JP2001265246A - Display device and electronic apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a display device by which the first housing can be used repetitively as it is, the exchange work of a display panel can be carried out easily and the cost can be reduced. SOLUTION: The display device is provided with a plurality of liquid crystal display panels 12 and 30 supported by a retaining wall 18 of a display cover 16. The liquid crystal display panel has a plurality of screw receiving parts 27 and 33 in an outer peripheral part, and these screw receiving parts are fixed by the retaining wall through screws 37 and 38. The liquid crystal display panel has a plurality of forms from which the sizes of the entire part differ, any liquid crystal display panel is selectively supported by the retaining wall of he display cover, and this retaining wall has a plurality of first and second boss parts 35 and 36, respectively at the position corresponding to the screw receiving part of the plurality of liquid crystal display panels from which the sizes differ. The boss part corresponding to the liquid crystal display panel smaller than this liquid crystal display panel is removed from the remaining wall in supporting one selected liquid crystal display panel to the display cover.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a display device in which a display panel is housed inside a flat box-shaped housing body, and an electronic device such as a portable computer having the display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display device used in a portable computer has a flat display housing for accommodating a liquid crystal display panel. The display housing includes a display cover and a display mask detachably connected to the display cover.

[0003] The display cover has a support wall for supporting the liquid crystal display panel, and a plurality of bosses projecting toward the inside of the display housing are integrally formed on an outer peripheral portion of the support wall. The boss portion corresponds to a plurality of screw receiving portions installed on the outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal display panel, and by screwing the screw receiving portion of the liquid crystal display panel to these boss portions, the display housing and the liquid crystal display panel are connected. Are integrated.

[0004] In the recent portable computer market, there is a growing need for upgrading computers. Specifically, there is a demand for replacing the liquid crystal display panel of the liquid crystal display device with a larger screen to increase the display quality and the visibility of the screen. In order to satisfy this requirement, there has been known a portable computer provided with an upgrade liquid crystal display panel having a larger display screen as an optional component, in addition to a liquid crystal display panel provided as standard equipment in a display housing.

[0005] At this time, since the size of the whole liquid crystal display panel is different between the standardly equipped liquid crystal display panel and the upgraded liquid crystal display panel, the positions and the number of screw receiving portions are different from each other. Therefore, it is impossible to directly attach the upgrade liquid crystal display panel to the existing display cover, and a dedicated display cover corresponding to the upgrade liquid crystal display panel is indispensable.

[0006]

According to the conventional portable computer, the existing liquid crystal display panel and the liquid crystal display panel for upgrading have different screw fixing positions with respect to the display cover. Even if it goes up, it is not enough to simply replace the liquid crystal display panel, and the display cover supporting this liquid crystal display panel must also be replaced.

As a result, the display cover cannot be used repeatedly, and the number of parts that need to be replaced increases. Therefore, a great deal of labor and labor is required for the replacement of the liquid crystal display panel, and the work time for upgrading the liquid crystal display device is lengthened.

In addition, since the display cover is also an important external element that affects the external appearance of the portable computer, it requires careful finishing such as painting and polishing, which inevitably increases the unit price of the display. For this reason, there is a problem that the cost for upgrading is increased in addition to the increase in the operation time.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when it is necessary to replace the display panel, the first housing of the housing body can be used repeatedly as it is, and the display panel can be replaced. An object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of easily performing operations and reducing costs, and an electronic device having the display device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a display device according to the present invention includes a first housing having a support wall, and a second housing connected to the first housing. A housing body; housed in the housing body, having a plurality of screw receiving portions on an outer peripheral portion, and screwing the screw receiving portions to a support wall of the first housing to be integrated with the housing body. A display panel; The display panel has a plurality of forms having different overall sizes.
A display panel of any size is selectively accommodated in the housing body, and a support wall of the first housing body is located at a position corresponding to a screw receiving portion of a plurality of display panels having different sizes. A plurality of bosses protruding toward the inside of the housing body, and a boss corresponding to a screw receiving portion of a display panel smaller than the display panel when the selected one display panel is accommodated in the housing body. The portion is removed from the support wall.

