Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
  • H04N5/74—Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
  • H04N9/12—Picture reproducers
  • H04N9/31—Projection devices for colour picture display, e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]
  • H04N9/3141—Constructional details thereof

Definitions

• This invention relates to the field of television enclosures and, more specifically, to projection television cabinets.
• Projection televisions comprise a cabinet containing a video projector and a video screen optically aligned by one or more mirrors. Such cabinets are typically very big and very heavy, and the various optical elements enclosed therein must be carefully aligned. If the video projector elements and mirrors inside the cabinet are moved in relation to the screen, the image will be poor because proper convergence will be destroyed resulting in color fringing.
• projection television cabinets are comprised of a combination of wood, metal, and plastic having a large mass that inherently resists misaligning forces. The metal is generally of high bending strength resistant to distortion.
• a projection television 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration wherein wood plate materials are used.
• the plate materials are formed into a box, which comprises a main body portion 120 and a bottom cabinet 170.
• a screen mounting frame 140 is mounted onto the front of the main body portion 120 for installing a screen 130.
• a mirror mounting enclosure 160 is mounted to the rear of the main body portion 120 for installing a mirror 150.
• the bottom cabinet 170 is adapted for containing the video devices and electronic components.
• the size of the main body portion 120 and the overall size of the television, including the mirror mounting portion 160, are determined by the size of a projection screen to be used.
• Each part of the housing is formed with a size and dimensional accuracy originally designed to provide a single housing that depends on the size of the projection screen. As a result, such parts are not compatible with other size projection screens.
• a projection television 200 shown in FIG. 2 has a configuration wherein a metal frame 280 in a predetermined shape is placed on a bottom cabinet 270.
• a screen mounting frame 240 including a screen 230, and a mirror mounting enclosure 260 including a mirror 250, are integrally mounted to envelope the frame 280.
• the metal frame 280 used is designed as a housing of one size in accordance with the size of a projection screen. As a result, there is no compatibility with other projection screen sizes.
• the invention comprises a method and apparatus for an interchangeable, light weight enclosure for display devices such as projection televisions.
• the enclosure according to the principles of the invention includes upper and lower cabinets, which are detachably attached.
• the lower cabinet which is supported by a floor interface, supports the upper cabinet and includes an enclosure for inserting an optics frame.
• the optics frame supports optical components for presenting images or video signals.
• the lower cabinet can be made of low bending strength material that normally is light in weight.
• the optics frame is made of higher bending strength material (such as steel) and the enclosure is designed such that when the optics frame is inserted, the optics frame prevents side walls of the lower cabinet from moving toward each other, thereby stiffens the lower cabinet.
• the upper and lower cabinets, and the floor interface are made of plastic.
• the upper cabinet has a locator that mates with a locator in the lower cabinet, such that the lower cabinet restricts lateral movements of the upper cabinet.
• a projection display apparatus in another embodiment, includes a plastic upper cabinet including a display device in optical cooperation with a reflection means, the plastic upper cabinet having a bottom perimeter substantially conforming to a top perimeter of a plastic lower cabinet, and the plastic lower cabinet including an optics frame for supporting optical components, the plastic lower cabinet comprising an enclosure for inserting the optics frame such that the optics frame fits snugly into the enclosure increasing the rigidity of the plastic lower cabinet, the plastic lower cabinet having a bottom perimeter substantially conforming to a top perimeter of a plastic floor interface, the plastic upper cabinet and the plastic lower cabinet being separately formed and detachably attached.
• FIG. 1 depicts an exploded perspective view of a typical wood frame cabinet for a projection television
• FIG. 2 depicts an exploded perspective view of a typical metal frame cabinet for a projection television
• FIG. 3 depicts an exploded isometric view of an embodiment of a projection television enclosure in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 4 depicts an exploded front view of the projection television enclosure of
• FIG. 3
• FIG. 5 depicts an exploded side view of the projection television enclosure of FIG. 3;
• FIG. 6 depicts an exploded top view of the projection television enclosure of FIG. 3;
• FIG. 7 depicts a top view and a bottom view of a lower cabinet of the projection television enclosure of FIG. 3;
• FIG. 8 depicts an exploded view of a joint between a circular pocket of an upper cabinet and a circular pocket of a lower cabinet of the projection television enclosure of FIG. 3.
• the projection television enclosure of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGs. 3 through 8, which include commonly designated elements.
• the projection television enclosure includes an upper cabinet 300, a lower cabinet 400, and a floor interface 600.
