Patent Application
20140132877
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the general field of display devices and configurations, and more particularly liquid crystal display devices and configurations.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of sizes, types, and configurations of video displays have been used. One type of display is the liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat-panel display that uses liquid crystals to act as light valves on a backlight to modulate illumination and generate images. LCDs have gained popularity for their low cost, good performance, light weight, and long life, among other factors.
Improvements in displays, both in reducing manufacturing costs and improving appeal to consumers, are always desirable. There are continuous research efforts for minimizing (slimming) the thicknesses of LCDs, and for developing designs with enhanced attractive appearance. In these research and development efforts, traditional principles of LCD device design have presented limitations in slimming display devices and developing new display device designs.
According to an aspect of the invention, a liquid crystal display (LCD) has a configuration that can be easily adapted to LCDs of various sizes. The versatility leads to efficiencies in manufacturing different sizes of LCDs.
According to another aspect of the invention, an LCD relies for structural support on a rear cover with strengthening ribs.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, an LCD has a rear cover that provides support against bending, and is mostly uncovered.
According to still another aspect of the invention, an LCD has a metal or engineering plastic rear cover that provides structural support, in addition to providing a durable metal or plastic exterior surface.
According to an aspect of the invention, a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes: a frame; components of the LCD that are supported by the frame; and a rear cover that forms at least part of a back side of the LCD. At least some of the components are coupled to an inside surface of the frame. The LCD has a rectangular shape, with a rectangular front face and a rear face. The LCD has an exterior surface that defines an outer periphery of the rectangular shape, between the front face and the rear face. The rear cover is in an interior part of the rectangular shape, such that the exterior surface does not include any part of the rear cover.
According to another aspect of the invention, a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes: a frame; components of the LCD that are supported by the frame; and a rear cover that forms at least part of a back side of the LCD. The rear cover includes a center portion, and two side portions on opposite sides of the central portion. The rear cover is a structural support that prevents bending of the components. The rear cover includes strengthening ribs. Desirably, the components include a cell and backlight unit of an LCD module, and the rear cover comprises a cover of the LCD module that also serves as rear cover of the LCD.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a frame; components of the LCD that are supported by the frame; and a rear cover that forms at least part of a back side of the LCD. The rear cover includes a center portion, and two side portions on opposite sides of the central portion. The rear cover is a structural support that prevents bending of the components. The side portions are substantially uncovered, and therefore part of an exterior rear surface of the LCD. Desirably, the components include a cell and backlight unit of an LCD module, and the rear cover comprises a cover of the LCD module that also serves as rear cover of the LCD.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
Annexed are drawings depicting one or more embodiments of the invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale.
As used in the present application, a liquid crystal display (also herein LCD, or LCD device) is a complete display product that incorporates a liquid crystal display module (also herein LCD module, or module) as a principal component. The complete LCD includes the module as well additional components such as front and rear covers, control electronics, input switches and connectors for the control electronics, speakers, stand or wall mount hardware, etc. For example, LCD devices having a diagonal size (screen size) of 20 inches and larger are used as medium to large sized display products such as televisions and computer monitors. In typical LCD manufacture, one company or manufacturing operation assembles or builds the LCD module, and another company or manufacturing operation assembles the LCD module with the other components into a complete LCD.
The LCD module includes a fabricated glass panel (cell, or LCD panel), a backlight unit, a support housing or frame, and additional components such as driver integrated circuits, needed to create a finished LCD display panel.
A cell is a fabricated glass panel having display pixels; the cell receives light from the backlight unit and either blocks the light (black) or transmits the light (white) at given display pixels. One type of driver integrated circuitry for a cell is chip on flex (COF) circuitry, an LCD driver chip mounted on a flexible circuit that is attached to the contact edge of the cell. COF circuitry is commonly used in LCD panels having a diagonal size of 20 inches or more. Open-cell panels are LCD panels that have not yet been assembled into a module. For example, one company or manufacturing operation may build the cell, and another may assemble the cell into an LCD module.
A backlight unit or backlight is the light source for an LCD panel or cell. In medium to large sized LCD devices, the backlight unit typically is located directly behind the cell. Types of backlight units commonly used in medium to large sized LCD devices include backlights with cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) as light sources; full-array LED backlights in which the light sources are rows of LEDs spread across the backlight directly behind the LCD panel; and edge-lit backlights in which the light source (LED or CCFL) is on the edge of the backlight unit rather than directly behind the LCD panel.
A frame is a frame-shaped structure that surrounds the active components of the LCD module. The frame protects the edges of the cell, the backlight unit, and any circuitry that may be located there. The cell and backlight unit form a sandwich, which can be held together at the edges by the frame and/or by additional hardware such as C-clamps. The module also includes a rear panel cover, which supports the active components of the module and covers the rear surface of these components. The rear panel cover comprises a rigid material, and may include reinforcing structures such as ribs, to limit bending and avoid failure of the cell. The frame acts as a holder for the cell and backlight unit and should have compatible dimensions with these module components; the frame does not need to be rigid since the rear panel cover provides rigid support of the module components.