[0011] To achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing having a keyboard; a closed position supported by the housing and covering the keyboard, and an open position exposing the keyboard. And a display device that can be rotated. The display device includes: a first housing having a support wall; a housing body including a second housing connected to the first housing; and a display panel housed in the housing body. . The display panel has a plurality of screw receiving portions on its outer peripheral portion, and the display panel and the housing body are integrated by fixing the screw receiving portions to the support wall of the first housing via screws. Have been. The display device has a plurality of display panels having different overall sizes. A display panel of any size is selectively housed in the housing body, and a support wall of the first housing is provided. Has a plurality of bosses respectively projecting toward the second housing at positions corresponding to the screw receiving portions of the plurality of display panels having different sizes, and accommodates one selected display panel in the housing body. In doing so,
The boss portion corresponding to the screw receiving portion of the display panel smaller than the display panel is removed from the support wall.

In such a configuration, when replacing the existing display panel with a larger display panel, the screw is loosened and the existing display panel is removed from the boss of the first housing. Then, the boss portion fixing the display panel is removed from the support wall by machining or the like,
Only the boss portion corresponding to the screw receiving portion of the large display panel is left on the support wall. Next, the large display panel to be replaced is positioned on the support wall of the first housing, and its screw receiving portion is fixed to the remaining boss portion via a screw.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, a plurality of display panels having different sizes can be mounted in common on one first housing, and even if the display panel is replaced, the first housing remains unchanged. Can be used repeatedly. Therefore, a large-scale replacement work is not required, and this replacement work can be easily performed in a short time, and the number of parts that need to be replaced can be reduced, thereby reducing costs.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings applied to a portable computer.

FIG. 1 discloses a notebook portable computer 1 of, for example, B5 size. The portable computer 1 includes a computer main body 2 and a liquid crystal display device 3 supported by the computer main body 2.

The computer main body 2 has a flat box-shaped housing 4 constituting an outer shell thereof. The upper wall 4 a of the housing 4 includes a palm rest 5 and a keyboard attachment 6. The palm rest 5 extends in the width direction of the housing 4 at the front half of the upper wall 4a. The keyboard attachment 6 is located behind the palm rest 5, and a keyboard 7 is attached to the keyboard attachment 6.

The upper wall 4a of the housing 4 has a projection 8 projecting upward. The protrusion 8 extends in the width direction of the housing 4 behind the keyboard 7, and leg attachment portions 9 a and 9 b are formed at both ends of the protrusion 8. The leg attachment portions 9a and 9b are configured by depressions opened forward, upward, and rearward of the projection 8.

The liquid crystal display device 3 has a flat box-shaped housing body 11 and a liquid crystal display panel 12 housed inside the housing body 11. The housing body 11 has a pair of legs 13a, 13b at one end.
have. The legs 13a and 13b are inserted into the leg attachment portions 9a and 9b, respectively, and one leg 13a is rotatably connected to the housing 4 via a hinge 14 (shown in FIG. 2). .

For this reason, the liquid crystal display device 3 rotates between a closed position where the palm rest 5 and the keyboard 7 are covered from above and an open position where the palm rest 5 and the keyboard 7 are exposed so as to be exposed. I am getting it.

The housing body 11 is
A display cover 16 as a first housing;
And a display mask 17 as a second housing.

The display cover 16 is formed of a die-cast product using a metal material such as a magnesium alloy. As shown in FIG. 2, the display cover 16 includes a flat support wall 18 and upper and lower and left and right peripheral walls 19 a to 1 rising from the outer peripheral edge of the support wall 18.
9d. At the lower edge of the support wall 18, the housing 4
A pair of leg bodies 20a, 20b extending toward the leg attachment portions 9a, 9b are integrally formed, and the hinge fitting 14 is housed inside one leg body 20a. The hinge fitting 14 is screwed to an inner surface of the leg body 20a and a support wall 18 connected to the leg body 20a.

The display mask 17 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material such as an ABS resin. The display mask 17 has a flat front wall 21 facing the support wall 18, and a rectangular opening 2 is formed at the center of the front wall 21.
2 is formed, and at the lower edge of the front wall 21,
A pair of leg cover parts 23a and 23b are formed.

