BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a flat panel display according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of the flat panel display of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a back elevation view of the flat panel display of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the flat panel display of FIG. 1, showing a rear cover removed therefrom and an inner space of a supporting member thereof.
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the flat panel display of FIG. 1 together with a portable computer.
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a conventional flat panel display.
FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view of the flat panel display of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a flat panel display according to one embodiment of the invention is a liquid crystal display 2. The liquid crystal display 2 includes a display panel 20, a supporting member 25, and a base portion 23. The supporting member 25 has a main body portion 22, and a bending portion 21 extending upward and forward toward a front side of the display panel 20 for a predetermined amount. Thereby, the display panel 20 is positioned a desired distance from the main body portion 22 in a desired location. Furthermore, the base portion 23 and the supporting member 25 are formed as a single body, with the main body portion 22 adjoining the base portion 23. The display panel 20 is provided with a jointing portion 26. The jointing portion 26 is connected to the bending portion 21 via a hinge or like mechanism. Thereby, the display panel 20 is capable of rotating through an angle of more than 90 degrees relative to the supporting member 25.
Referring also to FIG. 4, the main body portion 22 is substantially perpendicular to the base portion 23 and substantially parallel to a front end of the base portion 23. A height of the main body portion 22 is at least half a height of the display panel 20. The jointing portion 26 is distant from a bottom end of the display panel 20 and located within a top half region of the display panel 20. Preferably, the jointing portion 26 is located far above half of the altitude of the display panel 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the jointing portion 26 is located in the range from about two-thirds of the altitude of the display panel 20 to about three-fourths of the altitude of the display panel 20. Thereby, the display panel 20 is spaced a predetermined distance away from the main body portion 22 and the base portion 23 when the display panel 20 is perpendicular to the base portion 23. In this way, an accommodating space 24 between the display panel 20, the supporting member 25 and the base portion 23 is defined.
Referring also to FIG. 3, the supporting member 25 further includes a detachable rear cover 221. The detachable rear cover 221 is fastened onto a back of the supporting member 25 by any of various known buckling structures or means such as deformable detents. The detachable rear cover 221 is capable of being readily detached by a user when required. Referring again to FIG. 4, a room 222 is defined inside the main body portion 22 of the supporting member 25 where the detachable rear cover 221 is attached. Four symmetrically arranged cylinder-shaped protrusions 223 are provided on an inner wall of the room 222. The protrusions 223 are used for winding power source lines and signal lines of the flat panel display 2 therearound. Thereby, the power source and signal lines can be gathered in the room 222, and space can be saved to facilitate transportation and storage of the liquid crystal display 2. In alternative embodiments, the number of protrusions 223 can be other than four, and the protrusions 223 can have any desired shape other than cylinder. In particular, the number and shape of the protrusions can be configured according to the particular power source lines and signal lines involved.
Referring also to FIG. 5, when a user of a portable computer 3 wants to combine use of his/her portable computer 3 with the flat panel display 2, he/she can rotate the display panel 20 upward to a first position such that the portable computer 3 can be appropriately positioned on the base portion 23. A display screen 30 of the portable computer 3 is opened up, and thereby accommodated within the accommodating space 24. Then the user can rotate the display panel 20 down to a second position that provides a good viewing angle.
With this arrangement, a keyboard 31 of the portable computer 3 can be located directly in front of the display panel 20. The portable computer 3 is connected to the flat panel display 2 via corresponding signal transmission ports. The user can simultaneously operate the keyboard 31 and view the display panel 20. Since the keyboard 31 is located right in front of the display panel 20, the simultaneous operation of the keyboard 31 and viewing of the display panel 20 is most convenient.
Additionally, the display panel 20 is provided with a back shield 201 on a back thereof, and the base portion 23 is covered with a protective pad 231. The back shield 201 is typically made of rubber. The back shield 201 helps prevent the display screen 30 of the portable computer 3 from being damaged. The protective pad 231 is typically made of rubber, and has a plurality of grooves formed at a surface thereof. The protective pad 231 provides heat-dissipating for the portable computer 3, protects the portable computer 3 from colliding with the base portion 23, and lowers electrostatic effects between the portable computer 3 and the base portion 23.
In alternative embodiments, each of the back shield 201 of the display panel 20 and the protective pad 231 on the base portion 23 can be made of a suitable, soft protective material other than rubber. The back shield 201 can have any desired shape or area. The connection between the display panel 20 and the bending portion 21 is not limited to being a pivot joint type of connection. The jointing portion 26 on the display panel 20 can be located at any position within a top half region of the display panel 20, as long as the accommodating space between the display panel 20, the supporting member 25 and the base portion 23 is sufficient and suitable to receive an opened display screen.
In another embodiment, the inventive flat panel display can be an organic light-emitting display. It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms during which the appended claims are expressed.
Patent Application
20070284323
