Patent Application
20090111327
The present invention relates generally to a HDMI snap-in coupler, and particularly to a HDMI snap-in coupler with double-side HDMI interfaces.
Currently, the high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) has rapidly become the standard of digital interface for global consumer electronic products. From digital TVs to DVDs, products with an HDMI interface have spread all over the world, bringing more digital enjoyment for consumers. According to the regulation of FCC of the United States, all peripheral products of digital TVs must have a built-in digital visual interface (DVI) or an HDMI interface. No matter LCD TVs, plasma TVs, projection TVs, DVD players, or next-generation DV players, they all have a built-in HDMI interface.
Up to now, the signal interface between a computer and a display is still mainly conventional analog interface. The liquid crystal display receives the analog signals transmitted from the video cable via the video interface and converts them into digital signals. Thereby, the signal conversion loss is huge, and the transmission distance is kept around 2 to 3 meters. In addition, because digital signals have to be converted into analog signals, more costs have to be spent. Accordingly, the DVI interface is developed. The DVI interface uses a small-amplitude differential transmission technology. By maintaining image signals as digital signals and transmitting to one side of the display, extremely high image quality is given. Besides, the transmission distance is extended to 10 to 20 meters. However, because the volume of the DVI connector is relatively large and audio signals are not compatible with DVI, its applications is mainly limited to image data transmission between the computer and display. In order to improve the DVI interface, the HDMI interface is developed. The HDMI interface is based on the DVI interface. By the HDMI interface, digital audio signals can be transmitted, and the protection for high-bandwidth digital contents is supported. Thereby, the HDMI interface is regarded as the standard digital interface for next-generation home theater applications. In comparison with the DVI connector, an HDMI connector is relatively smaller, and only one cable is needed for adding audio signals and control signals between equipments in addition to the original video signals. Furthermore, the HDMI interface also supports the luminance and color difference signal format used in traditional televisions. Thus, the conventional video color processing technology can be adopted completely. The interface is loaded with digital content protection technologies too for preventing illegal duplication of digital signals and image data.
Nevertheless, current HDMI connectors are not suitable for the common socket panels. To install an HDMI connector on a socket panel, the design of the current socket panel has to be changed. Besides, if an HDMI connector is to be installed in home, the original socket panel needs to be replaced by a socket panel suitable for the HDMI connector. In order to improve the problem described above, the present invention provides a HDMI snap-in coupler with double-side HDMI interfaces that can be installed on current common socket panels.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a HDMI snap-in coupler with double-side HDMI interfaces. Besides, the HDMI snap-in coupler according to the present invention has the characteristic of miniaturization.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a HDMI snap-in coupler that can be installed on a common socket panel, achieving market universality and integration purposes.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a HDMI snap-in coupler that can be installed movably on a socket panel, and can be replaced with ease.
In order to achieve the objectives described above, the present invention provides a HDMI snap-in coupler, which comprises a circuit board, a first HDMI connection port module, a second HDMI connection port module, a top housing, and a bottom housing. The first HDMI connection port module is set on one side of the circuit board; the second HDMI connection port module is set on the other side of the circuit board. The top housing has a first opening, and the first HDMI connection port module is adapted in the first opening. The bottom housing is lodged in the top housing, and has a second opening, and the second HDMI connection port module is adapted in the second opening. The HDMI snap-in coupler can be installed on a socket panel such as an information panel or a multimedia information panel.
The first HDMI connection port module (the second HDMI connection port module) comprises a sheltering shell, an insulating base, a spacer plate, and a plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals is adapted on the spacer plate, which is set on the insulating base. The sheltering shell accommodates the spacer plate with the plurality of terminals and the insulating base. When the first HDMI connection port module (the second HDMI connection port module) is set on the circuit board, a conducting wire is used for connecting electrically the circuit board and the first HDMI connection port module (the second HDMI connection port module).
In order to make the structure and characteristics as well as the effectiveness of the present invention to be further understood and recognized, the detailed description of the present invention is provided as follows along with preferred embodiments and accompanying figures.
In order to enhance assembly firmness of the top and bottom housings 16, 18, first inclined planes 1631 are set on both inner sidewalls of the breach 163 of the top housing 16, respectively. Besides, second inclined planes 1831 are set on both inner sidewalls of the first sidewall 183 of the bottom housing 18. The first inclined planes 1631 face the second inclined planes 1831. Third inclined planes 1651 are set on both inner sidewalls of the trench 165. And fourth inclined planes 1851 are set on the both inner sidewalls of the second sidewall 185 of the bottom housing 18. The third inclined planes 1651 face the fourth inclined planes 1851. In addition, a first protruding part 1653 can be further set in the trench 165, and a hole 1853 can be set on the second sidewall 185. When the second sidewall 185 lodges in the trench 165, the first protruding part 1653 lodges in the hole 1853.
The HDMI snap-in coupler 1 can be installed on a socket panel 2 such as an information panel or a multimedia information panel. To replace the HDMI snap-in coupler 1 easily, the HDMI snap-in coupler 1 can be set on the socket panel 2 movably. The surface on the bottom housing 18 with the breach 163 has a second protruding part 167. The second sidewall 185 of the bottom housing 18 has an elastic sheet 187, on which elastic sheet 187 a third protruding part 1871 is set. When the elastic sheet 187 is pressed, the HDMI snap-in coupler 1 is placed into the socket panel 2, and the side of the HDMI snap-in coupler 1 with the second protruding part 167 lodges in one side of the socket panel 2. When the elastic sheet 187 is released, the third protruding part 1871 set on the elastic sheet 187 lodges in the other side of the socket panel 2. The elastic sheet 187, the third protruding part 1871, and the second sidewall 185 can be formed integrally.
To sum up, the present invention provides a HDMI snap-in coupler with double-side HDMI interfaces suitable for installing on current common socket panels (such as: information panels or multimedia information panels) without the need of modifying the design of the socket panels. Thereby, market universality and integration purposes can be achieved. The HDMI snap-in coupler according to the present invention can be installed movably on a socket panel, and can be replaced with ease. Besides, the HDMI snap-in coupler according to the present invention has the characteristic of miniaturization.
Accordingly, the present invention conforms to the legal requirements owing to its novelty, non-obviousness, and utility. However, the foregoing description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, not used to limit the scope and range of the present invention. Those equivalent changes or modifications made according to the shape, structure, feature, or spirit described in the claims of the present invention are included in the appended claims of the present invention.