The display mask 17 covers the outer peripheral edge of the front wall 21 with the peripheral walls 19a to 19d of the display cover 16.
Is detachably connected to the display cover 16. Leg covers 23a, 23b
Puts the display mask 17 on the display cover 16
When they are connected, the leg portions 13a and 13b are configured to abut against the leg main bodies 20a and 20b, and one leg cover portion 23a covers and hides the hinge fitting 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display panel 12 provided as a standard feature in the portable computer 1 has a display screen 25 of, for example, 10.4 inches. The liquid crystal display panel 12 is formed on the peripheral wall 1 of the display cover 16.
It is formed in a size having a height dimension H1 and a width dimension W1 so that it can be easily accommodated inside 9a to 19d.

The outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal display panel 12 is surrounded by a metal frame 26. The frame 26 couples the liquid crystal display panel 12 with a chassis 28 (shown in FIG. 5) supporting a fluorescent lamp for a backlight and a light guide plate (not shown). The frame 26 has four screw receiving portions 27. The screw receiving portion 27 protrudes in a flange shape from four corners of the liquid crystal display panel 12 and faces the support wall 18 of the display cover 16 as shown in FIG.

The portable computer 1 has a liquid crystal display panel 30 for upgrading as an optional component. As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal display panel 3
0 has a display screen 31 of, for example, 11.3 inches. The height H2 and the width W2 of the liquid crystal display panel 30 are set to be larger than the height H1 and the width W1 of the standard liquid crystal display panel 12 as the size of the liquid crystal screen 31 increases. . For this reason, the liquid crystal display panel 30 for upgrading is larger than the standard liquid crystal display panel 12, and the peripheral wall 1 of the display cover 16
It has a size that fits exactly inside 9a to 19d.

The outer periphery of the liquid crystal display panel 30 is surrounded by a metal frame 32. The frame 32 connects the liquid crystal display panel 30 to a chassis that supports a fluorescent lamp and a light guide plate for a backlight (not shown). This frame 32 has three screw receiving portions 33. The screw receiving portions 33 project from both ends of the upper edge of the liquid crystal display panel 30 and the lower end of the right edge of the liquid crystal display panel 30 in a flange shape, respectively, and face the support wall 18 of the display cover 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display cover 1
6, four first boss portions 35 are provided on the inner surface of the support wall 18.
And three second boss portions 36 are formed. The first and second boss portions 35 and 36 are integrally injection-molded when the display cover 16 is die-cast, and project from the inner surface of the support wall 18 toward the display mask 17.

The first boss portion 35 corresponds to the screw receiving portion 27 of the standard liquid crystal display panel 12, and is located at a position adjacent to the left and right peripheral walls 19c and 19d of the display cover 16. They are arranged apart from each other in the height direction. Liquid crystal display panel 1
The second screw receiving portion 27 is fastened and fixed to the distal end surface of the first boss portion 35 via a screw 37, whereby
The liquid crystal display panel 12 is integrated with the display cover 16 in a posture along the support wall 18. The display screen 25 of the liquid crystal display panel 12 is exposed to the outside of the housing body 11 through the opening 22, and the opening 22 has a size corresponding to the display screen 25.

The second boss portion 36 corresponds to the screw receiving portion 33 of the liquid crystal display panel 30 for upgrading, and at a position close to the upper peripheral wall 19a of the display cover 16, the second boss portion 36 is provided. They are arranged apart from each other in the width direction, and are arranged at positions near the lower end of the right peripheral wall 19d of the display cover 16. Therefore, as is apparent from FIG. 3, the second boss portion 36 is provided at a position outside the standard liquid crystal display panel 12.
It does not hinder the incorporation of.

The screw receiving portion 33 of the liquid crystal display panel 30 for upgrading is provided with a screw 3 on the distal end surface of the second boss portion 35.
Thus, the liquid crystal display panel 30 is integrated with the display cover 16 in such a manner as to be along the support wall 18. At this time, since the overall liquid crystal display panel 30 for upgrading has a larger overall planar shape than the standard liquid crystal display panel 12 as the size of the display screen 31 increases, as shown in FIG. The first boss 35 used for fixing the panel 12 enters the installation area of the liquid crystal display panel 30. Therefore, when assembling the liquid crystal display panel 30 into the display cover 16, the first boss 35 is cut off from the support wall 18 by machining the support wall 18 of the display cover 16 in advance.