In traditional LCD design, the LCD module housing structures including the frame and the rear panel cover are not intended to serve as exterior structures of the LCD, but rather to provide mechanical reliability of the module. The frame and rear cover of the LCD module are designed to mount and support other components of the LCD such as front and rear covers, control circuitry, speakers, etc. The frame and rear cover of the LCD module generally include mounting and fastening mechanisms such as stand-offs, through holes for fasteners, clips, etc. for attaching the other components of the LCD. The outer casing (front and rear covers) of the fully assembled LCD typically includes a front bezel, a border structure that surrounds the viewable area at the front of the LCD device and that may extend around outer edges of the LCD. The outer casing of the LCD also typically includes a rear device cover mounted over the rear panel cover and over other components at the back of the LCD, such as the control electronics.
LCDs of the present invention do not follow these traditional rules of design and manufacture of LCD modules and of fully assembled LCDs. Improved designs of the frame and rear panel cover (herein called rear cover) of the LCD serve to support and protect active components of the LCD module, but the LCD does not include additional covering structures at rear and outer edge surfaces of the fully assembled LCD. In an advantageous embodiment, the frame and the rear cover serve as exterior structures of the LCD device, providing a slimmer, attractive appearance of the LCD. Furthermore, the improved LCD design reduces the number of parts, such as the number of fasteners used to attach additional LCD components to the LCD module, and simplifies assembly of the LCD.
A liquid crystal display (LCD) in accordance with the invention includes a frame, components that are supported by the frame, and a rear cover that forms at least part of a back side of the display. The rear cover has a configuration that allows the same general layout to be used with a variety of sizes of LCDs. It may have a rectangular shape that does not extend to an outer periphery of the LCD. The rear cover of the LCD also serves as the rear cover for the LCD module. The rear cover protects and prevents bending of components of the LCD module, and preferably includes strengthening ribs for that purpose. In an advantageous embodiment, these strengthening ribs are elements of an attractive design of the rear of the LCD.
The LCD 10 has a polygonal shape, which in the illustrated embodiment is a rectangular shape. The term “rectangular shape” is used here in to refer to a shape having generally straight sides, although the outer periphery of the rectangular shape may have protrusions and/or recesses, without departing from this definition of a rectangular shape. The rectangular-shape LCD 10 defines an outer periphery 24, along the outer faces of the LCD 10, the faces including a front major surface (front side or face) 30 and a rear major surface (rear side or face) 32 of the LCD 10.
The outer periphery 24 is an exterior surface 40 of the LCD 10 that includes a top exterior surface portion 42, a bottom exterior surface portion 44, and a pair of side exterior surface portions 46 and 48. The top exterior surface portion 42 and the bottom exterior surface portion 44 are on opposite respective sides of the liquid crystal display 10 in a first direction 52. The side exterior surface portions 46 and 48 are on opposite respective sides of the liquid crystal display 10 in a second direction 56. The exterior surface 40 has a front edge 60 at the intersection of the exterior surface 40 and the front face 30, and a rear edge 62 at the intersection of the exterior surface 40 and the rear face 32.
The frame 14 may constitute at least part of the front edge 60, for example constituting substantially all of the front edge 60. The frame 14 may alternatively or also constitute at least part of the rear edge 62, for example constituting substantially all of the rear edge 62.
In the preferred embodiment, the frame 14 forms part of the external surface of the LCD 10, when the LCD 10 is fully assembled. In this embodiment, the frame 14 forms all of or a substantial portion of the top exterior surface portion 42; the frame forms all or a substantial portion of the side exterior surface portions 46 and 48 of the LCD; and the frame forms a more limited portion of the bottom exterior surface portion 44 of the LCD.
The components 12 include the active components of an LCD module including a cell 70 that has display pixels, and a backlight unit 72 that provides light to produce (in conjunction with the cell 70) an image on the LCD 10. The structures, functions, and interrelationship of the cell 70 and the backlight unit 72 are conventional, as briefly described above.
The LCD 10 also includes a bezel (or front bezel) 76. The bezel 76 may constitute at least part of the front face 30 of the LCD, surrounding a viewing surface of the cell 70. The bezel 76 may constitute at least part of the front edge 60, for example constituting less than half of the front edge 60. As described in greater detail below, the bezel 76 may be mounted to an inside surface of the frame 14.