• an optics frame 500 is illustrated in the projection television enclosure of the present invention, for supporting all of the optics required for a rear projection television, excluding a screen and a mirror, which are provided in the upper cabinet 300.
• the optics frame 500 is configured in the form of a cartridge as a whole and is inserted into the lower frame 400 for providing rigidity to the lower frame 400.
• the upper cabinet 300, the lower cabinet 400 and the floor interface 600 are formed independently of each other.
• the floor interface 600 of the projection television enclosure depicted in figures 1-8 is shown as a separate component, the floor interface 600 can be advantageously implemented as being substantially integrated into the lower cabinet 400.
• the components of the projection television enclosure of figures 1-8 are formed such that the lower cabinet 400 is assembled onto the floor interface 600, and in turn, the upper cabinet 300 is mounted on the assembly of the lower cabinet 400 and the floor interface 600.
• the lower cabinet 400 is first made for the smallest screen size, such as 37 inches, so that the lower cabinet 400 has a length of about the smallest screen size on the screen side, i.e., about the same length of the upper cabinet 300 made for the smallest screen size.
• the length of the upper cabinet 300 on the screen side is longer than that of the lower cabinet 400.
• the length of the upper cabinet 300 on the screen side may be smaller than the lower cabinet 400.
• the upper cabinet 300, lower cabinet 400, and floor interface 600 are advantageously manufactured of a light weight material capable of being mass produced.
• the light weight material reduces the weight of the projection television enclosure and the simplicity of manufacture decreases the time and costs associated with the projection television enclosure.
• the light weight material is plastic and the manufacturing process is injection molding.
• plastics are known to those skilled in the art.
• the light weight material is not limited to plastics, other materials such as aluminum can be used as well.
• the upper cabinet 300 provides an enclosure for a display device in optical cooperation with a reflection means to locate an image from the image forming optics of the projection television.
• the display device is a screen and the reflection means is a mirror working in cooperation to locate the image of a picture onto the screen.
• the upper cabinet 300 is formed with a rectangular frame portion 302 on a front side thereof.
• the upper cabinet 300 is formed by a top wall 304, two side walls 306 ⁇ , 306 2 , (collectively side walls 306), a rear wall 308, and a bottom wall 310 in the form of a box as a whole, with an open front face.
• the bottom wall 310 is formed with an opening to which faces the projection lens, when it is assembled with the lower cabinet 400.
• the top wall 304, two side walls 306, and bottom wall 310 flare out toward the front side as a whole, to accommodate screens and mirrors of larger sizes.
• the bottom wall 310 is formed with two flanges (overlapping walls) 312 ⁇ and 312 2 (collectively flanges 312) that run along the length of the two side walls 306 on the inside of the upper cabinet 300.
• the flanges 312 are used for coupling the upper cabinet 300 with the lower cabinet 400.
• the flanges 312 of the upper cabinet 300 mate with ledges 412, described below, on the lower cabinet 400.
• the flanges 312 are each formed with a front face 313 ⁇ and 313 2 (collectively front faces 313) each containing a circular pocket 314 ⁇ and 314 2 (collectively circular pockets 314) disposed thereon.
• the circular pockets 314 mate with two circular pockets 422, described below, on the lower cabinet 400.
• the upper cabinet 300 also includes a central "hump" 320.
• the central hump 320 is formed as a part of the bottom wall 310.
• the central hump 320 aids in the mechanical coupling between the upper cabinet 300 and the lower cabinet 400 to provide greater strength and stability for the enclosure.
• the central hump 320 also improves the strength and stability of the enclosure by transferring the load from the top of the upper cabinet 300, to the more stable base of the upper cabinet 300.
• the central hump 320 is formed with a forward flange 321 , two screw holes 322i and 322 2 (collectively screw holes 322), and two screw mounting tabs 323 ⁇ and 323 2 (collectively screw mounting tabs 323) along the front face of the central hump 320.
• the forward flange 321 on the central hump 320 mates with a ledge 410, described below, on the lower cabinet 400.
• the two screw holes 322 mate with screw holes 414 on a rear wall 416, described below, of the lower cabinet 400.
• the two screw mounting tabs 323 mate with holes 418 on the rear wall 416, described below, of the lower cabinet 400. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various combinations of ledges, flanges, screw mounting tabs, and screw holes can be formed in the upper cabinet 300 for mounting the upper cabinet 300 to the lower cabinet 400.
