Patent Application
20080165991
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to display devices, and particularly, to a television or a monitor with a sound module arrangement.
2. Description of Related Art
Traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) type televisions are being replaced by flat-panel type televisions, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions, plasma display panel (PDP) televisions, et al.
A typical flat-panel type television includes a display system and a sound system. The display system has a display screen for displaying video images. The sound system includes a pair of speakers for outputting sounds, and a sound reflector for transmitting the sounds. The speakers are usually located at a lower side of a cabinet of the television and are mounted on the sound reflector. The speakers are positioned obliquely relative to a surface normal to the display screen. A reflecting plate is disposed adjacent to the speakers for reflecting the sounds towards a front of the television. However, the inclined speakers under the display system still occupy space along an up-down direction, affecting a maximum display screen adoptable in the cabinet.
Therefore, what is needed in the industry is to provide a display device with a sound module which can more effectively utilize the dimension along the up-down direction.
Accordingly, a display device is provided. The display device includes a cabinet, a display screen, and at least one speaker. The display screen is accommodated in the cabinet. The display screen includes a display surface configured for displaying video images. The speaker is also accommodated in the cabinet, and is configured for outputting sounds. The sounds disperse along a first direction substantially parallel with the display surface of the display screen.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the display device, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The cover plate 30 is defined with a substantially rectangular opening (not labeled) in an approximately central portion with a size corresponding to a display size of the display screen 40. The cover plate 30 is coupled to the cabinet 20 by a latching mechanism or an adhering mechanism to secure the display screen 40 in the cabinet 20. The display screen 40 is accommodated in the cabinet 20, and includes a display surface 42 for displaying video images.
The sound module 50 is configured for outputting sounds by reflection. The sound module 50 is accommodated in the cabinet 20, and disposed under the display screen 40. The seat 60 adjacent to the sound module 50 is coupled to the cabinet 20 by a neck (not shown) for supporting the television 100.
For exemplary purposes, a three-dimensional coordinate system with three coordinate axes perpendicular with each other is defined, where an O-X axis runs perpendicularly with the side surface 204, an O-Y axis is runs perpendicularly with the display surface 42, and an O-Z axis runs perpendicularly with the top surface 202.
Referring to
The sound reflector 51 includes a supporting plate 510, a side plate 512, a rear plate 514, and a reflecting plate 516. The sound reflector 51 is constructed by interconnecting the supporting plate 510, the side plate 512, the rear plate 514, and the reflecting plate 516. The supporting plate 510 includes two screens 520, 540 formed at opposite ends of the supporting plate 510. Each of the screens 520, 540 is constructed by a plurality of intersecting bars (not labeled) extending in the O-X direction and the O-Y direction, such that the sounds can transmit therethrough. The reflecting plate 516 includes a reflecting surface 516a facing toward the supporting plate 510. The reflecting surface 516a is arranged at an acute angle α1 with the coordinate plane O-XY for changing a transmitting direction of the sounds by reflection. The supporting plate 510, the side plate 512, and the reflecting plate 516 define an opening 518 at front edges. The opening 518 is used for outputting the sounds outward substantially in the negative O-Y coordinate axis direction.
The sound module 50 is constructed by mounting the speakers 53, 55 on the sound reflector 51. Preferably, the speakers 53, 55 are substantially symmetrically distributed on the sound reflector 51. The screens 520, 540 of the sound reflector 51 are covered by the speakers 53, 55 respectively. When the speakers 53, 55 output sounds, the sounds are transmitting substantially along the negative O-Z axis direction. The generated sounds then travel through the screens 520, 540 towards the reflecting surface 516a. The sounds are then reflected by the reflecting surface 516a, and deflected towards the negative O-Y axis direction. Thus, the sounds from the speakers are directed to the front of the television 100 at the opening 518. As the sounds generated from the speakers 53, 55 have a predetermined divergence angle, such that a portion of the sound waves may be reflected out directly. Another portion of the sound waves may be reflected by the reflecting plate 510 and the supporting plate 516 several times until being outputted from the opening 518.
The dimension of the speakers 53, 55 being arranged parallel to the sound reflector 51 along the O-Z axis direction is more compacted than the dimension when the speakers 53, 55 are inclined arranged relative to the reflector 51. Such that, when the sound module 50 is accommodated in the television 100, more space can be utilized for optimizing the image size of the display screen 40.
In addition, each of the speakers 53, 55 defines a plurality of locking holes 530, 550. Flanges 522, 542 surrounding the corresponding screen 520, 540 protrude from the supporting plate 510. The flanges 522, 542 are configured for supporting the speakers 53, 55 thereon respectively. A plurality of locking posts 524, 544 protrude from the supporting plate 510 adjacent to outer edges of the flanges 522, 542. By receiving the locking posts 522, 544 of the sound reflector 51 in the locking holes 530, 550 of the speakers 53, 55 respectively, the speakers 53, 55 are mounted on the sound reflector 51. A plurality of positioning members 526, 546 are located on the supporting plate 510 adjacent the locking posts 524. The positioning members 526, 546 are L-shaped, conforming to outer edges configuration of the speakers 53, 55 respectively, for further stably mounting the speakers 53, 55 to the sound reflector 51. A plurality of locking members 510a is formed on the supporting plate 510. The locking members 510a are used for fastening the sound reflector 51 to the cabinet 20 of the television 100.
It should be noted that in alternative embodiments the sound module can be disposed above, on the left, or on the right of the display screen 40 as viewed from the front of the television 100. In these alternative embodiments, the transmitting direction of the sounds from the speakers 53, 55 are also substantially parallel with the display surface 42 of the display screen 40.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200710072819.9 | Jan 2007 | CN | national |
