US20060243879A1

US20060243879A1 - Display Module with a Support Structure

Info

Publication number: US20060243879A1
Application number: US11/380,657
Authority: US
Inventors: Chun-Chao Chiu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: BenQ Corp
Priority date: 2005-04-29
Filing date: 2006-04-28
Publication date: 2006-11-02
Also published as: TWI259716B; TW200638761A

Abstract

A display module includes a display, and a support structure including a first frame and a second frame pivotally connected to both ends of the display to support the display on a support surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display module, more particularly, a rotatable display module with a novel support structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Flat display panel is currently a popular display module, where a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is characterized by lightweight, low power consumption, and low radiation. Because of these characteristics, the LCD panel is widely applied in portable electronic products such as notebook computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). LCD monitors are so desirable that they are replacing the cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and traditional televisions.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional display module 2. The display module 2 comprises a display 4 which can be the LCD panel, and a display base 6 for supporting the display 4. In general, the combination of the display 4 and the display base 6 requires a amount of space. During shipping, the combination of the display module 2 costs a larger carton and more cushions for protecting the display module 2 from external impact, which increases the cost of packing and shipping. Moreover, a user's expectation is a display module with smaller base that occupies less area on the desktop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The claimed invention provides a display module with a support structure to solve the above-mentioned problems.
The claimed invention discloses a display module comprising a display, and a support structure comprising a first frame pivotally connected to a first end of the display, and a second frame pivotally connected to a second end of the display. The first frame and the second frame support the display on a support surface.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional display module.
FIG. 2 illustrates a front view diagram of a display module according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view diagram of a display module according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates an assembly diagram of a display module according to the first embodiment of to the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of an adjustment mechanism connecting to a display according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a disassembly diagram of the adjustment mechanism of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of a telescopic device of an adjustment mechanism set at different angle according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates a lateral view diagram of a display module utilized when a display and a desktop form a 90-degree angle according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 illustrates a lateral view diagram of a display module utilized when a display and a desktop form a 70-degree angle according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates a lateral view of a display module when enclosed according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates a lateral view of a display module when fully enclosed according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a display module according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 illustrates an enlarged assembly diagram of a fixed bar and a display according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 illustrates a diagram of a display module not fixed at a fixed bar of a first frame according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 illustrates a diagram of a display module being fixed at a fixed bar of the first frame according to the present invention.
FIG. 16 illustrates an assembly diagram of a fixing component and a wave-shaped sliding track according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 2 illustrates a front view diagram of a display module 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view diagram of a display module 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates an assembly diagram of a display module 10 according to the first embodiment according to the present invention. The display module 10 includes a display 12 which can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and a support structure 14 for supporting the display 12 on a support surface 15. The support structure 14 includes a first frame 16 connected to a first end of the display 12 for supporting the first end of the display 12 and a second frame 18 connected to a second end of the display 12 for supporting the second end of the display 12. The first frame 16 includes two fixed bars 16 a, 16 b and a foldable bar 16 c being bent to adjust an angle between the fixed bars 16 a, 16 b; the second frame 18 also includes two fixed bars 18 a, 18 b and a foldable bar 18 c being bent to adjust an angle between the fixed bars 18 a, 18 b. The support structure 14 further includes two bars 20 where one end is utilized for connecting the fixed bars 16 a, 16 b and connecting points A, B of the foldable bar 16 c of the first frame 16, another end is utilized for connecting the fixed bars 18 a, 18 b and connecting points C, D of the foldable bar 18 c of the second frame 18. The connecting points A, B, C, D can connect through a hinge connection method, which means that a corresponding displacement of rotation can be generated between the fixed bars 16 a, 16 b and the foldable bar 16 c and the fixed bars 18 a, 18 b and the foldable bar 18 c; and the foldable bar 16 c can perform bending at a central folding point E, and the foldable bar 18 c can perform bending at a central folding point F, points E, F can also be linked through the hinge connection method. The first frame 16 includes a first hinge 22 connected to the display 12, and the second frame 18 includes