The present invention relates generally to electronic displays for displaying information, and to apparatus and methods for mounting a display to the front of a panel, such as a control panel within a cockpit of an aircraft, flight simulator, or work station.
Control panels, e.g., provided within a cockpit of an aircraft or a flight simulator, include a plurality of panel openings for receiving instruments therein.
Turning to
Generally, the instrument 100 may include a long box (not shown) into which the dial 104 is mounted that extends through the panel opening 92 into the space behind the control panel 90. The box may include components for operating the instrument 100 and/or for receiving information and/or providing information to other parts of the aircraft. For example, the box may include a cathode ray tube (“CRT”) that provides an image to the dial 104, electronic circuits, mechanical components, and the like. Alternatively, the instrument 100, i.e., with the dial 104 mounted to the front of the box, may be mounted through the panel opening 92 from behind the control panel 90. For example, the dial 104 may be sufficiently small to extend through the opening 92, with the box and other portions of the instrument 100 secured to the back of the control panel 90 or otherwise behind the control panel 90.
More recently, flat panel displays (“FPDs”) have been suggested to replace older instruments, such as CRTs or mechanical gauges. Such displays, however, may not be made economically with the four corners removed or rounded, e.g., due to the external circuits extending along at least two edges of the displays. For example, if a square or rectangular display is to be mounted within a panel opening 92, the display must be smaller than the panel opening 92, which may substantially reduce the active image area of the display available for displaying information.
Consequently, flat panel displays are generally mounted behind the control panel 90 with the active area of the display visible through a viewport in the control panel 90, e.g., similar to the panel opening 92 but having a shape similar to the active area of the display. When some liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are introduced into the instrument assembly, however, problems often occur because more panel area is needed for the LCD footprint than previously allowed. For example, the same screw holes 98 in the control panel 90 (e.g., as shown in
Accordingly, apparatus and methods for mounting a display to a control panel would be useful.
The present invention is directed generally to electronic displays, e.g., to flanges, systems, and methods for mounting flat panel displays (“FPDs”), such as liquid crystal displays (“LCDs”) to a control panel, such as a cockpit panel within an aircraft or other vehicle, a flight simulator, or a work station.
Generally, a flange method is provided for mounting a flat panel display (FPD) on the front surface of a control panel where the FPD may partially cover the mounting holes and access hole used to attach and access the instrument assembly located on the back surface of the control panel. The instrument assembly may include a box containing the electronic interface for the display and external input signals. Unlike conventional displays, where the FPD is an integral part of the instrument assembly and mounted to the panel's back surface as a single assembly, the systems and methods herein allow the FPD to be a separate assembly mounted on the front surface of the control panel facilitated by a flange.
The flange and mounting sequence may allow for interchangeable and/or independent mounting of a FPD to a control panel. When positioned as desired on the control panel, the FPD may partially cover one or more of the instrument mounting holes. Further, the flange may allow for electrical and mechanical connections to be made between the instrument assembly behind the control panel and the FPD, bezel, lighting, switches, control shafts, etc., on the front of the control panel.
For example, in accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided for mounting a display, such as an LCD or other FPD, to a control panel that includes mounting a display to an outer surface of the control panel, e.g., over a panel opening in the control panel, directing one or more wires from the display through the control panel, and coupling the one or more wires to electronics behind the control panel. In one embodiment, a flange may be attached to the control panel, e.g., by inserting fasteners through the flange into respective holes in the control panel. The display may be electrically connected through one or more access holes in the flange and control panel to the electronics, and a display and bezel may be attached to the flange. For example, a display may be inserted into a recess in the flange, and a bezel may be attached to the flange, e.g., using one or more fasteners inserted through holes in the bezel into the flange, e.g., such a perimeter of the display is covered and an active area of the display is visible through an opening in the bezel.