The display screen 31 of the liquid crystal display panel 30 is exposed to the outside of the housing body 11 through the opening 22 of the display mask 17. Since the display screen 31 is larger than the standard display screen 25, As 17, a dedicated one corresponding to the liquid crystal display panel 30 is used. Since the display mask 17 is made of synthetic resin having excellent versatility and has a simplified shape, the unit cost of the display mask 17 itself is kept low, and even if it is replaced, there is no cost problem. It has become.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the liquid crystal display panels 12 and 30 have dedicated FL inverters 40 and 41 for driving backlights, respectively. These FL
The inverters 40 and 41 are electrically connected to a backlight and a power supply circuit unit (not shown) housed inside the housing 4. The FL inverters 40 and 41 are formed in an elongated plate shape, and the right peripheral wall 19 of the display cover 16 is formed.
d and the right edges of the liquid crystal display panels 12 and 30.

A procedure for replacing the liquid crystal display panel 12 provided as a standard with the liquid crystal display panel 30 having a large screen in the portable computer 1 having such a configuration will be described.

First, the liquid crystal display device 3 is rotated from the closed position to the open position to expose the display mask 17. Next, the display mask 17 is removed from the display cover 16, and the liquid crystal display panel 12 is exposed as shown in FIG. Then, by loosening the screw 37, the fixing of the liquid crystal display panel 12 to the first boss portion 35 is released, and the liquid crystal display panel 12 is taken out of the display cover 16 together with the FL inverter 40.

Next, the connection between the display cover 16 and the hinge fitting 14 is released, and the display cover 16 is removed from the housing 4. In this state, the display cover 16
The first boss portion 35 that fixed the liquid crystal display panel 12 was scraped off by machining the support wall 18 of
Only the second boss portion 36 is left on the support wall 18. And
The upgrade liquid crystal display panel 30 is placed on the support wall 18, the screw receiving portion 33 is aligned with the second boss portion 36, and the screw receiving portion 33 is connected to the screw 38.
And is fixed to the second boss portion 36 via the. As a result, the liquid crystal display panel 30 and the display cover 1
6 are integrated, and finally a new display mask 17 having an opening 22 corresponding to the large display screen 31 is fitted into the display cover 16, thereby completing a series of upgrading work of the liquid crystal display device 3.

According to such a portable computer 1, the first boss 35 for fixing the standard liquid crystal display panel 12 to one display cover 16 in advance.
In addition, a second boss portion 36 for fixing the upgrade liquid crystal display panel 30 is installed, and the standard liquid crystal display panel 1 is attached with the upgrade of the liquid crystal display device 3.
When it becomes necessary to replace the second boss 2 with a large-screen liquid crystal display panel 30, the unnecessary first boss portion 35 is scraped off from the support surface 18 of the display cover 16.

For this reason, two types of liquid crystal display panels 12 and 30 having different sizes can be mounted on one display cover 16 in common, and the standard liquid crystal display panel 12 is replaced with a large-screen liquid crystal display panel 30. Even when the need arises, the display cover 16 can be used repeatedly as it is. As a result, a large-scale operation of replacing the display cover 16 at the same time becomes unnecessary, and the operation of replacing the liquid crystal display panels 12 and 30 can be easily performed in a short time.

Moreover, since a new display cover 16 corresponding to the liquid crystal display panel 30 for upgrading is not required, the number of parts that need to be replaced can be minimized, and the cost of upgrading the liquid crystal display device 3 can be reduced. Can be reduced.

That is, when a new display cover 16 for upgrading is prepared, two display covers 16 must be prepared for one housing body 11, so that each cover 16 is die-cast. The two types of molds are required. Therefore, the number of expensive molds increases, and therefore, the manufacturing cost increases.