a second hinge 24 connected to the display 12, wherein the first hinge 22 and the second hinge 24 are utilized together for fixing the display 12 and the first frame 16 or the second frame 18 into a predetermined angle. The display module 10 further includes two screws 25 for locking the display 12 onto the support structure 14 respectively which function like a fixed bearing to lock the first hinge 22 and the second hinge 24 so that the display 12 can directly form a predetermined angle with the support surface 14 and also to fix the support structure 14 corresponding to the display 12 at a predetermined location; or the screws 25 are utilized for locking the assembly of the fixed bars 16 a, 16 b, 18 a, 18 b, the first hinge 22 and the second hinge 24, and there is no function of fixed bearing, the screws can collocate with other adjustment mechanisms to achieve the function of the support structure 14 corresponding to the display 12 at a predetermined location.
The display module 10 further includes an adjustment mechanism 26 installed at an opposite side to the first frame 16 and the second frame 18 connected to the display 12 for utilizing the first frame and the second frame to fix the display 12 together with either the first frame 16 or the second frame 18 into a predetermined angle. Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of an adjustment mechanism 26 connecting to a display 12 according to the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates a disassembly diagram of the adjustment mechanism 26 of FIG. 5. The adjustment mechanism 26 includes a roller 28, the roller 28 having a blocking surface 29 that has a rugged tire tracks surface to provide friction between the roller 28 and the support surface 15 to keep the roller 28 from easily slipping off the support surface 15. The adjustment mechanism further includes a telescopic device 30 connected to the roller device 28 for adjusting a distance between the roller device 28 and the display 12, in this embodiment, the telescopic device 30 is an elastic structure such as a spring, and the telescopic device 30 can also be a hydraulic pressure pump or a pneumatic pressure pump as long as the purpose of adjusting the distance between the roller device 28 and the display 12 can be achieved. The adjustment mechanism further includes a fixer 32 for assembling the telescopic device 30 and the roller device 28, the telescopic device 30 can be installed into a hollow cylinder of the upper portion of the fixer 32, and the roller device 28 can combine with a U-shaped stand of the lower portion of the fixer 32 together with a fixed shaft 34. The adjustment mechanism 26 further includes a handle 36 for the user to move the roller 28. Furthermore, the adjustment mechanism includes a damper for providing a damping force as a shock absorbing effect when the roller 28 rotates. However, if the first hinge 22 of the first frame 16 and the second hinge 24 of the second frame 18 of the display module 10 can provide sufficient support to form the predetermined angle then the design of the adjustment mechanism can be eliminated.
Please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of a telescopic device 30 of an adjustment mechanism changing when a display 12 is set at a different angle according to the present invention. When the display 12 is moved to a two highest ends, a shape compression of the telescopic device 30 is smallest at this point, but when the display 12 is moved to a lowest point in the middle, the shape compression of the telescopic device 30 is greatest at this point, therefore the original length of the telescopic device 30 can be set slightly shorter than the length of the telescopic device when the display 12 is moved to either the two highest ends, hence the telescopic device 30 can maintain its status of compression at any position. Elasticity is provided to the roller 28 so that the roller 28 can maintain a particular position firmly while not slipping off easily when the roller device 28 contacts the contact surface at any given position.
Please refer to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. FIG. 8 illustrates a lateral view diagram of a display module 10 utilized when a display 12 and a desktop form a 90-degree angle according to the present invention. FIG. 9 illustrates a lateral view diagram of a display module 10 utilized when a display 12 and a desktop form a 70-degree angle. When a user wants to view the display 12, the user can pull the foldable bars 16 c, 18 c to form a straight line to fix and support the display 12 firmly, then the user can utilize the handle 36 to move the display 12 to adjust the angle to be most suitable for viewing. When the display 12 is positioned at different viewing angles, the roller 28 contacts the desktop; hence, through the theory of the above-mentioned, the display 12 can be positioned effectively at each viewing angle.
Please refer to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. FIG. 10 illustrates a lateral view of a display module 10 when enclosed according to the present invention. FIG. 11 illustrates a lateral view of a display module when fully enclosed according to the present invention. When the user wants to enclose the display 12, the foldable bars 16 c, 18 c can be bent inwards in an upward direction, therefore the original triangle stand can be enclosed into a vertical line, and the thickness of the display module 10 can be greatly reduced to effectively save space.