Optionally, a box may be mounted behind the control panel, e.g., generally opposite to and/or independent of the display and/or other components. The box may include the electronics that may be coupled to the display, e.g., for operating the display and presenting desired information on the active area, e.g., based on external input signals.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, in which:
Turning to the drawings,
The display 12 may be a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), such as an active matrix liquid crystal display (“AMLCD”). Alternatively, the display 12 may be one of a variety of other types of electronic displays, such as plasma displays, liquid crystal on silicon (“LCOS”) displays, organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”) displays, electroluminescence displays, and the like. The display 12 may have a rectangular, square, or other size and/or shape, which may be larger than a cross-section of the panel opening 92 in the control panel 90, as explained further below. Optionally, the display 12 may be a resized display, i.e., a rectangular display that has been cut and resealed into a smaller configuration, e.g., a square or other configuration. Exemplary displays that may be used and methods for making them are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,204,906, 7,780,492, and 7,938,051, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The display 12 may include one or more external circuits, e.g., TABs, COGs, driver circuits, and the like (not shown), extending along one or more edges of the display 12, e.g., as disclosed in the applications incorporated by reference herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the circuits may extend from a top edge and a side edge of the display 12 around to a back surface of the display 12, e.g., by folding flex circuits around the display 12, similar to FPDs used for laptop computers and other devices where it is desirable to minimize components extending outwardly from the top and/or side edges of the display 12. The circuit(s) on the display 12 may include one or more ribbon connectors, wires, or other cables (one cable 14 shown for simplicity), which may be used to couple the display 12 to the electronics 52 for operating the display 12, e.g., provided within the instrument assembly 50 behind the control panel 90, e.g., as shown in
Optionally, the display 12 may include other components, such as one or more polarizer films, filters, image enhancement films, and/or viewing angle enhancement films on front and/or back surfaces of the display 12, e.g., overlying an active image area 20 of the display 12. In addition or alternatively, the display 12 may include a backlight, e.g., a LED or other backlight (not shown) mounted to or folded onto the back of the display 12, one or more switches, dials, or other interface components (not shown).
With continued reference to
The back walls 24 may define a back plane of the flange 20, which may be substantially flat and/or otherwise shaped to be placed against and/or correspond to the shape of the outer surface of the control panel 90. The back walls 24 generally define an opening 29 through the flange 20, which may be large enough to accommodate directing one or more cables through the flange 20, e.g., for directing the cable(s) 14 from the display 12 through the panel opening 92 to the instrument assembly 50, as described further elsewhere herein. The back walls 24a-24c may have sufficient width to support the display 12 and/or prevent the display 12 from falling through the opening 29. For example, as shown in
The side walls 22 may extend outwardly from the back plane to define sides of the recess 26, e.g., such that the sides of the display 12 are disposed immediately adjacent the side walls 22 when positioned in the recess 26 to support the display 12 with minimal lateral movement. In an exemplary embodiment, as indicated in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, three of the side walls 22a-22c include back walls 24a-24c, while a fourth side wall 22d does not include a back wall, e.g., such that the recess 26 has a rectangular shape while the outer periphery of the flange 20 has a substantially square shape. This configuration may allow an active area of the display 12 received in the recess 26 to be centered within the flange 20, e.g., if the display 12 includes circuits along one side thereof, which may be positioned adjacent side wall 22d. In addition or alternatively, one or more of the back walls 24 may include notches or other features to accommodate components of the display 12. For example, as shown, back wall 24c includes a notch 25c, which may accommodate a backlight or other component (not shown) of the display 12 that will be positioned adjacent the back wall 24c. Thus, the notch 25c may accommodate a relatively thicker region of the display 12, thereby allowing the display 12 to lie substantially flat within the recess 26, e.g., with the outer surface of the display 12 substantially parallel to the back plane of the back walls 24. In addition, as best seen in
In addition, a second set of fastener holes 28b may be provided around the periphery of the flange 20 in a desired pattern, e.g., corresponding to fastener holes 34 in the bezel 30. The fastener holes 28b may extend entirely or only partially through the side walls 22, as desired to accommodate fasteners from the bezel 30.
The flange 20 may be formed from a flat sheet of material, e.g., a relatively thin sheet of metal, such as aluminum or stainless steel, plastic, or a composite material. In exemplary embodiments, the flat sheet may be cut, machined, cast, molded, or otherwise formed into the desired shape including the side walls 22 and back walls 24. The fastener holes 28 and/or any other desired openings (not shown) may be cut, drilled, integrally molded, or otherwise formed in the flange, as desired.
With continued reference to
Returning to
Similar to the flange 20, the bezel 30 may be formed from metal, plastic, or composite materials, e.g., that may be cut, machined, or otherwise formed from a flat sheet, cast, injection molded, and the like. As best seen in
Turning to
Optionally, the instrument assembly 50 may include one or more flanges 56 for mounting the instrument assembly 50 to the control panel 90, e.g., to the back surface of the control panel 90 behind the panel opening 92. In one embodiment, the flanges 56 may include holes (not shown) for receiving fasteners 18 therethrough. The fasteners 18 may also be used for mounting the flange 20 to the control panel 90, as shown, or separate fasteners (not shown) may be used.