• An important aspect is that a substantial portion of the bottom perimeter of the upper cabinet 300 be supported by the lower cabinet 400 such that the load of the upper cabinet 300 is supported in a stable manner by the lower cabinet 400. In this manner, fastening hardware (e.g., screws, bolts, set screws, etc.) used to fasten the upper cabinet 300 to the lower cabinet 400 do not experience excessive load or stress.
• the optics frame 500 is configured in the form of a cartridge as a whole so that it can be easily replaced from the front side.
• the optics frame 500 is formed with two sheet metal endplates 502 ⁇ and 502 2 (collectively endplates 502) and two sheet metal rails 510 ⁇ and 510 2 (collectively rails 510).
• the optics frame 500 is stronger and more rigid than the lower cabinet 400, which is made of plastic.
• the endplates 502 and the rails 510 support Optronics, which produce the picture.
• Each endplate 502 is formed with a top edge, collectively 506, and a bottom fold, collectively 520.
• the two top edges 506 mate with two ledges 424 of protruding blocks 431 , described below, on the lower cabinet 400. This mate enables the optics frame 500 to prevent the upper portion of the side walls 404 of the lower cabinet 400 from moving toward each other.
• the two bottom folds 520 mate with two ledges 426, described below, on the lower cabinet 400.
• a front edge 503 of each endplate 502 mates with two side faces 428 of jutting blocks 438, described below, to center the optics frame 500 in the lower cabinet 400 for installation.
• the mate of the jutting blocks 438 and the endplates enables the optics frame 500 to prevent the lower portion of the side walls 404 of the lower cabinet 400 from moving toward each other.
• the top of the back edge of each endplate 502 is formed with a screw mounting tab, collectively 504.
• the two screw mounting tabs 504 mate with two screw holes 430 on protruding blocks 431 , described below, on the lower cabinet 400.
• the back edge of each bottom fold 520 is also formed with a screw mounting tab, collectively screw mounting tabs 521.
• the two screw mounting tabs 521 mate with two screw holes 432, described below, on the lower cabinet 400.
• the optics frame 500 When the optics frame 500 is mounted onto the lower cabinet 400, the optics frame 500 fits tightly into the lower cabinet 400, such that the sheet metal endplates 502 of the optics frame 500 stiffen the structure of the lower cabinet 400.
• the inventors have determined that stiffening the lower cabinet 400 with the optics frame 500 is important for providing the necessary rigidity for the projection television enclosure of the present invention.
• various combinations of ledges, flanges, screw mounting tabs, and screw holes can be formed in the optics frame 500 for mounting the optics frame 500 to the lower cabinet 400.
• An important aspect is that a substantial portion of the perimeter of the optics frame 500, except for the front face, be supported by the lower cabinet 400 such that the load of the optics frame 500 is supported in a stable manner by the lower cabinet 400.
• the lower cabinet 400 is a convoluted thin walled structure.
• the lower cabinet 400 is designed to support the upper cabinet 300 and encompass and support the optics frame 500, such that the load of the upper cabinet 300 and the optics frame 500 are transferred to the lower cabinet 400 in a manner limiting the stress on any fastening hardware. Additionally, the lower cabinet 400 can also be formed to contain speakers for the projection television.
• the lower cabinet 400 is formed with a generally rectangular shape. If speakers are to be contained in the lower cabinet 400, two additional rectangular rear cabinets are provided substantially integrated as a part of a rear wall of the lower cabinet 400.
• the lower cabinet 400 is formed by a top wall 402, two side walls 404- I , 404 2 , (collectively side walls 404), a rear wall 416, and a bottom wall 408 in the form of a box as a whole with a partially open front face.
• the embodiment depicted in the FIGs herein, also depict two additional rectangular rear cabinets 415-i and 415 2 (collectively rear cabinets 415) for housing speakers.
• the front face of the lower cabinet 400 is formed with two circular pockets 422 ⁇ and 422 2 (collectively circular pockets 422) in the upper two corners of the front face of the lower cabinet 400.
• the circular pockets 422 of the lower cabinet 400 mate with the circular pockets 314 of the upper cabinet 300 to locate the upper cabinet 300 on the lower cabinet 400.
• These pocket pairs together enable the lower cabinet 400 to restrict lateral movements of the upper cabinet 300.
• Lateral movements as used herein are defined as movements in the direction pointing from one of the two side walls 306 to the other side wall. An exploded view of this joint is depicted more clearly in FIG. 8.
