| Flat-panel display mounting system for portable computer -> Monitor Keywords |
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Flat-panel display mounting system for portable computerFlat-panel display mounting system for portable computer description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060209503, Flat-panel display mounting system for portable computer. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/006,135, filed Dec. 6, 2004, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/822,438, filed Mar. 21, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,838,810, issued Jan. 4, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Portable computers almost universally have a top cover that pivots to open or close over a base unit. The top cover typically houses a flat-panel display, and the base unit has a keyboard and, many times, some form of pointing device. [0003] In most cases, the flat-panel display is supported in the top cover by securing it to a plastic back or rear portion of the top cover. Usually, the flat-panel display has four or more holes around its periphery; bolts extend orthogonally to the face of the display, through the holes, to engage bosses, which are integral with the back. The plastic back is typically structural in nature, being manufactured from a rigid plastic. When connected together, the flat-panel display and the plastic back provide necessary rigidity to the top cover. [0004] The selection of the flat-panel display in portable computers is generally driven by two competing concerns. On one hand, with the availability of ever-larger flat-panel displays, there is a desire to incorporate those displays into newer portable computer designs. Running contrary to this, however, is the desire to limit the overall dimensions of the computers to enhance their portability. For example, it is common to design portable computers with outside dimensions limited to approximately 8.times.11''. These dimensions are characteristic of notebook-sized computers. [0005] Various innovations have come about to increase the active or viewing area of the flat-panel display as a proportion of the total surface area of the top cover to obtain larger displays without increasing the computer's overall dimensions. For example, it is known to fold the driving and other peripheral circuitry around to the back of the flat-panel display. This results in a display panel whose surface area is almost entirely active except for the width of the metal rim that holds the display together and the bolt holes that are used to attach the flat-panel display to the plastic back. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The problem with prior art configurations is the fact that they fail to recognize that the size of the top cover need not be large enough to accommodate the bolt holes. According to the present invention, the flat-panel display is provided with fixtures in the display's sidewalls to provide for its support by lateral mounting members. The advantage of this approach, in which the bolt holes are essentially rotated around to the sides of the flat-panel display, is the reduction in the portion of the portable computer's top cover that is not an active display. In practice, this results in an increase of six millimeters or more in the size display that may be housed in the same-sized top cover. [0007] In specific embodiments, the lateral mounting members comprise bolts that engage bosses in the flat-panel display. [0008] Further reductions in the inactive portions of the top cover may be achieved by extending the ends of the display's fluorescent back-light beyond or through the metal rim that surrounds the display. This allows the rim to be even thinner. [0009] Also according to the invention, in order to accommodate the lateral mounting of the flat-panel display, metal brackets are used. These brackets extend from the base unit hinges and cradle the display. This adds torsional rigidity, but also removes the requirement that the back must be structural. As a result, the back can simply be a thin, molded cosmetic rear cover for the computer's top cover. [0010] In specific embodiments, the lateral mounting members, or bolts, pass through the brackets and the plastic back to engage the bosses, thus binding the elements to each other. [0011] The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings: [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable computer according to the present invention; [0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the top cover of the portable computer according to the invention; [0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the inventive top cover; and [0016] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a corner of an inventive flat-panel display. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a personal computer 10 constructed according to the principles of the present invention. Generally, the computer 10 has a top cover 100 that is connected by hinges 112, or otherwise pivotally attached, to a base unit 12. The top cover 100 houses a flat-panel display 114 and a second, much smaller, status display 116, which typically provides information concerning remaining battery life, disk drive operation, and other house-keeping functions. The base unit 12 has keyboard 14 and a pointing device 16, a touch pad in the illustrated embodiment. A power switch 18 and disk drive door 20 are located on the side of the base unit 12. [0018] The overall dimensions of the particular embodiment illustrated when closed are about 8.5 inches wide by 12 inches long, which dimensions also apply to the top cover 100 and base unit 12 separately. The total closed height is over two inches, with the height of the top cover 100 being approximately 0.5 inches. [0019] The unique characteristics of the present invention are evident in the ratio between the total surface area of the top cover 100 and the surface area of the active or viewable area of the display 114. The active area of the display 114 illustrated is 14.1 inches, diagonally. Consequently, it consumes over 90% of the top cover's total area. Continue reading about Flat-panel display mounting system for portable computer... Full patent description for Flat-panel display mounting system for portable computer Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Flat-panel display mounting system for portable computer patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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