Further, if an insert mold called a so-called nest is used, in which portions for molding the first and second boss portions 35 and 36 of the mold are selectively and replaceably fitted, the use of one insert mold is possible. Two types of display covers 16 can be die-cast with a mold. However, in the die-casting method, the pressure applied to the mold becomes extremely large and the mold is heated to a high temperature. This causes a problem that it is not suitable for mass production.

However, according to the above configuration, the unnecessary first boss portion 35 may be simply scraped off, so that two types of liquid crystal display panels 12 and 3 are provided for one liquid crystal display device 3.
Despite the presence of 0, only one display cover 16 is required. For this reason, it is not necessary to increase the number of dies or adopt an insert die, and it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.

In addition, there is no need to always keep two types of display covers 16 in order to cope with the upgrade of the liquid crystal display device 3, and there is an advantage that component management becomes easy.

The display cover is not limited to a magnesium alloy, but may be made of another metal material such as an aluminum alloy, or may be made of a synthetic resin material such as an ABS resin. .

[0045]

According to the present invention described in detail above, a plurality of display panels having different sizes can be commonly mounted on one first housing, and even if the display panels need to be replaced. The first housing can be used repeatedly as it is. As a result, a large-scale operation of exchanging the first housing at the same time as the display panel becomes unnecessary, and the exchange operation of the display panel can be easily performed in a short time.

Moreover, since a new first housing corresponding to the display panel to be replaced is not required, the number of parts that need to be replaced can be minimized and the cost of upgrading the display device can be reduced. There are advantages.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary front view of the portable computer showing a plurality of bosses disposed on a support wall of a display cover.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the portable computer showing a state in which a 10.4 inch liquid crystal display panel is attached to a support wall of a display cover.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary front view of the portable computer in a state where a 11.3-inch liquid crystal display panel is attached to a support wall of a display cover;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Liquid crystal display device 4 ... Case 7 ... Keyboard 11 ... Housing body 12 ... Display panel (liquid crystal display panel) 16 ... First housing (display cover) 17 ... Second housing (display mask) 18 ... Support wall 25 ... Display screens 27,33 ... Screw receiver 30 ... Display panel (liquid crystal display panel) 35,36 ... Boss (first boss, second boss) 37,38 ... Screw

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H089 HA40 JA10 KA15 QA12 QA13 TA01 5G435 AA17 AA19 BB12 EE02 EE13 KK01 LL07

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A housing body including a first housing having a support wall, a second housing connected to the first housing, and a display panel housed in the housing body. The display panel has a plurality of screw receiving portions on its outer peripheral portion, and by fixing these screw receiving portions to the support wall of the first housing via screws, the display panel and the housing body are integrated. In the display device, the display panel has a plurality of forms having different overall sizes, and any one of the display panels is selectively housed in the housing body, and The support wall of the housing has a plurality of bosses projecting toward the inside of the housing body at positions corresponding to the screw receiving portions of the plurality of display panels having different sizes. A display device having a selected display panel, wherein a boss portion corresponding to a screw receiving portion of a display panel smaller than the display panel is removed from the support wall when the selected one display panel is accommodated in the housing body. . 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second housing has an opening facing the support wall, and the display panel has a display surface exposed to the outside through the opening. A display device, comprising: 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first housing including the boss is an injection-molded article using a metal material, and the second housing is made of a synthetic resin. Display device. 4. A housing having a keyboard, and a display device supported by the housing and rotatable between a closed position for covering the keyboard and an open position for exposing the keyboard. The display device includes: a first housing having a support wall;
A housing body including a second housing connected to the first housing; and a display panel housed in the housing body. The display panel has a plurality of screw receiving portions on an outer peripheral portion thereof. By fixing these screw receiving portions to the support wall of the first housing via screws, in the electronic device in which the display panel and the housing body are integrated, the display device has an entire size. Have a plurality of display panels having different sizes, a display panel of any size is selectively housed in the housing body, and the support wall of the first housing is formed of a plurality of display panels having different sizes. A plurality of bosses each projecting toward the second housing are provided at positions corresponding to the screw receiving portions, and one selected display panel is housed in the housing body. Order to, electronic device, wherein a boss portion corresponding to the screw receiving portion of the small display panel than the panel was removed from the support wall. 5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the first housing including the boss is formed of an injection molded product using a magnesium alloy.