Alternatively, as shown in
Returning to
The apparatus 10 may be used to retrofit or replace an existing display (not shown) with the display 12 or for mounting a display 12 for the first time to the control panel 90. For example, as shown in
Turning to
First, at step 210, an instrument assembly may be mounted behind the control panel and a flange (without display or bezel) may be mounted in front of the control panel. For example, with additional reference to
Alternatively, the flange 28 and instrument assembly 50 may be secured relative to the control panel 90 independent of one another. For example, the fasteners 18 may be used to secure the flange 28 to the control panel 90, e.g., using existing mounting holes 98, and the instrument assembly 50 may be mounted using a clamp or other connection system (not shown). Thus, in this alternative, the flange 28 may be secured before or after mounting the instrument assembly 50.
Next, at step 220, a display 12 may be coupled to the instrument assembly 50. For example, the display 12 may be positioned adjacent the flange 289 in front of the control panel 90, and one or more cables, e.g., a ribbon connector 14 may be directed from the display 12, through the opening 29 in the flange 28 and the panel opening 92 to the instrument assembly 50. In an exemplary embodiment, the instrument assembly 50 may include an electrical connector 56 and the ribbon connector 14 may include a mating connector to electrically couple the display 12 to the electronics 52. Alternatively, one or more wires or cables may be directed from the instrument assembly 50 through the openings 29, 92 and coupled to a mating connector (not shown) on the display 12.
Next, at step 230, the display 12 is inserted into the recess 26 in the flange 20. For example, the display 12 may be oriented to present the active area 16 of the display 12 outwardly and/or otherwise positioned within the recess 26, e.g., to center the active area 16 and/or position any circuits on the display 12 within the recess 26 behind the display 12. Optionally, the flange 20 may include one or more detents or other connectors (not shown) to engage the display 12 within the recess 26. For example, one or more of the side walls 22 may include tapered tabs or detents (not shown) that allow the display 12 to enter the recess 26 and then snap over a front of the display 12 to secure the display 12 within the recess 26. Optionally, other mechanical or electrical connections between the display 12, the flange 28, and/or the instrument assembly 50 may be completed at this stage.
Next, at step 240, the bezel 30 is attached to the flange 20 over the display 12. For example, the back surface of the bezel 30 may be placed against the outer surface of the flange 20, i.e., over the side walls 22, and one or more fasteners 18 may be inserted through the bezel 30 into the flange 20, as shown in
As described elsewhere herein, the bezel 30 includes a view port or opening 32 through which the active area 16 of the display 12 may be observed, while covering the surrounding area of the display 12 and/or preventing exposure or access to circuits or other components of the display 12. As shown in
Optionally, at step 260, one or more switches, knobs, and/or other actuators or interface components (not shown) may be coupled to the resulting apparatus 10. For example, the display 12 may include one or more interface components on its front face and the bezel 30 may include corresponding openings (not shown) through which the interface components, e.g., hubs, pins, or other features may be accessed or extend. Any switches, knobs, and the like (also not shown) may be mechanically and/or electrically connected to the features, thereby allowing a user to perform various functions using the interface components.
At this point, the display 12 may be securely mounted to the front of the control panel 90 by the flange 20 and bezel 30 and operated in its normal intended manner. As shown in
Optionally, the apparatus 10 and methods herein may allow a display 12 that has a size larger than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the panel opening 92 to be secured to the control panel 90, thereby maximizing the active image area that may be used to provide information. Thus, the size of the display 12 may consequently be dictated, not by the size of the panel opening 92, but by the proximity of the display 12 to other displays or instruments mounted to the control panel 90 near the panel opening 92.
Another advantage of the apparatus 10 described herein is that it may reduce the cost to repair or replace the display 12 after installation. For example, with prepackaged instruments, if the instrument fails, the entire instrument is generally replaced. With the apparatus 10, it may only be necessary to repair or replace one or more components of the apparatus 10 after installation. For example, if the display 12 fails to operate at any time after installation, the display 12 and/or instrument assembly 50 may be tested. If only one of the display 12 and instrument assembly 50 need repair or replacement, the other components may remain in place.
To remove and/or replace the display 12, the process described above may be performed in reverse order.
As an example, a flange and bezel may be used to mount a 3ATI ARINC Standard 408A instrument, e.g., as shown in
It will be appreciated that elements or components shown with any embodiment herein are exemplary for the specific embodiment and may be used on or in combination with other embodiments disclosed herein.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications, and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims benefit of co-pending provisional application Serial No. 61/945,071, filed Feb. 26, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61945071 | Feb 2014 | US |