Please refer to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 illustrates an external view diagram of a display module 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the display module 50 and the first embodiment of the present invention is in the design of the support structure. The display module 50 includes a support structure 54 for supporting the display 12. The support structure 54 includes a first frame 56 connected to a first end of the display 12 for supporting the first end of the display 12, and a second frame 58 connected to a second end of the display 12 for supporting the second end of the display 12. The first frame 56 includes three fixed bars 56 a, 56 b, 56 c, and this differs from the first embodiment of the present invention because the fixed bar 56 c can still perform bending in between the bars; the second frame 58 also includes three fixed bars 58 a, 58 b, 58 c, and this differs from the first embodiment of the present invention because the fixed bar 58 c can still perform bending in between the bars. The support structure 54 also includes two bars where one end is utilized for connecting the fixed bars 56 a, 56 b and connecting points A, B of the fixed bar 56 c of the first frame 56, another end is utilized for connecting the fixed bars 58 a, 58 b and connecting points C, D of the fixed bar 58 c of the second frame 58. The first frame 56 includes a first hinge 22 connected to the display 12, and the second frame 58 includes a second hinge 24 connected to the display 12, wherein the first hinge 22 and the second hinge 24 are utilized for fixing together the display 12 and the first frame 16 or the second frame 18 into a predetermined angle. A sliding track 60 and a plurality of positioning holes 62 are installed on the fixed bar 56 c, 58 c respectively.
Please refer to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 illustrates an enlarged assembly diagram of a fixed bar 56 c and a display 12 according to the present invention. The assembly of the display 12 and the fixed bar 58 c is similar to the structure shown in FIG. 13, therefore it will not be further mentioned. The display module 50 further includes an adjustment mechanism 63. The adjustment mechanism 63 includes a fixing component 64 where a first protrusion 65 is installed on the fixing component 64, a second protrusion 66 and a spring 67 where one end is connected to the fixing component 64 and another end is connected to a cap 69. As the spring 67 is connected to the fixing component 64, when the fixing component 64 is pulled out in X+ direction by the user, the first protrusion 65 of the fixing component 64 can slide in +Y or −Y direction on the sliding track 60; when the positioning bar 64 is released in X− direction by the user, the second protrusion 66 will be fastened in the fixing hole 62, at this time, the fixing component 64 will not be able to move within the sliding track 60. In the above-mentioned, the adjustment mechanism 63 is installed on both sides of the display 12 of the display module 50 and will be assembled with the fixed bar 56 c and the fixed bar 58 c respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the display 12 is only capable of installing an adjustment mechanism on one side of the display 12 to be assembled with the fixed bar 56 c or the fixed bar 58 c, therefore it will not be further mentioned.
Please refer to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. FIG. 14 illustrates a diagram of a display 12 of a display module 50 not fixed at a fixed bar 56 c of a first frame 56 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 illustrates a diagram of a display 12 of a display module 50 being fixed at a fixed bar 56 c of the first frame 56 according to the present invention. The assembly of the display 12 and the fixed bar 58 c of the second frame 58 is similar to the structure shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, therefore it will not be further mentioned. When the user needs to adjust the viewing angle of the display 12, the user can pull the fixing component 64 outwards in the direction of the arrows as shown in FIG. 14. At this time, when the user pulls the fixing component 64 outwards, and the second protrusion 66 is not fastened in the fixing hole 62, the fixing component bar 64 is able to slide freely on the sliding track 60 for allowing the user to select the best possible viewing angle. When the user decides to fix the display 12 at an angle, the user can release the fixing component 64 and the elasticity of the spring 67 (as shown in FIG. 13) will pull the fixing component 64 back in the direction of arrows shown in FIG. 15, at this time, the second protrusion 66 will be fastened in the fixing hole 62 and the fixing component 64 is effectively fixed so that it is not able to slide freely on the sliding track 60. After the fixing component 64 at both ends of the display 12 is fixed, the display 12 is then unable to sway back and forth, thus the display 12 is effectively fixed at an angle.
The method of positioning and the fixed bar 64 sliding on the sliding track 60 is not only limited to the above mechanism, please refer to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 illustrates an assembly diagram of a fixing component 68 and a wave-shaped sliding track 70 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The wave-shaped sliding track 70 includes a plurality of wavy portions 72. When the user needs to adjust the view angle of the display 12, the user can pull the fixing component 68 outwards in X+ direction as shown in FIG. 16, at this time, as the fixing component 68 is not fastened in between the adjacent wavy portions 72 of the sliding track 70, therefore the fixing component 68 is able to move horizontally in direction Y on the sliding track 70 for the user to select the best possible viewing angle. When the user decides to fix the display 12 at an angle, the fixing component 68 can be released so that the fixing component 68 is pulled back in −X direction, at this time, the fixing component 68 will be fastened in between the adjacent wavy portions 72 of the waved-shaped sliding track 70 and the fixing component 68 is effectively fixed so that it is not able to slide freely on the wave-shaped sliding track 70. After the fixing component 68 at both ends of the display 12 is fixed, the display 12 is then unable to sway back and forth, thus the display 12 is effectively fixed at an angle.
In comparison to the conventional module, the display module of the present invention having a support structure is capable of utilizing simple bar structures to coordinate with the design of a roller device to achieve the function of supporting the display. The present invention overcomes the defect of significant space occupied by the display base and the display panel, and through the design of the foldable bars, the display module of the present invention when enclosed is capable of saving space to improve on utilized volume of a container, hence the loading capacity of the container when shipping the display module is increased.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A display module comprising:

a display; and

a support structure comprising:

a first frame pivotally connected to a first end of the display; and

a second frame pivotally connected to a second end of the display; wherein the first frame and the second frame support the display on a support surface.

2. The display module of claim 1 further comprising a screw for locking the display onto the support structure to fix the display corresponding to the support structure at a predetermined location.

3. The display module of claim 2 further comprising an adjustment mechanism connected to the display for adjusting the display corresponding to the support structure at the predetermined location, the adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roller; and

a telescopic device connected to the display and the roller for adjusting a distance between the roller and the display;

wherein when the display is adjusted to the predetermined location, the screw locks the display onto the support structure.

4. The display module of claim 2 further comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the display corresponding to the support structure at the predetermined location, the adjustment mechanism comprising:

a sliding track formed on the first frame;

a first protrusion connected to the display for moving on the sliding track to adjust the display at the predetermined location; and

5. The display module of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment mechanism installed on the display for adjusting the display corresponding to the support structure at a predetermined location, the adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roller having at least one blocking surface; and

wherein when the display is located at the predetermined location, the blocking surface abuts against the support surface.

6. The display module of claim 5 wherein the telescopic device is an elastic structure.

7. The display module of claim 6 wherein the elastic structure is a spring.

8. The display module of claim 5 wherein the telescopic device is a hydraulic pressure pump.

9. The display module of claim 5 wherein the telescopic device is a pneumatic pressure pump.

10. The display module of claim 5 wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises a handle for moving the roller.

11. The display module of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the display corresponding to the support structure at a predetermined location, the adjustment mechanism comprising:

a sliding track formed on the first frame;

at least a fixing hole formed on the first frame near the sliding track; and

a fixing component connected to the display and the first frame and moveable along a first direction, the fixed portion comprising:

a first protrusion for sliding along the sliding track to adjust the display at the predetermined location; and

a second protrusion capable of inserting into the fixing hole to fixed the display at the predetermined location.

12. The display module of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the display corresponding to the support structure at a predetermined location, the adjustment mechanism comprising:

a sliding track comprising a plurality of wavy portions formed on the first frame; and

a fixing component connected to the display and placed between two wavy portions for fixing the display at the predetermined location.

13. The display module of claim 1 wherein the support structure is foldable.

14. The display module of claim 13 wherein each of the first frame and the second frame comprises two fixed bars and a foldable bar being bent to adjust an angle between the two fixed bars.

15. The display module of claim 13 wherein the support structure further comprises a bar having a first end and a second end, and the first end is connected a first connecting point of the fixed bar and the foldable bar of the first frame, and the second end is connected a second connecting point of the fixed bar and the foldable bar of the second frame.

16. The display module of claim 1 wherein the display is a flat display panel.