The rear cover 16 includes most of the back face 32 of the LCD 10. The rear cover 16 includes a center portion 82, and a pair of side portions 84 and 86 that flank the central portion. The center portion 82 supports a main board housing 90 that includes circuitry for controlling the LCD 10. The center portion 82 may have a width corresponding to (or slightly greater than) the width of the main board housing 90. For medium to large size LCDs having a diagonal size of 20 inches or greater, an exemplary width of center portion 82 is 12 inches, but this width is not critical and can be increased or decreased depending on the width of the main board housing 90 or desired appearance of the back face 32 of LCD 10. The center portion 82 may have a width between about 20% to 60% of an overall combined width of the center portion 82 and the side portions 84 and 86.
The side portions 84 and 86 are located at opposite sides of the main board housing 90. In one embodiment, a standard sized main board housing 90 is used with LCDs 10 having different screen sizes. In this case, the width of the center portion 82 is the same for the different size LCDs 10, but the widths of the side portions 84 and 86 is greater or smaller depending on the size of LCD 10. The side portions 84 and 86 may be bilaterally symmetric on opposite sides of the center portion 82. The side portions 84 and 86 may be substantially uncovered, and therefore part of the exterior rear surface of the LCD 10. As substantially uncovered is used in this patent application, where less than 20% of the side portions are covered with components such as the speakers 244, 246 shown in
The circuitry of the main board housing 90 includes conventional circuitry for processing received video and audio signals, and for controlling functions of the LCD 10. The circuitry may be embodied in one or more integrated circuit boards, or other suitable electronic structures. The circuitry may also have any of a variety of other conventional electrical components, such as power circuitry.
The main board housing 90 is connected to a back face 92 of the center portion 82, the face of the center portion 82 that faces away from the components 16. A main board housing cover 94 covers the main board housing 90. The main board housing cover 94 also covers at least part of the center portion 82. The main board housing cover 94 may have connectors (not shown) along its sides, top, bottom, and/or back face, for connecting other devices to the LCD 10.
The rear cover 16 may include strengthening ribs that provide additional structural support, for example by increasing the resistance of the rear cover 16 to bending. The ribs may include horizontal ribs, such as the rib 100, and/or vertical ribs 102 and 104. The vertical ribs 102 and 104 may be located at boundaries between the center portion 82 and the side portions 84 and 86. A wide variety of other rib configurations are possible. Diagonal ribs also may be used. The reinforcing ribs may have smooth, continuous outer surfaces, and rounded edges, to provide a more attractive appearance of rear cover 16, as well as providing functional benefits, such as a better surface for gripping or pressing on with a hand.
The LCD 10 may have speakers 110 and 112, for providing audio output. The speakers 110 and 112 are below the main board housing 90, coupled to the center portion 82. A speaker cover 114 may cover the speakers 110 and 112. Alternatively the speakers 110 and 112 may be connected to the side portions 84 and 86 of the rear cover 16.
The LCD 10 may include a stand 116 that provides a base for placing the LCD 10 on a table or other horizontal surface. The stand 116 may be attached to the speaker cover 114. Alternatively the stand 116 may be connected to other parts of the LCD 10.
In the exploded view of
A substantial portion 15 of the bottom outer edge of frame 14 may be cut away; this cut-away edge portion of frame 14 to makes room for components of the LCD module (such as a source board, not shown) located hear the bottom outer edge of the module. The bottom edge of bezel 76 may include portions 77 that extend beyond the bezel front face. These bezel portions 76 wrap around the bottom exterior surface portion 44 of the LCD in lieu of the cut-away area 15 of frame 14, and cover the components 12 where the frame 14 is cut away. The bezel 76 may include an extended region or lip 78 at the bottom center of the front of the LCD 10 that can encapsulate an infrared or other sensor for receiving signals through a hole in the bezel 76. The LCD may include other components at lip 78 such as a power switch, and timing controller (TCON) (not shown). The bottom edge configurations of the frame 14 and bezel 76 shown in
The inner face 33 of rear cover 16, a portion of which is seen in
The parts of the LCD 10 may be made of any of a variety of suitable materials. The frame 14 may be a metal frame that is primarily made of metal. The metal frame may have a non-metal layer over at least part of an external surface of the frame that forms part of the external surface of the LCD 10. Alternatively the frame 14 may be made of suitable plastic. In the embodiment in which the frame 14 forms all of or a substantial portion of the exterior surface 40 of the LCD 10, a plastic material for the exterior portions of frame 14 may comprise a mixture including a strengthening component such as polyester.
The rear cover 16 may be made of a suitable metal, such as steel or aluminum. The rear cover 16 may have a non-metal layer over at least part of an external surface of the frame that forms part of the external surface of the LCD 10. Other materials are also possible for the rear cover 16, such as an engineering plastic (e.g. acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or high impact polystyrene (HIPS)) that is chosen for its rigidity and impact resistance.
Referring now in addition to
As an alternative, the bezel 76 may be have one or more rearward protrusions that are tucked into an inner surface of the frame 14, in order to engage the frame 14.
Although the invention(s) has (have) been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