• the ledges 412 of the lower cabinet 400 mate with the flanges 312 of the upper cabinet 300.
• the center of the top wall 402 is formed with a raised, partial cut-out 406, formed for adaptation as an optics locator for locating the optics (i.e., the cathode ray tubes) of the optics frame 500. See FIG. 5 for details.
• the back edge of the raised partial cutout forms a ledge 410.
• the ledge 410 of the lower cabinet 400 mates with the forward flange 321 on the central hump 320 of the upper cabinet 300.
• the rear wall 416 of the lower cabinet 400 is formed with two screw holes 414 ⁇ and 414 2 (collectively screw holes 414) located on the rear wall 416 on both ends of the raised optics locator 406. As described above, the two screw holes 414 on the rear wall 416 mate with the two screw holes 322 on the central hump 320 of the upper cabinet 300.
• the rear wall 416 is formed to also include two other screw holes 418 1 and 418 2 (collectively screw holes 418).
• the two screw holes 418 are located on the back wall 416 such that the screw holes 418 mate with the two screw mounting tabs 323 on the central hump 320 of the upper cabinet 300.
• the rear wall 416 is formed with a plurality of screw holes 420 (illustratively 4 screw holes 420) to mate with screw mounting tabs 620, described below, on the floor interface 600. See FIG. 4.
• the rear cabinets 415 on the rear wall 416 are each formed with a screw hole 417 ⁇ and 417 2 (collectively screw holes 417) near the bottom of each of the rear cabinets 415.
• the two screw holes 417 mate with screw mounting tabs 617, described below, on the floor interface 600.
• each rear cabinet 415 is formed with a protruding ledge 446 ⁇ and 446 2 (collectively ledges 446) on the base of the cabinet.
• the protruding ledges 446 mate with edges 618, described below, of the floor interface 600.
• the bottom wall 408 of the lower cabinet 400 is designed to mate with the floor interface 600.
• the two ends of the bottom wall 408 are slightly raised and extend toward the side walls 404, connecting with the side walls 440 of the front face of the cavity 403 and forming two ledges 434 ⁇ and 434 2 (collectively ledges 434).
• the two ends of the side walls 404 are slightly raised and extend toward the center of the bottom wall 408, forming two ledges 436 ⁇ and 436 2 (collectively ledges 436).
• the ledges 434 and 436 form channels that mate with two protruding arms 611 , described below, on the floor interface 600.
• the channel-protruding arm pairs enable the floor interface 600 to restrict lateral movement of the lower cabinet 400.
• the lower cabinet 400 is also formed with an internal cavity 403 for providing clearance for the optics (i.e., the cathode ray tube parts) of the optics frame 500 and the optics frame 500, itself.
• the cavity 403 is open toward the front face of the lower cabinet 400 for inserting the optics frame 500 into the lower cabinet 400.
• the front face of the cavity 403 of the lower cabinet 400 is defined by two protruding blocks 431 1 and 431 2 (collectively protruding blocks 431) located at the top of the front face of the cavity 403, two jutting blocks 438 ⁇ and 438 2 (collectively jutting blocks 438) located near the top of the front face of the cavity 403, two side walls 440 ⁇ and 440 2 (collectively side walls 440) of the front face of the cavity 403, and a bottom wall 408 of the front face of the cavity 403.
• a front face of each of the protruding blocks 431 of the cavity 403 is formed with a screw hole 430 ⁇ and 430 2 (collectively screw holes 430). As described above, the two screw holes 430 mate with the two screw mounting tabs 504 of the optics frame 500.
• a side face of each of the protruding blocks 431 of the cavity 403 forms two ledges 424 ⁇ and 424 2 (collectively ledges 424). As described above, the two ledges 424 mate with the two top edges 506 of the endplates 502 of the optics frame 500.
• the jutting blocks 438 on the front face of the cavity 403 are each formed with a side face 428 ⁇ and 428 2 (collectively side faces 428). As described above, the two side faces 428 of the jutting blocks 438 mate with the front edges 503 of each endplate 502 of the optics frame 500.
• the two side walls 440 defining the cavity 403 form two ledges 426 ⁇ and 426 2 (collectively ledges 426). As described above, the two ledges 426 of the side walls 440 mate with the two bottom folds 520 of the optics frame 500.
