the support  10   c  is 38 cm (compared to 60 cm for the same kind of conventional devices). Therefore, the case and the support stand are also reduced in size.  
      In one embodiment, the support  10   c  includes a DVD player and/or a video cassette recorder (VCR), embodied therein. For user convenience, insertion holes  108   c  and  110   c  are formed at the front of the support  10   c  to receive a DVD, a CD, or a video tape. Also, a ventilation hole  112   c  is provided at the rear of the support  10   c  to emit the heat generated during operation of the cathode ray tube  10   a , from the support  10   c . Alternatively or in addition, such a ventilation hole may be formed in the case  10   b.    
      In addition, speakers  10   e  are arranged at both sides of the front case part  100   b.    
      FIGS.  5  to  8  illustrate an image display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
      The image display device  30  includes a slim type cathode ray tube  30   a  for displaying images, a case  30   b  enclosing the cathode ray tube  30   a  while forming the outer appearance thereof, and a support  30   c  connected to the case  30   b  to support it.  
      The case  30   b  has a front case part  300   b  and a back case part  302   b , which are arranged at the front and rear of the cathode ray tube  30   a , and combined with each other by way of, for example, a screw coupling. In one embodiment, the support  30   c  is a mount-type support.  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , the body portion of the cathode ray tube  30   a  is placed within the case  30   b , and the neck portion  30   g  is placed within a cavity formed in the support  30   c.    
      In the second embodiment, the support  30   c  is entirely formed with a post  300   c , inclined at an angle of a with respect to the y direction vertical to the ground surface. A base  302   c  is connected to a post  300   c  to have the support  30   c  standing erect. The suspension distance A of the case  30   b  becomes shorter than L, the length of any one edge of the case  30   b  from the support  30   c , as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
      In one embodiment, the post  300   c  is screw-coupled at its one side to the center of the back case part  302   b . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the base  302   c  is branched at both sides thereof. The portion of the support  30   c , in which the cathode ray tube  30   a  is partially placed, is the top portion of the post  300   c  (based on the drawing).  
      Moreover, the post  300   c  has a support portion  30   d  (for example, a platform) fitted to the case  30   b  to support it, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The platform may have a leveled (horizontal) top surface or an angled top surface.  
      In one embodiment, the support  10   c  includes a DVD player and/or a video cassette recorder (VCR), embodied therein. As depicted in  FIG. 6 , with the image display device  30   a , insertion holes  30   e  and  30   f  are formed at the top surface of the front case part  300   b  to receive a DVD, a CD, or a video tape. For user convenience, the insertion holes  30   e  and  30   f  are tilted at an angle of β (not shown) with respect to the ground surface.  
      The characteristics of the slim cathode ray tube  30   a  used in the second embodiment are similar to those related to the previous embodiment, and hence, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.  
      As described above, with the inventive image display device, the electric field length of the cathode ray tube is reduced (because of its slim size), and a case and a support for supporting the case are constructed in conformity with the slim size of the cathode ray tube. Consequently, the installation area of the image display device is significantly reduced, and the preferences of the user are well satisfied compared with flat panel displays.  
      Furthermore, the support for holding the case, with the slim cathode ray tube mounted therein, makes it possible to easily place the image display device at the usage location in conformity to the eye of the user, thereby serving to enhance the user satisfaction.  
      In addition, the inventive image display device involves beautiful and fine designs, and gives esthetic sensation to the consumers, thereby enhancing the quality thereof.  
      While the invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.