• the side walls 440 are formed with two screw holes 432 ⁇ and 432 2 (collectively screw holes 432) located near the top of the front face of the side walls 440. As described above, the two screw holes 432 mate with the two screw mounting tabs 521 of the optics frame 500. Additionally, the side walls are also formed with two screw holes 444 ⁇ and 444 2 (collectively screw holes 444) located near the bottom of the front face of the side walls 440. The two screw holes 444 mate with two screw mounting tabs 644, described below, on the floor interface 600.
• the floor interface 600 is a relatively thin walled structure that can optionally be formed with a plurality of ribs added for stiffening.
• the floor interface 600 can also optionally include casters 630 on the bottom to provide mobility.
• the floor interface 600 is designed to receive and support the lower cabinet 400, such that the load of the lower cabinet 300 is transferred to the floor interface 600 in a manner limiting the stress on any fastening hardware.
• the floor interface 600 is formed with a generally rectangular shape with the addition of two protruding arms extending from the front ends of a rectangular body.
• a rectangular body 610 of the floor interface 600 is formed by a top wall 601 , two side walls 602 ⁇ , 602 2 , (collectively side walls 602), a rear wall 603, a bottom wall 604, and a front wall 605, in the form of a box as a whole with a partially open front face.
• the two protruding arms 6111, 611 2 , (collectively protruding arms 611 ) of the floor interface 600 are formed by top wall 612, two outside walls 613-i, 613 2 , (collectively outside walls 613), two inside walls 614 ⁇ , 614 2 , (collectively inside walls 614), a bottom wall 615, and a front wall 616.
• the outside walls 613 of the protruding arms 611 extend laterally beyond the side walls of the rectangular body 610 to form two edges 618 ⁇ , 618 2 , (collectively edges 618). As described above, the two edges 618 mate with the protruding ledges 446 on the base of the rear cabinets 415 of the lower cabinet 400. As described above, the two protruding arms 611 , themselves, mate with channels 435 of the lower cabinet 400.
• the front wall 605 of the rectangular body 610 of the floor interface 600 is formed with a plurality of screw mounting tabs 620 (illustratively 4 screw mounting tabs 620), located along the top edge of the front wall 605. As described above, the plurality of screw mounting tabs 620 mate with the plurality of screw holes 420 on the rear wall 416 of the lower cabinet 400.
• the front wall 616 of each of the protruding arms 611 of the floor interface 600 is formed with a screw mounting tab 644 ⁇ and 644 2 (collectively screw mounting tabs 644), located along the top edge of each of the front walls 616. As described above, the screw mounting tabs 644 mate with the two screw holes 444 located near the bottom of the front face of the side walls 440 of the lower cabinet 400.
• the top wall 612 of the rectangular body 610 of the floor interface 600 is formed with two screw mounting tabs 617 ⁇ and 617 2 (collectively screw mounting tabs 617), located on the top wall 612 along the top edge of the side walls 602 at a distance from the front wall 605 enough to mate with the two screw holes 417 near the bottom of each of the rear cabinets 415 on the lower cabinet 400.
• the upper cabinet 300, the lower cabinet 400 including the optics frame 500, and the floor interface 600 provide a projection television enclosure that is substantially rigid enough to prevent the degradation in an image of the projection television due to moving components in a material that is light weight and advantageously allows for mass production.
• various holes and tabs were depicted and described as “screw” holes and “screw” mounting tabs, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that various other forms of fasteners (i.e., bolts, set screws, and the like, as well as glue and the like) can also be advantageously implemented to fasten the various components.
• the number of holes and tabs ultimately implemented to fasten the enclosure of a projection television depends on the fastening necessary or desired in a projection television and the number of components utilized.
• An important aspect is that the various components of the present invention interlock in a manner to supply the rigidity necessary for a projection television to prevent the degradation in an image of the projection television due to moving components.
• the inventors provide this important aspect in a material that is light weight and in a method that advantageously allows for mass production of the proposed projection television enclosure.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Projection Apparatus (AREA)
• Transforming Electric Information Into Light Information (AREA)
• Details Of Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=29270762

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• 2003
  • 2003-04-22 KR KR1020047017160A patent/KR100978163B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-04-22 CN CN03808935A patent/CN100576895C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-04-22 EP EP03731040A patent/EP1500266A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-04-22 AU AU2003241309A patent/AU2003241309A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-04-22 JP JP2003587161A patent/JP4583031B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-04-22 MX MXPA04010510A patent/MXPA04010510A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2003-04-22 WO PCT/US2003/012567 patent/WO2003090511A2/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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